Abstract: Enhanced muscle performance, including strength, recovery and endurance can be achieved by means of improved glucose transport and improved glycogen loading within animal muscle tissue through the administration of an effective amount of a pinitol compound. Pinitol alone, or in combination with a synergistic amount of insulin, is effective for controlling insulin-dependent diabetes.

Abstract: This invention is an in-the-shoe ankle brace (10) including a girth (21), an adjustable fastener (25) attached to the lateral ends of the girth (21), an ankle bone cover (30) extending downward from the girth (21) with at least a portion of the cover positioned proximate the first lateral end of the girth, at least one strap (42) extending downward from the girth (21) having a first end (42a) attached to the girth (21) proximate the first lateral end of the girth (21), a second end (42b) attached to the girth (21) proximate the second lateral end of the girth (21) so as to define a carriage extending below the girth (21), and a heel pad (50) attached to the strap within the carriage.

Abstract: A method of enhancing the tantalizing appearance of a covered female breast by placing a nipple enhancer between the breast and an article of clothing covering the breast in the absence of any adhesive so as to produce the appearance of an erect nipple through the article of clothing covering the breast.

Abstract: A surgical access device (10 or 10′) includes a frame defining an access port and a pair of flanges are carried on the lower surface of the frame. The flanges are pivotable between an insertion position, where their leading edges are optimally placed adjacent one another to assist in inserting the device in an incision, and a retracting position, where both flanges optimally urge upwardly against the internal surface of the patient's tissue to seat the access port. A method of the invention involves making an incision at least as long as the leading edge of such a device and inserting the leading edge of the device into the incision. The flanges are moved laterally away from one another to expand the opening in the tissue and center the access port laterally within the opening.

Abstract: Dermatitis can be treated by the administration of &Dgr;5-androstene-3&bgr;-ol-7,17 dione and metabolizable precursors thereof, such as &Dgr;5-androstene-3&bgr;-acetoxy-7,17 dione, to the skin.

Abstract: An infant simulator capable of emulating the care requirements of an infant and recording the quality of care and responsiveness of a person caring for the infant simulator and/or signaling the person caring for the infant simulator when care is required. The infant simulator is capable of (i) sensing the environmental conditions of position, temperature and compression to which the infant simulator is subjected, and (ii) periodically demanding that the care-provider change the diaper, rock the infant, feeding the infant, or burp the infant simulator. The infant simulator is also programmed with the ancillary features of providing positive feedback when the proper interaction is provided in a timely fashion, an escalating demand signal when the proper interaction is not provided in a timely fashion, an identification system requiring the assigned care-provider to be present in order to satisfy a demand event, an unsatisfiable fussy period, and multiple behavior modes (i.e.

Abstract: A sample population including a plurality of members participate in a consumer activity for a participation period to assess consumer reaction to the consumer activity. Surface electromyography signals from a zygomatic muscle and electrodermography signals of each member of the sample population are measured during the participation period. Data is recorded including at least a description of a stimulus experienced by each member during the participation period and a description of the interaction between the member and the stimulus. The recorded data is synchronized with the measurements of electromyography signals and electrodermography signals for each member to allow association of the recorded data with the measurements. The electromyography signals are equated or translated to an appeal value and the electrodermography signals are equated or translated to an impact value for each member.

Abstract: A pliable or rigid web securely suspended across a shopping cart to suspend small, delicate and fragile items above the basket of a shopping cart.

Abstract: An aqueous coating composition which can be applied to a cured rubber surface, such as the white sidewall, colored sidewall, raised white lettering or raised colored lettering of a tire, to provide a protective coating against staining and scuffing. The composition includes (a) polyvinyl alcohol, (b) ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, and (c) one or both of (i) a silicon emulsion in an amount sufficient to provide increased scuff resistance to a coating prepared from the composition, and (ii) a thickening agent of a type and in an amount effective to render the composition shear-thinning.

