Abstract: A composition suitable for use in a transdermal delivery patch for administration of an opioid, the composition comprising a phosphate compound of tocopherol and a polymer carrier.

Abstract: A scaffold for reshaping an ear or a nose, the scaffold being configured to be i) attached to the cartilaginous portion of an ear or ii) attached to the cartilaginous portion of a nose, wherein the scaffold is formed at least in part from a shape-memory material and/or a plastic material and is capable of transforming from a first configuration to a second, pre-programmed configuration.

Abstract: An electronic weapon has an installed deployment unit from which an electrode, tethered by a filament, is launched, according to various aspects of the present invention. The electronic weapon provides a stimulus signal through a target to inhibit locomotion by the target. The electrode includes a body and a spear. The body has an interior. The spear has a tang. During assembly of the electrode, the filament is positioned in the interior. The tang is positioned in the interior over the filament. The tang is then mechanically coupled to the body, securing the filament in the interior. After assembly, applying a force along the filament results in friction between the filament and the interior. The interior of the body may include an undulation.

Abstract: An electronic weapon has an installed deployment unit from which an electrode, tethered by a filament, is launched. According to various aspects of the present invention, the deployment unit includes a housing, two filaments stored in the housing prior to launching, and two electrodes, each coupled to the end of one of the filaments. A propellant in the housing launches the electrodes responsive to the launch device. In operation, an end portion of each filament experiences a tensile stress during launching. The tensile stress follows a nonlinear path along a surface of an undulation of an interior of the respective electrode.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to blood treatment systems and related methods. The systems can include a blood pump arranged to move blood through a blood filter, a pressure sensor arranged to measure pressure of blood flowing through a fluid line between the blood pump and the blood filter, and a controller configured to activate a rinse pump to move rinse fluid through the blood filter based at least in part on the pressure of blood flowing through the fluid line as measured by the pressure sensor.

Abstract: A scaffold for reshaping an ear or a nose, the scaffold being configured to be i) attached to the cartilaginous portion of an ear or ii) attached to the cartilaginous portion of a nose, wherein the scaffold is formed at least in part from a shape-memory material and/or a plastic material and is capable of transforming from a first configuration to a second, pre-programmed configuration.

Abstract: A composition comprising a phenolic resin and crude glycerol is provided. The composition is suitable for use in producing a phenolic resin product. A method of producing a phenolic resin product including the step of adding crude glycerol to a phenolic resin to thereby produce the phenolic resin product is also provided. Also provided is a phenolic resin product produced by the method and a phenolic resin product comprising a phenolic resin modified by adding crude glycerol. Articles produced from the products have improved physical properties and are particularly useful in manufacturing civil engineering and building materials. The crude glycerol in the composition may be no more than 80% pure.

Abstract: A scaffold for reshaping an ear or a nose, the scaffold being configured to be i) attached to the cartilaginous portion of an ear or ii) attached to the cartilaginous portion of a nose, wherein the scaffold is formed at least in part from a shape-memory material and/or a plastic material and is capable of transforming from a first configuration to a second, pre-programmed configuration.

Abstract: Peritoneal dialysis systems and related methods are disclosed. The methods can include combining a first solution having a first concentration of a solute with a second solution having a second concentration of the solute to form a custom dialysate, e.g., according to a specific prescription for a patient.

Abstract: Disclosed are topical compositions for the treatment of microbial infections on the skin or scalp which include a polyvalent metal salt of pyrithione and include a metal ion source. Also disclosed are methods for treating microbial infections of the skin or scalp using such compositions.

Abstract: An improved greeting card is presented that incorporates cellular bubble material, such as bubble wrap, into the images and or text thereon. The bubbles of the cellular bubble material may be popped, thereby providing an amusing and pleasurable activity for the recipient of the card. By making reference to the popping activity, the message on the card may be reinforced. The cellular bubble material provides pleasing visual and tactile features, and if used in quantity provides integral protection of the card and its contents.

Abstract: A process for the esterification of a triglyceride. The process comprises forming a single phase solution of said triglyceride in an alcohol selected from methanol and ethanol, the ratio of alcohol to triglyceride being 15:1 to 35:1. The solution further comprises a co-solvent in an amount to effect formation the single phase and a base catalyst for the esterification reaction. After a period of time, ester is recovered from the solution. Esterification is rapid and proceeds essentially to completion. The esters may be used as biofuel or biodiesel.

Abstract: A process for the esterification of a mixture of fatty acids and triglycerides. The process comprises forming a single phase solution of fatty acids and triglyceride in an alcohol selected from methanol and ethanol, the ratio of said alcohol to triglyceride being 15:1 to 35:1. The solution further comprises a co-solvent in an amount to form the single phase. In a first step, an acid catalyst for the esterification of the fatty acids is added. After a period of time, the acid catalyst is neutralized and a base catalyst for the transesterification of triglycerides is added. After a further period of time, esters are separated from the solution.

