Abstract: Personal care compositions, such as oral care and skin care compositions comprising one or more coolants. The pleasant cool sensation provided by a coolant is enhanced in terms of quicker onset, greater intensity, impact or longer duration, which improves appeal and acceptability of the compositions to consumers. Also, a treatment for excess adipose tissue by applying an activating compound directly to a targeted area.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for reducing a rod into a saddle of a fixation member includes a distal end for engaging the saddle and a proximal end. A reducing device is disposed between the distal end and the proximal end. The reducing device is operative to reduce the rod into the saddle. The reducing device defines a throughbore. The throughbore provides access there through by a first drive member to secure a plug to the saddle.

Abstract: A method for automatically generating a drilling rig activity report while operating the rig includes receiving sensor measurements from a plurality of surface sensors deployed on the drilling rig. The sensor measurements may be made in real time while operating the rig and may be processed to compute rig state/activity information. The rig state(s) and a user defined report configuration may then be further processed to automatically generate the rig activity report.

Abstract: According to a general aspect, an insertion device can include an elongate barrel having an opening defined in a distal end; a lumen defined within the elongate barrel, the lumen being accessible through the opening; and an obturator disposed within the lumen of the elongate barrel. The obturator can be movable within the lumen between a proximal position in the elongate barrel and a distal position in the elongate barrel. The obturator, in its distal position in the elongate barrel, can be configured to receive a needle via the opening. The obturator, in its proximal position in the elongate barrel, can be configured to secure the needle within the elongate barrel.

Abstract: Compositions useful in liquid-liquid extraction processes for improving the taste of water-soluble surfactants, said composition comprising: from about 5% to about 60%, by weight of the composition, of water soluble surfactant; from about 10% to about 90%, by weight of the composition, of water; from about 10% to about 90%, by weight of the composition, of extraction solvent; at least 0.01%, by weight of the composition, of undesirable non-polar materials; wherein the extraction solvent is selected from solvents having individual Hansen solubility parameters of a dispersion force component (?D) ranging from about 15 to about 17 (MPa)0.5, a polar component (?P) ranging from 0 to about 9 (MPa)0.5 and a hydrogen bonding component (?H) ranging from 0 to about 11 (MPa)0.5.

Abstract: Personal care compositions, such as oral care and skin care compositions containing a flavor/perfume system comprising one or more coolants. The pleasant cool sensation provided by a coolant is enhanced in terms of quicker onset, greater intensity, impact or longer duration, which improves appeal and acceptability of the compositions to consumers.

Abstract: An oral appliance for treating snoring and/or sleep apnea of a subject, comprising a hard plastic dental tray, a transpalatal bar extending between the left lingual side of the dental tray and the right lingual side of the dental tray, and a tongue restrainer having at least two spaced-apart wires extending from the posterior side of the transpalatal bar and a hard plastic tongue-contacting portion attached at the distal end of the wires. The tongue-contacting portion has smooth edges, a rounded posterior end, and a width between its right side and left side greater than the space between the wires, providing greater comfort and user safety, while the wires provide flexibility to vertically position the tongue restrainer and mechanical strength to maintain the tongue restrainer in place once positioned.

Abstract: A superabrasive element includes a substrate and a superabrasive table bonded to the substrate, the superabrasive table including a polished surface having a polished finish, the polished surface extending over at least a central, apical region of the superabrasive table, and an unpolished surface including an unpolished finish, the unpolished surface surrounding a majority of the polished surface. A method of manufacturing a superabrasive element includes providing a superabrasive element having a substrate and a superabrasive table bonded to the substrate and polishing at least a central, apical region of the superabrasive table to form a polished surface, without polishing an unpolished surface of the superabrasive table, the unpolished surface surrounding a majority of the polished surface.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods disclosed herein relate to various embodiments of wound fillers that, in some cases, preferentially collapse in one direction as compared to another direction. Such apparatuses and methods may aid in the closure of wounds and may further be used in combination with pressure sensors and controllers to provide for controlled collapse of the wound fillers.

Abstract: A method can include determining an ideal activity speed profile of an activity for a well, where the ideal activity speed profile of the activity for the well corresponds to a length of the well; forecasting a start time and a stop time using the ideal activity speed profile of the activity; generating a drilling plan using the start time and the stop time where another activity commences after the stop time; during performance of the activity for the well, receiving data indicative of an actual activity speed of the activity for the well for a corresponding length of the well; during the performance of the activity, deciding to make an adjustment to the performance of the activity for the well using the ideal activity speed profile and the actual activity speed of the activity for the well; and adjusting the stop time of the drilling plan.

