Abstract: A method of forming an oral product includes extruding a mixture, conveying the extruded mixture through one or more pairs of forming rollers, and cutting the extruded mixture into one or more oral products. The mixture can include polymer and at least one flavorant, sweetener, active ingredient, or combination thereof. The extruded mixture forms an extrudate having a predetermined cross-sectional shape. The one or more pairs of forming rollers abut to define a passage there between as each forming roller rotates. The passage has a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the predetermined cross-sectional shape. The method can be performed using a machine including an extruder, one or more pairs of forming rollers, and a cutting device.

Abstract: A method of forming an oral product includes extruding a mixture, conveying the extruded mixture through one or more pairs of forming rollers, and cutting the extruded mixture into one or more oral products. The mixture can include polymer and at least one flavorant, sweetener, active ingredient, or combination thereof. The extruded mixture forms an extrudate having a predetermined cross-sectional shape. The one or more pairs of forming rollers abut to define a passage there between as each forming roller rotates. The passage has a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the predetermined cross-sectional shape. The method can be performed using a machine including an extruder, one or more pairs of forming rollers, and a cutting device.

Abstract: A method of forming an oral product includes extruding a mixture, conveying the extruded mixture through one or more pairs of forming rollers, and cutting the extruded mixture into one or more oral products. The mixture can include polymer and at least one flavorant, sweetener, active ingredient, or combination thereof. The extruded mixture forms an extrudate having a predetermined cross-sectional shape. The one or more pairs of forming rollers abut to define a passage there between as each forming roller rotates. The passage has a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the predetermined cross-sectional shape. The method can be performed using a machine including an extruder, one or more pairs of forming rollers, and a cutting device.

Abstract: A method for making a smokeless tobacco article can include combining thermoplastic polymer particles with tobacco particles to form a mixture of particles, compressing the mixture of particles within a pressing apparatus to form the mixture into a predetermined shape, separating the mixture from the pressing apparatus such that it retains the predetermined shape, and heating the mixture outside of the pressing apparatus to at least partially melt at least some of the thermoplastic polymer particles and form a matrix of polymer and tobacco particles.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses an osteogenic composition comprising mesenchymal stem cells pre-cultured in the presence of an agent that accelerates canonical Wnt signaling therein. Also, provided are osteogenic compositions incorporated into a biocompatible gel. The present invention provides methods for treating bone degeneration or injury associated with a pathophysiological condition in a mammal or for accelerating repair of a skeletal injury in a mammal by administering to the mammal or contacting the site of injury with the osteogenic composition.

Abstract: An intermedullary device and methods of use are described. The device is configured for fixation of a long bone and to facilitate healing of the long bone. The device comprises an elongate member having a first end, a second end, and a mid region. The mid region comprises a band or collar extending outwardly away from the outer surface of the device to increase all or a portion of the cross-sectional diameter of the mid region. The elongate member has a length that may be about the same as or less than the length of the long bone's diaphyseal region. The band further comprises at least one engaging surface configured for engaging with a cortical region of the long bone at a defect site. Use of the device facilitates healing of the long bone at or near the defect site. The method comprises providing a first end of the device in a first exposed region of the long bone's medullary canal. The method further comprises providing a second end of the device in a second exposed region of the medullary canal.

Abstract: The present invention includes a mold and a method for producing an engineered tissue construct comprising: providing a mold comprising one or more openings, the mold being at least partially elastic and the one or more openings having a pre-determined shape; and extruding through the one or more openings in the mold a biocompatible gel-forming macromer to form a hydrogel using a mechanical force sufficient to extrude the biocompatible gel-forming macromer.

Abstract: A disposable package makes a beverage when liquid is supplied thereto by a beverage forming apparatus. The package comprises an impermeable capsule including a bottom wall and a tubular side wall. The side wall includes an annular shelf extending downwardly and outwardly from an upper end thereof. The side wall includes vertical indentations formed therein wherein upper ends thereof terminate at the annular shelf. An annular upper lip, which surrounds an opening to the interior space, is configured to locate the package in a receptacle of the apparatus. A lid seals the opening. A liquid supply component supplies liquid to the interior space of the capsule which combines with a flavor medium to form a beverage. Pressure build up in the interior space of the capsule deforms the capsule such that the annular shelf tears away from at least one indentation to form one or more through openings. The beverage dispenses through the openings.

Abstract: An alcoholic beverage forming apparatus operable to dispense an alcoholic beverage having a desired flavor, proof, temperature, and volume mixes water and alcohol with a flavor medium to form an alcoholic beverage having a desired flavor that may be dispensed from the apparatus. The apparatus includes a capsule holder, a water supply reservoir and an alcohol supply reservoir. The reservoirs are operable to respectively supply water and alcohol to a mixing manifold of the apparatus to such that the water and alcohol are combined in the mixing manifold to form an alcoholic beverage mixture which is subsequently mixed with a flavor medium contained in an interior of a beverage capsule. A dispenser is operable to dispense an alcoholic beverage therefrom during operation of the alcoholic beverage forming apparatus.

