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Sarah Yancey and Chad Oliphant with their sons. / Special to The Citizen-Times
What: The Most Epic Tempeh Reuben Challenge
When: 2-6 p.m. today.
Where: Asheville Music Hall, 31 Patton Ave.
Admission: $15, including tempeh Reuben tastings, drink tickets and live music.
Learn more: http://mannafoodbank.org/most-epic-tempeh-reuben-challenge,
ASHEVILLE — When Chad Oliphant learned his food product might be making people sick last spring, his response was immediate and unflinching.
He recalled $15,000 worth of Smiling Hara Tempeh from restaurants and stores. It was a move so obvious he cant even describe it as a decision.
It was just the most honest response we could give, he said. His decision was easy, but the phone calls alerting about 30 city restaurants and stores were not.
But between a couple of these distressing conversations with clients, his phone rang. And it was Imladris Farms Walter Harrill. He just said, what can I do? Oliphant said. I dont know how to describe how this made me feel.
The community support continues today. Asheville Music Hall will host a Smiling Hara Tempeh Reuben sandwich cook-off with local restaurants to raise money for MANNA FoodBank and celebrate the companys return to the market after halting production for three months.
We had reached the lowest of the low, Oliphant said after government regulators traced a spring salmonella outbreak that sickened 89 North Carolinians to Smiling Hara.
The company issued a voluntary recall as regulators further tracked the rare paratyphi B salmonella to the Maryland-based supplier of the ingredient used to start the fungal culture in tempeh. Paratyphi B is a bacteria spread through food products and, primarily, through person-to-person contact.
A Florida woman who says she was sickened by the tempeh filed a lawsuit in June against Smiling Hara and its supplier for at least $75,000.
And then when people reached out to us to lift us back up, its extremely humbling.
The more than two-year-old business, which operates out of Blue Ridge Food Ventures shared commercial kitchen in Candler, restarted production of its unpasteurized tempeh July 25, and the response has been overwhelming.
I dont know what is typical, he said of a communitys response to a food safety and health crisis. I just know (that response) was everything to us ... its just indicative of what kind of supportive community we have.
Currency of character
West Village Market, a grocery and deli on Haywood Road, has been a supporter of the company run by Oliphant and partner Sarah Yancey since its start. And when the company returned to the markets grocery case and the stores popular tempeh wrap, the market celebrated in the streets: They used their sidewalk sign to welcome Oliphant and Yancey.
They are just a couple of really smart young people with great integrity who wanted to do something creative with natural foods to help the planet and help people, West Village co-owner Rosanne Kiely said.
Tempeh is an unpasteurized whole bean product, popular as a meat substitute in vegetarian cuisine. Smiling Hara makes an organic version with whole bean in soy and non-soy varieties. An added culture ferments the beans for 24-36 hours.
They way they handled the (salmonella outbreak) made me feel even better about the company, Kiely said. They came in person and offered to haul off the stuff for us. ... They just took care of it so quickly and honestly. They didnt waste a second. And for me, it really speaks to the fact that they really do care about the communitys health.
Several of Smiling Hara Tempeh vendors didnt ask for a refund for the recalled product. That was a big morale lifter and a financial support, Oliphant said.
Kiely noted that its so hard for a business to bounce back from a highly publicized food safety crisis.
I am so glad they could rally the community, Kiely said. Thats what it takes to get back up and start again.
The tempeh is selling much as it did before the salmonella outbreak, and Kiely hasnt fielded many customer queries about the products safety.
Its kind of like they picked up where they left off, she said.
In January, the company reported to the Citizen-Times that it had seen 300 percent growth in the previous year.
Since restarting production, 97 percent of previous vendors have returned, and several new accounts have been added, Yancey said.
Oliphant, a longtime foodie, he said, learned to make tempeh in the mid-90s before moving to Asheville in 1998. This is an area that appreciates a product like that, he said.
After Yancey was laid off from her secretary job in 2009, he taught her how to make the product and launched the company soon after.
In the three months the company halted production, they invited government and private agencies to evaluate their processes and offer recommendations.
It was a challenging time, Oliphant noted.
If it wasnt for Sarah, I might have considered giving up, he said. We took turns putting the business on our backs.
Theyve recently been accepted into the Business Incubator Program at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College. And by the beginning of next year, Oliphant aims to be making local tempeh with a locally produced fermenting culture.
The ingredient that was contaminated was imported, he noted.
A familiar response
Laurey Masterton, of Laureys Catering, was another supportive voice that reached out to Smiling Hara Tempeh.
It was a call shed made before to other Asheville restaurant owners embroiled in crisis and a similar catastrophe she survived 14 years ago.
In June 1998, Buncombe County Health Center Officials confirmed that one of her employees who prepared and served food had contracted hepatitis A, a virus that infects the liver.
No customers fell ill, but about 1,000 people who were exposed to the virus at Laureys Catering were told to take immune globulin, a serum that can prevent or reduce symptoms.
I did stand out in front of my shop and told the truth, she said of her response. I called (the Smiling Hara owners) and said, Ive been through this. And as I listened to what they had done, it made me commend them, and that they are really doing the right thing.
The reality is that these health scares have nothing to do with the owners, she said, noting that her employee contracted the virus at a concert. That was not our fault, but how we handled it was our opportunity.
In addition to being honest, Masterton was accountable to the 1,000 exposed customers.
We were very overt, she said, and called every single one of those 1,000. We didnt plan on that, but hiding was not an option.
And the community didnt hide its support of her: The day after the Buncombe County Health Center announcement, supporters staged a lunch-in at the then-14-seat downtown eatery.
I thought I was gone, she said. The people in the community rallied in such a huge way.
Masterton served lunch to a jammed-pack dining room for four hours.
I said to the Smiling Hara gang once they figured out it was a problem from the company they bought (the culture) from, I said, Just say this is what happened and we are improving by understanding what the problem is. And if you do that, people will support you.
Twitter to table
Although The Most Epic Tempeh Reuben Challenge event today evolved into a benefit for MANNA FoodBank and a Smiling Hara celebration, the idea was born in just 140 characters.
Twitter has a way to bring about big events just by merely talking about ideas, said Ty Hallock, one of the organizers of the event. I was tweeting about how I was making tempeh Reubens one morning, and June Thomas (owner of Nine Mile with Aaron Thomas) and J Clarkson ( of MANNA FoodBank), all after drinking way too much coffee, decided to make it happen.
The boasting sandwiched with hashtags got serious when they decided to make the challenge a benefit for MANNA.
It was immediately clear that we wanted to ask Smiling Hara Tempeh to be involved, Clarkson said. They have a great product that has taken some hard knocks recently, and we saw this goofy idea as a way to show our support for local folks who are working hard to bounce back.
For Clarkson, value-added local food products like Smiling Hara are essential to creating a vibrant local scene, which in turn, provides more opportunities to work against local food insecurity.
About 20 people have contributed to the challenges organization, including many local restaurants, including Green Sage, Rosettas and Veg Head Drive Thru.
Everyone we have asked has gone way over in giving, Hallock said.
Smiling Hara has so many restaurants and local business owners that believe in them and want to see them be successful despite that hurdle they have overcome, he said. They have learned and are now a better company. Learn from your mistakes and carry on is the top lesson for entrepreneurs. ... Its important for us to have strong food infrastructure, and this is a lesson for everyone involved, including Blue Ridge Food Ventures.
Mary Lou Surgi, executive director of Blue Ridge Food Ventures, agrees with Hallock.
It was a learning experience for all of us, she said. And the lessons we learned we are taking and sharing with our other clients here. There has to be a positive coming out of (the salmonella outbreak). It has encouraged us to be even better at what we do.
None of the salmonella bacteria was found in any other part of the kitchen or in the products of dozens of other small businesses who use the kitchen.
We had 100 swabs taken from all over our facility, Surgi said. 100 percent came back clean. Our folks are doing the right thing, and there was no cross-contamination. That was stressful. We were really pleased with (the results), but we arent going to stop there.
One way Surgi strengthened their systems: They required all food producer owners and employees to complete a refresher course on good manufacturing practices. They also reexamined equipment, ensuring elements like sanitizers were in best working condition.
Its just heightened our awareness, she said.
Surgi isnt surprised by Oliphant and Yanceys response.
Their actions say where their heart is, she said. Their customers are their friends. They know the people who eat their tempeh. It gives you a huge responsibility to do the right thing.


text:
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
In the workplace, in our churches, and in the government, we expect accountability. And yet in our personal lives, accountability often strikes us as a negative thing.
That's natural, I guess. Even in the Christian life, we expect others to do what's right, but we often give ourselves a hall pass because our motives are good. Yet in holding this double standard, we can miss a huge benefit of growing in the Christian life.
In a previous post, I shared 3 benefits to having an accountability group. Committing to a group who will ask accountability questions really is nothing more than asking others to encourage you in the essential areas where you want to succeed in the Christian life. More than anything, accountability questions help you to be who you really want to be.
Here are the 10 accountability questions my group asks each week as well as a link for you to download the list.


