Abstract: A model railroad coupler for use with model railroad rolling stock includes a coupler head and a coupler knuckle carried pivotally on the coupler head; an elongate coupler shank having one end thereof fixed to the coupler head; a coupler mounting structure carried at the other end of the coupler shank, the shank having a shank longitudinal axis; wherein the coupler head includes a coupler head side flange thereon for preventing over rotation of the coupler knuckle, the coupler head side flange having a flat, inner-facing surface which is parallel to the shank axis; and wherein the coupler mounting structure includes a coupler centering surface adjacent an end thereof, wherein the coupler centering surface has a first, co-linear portion and a second, angled portion wherein a first fulcrum point is located between the first, co-linear portion and the second, angled portion and a second fulcrum point located at an outer margin of the coupler centering surface.

Abstract: A truck for use on a piece of model railroad rolling stock, the truck having axle/wheels sets associated therewith includes two identical truck portions, which, when joined, form a model railroad truck frame, which is held together by mechanical impedance by a frame retainer located in a central mounting structure formed by joining the two truck portions.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling movement of a bit of a drilling assembly during reaming of an already-drilled hole; the methods, in certain aspects, including determining a ream speed for downward movement of the bit in the hole, moving the bit downward in a hole at the ream speed, determining a time period for deceleration of the bit to the hole bottom, determining a value for a target drilling parameter for drilling beyond the bottom of the hole, decelerating the bit (linearly or non-linearly) for the time period, and achieving the value for the target drilling parameter when the bit reaches the bottom of the hole.

Abstract: A truck for use on a model railroad car, in association with plural axle/wheel sets, includes a left truck side frame and a right side frame, each having a bolster receiver therein; an elongate bolster extending between said right frame half and said left frame half, wherein each end of said bolster is received in said bolster receiver of a truck side frame; and a polymer spring member received in each of said bolster receivers between a bottom surface of said bolster receiver and a bottom surface of a bolster end for (1) retaining the bolster in the bolster receiver, and (2) allowing limited torsion of said left truck frame and said right truck frame relative to one another and to said bolster.

Abstract: A truck for use on a piece of model railroad rolling stock, the truck having axle/wheels sets associated therewith includes two identical truck portions, which, when joined, form a model railroad truck frame, which is held together by mechanical impedance by a frame retainer located in a central mounting structure formed by joining the two truck portions.

Abstract: A magnetic core actuator includes a housing, formed of a non-magnetic material, having a generally tubular shape; a coil, which includes a left hand portion and a right hand portion, wherein each portion, when energized, generates a magnetic field wherein the magnetic fields generated by the left hand portion and the right hand portion have like fields facing one another; and a pair of magnetic armatures, including a left hand armature and a right hand armature, retained in said housing, wherein said magnetic armatures are mounted with like poles facing one another within said housing, said magnetic armatures being driven to opposite ends of said housing by their magnetic fields, and said armatures being shifted towards the center of said housing when power is applied to said coil. As used in a model railroad car, a linkage mechanism extends between the magnetic core actuator and a coupler on a model rail road car for shifting the coupler between its coupled condition and its uncoupled condition.

Abstract: A consumer pays their bills using a bill payment service that reports actual payment information to a consumer reporting agency repository. The consumer requests the bill payment service to send their payment information to the CRA repository each month on their behalf to show they pay their bills on time when applying for credit. The bill payment service reports actual bill payment to the CRA reports on behalf of its customers requesting the reporting service. All bill payment data maintained in the CRA repository is maintained securely and will not be released without the consent of the consumer. The bill payment data maintained in the repository is used to report a credit score in addition to the payment data being reported, which occurs only when the consumer authorizes the release of the data.

Abstract: A double entry water bottle carrier (10) for runners includes a base (12) having a belt (14) for securing the base (12) to the runner. A sleeve (20) secured to the base (12) is dimensioned to receive a water bottle (22) and defines a first entry (24) and an opposed second entry (26) at opposed ends of the sleeve (20). A flexible securing strap (32) is secured between opposed interior surfaces of the sleeve (20), and is dimensioned so that a central portion (42) of the strap (32) contacts and secures the bottom surface (44) of the water bottle (32) whether a spout (40) of the water bottle extends out of the first entry (24) or second entry (26) of the sleeve (20).

Abstract: A creditor creates a lock box at a financial institution. The lock box includes an escrow provision. A consumer makes regularly scheduled payments to the financial institution and designates the payment either for the creditor's lock box or for the escrow account. The financial institution reports all payments and escrow events to the creditor and to the credit payment data repository. All credit payment data maintained in the credit data repository is maintained securely and will not be released without the consent of the consumer. The credit data maintained in the repository is used to report a credit score, which occurs only when the consumer authorizes the release of the data.

Abstract: A facile method is provided for the iterative insertion of two or more preselected polynucleotide sequences into another preselected polynucleotide sequence, particularly where the preselected sequences encode one or more of the same or different peptides, and a protein, respectively, such that the properties of the protein are modified to include that of the peptides. By iteratively adding copies of the peptides, the number of insertion iterations necessary to achieve the desired modified properties of the protein is controlled and minimal.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a jig for the manufacture of electrophysiology harps containing a top surface upon which may be placed one or more “U”s and two arrays of strand-securing notches, wherein the arrays of notches are situated one on each of two opposing edges of the top surface of the jig. Also consistent with the present invention is a method for the manufacture of electrophysiology harps exhibiting the steps of placing “U”s on the top surface of such a jig, stringing one or more strands across the “U”s such that points of contact form between the strands and the “U”s, securing the strands in the notches, cementing the points of contact, and severing the strands just distal to the points of contact. Additionally consistent with the present invention is an electrophysiology harp with strands that are substantially parallel to one another and/or equidistant from one another.

Abstract: An improved model railroad coupler incorporates a coupler shank, having a joining element at one end thereof and a coupler head at the other end thereof. A coupler-knuckle receiver is located within the coupler head and receives a coupler knuckle. The knuckle is provided with limited, rotational movement within the coupler head, through a predefined arc. The coupler head has a first knuckle stop located thereon which limits rotational movement of the coupler knuckle relative to the coupler head in a first direction of rotation. A second knuckle stop is located on one side of the coupler head adjacent to the shank. A knuckle limiter is located on the coupler knuckle. The second knuckle stop and the knuckle limiter are constructed and arranged to abut one another when the coupler knuckle is shifted to an open position, thereby stopping rotation of the coupler knuckle relative to the coupler head.

Abstract: A model railroad remote uncoupler mechanism is intended for use with a signal-receiving mechanism and a self-centering coupler. A coupler is mounted on a unit of model railroad rolling stock, and is shiftable between a coupled condition, wherein the coupler engages a coupler on another unit of rolling stock, in an uncoupled condition. The remote uncoupler mechanism includes an electromotive actuator, which is activated by the signal-receiving mechanism, and a connector, which extends between the electromotive actuator and the coupler for shifting the coupler between its coupler position and its uncoupled condition. A power supply is provided for the remote uncoupler mechanism, which power supply may be carried on-board the rolling stock, or may include a pick-up mechanism for collecting power from the energized rails of the model railroad layout.

Abstract: A system and method for managing patient medical information to facilitate data management and improve physician access to and recordal of examination data is described. The method comprises a computer aided process including the steps of scheduling appointments, entering and displaying data to a physician, updating the patient data with progress notes concurrently with an examination, displaying allergy warnings and recording a diagnosis based on the progress notes. A common graphic user interface is also disclosed to facilitate operation of the preferred system and method. The system and method are implemented with a relational database operating on data tables which store information input into the user interface.