Abstract: The present invention provides, among other things, compositions and methods suitable for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia based on phosphate-binding magnesium salts. In some embodiments, the present invention provides compositions and methods suitable for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia based on the combination of phosphate-binding magnesium and calcium salts.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for removing phosphate from a subject using chitosan. The present invention also provides compositions and methods for treating hyperphosphatemia based on phosphate-binding chitosan.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for removing phosphate from a subject using chitosan. The present invention also provides compositions and methods for treating hyperphosphatemia based on phosphate-binding chitosan.

Abstract: A cutting tool includes a housing having a first end with a first edge and a second end. A handle extends from the second end of the housing. The housing has a slideable blade with a cutting position and a retracted position inside the housing. A finger portion is cantilevered from the first end of the housing. The finger portion and the first edge define an elongated opening having a juncture end at the first end of the housing. A cutting edge is embedded at the juncture end. The cutting edge is shaped, sized and orientated to facilitate forward slitting of heavy plastic sheet. The slideable blade slides axially along a track. A biasing means repositions the slideable blade from the cutting position to the retracted position.

Abstract: A cutting tool includes a housing having a first end with a first edge and a second end. A handle extends from the second end of the housing. The housing has a slideable blade with a cutting position and a retracted position inside the housing. A finger portion is cantilevered from the first end of the housing. The finger portion and the first edge define an elongated opening having a juncture end at the first end of the housing. A cutting edge is embedded at the juncture end. The cutting edge is shaped, sized and orientated to facilitate forward slitting of heavy plastic sheet. The slideable blade slides axially along a track. A biasing means repositions the slideable blade from the cutting position to the retracted position.

Abstract: A tractor-drawn implement for breaking up caked litter on the floor of a poultry house includes a stationary blade which passes beneath the surface of the litter and a rotary rake whose tines are flattened and are inclined at an oblique angle to radial planes of the rake. The tines break up caked litter as they turn; their inclination causes sweeps the litter particles toward one end of the blade, away from the wall of the house.

Abstract: A litter screening and separating machine including a storage compartment, a loader at one end of the storage compartment for picking up encrusted litter material from the floor of a chicken house, a conveyor including a pair of chains for moving the encrusted litter from the loader to the storage compartment. A baffle plate adjacent to and beneath the conveyor chain prevents contamination of the conveyor chain. Vibrator rollers adjacent the pair of chains for engagement with tabs on spaced links of each chain for vibrating the loading flights. Trap doors beneath the upper run of the conveyor may be opened to permit some of the material collected to fall back to the floor of the poultry house. One can regulate the amount of material thus recycled by independently opening and closing the trap doors.

Abstract: A circuitized substrate for use in an electronic package wherein the substrate, e.g., ceramic, includes more than one conductive layer, e.g. , copper, thereon separated by a suitable dielectric material, e.g. , polyimide. Each layer includes its own conductive location(s) which are designed for being directly electrically connected, e.g., using solder, to respective contact sites on a semiconductor chip positioned on the substrate to form part of the final package. A method for making such a package is also provided. Significantly, the resulting package does not include interconnections between the conductive layers at the desired contact locations, these locations, as mentioned, instead being directly connected to the chip.

Abstract: A pattern is provided on a substrate by providing the substrate with at least two layers of material thereon and providing a layer of dry imaging polymer compositions thereon. The layer of the dry imaging polymer composition is laser ablated to provide the desired personality pattern. The top exposed portion of at least the top layer is removed and the desired select pattern is laser ablated. The exposed portions of said first layer is removed and the pattern is completed through the other layers of material to thereby expose the substrate surface, without the substrate surface being subjected to laser ablating to thereby provide the desired pattern on the substrate.

Abstract: A vehicle-mounted apparatus is capable of recording customized voice road feature descriptions along with location information as the vehicle travels along the road. A vehicle location signal generating device is associated with the vehicle and is capable of producing a vehicle location signal in response to an audio input signal initiated by the device operator. When an audio input signal is entered, a processor generates a unique event sequence indicator for each audio input signal. Each event sequence indicator is unique to the particular audio input signal for which it is produced and indicates the order in which the respective audio input signal is produced in relation to any other audio input signals. An audio sequence generating device synthesizes an audio sequence signal for each event sequence indicator and this audio sequence signal is recorded in an audio recording device along with a custom feature description dictated by the device operator.

Abstract: A litter screening and separating apparatus including a storage compartment arranged for towed movement, a loader structure affixed at one end of the storage compartment for picking up encrusted litter material from floors of chicken houses, a conveyor including a pair of chains for moving the encrusted litter from the loading structure to the storage compartment, a baffle plate adjacent and beneath the conveyor chain for preventing contamination of the conveyor chain from the material stored in the storage compartment, a plurality of loading panels arranged between the pair of chains and being replaceably affixed thereto, and vibrator rollers adjacent the pair of chains for engagement with projections on spaced links of each chain for vibrating the loading panels. The loading panels may be of solid panel construction or of expanded metal, depending upon the type of litter being picked up and the method of use of the apparatus.

Abstract: A door system for a boiler penthouse or other high temperature industrial environment is disclosed. A sufficiently large entranceway for both workmen and large equipment is provided by the door system. The access door has the capability for quick gas-tight sealing during closing. A hinged metal door plate has arcuate welding beads applied to its internal surface near its corners to produce permanent inward cupping of the door plate adjacent to its corners. Devices apply pressure to the exterior surface of the door plate during the closing thereof to flatten the inwardly cupped corners and effect gas-tight sealing of the interior surface of the door plate near its margin with an opposing high temperature resistant gasket carried by the front face of a refractory insulated door frame. A layer of thermal insulating material in a protective jacket is secured to the interior surface of the door plate.

Abstract: An entrance doorway for electrostatic precipitators, bag houses, scrubbers, ductwork and breeching includes an interior metal plate door hinged to a frame plate of similar thickness whereby the interior door and frame plate will follow any warpage of the casing wall as they are subjected to the same temperatures as the casing wall. A hollow core high temperature acid-resistant resilient gasket is employed between the interior door and its frame plate. A pressure screw acting on the center of the interior door flexes it toward the interior of the casing and renders the interior door concave to form a tight seal with the gasket. An interior door retractor is provided to pull the interior door and its gasket away from the frame plate when the pressure screw is relieving pressure on the interior door, thereby preventing damage to the door gasket.

Abstract: A multiple shutter device for displaying digital information and including an opaque face plate having a plurality of transparent windows situated thereon, a shutter support plate facing and closely disposed behind the face plate and having a plurality of opaque shutters situated thereon, each shutter in unique alignment with one of the segment windows, a multi-track grooved rotary cam facing and closely disposed behind the shutter support plate, a plurality of cam follower arms each being pivotally attached to one of the shutters at a first end and having a second end provided with a cam track following pin which engages a track on the cam, each arm further having a point intermediate the first and second ends which is pivotally attached to the shutter plate, whereby rotation of the cam causes various combinations of the shutter to be actuated to open and close the segment windows and sequentially display one or more digital characters.