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Actually, from Mrs. thetimman. Yes, there is a poor soul out there who decided to marry me. Pray for her.
She emailed me today:
Hi, Honey!
I don't know if you would be able to use this info for your blog, but the Journal did a story on the formerly Catholic woman who was ordained a "priest" for the Ecumenical Catholic Communion. She met her Protestant husband at Marquette University in Milwaukee (Jesuits!). She had been considering a vocation as a nun, but he "opened my eyes to the world of women in ministry..." He claims he "was concerned for a long time that she would be shut out from serving as a minister in the Catholic tradition."
They have a photo of her with Bishop Peter Hickman (the leader of the ECC) and the Reverend Frank Krebs, her pastor. Krebs, who is [the story says] gay and in a 'committed relationship', is a former Catholic priest who was pastor at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Soulard. He claims he had been a priest until 1990 when he left because he would have been unable to be celibate in having a partner. He joined ECC about 14 years later because he "was experiencing a call to get back into the priesthood and fell in love with the message of ECC" and its policy of inclusion. The photo shows Mrs. Rowley in front of an "altar" with a ceramic pitcher and chalice-like cup and a glass decanter holding a dark-colored liquid.
Doesn't that just make you sad?! These people are just so confused!
Um, yes, honey, they sure are. What really struck me was this woman's impressions when she decided to to to this ECC church-- "I missed the liturgy and sacraments of Catholicism." An unintentionally insightful comment, that.
I think Mrs. Rowley needs to get a copy of Pascendi and read it from start to finish.
Let us offer up a prayer to Our Lady for this poor soul.
Sancta Dei Genitrix, Ora pro nobis.
20 September 2007
From an Important Reader
3 comments:
Is this for real? Does this person or anyone else REALLY believe she is a priest of the Church of Christ?
Now more than ever WE have to take a stand for whats TRUTH.
"This little light of mine, I'm gonna let shine!"
- 20 September, 2007 16:24
- Christopher said...
shes wearing the Chasabule from the collection that the priests at the local N.O. use
- 20 September, 2007 17:59
- thetimman said...
Christopher, that is hilarious, because I just made that comment to my wife about 30 seconds before I read your comment!
- 20 September, 2007 23:18
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text:
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text: At 6-foot-6 and 275 pounds, Haworth has to be one of the biggest heavyweights to reach the finals of the Naval Academy's Brigade Boxing Championships. The Annapolis resident was a four-year member of the varsity football team, but never played in a regular season game. He took up boxing eight weeks ago and is one win away from becoming heavyweight champion among the Brigade of Midshipmen.


text: LED flashlights are quickly becoming the standard for both indoor and outdoor situations. They are energy efficient, offer powerful luminosity, and last a long time. Unfortunately, not every activity or project you are involved in allows you to use a hand-held LED light. If your hands are tied up with your latest project or adventure, there's no need to worry about being left in the dark – hands-free LED lights come in a wide variety of styles and functions.


text:
BOONSBORO, Md. - The smell of pinecones lingered the air and Christmas carols were on full blast.
St. Mark's Episcopal Church held its third annual holiday festival.
The festival gave visitors a chance to shop for crafts, baked goods, and holiday decorations. There was also an indoor yard sale that wase held in Dorsey Hall.
All proceeds from the sale benefited St. Mark's Youth Work Camp, an organization that teaches young members the values of community outreach and service to others.
"This event, though it's four years old or three years old, there are already some people that are viewing it as a tradition, so this is the time of the year when people come together, and
they do things traditionally as a family," says Vicki Willman, senior ward of St. Mark's Episcopal Church.


text:
Spaghetti squash is the way to go for an easy, comforting and guilt-free meal.
Let these unconventional grilled goodies give you a break from burgers.
Think you can't afford electrolysis? Think again�here are 10 splurges you're making instead.
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As if you needed another reason to devour watermelon. Check out these tips for beating belly bloat.
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Ready to kick your fitness routine up a notch with a workout that's easy on your joints? Our beginner's swim guide will turn you into a pool pro in no time.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention called 2014 a moderately severe flu season, but it was a bad year for middle-aged adults.
Every 67 seconds someone in the United States develops Alzheimer's disease, and an estimated 5.3 million Americans of all ages have Alzheimer's, according to the Alzheimer's Association.
Whether you're wheezing, snorting or snuffling while sawing logs, your snoring is not only upsetting to your family, it could be a sign of ill health. And it's probably getting worse with age.
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Business Name
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text:
The Mayor's Office on Latino Affairs (OLA), in coordination with My School DC is hosting a series of informational sessions on "My School DC common lottery."
My School DC Common Lottery is a single, random lottery that determines the placements for new students at all participating public and charter schools.
This session will help parents apply and enroll their children into the lottery process for the next school year (2014 -2015).
See All Online Services >>
More Services for New Residents >>
Ask the DC DMV Director.
Find a pool or spray park near you.


text:
Merchant Navy Recruitment 2014 - Apply for 2280 posts of Marine Engineer, Deck Officer
Merchant Navy has recently issued the recruitment notification to fill up 2280 posts of Marine Engineer, Deck Officer. So the candidates who are interested and eligible for Merchant Navy Recruitment may apply online application at http://indiannavy.nic.in and sending it to official address on before last date 11th January, 2014. For more details about Merchant Navy Recruitment 2014 refer below information.
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Important Dates:
Last date for submission of application form - 11.01.2014
For more details visit - www.indiannavy.nic.in


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Monday, March 23, 2009
In the Most Heterosexual Way Possible, You Can Help Dress Sergio Garcia!
I haven't checked Michelob Ultra's stock, just because A.) I wouldn't and B.) I have no idea how to check stocks (I'm not a broker), but it must be tanking because Sergio Garcia will do any promotional spot possible right now short of coming to your kid's birthday party dressed as a clown.
In partnership with the PGA Tour, Sergio is doing something for the PLAYERS (why is it capitalized) Championship where you can help dress him for the second round. That's right, you pick his outfit.
Maybe the saddest part of this is there is a perfect "I wonder if he will have an all yellow outfit available" joke that my buddy Ryan Wilson and I make constantly over at FanHouse but there really is a yellow outfit option. Some things never change.
I really do think this is a fun idea for fan interaction, but couldn't they be a bit more spiced up? Garcia obviously has no problem wearing random stuff, and the best we could do is red shirt and black pants? In this current economic downfall you have to take CHANCES!
1 comment:
- Cash said...
I am hoping that Henrik Stenson wins the CONTEST so HE can dress Sergio. Now that's entertainment....
- March 23, 2009 at 10:06 PM
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It's a mystery that began in the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas, and ended in a small Canadian motel.
The news spread quickly last weekend that reality TV star Ryan Jenkins, 32, had apparently hanged himself in a motel room in British Columbia.
Days later, the white Mercedes-Benz belonging to Jenkins' wife, model Jasmine Fiore, was discovered. The interior of the car was covered in blood, revealing signs of a gruesome struggle -- or a desperate attempt to hide a crime.
Now, telling new details of what Hollywood screenwriters like to call the "back story" are emerging.
Watch the full story on "20/20" tonight at 10 p.m. ET
What set two promising young lives on a path toward violent and horrific deaths, hers allegedly at his hands?
They were two lives that, at first glance, appeared to make one golden couple. Their story began in March 2009, in Las Vegas. Jenkins, a Canadian real estate developer, and Fiore met at a casino. They were married days later. It seemed they'd both hit the romantic jackpot.
"Jasmine was ... energy when she walked in the door," said Ken Henderson, chief executive of the talent agency Fiore used.
Henderson said Fiore would make any husband happy. "Every picture that you see with her, with the big smile, that was her," Henderson said. "And you could just feel it, it was real, it wasn't a phony smile, it wasn't the picture-taking smile, it was who she was."
"She was exuberant," said Gwendolyn Beauregard, whose two sons were in school in California with Fiore and who was a mother figure to her. "She was radiant. She was gorgeous. Every man I ever know that ever saw Jasmine, because there was that inner beauty as well as the physical beauty, they fell in love with her at first sight. I mean, she might as well have been Marilyn Monroe reincarnated."
Fiore's mom, Lisa Lepore, remembered her daughter's happy childhood.
"She was just a great kid," Lepore said. "She's a lot of fun, she was smart -- she had an agenda. You know, this is a girl we called Gen. Jasmine when she was 3. The girl woke up, had a plan, had, like, all kind of stuff going on from a little start."
Fiore grew up in Bonny Doon, a small California community outside Santa Cruz. Sara Jansen met Fiore in the fifth grade.
"Oh, God, Jasmine was just exciting," Jansen told ABC News. "She brought a new lease on life to us up here. ... [She] was a beautiful girl, and she knew that could take her places. She wanted big things in her life, and was gonna go get them."
Beauregard described the model as focused and ambitious.
"She wanted to be famous," the friend said. "This girl can -- she could reach for the stars, and she could actually obtain them."
When Fiore married successful bachelor Ryan Jenkins, she did nab a star, in a way. He'd made quite a splash on the VH1 reality series "Megan Wants a Millionaire."
On the show, he described himself as "a little bit of a Prince Charming, a little bit of a bad boy."
"I typically date girls who turn a lot of heads," Jenkins said on the show. "I love the chase."
Fiore was immediately excited about Jenkins, Beauregard recalled. "She said, 'I've met a wonderful man. I love him,'" Beauregard said. "She told me that he was handsome and charismatic, and sexy, and everything that she thought she wanted."


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Thursday, 6 October 2005
Brotherly Block-Rockin' Beats
It's two-fer Thursday! I'm looking back a bit here, so bear with me.
The Chemical Brothers in concert at the Zénith de Paris
Besides giving me an iPod for Christmas, Heather gave me tickets to a concert for my birthday. Not just any concert, but one I'd been gabbing about for some time: The Chemical Brothers. I was good boy.
Mind you, the concert was in February, so this entry is hardly news - but the concert was cool. Being the old people we were, Heather and I sat. But the show didn't have any reserved seating (aside from VIP seats that were pretty crappy, actually), and we ended up with a great view of the stage. Unless we'd been at the front of the standing crowd - crushed by sweaty, bouncing bodies, oh fun! - we couldn't have done better.
What can I say? The music was great, and so was the light show. Heather hadn't heard a lot of their music, but recognized a lot of songs, so the tickets turned out to be a good investment for her too. We had a blast.
during the last song, Brother Screen reminded us to get outside more often
But since there isn't much to say, I'll just leave you with the pictures. Lots and lots of pictures. Pretty, animated ones. Listen to the sound of my voice. You are getting sleepy. Very sleepy. Feeling like, you could send me all your money. Aside from a nebulous feeling of generosity towards me, you'll remember nothing after I snap my fingers...
More after the jump...
the band onstage at the end of the show
post-show portrait of geek and companion (now, guess which is which)
And now... My attempt at simulating the frenzied, pulsing, head-warping experience that was the concert. In low-fi snapshot sequences, with no sound. Oh, you lucky, lucky reader, you!
soldiers and robots - suppose that was an attempt at an analogy? nahhh...
despite the limits of animated GIFs, this still looks pretty cool - just imagine if you'd been there, eh?
although clowns are the very essence of scary, they too love them some good fat beats
this woman was scared, though I don't think it was because of the crowd. but who knows?
this searchlight ended up looking like a train coming at you. but that's good, because that's the rush the music gave. I'm ever so clever.
smiling faces and random lights - and no pithy comments from me
the ginormous crowd filing by our seats as it leaves
The low-res of the images maybe more interesting with the flipping than if they were high-res. Looks cool to me.
It was less a question of resolution (that's my camera's fault) and more about the color fidelity. Animated GIFs only allow 256 colors for all the frames together. But I'm glad someone likes 'em!