Abstract: A method for scheduling wellbore construction activities includes entering a well plan into a computer. The well plan includes estimated start and stop times for a plurality of activities in a predetermined sequence. Progress of selected ones of the plurality of activities is measured during their performance. In the computer, expected ending time of at least one of the plurality of activities is recalculated based on progress thereof during that activity. In the computer, expected start and stop times are recalculated for each activity subsequent to the activity in progress based on the recalculated expected ending time. The recalculated start and stop times for each subsequent activity are displayed.

Abstract: A method for optimizing drilling includes initializing values of a plurality of drilling operating parameters and drilling response parameters. In a computer, an initial relationship between the plurality of drilling operating parameters and drilling response parameters is determined. A drilling unit to drill a wellbore through subsurface formations. The drilling operating parameters and drilling response parameters are measured during drilling and entered into the computer. A range of values and an optimum value for at least one of the drilling response parameters and at least one of the drilling response parameters is determined in the computer. A display of the at least one of the plurality of drilling operating parameters and the at least one of the drilling response parameters is generated by the computer.

Abstract: A superabrasive element includes a substrate and a superabrasive table bonded to the substrate, the superabrasive table including a polished surface having a polished finish, the polished surface extending over at least a central, apical region of the superabrasive table, and an unpolished surface including an unpolished finish, the unpolished surface surrounding a majority of the polished surface. A method of manufacturing a superabrasive element includes providing a superabrasive element having a substrate and a superabrasive table bonded to the substrate and polishing at least a central, apical region of the superabrasive table to form a polished surface, without polishing an unpolished surface of the superabrasive table, the unpolished surface surrounding a majority of the polished surface.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring and analyzing components and operation of a simulated network environment including a module configured for storing a predetermined baseline for the simulated network environment, monitoring the simulated network environment during one or more operations, analyzing the monitored operations and the impact of the operations on one or more components of the simulated network environment, and comparing at least one of the monitored operations and impacts of the operations against the predetermined baseline.

Abstract: A ham being formed of a single unitary muscle piece from a whole ham leg. The unitary muscle piece is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape with a fat cap extending along an outer surface the unitary muscle, when formed in the cylindrical shape.

Abstract: Methods for detecting and quantifying toxins present in the oral cavity. The methods may include providing a biological sample, providing reporter cells expressing one or more Toll like receptors, exposing the cells to the biological sample, measuring the EC50 value of the lipopolysaccharide on activation of a Toll like receptor, quantification of the lipopolysaccharide in the biological sample.

Abstract: A system for cutting a wet green ceramic article which includes a power device to generate power and a transmission assembly including an input and an output. The input is operably coupled to the power device such that power is transferred through the transmission assembly from the input to the output. The system also includes a cutting tool holder that holds a cutting tool. The cutting tool holder is coupled to the output and pivotally coupled to a pivot point. The output of the transmission assembly pivots the cutting tool holder about the pivot point as the cutting tool reciprocates in a cutting motion between a first position and a second position.

Abstract: A method for scheduling wellbore construction activities includes entering a well plan into a computer. The well plan includes estimated start and stop times for a plurality of activities in a predetermined sequence. Progress of selected ones of the plurality of activities is measured during their performance. In the computer, expected ending time of at least one of the plurality of activities is recalculated based on progress thereof during that activity. In the computer, expected start and stop times are recalculated for each activity subsequent to the activity in progress based on the recalculated expected ending time. The recalculated start and stop times for each subsequent activity are displayed.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a graspable human propulsion device which contains a ducted fan assembly on the aft portion of a longitudinal structure which the user grasps onto, which acts to propel the user along the longitudinal direction of the device while the user is mounted on a human transportation apparatus, such as a skateboard. The user can orient the device so that the ducted fan assembly leads ahead or trails behind the user, according to user preference. In one embodiment, the user controls the direction and amount of thrust by use of a spring twist throttle mechanism. In another embodiment, the user controls the direction and amount of thrust by use of a trigger and switch mechanism. The fore latch and the aft latch allow the user to clamp the device onto a skateboard deck for ease in transporting while on foot.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods disclosed herein relate to various embodiments of wound fillers that, in some cases, preferentially collapse in one direction as compared to another direction. Such apparatuses and methods may aid in the closure of wounds and may further be used in combination with pressure sensors and controllers to provide for controlled collapse of the wound fillers.