Abstract: A process for the esterification of a mixture of fatty acids and triglycerides. The process comprises forming a single phase solution of fatty acids and triglyceride in an alcohol selected from methanol and ethanol, the ratio of said alcohol to triglyceride being 15:1 to 35:1. The solution further comprises a co-solvent in an amount to form the single phase. In a first step, an acid catalyst for the esterification of the fatty acids is added. After a period of time, the acid catalyst is neutralised and a base catalyst for the transesterification of triglycerides is added. After a further period of time, esters are separated from the solution.

Abstract: A modular air conditioning system comprises a self-contained refrigeration power cell and a remotely located heat exchanger coupled by a low-pressure refrigerant circuit. The refrigeration power cell comprises a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator, which are serially coupled to form a high-pressure closed refrigeration circuit. The low-pressure circuit thermally interfaces with the condenser to remove heat from the high-pressure circuit. This heat exchanger is adapted to mount in proximity to or be integrated with the radiator. Alternatively, this circuit thermally interfaces with the evaporator to remove heat from the low-pressure refrigerant. This heat exchanger is adapted to mount in the cabin of the vehicle. When the low-pressure circuit thermally interfaces with the evaporator, the low-pressure circuit may further include a cool box for storing items to be refrigerated. Preferably, the cool box and heat exchanger may each be operated either alone, or in combination.

Abstract: A modular air conditioning system comprises a self-contained refrigeration power cell and a remotely located heat exchanger coupled by a low-pressure refrigerant circuit. The refrigeration power cell comprises a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator, which are serially coupled to form a high-pressure closed refrigeration circuit. The low-pressure circuit thermally interfaces with the condenser to remove heat from the high-pressure circuit. This heat exchanger is adapted to mount in proximity to or be integrated with the radiator. Alternatively, this circuit thermally interfaces with the evaporator to remove heat from the low-pressure refrigerant. This heat exchanger is adapted to mount in the cabin of the vehicle. When the low-pressure circuit thermally interfaces with the evaporator, the low-pressure circuit may further include a cool box for storing items to be refrigerated. Preferably, the cool box and heat exchanger may each be operated either alone, or in combination.

Abstract: In a digital speech interpolation system, speech inactivity time is utilized to reduce the bit rate on a link between transmitter and receiver by compressing digital characters from a plurality of trunks onto a lesser plurality of channels. If the number of trunks having active speech samples exceeds the number of channels, an overload may exist. To mitigate overload, it is common to truncate one or more bits from a transmitted character. However, bit truncation leads to signal degradation. Of course, it is desirable to abate the degradation consistent with mitigating the overload. Unfortunately, the number of bits truncated from a character on a first trunk is typically more or less than the number of bits truncated from a character on a second trunk. As a result, the signal degradation may not be uniform. To obtain a more uniform signal degradation, the instant priority rotation arrangement rotates the starting point for assigning bits to a digital frame responsive to the activity status of the trunks.

Abstract: In a communications system such as a time assignment speech interpolation (TASI) system for concentrating signals from N trunks onto C channels (C < N), and for expanding same, it is common for a speech signal to pass through a plurality of transmitter/receiver terminals, perhaps connected for tandem operation. Unfortunately, transmitter speech detector clipping of the speech signal leads to a distortion accumulation problem. Also, while a calling trunk is inactive, an inserted noise signal is commonly furnished by a receiver to the called trunk to avoid an aural "too quiet" condition. Unfortunately, actual calling trunk noise and the called trunk inserted noise may differ, leading to a noise signal contrast problem. To mitigate the signal contrast problem, communications apparatus including an improved noise signal inserting arrangement, responsive to a measure of calling trunk noise, supplies an adaptively adjusted, deterministic, pseudorandom noise signal to the called trunk.

Abstract: In a PCM system, character compression using nearly instantaneous companding (NIC) is known to obtain a reduction in the number of bits transmitted. Unfortunately, in tandem digital PCM-to-NIC-to-PCM conversions, a signal delay results because a maximum segment value is usually unknown until a block of PCM characters, which are to be converted to make up a block of NIC characters, has been received. Further, if the PCM block is received out-of-phase, a signal degradation may result because the incorrect maximum sgement value may be used during a subsequent conversion. To mitigate delay, the disclosed processor discards certain least significant bits of a PCM character and substitutes therefor a predetermined bit pattern corresponding to the difference between the maximum segment value and the segment value of the first character of the block.

Abstract: A digital speech interpolation (DSI) system advantageously utilizes speech inactivity time to reduce the bit rate by compressing digital characters from a plurality of trunks onto a lesser plurality of channels. A signaling arrangement is typically employed therein to signal a receiver as to the activity of a trunk. If the number of active trunks exceeds the number of channels, an overload may exist. Known arrangements for mitigating overload typically include apparatus responsive to an activity signal for truncating one or more bits from the digital characters and for transmitting the truncated characters. Unfortunately, quantization noise is increased and digital precision decreased in such arrangements. The hereindisclosed system includes an improved automatically adaptive arrangement for advantageously incorporating nearly instantaneous companding (NIC) and priority trunk rotation in a plurality of frames, called a multiframe.