Abstract: A vaginal treatment composition that employs a therapeutic agent to inhibit and/or treat vaginal infection is provided. The therapeutic agent is capable of inhibiting and/or killing Gardnerella (e.g., Gardnerella vaginalis), Candida (e.g., Candida albicans), and/or Trichomonas (e.g., Trichomonas vaginalis) pathogens. Desirably, such antimicrobial efficacy is achieved without substantially inhibiting the growth of Lactobacillus acidophilus. For instance, sugars and/or sugar alcohols may be employed in the present invention as a therapeutic agent for inhibiting and/or treating vaginal infection. In one particular embodiment, D-xylitol is used as the therapeutic agent.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment uses a novel adaptation of a tree splitting algorithm applied to Radio Frequency (RE) tagging technology to identify many tags in the RF field of a base station. The embodiment uses the tree splitting algorithm to identify a single tag in a field of a plurality of radio frequency tags. Once the single tag is identified, the identified tag is placed in a Data_Exchange state where the base station can access data from the tag memory by using information that identifies the tag.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for selecting certain subgroups of radio frequency (RF) tags for querying, communicating, and/or identifying by a base station. The base station sends commands to a group tags within a RF field of the base station. The tags use control logic to determine whether or not they meet certain criteria sent out by the commands. This may cause the tags to change state which either prevents or allows a given tag to participate in an identification process. In this way, a given subgroups of tags meeting certain criteria can be selected for querying, communicating, and/or identifying.

Abstract: A therapeutic article includes a skin contact layer having a plurality of fibers forming a plurality of point-bearing surfaces configured for wear against a user's skin; a personal care composition disposed proximate the fibers; an external layer attached to the skin contact layer; and an intermediate layer interposed between the skin contact layer and the external layer, the intermediate layer being configured to activate the personal care composition, the external layer being configured to direct the activated personal care composition through the skin contact layer to treat the user.

Abstract: A vaginal treatment composition that rapidly forms a gel when placed into contact with monovalent or polyvalent cations, such as sodium (Na+) and calcium (Ca2+) cations naturally found in vaginal mucosa, is provided. The gel may form in less than about 1 hour, in some embodiments less than about 1 minute, and in some embodiments, less than about 30 seconds. Among other things, such rapid gelation reduces the likelihood of leakage during use. In addition, because the gel may form intravaginally, it is more likely to retain its structure and shape over an extended period of time. In this manner, the gel may provide the prolonged release of a therapeutic agent that inhibits and/or treats vaginal infection. For instance, the gel may remain within the vagina for about 2 to about 48 hours to provide the desired effect.

Abstract: An absorbent pad configured for placement under a patient to absorb bodily fluids includes a liquid permeable cover layer, a liquid impermeable back sheet, and an absorbent structure disposed between the cover layer and the back sheet. At least one of the cover layer, back sheet, or absorbent structure incorporates a dried application of a liquid activated carbon ink having activated carbon, a binder, and a solvent, with the dried application of ink having a solids add-on level of at least about 2%. The activated carbon ink is applied in a pattern over between about 25% to about 95% of a total upper surface area of the pad and presents a visually contrasting color against a background color of the pad or a contrasting ink.

Abstract: A graphical interaction and authoring system is provided that combines textual and graphical information to display hierarchical information via an interactive visual mechanism for the composition and manipulation of syntactic structures, enabling business users to view, operate, and compose information in a way that not only graphically preserves the structure of the syntax, but also maintains the relationship of the expression. The system provides a way for the users to interact with it dynamically and effectively.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to anti-microbial compositions and methods for treating fungal and yeast infections.

Abstract: A vaginal treatment composition that employs a therapeutic agent to inhibit and/or treat vaginal infection is provided. The therapeutic agent is capable of inhibiting and/or killing Gardnerella (e.g., Gardnerella vaginalis), Candida (e.g., Candida albicans), and/or Trichomonas (e.g., Trichomonas vaginalis) pathogens. Desirably, such antimicrobial efficacy is achieved without substantially inhibiting the growth of Lactobacillus acidophilus. For instance, sugars and/or sugar alcohols may be employed in the present invention as a therapeutic agent for inhibiting and/or treating vaginal infection. In one particular embodiment, D-xylitol is used as the therapeutic agent.

Abstract: There is provided a new thermo-gelling composition made with methylcellulose and citric acid. This composition may also have an effective amount of a treating agent, which may be a medicinal agent, cosmetic agent, moisturizer, adjuvant, nutritional agent, other ingredients and combinations thereof. The composition is useful in delivering moisturizers or pharmaceutically active agents to the user in a controlled release manner through the mucosal tissues in a body cavity, or on body surfaces, or as a subcutaneously injected medicament. The composition may also be used as a replacement for the soft tissues of the body as in, for example, the foot cushion and cartilage repair.

Abstract: A master entity is capable of broadcasting commands to a plurality of three-state-selection machine slaves. Transitions from one state to another are effected on instruction from commands in a sequence of commands broadcast from the master. Slaves move to another state when they satisfy a primitive condition specified in the command. By moving slaves among the three sets, a desired subset of slaves can be isolated in one of the sets. This desired subset of slaves then can be moved to one of the states that is unaffected by commands that cause the selection of other desirable subsets of slaves. In the embodiments of the incorporated U.S. Pat. No. 5,673,037, certain subgroups of radio frequency (RF) tags are selected for querying, communicating, and/or identifying by commands from a base station. Commands from the base station may cause the tags to change state which either prevents or allows a given tag to participate in an identification process.

Abstract: A Write Broadcast system and method uses a base station to write sent data to all or some selected number (sub group) of tags in a base station field simultaneously. By unselecting the tags that have been successfully written to, and requesting a response from the remaining tags in the field (or sub group), the system determines, by receiving a response to the request, that there are tags in the field (sub group) that were unsuccessfully written to. Another Write Broadcast signal is sent to these tags. The system is useful for quickly (simultaneously) “stamping” information on the tag memory of a large number of tags in the field of the base station.

Abstract: A method for reducing odor is provided. The method comprises forming a coordination complex between a transition metal and a polydentate compound, and contacting the coordinated complex with an odorous compound. The transition metal provides one or more active sites for capturing the odorous compound. In some embodiments, the polydentate compound may be a polyalkylimine, such as polyethyleneimine, polypropyleneimine, or a dendrimer thereof.

Abstract: This invention concerns coatings having high surface area materials and at least one metal ion adsorbed onto the high surface area material as well as substrates having the coating and methods of applying the coating. The substrates may be films, woven fabrics or may be nonwoven fabrics. The coatings have good odor and/or gas absorbing capabilities. Nonwoven fabrics include tissues, towels, coform materials, bonded carded webs, spunbond fabrics and so forth. The substrates may be made into storage and packaging material to reduce odor and retard the ripening of fruit. The substrates may be used in personal care products, to produce clothing for military and civilian applications and many other applications.

Abstract: The invention provides a polymer adapted for use in melt processes, the polymer having thermally reversible and non-thermally reversible bonds which polymer is adapted to evanesce at an elevated temperature and revert to a thermally reversible bond upon cooling to ambient temperature so that the polymer is adapted, upon being heated to the elevated temperature, to dissociate into melt processable polymeric fragments and, upon being cooled to ambient temperature, to re-associate.