Abstract: A agglomerated granular protein-rich nutritional supplement includes a mixture of one or more of: edible nutritional food proteins; edible carbohydrates; edible fats; edible dietary vitamins and minerals; edible amino acids; and edible plant extracts, where the nutritional supplement is agglomerated and granulated in an oral unit dosage form that is directly absorbable onto the tongue or rapidly dissolvable in an aqueous liquid. Specific formulations of the supplement are shown, for use by specific groups of individuals. Also shown are methods of supplementing the nutritional intake of various individuals engaged in various activities having various needs by orally administering a formulation of the protein-rich nutritional supplement. The nutritional supplement is in an oral unit dosage form of either agglomerated granules or a rapidly dissolvable wafer and may include a flavoring compound and an effervescing compound.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a support member, a moveable member supported by the support member, a user support mechanically associated with the moveable member, and a sound producing mechanism that produces sound as a result of movement of the moveable member between a first position and a second position caused by the user's application of force to the urge the moveable member between the first position and second position. The applications include a play apparatus, wherein the user interacts with the moveable member with the result that the moveable member changes position and a selected sound is thereby produced.

Abstract: A structural thermal framing and panel system for assembling finished or unfinished walls with multiple combinations for poured and nonpoured walls. The system includes a permanent structural framing stud which can be adjusted to different wall thickness, a plurality of permanent forms, wherein the pluralities of permanent forms are interchangeable with various other permanent panel forms with or without defined spaces for receiving filler. The framing stud substantially conforms to a portion of the pluralities of panel forms and resists bending in the panel forms. The framing stud is the main structural element in the wall. A structural framing system in combination with insulated panel forms with various defined spaces for receiving filler, and wherein panels may not be prefinished to form a rigid substrate.

Abstract: A system and method for regulating the erase saturation in a semiconductor memory is disclosed. More particularly, the present invention measures the under-erase and over-erase condition of all SONOS transistors in an array of non-volatile SRAM cells and corrects the erase voltage to prevent over-erase and under-erase.

Abstract: Bridge circuit for echo suppression for a reception signal of a communication device connected to a transmission line, to which can be supplied a reception signal received via the transmission line and a transmission signal to be transmitted by the communication device via the transmission line. The bridge circuit is designed such that on balancing the bridge circuit, the reception signal there can be tapped echo-compensated with a transmission signal part generated by the transmission signal being suppressed. To balance the bridge circuit a variable simulation device is provided to simulate at least one circuit section of at least one bridge branch and connect with the at least one bridge branch. By such an arrangement, the signal level in the simulation device may be reduced so far that this can be designed as an integrated circuit and to be programmable.

Abstract: A pipette tip is provided including sidewall having a distal end and a proximal end. The sidewall extends from the proximal end to the distal end and defines a surface around a center axis. The distal portion defines a tip having an aperture. The proximal portion has a sealing member and a wall member spaced apart and defining a channel therein between. The sealing member is deflectable from a first position to a second position when receiving the shaft of a pipette tool. The sealing member is elastically deformable so as to creates a seal with the shaft.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for exciting and detecting fluorescence in samples are disclosed. In one embodiment, a sample holder for holding a plurality of samples is provided together with an optical manifold having an excitation source, a photo receiver, or both, for each of the plurality of samples. In another embodiment, the optical manifold contains only the excitation source or a photo receiver, and the other is associated with the sample holder. This system permits for rapid excitation and measurement of fluorescence without the use of moving parts and without any opto-mechanical or electronic disturbance. It exhibits an exceptional signal to noise ratio, which permits it to differentiate between very low level differences in fluorescence.

Abstract: A method and nutrient supplement composition for nocturnal administration to human subjects where the nutrient supplement composition includes both a sustained timed release portion and a rapid release portion, both portions containing a mixture of edible food proteins and edible amino acid building blocks with a portion of these key components being microencapsulated for sustained timed release in a the human body during the growth hormone spikes that generally occur during nocturnal sleep.

Abstract: A method of making a mattress component includes providing a first layer of a first material. Mating patterns are shaped in a surface of the first layer in areas corresponding to a position where hips and shoulders of the user will rest on a mattress. The mating patterns in the surface of the first layer result in a greater effective thickness of the first layer in areas corresponding to the position where the hips and the shoulders will rest, and a lesser effective thickness of the first layer in other areas. A second layer has a second material with different properties than the first material. Mating patterns are shaped in a surface of the second layer in areas corresponding to the mating patterns of the first layer and shaped to substantially match with the mating patterns of the first layer.

Abstract: A system and method for a bi-directional deflectable resistor. The bi-directional deflectable resistor has a first layer of conductive material on a top surface of a substrate and a second layer of conductive material on a bottom surface of a substrate, each layer having a resistance that changes predictably when an electrical signal is applied thereto. The change of resistance of either the first layer of conductive material or the second layer of conductive material reflects an amount of deflection of the respective layer. Having two layers of conductive material allows for the measurement of deflection in all directions.

Abstract: A system and method for a deflectable resistor. The deflectable resistor has a first layer of conductive material and a second layer of conductive material on a top surface of a substrate, said first layer of conductive material having a resistance that changes predictably. The change of resistance of the first layer of conductive material reflects an amount of deflection of the respective layer. A dielectric is placed over the first and second layers of conductive material. A third layer of conductive material is placed thereon. The dielectric material electrically insulates the first and second layers from the third layer.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling the flow of fluid for an inflatable mattress having multiple, non-interconnected inflatable chambers. Each inflatable chamber can be selectively inflated and deflated to vary the pressure exerted from the mattress surface to selected areas of a human body, thereby preventing the formation of decubitus ulcers.