Abstract: A method of preparing an edible thermoplastic nutritious pet chew having an edible film coating comprising applying an aqueous solution or suspension of a cellulose ester and at least one hydrolysable nutrient or at least one heat labile nutrient to the uncoated pet chew; drying the pet chew at a low temperature to form an edible film coating containing the nutrient, wherein the coating adheres to the pet chew, and wherein the nutrient is not degraded by heat and hydrolysis.

Abstract: A custom, therapeutic pillow is constructed based on measurements of a person's torso and head widths. The custom, therapeutic pillow comprises rails to support the user's neck and a memory foam-bottomed cavity in which to receive the user's head.

Abstract: A custom, therapeutic pillow is constructed based on measurements of a person's torso and head widths. A sliding caliper is used for taking the measurements. The resulting pillow is custom fitted to the patient and provides support for the head and neck when the patient is in a supine position or on their side.

Abstract: Measurements for corrective footwear, orthopedics, and orthotics have traditionally been obtained through three-dimensional casts of a foot. Digital technology opens an avenue of utilizing a digital image in place of the cast. Using a single or dual flatbed scanner and a computer, all the data required to construct a corrective device may be obtained from a scan or scans of the foot. Observed features and color variations, as well as physical measurements are used to overcome imperfections of a patient's foot.

Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for transmitting frames from a plurality of node ports (N.sub.-- ports) to their associated fabric ports (F.sub.-- ports) for forwarding to other interconnected F.sub.-- ports on a Fibre Channel switch in which the transmitted frames are stored in a plurality of receive buffers at the associated F.sub.-- port prior to forwarding to an interconnected F.sub.-- port, and a receive credit counter, a smart credit counter and a transmit credit counter are employed for tracking the availability of the receive buffers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for high speed decoding of a 20 bit wide data into 16-bit wide data in which the first ten bits and the lower ten bits are decoded simultaneously to ensure complete decoding and where the decoding of the second ten bits is dependent upon the running disparity of the first ten bits, the second ten bits are decoded twice, one assuming the decoded first ten bits will have a positive running disparity, and a second time assuming that the decoded first ten bits will have a negative running disparity.