Abstract: A composite food and condiment container is provided. The container includes an upper compartment that retains a food product and a lower compartment positioned directly below the upper compartment. The lower compartment holds a condiment. The container further includes a barrier that may be positioned in a retracted state or a non-retracted state. In the non-retracted state, the barrier separates the food product in the upper compartment from the condiment in the lower compartment. In the retracted state, the barrier exposes the food in the upper compartment to the condiment in the lower compartment.

Abstract: In a semiconductor fabrication method for forming a transistor structure upon a semiconductor substrate, a nitride layer is also formed over the semiconductor substrate. A gate oxide layer is formed over a region of the semiconductor substrate. The gate oxide layer has a relatively thinner oxide region over the nitride layer and a relatively thicker oxide region over the substrate adjacent the nitride layer. A transistor gate is formed extending over the relatively thinner oxide region and over the relatively thicker oxide region. The transistor thus formed is therefore asymmetric. A first transistor active region is formed in the vicinity of the relatively thicker oxide region and a second transistor active region is formed in the vicinity of the relatively thinner oxide region. The nitride layer can be formed by rapid thermal nitridization of the semiconductor substrate. The relatively thinner oxide region can be one-half as thick as the relatively thinner oxide region.

Abstract: A system for inspecting at least one edge of metal strip after the at least one edge has been trimmed by at least one cutting device. Included is an inspection station that has at least one image producer for forming at least one image of the at least one edge passing the inspection station. The at least one image is analyzed to determine at least one quality characteristic of the at least one trimmed edge.

Abstract: Transgenically modified animals which replicate hepatitis viruses are provided for use in evaluating virus-chemical and virus-drug interactions in chronic hepatitis infections.

Abstract: In a method for fabricating an integrated circuit interconnect upon a semiconductor substrate an integrated circuit component is formed upon the surface of the semiconductor substrate. A copper interconnect is formed and electrically coupled to the integrated circuit component. A metal is introduced in the copper interconnect to provide an introduced metal. A gas is reacted with the implanted metal to form a barrier layer cladding upon the copper interconnect. The metal is introduced substantially near the surface of the copper interconnect and substantially all of the introduced metal diffuses to the surface and reacts with the gas. Thus the resistivity of the introduced interconnect is substantially equal to the resistivity of copper. The metal can be, for example, titanium, tantalum, chromium, aluminium or tungsten. The gas can contain, for example, nitrogen, oxygen and carbon.

Abstract: A polymer-bonded granular adsorptive, absorptive, chemisorptive, or catalytically active material and a process for producing molded bodies from this material. An objective was to develop a polymer-bonded granular adsorptive, absorptive, chemisorptive, or catalytically active material which is capable of forming an open-pore and sorptive foamed body at increased temperatures while not reducing the specific surface of the active material and with a binding effect only during the mixing and processing phases, as well as a process for producing molded bodies from this material. This objective was met by mixing and processing an adsorptive, absorptive, chemisorptive, or catalytically active fine-grained material together with a finely particulate, meltable polyethylene with the addition of a binding agent having an oligocondensate basis.

Abstract: A spacer element having a first material and at least one second material. The at least one second material has a specific gravity less than that of the first material, and the first material is integrated with the at least one second material. Also contemplated is a rotary knife arrangement having such a spacer element.

Abstract: Methods are provided for eluting peptides that are bound to major histocompatibility complex ("MHC") molecules expressed on the cell surfaces of viable cells that have at least one MHC-peptide complex on the surfaces of the cells. Methods are provided for using such acid-eluted T cell epitopes, preferably obtained from a patient's tumor, and autologous dendritic cells as the basis for antitumor vaccines.

Abstract: A sensor includes a sensor electrode layer, a solid electrolyte layer and a backplate electrode layer. The contacts for the sensor electrode and the backplate electrode are integrated into the sensor electrode layer and the backplate electrode layer. The contact integrated into the sensor electrode layer is used as a diffusion barrier. A solid electrolyte is placed in the layer of the sensor electrode and the backplate electrode. The sensor functions according to the amperometric principle at ambient temperatures, and is manufactured by the cold-pressing of layers (1) to (3).