text:
The present invention discloses a low impedance, water-absorbing, ionically-conductive, hydrophilic pressure sensitive adhesive composition comprising an ionically-conductive, hydrophilic, pressure sensitive adhesive hydrogel and crosslinked poly(N-vinyl lactam) in an amount sufficient to retain low electrical impedance and maintain hydrogel adhesion and cohesion during use of the composition in the presence of water and other moisture tending to plasticize the hydrogel. Crosslinked homopolymers and copolymers of poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone) having Swelling Capacity of at least 15 milliliters of water per gram of poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone) are preferred. Adhesion values upon removal from mammalian skin after about four hours of adhesion are not greater than initial adhesion removal values, demonstrating ease of removal of electrodes of the present invention from skin.
1. A low impedance, water-absorbing, ionically-conductive, hydrophilic pressure sensitive adhesive composition, consisting essentially of:
an ionically-conductive, hydrophilic pressure sensitive adhesive hydrogel comprising a polymer, humectant, and water, and
radiation crosslinked poly(N-vinyl lactam) homopolymer dispersed as swellable solids in the hydrogel and present in an amount from about 0.5 to about 3.0 weight percent of the composition to retain low electrical impedance and maintain hydrogel adhesion and cohesion during use of the composition in the presence of mammalian body fluids tending to plasticize said hydrogel;
wherein said hydrogel polymer is selected from the group consisting of
(a) (1) partially neutralized acrylic acid homopolymers, (2) partially neutralized acrylic acid copolymers, (3) copolymers of N-vinyl lactam and a multi-ethylenically unsaturated compound, (4) copolymers of N-vinyl lactam and a carboxylic acid, and (5) an interpenetrating polymer network of hydrophilic crosslinked polymer from a water soluble monomer and a hydrophilic polymer which is not crosslinked; and
wherein said radiation crosslinked poly(N-vinyl lactam) homopolymer swellable solids are crosslinked by ionizing radiation prior to dispersion in the hydrogel in a solid state form.
2. The composition according to claim 1, wherein said radiation crosslinked poly(N-vinyl lactam) homopolymer swellable solids are particles of radiation crosslinked poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) homopolymer having a Swelling Capacity of at least 15 milliliters of water per gram of radiation crosslinked poly (N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) homopolymer.
3. The composition according to claim 2, wherein said radiation crosslinked poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) homopolymer swellable solids have a Swelling Capacity of at least 30 milliliters of water per gram of said radiation crosslinked poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) homopolymer.
4. The composition according to claim 1, wherein said radiation crosslinked poly(N-vinyl lactam) homopolymer swellable solids are particles of radiation crosslinked poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) homopolymer having a Fikentscher K-value of at least K-15.
5. The composition according to claim 1, wherein said radiation crosslinked poly(N-vinyl lactam) homopolymer swellable solids comprise from about 1 to about 2 percent by weight of the composition.
6. The composition according to claim 1, further comprising an iontophoretically active pharmaceutical dispersed in the composition.
This is a continuation of application Ser. No.07/792,797 filed Nov. 15, 1991, now abandoned.
This invention relates to low impedance, ionically-conductive, hydrophilic pressure-sensitive adhesive compositions and the use of such compositions in biomedical electrodes.
Modern medicine uses many procedures where electrical signals are received from or delivered to a mammalian patient's body through skin. The interface between medical equipment used in these procedures and the skin of the patient is usually some sort of biomedical electrode. Such biomedical electrodes typically include a conductor which must be connected electrically to the equipment, and a conductive medium adhered to or otherwise contacting mammalian skin.
Because all biomedical electrodes are based on the transmission of electrical signals to and from mammalian skin, good electrical conductivity is required, as free as possible from electrical impedance during a diagnostic, therapeutic, or electrosurgical procedure. Electrical impedance is disruptive to diagnostic or therapeutic procedures where low voltages or low currents are transmitted to or received from a patient's body. Lowering electrical impedance for biomedical defibrillation electrodes can lower the possibility of a less than effective electrical circuit at a moment of criticality for live-saving measures. Further, in the case of dispersive electrodes, an increase in impedance at one part of the contacting surface can increase the current density in places where the impedance is relatively lower. Electrical burns are a known problem in the use of dispersive electrodes when the current density in a region of the electrode becomes too high. Biocompatible, hydrophilic pressure-sensitive adhesive compositions (hereafter "PSA hydrogels") can be employed as the conductive medium for biomedical electrodes because such PSA hydrogels have excellent adhesion to a variety of types of mammalian skin, and good mechanical strength, and, with inclusion of an electrolyte, good electrical conductivity. Examples of PSA hydrogels based on copolymers plasticized with water and humectant that are preferred for biomedical electrodes are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,524,087; 4,539,996; 4,554,924; and 4,848,353 (all Engel), which also describe constructions of biomedical electrodes suitable for use as dispersive biomedical electrodes. Also, EPO Publication 0 322 098 (Duan) describes another PSA hydrogel based on plasticized poly(N-vinyl lactam) which can be used as the conductive medium for biomedical electrodes. The disclosures of all of the co-assigned Engel patents and Duan European Patent Publication are incorporated by reference herein.
Mechanical and electrical properties of a PSA hydrogel useful in a biomedical electrode are dependent on the content of water or moisture in the PSA hydrogel as formed and then as stored and used. In each of the Engel patents and the Duan publication, water is employed in the formation of the PSA hydrogel and water is required for electrical conductivity by interaction with an electrolyte. These PSA hydrogels are one phase compositions which are both hypoallergenic pressure sensitive adhesives and ionically-conductive media for transmission or reception of electrical signals.
By contrast, U.S. Pat. No. 4,588,762 (Mruk et al.) describes a heterogenous, pressure-sensitive, electrically conductive adhesive for disposable biomedical electrodes, consisting of two phases: a viscoelastic polymeric adhesive phase and an electrically conductive aqueous phase containing a water receptive polymer, a humectant, and an electrolyte. The humectant is present in the aqueous composition phase to minimize evaporation of water or moisture present during formation of the adhesive from the aqueous zones extending through the thickness of the composition. However, there is no electrical conductivity in the viscoelastic polymeric adhesive phase. Further, a two phase pressure-sensitive system described by Mruk et al., having regions without electrical conductivity is otherwise unsuitable for dispersive biomedical electrodes.
European Patent Publication 0 085 327 (Cahalan et al.) describes electrically conductive compositions useful for biomedical electrodes wherein the conductive composition comprises an interpenetrating polymer network consisting essentially of a hydrophilic crosslinked polymer formed from a water soluble monomer (such as an N-sulfohydrocarbon-substituted acrylamide, hydroxymethylmethacrylate, and potassium acrylate polymers) and a hydrophilic polymer which is not crosslinked (such as polyacrylic acid, polyvinylpyrrolidone, and non-crosslinked N-sulfohydrocarbon-substituted acrylamides), a humectant, and water.
Incorporation of water swellable polymers into other materials has been used for bandage and wound dressing type products.
European Patent Publication 0 297 769 (Cilento) discloses a pressure sensitive acrylic adhesive mass which is made hydrophilic by blending one or more water moisture absorbing, water moisture transmitting substances into the acrylic mass. These substances can be water soluble or swellable hydrocolloids (such as cellulosics, gums and the like) or super absorbents (such as substantially water insoluble, starch-acylonitrile graft copolymers, water insoluble, cross-linked sodium carboxymethylcellulose, or water insoluble, crosslinked dextran). European Patent Publication 0 107 376 (Thompson et al.) discloses polypyrrolidone gel dressings prepared by dissolving between 15% and 25% by weight of polyvinylpyrrolidone in water and cross-linking the polypyrrolidone by means of ionizing radiation. Various reinforcing materials, such as nylon gauze, cellulose, reticulated polyethylene or polypropylene, can be included as reinforcing agents.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,477,325 (Osburn) discloses a skin barrier composition of a ethylene and vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) resin, at least one water absorbing particulate hydrocolloid polymer, and a water-insoluble, dry tack-providing elastomer such polyisobutylene, to be useful as an ostomy appliance and the like. After mixing and molding, the composition is subjected to ionizing irradiation to form cross-linked polymer networks.
The problem of controlling both mechanical and electrical properties of a PSA hydrogel is solved by the present invention by controlling the water or moisture content during formation, storage, and use. While electrical impedance can be reduced in a PSA hydrogel by increasing water or moisture content in the PSA hydrogel, cohesion of the PSA hydrogel unfortunately decreases with increasing water or moisture content.
The present invention unexpectedly can optimize both mechanical and electrical properties of a PSA hydrogel for use as a biomedical electrode, and particularly a dispersive biomedical electrode, by introducing crosslinked poly(N-vinyl lactam) into the PSA hydrogel to control the water or moisture content of the PSA hydrogel. The present invention provides a PSA hydrogel having both good electrical properties, i.e., low impedance and good mechanical properties, i.e., good skin adhesion and good cohesive strength.
The present invention provides a low impedance, water-absorbing, ionically-conductive, hydrophilic pressure-sensitive adhesive composition comprising an ionically-conductive, hydrophilic, pressure sensitive adhesive hydrogel and crosslinked poly(N-vinyl lactam) present in an amount sufficient to retain low electrical impedance and maintain hydrogel adhesion and cohesion during use in the presence of mammalian body fluids tending to plasticize the PSA hydrogel.
The present invention also provides a biomedical electrode having a low impedance, water-absorbing, ionically-conductive, hydrophilic pressure-sensitive composition in contact with a means for electrical communication with electrical equipment.
The present invention also provides a method of using a biomedical electrode to provide electrical communication between mammalian skin and electrical instrumentation. The method comprises the steps of adhering a biomedical electrode of the present invention to skin of a mammal, and connecting said biomedical electrode to electrical instrumentation to perform the diagnostic, therapeutic, or electrosurgical medical procedure. The step of adhering for a diagnostic or therapeutic medical procedure occurs in an area where a diagnostic or therapeutic medical procedure is to occur. The step of adhering for an electrosurgical medical procedure occurs in an area away from the electrosurgical incision location.
A feature of the present invention is that the crosslinked, hydrophilic, biocompatible water-absorbing composition is compatible with methods to prepare the PSA hydrogel from monomers or pre-polymer systems, minimizing processing difficulties.
Another feature of the present invention is that use of poly(N-vinyl lactam) reduces the presence of monomeric components in the PSA hydrogel during processing of the PSA hydrogel.
Another feature of the present invention is that the presence of poly(N-vinyl lactam) can permit alteration of the formulation of the PSA hydrogel, affecting electrical impedance of the resulting composition without substantially altering adhesion and cohesion.
Another feature of the present invention is that the PSA hydrogel minimizes leaving residue on skin after use is concluded because crosslinked poly(N-vinyl lactam) absorbs water. This water absorption minimizes plasticization of the PSA hydrogel during use. Otherwise, tack and adhesion to skin would increase over time with resulting difficulty or discomfort during removal of the PSA hydrogel from skin.
An advantage of the present invention is that the PSA hydrogel can retain preferred mechanical properties while crosslinked poly(N-vinyl lactam) absorbs water and moisture from skin or skin openings of a patient during use of a biomedical electrode.
Embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the drawing.
FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a biomedical electrode used for diagnosis of heart conditions of a mammalian patient.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the biomedical electrode of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a dispersive biomedical electrode used for receiving electrical current during electrosurgery.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the dispersive biomedical electrode of FIG. 3.
PSA Hydrogel
The PSA hydrogel useful for the present invention can be any biocompatible, ionically-conductive, hydrophilic pressure-sensitive adhesive composition currently described for use as a conductive adhesive for biomedical electrodes. Nonlimiting examples of conductive adhesives capable of adhering to mammalian skin include those adhesives disclosed in the Engel patents identified above, the Duan European Patent Publication identified above, and adhesives disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. Re. 31,454 (Hymes); 4,391,278 (Cahalan); 4,699,146 and 4,750,482 (both Sieverding).
Thus, nonlimiting examples of PSA hydrogels include compositions prepared from (a) partially neutralized acrylic acid homopolymers and copolymers, copolymers of (N-vinyl lactam and a multi-ethylenically unsaturated compound, copolymers of (N-vinyl lactam) and a carboxylic acid, or an interpenetrating polymer network of hydrophilic crosslinked polymer from a water soluble monomer and a hydrophilic polymer which is not crosslinked; (b) humectant, and (c) water.
PSA hydrogels useful for the present invention can have an initial adhesion to skin ranging from about 20 grams/2.54 cm to about 80 grams/2.54 cm using a skin adhesion test described below.
Of the possible PSA hydrogels useful for the present invention, conductive adhesives disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,539,996 and 4,524,087 (both Engel) are preferred. These conductive adhesives have an initial adhesion to skin of about 15-40 grams/2.54 cm.
