Abstract: A safety sleeve apparatus comprises a safety sleeve encapsulating a fluorescent tube for protecting the fluorescent tube from physical damage and for preventing the tube from sliding out of the sleeve and breaking if the sleeve is tilted from the horizontal during installation of the tube into a pair of lamp sockets. The sleeve protects the tube from damage if the sleeve is struck by a hard object, and creates an airspace around the tube to protect the tube from cold and prevent the escape of fragments from a broken tube. The sleeve has a greater inside diameter than the outside diameter of the tube. An end cap is mounted on each end of the sleeve, and the end cap includes a cylindrical ring extending upright from the edges of a flat end wall. Projections are included in the cylindrical ring and the projections attach to the slots in the ends of the sleeve.

Abstract: An integrated sterilization and materials handling system for sterilizing and handling items such as medical waste, paper, or other things comprises a cart for carrying a removable bin for holding the items to be sterilized, and a sterilization chamber that receives the bin when it is removed from the cart. The various embodiments include a bin that is dumpable with the cart using existing dumping apparatus, a bin that pivots on the cart to permit dumping of the items from the bin by tilting the bin, and a bin used primarily in a dry heat sterilization process of the invention when sterilizing items that are not to be discarded after sterilization to facilitate loading and unloading of the bin. The system has thermal energy booster plates mounted in the sterilization chamber for providing dry radiant heat to the chamber, and the system may vary process times, process pressures, and process temperatures to predetermine settings that correlate to the weight of the items to be sterilized.

Abstract: A system, method and bracket for installing banners, including an improved bracket useful for mounting banners to a supporting structure is provided. The bracket is configured with a magnetic feature for facilitating installation of the bracket to a metallic support structure, and may receive banner mounting hardware, such as, for example, banner mounting arms and fastening members, and may be positioned and held on the structure to allow mounting straps to be installed in order to securely mount the bracket to the structure, and complete installation.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are shown for providing information on a pill. A patient specific delivery apparatus for medicine using information on a pill or pills is shown as well, and a database with patient specific information may be provided, resulting in an individualized pharmacopoeia for a patient. A dispenser and a method for dispensing pills are provided and may generate audible messages. The dispenser may be constructed with a protective barrier to maintain shelf-life and integrity of the pills.

Abstract: For manufacturing particularly uniform and mirror bright copper coatings that are leveled and ductile as well using a relatively high current density, halogenated or pseudohalogenated monomeric pheanzinium compounds or a purity at least 85 mole-% and having the general chemical formula (I) are utilized in which R1, R2, R3, R4, R7?, R7?, R8, R9, X and A have the significations denoted in the claims. The compounds are prepared by diazotizing a suited starting compound prior to halogenating or pseudohalogenating it in the presence of mineral acid, diazotization means and halide or pseudohalide, with the reaction steps being run in one single vessel.

Abstract: A problem during electrolytic treatment of printed circuit boards having a very thin basic metallization is that the treatment yields irregular results in various regions on the surface of the printed circuit board. In overcoming this problem the invention provides a device for electrolytically treating an at least superficially electrically conducting work piece having at least two substantially opposing side edges. The device comprises current supply devices for the work piece, said current supply devices each comprising contact strips located on the opposing side edges which are capable of electrically contacting the work piece at the substantially opposing side edges.

Abstract: Systems and methods for producing hydrocarbons from wind energy, water, and air comprising a power system, wind turbine, and electrical generator; the system further comprises a water purifier comprising a conduit and vacuum device for flash distillation; the system further includes a hydrocarbon processor, which comprises a carbon dioxide interface, and electrolyzer, a reverse water gas shift reactor, and an ethanation reactor; alternatively the hydrocarbon processor may include a cyanobacteria cultivator a solution optimizer and a catalyzer; also included is a method for producing purified water using vegetation in a floatable craft; also disclosed is a synthetic fuel process consisting of a translucent closed tank for producing algae and a protein separator for dewatering algae; methods relating to production and drawing of algae to produce methane and other hydrocarbon promoters; also disclosed is a energy producing rainkine-cycle engine device for storing concentrated solar energy.

