Abstract: A system for supporting a sound board in a string instrument comprises a longitudinal support coupled to opposite ends of a cavity in the body of the instrument and a transverse support coupled to the longitudinal support and to the bridge of the string instrument. A compression force is generated between the bridge and the transverse support to lower a raised sound board, thereby improving the sound of the instrument. Alternatively, the compression force maintains a preferred curvature of a sound board or restores a preferred shape to the instrument body. The transverse support includes adjustable elements to permit attachment of the sound board support system to bridges having a range of variation in a length dimension. In some embodiments, the longitudinal support has an adjustable length and may be made from components sized to fit through a sound hole in the instrument body.

Abstract: A method of sustaining alertness of attendees during a meeting is provided, comprising the steps of (a) providing at least a meal from a meal plan to said attendees, each of said meals comprising at least a food and at least a fluid, said meal plan configured to enhance energy levels by selection of a quantity of each of said foods for said meal based on a nutritional value of said food; and a quantity of each of said fluids for said meal plan based on a nutritional value of said fluid; (b) providing a time schedule configured to promote attentiveness by providing break periods wherein foods and fluids from said meal plan are served to said attendees; and (c) providing an environment configured to promote concentration by manipulating atmospheric conditions of a meeting space wherein said meeting takes place.

Abstract: A system and method for enforcing configuration parameters and detecting tampering of configuration files used by a software application. An enforced configuration packet (ECP) file generator generates an enforced configuration packet (ECP) file from a configuration parameter description file containing a set of configuration parameters. The ECP file includes a set of enforced configuration packets, which each include one of the configuration parameters from the ECP description file and a corresponding configuration parameter fingerprint unique to that particular configuration parameter. At startup of the software application, an ECP file reader validates the ECP file and each of the enforced configuration packets contained in the ECP file. Validation is achieved by regenerating the configuration parameter fingerprint of each configuration parameter and comparing the regenerated fingerprint to the fingerprint contained in the enforced configuration packet.