The presently preferred formulation of PSA hydrogel comprises about 14-26 weight percent of acrylic acid, about 0.04-0.08 weight percent of 2,2-dimethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone, about 0.2-2 weight percent of triethyleneglycolbismethacrylate, about 2-19 weight percent of alkali metal hydroxide, about 10-30 weight percent of water, and about 45-75 weight percent of glycerin.
Crosslinked Poly (N-vinyl lactam)
Crosslinked poly(N-vinyl lactam) is present in the PSA hydrogel composition in an amount sufficient to retain continued low electrical impedance and maintain hydrogel adhesion and cohesion during use. Desirably, the crosslinked poly(N-vinyl lactam) can comprise from about 0.5 to about 3 percent by weight of the PSA hydrogel composition. Preferably, crosslinked poly(N-vinyl lactam) can comprise from about 1 to about 2 percent by weight of the PSA hydrogel composition.
Poly(N-vinyl lactam) can be a noncrosslinked homopolymer or a noncrosslinked copolymer containing N-vinyl lactam monomeric units, which after crosslinking, such as by irradiation, can swell in water, moisture or other body exudate which otherwise affects mechanical or electrical properties of a PSA hydrogel used in a biomedical electrode.
N-vinyl lactam monomeric units comprise a majority of total monomeric units of the polymer.
Nonlimiting examples of N-vinyl lactam monomers are N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone; N-vinyl-2-valerolactam; N-vinyl-2-caprolactam; and mixtures of any of the foregoing. Preferably, the N-vinyl lactam is N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone. Preferably, the poly(N-vinyl lactam) is a homopolymer of N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone.
Nonlimiting examples of non-N-vinyl lactam comonomers useful with N-vinyl lactam monomeric units include N,N-dimethylacrylamide, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, hydroxyethylmethacrylate, acrylamide, 2-acrylamide-2-methyl-1-propane sulfonic acid or its salt, and vinyl acetate.
The N-vinyl lactam monomeric units comprise no less than about 50 weight percent of the monomeric units present in the poly(N-vinyl lactam) in solid state form. More preferably, the N-vinyl lactam monomeric units comprise 70 to 100 percent by weight of the poly(N-vinyl lactam) and most preferably 90 to 100 percent by weight of the poly(N-vinyl lactam).
Noncrosslinked poly(N-vinyl lactam) homopolymer and poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone)/poly vinyl acetate copolymers are commercially available. Nonlimiting examples of commercially available poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone) useful for the present invention include Aldrich Chemical Co. of Wilwaukee, Wis., BASF of Parsippany, N.J., GAF of Wayne, N.J., and Dan River Corporation of Danville, Va. and Spectrum Chemical Manufacturing Corporation of Gardena, Ca.
Poly(N-vinyl lactam) can have a Fikentscher K-value of at least K-15 and preferably at least K-60, and most preferably at least K-90. Fikentscher K-values are described in Molyneaux, Water-Soluble Polymers: Properties and Behavior, Vol. 1, CRC Press, 1983, pp. 151-152.
After exposure to ionizing radiation, poly(N-vinyl lactam) can have a Swelling Capacity, S, milliliters of liquid sorbed per gram of polymer, of at least about 15 in water, preferably at least about 30 in water, and most preferably at least about 40 in water.
Swelling Capacity correlates to a measurement of polymer swelling as a function of chemical crosslinking units in poly(N-vinyl lactam), according to the equation:
S=C(λ1/3 -λ0 1/3)
where S is a measurement of water sorbed per gram of polymer, C is a constant characteristic of the polymer, i.e., milliliters of water sorbed per gram of polymer, λ is the average number of backbone carbon atoms in the polymer segments between crosslinked junctions, and λ0 is the average number of backbone carbon atoms in the polymer segments between crosslinked junctions when S is zero. Swelling capacity and this equation are discussed in Errede, "Molecular Interpretations of Sorption in Polymers Part I", Advances in Polymer Science Vol. 99, Springer-Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg Germany (pp. 22-36, 1991), the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.
Poly(N-vinyl lactam) useful in the present invention can be in any form susceptible to being crosslinked, but preferably is in a solid state form. Nonlimiting examples of solid state forms include particles, pellets, sheets, strands, fibers, membranes, films, and other three dimensional functional forms. Preferably, poly (N-vinyl lactam) is in the form of particles of a size from about 0.1 micrometers to about 250 micrometers and preferably from about 10 micrometers to about 75 micrometers.
Crosslinking of Poly(N-Vinyl Lactam)
Crosslinked poly(N-vinyl lactam) compositions can be prepared using free-radical polymerization methods employing chemical crosslinking agents such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,848,353 (Engel), U.S. Pat. No. 4,931,282 (Asmus et al.) or EPO Publication 0 322 098 (Duan) or using ionizing radiation such as that disclosed in co-pending, co-assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/792,442 (Docket No. 45911USA1A), the disclosures of such methods of crosslinking being incorporated by reference as if rewritten herein.
Preferably, poly(N-vinyl lactam) in any solid form is subjected to ionizing radiation from a high-energy source. Nonlimiting examples of ionizing radiation include alpha, beta, gamma, electron-beam, and x-ray radiation. Of these sources or ionizing radiation, electron-beam irradiation and gamma irradiation are preferred. Sources of electron-beam radiation are commercially available, including an Energy Sciences Inc. Model CB-150 Electrocurtain Electron Beam Processor. Sources of gamma irradiation are commercially available from Atomic Energy of Canada, Inc. using a cobalt-60 high-energy source.
Ionizing radiation dosages are measured in megarads (mRad) or kilograys (kGy). Doses of ionizing radiation can be administered in a single dose of the desired level of ionizing radiation or in multiple doses which accumulate to the desired level of ionizing radiation. The dosage of ionizing radiation cumulatively can range from about 25 kGys to about 400 kGys and preferably from about 25 kGys to about 200 kGys. Preferably, ionizing radiation can achieve the desired level of crosslinking of N-vinyl lactam moieties in poly(N-vinyl lactam) when the cumulative dosage of ionizing radiation exceeds 100 kGys (10 mRads).
Poly(N-vinyl lactam) can be irradiated in a solid form with ionizing radiation in a package or container where the temperature, atmosphere, and other reaction parameters can be controlled.
Temperature can range from about -80° C. to about 100° C. and preferably from about 10° C. to about 35° C.
The atmosphere can be air or preferably an inert atmosphere such as nitrogen.
The line speed for electron-beam irradiation can be about 15 meters/minute.
The pressure in the container can be atmospheric, elevated or depressed. Preferably it is atmospheric.
Depending upon the control of the irradiation conditions, poly(N-vinyl lactam) can be irradiated in a batch or continuous process.
Crosslinked poly(N-vinyl lactam) is biocompatible with mammalian skin and hydrophilic without dissolving in water, moisture, or bodily fluids.
Biomedical Electrodes
Biomedical electrodes employing compositions of PSA hydrogel and poly(N-vinyl lactam) according to the present invention are useful for diagnostic, therapeutic, electrosurgical, or other medical purposes. In its most basic form, a biomedical electrode comprises a conductive medium contacting mammalian skin and a means for electrical communication interacting between the conductive medium and electrical diagnostic, therapeutic, or electrosurgical equipment.
Among the diagnostic and therapeutic procedures using biomedical electrodes are transcutaneous electronic nerve stimulation (TENS) devices used for pain management, neuromuscular stimulation (NMS) used for treating conditions such as scoliosis, and monitors of electrical output from body functions, such as electrocardiogram (EKG) used for monitoring heart activity and diagnosing heart abnormalities.
FIGS. 1 and 2 show either a disposable diagnostic electrocardiogram (EKG) or a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) electrode 10 on a release liner 12. Electrode 10 includes a field 14 of a biocompatible and adhesive conductive medium for contacting mammalian skin of a patient upon removal of protective release liner 12.
Electrode 10 includes means for electrical communication 16 comprising a conductor member having a conductive interface portion 18 contacting field 14 of conductive medium and a tab portion 20 not contacting field 14 of conductive medium for mechanical and electrical contact with electrical instrumentation (not shown). Means 16 for electrical communication includes a conductive layer 26 coated on at least the side 22 contacting field 14 of conductive medium.
It is foreseen that a typical EKG conductor member 16 will comprise a strip of material having a thickness of about 0.05-0.2 millimeters, such as polyester film and have a coating 26 on side 22 of silver/silver chloride of about 2.5-12 micrometers, and preferably about 5 micrometers thick thereon. Presently preferred is a polyester film commercially available as "Mellinex" 505-300, 329, 339 film from ICI Americas of Hopewell, Va. coated with a silver/silver chloride ink commercially available as "R-300" ink from Ercon, Inc. of Waltham, Mass. A TENS conductor member 16 can be made of a nonwoven web, such as a web of polyester/cellulose fibers commercially available as "Manniweb" web from Lydall, Inc. of Troy, N.Y. and have a carbon ink layer 26 commercially available as "SS24363" ink from Acheson Colloids Company of Port Huron, Mich. on side 22 thereof. To enhance mechanical contact between an electrode clip (not shown) and conductor member 16, an adhesively-backed polyethylene tape can be applied to tab portion 20 on the side opposite side 22 having the conductive coating 26. A surgical tape commercially available from 3M Company as "Blenderm" tape can be employed for this purpose.
Another type of therapeutic procedure, which can employ a biomedical electrode having a low impedance PSA composition of the present invention, is the dispensing of electrical energy to the chest cavity of a mammalian patient to defibrillate abnormal heart beats of the patient. Delivery of a high (e.g., 2000 volts) voltage, high (e.g., 40 amps) current electrical charge through one biomedical electrode and receipt of that electrical charge through another biomedical electrode completes the electrical circuit. An example of an electrode useful for defibrillation is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,998,215 (Anderson et al.), which is incorporated herein by reference.
Another type of therapeutic procedure involving application of electrical current to skin of a patient is iontophoresis, which delivers an iontophoretically active pharmaceutical to or through mammalian skin with aid of an electrical current.
Electrosurgery can use a biomedical electrode using a low impedance PSA composition of the present invention. In this instance, the biomedical electrode serves to receive in a dispersed fashion electrical signals introduced to the patient at an incision site using an electro-surgical cutting electrode. An electro-surgical system usually comprises a generator providing high-frequency alternating current on demand under monitored conditions, the cutting electrode having an extremely high-current density and a flat dispersive biomedical electrode having a very large surface area to provide a low-current density. The dispersive biomedical electrode is placed in intimate and continuous contact with a portion of the mammalian skin which is not subject to the surgical procedure. The alternating current circuit is completed through the body of the patient between the dispersive biomedical electrode and the cutting electrode. Disconnection of the dispersive electrode either from contacting the patient or from the generator could subject the patient to electrical burns where the alternating current circuit leaves the body of the patient.
A dispersive electrode is seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. Dispersive electrode 30 comprises an insulating backing 31 coated on one surface with a biocompatible pressure sensitive adhesive 32. The backing 31 can be a closed cell polyethylene foam. An electrode plate 33 adheres to a portion of the biocompatible pressure sensitive adhesive 32. The electrode plate 33 can be an aluminum foil on a conformable polymeric backing 34, e.g., polyester, having aluminum deposited on one surface. The electrode plate 33 has an integrally associated connector tab 35 suited to electrically connect the dispersive electrode 30 to a leadwire which in use is connected to an electrosurgery generator. A field of electrically-conductive adhesive 36 of the present invention coats the entire electrically-conductive surface of electrode plate 33 except the connector tab 35. An insulating strip 37 double coated with pressure sensitive adhesive covers that portion of the surface of the connecting tab 35 which underlies the backing 31 and biocompatible pressure sensitive adhesive 32. The backing 31 and biocompatible pressure sensitive adhesive 32 have an apron 38 extending beyond the periphery of the electrode plate 33 and electrically-conductive adhesive 36. Apron 38 and insulating strip 37 serve to insulate the electrode plate 33 from direct contact with a patient's skin, thereby avoiding thermal burns and from contact with other conductors (e.g., blood or water) which may result in an electrical short circuit. Supporting connecting tab 35 is a reinforcing layer 39 of nonwoven polyester contacting adhesive 32 and having a single coated adhesive layer contacting tab 35. An optional release liner 40 can be used to protect adhesives 32 and 36 prior to use.
Preferably, to achieve excellent adhesion and low impedance electrical contact with a patient's skin (avoiding hot spots or loss of contract due to motion), the surface area of plate 33 and adhesive 36 of the present invention are each about 130 cm2. Preferably, the adhesive 36 of the present invention is coated about 0.5 mm thick.
Other examples of biomedical electrodes which can use low impedance pressure sensitive adhesive compositions of PSA hydrogel and poly(N-vinyl lactam) according to the present invention as conductive adhesive fields include electrodes disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,527,087; 4,539,996; 4,554,924; 4,848,353 (all Engel); 4,846,185 (Carim); 4,771,713 (Roberts); 4,715,382 (Strand); 5,012,810 (Strand et al.); co-pending and co-assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/686,049; co-pending and co-assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/688,138, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein.
When used for diagnostic EKG procedures, electrodes shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are preferred. When used for monitoring electrocardiogram (ECG) procedures, electrodes disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,012,810 and U.S. application Ser. No. 07/686,049 are preferred. When used for defibrillation procedures or electrosurgical procedures, electrodes shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 or disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,539,996 and 4,848,353 are preferred.
