Abstract: A plant package includes a flower pot containing a floral grouping and a sleeve having a texture and/or appearance simulating the texture and/or appearance of cloth, wherein the sleeve is formed of a flexible, laminated material having a texture and/or appearance simulating the texture and/or appearance of cloth. The sleeve includes a lower portion, which has a base portion and a skirt portion, and an upper portion which is detachable from the lower portion. The base, skirt and/or upper portion of the sleeve may be provided with a texture and/or appearance simulating the texture and/or appearance of cloth. A method for wrapping a floral grouping in a sleeve having a texture and/or appearance simulating the texture and/or appearance of cloth includes placing a floral grouping in the sleeve and binding the sleeve about a stem portion of the floral grouping via a bonding material disposed on the sleeve having a texture and/or appearance simulating the texture and/or appearance of cloth.

Abstract: A method for obtaining particulate calcium carbonate having an average particle size less than about 12 microns is provided. The method includes the steps of (1) withdrawing from a pulp mill a mixture containing calcium carbonate; (2) treating the mixture to remove contaminants contained in the mixture to produce a treated mixture containing calcium carbonate and further having a chemical composition and/or purity which substantially inhibits the fusing together of calcium carbonate particulates; (3) recovering from the treated mixture particulate calcium carbonate having an average particle size less than about 12 microns. The calcium carbonate produced has a high surface area to volume ratio and is therefore highly reactive and suitable for numerous applications such as in the treatment of soil, filler paper production, paint production, and contaminant containment in coal stack emission assemblies.

Abstract: A portable apparatus for securing a decorative cover about a flower pot. The apparatus includes a frame assembly, an extension member having a cover support assembly, and a plurality of legs. The frame assembly includes a body member having an opening. The opening is sized and configured to permit passage of the flower pot through the opening. The extension member extends in an upwardly direction from the body member. The cover support assembly is connected to the extension member for supporting a decorative cover comprising at least one sleeve or sheet of material. The plurality of legs extend from and are spatially disposed about the body member such that the legs cooperate to support at least one band. As the flower pot moves through the opening in the body member, at least one of the bands is removed from the plurality of legs and moved about the decorative cover disposed about the flower pot.

Abstract: A method for packaging a plant using a flexible sleeve having a cloth-like appearance.

Abstract: A decorative assembly for a floral grouping comprising a floral holding material and a sheet of material. The floral holding material is a shape-sustaining support member having an open upper end, an open lower end and a peripheral sidewall defining an internal chamber extending between the open upper end and the close lower end. The sheet of material is extended about a portion of the floral holding material to form a decorative cover and the decorative cover cooperates with the shape-sustaining support member to define a reservoir for confining a liquid a securing element secures the decorative cover about the shape-sustaining support member and a crimped portion is formed in the sheet of material with the crimped portion cooperating to hold the sheet of material about the floral holding material to provide a decorative covering.

Abstract: Non-circular vias and methods of cutting away material in a printed circuit board (PCB) so as to form non-circular vias. Laser ablation or plasma ablation is used to remove PCB material about a centerline. This type of material removal allows lateral movement to effect non-circular patterns. Exemplary shapes are convoluted circle vias, square vias, extended/elongated vias, and trench vias. The trench vias may be micro milled to form a coaxialised structure that provides noise suppression and EMI protection, and are elongated to be even greater than three times the diameter of a circular micro-via.

Abstract: Tyrosylprotein sulfotransferases and nucleic acids encoding the tyrosylprotein sulfotransferases are described. Dual isotopes of the enzyme and of the nucleic acids encoding the enzymes have been identified in human, mouse and C. elegans. The polypeptides and polynucleotides exhibit a wide range of homologies. The polynucleotides can be used to transform or transfect host cells for producing substantially pure forms of the enzyme, or for use in an expression system for post-translational tyrosine sulfation of proteins or peptides produced within the expression system. The enzymes can be used to sulfate peptides or proteins requiring sulfation.

Abstract: Flexible polymeric materials having a texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of cloth suitable for use in the formation of decorative flower pot covers are disclosed.

Abstract: A flower pot cover disposable about a flower pot. The flower pot includes a preformed base sized to contain the flower pot and has an upper end, a lower end, an outer peripheral surface and a pot opening formed through the upper end thereof providing access to a pot receiving space forming an inner peripheral surface of the base. The flower pot cover formed of at least two sheets of material having a two-dimensional printed pattern thereon, the printed pattern having shaded and highlighted areas to provide the printed pattern with a three dimensional appearance produced by the shaded and highlighted areas of the printed pattern.

