Abstract: A blower includes a housing including an inlet and an outlet, a bearing-housing structure provided to the housing and adapted to rotatably support a rotor, a motor provided to the bearing-housing structure and adapted to drive the rotor, and an impeller provided to the rotor. The bearing-housing structure includes a bearing shaft having a bearing surface that rotatably supports the rotor. The bearing shaft provides only a single bearing of the non-ball bearing type for the rotor.

Abstract: A system receives information for a plurality of invoices having invoice amounts owed by a debtor-buyer to a plurality of creditor-suppliers, a cash pool amount for a cash pool available by the debtor-buyer for early payment of at least some of the invoice amounts, and a desired return rate, receives a plurality of offers, each offer from a corresponding creditor-supplier and comprising an offer return rate, determines whether each of the plurality of offers is eligible for acceptance based on each offer return rate from each offer and the desired return rate for the buyer and selects one or more invoices each having an invoice amount, and transmits award information to the debtor-buyer.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing wireless communication for a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC). The PLC includes a central processing unit (CPU) card mounted on the backplane of the PLC, a CPU mounted on the CPU card and a means for wireless radio frequency communication coupled to the CPU so that the means for radio frequency communication and CPU communicate without using the PLC module bus.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing wireless communication for a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC). The PLC includes a central processing unit (CPU) card mounted on the backplane of the PLC, a CPU mounted on the CPU card and a means for wireless radio frequency communication coupled to the CPU so that the means for radio frequency communication and CPU communicate without using the PLC module bus.

Abstract: A controlled or sustained release of L-Histidine is provided by coating the L-Histidine with a hydrophobic coating or acid-resistant coating such as a glyceride material derived from rapeseed. Other therapeutic amino acids are coated with hydrophobic or acid-resistant coatings for providing a sustained or controlled release in the gastrointestinal tract to avoid overloading the transport system for the amino acid. In the case of L-Histidine, the overloading of the L-system is avoided and a more constant concentration of L-Histidine can be provided in the gastrointestinal tract. Further, because the L-Histidine provided in a controlled or a sustained release form, a lower overall dose may be administered to the patient.

Abstract: Nutriceutical compositions useful as a dietary supplement which have antioxidant/free radical scavengers and also having a cytoprotective effect are disclosed. The compositions contain a cytoprotective and antioxidant/free radical scavenging amount of at least one of D-histidine, L-histidine, a racemic mixture thereof, a non-racemic mixture thereof, and nutriceutically acceptable salts thereof in combination with phytonutrients having antioxidant properties such as canthanaxin, vitamin A and limonene. The compositions can be prepared in capsule form, tablets, sustained release tablets, suspensions and oral rehydration solutions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for alleviating disorders or chronic conditions of the female reproductive system, such as dysmenorrhea, endometrial pain, and pre-term labor, through dietary supplementation with histidine. The invention relates further to novel combination supplements of histidine in conjunction with other nutritional supplement materials which are preferably also useful in alleviating the above-mentioned disorders or conditions. A method for administering a dietary histidine supplement in conjunction with one or more separately formulated therapeutic drugs also known to be useful in treating these female reproductive conditions is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for preventing or treating conditions or disorders of the female reproductive system by administering an effective dosage of histidine alone or in combination with other therapeutic agents. The invention relates also to novel physical compositions and delivery devices for administering histidine effectively to a female subject in need of either prophylaxis or treatment of certain disorders of the reproductive system.

Abstract: The administration of histidine is able to prevent and ameliorate tissue and cellular damage which is caused by damaging levels of cytokines and growth factors. It is shown that histidine, when administered in therapeutic quantities is able to inhibit cytokines and growth factors involved in cell and tissue damage. In addition, the method of adminstering histidine to inhibit these molecules can prevent and ameliorate tissue, vessel and cell damage from restenosis, burns, surgical procedures and other disorders which cause and result from damaged tissues, vessels and cells.

Abstract: Nutriceutical compositions useful as a dietary supplement which have antioxidant/free radical scavengers and also having a cytoprotective effect are disclosed. The compositions contain a cytoprotective and antioxidant/free radical scavenging amount of at least one of D-histidine, L-histidine, a racemic mixture thereof, a non-racemic mixture thereof, and nutriceutically acceptable salts thereof in combination with phytonutrients having antioxidant properties such as vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin A and .beta.-carotene. The compositions can be prepared in capsule form, tablets, sustained release tablets, suspensions and oral rehydration solutions.

Abstract: The administration of histidine is able to prevent and ameliorate tissue and cellular damage which is caused by damaging levels of cytokines and growth factors. It is shown that histidine, when administered in therapeutic quantities is able to inhibit cytokines and growth factors involved in cell and tissue damage. In addition, the method of administering histidine to inhibit these molecules can prevent and ameliorate tissue, vessel and cell damage from restenosis, burns, surgical procedures and other disorders which cause and result from damaged tissues, vessels and cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for protecting the eye from degenerative eye conditions by administering prophylactic histidine compositions. The invention also relates to methods for treating ocular inflammation resulting from various causative agents, by administering therapeutic histidine compositions. The invention relates further still to novel histidine compositions for carrying out the present methods.

Abstract: A method of preventing or reducing fluid and electrolyte losses in mammalian subjects under the effect of a stimulus that directly or indirectly causes such losses, by administering a therapeutically effective amount of D-histidine, L-histidine, a racemic mixture thereof, a non-racemic mixture thereof, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts in conjunction with a carrier. In one embodiment the method is useful in reducing or preventing intestinal tract fluid secretions, and fluid and electrolyte losses associated with diarrhea arising from a number of causative agents, such as infectious diarrheas and non-infectious diarrheas. Various therapeutic regimes of histidine administration and formulation are embodied. Therapeutic compositions of histidine in combination with other medicaments, e.g., those that produce a diarrheal side-effect, are disclosed as another embodiment.

Abstract: A treatment modality for infectious diseases and pulmonary conditions that result from the inflammatory responses by tissues to infections by microorganisms, including but not limited to viruses, retroviruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms, or toxins that arise from microorganisms comprises administering an effective amount of histidine to the affected subject to combat the disease or the distress condition resulting therefrom.

Abstract: A treatment modality for infectious diseases and pulmonary conditions that result from the inflammatory responses by tissues to infections by microorganisms, including but not limited to viruses, retroviruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms, or toxins that arise from microorganisms comprises administering an effective amount of histidine to the affected subject to combat the disease or the distress condition resulting therefrom.