Abstract: A device for checking the internal temperature of food, which includes a piercing element for insertion into food and a temperature sensor integral with the piercing element. The piercing element is connected to a main handle, which is removably connected to a handle portion. The handle portion contains a display, electronically connected to the temperature sensor, whereby the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor and, in some embodiments, the level of doneness is displayed by the display. In this embodiment, the piercing element and main handle are dishwasher safe and can be inserted safely into a dishwasher when the handle portion, containing a substantial portion of the electronics, is removed.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for providing a standard, generic contract between an application server and a message provider which allows the message provider to deliver messages to message endpoints (each of which is associated with a corresponding message application) residing in the application server is disclosed. By generic, it is meant that the contract is independent of the specific messaging style, messaging semantics and messaging infrastructure used to deliver messages. In this way, the contract also serves as the standard message provider pluggability contract that allows any message provider to be plugged into any application server via an associated resource adapter.

Abstract: A stirring hot plate for simultaneously heating and stirring a mixture includes a phase controlled motor that spins magnets which couple to, and thereby spin, a stir bar within the mixture. In addition to spinning the magnets, the motor includes an operational mode in which the motor is rapidly braked thereby quickly spinning down the stir bar. The stirring hot plate also includes a visual indicator to the user that the platform is hot-to-the-touch that is especially effective when the stirring hot plate is not in use.

Abstract: Equol (7-hydroxy-3(4?hydroxyphenyl)-chroman), the major metabolite of the phytoestrogen daidzein, specifically binds and blocks the hormonal action of 5?-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in vitro and in vivo. Equol can bind circulating free DHT and sequester it from the androgen receptor, thus altering growth and physiological hormone responses that are regulated by androgens. These data suggest a novel model to explain equol's biological properties. The significance of equol's ability to specifically bind and sequester DHT from the androgen receptor have important ramifications in health and disease and may indicate a broad and important usage for equol in the treatment and prevention of androgen-mediated pathologies. Thus, equol can specifically bind DHT and prevent DHT's biological actions in physiological and pathophysiological processes.

Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing gap space between sections to enhance safety and to enable one section of the door to support the weight of another. An overhead door having a variety of sections comprises a first section that includes a contour and a corresponding second section that includes a surface, wherein the surface corresponds to the contour so that as the sectional door follows a track system the surface follows the contour to maintain a joint gap within a particular range between the surface and the contour to prevent or reduce the risk of injury due to the joint gap. A pivot point of a hinge used to secure the first section to the second section is located between the first and second panels. The opposing surfaces of the first and second sections touch the hinge, without causing the hinge to bind when in use.

Abstract: A pressure gauge for determining air pressure of an inflatable item and a method of doing the same are provided. Embodiments of the present invention provide a source of light capable of providing more than one color of light, where each color of light within the more than one color of light corresponds to a numerical relationship between a determined pressure of an inflatable item, determined by the pressure gauge, and a target air pressure. The pressure gauge also has a display panel for displaying the determined air pressure and at least one of the provided colors of light. In addition, the pressure gauge has a pressure sensor for determining the determined air pressure and a computer defining functions performed by the pressure gauge, wherein the computer causes the source of light to display the different colors of light in accordance with the numerical relationship between the determined air pressure and the target air pressure.

Abstract: A wireless sensor and control system includes wireless RF transmitter units and one or more receivers that communicate using more than one narrowband radio channel to provide increased reliability in the presence of unintentional radio interference. The output of a sensor transducer or closure of a switch contact can trigger transmissions at two or more narrowband carrier frequencies that are subsequently decoded by the receiver(s). The remote sensor data can then be passed to another system for processing and/or utilized to control remote devices. In accordance with one practical embodiment, the remote sensor data indicates the ingress or egress of monitored product inventory.

Abstract: A portable lighting device comprising a power source, a first light source, a second light source, and a switch. A first circuit electrically couples the power source, a switch, and the first light source. A second circuit electrically couples, the power source, the switch, and the second light source. The switch comprises a first surface portion, a second surface portion, and a third surface portion wherein pressing the first surface portion closes the first circuit, pressing the second surface portion closes the second circuit, and pressing the third surface portion closes both the first and the second circuit. The switch also has a forward position that closes the first circuit and a backward position that closes the second circuit.

Abstract: Siding panels and intermediate articles of their manufacture are provided. The siding panels include a central portion including an aesthetic pattern and a pair of lateral edge portions which are molded while the polymeric material is still hot or molten. One exemplary aesthetic pattern provided is a cedar shake siding pattern. Adjacent cedar shake shingle impressions have substantially the same lengths, but a plurality of bottom edges of the individual shingle impressions are beveled to give the appearance of shingles having different lengths.