Abstract: A system and method for extracting botanical herbal oil is disclosed. The method includes washing plant material with liquid solvent forming a solvent-oil extract solution, pumping the solvent-oil extract solution to an atomizer, pumping vapor solvent to the atomizer, atomizing the solvent-oil extract solution with vapor solvent forming an atomized mixture, and vaporizing the atomized mixture to isolate the botanical herbal oil from the mixture. The system includes a first pressure vessel to chill a solvent, a second pressure vessel to wash plant material with liquid solvent forming a solvent-oil extract solution, an atomizer to mix the solvent-oil extract solution with vapor solvent forming an atomized mixture, a liquid transfer pump to pump the solvent-oil extract solution to the atomizer, a vapor transfer pump to pump the vapor solvent to the atomizer, and a vaporizer to vaporize the atomized mixture and isolate the botanical herbal oil.

Abstract: A film-forming composition including a coalescent aid comprising fatty acid esters of ethylene glycol and/or propylene glycol having the formula R1COO[(EO)x(PO)y]zH wherein R1CO is a linear saturated aliphatic acyl group, or a combination thereof, having from about 6 to about 22 carbon atoms, EO is —CH2CH2O—, PO is —CH2CH(CH3)O— or —CH(CH3)CH2O— or a combination thereof, where the acyl radical is bonded to a carbon atom of the EO or PO radical, and x=0 to about 5, y=about 0 to about 5, the sum of x and y is equal or greater than 0.5, z=1 to about 5, and (x+y)z is less than or equal to 6. It is to be understood that x, y, and z are average values for the composition.

Abstract: A film-forming composition including a coalescent aid comprising fatty acid esters of ethylene glycol and/or propylene glycol having the formula R1COO[(EO)x(PO)y]zH wherein R1CO is a linear saturated aliphatic acyl group, or a combination thereof, having from about 6 to about 22 carbon atoms, EO is —CH2CH2O—, PO is —CH2CH(CH3)O— or —CH(CH3)CH2O— or a combination thereof, where the acyl radical is bonded to a carbon atom of the EO or PO radical, and x=0 to about 5, y=about 0 to about 5, the sum of x and y is equal or greater than 0.5, z=1 to about 5, and (x+y)z is less than or equal to 6. It is to be understood that x, y, and z are average values for the composition.

Abstract: Applicant has disclosed an improved trigger assembly for firearms, and a related method, to avoid premature firing after an unintentional trigger rotation, especially where light trigger pulls have previously been set. In the preferred embodiment, Applicant's trigger assembly has two triggers: a slotted primary trigger and a secondary trigger which can pivot into the slot. During an intentional trigger pull, the shooter's finger initially pushes against the secondary trigger until it pivots and nestles within the primary trigger's slot. Continued pulling on both the secondary and primary triggers causes a hammer to rotate off a sear, thereby allowing the firearm to discharge. In an unintentional trigger rotation, where the secondary trigger is not pulled back enough to nestle within the primary trigger's slot: an upper portion of the secondary trigger (unseen within the housing) constrains a protrusion on a spring-biased mainspring guide.

Abstract: A film-forming composition including a coalescent aid comprising fatty acid esters of ethylene glycol and/or propylene glycol having the formula R1COO[(EO)x(PO)y]zH wherein R1CO is a linear saturated aliphatic acyl group, or a combination thereof, having from about 6 to about 22 carbon atoms, EO is —CH2CH2O—, PO is —CH2CH(CH3)O— or —CH(CH3)CH2O— or a combination thereof, where the acyl radical is bonded to a carbon atom of the EO or PO radical, and x=0 to about 5, y=about 0 to about 5, the sum of x and y is equal or greater than 0.5, z=1 to about 5, and (x+y)z is less than or equal to 6. It is to be understood that x, y, and z are average values for the composition.

Abstract: A display clamp, and related method, are disclosed for removably attaching a second, interchangeable barrel to a fully assembled long gun (i.e., a shotgun or rifle) for display purposes only, wherein the extra barrel's gas cylinder or lug is suspended from the long gun's magazine tube, and held in place by the shotgun's/rifle's removable magazine cap. The method and apparatus allow a retail store (or buyer) to display the firearm and extra barrel as a combination unit either vertically or horizontally oriented within display cases.

Abstract: A display clamp, and related method, are disclosed for removably attaching a second, interchangeable barrel to a fully assembled long gun (i.e., a shotgun or rifle) for display purposes only, wherein the extra barrel's gas cylinder or lug is suspended from the long gun's magazine tube, and held in place by the shotgun's/rifle's removable magazine cap. The method and apparatus allow a retail store (or buyer) to display the firearm and extra barrel as a combination unit either vertically or horizontally oriented within display cases.

Abstract: A film-forming composition including a coalescent aid comprising fatty acid esters of ethylene glycol and/or propylene glycol having the formula R1COO[(EO)x(PO)y]zH wherein R1CO is a linear saturated aliphatic acyl group, or a combination thereof, having from about 6 to about 22 carbon atoms, EO is —CH2CH2O—, PO is —CH2CH(CH3)O— or —CH(CH3)CH2O— or a combination thereof, where the acyl radical is bonded to a carbon atom of the EO or PO radical, and x=0 to about 5, y=about 0 to about 5, the sum of x and y is equal or greater than 0.5, z=1 to about 5, and (x+y)z is less than or equal to 6. It is to be understood that x, y, and z are average values for the composition.

