Abstract: A dialysis device, and a method of dialyzing a sample, are provided. The dialysis device includes a body having a first and a second major side, a first and a second retaining ring disposed on the first and second major sides, and a first and second dialysis membrane disposed, and held between the first and second major sides and the first and second retaining rings. The dialysis device is configured to receive a sample to enable dialysis of the sample across the membranes.

Abstract: A dialysis device, and a method of dialyzing a sample, are provided. The dialysis device includes a body having a first and a second major side, a first and a second retaining ring disposed on the first and second major sides, and a first and second dialysis membrane disposed, and held between the first and second major sides and the first and second retaining rings. The dialysis device is configured to receive a sample to enable dialysis of the sample across the membranes.

Abstract: A dialysis device, and a method of dialyzing a sample, are provided. The dialysis device includes a body having a first and a second major side, a first and a second retaining ring disposed on the first and second major sides, and a first and second dialysis membrane disposed, and held between the first and second major sides and the first and second retaining rings. The dialysis device is configured to receive a sample to enable dialysis of the sample across the membranes.

Abstract: The embodiments of the invention provide a wearable garment to evaporatively cool humans and animals. The garment contains a body portion and an attachment portion. The body portion is generally defined by at least one outer seam. The body portion contains three layers—an outer layer, a middle layer, and an inner layer. The outer layer is comprised of a breathable fabric. The middle layer is comprised of a substantially hydrophilic material. The inner layer is substantially hydrophobic, preferably comprising a layer of finely woven substantially hydrophobic fibrous material. The attachment portion contains at least one means for attaching the garment to a wearer. To activate the cooling process, the garment is first immersed in water, wherein the middle layer absorbs water. The wearer then wrings the excess water from the garment and places the garment on the desired body region to be cooled.

Abstract: A stir friction pin tool has at least a portion of its distal end or tip which is either more rough than the cylindrical portion of the pin tool, or which has a surface roughness greater than 128 &mgr;″ regardless of the roughness of the cylindrical portion. The pin tool may include machined holes or slots, or may have an etched tip surface. The roughness aids in generating heat during the plunging portion of a stir friction welding or heating operation, to thereby reduce the overall time required for the operation.

Abstract: A system and method for generating an invoice. An Internet Markup Language (IML) file includes a first set of IML tags defined by a document type definition that are used to select data for inclusion in the invoice and a second set of IML tags defined by the document type definition that are used to specify a layout for the invoice including the selected data. An invoice generating application accesses a database of a service provider to collect data according to the first set of tags and uses the collected data and the second set of tags to generate an invoice output file. The invoice output file may then be provided to an output device to generate the invoice.

Abstract: A stir friction pin tool has at least a portion of its distal end or tip which is either more rough than the cylindrical portion of the pin tool, or which has a surface roughness greater than 128&mgr;″ regardless of the roughness of the cylindrical portion. The pin tool may include machined holes or slots, or may have an etched tip surface. The roughness aids in generating heat during the plunging portion of a stir friction welding or heating operation, to thereby reduce the overall time required for the operation.