In some instances, the means for electrical communication can be an electrically conductive tab extending from the periphery of the biomedical electrodes such as that seen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,848,353 or can be a conductor member extending through a slit or seam in an insulating backing member, such as that seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,012,810. Otherwise, the means for electrical communication can be an eyelet or other snap-type connector such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,185. Further, the means for electrical communication can be a lead wire such as that seen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,771,783. Regardless of the type of means for electrical communication employed, low impedance PSA hydrogel compositions of the present invention can reside as a field of conductive adhesive on a biomedical electrode for diagnostic, therapeutic, or electrosurgical purposes.
Method of Preparing Low Impedance PSA Hydrogel Compositions
The preparation of low impedance PSA hydrogel compositions of the present invention follows processes employed for the formation of PSA hydrogels with the addition of crosslinked poly(N-vinyl lactam) in amounts sufficient to provide continued low electrical impedance during use. Thus, any of the methods of preparation of a PSA hydrogel can be employed if the addition of crosslinked poly(N-vinyl lactam) is not disruptive to the formation of the hydrogel. Presently preferred methods of preparation include those methods disclosed in all Engel patents and the Asmus et al. patent described above.
For example, a method of preparing a low impedance PSA hydrogel composition of the present invention can employ a minimum number of ecologically compatible manufacturing steps. The solid, radiation-crosslinked poly(N-vinyl lactam) is mixed and equilibrated with water and humectant. In a separate container PSA hydrogel ingredients are mixed together with any other optional additives in water. The two mixtures are then combined and equilibrated, then cast onto a surface of a substrate, which can be an inert substrate such as a liner for storage before further processing or a surface designed for ultimate use, such as a means for electrical communication having an electrically conductive surface for use as a biomedical electrode. Then the cast mixture is cured in the manner described in the Engel patents, and particularly in Example 1 of U.S. Pat. No. 4,524,087 (Engel), except that an inert chamber is not required. A product liner can optionally be laminated over the field of low impedance PSA hydrogel to protect that field from contamination.
A coating of low impedance, PSA hydrogel composition of the present invention can be applied to a substrate surface. Coating thickness can range from about 0.25 mm to about 1 mm and preferably from about 0.4 mm to about 0.6 mm. With this coating, a low profile and conformable biomedical electrode can be made.
The method can be prepared in a batch process or in a continuous line process. If prepared by a continuous process, the laminate of a liner, field of cohesive, pressure-sensitive adhesive composition, and substrate can be wound on a roll for bulk packaging and further processing or can be cut using dies known to those skilled in the art into individual units, such as biomedical electrodes or biomedical electrode subassemblies, for further processing. U.S. Pat. No. 4,795,516 (Strand) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,798,642 (Craighead et al.), which are incorporated by reference herein, disclose processes and equipment useful for a continuous manufacture of biomedical electrodes involving the dispensing of strips of material from rolls and overlaying such strips in a registered continuous manner in order to prepare a strip of electrodes. Further, co-pending, co-assigned U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 07/686,049 and 07/688,138 disclose methods of preparing biomedical electrode constructions in a continuous strip subassembly.
For example, one method of continuous strip assembly can be the coating of an aqueous mixture of low impedance, PSA hydrogel composition of the present invention on an electrically conductive surface about 8.9 cm wide, with the coating applied to about the center 5.1 cm section of such width. After photoinitiated polymerization of the mixture, the coated electrically conductive surface can be bisected along the strip and also cut orthogonally at about 2.54 cm intervals, yielding a number of electrodes 10 seen in FIG. 1 having dimensions of about 2.54 cm×4.4 cm with a conductive interface portion 18 of 2.54 cm×2.54 cm and a tab portion 20 of 2.54 cm×1.9 cm.
As another example, one method of assembly for a dispersive electrode can be the coating of an aqueous mixture of low impedance, PSA hydrogel composition of the present invention on a web having an electrically conductive surface about 24 cm wide, with the coating applied to an 18.4 cm section on one side of the web. The coating is photopolymerized. The web is then orthogonally cut and laminated to a conformable backing, yielding an electrode seen in FIG. 3 having an overall dimension of 10 cm×23 cm.
The following examples further describe embodiments of the invention without limiting the scope of the invention thereto.
Approximately 100 grams of noncrosslinked poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone) commercially available from BASF of Parsippany, N.J. in a solid state form of particles having a size from about 10 micrometers to about 75 micrometers were placed in a resealable plastic bag, purged with nitrogen for 15 minutes, and irradiated with ionizing radiation of about 140 kGys to about 160 kGys of gamma radiation using a Cobalt 60 gamma irradiation source in an Atomic Energy of Canada, Inc. Model JS-7500 equipment at ambient temperature and pressure.
Ingredients and quantities to prepare low impedance conductive adhesives of the present invention and a conventional conductive adhesive are listed in Table 1. For Examples 2 and 3, 2 grams of crosslinked poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) prepared according to Example 1 was added to 12 grams of water in a container with stirring. Glycerin was added to the mixture. In a separate container, acrylic acid, 2,2-dimethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone, (benzildimethylketal commercially available as Irgacure 651 from Ciba Geigy), and triethyleneglycolbismethacrylate (TEGBM) were mixed. Potassium hydroxide was subsequently added to the acrylic acid solution and then the remainder of water was added to the solution to dissolve the potassium hydroxide. The acrylic acid mixture was then mixed with the poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone) mixture and this combined mixture was equilibrated overnight prior to curing. Samples were coated on a polyester liner and then cured via ultraviolet light operated at 300-400 nm, (preferably 350 nm), and 1.2 milliwatts/cm2 intensity for 5 minutes at ambient conditions.
Comparison example 4 represents a commercially available electrode and was prepared in the same manner as Examples 2 and 3 except that no poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone) was added to the precursor mixture and that water and glycerin from that mixture were added to the acrylic acid solution before adding the potassium hydroxide. Coating and curing were the same.
Table 1 shows the formulations and Table 2 shows the electrical performance and adhesive performance of electrodes so prepared according to the following Impedance test and Skin Adhesion test.
Adhesive sheets on a polyester backing were cut into 2.54 cm×7.5 cm strips such that each strip was completely covered on one side with the test adhesive. The strips were applied on the backs of human subjects perpendicular to the backbone and rolled with a 2 kg. roller to insure uniform application. The strips were removed from the back promptly after application using a mechanical pulling device termed an adhesion tester. This device consists of a motor driven screw drive which pulls a 11.4 kg test line to which is attached a metal clip which is 2.54 cm wide. The metal clip is attached to each strip at its 2.54 cm width during pulling testing. Strips were pulled in a plane parallel (180°) to the back and parallel to the long axis of the strip at a rate of 13/14 cm/min. The adhesion is reported in grams/2.54 cm and based on an average of values from initiation of peel to entire removal.
The impedance was measured using a Hewlett Packard Model 4800A Vector Impedance Meter, two 15.24 cm lead wires, and a stainless steel cylinder. The stainless steel cylinder had a circular cross section with a diameter of 3.81 cm. The weight of the cylinder was 454 grams. One lead wire connected the meter to an exposed portion of the electrode conductor. The other lead wire connected the meter to the cylinder. The circular area of one end of the cylinder was laminated to an area of exposed conductive adhesive on the electrode making sure no bubbles were present between the adhesive and the cylinder. The electrode was placed on a level surface with the conductive adhesive facing up and the cylinder on top of the electrode. The impedance was measured at a frequency of 500,000 Hz. The impedance value was divided by the thickness of the conductive adhesive to arrive at a value in ohms/0.0254 mm.
TABLE 1______________________________________Ingredients Comparison(grams) Example 2 Example 3 Example 4______________________________________Acrylic 22 20 24acidBenzildime- 0.06 0.06 0.06thylketalTEGBM 0.25 0.3 0.2Water 24 24 10.5KOH 6.43 5.84 7.01Glycerin 45.26 47.8 58.23Crosslinked 2 2 0PVP______________________________________
TABLE 2______________________________________ ComparisonProperty Example 2 Example 3 Example 4______________________________________Skin 30.7 42.9 29.1Adhesion(grams/2.54cm)Impedance 0.177 0.158 1.19(Ohm/0.0254mm)______________________________________
A comparison of the results of Examples 2 and 3 with Comparison Example 4 shows that impedance can be significantly reduced without significant changes in skin adhesion.
Impedance data show that addition of poly(N-vinyl lactam) greatly reduces impedance over the area of adhesive coverage and thickness by one/sixth compared with commercially available conductive adhesives. Thus, electrical properties of biomedical electrodes can be greatly improved by the addition of crosslinked poly(N-vinyl lactam) to commercially available, ionically-conductive PSA hydrogels.
Ionically-conductive pressure sensitive adhesives were prepared for Examples 5-11 using the ingredients shown in Table 3. The crosslinked poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) was added to 16.46 grams of water in a container with stirring. Glycerin was added to the mixture. In a separate container, acrylic acid, 2,2-dimethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone, and triethyleneglycolbismethacrylate were mixed to dissolution. A solution of 50% by weight water and 50% by weight sodium hydroxide was then added to the acrylic acid solution. The acrylic acid mixture was then mixed with the poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) mixture and this combined mixture was equilibrated overnight prior to curing. Samples were coated on the aluminum side of an aluminum/polyester laminate, covered with a 1.5 mil polyester film, and cured via ultraviolet light using a series of 15-watt Sylvania 350 nm blacklight bulbs operating at an intensity of 1.2 milliwatts/cm2. The curing conditions were ambient temperature, pressure, and humidity. The curing time was 5 minutes.
Comparison example 12 represents a commercially available electrode and was prepared in the same manner as Examples 5-11 except that no poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone) was added to the precursor mixture and that water and glycerin from that mixture were added to the acrylic acid mixture before the addition of the sodium hydroxide solution. Coating and curing were the same.
Skin adhesion was measured at initial time (T0) and after four hours (T4) of dwell on human skin according to the Skin Adhesion Test described above.
TABLE 3__________________________________________________________________________Ingredients Comparison(grams) Ex. 5 Ex. 6 Ex. 7 Ex. 8 Ex. 9 Ex. 10 Ex. 11 Example 12__________________________________________________________________________Acrylic acid 17 17 17 17 16 14 15 242,2-dimethoxy-2- 0.06 0.06 0.06 0.06 0.06 0.06 0.06 0.06phenylacetophenoneTEGBM 0.8 0.8 1.2 1.2 1.2 0.8 1.0 0.2Water 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 10.0NaOH 3.54 3.54 3.54 3.54 3.33 2.92 3.13 5.0Glycerin 57.6 56.6 57.2 56.2 57.41 60.22 59.31 60.74Crosslinked PVP 1 2 1 2 2 2 1.5 0__________________________________________________________________________
TABLE 4__________________________________________________________________________ ComparisonProperty Ex. 5 Ex. 6 Ex. 7 Ex. 8 Ex. 9 Ex. 10 Ex. 11 Example 12__________________________________________________________________________Impedance 0.42 0.54 0.46 0.49 0.45 0.39 0.45 1.6(Ohms/0.0254 mm)Adhesion T0 hours 54.5 53.25 40.75 36.5 46.55 92.67 71.78 39.5(grams/2.54 cm)Adhesion T4 hours 31 36.75 26 25 40.82 66.91 61.33 79.43(grams/2.54 cm)__________________________________________________________________________
Mechanical adhesion of Examples 5-11 are superior to adhesion of Comparison Example 12 because adhesion does not build over time. Thus, after an operation or monitoring time lasting about 4 hours, it is easier to remove electrodes having low impedance pressure sensitive adhesive of the present invention than commercially available adhesives. Yet there is sufficient adhesion to retain such electrodes in place on mammalian skin for the duration of the medical procedure. Thus, the addition of crosslinked poly(N-vinyl lactam) to PSA hydrogels according to the present invention provides a superior mechanical property of reduced adhesion over time of use while perspiration and other moisture sorb into such adhesive.
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For an appreciation of the scope of the present invention, the claims follow.
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Scoonie Penn to Speak at OCU Basketball Camp on July 26th
CIRCLEVILLE, OH - Former Ohio State and Boston College guard Scoonie Penn will be sharing basketball tips and personal insights at the 2012 OCU Basketball Camp. Penn, a two time NCAA All-American, will be attending the camp on Thursday, July 26th at 4:00 PM as a special guest speaker. All registered day campers and overnight campers will have the opportunity to experience this special event and learn from one of the best in the game.
Penn took the Big East by storm in his first two seasons at Boston College, being named Big East Freshman of the Year, 1st Team All-Big East, and MVP of the Big East Tournament. He then transferred to Ohio State following his sophomore season.
At Ohio State, Penn was a two time NCAA All-American while leading the Buckeyes to the 1999 Final Four. Penn was named Big Ten Conference Player of the Year in 1999 in addition to winning the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award in 2000.
Scoonie Penn - College Awards
- 1995-96 Big East Conference Rookie of the Year, First Team All-Big East Conference
- 1996-97 First Team All-Big East Conference. Big East Tournament Championship MVP
- 1998-99 Big Ten Conference Player of the Year.
- 1998-99 Led Ohio State to the NCAA Final Four.
- 1999-00 Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award as the nation's top senior under 6'0" (1.83 m) tall.
- Selected Third Team All-America and First Team All-Big Ten Conference in both his junior and senior seasons. Ended his career at Ohio State University as the college's all-time leader in three-point field goals made.
Register your child for the camp today by clicking HERE.


