Abstract: The present invention is a modular system for packaging articles for shipment. In particular, a potted plant is sorted according to a grade, placed in a decorative cover, then automatically deposited into a protective sleeve. The potted plant thus packaged is ready for containment within a shipping carton. Various components of the system may be adapted for various packaging needs and circumstances.

Abstract: An agent, &agr;-difluoromethyl lysine (DEML) or &agr;-monofluoromethyl lysine (MFML), which inhibits activity of lysine decarboxylases produced by bacteria associated with periodontal tissues. Inhibition of the activity of such lysine decarboxylases can prophylactically and therapeutically treat periodontal diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis. The agent may be incorporated into toothpastes, mouthwashes, irrigation solutions, tablets, periodontal treatment packs, or an adhesive paste or film coatings for applying to the teeth.

Abstract: A sleeve used to wrap items such as potted plants. The sleeve may have an open or closed bottom. When closed, the bottom may have a gusset for allowing expansion upon the depositing of the pot into the sleeve. The sleeve has a detachable upper portion. The sleeve has a bonding material disposed upon an inner and/or outer portion of the sleeve for crimping the sleeve adjacent the pot to hold the sleeve about the pot.

Abstract: A sleeve used to wrap items such as potted plants or comestibles. The sleeve has a closed curved bottom. The sleeve may also have an expansion element such as a gusset, pleats, random folds or elastic material for enabling the lower portion of the sleeve to conform to the outer and bottom surfaces of the pot to provide a decorative cover about the pot. The sleeve optionally has a detachable upper portion.

Abstract: A particulate support matrix, and a dosage form made therefrom, and processes for making such support matrices and dosage forms, which disintegrate or dissolve in a matter of just a few seconds once placed into an aqueous environment. First, a porous particulate powder matrix comprising at least two polymeric components which will serve as the dosage form matrix is produced. The polymeric components have different solubilities. In a second step, a pharmaceutical compound, for example an antihistamine, decongestant, or antibiotic is combined with the powder. Other additives may also be added to the mixture. In a third step the mixture is formed into a dosage form. Finally, in a fourth step, a coating may be formed upon the outer surface of the dosage form to enhance the intactness and durability of the dosage form.

Abstract: Some ground water sites are capable of achieving risk-based closure without remedial efforts due to the soil's natural intrinsic remediation. However, in many cases this may not be possible due to the magnitude of the contamination. Surfactant enhanced intrinsic remediation is capable of enhancing natural remediation in several ways. First, by introducing the surfactant above its Krafft temperature when the ground water temperature is below the surfactant Krafft temperature, it is possible to install a permeable, sorptive wall that significantly decreases the contaminant migration, thereby improving the opportunity for natural intrinsic remediation to mitigate the contamination. If the contaminant levels are too great for this approach, as may be the case when “source zone” soil contamination is present, the approach is coupled with active extraction/ surfactant enhanced intrinsic remediation of the “source” zone (e.g., surfactant flushing).

Abstract: A covering for a flower pot with a floral grouping disposed therein and extending a distance above an upper end of the flower pot wherein the flower pot has a lower end and an outer peripheral surface. The covering includes a sheet of material having an upper surface, a lower surface and an outer peripheral surface with a sheet extension connected to the outer peripheral surface of the sheet of material and extending a distance from the outer peripheral surface of the sheet of material. The sheet of material is formed about the flower pot to a position wherein the sheet of material extends about substantially the entire outer peripheral surface of the flower pot to provide a decorative covering and the sheet extension is formed about the floral grouping to a position wherein the sheet extension extends about a substantial portion of the floral grouping to provide a protective covering.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for semi-automatically forming a sheet of material into an article, such as a flower pot cover, is provided. The apparatus includes a male die, a female die, a presence sensing assembly, and a control assembly. The presence sensing assembly is positioned for sensing the presence of an operator in a sheet feeding zone which is located between an operator's station and a zone of operation of the male die and the female die. The control assembly initiates an article forming sequence, wherein the male die and the female die are moved from a discharge position to a forming position to form the article from the sheet of material and subsequently returned to the discharge position, in response to the operator clearing the presence sensing assembly subsequent to the operator breaking the presence sensing assembly while positioning a sheet of material between the male die and the female die via the sheet feeding area.

Abstract: A wrapping material for wrapping an item, such as a floral grouping, is provided. The wrapping material has a bonding material on a surface so that, when the wrapping material is formed into a wrapper, the wrapper may be releasably attached to a mounting surface, such as a board or wall, by way of the bonding material.

