Abstract: An apparatus for manipulating particles includes: a rotor rotatable at a speed about an axis, the rotor having an outer periphery and front and rear opposite sides; at least one chamber (50) mounted on the rotor, each chamber having an inlet and an outlet; an umbilical assembly rotatable about the axis; and a drive mechanism configured to rotate the umbilical assembly at about one-half the speed of the rotor. The umbilical assembly includes: a curvilinear guide tube (125) connecting to a drum at the rear side of the rotor; a flexible conduit (130) residing in the guide tube; and first and second elongate passageways (135) for each chamber extending through the conduit, wherein the first passageway is in fluid communication with the inlet of a respective chamber and the second passageway is in fluid communication with the outlet of the respective chamber. The passageways are held in a spaced-apart relationship relative to one another.

Abstract: To improve security and simplify financial transactions in electronic communications environments, a cryptographic Private Key is securely stored in a storage device of a user. A Public Key Certificate corresponding to the Private Key is also created and can be stored in an online repository for merchant access. The Public Key Certificate identifies a payment card of the user, and is signed by or on behalf of a financial institution issuing the payment card. When initiating a payment card transaction with a merchant, a data item is signed using the Private Key. The signed data item and the Public Key Certificate are conveyed to the merchant, which enables the merchant to authenticate the transaction without needing to communicate with the user's financial institution, and while avoiding the inconvenience and privacy issues associated with obtaining other card details and user details.

Abstract: A transdermal permeant delivery system for delivery of at least one permeant composition into a tissue membrane of a subject including a disposable substrate having at least a portion of a bottom surface of a first release liner connected to an upper surface of the substrate and a patch having a backing layer and a reservoir that is selectively removable from the top surface of the first release liner. In a connected position, a first portion of the backing layer of the patch is releaseably mounted to a top surface of the first release liner in spaced registration with a poration area of the substrate.

Abstract: A transdermal permeant delivery system for delivery of at least one permeant composition into a tissue membrane of a subject including a disposable substrate having at least a portion of a bottom surface of a first release liner connected to an upper surface of the substrate and a patch having a backing layer and a reservoir that is selectively removable from the top surface of the first release liner. In a connected position, a first portion of the backing layer of the patch is releaseably mounted to a top surface of the first release liner in spaced registration with a poration area of the substrate.

Abstract: A professional services audit tool is disclosed that includes an application that performs a variety of functions such as completing certain audit planning processes/forms, offering a tailored set audit programs based on the assessed risks, allowing users to further tailor the suggested audit programs, and rendering these audit programs in a helpful format. The application also provides functionality to perform and document audit work, guide the auditor though the engagement process, isolate audit program steps by related assertions and identified risks to ensure that audit plans are tailored to specific risks, provide an engagement dashboard to view at a glance both the overall audit and for each audit area, the steps which are not yet started, in progress, or completed, and allow for the integration of generated documents to be automatically stored to, accessed from, and synchronized with various external engagement management systems.

Abstract: A toeboard system includes toeboards of a cross section and an end configuration to assist in defining a locking corner connection of two toeboards at a scaffold upright. The system includes a toeboard clamp securable to a scaffold upright with projecting latch fingers for engaging two overlapped partially nested toeboards or two toeboards forming a generally perpendicular corner connection. A latch finger of the toeboard clamp engages a slot or port in the toeboards adjacent an end thereof to positively maintain toeboards in a perpendicular connection.

Abstract: A rotating machine, has a rotary component, which includes a memory device for storing data relating to the past use of the component. The data are associated with rotational speed and ambient temperature, which are detected by detectors either on or off the rotary component. The stored data may be the raw temperature and speed data as sampled over time, which are then used to derive values of low-cycle fatigue and creep damage. These fatigue and creep values are, in turn, correlated with the load profiles of the component to arrive at a value of elapsed lifespan for the component. Alternatively, the stored data may be the fatigue and creep values and/or, preferably, values of elapsed and remaining lifespan of the component. In a second embodiment the detectors are located on the machine casing along with an evaluation unit.

Abstract: A method of donating to a beneficiary is disclosed. The method includes presenting online, using computational means of an administrator, a product donated by a donor. The product is associated with at least one beneficiary. The administrator receives payment for the product from the buyer, a beneficiary or an intermediary for the sale of the product. The administrator, when payment is received from the buyer or the intermediary, sends a donation deducted from the payment to the beneficiary.

Abstract: A pet food/beverage dispensing apparatus includes; a vertical positioning member configured to at least partially surround at least one substantially vertical fixing member, a height extending portion coupled to the vertical positioning member via a refastenable connector, and a dish receptacle which is configured to retain a dish and is coupled to the height extending portion, wherein the vertical positioning member and the height extending portion are configured to substantially fix the dish receptacle in a predetermined position.

