Abstract: A snow sled for use by a seated rider is disclosed and includes a body section, a seat section having an underside for engaging the snow and a top side for receiving the seated rider, the seat section attached to the body section, a foot section having an underside for engaging the snow and positioned forward of the seat section when the snow sled is deployed in the riding configuration and positioned adjacent the seat section when the snow sled is retracted into the stowable configuration, and a handlebar arrangement connecting the body section to the foot section.

Abstract: The present invention includes a children's toy waterslide incorporating a sliding surface, an obstacle region, a splash zone, and an obstacle or obstacles. The sliding surface extends through the obstacle region and into the splash zone. Water may be sprayed along the length of the sliding surface by a sprinkler tube. The obstacle or obstacles may be placed on or over the sliding surface in the obstacle region. The obstacle may be a “limbo stick” bar, a water tunnel with dump bucket, and/or inflatable bowling-pin-type objects.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a voltage, such as a bias voltage, supplied by an integrated circuit. A nominal terminating resistor is connected across a first and a second input/output pads from which the voltage is supplied. The voltage is measured across third and fourth pads connected, respectively, to the first and second pads. In an alternative embodiment the functionality of the third and the fourth pads is multiplexed between chip operational circuitry unrelated to the voltage to be measured and a connection to the first and second pads for measuring the voltage.

Abstract: The invention provides chimeric proteins comprising a non-toxic Pseudomonas exotoxin A sequence and a Type IV pilin loop sequence, wherein the Type IV loop sequence is inserted within the non-toxic Pseudomonas exotoxin A. The invention also provides polynucleotides encoding the chimeric proteins, and compositions comprising the polynucleotides or the chimeric proteins. The invention also provides methods for using the chimeric proteins, polynucleotides and compositions of the invention.

Abstract: A snow recreation device is provided. The device is defined by a convex bottom surface that includes tracking and steering ridges. In some embodiments, the device includes raised handles configured to position a rider's grip above the bottom surface of the device.

Abstract: A snow sled for use by a seated rider is disclosed and includes a body section, a seat section having an underside for engaging the snow and a top side for receiving the seated rider, the seat section attached to the body section, a foot section having an underside for engaging the snow and positioned forward of the seat section when the snow sled is deployed in the riding configuration and positioned adjacent the seat section when the snow sled is retracted into the stowable configuration, and a handlebar arrangement connecting the body section to the foot section.

Abstract: A machinable austempered cast iron article has improved strength, machinability, fatigue performance, and resistance to environmental cracking. A method of making the machinable austempered cast iron article includes austenitizing an iron composition having a substantially pearlitic microstructure in an intercritical temperature range of between 1380° F. and 1500° F. This produces a ferritic plus austenitic microstructure. The ferritic plus austenitic microstructure is quenched into an austempering temperature range of between 575° F. and 750° F. within 3 minutes to prevent formation of pearlite. The ferritic plus austenitic microstructure is then austempered in the austempering temperature range of between 575° F. and 750° F. to produce a microstructure of a continuous matrix of equiaxed ferrite with islands of austenite. Finally, the microstructure of the continuous matrix of equiaxed ferrite with islands of austenite is cooled to ambient temperature to produce the machinable austempered cast iron article.

Abstract: A recording system employing a magneto-resistive (MR) element senses a resistance value of the MR element and generates one or more MR resistance (MRR) signal values based on the sensed MR element resistance value. The MRR signal values might be, for example, current or voltage values proportional or inversely proportional to the MR element resistance value. The MRR signal values might be employed to control one or more of: i) a unity gain bandwidth of a bias loop for the MR element, ii) an MR read head preamplifier low corner frequency, and iii) a slew rate across the MR element.

Abstract: A method of testing a semiconductor circuit including a pair of contact pads, a biasing circuit for applying a voltage to the pair of contact pads, and a sensing circuit for providing a signal indicative of the voltage applied across the contact pads. The method includes determining a voltage gain and voltage offset of the sensing circuit while the biasing circuit is disabled. The method also includes enabling the biasing circuit to produce a voltage across the contact pads and determining, from the resulting output voltage produced by the sensing circuit, an actual output voltage produced by the biasing circuit at the contact pads based on the determined voltage gain and voltage offset of the sensing circuit.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention may provide a method and system for event notification, performance and/or risk assessment based on mission impact that may be due to actual and/or potential info-structure disruptions. In one embodiment of the present invention, one or more network event messages may be received from a source or multiple sources. An operational mission impacted by a network event may be identified based on a received network event message and mapping with an operational architecture task identifier associated with the impacted operational mission and an element identifier associated with a source element.