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Businesses that want to sell alcoholic beverages near schools and public hospitals in mixed-use zoning in downtown, Trinity Uptown, the Near South Side, and the West 7th Urban Village can now do so under an ordinance change approved by the City Council Tuesday night.
The change eliminates the 300-foot buffer between schools and businesses that sell alcohol in the four mixed-use-zoned areas.
Alcohol sales would be allowed within 300 feet of public and private schools and public hospitals in mixed-use zoning in those areas. Elsewhere in the city, businesses wanting to sell alcohol within that buffer in mixed-use zoning have to seek a variance from the City Council.
The council had asked the staff for the ordinance change because it has typically granted variances in recent cases. The impending move of Fort Worth's Young Women's Leadership Academy to mixed-use zoning downtown from the same sort of area on West Magnolia Avenue was a new situation that prompted the review.


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Posted at: 03/06/2013 6:01 PM
Updated at: 03/07/2013 9:53 AM
By: Beth Wurtmann
ALBANY - When it comes to racking up debt, the State Comptroller said public authorities have had too smooth of a ride.
In a new report, Thomas DiNapoli found the State's more than 1100 authorities have accrued nearly a quarter of a trillion dollars; most of it without New Yorkers' stamp of approval.
"Right now we have 94-percent of our state-funded debt that is held by the public authorities and has never been approved by the voters," said iRobert Ward, Deputy Comptroller.
Ward said 30-billion of the debt in just the last couple of years was taken on for good reasons, like building bridges and other long term capital improvements.
But the Comptroller's Office said there's not enough oversight of the spending, including on salaries.
The report found that 18,000 employees or 11.6-percent of the workforce, earn over $100,000-a-year.
Only 8.3-percent of state employees make as much.
"We believe in many cases there's no clear need for those higher salaries in order to attract good people or to make sure the authority is operating effectively," Ward added.
DiNapoli's report said another big reason for rising debt: backdoor borrowing, where money raised by authorities is grabbed by the state to plug budget gaps.
"The state uses the authorities as cash cows both by tapping their reserves and using them as vehicles for borrowing without voter approval and in that way authorities are becoming more and more quasi agencies in a way that was never intended," said EJ McMahon, Director of the Empire Center for New York State Policy.
DiNapoli wants a constitutional amendment to require voter approval for major borrowing, to get public authority debt under control.
Otherwise, he says New Yorkers will be saddled with paying off the debt for too many years to come.


