Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for administering systemic (e.g., by intravenous injection) supplemental vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) to premature infants to prevent the disease sequelae and complications including but not limited to retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and/or paraventricular leukomalacia (PVL) and/or bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) associated with premature births. The VEGF is administered to the premature infant to produce a physiologic serum VEGF level that is substantially similar to the VEGF level found in a normally developing fetus in the utero. By way of one example, the retinal blood vessel growth of the premature infant is monitored, and the administration of VEGF is terminated when the infant's retinal blood vessels are substantially fully grown to ROP Zone 3. By virtue of the method herein disclosed, normal vessel growth occurs, and lung disease, ROP with blindness, brain damage and other diseases associated with premature birth are substantially avoided.

Abstract: A solution and a method by which the solution is used to treat and prevent recurrent interdigital tinea pedis (athlete's foot). The solution contains a high concentration alcohol which serves as an antifungal agent and a fragrance dissolved in the alcohol which serves as a deodorant and masks the alcohol scent in public. The solution is topically applied (e.g., sprayed) on a user's wet foot and between his toes. The alcohol in the solution evaporates to remove the moisture between the toes so as to combat the athlete's foot disease. In a preferred embodiment, the solution has a concentration of alcohol lying in a range of between 70% to 90% and a concentration of fragrance lying in a range between 0.5% to 1.0%. The remainder of the solution is ideally water.

Abstract: An extraocular muscle support sling and a method for surgically implanting the sling to reinforce a weak or ineffective extraocular muscle. The sling includes a semi-flexible anchor base and a pair of elastic arms which extend from the anchor base and are held together to create a loop. During implantation, the anchor base of the sling is attached to a movable target tissue of the patient, and the looped elastic arms are attached to an immobile base tissue. A pulling or tensioned force applied to the elastic arms causes the patient's movable target tissue to which the anchor base is attached to be pulled towards and oriented with respect to the immobile base tissue with the same force and in the same direction as would be the case had the muscle been normal. According to preferred embodiments, the extraocular muscle support sling has particular application for treating ptosis and strabismus.

Abstract: The present invention is directed generally to a layered polymeric monofilament fiber drug delivery device, where each layer of the device can contain a different polymer, drug, additive, or any combination or mixture thereof. The layered nature of the current monofilament polymeric monofilament device provides the capability to modulate the release of one or more drugs and/or the mechanical properties of the fiber so that drug release and device failure can be separately tuned to provide for the tailored introduction of therapeutically effective drugs or agents to a target tissue. Moreover, the fiber may comprise more than one distinct segments along its length, each segment itself having different combinations and/or numbers of layers thereby providing even greater freedom in the design of the therapeutic delivery device. The invention is also directed to a method of manufacturing such a layered polymeric monofilament fiber drug delivery device, and methods of treatment using such devices.

Abstract: According to particular embodiments, a system for bridging communications includes agent servers that deploy monitoring agents into source communication services where the monitoring agents collect events in a native communication protocol of the source communication service. The agent servers select events for relaying and translate those events into a native communication protocol of the destination communication service. In addition, the agent servers deploy relay agents into destination communication services to relay the translated events to the destination communication service.

Abstract: According to particular embodiments, a communications monitoring system includes agent servers that deploy automated agents into various group communications services and a central server that receives the event data collected by the automated agents using the unified communications protocol. The central server also transmits the event data and any alerts that were determined from the event data to operator interfaces according to operator profiles.

Abstract: According to particular embodiments, a system for outputting prerecorded communications includes a central server that receives playback instructions, retrieves event data from a database according to the playback instructions, and outputs events from the event data to an agent server according to the timing characteristics associated with the events, and the agent server that deploys playback agents into the target group communication service to submit events to the target group communication service.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a novel use of highly diluted iodine solution in alcohol to effectively treat and prevent athlete's foot skin disease and disinfect and deodorize shoes without staining skin, clothing or surrounding materials.

Abstract: A sustained-release biodegradable polymeric drug-eluting fiber is disclosed. In some embodiments, the therapeutic drug is complexed with cyclodextrin. In certain embodiments, the polymeric component of the fiber comprises cyclodextrin. The fiber may be fabricated to provide a thread and/or suture. The fiber may be used for treatment of ocular diseases or disorders.