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical liposuction apparatus comprises a piezoelectric cral transducer assembly is connectable with a push rod house within the housing which allows the use of interchangeable operative probe and tip. The probe can be hollow, if aspiration of the fatty tissue is desired, or it can be solid.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a formulation or composition which is used to enhance the softness, elastin, or appearance of tissue by increasing the endogenous elastin production. Specifically, the present invention is directed to a composition formulated from the products of thermolysin digestion which are filtered through a 10,000 molecular weight cutoff device, which may be dried to have a formulation which contains 90% or greater of peptides having a molecular weight lower than 10,000 Da. This formulation is preferably applied to human skin in a cosmetic or therapeutic formulation and results in enhanced elasticity of the skin.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a treadmill apparatus having a rotatable treadmill frame which includes a right side, a left side, a front end, and a back end. The treadmill includes a lift motor which is connected to the front end of the treadmill frame. A lift arm is also included which has a first end and a second end and is connected to the lift motor. There is a "Y" shaped member having a one-pronged end and a two-pronged end. The one-pronged end is connected to the second end of the lift arm whereby the "Y" shaped lift arm is extended by a force supplied to the lift arm by the lift motor. The treadmill also includes a back axle support which has a first end and a second end and also has two attachment points. The attachment points are connected to the two-pronged end of the "Y" shaped member. The first end and second end of the back axle support are each connected to a swing arm, each swing arm being pivotly connected to the frame.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a generator assembly having a power source operable to power a generator. The generator is connected to a battery assembly having one or more batteries. The battery assembly is operably connected to a drive system, such as an electric drive propulsion assembly and/or an electric or hydraulic positioning assembly. A selector is operably connected to the generator assembly to select either the battery assembly or both of the generator assembly and the battery assembly to power the apparatus.

Abstract: A method for treating a corneal abnormality. A marked corneal surface is formed by applying a pigment to an outer surface of the cornea over the corneal abnormality. The marked corneal surface is preferably centered about the corneal abnormality. Thereafter, the marked corneal surface is illuminated with laser light for a period sufficient to treat the corneal abnormality.

Abstract: A water based ink composition which can be used effectively in various ink jet type printing arrangements and on a variety of predetermined substrate surfaces. Such ink composition being resistant to smearing and running when contacted by water after application and drying on such substrate surfaces. This water based ink composition comprising a dye material, having a predetermined color, which is present in the ink composition generally in a range of between about 0.1 weight percent and about 10.0 weight percent. Water is present in such ink composition generally in a range of between about 50.0 weight percent and about 80.0 weight percent. There is a substantially water compatible organic solvent compound for dissolving such dye material therein. The organic solvent compound is present in such ink composition generally in a range of between about 10.0 weight percent and about 40.0 weight percent.

Abstract: A non-mechanical switch for actuating a light beam scanning device disposed within a device housing. The device housing has a first area for emitting a scanning light beam from the device. The switch is formed of a light source and a light detector disposed within the device housing, the light source emits light through a second area on the device housing. The light detector is adapted to receive light emitted from the light source and reflected back through the second area toward the light detector by an object disposed outside of the device housing. The light detector has an output signal that is coupled by electronic circuitry to a light beam scanner within the light beam scanning device. The electronic circuitry is adapted to selectively actuate the light beam scanning device in response to the output signal from the light detector. The first area on the device housing for emitting the scanning light beam from the device is separate from the second area on the device housing.

Abstract: A system and method for processing invoice information in which invoice information is communicated from a first site to a second site and an automated reasonability test is performed on the invoice information at the second site using a reasonability criterion.

Abstract: An exercise system including an exercise device at a user location includes a controller at the user location for controlling the exercise device. A control location remote from the user location and a communication system for transmitting information between the exercise device and the control location are provided. A sensor at the user location determines user location information and applies the user location information to the communication system for transmission to the control location. Control information is applied to the communication system by the control location in response to the user location information for transmission to the controller to control the exercise device according to the control information. Thus, the present invention is an interactive fitness system for permitting a user of a programmable exercise device to interact with a fitness server device while the user is in a location remote from the fitness server device.

Abstract: A system and method of controlling the pressure within a surgical tourniquet so as selectively to occlude blood flow within a portion of a limb of a patient, wherein the pressure within an inflatable cuff surrounding a portion of a limb of a patient is changed by automatically opening a first valve connected to a controller and located within a first conduit between an inflatable bladder and the inflatable cuff, when the pressure in the inflatable cuff is different from that in the inflatable bladder. In another aspect, a system and method of controlling the pressure within a surgical tourniquet so as selectively to occlude blood flow within a portion of a limb of a patient within five seconds. In another aspect, a system and method of detecting a leak in a surgical tourniquet. In another aspect, a surgical tourniquet that, from an inflated state, may enter a deflated state, a set state, a default display state, or an off state.

Abstract: A battery tester device that may be integrated into a label of battery. The battery tester device includes first dielectric layer, a conductive layer adjacent the first dielectric layer, a temperature sensitive indicator layer in thermal contact with the conductive layer, and thermal insulation adjacent the conductive layer. The thermal insulation includes a second dielectric layer and thermally insulative material combined with the second dielectric layer for enhancing the structural strength of the second dielectric layer.