Abstract: A pie mold and method of making a pie crust that includes a rigid base and a flexible lid. The rigid shallow base includes a bottom plate and a side wall that forms a cavity of a size to correlate to a conventional pie or tart pan. The lid is placed atop the base to cover the dough-filled cavity and then the filled pie mold is chilled. Once the dough is sufficiently chilled, the dough is transferred to a conventional pie plate for baking. The pie mold may further include one or two optional non-stick liners that are positioned atop the bottom plate and upon which or in between which the dough is shaped. The liners are used to transfer the chilled and shaped pie dough to the pie pan, and peeled off prior to placing the pie dough into the pie pan and/or baking the pie crust.

Abstract: It has been determined that certain cardiac stimulators may operate in a manner in which the ventricular pace refractory period (VPRP) may be greater than the post-ventricular atrial refractory period (PVARP). Various exemplary techniques may be used to improve the ability of cardiac stimulators to lengthen the PVARP. In accordance with one technique, the VPRP is adjusted with the pacing rate so that as the pacing rate becomes slower the VPRP increases. The VPRP is compared with the PVARP. The PVARP remains constant until the VPRP becomes greater than the PVARP. Then, the PVARP is adjusted to make it greater than or equal to the VPRP. In accordance with another technique, the VPRP and the PVARP are adjusted with the pacing rate, with the PVARP remaining greater than or equal to the VPRP.