Abstract: The present invention relates to a wrapper for individually packaging absorbent articles for personal hygiene, especially tampons. The wrapper of the present invention is provided with an opening means comprising a tear tape and a stopper, the tear tape is used for opening the wrapper and the stopper prevents the wrapper from becoming separated into more than two segments of wrapper material upon being opened.

Abstract: A method of individually wrapping digital tampons having a withdrawal string attached thereto is disclosed. The method includes a multiplicity of transporting devices for transporting digital tampons in a machine direction and for holding withdrawal strings attached to the tampons such that the withdrawal strings do not interfere with the subsequent wrapping operations.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a method for producing a shaped tampon. The method includes the following steps: providing a mold having an inner surface, an outer surface, a first end, a second end, and an opening located in said second end; providing a tampon pledget; transferring said tampon pledget through said opening into said second end of said mold using a transfer member resulting in a tampon mold; self-sustaining said shaped tampon wherein said shaped tampon has an undercut; and removing said shaped tampon from said tampon mold.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for extending the lifetime of belts, especially photoreceptor belts inside of a printing device, which includes detensioning the belt during periods where the belt is not in use, such as where a printing device is in an idle state.

Abstract: A rotating flicker bar assembly for cleaning fibers of a rotating brush where the flicker bar is rotatably mounted in an interfering relationship with the fibers of the rotating brush and wherein the rotating flicker bar and brush are rotationally coupled in order to impart rotational force therebetween.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a wrapper for individually packaging absorbent articles for personal hygiene, especially tampons. The wrapper of the present invention is provided with an opening means, which prevents the wrapper from becoming separated into more than one piece of wrapper material upon being opened.

Abstract: A collection case combines a trading card with an actual piece of associated memorabilia to enhance its value. The collection case encapsulates the two items together in a protective plastic slab for safe keeping. The process results in a new collectable product of increased value.

Abstract: Disclosed is substantially pure DNA encoding an Arabidopsis thaliana Rps2 polypeptide; substantially pure Rps2 polypeptide; and methods of using such DNA to express the Rps2 polypeptide in plant cells and whole plants to provide, in transgenic plants, disease resistance to pathogens. Also disclosed are conserved regions characteristic of the RPS family and primers and probes for the identification and isolation of additional RPS disease-resistance genes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of identifying a plant disease-resistance gene that includes the steps of (a) providing a plant tissue sample, (b)introducing by biolistic transformation into the plant tissue sample a candidate plant disease-resistance gene; (c) expressing the candidate plant disease-resistance gene within the plant tissue sample; and (d) determining whether the plant tissue sample exhibits a disease-resistance response, whereby a response identifies a plant disease-resistance gene.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for visually enhancing the ability to perform a medical procedure. The apparatus and method relates to an optical device configured to superimpose a display image over an object, wherein the display image aligns and corresponds with a portion of the object. The optical device includes a partial reflective device and a display member having a display surface configured to display the display image. The display member is oriented with respect to the partial reflective device such that the display image appears superimposed to a viewer over the object. With this arrangement, the display member displays an image that reflects with the partial reflective device and into a viewer's optical viewing path so that the viewer can see the displayed image through the partial reflective device superimposed over the object.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a wrapper for individually packaging absorbent articles for personal hygiene, especially tampons. The wrapper of the present invention is provided with an opening means comprising a tear tape and a stopper, the tear tape is used for opening the wrapper and the stopper prevents the wrapper from becoming separated into more than two segments of wrapper material upon being opened.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a wrapper for individually packaging absorbent articles for personal hygiene, especially tampons. The wrapper of the present invention is provided with an opening means, which prevents the wrapper from becoming separated into more than one piece of wrapper material upon being opened.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a method for producing a shaped tampon. The method includes the following steps: providing a mold having an inner surface, an outer surface, a first end, a second end, and an opening located in said second end; providing a tampon pledget; transferring said tampon pledget through said opening into said second end of said mold using a transfer member resulting in a tampon mold; self-sustaining said shaped tampon wherein said shaped tampon has an undercut; and removing said shaped tampon from said tampon mold.

Abstract: A network management and administration system provisioning data links in an optical networking environment is provided. The network management and administration system makes use of connectivity information in establishing and monitoring data links. The connectivity information includes data link termination specifications. Data link termination specifications include port and channel specifications. Each port may have a channelized or an unchannelized configuration. A virtual channel having a data transport capacity substantially equal to that of a corresponding unchannelized port is defined therefor. The advantages include a standardized, concise and comprehensive provisioning and presentation of data links.

Abstract: According to the present invention, hydrogen/carbon monoxide synthesis gas (also called syngas) is produced by injection of a second reactant stream into a hydrocarbon reformer at a location between the entry and discharge ends of the reformer. The second reactant stream can contain: carbon dioxide; a mixture of carbon dioxide and hydrocarbon; a mixture of hydrocarbon and steam, a mixture of carbon dioxide and steam; or a mixture of carbon dioxide with hydrocarbon and steam. All or part of the mixtures containing hydrocarbon and steam can be prereformed hydrocarbon in steam.

Abstract: Disclosed is substantially pure DNA encoding an Arabidopsis thaliana Rps2 polypeptide; substantially pure Rps2 polypeptide; and methods of using such DNA to express the Rps2 polypeptide in plant cells and whole plants to provide, in transgenic plants, disease resistance to pathogens. Also disclosed are conserved regions characteristic of the RPS family and primers and probes for the identification and isolation of additional RPS disease-resistance genes.

Abstract: Disclosed is substantially pure DNA encoding an Arabidopsis thaliana Rps2 polypeptide; substantially pure Rps2 polypeptide; and methods of using such DNA to express the Rps2 polypeptide in plant cells and whole plants to provide, in transgenic plants, disease resistance to pathogens. Also disclosed are conserved regions characteristic of the RPS family and primers and probes for the identification and isolation of additional RPS disease-resistance genes.

Abstract: Disclosed is a new plant resistance gene family, the members of which encode plant resistance polypeptides having P-loop and LRR structural motifs. Also disclosed are substantially pure plant DNAs encoding such polypeptides. The invention further involves transgenic plants and transformed host cells that express these DNAs and exhibit enhanced disease resistance to plant pathogens.