Abstract: A method of forming a plurality of floral sleeves having a uniform design or pattern and printed circumferentially about a lower end thereof without requiring the waste of significant portions of sheet material is provided. The method includes the step of sealing and severing a pair of web portions along lines defined by coextensive first side edges and coextensive second side edges of printed portions. In another aspect, the method includes the step of sealing and severing a pair of overlapping web portions provided with a plurality of printed portions along a plurality of lines which traverse the printed portions and each of the corresponding unprinted portions to form a plurality of sleeves wherein each sleeve has an upper portion and a lower portion with the lower portion having a printed portion extending continuously about the exterior circumference of the lower portion of the sleeve while the upper portion is free of any printing contained in the lower portion of an adjacently formed sleeve.

Abstract: A wrapping material for wrapping an item, such as a floral grouping is provided. The wrapping material has a bonding material on a surface so that, when the wrapping material is formed into a wrapper, the wrapper may be releasably attached to a mounting surface, such as a board or wall, by way of the bonding material.

Abstract: A plant packaging system comprising a combination of a protective sleeve portion and a decorative cover portion having a base and skirt for packaging a potted plant. The protective sleeve can be detached from the decorative portion of the package system once the protective function of the sleeve has been completed, thereby exposing the decorative cover and allowing the skirt portion to extend angularly from the base. The protective sleeve and decorative cover components may comprise a unitary construction or may comprise separate components which are attached together by various bonding materials.

Abstract: A sleeve used to wrap items such as potted plants or comestibles. The sleeve has a closed curved bottom. The sleeve may also have an expansion element such as a gusset, pleats, random folds or elastic material for enabling the lower portion of the sleeve to conform to the outer and bottom surfaces of the pot to provide a decorative cover about the pot. The sleeve optionally has a detachable upper portion.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a cover about an article and for automatically fastening the cover to the article, and optionally for automatically placing a label on the covered article. The article may be an article such as a potted plant and the cover may be a decorative cover. The invention satisfies the need for a means for rapidly covering and fastening the cover about an article with a minimal amount of manual effort and in a location having a limited amount of available space. The apparatus comprises a platform having at least one opening sized to receive the article. The apparatus comprises a tying device for automatically applying a band or fastener about a portion of the outer surface of the covered article for fastening the cover about the article after the sheet is formed into a cover about the article.

Abstract: A sleeve used to wrap items such as potted plants. The sleeve may have an open or closed bottom. When closed, the bottom may may have a gusset for allowing expansion upon the depositing of the pot into the sleeve. The sleeve has a detachable upper portion. The sleeve may have a bonding material disposed upon an inner or outer portion of the sleeve for attaching the sleeve to the pot or item.

Abstract: P-selectin has been demonstrated to bind primarily to a single major glycoprotein ligand on neutrophils and HL-60 cells, when assessed by blotting assays and by affinity chromatography of [3H]glucosamine-labeled HL-60 cell extracts on immobilized P-selectin. This molecule was characterized and distinguished from other well-characterized neutrophil membrane proteins with similar apparent molecular mass. The purified ligand, or fragments thereof (including both the carbohydrate and protein components), or antibodies to the ligand, or fragments thereof, can be used as inhibitors of binding of P-selectin to cells.

Abstract: A plant packaging and covering system which includes a floral sleeve having a base portion, which may have a decorative pattern thereon. The sleeve may have an upper sleeve portion which can surround a plant disposed in a pot and which can be detached once the protective function of the upper sleeve portion is complete or which can be used to support the sleeve from a support device prior to use. The sleeve has on its inner surface a bonding material in an offset pattern, which can be used to form a crimped portion in the sleeve or which can be used to attach the sleeve to a pot.

Abstract: A particulate support matrix, and a dosage form made therefrom, and processes for making such support matrices and dosage forms, which disintegrate or dissolve in a matter of just a few seconds once placed into an aqueous environment. First, a porous particulate powder matrix comprising at least two polymeric components which will serve as the dosage form matrix is produced. The polymeric components have different solubilities. In a second step, a pharmaceutical compound, for example an antihistamine, decongestant, or antibiotic is combined with the powder. Other additives may also be added to the mixture. In a third step the mixture is formed into a dosage form. Finally, in a fourth step, a coating may be formed upon the outer surface of the dosage form to enhance the intactness and durability of the dosage form.

Abstract: A plant cover, comprising a base formed from a sheet of material, said base having an upper end, a lower end, and an outer peripheral surface, an opening intersecting the upper end forming an inner peripheral surface and a retaining space, a skirt formed from a sheet of material, said skirt connected to the upper end of the base, and expansion means formed integrally with the base, the expansion means comprising an excess of material, the expansion means permitting the base to expand and contract to both closely encompass and follow the contours of a pot. Methods of using a plant cover.