Abstract: The present invention provides gum base compositions and chewing gum compositions having non stick or reduced-stick properties and/or increased degradability. Methods of preparing the gum base and chewing gum compositions, as well as methods of use, are provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides gum base compositions and chewing gum compositions having non stick or reduced-stick properties and/or increased degradability. Methods of preparing the gum base and chewing gum compositions, as well as methods of use, are provided.

Abstract: Shown is a process having the steps of: providing fresh tea material rich in stem; and expressing juice from the fresh tea material thereby to produce stem residue and tea juice having a mixture of tea compounds.

Abstract: The present invention provides gum base compositions and chewing gum compositions having non stick or reduced-stick properties and/or increased degradability. The compositions include a terpolymer of methylvinyl ether, maleic anhydride and maleic acid, which provide increased degradability. Methods of preparing the gum base and chewing gum compositions, as well as methods of use, are provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides gum base compositions and chewing gum compositions having non stick or reduced-stick properties and/or increased degradability. Methods of preparing the gum base and chewing gum compositions, as well as methods of use, are provided.

Abstract: Current computing solutions often involve the sharing of data across multiple computer implemented processes. To ensure data integrity throughout the execution environment, an executing process can make a request for data from a Data Provider. In response to the request, the Data Provider can bundle the data and one or more Validation Objects in a Data Object. The Data Object can be passed between executing processes, and at any point in the execution, an executing process can verify the integrity of the data by making a request to the Data Object. To facilitate the passing of Data Objects throughout a heterogeneous execution environment, a Data Object can create a representation of itself specific to the target system. The Data Objects are advantageous in that all of the necessary validation checks are centralized, thus decreasing maintenance costs and the possibility of error.

Abstract: Microwave antenna assemblies incorporating a resilient insulating coupler are described herein. The microwave antenna includes a radiating portion connected by a coaxial feedline to a power generating source, e.g., a generator. Distal and proximal radiating portions of the antenna, which correspond to inner and outer conductors provided by the coaxial feedline, are separated by the resilient insulating coupler. The described coupler includes a proximal threaded portion, and an overmolded insulating portion formed from an elastomeric material. The inner conductor of the coaxial feedline is joined to the threaded portion of the coupler, and is placed under tension to draw together the distal radiating portion, the coupler, and the proximal radiating portion into a single rigid assembly. In use, the resilient coupler provides increased strength and reliability by absorbing mechanical stresses typically encountered during microwave ablation procedures.

Abstract: The invention relates to a dose unit for a dry powder inhaler comprising:—a dose carrier including a plurality of pockets (17) each adapted to contain a dose of medication powder suitable for inhalation, said pockets being sequentially arranged such that the content of the pockets (17) can be sequentially exposed to a flow of air for successive inhalations and—a plurality of medication powder doses (X) arranged in pockets (17) of the dose carrier (15). The doses are regularly distributed in the pockets according to a sequence of identical groups, each group including at least one blank pocket (B) and one pocket containing a dose of medication powder (X). The invention also relates to a pack (105) comprised of one such dose unit (105a) and one further dose unit (105b) with all pockets containing a medication powder (Y). The invention further relates to a dry powder inhaler including such a pack (105) of dose units.

Abstract: Establishing an external agent interface on an external agent interface platform. Defining, on an executing platform, a prepared element hierarchy on an executing platform as a function of at least an execution state of the executing platform. Transforming, on an executing platform, the defined prepared element hierarchy into an external agent interface element hierarchy as a function of at least the execution state. Exporting, from the executing platform, the external agent interface element hierarchy to an external agent interface platform.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment a computer implemented method is disclosed. A computer process is extracted from a first environment including a unique process parameter and a first non-unique process parameter. The computer process is configured to execute a primary domain operation. The computer process is configured to execute the primary domain operation in a second environment comprising the unique process parameter and a second non-unique process parameter. The unique process parameter is input to the computer process and the primary domain operation is executed with the computer process in the second environment in response to inputting the unique process parameter to the computer process.