Abstract: Embodiments of identifying and/or authenticating membership in a symbiotic network are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for determining the responsiveness of cancer to an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) treatment. In a preferred embodiment, the presence of at least one variance in the kinase domain of the erbB1 gene confers sensitivity to the tyrosine kinase inhibitor gefitinib. Thus, a diagnostic assay for these mutations will allow for the administration of gefitinib, erlotinib and other tyrosine kinase inhibitors to those patients most likely to respond to the drug.

Abstract: A coating composition useful for forming a film is provided, comprising, in admixture, a resin and finely divided clay that has been surface treated with a silicon-hydride containing polysiloxane.

Abstract: A symbiotic computing system includes a plurality of symbiotic partners that are communicatively coupled with one another and each of which has a respective instance of a managed resource. One (or more) of the symbiotic partners receive input that affects a respective instance of the managed resource. Based upon the input, the symbiotic partner produces actions and transmits the actions to each other of the symbiotic partners. Upon receipt, each other of the symbiotic partners receives the actions and uses the actions to affect a respective instance of the managed resource to maintain coherency of the managed resource. The managed resource may include data entities such as data file, data bases, configuration files and source files and other types of resources such as video images, symbiotic relationship configurations and executables. Alterations made to an instance of the managed resource are made to each other instance of the managed resource to maintain coherency.

Abstract: A symbiotic computing system includes a plurality of symbiotic partners that are communicatively coupled with one another and each of which has a respective instance of a managed resource. One (or more) of the symbiotic partners receive input that affects a respective instance of the managed resource. Based upon the input, the symbiotic partner produces actions and transmits the actions to each other of the symbiotic partners. Upon receipt, each other of the symbiotic partners receives the actions and uses the actions to affect a respective instance of the managed resource to maintain coherency of the managed resource. The managed resource may include data entities such as data file, data bases, configuration files and source files and other types of resources such as video images, symbiotic relationship configurations and executables. Alterations made to an instance of the managed resource are made to each other instance of the managed resource to maintain coherency.

Abstract: Systems and methods for programmable electrical power conversion are disclosed. In one embodiment, a programmable electrical power system includes an inverter apparatus selectively coupleable to a direct current energy source and adapted to receive a control signal, and operable to variably convert the direct current energy to a selected alternating current waveform based on the control signal. A processing unit is coupled to the inverter apparatus that is configured to provide the control signal to the inverter apparatus to variably control at least a frequency of the selected alternating current waveform.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, a first automated system monitors at least one call characteristic (e.g., frequency of abnormally short calls) to determine whether quality of service standards are being met by the various carriers being utilized by the system. Such an at least one call characteristic can be stored in a database for later retrieval by an automated link diagnosis system. If appropriate, a link re-routing system can respond to an analysis of the link diagnosis system in order to re-route calls—by either taking at least one link out of service or by placing at least one link back into service.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for determining the responsiveness of cancer to an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) treatment. In a preferred embodiment, the presence of at least one variance in the kinase domain of the erbB1 gene confers sensitivity to the tyrosine kinase inhibitor gefitinib. Thus, a diagnostic assay for these mutations will allow for the administration of gefitinib, erlotinib and other tyrosine kinase inhibitors to those patients most likely to respond to the drug.

Abstract: A hole-assisted fiber comprises a core region and a cladding region, where the cladding region includes multiple substantially elliptical holes spaced apart from each other to surround the core region. The holes are filled with one of a gas and a liquid to form a low refractive index portion of the cladding region.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a hole assisted fiber includes forming one or more slots in the perimeter of the cladding region. A tube is overcollapsed around the perimeter of the cladding region to form one or more channels, where the one or more channels bounded on one side by the overcollapsed tube. A fiber is drawn from the overcollapsed preform. An internal pressure is applied to the one or more channels during the fiber drawing step to form one or more holes of a pre-selected shape within the cladding region.

Abstract: A control engine (12) downloaded by a server (1) to a student computer (2) instantiates panel objects (16) and multiple media objects (15) linked to each panel object (16). At any one time multiple media objects (15) operate simultaneously and in synchronism to generate multiple display and sound outputs for comprehensive learning output and student interaction. The media objects (15) operate autonomously, without even knowing their places in their respective hierarchies, thus allowing dynamic updates from the server (either server-driven or student-driven). Synchronization is achieved by the panel object activating the multiple relevant media objects for a panel and the media objects using time value attributes to control activation and termination times. The media objects access (84 )a stacking mechanism (82) in real time to determine a linked panel or media object to implement an operation in response to an event such as progression to a next panel.

Abstract: A symbiotic computing system includes a plurality of symbiotic partners that are communicatively coupled with one another and each of which has a respective instance of a managed resource. One (or more) of the symbiotic partners receive input that affects a respective instance of the managed resource. Based upon the input, the symbiotic partner produces actions and transmits the actions to each other of the symbiotic partners. Each other of the symbiotic partners receives the actions and uses the actions to affect a respective instance of the managed resource to maintain coherency of the managed resource. The managed resource may include data entities such as data file, data bases, configuration files and source files and other types of resources such as video images, symbiotic relationship configurations and executables. Alterations made to an instance of the managed resource are made to each other instance of the managed resource to maintain coherency.