Abstract: A sleeve for containing a flower pot wherein the sleeve is formed of a polymeric film having at least one surface thereof modified to provide the sleeve with an appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of cloth. The sleeve has a lower end, an upper end, an outer peripheral surface, an inner peripheral surface surrounding an inner retaining space, a base portion and a skirt portion.

Abstract: Flexible polymeric materials having a cloth-like appearance suitable for use in the formation of flower pot covers, floral wrappings and ribbon materials are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of covering a pot with a plant cover, the plant cover at least comprising a base portion, and optionally having a skirt or a detachable upper portion. The plant cover has a heat shrinkable bonding material which can be heat shrunk to secure the plant cover about the pot.

Abstract: A decorative assembly for a floral grouping comprising a floral holding material and a sheet of material. The floral holding material is a shape-sustaining support member having an open upper end, an open lower end anda peripheral side wall defining an internal chamber extending between the open upper end and the lower end. The sheet of material is extended about a portion of the floral holding material to form a decorative cover and the decorative cover cooperates with the shape-sustaining support member to define a resevoir for confining a liquid, a securing element secures the decorative cover about the shape-sustaining support member and a crimped portion is formed in the sheet of material with the crimped portion cooperating to hold the sheet of material about the floral holding material to provide a decorative covering.

Abstract: An optical cable is embedded in a printed circuit board using a MEMS mirror to steer the photonic signal from the surface of the board to the optical cable embedded in the board's interior. The photonic signal is conducted from the surface to the embedded mirror by way of a vertical optical via. Such optical vias are used as well for coupling photonic signals between plural optical layers formed by plural flat optical cables. Some or all of the plural flat optical cables are internal to the printed circuit board. Other steering devices may be used that provide equivalent function to that of the mirrors.

Abstract: A method of covering a pot with a plant cover, the plant cover at least comprising a base portion, and optionally having a skirt or a detachable upper portion. The plant cover has a heat shrinkable bonding material which can be heat shrink to secure to plant cover about the pot.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for forming a decorative covering about a flower pot or a floral grouping from a sheet of material, the sheet of material having printed thereon a graphic image that is prominently displayed on a selected portion of the decorative covering. The graphic image may be a masterpiece of art produced by one of the Great Masters of the Renaissance, at least a portion of a musical score, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A prescription verification system for verifying pharmaceutical prescriptions provided by health care providers to patients which can be filled through any one of a variety of patient-selected pharmacies. The system includes a host system capable of selectively receiving, storing, and dispensing prescription information representative of a prescription for a patient. A unique identification code is associated with each prescription such that each prescription is selectively retrievable. The host system is capable of receiving, storing, and dispensing information representative of the fulfillment of the prescription identified by the prescription information and thereafter assigning a confirmation code to the prescription information so as to indicate whether or not be prescription has been filled. The system further includes a plurality of member health care provider systems remotely disposed from the host system and in communication with the host system.

Abstract: Methods are provided for packaging floral groupings in a modified atmosphere at or near the site or harvest. The modified atmosphere package, which generally contains oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations which differ from those seen in air, is constructed of a material which has modified atmosphere characteristics such that the material is permeable to certain gases while impermeable to others. The package may also include fluid impermeable perforations to assist in the removal of the floral grouping from the package. A surface packaging agent, which maintains the appearance of the floral grouping and/or the modified atmosphere package, may also be present on the package, and a floral grouping maintenance agent, which maintains the appearance of the floral grouping, may also be disposed within the package with the floral grouping before partially sealing the modified atmosphere package about the floral grouping.

Abstract: The present invention discloses folded corrugated materials for producing segments or strips for use as Easter grass, packing material and the like wherein the folded corrugated materials are formed of paper and polymeric film.

Abstract: A structure for supporting a road along a road axis over an underpass space spanned by the structure. The structure includes two footings underlying the road with each support assembly being securely mounted to the earth. The structure also includes an arcuate support assembly supported by the footings. The support assembly extends at least the width of the road and traverses the underpass space for supporting the road across the underpass space spanned by the structure. The support assembly includes a substantially continuous inner shell, a plurality of spatially disposed, rigid, resilient beams supported by the footings, an insulating material disposed in the cavities formed in between the rigid, resilient beams, and an outer shell encasing the rigid, resilient beams and the insulating material. A substantially fluid impermeable material substantially encases the support assembly and a fill material extends from the substantially fluid impermeable material to support the road.