Abstract: A computer implemented process is defined to operate on three types of objects: Task Objects, Resume Objects, and State Objects. To define a Task Objects are implemented to perform the actions required to complete a particular aspect of the process. A State Object maintains information about the currently executing process, such as the values of variables and the current location in the executing process. A Resume Object directs process execution by specifying which Task Objects or Resume Objects to execute next. A key aspect of the system is the ability to suspend execution at any time and seamlessly resume execution at either the exact point execution was stopped or at any execution point prior to suspension. This accomplished by periodically storing Snapshots of the execution to persistent storage, which can later be used to restore the state of the system to that of the Snapshot.

Abstract: Microwave antenna assemblies incorporating a resilient insulating coupler are described herein. The microwave antenna includes a radiating portion connected by a coaxial feedline to a power generating source, e.g., a generator. Distal and proximal radiating portions of the antenna, which correspond to inner and outer conductors provided by the coaxial feedline, are separated by the resilient insulating coupler. The described coupler includes a proximal threaded portion, and an overmolded insulating portion formed from an elastomeric material. The inner conductor of the coaxial feedline is joined to the threaded portion of the coupler, and is placed under tension to draw together the distal radiating portion, the coupler, and the proximal radiating portion into a single rigid assembly. In use, the resilient coupler provides increased strength and reliability by absorbing mechanical stresses typically encountered during microwave ablation procedures.

Abstract: A CPAP device includes a humidifier including humidifier tub having a heat conducting base plate; and a cradle to support the humidifier tub in an operative position. The cradle may also support a flow generator in operative relation to the humidifier tub. The cradle includes a heater plate in communication with the heat conducting base plate of the humidifier tub in use. The cradle further includes a retaining mechanism to retain the humidifier tub in the cradle, the retaining mechanism being structured to force the base plate into engagement with the heater plate. The humidifier and/or flow generator may include various features to manage inadvertent back-spill of water from the humidifier to the flow generator.

Abstract: A CPAP device includes a flow generator including an outlet, a humidifier including an inlet, and an adaptor connector between the outlet of the flow generator and the inlet of the humidifier. The connector includes a flexible and conformable sealing portion that is movable to accommodate misalignment.

Abstract: A wave energy converter for extracting energy from waves in a body of liquid. The converter comprising an endless spine, the spine including a plurality of spine sections (10). Each of the spine sections (10) houses at least one pneumatic absorber and each pneumatic absorber includes an oscillator that is displaceable cyclically on contact with an incident wave to pump air contained within the pneumatic absorber and thereby extract energy from the wave in the form of pneumatic energy. The spine further includes at least one high pressure duct (31) to direct air pumped from each of the pneumatic absorbers and thereby aggregate and rectify the pneumatic energy extracted via the pneumatic absorbers.

Abstract: Disclosed are techniques, apparatus, and targets for determining overlay error between two layers of a sample. A plurality of targets is provided. Each target includes a portion of the first and second structures and each is designed to have an offset between its first and second structure portions. The targets are illuminated with electromagnetic radiation to thereby obtain spectra from each target at a ?1st diffraction order and a +1st diffraction order.

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and methods for determining overlay between a plurality of first structures in a first layer of a sample and a plurality of second structures in a second layer of the sample. Targets A, B, C and D that each include a portion of the first and second structures are provided. The target A is designed to have an offset Xa between its first and second structures portions; the target B is designed to have an offset Xb between its first and second structures portions; the target C is designed to have an offset Xc between its first and second structures portions; and the target D is designed to have an offset Xd between its first and second structures portions. Each of the offsets Xa, Xb, Xc and Xd is different from zero, and Xa is an opposite sign and differ from Xb.

Abstract: An ablation probe fixation apparatus for securing an ablation probe to tissue is disclosed. The ablation probe fixation apparatus includes a base having a top surface and a skin-contacting bottom surface, wherein the base includes an adhesive layer disposed on the skin-contacting bottom surface. The fixation apparatus also includes a fixation member coupled to the top surface of the base. The base and the fixation member include an aperture defined therein for insertion of the ablation probe therethrough.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Salvia leucantha named ‘FERPINK’ whose foliage and form are typical of the species but whose flowers are pink with white calyces.