Abstract: Wireless location device and process of manufacture including a location device for use in an encasement or a shoe, the shoe including a footbed having a first surface, a second surface, and a periphery extending from and connecting the first surface to the second surface, one or more circuit boards, with at least one of the one or more circuit boards being a cellular telecommunications board located within the footbed and connected to the battery, and a cellular antenna located within the footbed and connected to the telecommunications board, all configured to communicate with a cellular network enabling the location device to be located via a cellular network or device based location technology and communicate that location via cellular communication.

Abstract: The present invention comprises apparatus, methods and articles of manufacture for computer virus testing in a networked environment. A host is provided that permits uploading of suspected files by a user. The are transferred to a server, where they are scanned for the presence of known virii. The files are then run, in an appropriate operating environment, separate from the operating system of the server, and the results compared to and noted against a reference. Any modified files are logged, as is any output. The user is notified as to the results, and in some embodiments, the lists of modified files are made available to various users.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods and articles of manufacture for software demonstration are disclosed. Apparatus include a server that provides, via a network, a program or programs to be demonstrated to a user. The user uploads the code that the program will execute. Results are then supplied after execution, and may be made available to the user in a number of ways. Methods and articles of manufacture are also disclosed.

Abstract: In regenerating an electroless metal plating bath by electrodialysis, it has been found that the metal of the metal plating bath deposits in the electrolysis arrangement. To overcome this problem, an improvement to prior art regenerating devices is suggested, said improvement consisting in providing main cation exchangers for removing ions of this metal from a concentrate fluid. The main cation exchangers are coupled to the concentrate compartments of the electrolysis arrangement in such a manner that the concentrate fluid flowing through the concentrate compartments is allowed to pass through the main cation exchangers and to be recirculated back into the concentrate compartments.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture are claimed for securing, maintaining, monitoring and controlling computer networks and clients located therein by use of client hash code tables, which are stored on a server. Clients subsequently provide client state codes which are compared to the hash code tables to ensure only acceptable client modifications have taken place. In the event of unacceptable client modifications, mechanisms are used to notify appropriate resources.

Abstract: A compactor comprising a base structure having a compaction chamber mounted thereto is provided. The compactor further comprises a ram which is horizontally movable through the compaction chamber between a withdrawn position and an extended position. An actuator is pivotally movable mounted to the ram at a first end portion. The actuator moves the ram from the withdrawn position to the extended position. An actuator frame is pivotally movable mounted to the base structure at a first end portion such that the pivot of the actuator frame is aligned with the pivot of the actuator when the ram is in the withdrawn position. A second opposite end portion of the actuator is mounted to a second opposite end portion of the actuator frame. The actuator frame is movable between a transport position where the actuator is oriented substantially vertical and an operating position where the actuator is oriented substantially horizontal.

Abstract: An educational method for teaching a metacognitive process for writing is demonstrated within a series of colored, hand-held multiple-shaped manipulatives. Representing a foundation from which all types of writing and its conventions may be explored, the manipulatives have been so designed to aid students in the process of recalling, interpreting, applying, analyzing, synthesizing and/or judging during the writing process. Each part of the manipulatives represent an essential component of the student's thinking during the writing application. The shape, color and key word of each manipulative represents an association for the student in his/her thinking during the process of writing.

Abstract: A computer system and method for intercepting, examining, and controlling data streams flowing via transport connections between the transport layer of an operating system and the user application. All data streams that pass from an external network, through the transport layer of an operating system to the user application or from the user application to the transport layer are intercepted by a network traffic interceptor. The network traffic interceptor processes all data streams for proscribed data that may include viruses, trojan horses, worms, and other hostile algorithms. The processing used by the network traffic interceptor can include monitoring, blocking or destroying data, thereby protecting the single computer system from being infected by hostile algorithms.