Abstract: According to particular embodiments, a system for outputting prerecorded communications includes a central server that receives playback instructions, retrieves event data from a database according to the playback instructions, and outputs events from the event data to an agent server according to the timing characteristics associated with the events, and the agent server that deploys playback agents into the target group communication service to submit events to the target group communication service.

Abstract: According to particular embodiments, a system for bridging communications includes agent servers that deploy monitoring agents into source communication services where the monitoring agents collect events in a native communication protocol of the source communication service. The agent servers select events for relaying and translate those events into a native communication protocol of the destination communication service. In addition, the agent servers deploy relay agents into destination communication services to relay the translated events to the destination communication service.

Abstract: According to particular embodiments, a communications monitoring system includes agent servers that deploy automated agents into various group communications services and a central server that receives the event data collected by the automated agents using the unified communications protocol. The central server also transmits the event data and any alerts that were determined from the event data to operator interfaces according to operator profiles.

Abstract: A slab shaping system includes a slab shaping device. The slab shaping device includes a cutting device and de-burring device, wherein the cutting device and the de-burring device, respectively cut and de-burr a slab. According to an embodiment, the slab shaping system may include a plurality of spaced apart slab support beams that form at least one slot therebetween. According to an embodiment, the cutting device and de-burring device may be axially-aligned. A method for operating a slab shaping system is disclosed. The method includes the steps of positioning a plurality of slab support beams on a table to form at least one slot; positioning a slab over the slab support beams; positioning a cutting device and de-burring device of a slab shaping device in axial-alignment; and cutting and de-burring the cut in the slab along a length of the at least one slot.

Abstract: A slab shaping system includes a slab shaping device. The slab shaping device includes a cutting device and de-burring device, wherein the cutting device and the de-burring device, respectively cut and de-burr a slab. According to an embodiment, the slab shaping system may include a plurality of spaced apart slab support beams that form at least one slot therebetween. According to an embodiment, the cutting device and de-burring device may be axially-aligned. A method for operating a slab shaping system is disclosed. The method includes the steps of positioning a plurality of slab support beams on a table to form at least one slot; positioning a slab over the slab support beams; positioning a cutting device and de-burring device of a slab shaping device in axial-alignment; and cutting and de-burring the cut in the slab along a length of the at least one slot.

Abstract: The present invention provides polymers which substantially degrade in the presence of one or more triggers, preferably light energy or hydrogen peroxide, but does not substantially degrade in the absence of one or more triggers.

Abstract: The present invention is directed generally to a layered polymeric monofilament fiber drug delivery device, where each layer of the device can contain a different polymer, drug, additive, or any combination or mixture thereof. The layered nature of the current monofilament polymeric monofilament device provides the capability to modulate the release of one or more drugs and/or the mechanical properties of the fiber so that drug release and device failure can be separately tuned to provide for the tailored introduction of therapeutically effective drugs or agents to a target tissue. Moreover, the fiber may comprise more than one distinct segments along its length, each segment itself having different combinations and/or numbers of layers thereby providing even greater freedom in the design of the therapeutic delivery device. The invention is also directed to a method of manufacturing such a layered polymeric monofilament fiber drug delivery device, and methods of treatment using such devices.

Abstract: The present invention provides polymers which substantially degrade in the presence of one or more triggers, preferably light energy or hydrogen peroxide, but does not substantially degrade in the absence of one or more triggers.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine 10 is suspended via a casing 15 from a pylon 12 by a front mount 20 and a rear mount 40. The front mount 20 comprises a bracket 22, having a plurality of pins 26,28 and 30 integral therewith, which is bolted to the underside 11 of the pylon 12. The first pin 26 engages an annular flange 16 around the casing 15 to support the engine 10 in a vertical plane. Any vertical loads act peripherally of the casing 15 through the annular flange 16 to minimise the distortion of the casing 15. The second pin 28 engages with the casing 15 directly to prevent axial and lateral movement of the engine 10 relative to the pylon 12. The third pin 30 is provided as a failsafe. In normal operation the third pin 30 carries no load, however if the first pin 26 should break the third pin 30 then supports the engine 10 in a vertical plane. Any vertical loads then act peripherally of the engine casing 15 through an annular flange 18.