Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for lighting charcoal, specifically a single-use, substantially consumable, chimney-style charcoal starter. The apparatus may include an open-ended, substantially tubular body, a charcoal support, and a fuel source. The apparatus may be charged with charcoal disposed upon the charcoal support. The apparatus may be fashioned such that as the fuel source burns, the charcoal may be ignited from the innermost coals to the outermost coals, at which point the apparatus may also be substantially consumed.

Abstract: An emission control system capable of remediating an exhaust from an internal combustion engine and having an exhaust passage, an oxidation catalyst, a reducing agent and a source of the reducing agent cooperating with an aperture in the exhaust passage. The aperture is disposed downstream of the oxidation catalyst. The system also includes a mixer arranged within the exhaust passage downstream of the aperture. The mixer includes a plurality of mixing elements. The mixer also includes a coating capable of hydrolyzing the reducing agent. At least a portion of the mixing elements which have a thermal conductivity greater than 8 W/m/° K. The system includes a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst disposed downstream from the mixer.

Abstract: Laundry or cleaning composition comprising: (a) a catalytically effective amount, preferably from about 1 ppb to about 99.9%, of a transition-metal bleach catalyst which is a complex of a transition-metal and a cross-bridged macropolycyclic ligand; and (b) at least about 0.1% of one or more laundry or cleaning adjunct materials, preferably comprising an oxygen bleaching agent. Preferred compositions are laundry compositions and automatic dishwashing detergents which provide enhanced cleaning/bleaching benefits through the use of such catalysts.

Abstract: Methods to form an active agent modified monomer comprising a ring opening cyclic monomer linked to an active agent via a degradable covalent linkage. Methods to form a polymer or copolymer comprising an active agent modified monomer. Methods to form an active agent modified monomer comprising combining a ring opening cyclic monomer with a first functional group (X) and an active agent with a second functional group (Y) to form an active agent modified monomer, wherein the first (X) and second (Y) functional groups are complementary functional groups that form a degradable linkage. The active agent modified monomer can also comprise a non-degradable linkage. The method can form a ring opening cyclic monomer that includes a cyclic carbonate, cyclic epoxide, lactam, lactone, lactide anhydride, cyclic carbamate, cyclic phosphoester, or siloxane. Apparatus that includes a medical device that comprises a polymer or copolymer that comprises an active agent modified monomer.

Abstract: A separate drilling head has a distal end which contacts the material to be drilled, and a proximal end which is attached to a drive mechanism. The drive mechanism drives the separate drilling head into the material. The separate drilling head is forcelockingly secured in a thin-walled hollow anchor tube, and the separate drilling head includes a hard metal cutter element, and a substantially axially-oriented, axial stop shoulder at the proximal end that passes into a circumferentially closed, outer cone.

Abstract: The present invention relates to new substituted imidazole compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters or prodrugs thereof, compositions of the new compounds together with pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, and uses of the new compounds.

Abstract: An automated banking machine system and method includes ATMs which accept checks and dispense cash to users. The ATMs are operated to acquire image and magnetic data from deposited checks to determine the genuineness of checks and the authority of a user to receive cash for such checks. Cash is then dispensed to the user from the ATM in exchange for the deposited check. The ATMs dispense cash responsive to communications with a transaction host. The transaction host provides transaction identifying data to the ATM. The ATM sends the transaction identifying data and check images to an image and transaction data server for processing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to administration of metal ion-saturated lactoferrin, preferably bovine lactoferrin, preferably iron-saturated bovine lactoferrin, or a metal ion-saturated functional variant or fragment thereof to inhibit tumour formation or growth, maintain or improve one or both of the white blood cell count and red blood cell count, stimulate the immune system and treat or prevent cancer. The methods and medicinal uses of the invention may be carried out by employing dietary (as foods or food supplements), nutraceutical or pharmaceutical compositions. Compositions useful in the methods of the invention are also provided.

Abstract: A computerized method and system for generation an immunization schedule for a person in healthcare environment is provided. The system receives a request for an immunization schedule for a person and obtains information from an electronic medical record of the person stored within a comprehensive healthcare system. The system obtains one or more immunization schedules and utilizes the information from the electronic medical record of the person and the immunization schedule to generate a customized immunization schedule for the person. In another embodiment, the system receives immunization information for a person and stores the immunization information in the electronic medical record of the person within a comprehensive healthcare system.