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It's shiny and green and pretty. Also, she's never been afraid of bugs.
(Can you tell she's been ill?)
(Can you tell she's been ill?)
Just now figuring out that joy and suffering are all tangled up together and to avoid one is to miss out on the other. Trying to grab hold of joy where ever it is found and hold on tight.


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Knox Area Rescue Ministries broke ground Friday on a project that will turn an old parking lot into a new courtyard next to its main facilities in North Knoxville.
The courtyard will include a sheltered overhang, restrooms, benches, a concession area, and charging stations for people with electronic wheelchairs or devices.
KARM hopes it will provide a place where people can engage with the homeless people in our area, and begin relationships that can help them get on the road to a better life.
"So the idea was to create this place that would not only create overflow space on the days we're overcrowded, but it would be a place where we can engage people. Where we can invite members of the community, particularly churches given our mission, and to begin to learn the stories and engage people and hopefully provide the critical step that helps move people out of their homeless condition to something much better," said Burt Rosen, president and CEO of KARM.
KARM hopes to have the project finished by late May or early June.


text: Healthy Recipes Spiced Breakfast Popovers Recipe E-mail recipe Print recipe To save this recipe, register now! Quick Info: Servings Contains Wheat/Gluten Contains Dairy Contains Egg Vegetarian Nutritional Info (Per serving): Calories: 202, Saturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 170mg, Dietary Fiber: 2g, Total Fat: 5g, Carbs: 31g, Cholesterol: 109mg, Protein: 8g Exchanges: Fruit: 0.5, Starch: 1, Other Carb: 0.5, Fat: 1 Carb Choices: 2 Recipe Source: More Diabetic Recipes Prep Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 35 mins Total Time: 50 mins Ingredients cooking spray 1 egg(s) 1/3 cup(s) milk, fat-free 1 teaspoon oil, cooking 1/3 cup(s) flour, all-purpose dash(es) salt 1 cup(s) strawberries 1/4 cup(s) sour cream, light or fat-free 1 1/2 teaspoon sugar, brown (packed) 1/8 tablespoon orange peel 2 teaspoon orange juice 1 dash(es) cinnamon, ground Preparation Popovers: 1. For popovers, generously coat the bottoms and sides of two 6-ounce custard cups with nonstick cooking spray. Place the custard cups in a shallow baking pan; set aside.2. In a small bowl combine egg, milk, and oil. Beat with a wire whisk or rotary beater. Add flour and salt; beat until smooth. Pour batter into prepared custard cups, filling each half full. Bake in a 400° oven about 35 minutes or until popovers are firm.3. Remove popovers from oven and immediately prick each popover with a fork to let steam escape. (For crisper popovers, turn off oven; return popovers to the oven for 5 to 10 minutes or until desired crispness is reached.) Remove popovers from cups.4. To serve, split warm popovers in half crosswise; top with Orange Cream and strawberries. Orange Cream: In a small bowl combine 1/4 cup fat-free dairy sour cream, 1 1/2 teaspoons packed brown sugar, 1/8 teaspoon finely shredded orange peel, 2 teaspoons orange juice, and dash ground cinnamon. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve or up to 24 hours. E-mail recipe Print recipe To save this recipe, register now!


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What will happen to John Cho's role in FlashForward when it comes time to film Star Trek XII?
Cho, who plays FBI agent Demetri Noh, might have to face the possibility of a schedule conflict, but for now, he's enjoying his new role. "You know for me as an actor it's kind of a unique situation not knowing where the character is going," he said. "Not having a full script. Typically in a movie you know how the movie ends, and you sort of map out your performance. This one we're kind of winging it, because the actors don't know what's going on from episode to episode. It's a very unique scenario, but it's exciting."


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Charlotte holds off Rockets 8-4Written by Zach Davis | | firstname.lastname@example.com
Despite having its ace on the mound, the UT baseball team couldn't hold off Charlotte in an 8-4 loss on the road. Leading by one in the seventh inning, the 49ers hit a three-run home run to seal the game.
Toledo starter Mike Hamann (0-1, 3.44 ERA) was tagged with the loss, allowing six runs (four earned) on eight hits in 6.1 innings. The junior right-hander struck out six batters and walked three for the Rockets (2-2).
Senior right fielder Jeff Cola (2 for 4, RBI) and sophomore second baseman Wes White (2 for 4, R) each collected a pair of hits while senior third baseman Joe Corfman had a run and an RBI in three at bats.
The Rockets led 2-1 in the fifth before the 49ers (4-1) took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the inning. After adding another run in the sixth, Charlotte's three-run shot off sophomore reliever Ryan Wilkinson put the lead out of reach. Wilkinson has struggled out of the gate in 2012, allowing a run in each of his three appearances. After having a 2.20 ERA last season, Wilkinson has given up four runs in 1.2 innings (30.00 ERA). Junior Cody Umbright and freshman Andrew Marra finished off the game, throwing a combined 1.2 scoreless innings.
The Rockets continue their three-game series at Charlotte at 4 p.m. Feb. 25. Senior Alex Radon (0-0, 4.50 ERA) will be making his second start of the season after giving up two runs on five hits with six walks in four innings last week at Western Kentucky.
Tags: Andrew Marra, Charlotte, Cody Umbright, Jeff Cola, Joe Corfman, Mike Hamann, Rockets baseball, Ryan Wilkinson, Wes White


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One Fish, two fish, red, fish blue fish…I had so much fun making these Dr. Seuss cookies for a birthday party in GA.
Thank you Rashida for your continued business!!
Thank you to my sweet cookie friend, Susan of The Painted Cookie in CT, for her great idea to use the flip flop cookie cutter for the green egg!! Great idea!!


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Integrate social networks into your site, making it more personal and social. As a bonus, you get more insight in who visits your site.
No reviews yet! Be the first to review this plugin!
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School Committee Budget Meeting
SchoolCommitteeMeeting from WAGM-TV on Vimeo.
Big decisions to be made in madawaska as the school committee looks at ways to reduce the budget. Thursday nights meeting in the Madawaskas middle/ high school library allowed voices to be heard in response to this heated issue.
Category: Uncategorized


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Facebook's shares are still a sell, S&P Capital IQ said this morning. Shares fell below $30 for the first time since the social network's May 18 IPO, down about 8% in morning trading today. Update: Oof–FB closed down more than three bucks, or almost 10%, on the day. As that Reuters article notes, the nearly $25 billion in valuation Facebook has lost since the IPO is pretty close to the entire market cap of its main underwriter, Morgan Stanley.
Scott Kessler, an analyst at S&P who slapped a sell rating on the stock last week, says in a research note that Facebook faces a basic dilemma around its lack of progress to date in capturing much money from the rising tide of users accessing its services on their mobile devices:
FB's platform positioning and monetization capabilities seem more limited without proprietary mobile software and hardware. We think FB is at an interesting juncture, as not being more proactive on the mobile front could affect its competitive standing, but being too aggressive could adversely affect its profitability.
In other words, Facebook has to spend big bucks to build out its mobile advertising, but doing so will cost it significant profits in the near term. That's especially true if the company goes all in on a much-rumored move into mobile phones. And with the $1 billion Instagram purchase, it's clear that Facebook is willing to spend what it takes to make sure it doesn't miss the mobile wave. Indeed, Facebook's admission that it was behind in mobile contributed to the company's underwhelming initial public offering.
All this is probably a good sign that CEO Mark Zuckerberg understands the overriding importance of cracking the mobile advertising opportunity. But investors concerned about how much that will cost seem likely to punish it for some time to come.


