Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning drinking straws has a canister enclosing a plurality of carriers for supporting drinking straws to be cleaned, and a subsystem supplying water heated to a sanitizing temperature to the carriers. Straws are placed in or on the carriers, and the heated water flows around the inside and the outside of the straws.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning drinking straws has a canister enclosing a plurality of carriers for supporting drinking straws to be cleaned, and a subsystem supplying water heated to a sanitizing temperature to the carriers. Straws are placed in or on the carriers, and the heated water flows around the inside and the outside of the straws.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning drinking straws has a canister enclosing a plurality of carriers for supporting drinking straws to be cleaned, and a subsystem supplying water heated to a sanitizing temperature to the carriers. Straws are placed in or on the carriers, and the heated water flows around the inside and the outside of the straws.

Abstract: An orthodontic remodeling device, having an extra-oral driver, a bite plate or other intra-oral orthodontic appliance, and a dual headed connector for connecting the two.

Abstract: A composite building panel that includes a central body, substantially parallelepipedic in shape, containing an expanded polymer matrix, having opposite faces, a top surface, and a bottom surface; at least one embedded framing stud longitudinally extending across the central body between the opposite faces, having a first end embedded in the expanded polymer matrix, a second end extending away from the bottom surface of the central body, and one or more expansion holes in the embedded studs between the first end of the embedded stud and bottom surface through which the polymer matrix expands. A concrete layer can optionally cover a portion of the top surface and/or bottom surface. The building panel can be positioned perpendicular to a structural wall and/or foundation to provide a floor panel. The second end of the framing studs can be embedded in a second central body to provide an insulated concrete form.

Abstract: A lightweight cementitious composition containing from 22 to 90 volume percent of a cement composition and from 10 to 78 volume percent of particles having an average particle diameter of from 0.2 mm to 8 mm, a bulk density of from 0.03 g/cc to 0.64 g/cc, an aspect ratio of from 1 to 3, where after the lightweight cementitious composition is set it has a compressive strength of at least 1700 psi as tested according to ASTM C39. The cementitious composition can be used to make concrete masonry units, construction panels, road beds and other articles and can be included as a layer on wall panels and floor panels and can be used in insulated concrete forms. Aspects of the lightweight cementitious composition can be used to make lightweight structural units.

Abstract: A composite building panel that includes a central body, substantially parallelepipedic in shape, containing an expanded polymer matrix, having opposite faces, a top surface, and a bottom surface; at least one embedded framing stud longitudinally extending across the central body between the opposite faces, having a first end embedded in the expanded polymer matrix, a second end extending away from the bottom surface of the central body, and one or more expansion holes in the embedded studs between the first end of the embedded stud and bottom surface through which the polymer matrix expands. A concrete layer can optionally cover a portion of the top surface and/or bottom surface. The building panel can be positioned perpendicular to a structural wall and/or foundation to provide a floor panel. The second end of the framing studs can be embedded in a second central body to provide an insulated concrete form.

Abstract: A lightweight cementitious composition containing from 22 to 90 volume percent of a cement composition and from 10 to 78 volume percent of particles having an average particle diameter of from 0.2 mm to 8 mm, a bulk density of from 0.03 g/cc to 0.64 g/cc, an aspect ratio of from 1 to 3, where after the lightweight cementitious composition is set it has a compressive strength of at least 1700 psi as tested according to ASTM C39. The cementitious composition can be used to make concrete masonry units, construction panels, road beds and other articles and can be included as a layer on wall panels and floor panels and can be used in insulated concrete forms. Aspects of the lightweight cementitious composition can be used to make lightweight structural units.

Abstract: A composite building panel that includes a central body, substantially parallelepipedic in shape, containing an expanded polymer matrix, having opposite faces, a top surface, and a bottom surface; at least one embedded framing stud longitudinally extending across the central body between the opposite faces, having a first end embedded in the expanded polymer matrix, a second end extending away from the bottom surface of the central body, and one or more expansion holes in the embedded studs between the first end of the embedded stud and bottom surface through which the polymer matrix expands. A concrete layer can optionally cover a portion of the top surface and/or bottom surface. The building panel can be positioned perpendicular to a structural wall and/or foundation to provide a floor panel. The second end of the framing studs can be embedded in a second central body to provide an insulated concrete form.

Abstract: A lightweight cementitious composition containing from 22 to 90 volume percent of a cement composition and from 10 to 78 volume percent of particles having an average particle diameter of from 0.2 mm to 8 mm, a bulk density of from 0.03 g/cc to 0.64 g/cc, an aspect ratio of from 1 to 3, where after the lightweight cementitious composition is set it has a compressive strength of at least 1700 psi as tested according to ASTM C39. The cementitious composition can be used to make concrete masonry units, construction panels, road beds and other articles and can be included as a layer on wall panels and floor panels and can be used in insulated concrete forms. Aspects of the lightweight cementitious composition can be used to make lightweight structural units.

