Abstract: The noncarbonated beverage products have a pH of between 2.5 and 4.5 and contain from about 300 ppm to about 3000 ppm of a polyphosphate; from about 100 ppm to about 1000 ppm of a preservative selected from sorbic acid, benzoic acid, alkali metal salts thereof and mixtures thereof; from about 0.1% to about 20% by weight of fruit juice; and from about 80% to about 99% by weight of added water, wherein the added water contains from 0 ppm to about 60 ppm of hardness, and preferably contains from 0 ppm to about 300 ppm of alkalinity. These noncarbonated beverage products can be stored at ambient temperatures for at least about 10 days, without substantial microbial proliferation therein after exposure to beverage spoilage organisms.

Abstract: Disclosed are noncarbonated beverage products with improved microbial stability, and processes for preparing them. The noncarbonated beverage products have a pH of between 2.5 and 4.5 and comprise from about 300 ppm to about 3000 ppm of a polyphosphate having an average chain length ranging from about 17 to about 60: from about 100 ppm to about 1000 ppm of a preservative selected from the group consisting of sorbic acid, benzoic acid, alkali metal salts thereof and mixtures thereof; from about 0.1% to about 40% by weight of fruit juice; and from about 80% to about 99% by weight of added water, wherein the added water contains from 61 ppm to about 220 ppm of hardness. These noncarbonated beverage products can be stored at ambient temperatures for at least about 28 days without substantial microbial proliferation therein after exposure to beverage spoilage organisms.

Abstract: The noncarbonated beverage products have a pH of between 2.5 and 4.5 and contain from about 300 ppm to about 3000 ppm of a polyphosphate; from about 100 ppm to about 1000 ppm of a preservative selected from sorbic acid, benzoic acid, alkali metal salts thereof and mixtures thereof; from about 0.1% to about 40% by weight of fruit juice; and from about 80% to about 99% by weight of added water, wherein the added water contains from 0 ppm to about 60 ppm of hardness, and preferably contains from 0 ppm to about 300 ppm of alkalinity. These noncarbonated beverage products can be stored at ambient temperatures for at least about 10 days, without substantial microbial proliferation therein after exposure to beverage spoilage organisms.

Abstract: The state of a media device is identified by monitoring file system calls. A determination is made whether or not a file system call originated from a specified high level application. In one implementation, the high level application writes to a monitored media device in order to perform a flushing process to securely delete inactive data.

Abstract: An electrolyte, and a process for its formation, for a solid oxide fuel cell comprising an electrolyte plate and a supporting member. The electrolyte plate includes an upper and a lower surface. The support member includes a plurality of non-intersecting support members which are positioned on at least one of the upper and the lower surfaces of the electrolyte plate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for sanitization of a fixed storage device interfaced to a computer system. The computer system is booted from a removable storage device that holds a bootable disk operating system and program code that is executed within the disk operating system. The fixed storage device is detected. The writeable space of the fixed storage device is then overwritten with a plurality of overwrite layers. Further, a report can be printed listing information about the sanitization process contemporaneously upon the completion of sanitization. In one embodiment, sanitizing is accomplished using a plurality of patterns, each layer having an associated pattern, to ensure that data can not be recovered even by destructive analysis.

Abstract: The present invention provides a relatively accurate, rapid and economical method of screening a patient for the presence of inflammatory diseases such as an intraamniotic infection, bacterial meningitis and the sexually transmitted diseases; gonorrhea, chlamydia and trichomoniasis. The method of the present invention involves measuring the concentration of neutrophil defensins HNP1-3 and the concentration of lactoferrin, found in a bodily fluid, tissue or a combination thereof, adding these two concentrations together to yield a summed total, and correlating the measured summed total to known summed totals to give an indication of whether the patient is at risk of suffering from inflammatory diseases such as an intraamniotic infection, bacterial meningitis or the sexually transmitted diseases; gonorrhea, chlamydia and trichomoniasis.

Abstract: An electronic music instrument system, comprising: an electronic music instrument, having selectable groups of reproducible sounds and individually selectable reproducible sounds; a signal generator for energizing an audio amplifier responsive to different digital audio sources, including the groups of sounds and the individual sounds a graphical user interface for displaying at least one control graphic representing controllable parameters of the audio signals generated by the generator; and, a controller responsive to operation of the control graphic for adjusting the controllable parameters of the generator and for selectively coupling different ones of the sources to the generator. The graphical user interface can comprise: a video display; and, a touch-responsive overlay. The controllable parameters can include multiple instrument sound selection and sound layer assignment, controlled responsive to operation of the at least one control graphic.