Abstract: The present invention provides polydiorganosiloxane oligourea segmented copolymers. The copolymers contain soft polydiorganosiloxane units, hard segments that are diisocyanate residues, the polydiorganosiloxane units and diisocyanate residues being connected by urea linkages, and terminal groups that are non-reactive, reactive under free radical or moisture cure conditions, or amines. The invention also provides methods of preparing the copolymers.

Abstract: An infant simulator capable of emulating the care requirements of an infant and recording the quality of care and responsiveness of a person caring for the infant simulator and/or signaling the person caring for the infant simulator when care is required. The infant simulator is capable of (i) sensing the environmental conditions of position, temperature and compression to which the infant simulator is subjected, and (ii) periodically demanding that the care-provider change the diaper, rock the infant, feeding the infant, or burp the infant simulator. The infant simulator is also programmed with the ancillary features of providing positive feedback when the proper interaction is provided in a timely fashion, an escalating demand signal when the proper interaction is not provided in a timely fashion, an identification system requiring the assigned care-provider to be present in order to satisfy a demand event, an unsatisfiable fussy period, and multiple behavior modes (i.e.

Abstract: A method of assessing consumer reaction to a marketing stimulus, involving the steps of (a) exposing a sample population to a marketing stimulus for an exposure period, (b) measuring surface electromyography signals from a zygomatic muscle of each member of the sample population during an exposure period, (c) optionally measuring surface electromyography signals from a corrugator facial muscle of each member of the sample population during the exposure period and combining the measured surface electromyography signals from the zygomatic and corrugator facial muscle of each member of the sample population to produce combined electromyography signals, (d) measuring electrodermography signals of each member of the sample population during the exposure period, (e) equating or translating the electromyography signals to an appeal value for each member, (f) equating or translating the electrodermography signals to an impact value for each member, and (g) visually representing each of the appeal and impact values id

Abstract: A process and composition for treating an animal waste in a waste holding facility to reduce sulfides and enhance efficient degradation of large amounts of organic matter with reduced odor. The process includes administering a probiotic material capable of promoting organic digestion to an animal and maintaining a sulfide gas concentration of less than 10 ppm from a waste produced by the animal. Maintaining a low sulfide gas concentration can be done by adding an innoculum of sulfide-utilizing bacteria to the waste produced by the animal.

Abstract: Human skin can be moisturized by the administration of &Dgr;5-androstene-3&bgr;-ol-7,17 dione and metabolizable precursors thereof, such as &Dgr;5-androstene-3&bgr;-acetoxy-7,17 dione.

Abstract: A method for controlling the acceleration of a vehicle (10) reentering the sensible atmosphere, comprising executing a lofting translational rocket burn at an altitude of greater than about 40 km whereby the vehicle (10) reenters the sensible atmosphere at a maximum accelerative force of less than 4 g.

Abstract: Wrinkles and fine lines occurring on human skin can be diminished by the administration of &Dgr;5-androstene-3&bgr;-ol-7,17 dione and metabolizable precursors thereof, such as &Dgr;5-androstene-3&bgr;-acetoxy-7,17 dione, to the skin.

Abstract: A protective headguard including (i) a protective central pad for covering at least a portion of an athlete's forehead, (ii) a rear pad for covering at least a portion of an athlete's occipital bone, (iii) a sleeve interconnecting the central pad and the rear pad and covering at least a portion of the interior and exterior surfaces of the central and rear pads, and optionally (iv) an adjustment strap system interconnecting the rear pad and the central pad, (v) a packet of cooling material retained by the sleeve, and/or (vi) nubbins projecting from the interior surface of the central and/or rear pad.

Abstract: A signaling fishing rod is disclosed wherein an electrical circuit is completed upon sensing of a strike by a fish, activating a perceptible signal.

Abstract: Headguards for athletes, particularly soccer players, having a foam outer shell and attachment points for an interior padding or suspension system. The interior padding and/or the outer shell may independently be formed as a single unitary piece or a system of separately moveable parts.