Abstract: A lightweight cementitious composition containing from 22 to 90 volume percent of a cement composition and from 10 to 78 volume percent of particles having an average particle diameter of from 0.2 mm to 8 mm, a bulk density of from 0.03 g/cc to 0.64 g/cc, an aspect ratio of from 1 to 3, where after the lightweight cementitious composition is set it has a compressive strength of at least 1700 psi as tested according to ASTM C39. The cementitious composition can be used to make concrete masonry units, construction panels, road beds and other articles and can be included as a layer on wall panels and floor panels and can be used in insulated concrete forms. Aspects of the lightweight cementitious composition can be used to make lightweight structural units.

Abstract: A lightweight cementitious composition containing from 22 to 90 volume percent of a cement composition and from 10 to 78 volume percent of particles having an average particle diameter of from 0.2 mm to 8 mm, a bulk density of from 0.03 g/cc to 0.64 g/cc, an aspect ratio of from 1 to 3, where after the lightweight cementitious composition is set it has a compressive strength of at least 1700 psi as tested according to ASTM C39. The cementitious composition can be used to make concrete masonry units, construction panels, road beds and other articles and can be included as a layer on wall panels and floor panels and can be used in insulated concrete forms. Aspects of the lightweight cementitious composition can be used to make lightweight structural units.

Abstract: A composite building panel that includes a central body, substantially parallelepipedic in shape, containing an expanded polymer matrix, having opposite faces, a top surface, and a bottom surface; at least one embedded framing stud longitudinally extending across the central body between the opposite faces, having a first end embedded in the expanded polymer matrix, a second end extending away from the bottom surface of the central body, and one or more expansion holes in the embedded studs between the first end of the embedded stud and bottom surface through which the polymer matrix expands. A concrete layer can optionally cover a portion of the top surface and/or bottom surface. The building panel can be positioned perpendicular to a structural wall and/or foundation to provide a floor panel. The second end of the framing studs can be embedded in a second central body to provide an insulated concrete form.

Abstract: A lightweight cementitious composition containing from 22 to 90 volume percent of a cement composition and from 10 to 78 volume percent of particles having an average particle diameter of from 0.2 mm to 8 mm, a bulk density of from 0.03 g/cc to 0.64 g/cc, an aspect ratio of from 1 to 3, where after the lightweight cementitious composition is set it has a compressive strength of at least 1700 psi as tested according to ASTM C39. The cementitious composition can be used to make concrete masonry units, construction panels, road beds and other articles and can be included as a layer on wall panels and floor panels and can be used in insulated concrete forms. Aspects of the lightweight cementitious composition can be used to make lightweight structural units.

Abstract: A composite building panel including a central body, substantially parallelepipedic in shape, comprised of an expanded polymer matrix, having opposite faces, a first surface and an opposing second surface; and one or more reinforcing members longitudinally extending across the central body between said opposite faces, having a first side portion embedded in the expanded polymer matrix, and a second side portion extending away from the first surface of the central body and one or more expansion holes located in the reinforcing member between the first side portion of the reinforcing member and the first surface of the central body. The central body includes a polymer matrix that expands through the expansion holes; and a space defined by the first surface of the central body and the second side portion of the reinforcing members is adapted for accommodating utilities through the space.

Abstract: An orthodontic distalizing apparatus comprises at least one force generating element positioned intermediate a force dissipating element secured to the hard palate and/or alveolar ridge and a first tooth (e.g., a molar) that is being distalized. The at least one force generating element is positioned to apply a distalizing force on the molar in a direction substantially along a longitudinal axis of the dental arch and at a low level of the basal gingiva. The at least one force generating element may be configured to prevent inadvertent disassembly thereof during installation, adjustment and/or conversion of the apparatus between an active and a passive state. In addition, the at least one force generating element may be configured to be reversibly convertible between an active state and a passive state without requiring removal of the device from the patient's mouth.

Abstract: An orthodontic distalizing apparatus comprises at least one force generating element positioned intermediate a force dissipating element secured to the hard palate and/or alveolar ridge and a first tooth (e.g., a molar) that is being distalized. The at least one force generating element is positioned to apply a distalizing force on the molar in a direction substantially along a longitudinal axis of the dental arch and at a low level of the basal gingiva. The at least one force generating element may be configured to prevent inadvertent disassembly thereof during installation, adjustment and/or conversion of the apparatus between an active and a passive state. In addition, the at least one force generating element may be configured to be reversibly convertible between an active state and a passive state without requiring removal of the device from the patient's mouth.