Abstract: To improve security and simplify financial transactions in electronic communications environments, a cryptographic Private Key is securely stored in a storage device of a user. A Public Key Certificate corresponding to the Private Key is also created and can be stored in an online repository for merchant access. The Public Key Certificate identifies a payment card of the user, and is signed by or on behalf of a financial institution issuing the payment card. When initiating a payment card transaction with a merchant, a data item is signed using the Private Key. The signed data item and the Public Key Certificate are conveyed to the merchant, which enables the merchant to authenticate the transaction without needing to communicate with the user's financial institution, and while avoiding the inconvenience and privacy issues associated with obtaining other card details and user details.

Abstract: A founding chair for a founding ladder system is of a lightweight fabricated design and includes a pivotally secured top leveling plate. A ladder system for the founding chair includes a slide in engagement rack for securing of the founding chair and allowing incremental adjustment.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of controlling insects in the family Nitidulidae using the compound 4,5-di-hydro-6-methyl-4-(3-pyridylmethyleneamino)-1,2,4-triazin-3(2H)-one and also encompasses the use of compositions comprising 4,5-dihydro-6-methyl-4-(3-pyridylmethyleneamino)-1,2,4-triazin-3(2H)-one for controlling Nitidulidae, in particular pollen beetles as well as the preparation of said compound and/or compositions for use in controlling Nitidulidae. In particular, the invention relates to the use of 4,5-dihydro-6-methyl-4-(3-pyridylmethyleneamino)-1,2,4-triazin-3(2H)-one and/or compositions comprising this compound in controlling such insects in crops of useful plants, in particular flowering crops and/or flowering ornamental plants.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for controlling distribution of unsolicited electronic communications such as bulk email or internet telephony telemarketing calls. A first Public Key (56) of a trusted accrediting body (10) is stored in a storage device (50) of a receiver (1), the trusted accrediting body (10) being trusted by the receiver (1). A sender (40) is issued a second Public Key (79) which chains back to the first Public Key (56). The sender (40) sends an unsolicited communication (62, 64), accompanied by a digital signature corresponding to the second Public Key (79). The receiver (1) verifies the digital signature accompanying a received communication by referring to the first Public Key (56) via the second Public Key (79), and if the digital signature is verified, establishes that the unsolicited communication is not unwelcome.

Abstract: An assembly for location at an opening of a receptacle, the assembly including: a lid including an envelope attached thereto wherein the envelope includes a substance contained therein; and, an envelope opening means including a protrusion coupled to an actuator, wherein movement of the lid relative to the receptacle operates the actuator causing the protrusion to open the envelope releasing the substance into the receptacle.

Abstract: A rotating machine, has a rotary component, which includes a memory device for storing data relating to the past use of the component. The data are associated with rotational speed and ambient temperature, which are detected by detectors either on or off the rotary component. The stored data may be the raw temperature and speed data as sampled over time, which are then used to derive values of low-cycle fatigue and creep damage. These fatigue and creep values are, in turn, correlated with the load profiles of the component to arrive at a value of elapsed lifespan for the component. Alternatively, the stored data may be the fatigue and creep values and/or, preferably, values of elapsed and remaining lifespan of the component. In a second embodiment the detectors are located on the machine casing along with an evaluation unit.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of identifying compounds that either increase or decrease skin and/or hair pigmentation, the method comprising determining the ability of a test compound to modulate NCKX-mediated calcium ion movement across a membrane (e.g. NCKX5). The method may comprise the steps of exposing a membrane comprising a NCKX molecule or variant, fusion or derivative thereof to a test compound and measuring either directly or indirectly the calcium ion concentration on one or both sides of the membrane. The invention also relates to kits, nucleic acid molecules, polypeptides and cells useful in the method of the invention.

Abstract: A scanning device for simplex and duplex scanning. The device may include a scan head for capturing content appearing on a page; a substantially C-shaped first scan path for simplex scanning, the first scan path adapted to guide the page relative to the scan head for scanning a first side of the page; a second scan path for duplex scanning, the second scan path adapted to guide the page relative to the scan head for scanning a first side of the page and a second side of the page; a path diverter, the path diverter adapted to direct the page to the first path or the second path; and a controller for controlling the first and second scan paths and the diverter. The second scan path forms a loop for moving the first and second sides of the page so that each is temporarily disposed adjacent the scan head.

Abstract: A pet food/beverage dispensing apparatus includes; a vertical positioning member configured to at least partially surround at least one substantially vertical fixing member, a height extending portion coupled to the vertical positioning member via a refastenable connector, and a dish receptacle which is configured to retain a dish and is coupled to the height extending portion, wherein the vertical positioning member and the height extending portion are configured to substantially fix the dish receptacle in a predetermined position.

Abstract: Various methods and devices are provided for removably coupling a sensor assembly to a catheter to measure conditions surrounding the catheter when the catheter is implanted in a patient. In one embodiment, a modular sensor assembly is provided and includes a housing having an antenna therein adapted to be removably coupled to at least a portion of a catheter. The housing can be a closed loop having an opening therethrough. One or more sensors can be coupled to the antenna for measuring conditions surrounding the catheter when the catheter is implanted in a patient. In one embodiment, the housing can be adapted to removably couple to a distal end of the catheter, and the opening of the housing can be adapted to receive the catheter. The antenna can be a loop disposed within the housing.