Abstract: A soap bar that exhibits antibacterial effectiveness includes, by weight, at least about 45% soap having alkyl chain lengths of 8-10 carbon atoms, water, and free fatty acid such that the pH of a 10% aqueous solution of the soap bar is no greater than about 9.5.

Abstract: In general, in one aspect, the invention provides a modular application collaborator for providing inter-operability between applications including a plurality of connectors for communicating with a like plurality of applications and an interchange server. The interchange server includes an application collaboration module and service module. The service module transfers messages between connectors and the application collaboration module. The application collaboration defines the inter-operability between two or more applications. The interchange server service module includes a transaction service and an error service. Transactions are executed in the application collaboration module and the transaction service records each action and a compensating action for undoing an associated action.

Abstract: A method for improving the edge-to-center photoresist ash rate uniformity in lower temperature (typically, but not limited to <100° C.) processing of integrated circuits and micro-electro-mechanical devices. A varying gap distance 32 from the edge-to-center of the upper and lower grid plates, 30 and 31, of a plasma ashing machine is provided to allow additional flow of plasma gases into the normally semi-stagnated area near the center of the wafer being processed. This improvement overcomes the problem of slower photoresist removal in the center of the wafer. Three configurations of the invention is described, including both stepwise and continuous variation of the grid plate gap spacing and optionally, the variation of the size of grid plate holes in a parallel grid plate assembly.

Abstract: A method for improving the edge-to-center photoresist ash rate uniformity in lower temperature (typically, but not limited to <100° C.) processing of integrated circuits and micro-electro-mechanical devices. A varying gap distance 32 from the edge-to-center of the upper and lower grid plates, 30 and 31, of a plasma ashing machine is provided to allow additional flow of plasma gases into the normally semi-stagnated area near the center of the wafer being processed. This improvement overcomes the problem of slower photoresist removal in the center of the wafer. Three configurations of the invention is described, including both stepwise and continuous variation of the grid plate gap spacing and optionally, the variation of the size of grid plate holes in a parallel grid plate assembly.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a system for assessing the level of social responsibility of a business and for monitoring improvements using the assessed level as a baseline. The system includes a self-assessment testing method which establishes a score or “grade” indicative of the level of social responsibility of the business which can be used for comparative purposes internally or externally.

Abstract: A process that changes normal atmospheric air into an effective breathable fire extinguisher. This process involves a unit that draws in normal atmospheric air and consumes a percentage of the oxygen from it. This process will be able to create this fire extinguishing air anywhere there's an abundance of normal air. This process will also be capable of leaving this air at an oxygen level that is considered to be breathable to mammalian life and more particularly human life. From 21% oxygen down to between 15% to 12% by volume. Making this process capable of creating fire extinguishing air, that remains breathable and won't cause any extra damage to personal effects.

Abstract: A method for improving the edge-to-center photoresist ash rate uniformity in lower temperature (typically, but not limited to <100° C.) processing of integrated circuits and micro-electro-mechanical devices. A varying gap distance 32 from the edge-to-center of the upper and lower grid plates, 30 and 31, of a plasma ashing machine is provided to allow additional flow of plasma gases into the normally semi-stagnated area near the center of the wafer being processed. This improvement overcomes the problem of slower photoresist removal in the center of the wafer. Three configurations of the invention is described, including both stepwise and continuous variation of the grid plate gap spacing and optionally, the variation of the size of grid plate holes in a parallel grid plate assembly.

Abstract: An agent-adapter architecture used in systems and methods to integrate applications of the type normally deployed across a networked enterprise. A plurality of adapters, each of which is adapted to perform a discrete function associated with respective ones of the plurality of enterprise applications is encapsulated by an agent. The agent is extensible, including one or more embedded objects, each of which is adapted to perform a discrete function that may or may not be associated with respective ones of the plurality of enterprise applications.

Abstract: A dental floss for cleaning food particles and other material from between teeth. The dental floss includes a single strand of nylon material having a thickness of about 0.001 inches to about 0.003 inches and a width from about 0.025 inches to about 0.100 inches and has a tensile strength of about 31/2 pounds to about 25 pounds. The strand is extruded at relatively low temperatures which permits it to be readily colored and flavored. Further, it may be extruded into a plurality of shapes which may be chosen to enhance user comfort. The single strand of nylon material may include about 2% to about 20%, by weight, of a colorant; about 0.1% to about 3%, by weight, of a lubricant; about 0.1% to about 1%, by weight, of a plasticizer; or about 5% to about 30%, by weight, of a flavorant, fragrance, or combination of both.

Abstract: A control system that can be configured to control any one or more devices having dedicated sets of control codes includes a medium to distribute the codes and a decoder. In one embodiment the distribution medium is a VCR tape. The VCR tape contains data pertaining to the control codes of all devices of interest. To configure the system for a particular device, the tape is played in a VCR and the user designates the device of interest. The decoder receives the data being read from the tape, and stores that data which pertains to the device of interest. Thereafter, when the user issues a command for the device to carry out a particular function, the appropriate code is retrieved from those which have been stored and a signal is sent to the device which is in the proper format for that device, to cause it to carry out the desired function.

Abstract: Fabric conditioning compositions for coating a flexible substrate for subsequent use in a mechanical tumble dryer are disclosed. The compositions incorporate compatible mixtures of common fabric softening agents, aminosilicones and Bronsted acids having at least 6 carbon atoms.

Abstract: Fabric conditioning compositions for coating a flexible substrate for subsequent use in a mechanical tumble dryer are disclosed. The compositions incorporate compatible organosilicones which form mutually stable mixtures with common fabric softening agents.

Abstract: A carbon-cleaning apparatus for diesel engines having an independent fuel-flow system including a diesel/chemical mixture fuel tank adapted to be interconnected to a diesel engine at the engine's fuel injection, there being an electronic control and monitoring system to operate the fuel-flow system during the cleaning operation of the engine.