Abstract: A method and apparatus for targeted education and advertising preferably includes sanitary paper comprising a plurality of portions and a consumer-friendly message disposed on at least one of the plurality of portions. The consumer-friendly message preferably comprises commercial or noncommercial health-related advertising information. A URL is preferably disposed on the at least one of the plurality of portions and the URL is preferably associated with a host computer system hosting a health-related newsletter template. The paper preferably also includes a code disposed on the at least one of the plurality of portions, where the code is preferably associated with the health-related advertising information and health-related newsletter content.

Abstract: There is described a method of isolating nucleotide sequences encoding target peptides from DNA libraries using DNA binding proteins to link the peptide to the sequence which encodes it. DNA libraries are prepared from cells encoding the protein of interest, or from synthetic DNA, and inserted into, or adjacent to, a DNA binding protein in an expression vector to create a chimeric fusion protein. Incorporation of the vector DNA into a carrier package, during expression of the chimeric fusion protein, results in the production of a peptide display carrier package (PDCP) displaying the DNA-bound fusion protein on the external surface of the carrier package. Employment of affinity purification techniques results in the PDCP particles containing sequences encoding the desired peptide to be selected and the desired nucleotide sequences obtained therefrom.

Abstract: A reusable casket includes a rectangular solid-configured body preferably having a casket top hingedly connected to a casket rear for pivotal movement between a casket-open position and a casket-closed position, a casket front pivotally connected to a casket bottom between a casket-closed position and a casket-open position, a latch for retaining the casket front in the casket-closed position and a lock for securing the casket top to the casket front. The reusable casket also has a tray for supporting a disposable cremateable container for human remains and track assemblies connected to the casket bottom for rotatably supporting the tray during tray movement along the casket bottom.

Abstract: A direct reading prism pole has a tubular housing having an open top, a flange at the open top, a conical bottom portion for wedging the tubular housing into ground soil, a height-adjusting rod partially inserted into the tubular housing by a friction fit, a lip positioned at the top of height-adjustable rod, a laser sensor mounted to the outer surface of the tubular housing for emitting a laser toward the lip to take height measurements of the distance between the laser sensor and the lip, an electronic control unit for receiving the height measurements and providing height reference data, an electronic display for displaying the height reference data, an audio device for emitting an alarm indicating movement of the height-adjusting rod with respect to the tubular housing, and an output device for sending the height reference data to a data collection device.

Abstract: A low pressure dryer for granular or powdery material includes a plurality of canisters rotatable about a common vertical axis serially among material heating, vacuum drying and material inventory discharge positions; pneumatic piston-cylinder means for rotating the canisters about said axis among said heating, vacuum drying and inventory discharge positions; means for heating contents of a canister at said heating position; means for sealing and drawing vacuum within a canister at said vacuum drying position and means for selectably permitting downward flow of dried granular or powdery material out of a canister at said discharge position where said canisters move collectively and unitarily one with another.

Abstract: A measuring device for obtaining inlet invert measurements, pipe invert measurements, and pipe diameter measurements includes an invert measuring rod having a plurality of rod segments, each a threaded bore at a first end and an axially extending threaded stud at a second end, a foot assembly comprising a guide rod removably connected to and extending perpendicularly from the bottom of the lower segment of the continuous rod, when connected having a free end opposite the connecting with the invert measuring rod with a bottom conical foot connected to and extending downwardly from the free end of the guide rod and parallel to the invert measuring rod, the bottom conical foot having an axial length the same as axial length of the conical rod tip, and extending from the free end of the guide rod parallel to the invert measuring rod and a diameter measuring sleeve, having a tubular portion positionable concentrically about the invert measuring rod and having an inner diameter just greater than the outer diameter

Abstract: A planar carrier for a coded card is substantially aesthetically irreversibly convertible from a substantially two-dimensional blank into a three-dimensional card enclosing gift package.

Abstract: A multi-wheel highway vehicle for transporting passengers, cargo or both has a plurality of wheels supporting the vehicle with the wheels having pneumatic tires mounted thereon, at least one transducer connected to one of the wheels for sensing pressure in a tire mounted on the wheel and providing a output signal indicative of the pressure, a comparator mounted on the wheel receiving the output signal provided by the transducer for comparing the output signal from the transducer to a reference and providing a second output signal indicative of the comparison and a transmitter carried by the vehicle receiving the second output signal provided by the comparator for sending tire pressure information derived from the second output signal to a remote locale, optionally together with information identifying the vehicle and/or the location of the vehicle and/or the speed and/or the direction of travel of the vehicle and/or the identity of the driver of the vehicle.

Abstract: Method and apparatus to measure jitter (period-to-period fluctuations in fundamental frequency) among the voices of suicidal, major depressed, and non-suicidal patients to predict near-term suicidal risk.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for gasifying a liquid wherein a liquid feedstock (2) to be gasified is passed down a surface (8) in the presence of a gas and into standing liquid (6), the surface having at least one change in gradient (8a, 8b) to provide a surface for the development of turbulence which is essential in drawing gas into the liquid.

Abstract: An electrical modular power node comprising a power bus backplane containing a plurality of bus bars, at least some of which are connectable to at least one power source, each bus bar having a plurality of terminals at regular intervals along the bus bar, each terminal being in a standard position in a pattern with terminals from the other bus bars and all terminal patterns being in a standard orientation on the backplane, and a plurality of functional modules, each housing circuitry having at least one connector for a connection to at least one terminal on one of the bus bars.

Abstract: Apparatus for providing granular material to a loading hopper preparatory to processing includes a receptacle receiving material prior to processing thereof by machinery supplied by the hopper with a top including a first valve for selectably connecting the receptacle to vacuum or ambient air, a conduit for drawing vacuum in the receptacle, a conduit for connecting the receptacle to a supply of the granular material, a second valve for selectably permitting material flow from the receptacle into the hopper, and a sensor control for temporarily adjustably closing the first valve and opening the second valve responsively to detected presence of a suitable amount of material in the receptacle.

Abstract: A method for evaluating near-term suicidal risk by analysis of a series of spoken words includes converting the spoken series of words into a signal having characteristics indicative of said words as spoken, dynamically monitoring said signal to detect changes therein and identifying the person as having a relatively high near-term risk of suicide on the basis of such monitored changes in the signal relative to the speech of individuals in good mental health having no near-term suicidal risk.

Abstract: A throwable toy includes an open center polygon defining a closed ring having upper and lower surfaces including connected linear segments and a plurality of shortened, generally rounded, rearward-projecting members extending outwardly and downwardly from said ring along and aligned with the axes of said linear segments.

Abstract: The present invention is a two-piece bicycle crank set comprising of two monolithic, thin-wall continuous tubular members. Each tubular member includes a crank arm and a one-half portion of a crank axle, where the crank arm and the portion of the crank axle form a continuous thin-wall tubular shape. The two tubular members are coupled precisely midway between two bearing sets within a bracket shell of a bicycle. The coupling connecting the two tubular members can include an outer sleeve, an inner sleeve, two exteriorly tapered and internally threaded bushings and a threaded stud. Turning the threaded stud positions the bushings to expand the inner sleeve, whereby the crank axle portions of the two tubular members are secured within the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve by the expanding inner sleeve. Alternatively, an interference fit coupling connects the two tubular members, and includes a mortise member and a tenon member.

Abstract: A modular power node comprises modules containing components ultimately connectable to a load to modify power supplied to that load to make the power supplied to the load suitable therefor, the modules being shaped to conform to and contact one another to minimize node size by mutually supporting one another.