Abstract: Materials and methods for preparing mesenchymal stem cells are described such that the mesenchymal stem cells remain for a longer period of time than would normally be found at a site of tissue healing. The mesenchymal stem cells are pretreated to exhibit osteogenic characteristics and, when combined with extracellular matrix components produced from the pretreated cells, improve tissue healing. Co-administration of the pretreated cells and their secreted extracellular matrix components at an injured site or defect allowed the mesenchymal stem cells to co-localize at or near the injured or defect site for a longer period. The combination improves overall repair of the tissue by extending the retention signal of mesenchymal stem cells. A three-dimensional scaffold containing the pretreated cells with or without addition of the secreted extracellular matrix is also described. The conditioned scaffold is suitable for use in vivo and may be preserved cryogenically prior to use.

Abstract: A method for making a smokeless tobacco article can include combining thermoplastic polymer particles with tobacco particles to form a mixture of particles, compressing the mixture of particles within a pressing apparatus to form the mixture into a predetermined shape, separating the mixture from the pressing apparatus such that it retains the predetermined shape, and heating the mixture outside of the pressing apparatus to at least partially melt at least some of the thermoplastic polymer particles and form a matrix of polymer and tobacco particles.

Abstract: A method of de-icing a wind turbine blade (5) comprises the steps of: generating heated air using heating means (10) provided in the root portion of the blade; and continuously circulating the heated air around the interior of the blade through at least a portion of two more longitudinal blade cavities (24, 26, 28) defined within the blade. The circulating step includes: channelling the heated air from an outlet (32a) of the heating means at least part way through a first longitudinal blade cavity (26), towards the tip end (18) of the blade; at a position along the length of the blade, diverting the heated air from the first longitudinal blade cavity (26) into a second longitudinal blade cavity (24); and channelling the diverted air at least part way through the second longitudinal blade cavity (24) back to an inlet (34) of the heating means (10). The heated air is circulated through at least a central cavity (24) and a leading edge cavity (26) defined between longitudinal webs (22) within the blade.

Abstract: A method of forming an oral product includes extruding a mixture, conveying the extruded mixture through one or more pairs of forming rollers, and cutting the extruded mixture into one or more oral products. The mixture can include polymer and at least one flavorant, sweetener, active ingredient, or combination thereof. The extruded mixture forms an extrudate having a predetermined cross-sectional shape. The one or more pairs of forming rollers abut to define a passage there between as each forming roller rotates. The passage has a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the predetermined cross-sectional shape. The method can be performed using a machine including an extruder, one or more pairs of forming rollers, and a cutting device.

Abstract: A method of forming an oral product includes gripping a rod of oral product material with a gripping device, indexing the rod forward to have a leading end of the rod abut a stop at a first location, cutting a leading portion of the rod to create an oral product, moving the stop to a second location to allow the oral product to fall, moving the stop back to the first location, and repeating the process. A machine for forming an oral product can include a cutting device adapted to cut through a rod of plastic material, a stop spaced from the cutting device, the stop being adapted to be moved from a first location to a second location, a gripping device adapted to hold and index a rod towards the stop, and a load cell positioned to receive oral products cut from a rod by the cutting device.

Abstract: A method for making a smokeless tobacco article can include combining thermoplastic polymer particles with tobacco particles to form a mixture of particles, compressing the mixture of particles within a pressing apparatus to form the mixture into a predetermined shape, separating the mixture from the pressing apparatus such that it retains the predetermined shape, and heating the mixture outside of the pressing apparatus to at least partially melt at least some of the thermoplastic polymer particles and form a matrix of polymer and tobacco particles.

Abstract: Materials and methods for preparing mesenchymal stem cells are described such that the mesenchymal stem cells remain for a longer period of time than would normally be found at a site of tissue healing. The mesenchymal stem cells are pretreated to exhibit osteogenic characteristics and, when combined with extracellular matrix components produced from the pretreated cells, improve tissue healing. Co-administration of the pretreated cells and their secreted extracellular matrix components at an injured site or defect allowed the mesenchymal stem cells to co-localize at or near the injured or defect site for a longer period. The combination improves overall repair of the tissue by extending the retention signal of mesenchymal stem cells. A three-dimensional scaffold containing the pretreated cells with or without addition of the secreted extracellular matrix is also described. The conditioned scaffold is suitable for use in vivo and may be preserved cryogenically prior to use.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses an osteogenic composition comprising mesenchymal stem cells pre-cultured in the presence of an agent that accelerates canonical Wnt signaling therein. Also, provided are osteogenic compositions incorporated into a biocompatible gel. The present invention provides methods for treating bone degeneration or injury associated with a pathophysiological condition in a mammal or for accelerating repair of a skeletal injury in a mammal by administering to the mammal or contacting the site of injury with the osteogenic composition.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses methods and compositions for enhancing the growth of adult marrow stromal cells.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses methods and compositions for enhancing the growth of adult marrow stromal cells. The present invention also encompasses methods and compositions for regulating the effects of Dkk-1. Methods and compositions for treatment of osteolytic lesions in multiple myeloma and enhancing osteogenesis are also included.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses methods and compositions for enhancing the growth of adult marrow stromal cells. The present invention also encompasses methods and compositions for regulating the effects of Dkk-1. Methods and compositions for treatment of osteolytic lesions in multiple myeloma and enhancing osteogenesis are also included.