Abstract: Brine-based well treatment compositions containing alkali nitrate exhibit greater thermal stability when used in deep wells than substantially similar brine-based well treatment compositions which do not contain an alkali nitrate. The brine is thickened with a water-soluble crosslinkable polymer and crosslinking agent. The enhanced thermal stability of the well treatment compositions allows use of the fluids at elevated temperatures, for instance as high as 400° F.

Abstract: Disclosed is a composition and methods of treating a skin condition. The ester includes an ester and a dermatologically acceptable carrier.

Abstract: Compounds, compositions, and methods for inhibiting the onset of metabolic syndrome and treating related disorders in a subject in need of such therapy are disclosed.

Abstract: A gaming system (10, 200) is disclosed which is arranged to implement a plurality of games at a plurality of gaming machines. The gaming system comprises at least one server (30, 36, 38) arranged to serve game play and non-game play related data to at least one gaming machine (12, 12?), and a resource control unit (50, 202) arranged to obtain information indicative of bandwidth usage of a plurality of gaming machines (12, 12?), and to control the level of non-game play related data served to at least one gaming machine based on the information. A corresponding method is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention involves a straight tube heat exchanger 1 with a shell 2, a tube bundle 3 (for the sake of clarity, only two tubes of the tube bundle 3 are shown), two opposite manifolds 4a, 4b, means for introducing and discharging 5a, 5b the first medium into and from the tube space, and means for introducing and discharging the second medium into and from the shell space 6a, 6b, as well as a single-pass expansion joint 7, as it is used, for example, as a preheater in synthesis gas production unit. Both the shell 2 and the two manifolds 4a, 4b are made from heat-resistant, creep-resistant steel, especially a chromium-molybdenum alloy. The expansion joint 7 are made from chromium-nickel steel just like the two welding-ring seals 8. By the expansion joint being made from chromium-nickel steel, the different mechanical stresses are completely absorbed by the high temperature.

Abstract: An immunodiagnostic test card includes a plurality of transparent chambers wherein each chamber includes a quantity of testing material that combines with a patient sample, when mixed, to produce an agglutination reaction. A plurality of indicia are disposed to aid in the manufacture and determining the usability of the cards prior to test and also in objectively grading the agglutination reactions that are formed or lack of agglutination.

Abstract: A gaming network is disclosed which includes point to point cabling infrastructure connectable to at least one first gaming machine and connectable to at least one second gaming machine. Each first gaming machine is arranged to communicate using a master/slave protocol, and each second gaming machine is arranged to communicate using a point to point protocol. The gaming network also includes an interface device having a communications bus connectable to a master/slave control device and to the point to point cabling infrastructure such that each first gaming machine is connected to the communications bus and is controllable by the master/slave control device through the point to point cabling infrastructure. The point to point cabling infrastructure is also connectable to a point to point control device such that at least one second gaming machine is controllable by the point to point control device through the point to point cabling infrastructure.

Abstract: The subject invention concerns platinum complexes that exhibit antitumor cell and/or antiparasitic activity. The subject invention also concerns the use of platinum complexes of the invention to treat oncological and inflammatory disorders. The platinum complexes of the invention can also be used to treat or prevent infection by a virus or a bacterial or parasitic organism in vivo or in vitro.

Abstract: Long-chain esters of retinol are prepared via a chemoenzymatic process from short-chain retinyl esters and an appropriate long-chain acid or ester in the presence of an enzyme. Use of various additives enhance the yield of the desired ester and facilitated its purification.

Abstract: A fluid handling device, such as a needlefree access device, includes a housing having an inlet and an inlet channel; and a flow control member comprising a combination outlet, biasing and piston member. The flow control member includes a piston section moveable between a closed position in which the piston section is in the inlet channel and an open position in which the piston section is inside the housing below the inlet channel but allows fluid to flow through the inlet channel; a biasing section connected to the piston section that normally biases the piston section into the inlet channel; and an outlet section connected to the biasing section having an outlet fitting in fluid communication with the inside of the housing. The piston section, biasing section and outlet section are connected together such that they can be handled as one piece when assembled with the housing to make the needlefree access device.

Abstract: A notification mechanism that aggregates multiple email tracking status updates into a new type of aggregated message, and transports this new type of message according to a configured interval. The tracking status transported in this aggregated status message can be a positive delivery event, a negative delivery event, hand-off of ownership, or any information to be communicated. This information can be delivered to email users to provide information about the message delivery and, routed to messaging system applications such as journaling (to allow rich delivery information in a journal report) and/or high-availability transport (to allow resubmission of a message in case of hardware failure).