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William Thon Christmas card to Mary Gruskin, 19--
Physical Details: Christmas card : 1 folded sheet : ill. ; 11 x 15 cm.
Sender: William Thon (1906-2000)
Recipient: Mary J. Gruskin
Description: Front of card features watercolor with silver ink and pen depicting a landscape of bare trees, titled Ice storm in a handwritten note on back of card, lower left.
Back of card also includes handwritten greeting: "To Mary, with love and best wishes for the New Year, Helen and Bill."
Forms part of: Midtown Galleries records, 1904-1997
Rights Statement: Current copyright status is undetermined
Citation: William Thon Christmas card to Mary Gruskin, 19--
Digital ID: 11837
- Holidays
- Landscapes
- Winter
View all Image Gallery items from the Midtown Galleries records


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The Philippines, located in South
Eastern Asia, is made up of 7,000 islands and marked by a bustling population,
diverse culture, stunning landscapes and a people rooted in hospitality and
From the booming metropolis of the capital city, Manila, to the
rural fishing villages of the coast, amazing mountains, and crater lakes, the
Philippines is a land full of life and beauty to be explored. As the second largest immigrant group in the United States and millions of Filipinos working abroad, the Filipino culture has a myriad of influences that add to its complexity. Casa Bayanihan
invites you to come and see for yourself!
For more information about the
historic, economic, political, and social landscape of the Philippines, check
out the following sources:


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Councilwoman is reprimanded
State fines Cooper for misconduct in child custody case
The State Bar of Texas has publicly reprimanded City Councilwoman Melody Cooper, a lawyer, for her conduct in a 2005 child custody case.
The reprimand, dated and signed June 29, concurs with District Judge Sandra Watts' ruling in April that Cooper filed a series of pleadings and documents "groundless in fact and brought in bad faith" to gain advantage in the case. The reprimand includes a $1,000 fine.
Cooper represented local surgeon Dr. Pedro Torres and his wife, Mafalda, who sought custody of their newborn granddaughter. The Torreses' current attorney, Lanette Joubert, said the girl's father won custody in June.
Cooper filed a series of legal papers seeking to move the case from California, the parents' state of residence, to Texas, according to court documents. The case was assigned to Watts' 117th District Court in Corpus Christi.
The child's father, Barnaby Hopkins, retained a Corpus Christi lawyer and contested the jurisdiction. Cooper filed a motion to dismiss the case from Watts' court. Cooper's office refiled the case at the Nueces County Courthouse 51 minutes later, and the case was assigned to Judge Tom Greenwell's 319th District Court, according to court documents and reprimand documents from the State Bar.
Cooper did not disclose the existence of the initial custody case in the subsequent pleading that was assigned to Greenwell, according to court documents and the bar reprimand. She also "violated Nueces County local rules by failing to file the second custody case in the 117th," according to the reprimand.
She also failed to advise Hopkins of the filing of the second custody case or to provide him with a copy of the petition filed in the second case, according to the reprimand.
Watts in April ordered Cooper to pay more than $9,200 in fines and court costs. Those are separate from the bar's sanctions.
The Torreses and Hopkins filed grievances with the bar against Cooper around the time Watts sanctioned her, lawyers and Cooper said. The reprimand is a resolution to those complaints.
"I went through the procedure and came to an agreed reprimand," Cooper said. "We went through the process and negotiated the terms of an agreed reprimand. There was no suspension or any kind of probation. Routinely when people have these situations, they'll have a public or private reprimand. It was already in the public, so there was no need to argue for a private one."
The reprimand is a "slap on the wrist," according to Joubert, who received notice of the agreed judgment late last week.
The related disciplinary action from the State Bar falls in the mid-range of punishments lawyers can receive for misconduct. The State Bar can issue a private reprimand, which is not published in the Texas Bar Journal. The State Bar also can impose harsher penalties, including license suspension and, in the most serious cases, disbarment, said Maureen Ray, special administrative counsel for the State Bar.
The State Bar issued 62 public reprimands in fiscal 2006-2007, which ended May 31. Of the state's 80,094 active lawyers, the State Bar received 6,954 grievances, resulting in 320 total sanctions. There were 87 private reprimands, 31 voluntary resignations of law licenses, 110 suspensions and 30 disbarments.
Contact Jaime Powell at 886-3716 or email@example.com
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Anyone been to Lina Frey recently?
Have never been there for dinner but have a Blackboard Eats coupon. There are quite a few recent negative reviews on both Open Table and Yelp both regarding service and food. I think people tend to chime in more about bad experiences than good ones on both those sites --- so before I take the plunge and have dinner at Lina Frey, have any hounds been there lately and should I bother?
I had dinner there about a week ago. The service was perfectly fine, although our server had trouble remembering that we were waiting for another couple and came by about five times to ask whether we were ready to order. I liked the look of the place very much: high ceiling, spacious room, slightly scruffy decor. But while the mismatched metal chairs are cute, they're not pleasant to sit on.
The food ranges from okay to good. The grilled calamari salad was well-made, with little bits of pineapple and ye olde mesclun salad mix (which turned up again next to everyone's entree). I also had the mussels, which were tiny and tough, and the broth they were steamed in was extremely salty. Fries were excellent. I had a bit of the salmon, which was fine. Overall, it's a decent place and portions are generally large, so it's a good value. But I don't think I'd return.
Lina Frey
201 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002
I ate there over the summer and really enjoyed it, thanks for reminding me to go back. Very sweet French servers, not too professional but who cares...it's a quirky, laid-back place. I believe I also had the grilled calamari, very good, and hanger steak, which I also enjoyed. Just the sort of little bistro I'm always seeking but are hard to find.
Lina Frey
201 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002


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Students present research at state capitolPosted April 23, 2013
Two undergraduate students will represent ACU on April 26, at the Texas Undergraduate Research Day at the Texas Capitol. ACU is one of 14 institutions with two students selected to present at the event.
David Gasvoda, senior English major from Houston, will deliver his paper, "Cormac McCarthy's Projection of Nature In Blood Meridian." Spenser Lynn, senior physics major from White Oak, will present "Development of a Clean Glove Box for the NIFFTE Collaboration."
Dr. Rusty Towell, chair of the Department of Engineering and Physics, and Dr. Autumn Sutherlin, director of undergraduate research, will also attend.
"Participation in this event reflects particularly well on ACU, because we are among less than a quarter of the schools allowed to have more than one student presenting," says Sutherlin. "With presentations from physics and English, we are able to demonstrate some of the breadth of the exciting research being done at ACU."
The Undergraduate Research Day highlights the experiences of undergraduates engaged in research across Texas. Students from 51 general academic and health-related institutions, both public and independent, will present their research at a poster session for the members of the Texas State Legislature. Approximately 65 posters will be presented.
Learn more about undergraduate research at ACU
ACU in Dallas
ACU is expanding its presence in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex with a new campus and several new graduate programs.
Explore Majors
Find majors or programs that interest you.
Visit Campus
Satisfy your curiosity about what it means to live and learn at ACU!
Apply to ACU
Learn more about our application and admissions process.


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5000+ miles from new! Another toy that I am too seldom using. Someone else should enjoy it. I have owned it for about 5... More
REDUCEDSuper clean never damaged easy to ride has cool tinted windshield and available saddlebags, excellent tires/paint/stripes and chrome.loaned it to a Bro in Laws girlfriend... More


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Real [Fit] Life
With fitness professional Jeannine Trimboli
Monthly Archive for January, 2014
Meditation. Feel like it's wrong? Then it's probably right.
Feeling like I need three of me this week. Time to meditate and get down to what's really going on inside. When you're really busy it's easy to avoid what you're feeling underneath because of all of the outside distractions. I'm finally understanding the benefit of taking time, even just twenty minutes, to get in […] [Read More]
Do you want a yoga butt?
The very distinguished abbot of a huge Zen monastery wrote this little article that said, 'In Zen, there are only three things. First, cleaning. Second, chanting. And third, devotion. That's all.' Many Americans go to Zen hoping to get enlightened, but they don't want to do the cleaning. —Taitetsu Unno I started teaching yoga back […] [Read More]


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The crossword puzzle clue today is "Shellacs". To solve this puzzle clue, we look for the similarity crossword puzzle definitions for our clue. Below are the possibilities crossword solution and answer for "Shellacs". Good luck! :).
Shellacs :
A drubbing is a beating, given either literally or figuratively. The term "drub" dates back in English to the 17th century when it was imported from the Arabic word for a beating, "darb".
"To shellac" is a slang term meaning "to defeat decisively, to strike severely".
If there is another crossword solution for Shellacs , feel free to leave a comment below and we will rate as the right answer for this crossword puzzle clue. Good Luck!


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The duration of treatment for fungal infections depends on whether it is a superficial fungal infection or a deep tissue fungal infection. Superficial fungal infections can take anywhere from a few days to a few months to heal. Deep tissue fungal infection can take up to two years to treat. In persons with weakened immune systems, the treatment and management of a fungal infection may take the rest of their lives.
A Answers (1)
Honor Society of Nursing (STTI) answeredHelpful? 2 people found this helpful.


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I – 10 Kampground
6430 Theodore Dawes Rd
Theodore, AL
GPS Coords: 30.558582, -88.197154
Phone: 334-653-9816
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RV Park Details
- Laundry Facilities
- Propane Station
- Recreation Hall
- Fishing
- Swiming Pool
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- 50 Amp
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Mon, 22 June 2009
Tasty Dog in the Kingdom: This Cambodian Life #69. Delilah invites another special guest to the show. Today, we hear from Howie the Dentist, who has a hobby that has a life of its own. But you are welcome to venture into the world of an avid twitcher, where you can hear a bit about the orange necked partridge, the green jungle fowl and the giant ibis, just a couple of the plethora of birds of Cambodia. Not to mention hearing what special poop a special dog found in Mondulkiri.
www.tastydoginthekingdom.com or questions/comments to firstname.lastname@example.com.
Just a little bit of Sin Sisamuth to keep you company because I know you missed his golden voice.
Direct download: tastydog69.mp3
Category:Special Guest Stars! -- posted at: 12:40 PM
Tue, 16 June 2009
Tasty Dog in the Kingdom: This Cambodian Life #68. Delilah ponders if her time in
www.tastydoginthekingdom.com or questions/comments to firstname.lastname@example.com.
Ros Sereysothea sings If You Wish to Love Me from Cambodia Rocks, Vol 2. Because nothing is more loveable about
Direct download: tastydog68.mp3
Category:Getting out of town -- posted at: 1:48 AM