Abstract: In an embodiment, systems and methods for automatically determining a MAC for a medical review request and for automatically selecting the determined MAC in a graphical user interface is provided. A request for a medical review for a medical procedure is provided. Based on information associated with the medical procedure, such as a location of the procedure, a MAC with jurisdiction over the procedure is automatically determined for a user. The determined MAC is then preselected in a graphical user interface and is used to determine an LCD or an NCD that applies to the medical procedure associated with the request for a medical review. A series of questions are presented based in the graphical user interface based on the determined LCD or NCD.

Abstract: An expert diagnostic service system using a distributed architecture for generating expert diagnostic suggestions based on input received from a plurality of diagnostic systems. The expert service system collects data related to effective diagnostic results, such as effective fixes, corresponding to various symptoms/faults from a plurality of diagnostic systems via a data transmission network, and accumulates the number of each effective fix corresponding to each of the various symptoms. The expert service system then assigns at least one effective fix to one of the various symptoms based on a result of the accumulating step, such as the rank of the accumulated number of each fix. The expert service system uses the assigned fix corresponding to a symptom as expert suggestions.

Abstract: A composite handle for grooming implements provides improved control during use. Such handle has a rigid and a flexible portion that facilitates use of the implement, especially when a user has a weak or impaired grip.

Abstract: Communication device for supporting a general-purpose computer to communicate with a vehicle having a control unit for controlling at least one particular function of the vehicle. A first request in XML format for requesting the control unit to return specified information is received from the computer. The request received is converted into a request in control unit specific format and is sent to the control unit of the vehicle. When a reply in control unit specific format including the specified information is received from the vehicle, the reply is also converted into a reply in XML format. The converted reply is sent to the computer.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for cutting expanded graphite sheet material, at least one cutting tool is urged against the sheet(s). The cutting tool has at least one ridge extending therefrom that includes a substantially tapered cross-section having sloping sides and an edge surface. At least a portion of the sheet material is displaced as the ridge is urged against the sheet. A region of the sheet material in contact with the ridge is compressed so that the density of the region reaches or exceeds the breaking density of the sheet.

Abstract: A vehicle diagnostic system comprising a rules storage system configured to store one or more rules, each of which determines whether the vehicle may have an anomaly when applied to vehicle diagnostic information. An operator interface may be configured to alert an operator of the diagnostic system to a suspected anomaly in the vehicle. A processing system may be configured to receive diagnostic information from the vehicle, apply one or more rules in the rules storage system to the diagnostic information, and cause the operator interface to alert the operator to a suspected anomaly in the vehicle if the application of the one or more rules results in a determination that the vehicle may have that anomaly. Variations and related processes are also disclosed.

Abstract: An expert diagnostic service system using a distributed architecture for generating expert diagnostic suggestions based on input received from a plurality of diagnostic systems. The expert service system collects data related to effective diagnostic results, such as effective fixes, corresponding to various symptoms/faults from a plurality of diagnostic systems via a data transmission network, and accumulates the number of each effective fix corresponding to each of the various symptoms. The expert service system then assigns at least one effective fix to one of the various symptoms based on a result of the accumulating step, such as the rank of the accumulated number of each fix. The expert service system uses the assigned fix corresponding to a symptom as expert suggestions.

Abstract: A composite handle for grooming implements provides improved control during use. Such handle has a rigid and a flexible portion that facilitates use of the implement, especially when a user has a weak or impaired grip.

Abstract: A first light is moved and illuminated by an x-y plotter mechanism on a rear projection screen under computer control so as to be continuously fixated by an eye of a test subject. The computer also causes one or ones of fixed-position second lights, typically sixteen in number positioned in a regular array, to momentarily illuminate at various times corresponding to various positions of the moving first light. The test subject indicates detection or non-detection of the momentary illuminations to the computer by voicing the numbers "1", "2", "3", etc. From successive illuminations and test subject responses the computer is able to survey the entire visual field of each subject's eye in all directions. The surveyed visual field is plotted on graph paper with the same x-y plotter mechanism that is otherwise and at other times used for moving the first light source.