Abstract: A savory, smooth-textured, bakeable and shelf-stable product is prepared as a three-phase formulation, including an aqueous liquid phase, a dispersed fat phase and a solids phase, preferably containing cheese in significant proportion. The liquid phase is present in sufficient quantity to suspend and disperse the fat and solids phases. The dispersed fat must have sufficiently small droplet size raise the viscosity for this phase sufficiently to result in a creamy texture for the final product. The savory flavor ingredients are present as undissolved solids of sufficiently small particle size to provide the proper flavor release for the flavor and a texture consistent with the savory flavor. Preferred cheese products will have a lubricous, slippery, smooth mouthfeel and a flavor release that endures until the palate is essentially clean. The product can be applied to unbaked doughs prior to baking and retain their desired properties after baking.

Abstract: A system and method of composing a query object for application against a database is provided. The method composes a selection clause for the query. Next, a criteria clause for the query is generated, with the criteria clause comprising input criteria related to the query, additional criteria specified against the query, and generated criteria based on a joint relationship. Next a source clause utilizing elements in the database accessed by the query is generated. A database traversal system and method is provided. The method identifies all tables directly accessible by each table and creates a data structure comprising an entry for each table. The entry comprises an identification field for each table and a link field identifying all tables directly accessible by each table. The data structure is traversed and an optimum path of the traversal paths utilizing data obtained from traversing the data structure is identified.

Abstract: A method for determining an electrostatic force present in a flat object, includes: (a) positioning the object on a flat support; (b) providing a series of testing membranes which are substantially free of electrostatic charges and have different standarized weights; (c) placing on the surface of the object one of the testing membranes and turning the support to an inclined position relative to a horizontal plane; (d) repeating step (c) with the other ones of the testing membranes; (e) examining which one of the testing membranes slides relative to the object after the support is inclined, and determining the smallest weight among the standarized weights, that permits a sliding movement between the testing membranes and the object, and the largest weight among the standarized weights, that prevents the sliding movement; and (f) evaluating the electrostatic force as a function of the largest weight and the smallest weight. An apparatus for carrying out the process is also disclosed.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are described for diagnosing periodontal disease, and in particular, early-onset periodontal disease. Nucleic acid-based testing is described which permits the detection of a high risk haplotype.