Abstract: An aqueous suspension of polyvinyl acetate, modified by at least one alcohol, renders its residual evaporative product insoluble; in that it does not disintegrate and tend to revert to an aqueous suspension when immersed or otherwise subjected to an excess of water, as does the unmodified product. The modified evaporative product, used experimentally as a shielding film that protects plants and fruit from insect damage, does not depend on toxicity for effectiveness, and maintains its integrity by stretching and thinning to accommodate plant growth without rupture to provide uninterrupted protection between applications. The shielding transmits moisture and is believed to transmit needed atmospheric gases as well, to provide long lasting, primarily mechanical protection. The modified suspension, and evaporative product, have demonstrated medicinal properties as a topical treatment for control of psoriasis.

Abstract: The invention provides automatic protection from heat damage due to continuing emissions from the distal ends of untended fiberoptics lighting cables, especially those employed in surgical procedures. Damage from such intense and concentrated emissions may include burning of patient tissues, cloth, polymer sheeting and other heat sensitive materials. A simplified proximity detection circuit permits emissions only when an electrically conductive distal terminal or attached implement is purposely held by an operator. Sensitivity is adjusted to provide that casual contact of the small area of the terminal surface at the distal end of the cable with a portion of the human body or other source of substantial earth-ground capacitance, insulated by a non-conductive covering, will not initiate emissions. Emissions can be instantly initiated when wanted by direct contact or by a surgically gloved hand that holds the small terminal with sufficient pressure to maximize the proximity of hand and terminal surfaces.

Abstract: A simple aid to shuffling is incorporated into the structure of playing cards with no significant loss in quality of appearance or feel. A slightly raised area or pattern of such areas is provided on one side of each card in a deck to act as a fulcrum between cards. The deck is then "cut" or divided into two substantially equal parts, and the two parts of the deck are each held firmly at one edge. Each card becomes a lever and acting on the fulcrum areas causes the cards to spread apart at the opposite edges so that the parts of the deck can easily be slid into each other or interleaved, with cards from one part passing between cards in the other. While the deck is thus shuffled as effectively but more easily and with less card abuse than when more vigorous methods are used, the structure of the cards does not prevent the use of the other methods when they are preferred.