Abstract: A game apparatus for catching and throwing a projectile. The apparatus includes a handle, and a basket attached to the handle for catching and throwing the projectile. The basket includes spaced apart retaining members configured to yield sufficiently to allow the projectile to pass between them when the projectile is received during a catch, and further configured to retain the projectile after the catch. The basket portion also includes a support structure configured to support the projectile after the projectile passes between the retaining members. A primary aperture is disposed at an end of the basket portion substantially opposite the handle, and is dimensioned to allow the projectile to pass through and exit the basket during a throw.

Abstract: This invention provides methods of eliciting a secretry IgA-mediated immune response in a subject by administering a Pseudomonas exotoxin A-like chimeric immunogens that include a non-native epitope in the Ib domain of Pseudomonas exotoxin. Compositions comprising secretory IgA antibodies that specifically recognize an epitope of HIV-1 also are provided.

Abstract: A system monitors in real-time multiple organization patient healthcare financial and clinical encounter related information by automatically recognizing and evaluating complex data patterns to identify statistically significant patterns and clusters using user created data pattern templates to detect fraud, disease outbreaks and cost reduction opportunities. A system monitors healthcare encounter related information derived from patient interaction with a healthcare provider to detect irregular data patterns. The system includes an interface processor for receiving patient encounter related information comprising clinical and financial information from a plurality of different sources for storage in a database. A search processor searches the database to identify a predetermined data pattern and determines whether an identified data pattern meets predetermined criteria. A data processor processes the identified encounter related information to be suitable for output communication.

Abstract: A propulsion device which takes advantage of the fact that the mass of an object will decrease if the energy density of the object changes rapidly. The energy density is changed by causing rapid mechanical deformations of the object. By these means, the mass of a rotating object is decreased to one side of its axis of rotation, creating an unbalanced centrifugal force that acts on the rotating object as a propulsive force in the direction from the lower mass half toward the higher mass half. The propulsive force is used to propel an object or hold an object in position in opposition to an outside force or provide mechanical energy for a purpose such as the generation of electricity.

Abstract: A patient claim data processing system responds to and initiates clinical events and attains early accurate claim data during a patient healthcare encounter cycle to support prompt claim data validation and editing both for individual claim elements and for a completed claim to improve claim accuracy prior to claim submission to a payer. The system submits accurate claims to payers and receives remittance advice from payers and applies rules to the advice. A system processes financial data related to provision of healthcare to a patient in response to clinical events. The system includes an interface processor for receiving a message identifying an event and a related change in healthcare data concerning a patient and also includes a source of rules for determining characteristics associated with reimbursement for provision of an individual service to a patient.

Abstract: A system uses aggregated healthcare encounter service, billing, and claim data to enable an authorized patient to access healthcare encounter related information. A system supports patient access to healthcare encounter related information including information concerning an event involving interaction of a patient with a healthcare enterprise. The system includes an interface processor for receiving patient identification information and a request for encounter related information. The system also includes a database linking a patient identifier with, a record identifying at least one patient encounter and data identifying at least one healthcare provider organization associated with the at least one patient encounter and a record containing encounter information related to the at least one patient encounter.

Abstract: A centralized rules repository maintains consistently expressed rules used to process patient claim data in supporting medical procedure eligibility verification, patient referrals, treatment authorization, data entry editing, electronic claim submission, claim status determination and electronic remittance processing. A system for managing rules used for processing claim data related to provision of healthcare to a patient includes an interface processor for acquiring data representing rules from a plurality of different sources. The system includes a rules repository for accumulating data representing acquired rules and a rules processor for initiating application of a selected rule derived from the repository to process claim data in response to a received message. A result processor processes a result being derived by the application of the selected rule to the claim data for output. The interface processor also transforms acquired rules to a common syntax suitable for storage in the rules repository.

Abstract: A claim pre-processing system employs trial adjudication to improve claim accuracy prior to claim submission to a healthcare payer institution or other entity. A system processes claim data related to provision of healthcare to a patient The system includes a claim data collator for collating data related to a claim for a particular patient for submission to a payer and a source of rules for use in processing collated claim data. A pre-processor submits the collated claim data for processing using the rules to validate the collated claim data is in condition for processing to initiate generation of payment. A claim processor submits the collated claim data to a payer, in response to successful validation by the pre-processor. A rules processor processes acquired claim data to identify a condition triggering application of a different set of rules for determining validity of an individual claim element.

Abstract: A propulsion device which takes advantage of the fact that the mass of an object will decrease if the energy density of the object changes rapidly. The energy density is changed by exposing the object to a rapidly changing electric field or magnetic field or by causing the object to experience quantum mechanical tunneling. By these means, the mass of a rotating object is decreased to one side of the axis of rotation, creating an unbalanced centrifugal force that acts on the rotating object as a propulsive force in the direction from the lower mass half to the higher mass half. The propulsive force is used to propel an object or hold an object in position in opposition to an outside force or provide mechanical energy for a purpose such as the generation of electricity.