Abstract: Disclosed are noncarbonated beverage products with improved microbial stability, and processes for preparing them. The noncarbonated beverage products have a pH of between 2.5 and 4.5 and comprise from about 300 ppm to about 3000 ppm of a polyphosphate having an average chain length ranging from about 17 to about 60; from about 100 ppm to about 1000 ppm of a preservative selected from the group consisting of sorbic acid, benzoic acid, alkali metal salts thereof and mixtures thereof; from about 0.1% to about 40% by weight of fruit juice; and from about 80% to about 99% by weight of added water, wherein the added water contains from 61 ppm to about 220 ppm of hardness. These noncarbonated beverage products can be stored at ambient temperatures for at least about 28 days without substantial microbial proliferation therein after exposure to beverage spoilage organisms.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided that enhance file system calls to a file system structure of an operating system. In particular, file system calls can be enhanced to provide real-time secure file deletion on an ongoing basis. A file system call that is intended to perform a function with respect to data stored on a storage device is intercepted. It is then determined whether the file system call is of a type that should be processed. If not, the original file system call is passed on through the file system. If the file system call should be processed, supplemental processing is performed to enhance the original file system call and the file system call is transparently returned to the calling system application. In embodiment, real-time secure file deletion is implemented using a vendor supplied driver (VSD) executing within the installable file system (IFS) of WINDOWS 95. Further, a method and system are disclosed for real-time secure data deletion in a system having an NTFS file system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided that enhance file system calls to a file system structure of an operating system. In particular, file system calls can be enhanced to provide real-time secure file deletion on an ongoing basis. A file system call that is intended to perform a function with respect to data stored on a storage device is intercepted. It is then determined whether the file system call is of a type that should be processed. If not, the original file system call is passed on through the file system. If the file system call should be processed, supplemental processing is performed to enhance the original file system call and the file system call is transparently returned to the calling system application. In embodiment, real-time secure file deletion is implemented using a vendor supplied driver (VSD) executing within the installable file system (IFS) of WINDOWS 95.

Abstract: Designs for basecurves are disclosed which are designed to promote adhesion of an excess polymer HEMA ring to the basecurve during a demolding operation such that the excess polymer HEMA ring is removed along with the basecurve during the demolding operation. The basecurve mold designs promote and maintain adhesion of an excess polymer HEMA ring to the basecurve in a process for molding cast contact lenses in mold assemblies, each comprising a frontcurve and a spaced basecurve, and wherein a molded lens is formed therebetween. In an embodiment of the invention, the annular area of the basecurve mold can be formed with an annular step which includes projecting teeth positioned therearound which project into the excess polymer HEMA ring.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for screening for reproductive tract inflammation and preeclampsia which utilizes the increase in neutrophil defensins to indicate that a patient is at risk of having reproductive tract inflammation or preeclampsia. The apparatus consists either an ELISA based measurement of defensins levels or a dipstick test that can be administered by the provider or self-administered by the patient.

Abstract: Apparatus and method is provided for separating electrical connections, such as, solder connections, between two surfaces in which electrical connections are relatively weak and thus can be readily separated. The preferred application of the disclosed process and apparatus is its use in separating semiconductor devices from its device carrier after the devices have been through burn-in tests. The unique process and apparatus allows multiple uses of device carrier for testing and/or burning-in devices.

Abstract: An electronic music instrument system, comprising: an electronic music instrument, having selectable groups of reproducible sounds and individually selectable reproducible sounds; a signal generator for energizing an audio amplifier responsive to different digital audio sources, including the groups of sounds and the individual sounds a graphical user interface for displaying at least one control graphic representing controllable parameters of the audio signals generated by the generator; and, a controller responsive to operation of the control graphic for adjusting the controllable parameters of the generator and for selectively coupling different ones of the sources to the generator. The graphical user interface can comprise: a video display; and, a touch-responsive overlay. The controllable parameters can include multiple instrument sound selection and sound layer assignment, controlled responsive to operation of the at least one control graphic.

Abstract: This invention relates to the novel use of phenyl ureas in the treatment of disease states mediated by the chemokine, Interleukin-8 (IL-8).

Abstract: An on-demand fast cycle mold for producing injection molded products such as polypropylene blister package bases. The on-demand fast cycle mold has a heated and cooled hot runner system which provides a short response time and optimal temperature control. On-demand injection molding is made possible by a pulse modulated closed loop mold cooling system, the cooling design of brazed gate inserts, and an effective layout of the cooling channels. The programming of the software for a computer control system has also been designed to achieve on-demand injection molding. The design of the closed loop mold cooling system incorporates an advanced cooling circuit layout, and provides for easy maintenance and better quality control of the coolant which significantly reduces corrosion and scale buildup. Mold cooling is controlled by sensors installed inside the mold which are used in feedback control loops.

Abstract: Apparatus and method is provided for separating electrical connections, such as, solder connections, between two surfaces in which electrical connections are relatively weak and thus can be readily separated. The preferred application of the disclosed process and apparatus is its use in separating semiconductor devices from its device carrier after the devices have been through burn-in tests. The unique process and apparatus allows multiple uses of device carrier for testing and/or burning-in devices.

Abstract: Apparatus and method is provided for separating electrical connections, such as, solder connections, between two surfaces in which electrical connections are relatively weak and thus can be readily separated. The preferred application of the disclosed process and apparatus is its use in separating semiconductor devices from its device carrier after the devices have been through burn-in tests. The unique process and apparatus allows multiple uses of device carrier for testing and/or burning-in devices.

Abstract: Apparatus and method is provided for separating electrical connections, such as, solder connections, between two surfaces in which electrical connections are relatively weak and thus can be readily separated. The preferred application of the disclosed process and apparatus is its use in separating semiconductor devices from its device carrier after the devices have been through burn-in tests. The unique process and apparatus allows multiple uses of device carrier for testing and/or burning-in devices.