Abstract: This application relates to improvements in environments for microbial testing. Exemplary embodiments provide a uniquely configured tray containing an environment conditioning material, such as an oxygen scavenger material, for use with a cassette assembly. Furthermore, some embodiments provide a cutting mechanism that allows the tray to be reliably breached, thereby exposing the material inside to the environment. Some embodiments can cut open the material with specially-configured cutter teeth, which can easily be deployed by twisting or pushing two halves of the cassette assembly.

Abstract: This application relates to improvements in environments for microbial testing. Exemplary embodiments provide a uniquely configured tray containing an environment conditioning material, such as an oxygen scavenger material, for use with a cassette assembly. Furthermore, some embodiments provide a cutting mechanism that allows the tray to be reliably breached, thereby exposing the material inside to the environment. Some embodiments can cut open the material with specially-configured cutter teeth, which can easily be deployed by twisting or pushing two halves of the cassette assembly.

Abstract: The system comprises a support to receive a nanoparticle assembly (NPA) and to be conveyed towards a localized area of an organism infected or at risk to be infected by microorganisms; said nanoparticle assembly (NPA) comprising a plurality of nanoparticles (NPs) each one (NP) having a metal core and a surface surrounding said metal core, the metal core being reactable to thermal energy; and an energy unit (15) configured to apply at least one thermal shot on said localized area exposed to the nano-particle assembly, increasing the temperature of said localized area via the. nanoparticle assembly (NPA), so enabling a nanotheranostic multimodal antimicrobial therapy, wherein the metal core being made of silver, gold, iron or a mixture of silver and gold.

Abstract: The system comprises a support to receive a nanoparticle assembly (NPA) and to be conveyed towards a localized area of an organism infected or at risk to be infected by microorganisms; said nanoparticle assembly (NPA) comprising a plurality of nanoparticles (NPs) each one (NP) having a metal core and a surface surrounding said metal core, the metal core being reactable to thermal energy; and an energy unit (15) configured to apply at least one thermal shot on said localized area exposed to the nanoparticle assembly, increasing the temperature of said localized area via the. nanoparticle assembly (NPA), so enabling a nanotheranostic multimodal antimicrobial therapy, wherein the metal core being made of silver, gold, iron or a mixture of silver and gold.

Abstract: A process for the production of biogas from biodegradable material is disclosed, the process comprising the steps of: (a) adding the biodegradable material to the reactor; (b) inoculating a microorganism; (c) adding a colloidal solution of surface-modified iron oxide nanoparticles to the reactor; (d) providing anaerobic conditions; (e) carrying out an anaerobic digestion; and (f) collecting the biogas; wherein the steps (a), (b) and (c) can be carried out in any order.

Abstract: The present invention relates to conjugates of formula (I) having colloidal stability in a medium, wherein NP is a gold, silver or platinum nanoparticle; L is a linker selected from the group consisting of formula (II), formula (III), and a stereoisomer of any of the formulas (II) and (III), which is attached to the nanoparticle NP through sulfur atoms; wherein the meanings of X, n, p, Y and s are further specified in the description; and A is a platinum (II) biradical selected from the group consisting of formula (IV), formula (V) and formula (VI) including any of the stereoisomers of all of them, wherein the biradical is optionally in the form of a salt and is attached to the linker L through the single bonded oxygen atoms of the carboxyl groups. It also relates to a process for the preparation of the conjugates of formula (I) and to pharmaceutical compositions containing them. The conjugates of the invention are used for the treatment of cancer.

Abstract: A system for decoding barcodes, by having an integrated hardware and software solution for reading and decoding of barcode using portable devices that have a camera.

Abstract: A process for the production of biogas from biodegradable material is disclosed, the process comprising the steps of: (a) adding the biodegradable material to the reactor; (b) inoculating a microorganisms; (c) adding a colloidal solution of surface-modified iron oxide nanoparticles to the reactor; (d) providing anaerobic conditions; (e) carrying out an anaerobic digestion; and (f) collecting the biogas; wherein the steps (a), (b) and (c) can be carried out in any order.

Abstract: A method for automatic food recognition by using portable devices equipped with digital cameras. With this system, it is possible to identify a previously established food menu. To this purpose, a semi-automated method of segmentation is applied to delineate the regions in which each type of food in an image of a plate of food, captured by a user. Pattern recognition techniques are used in images, integrated into a system whose goal is to label each type of food contained in the photo of a plate of food. No type of preprocessing is performed to correct deficiencies in capturing the image, just using the auto-focus component present in the portable device to capture a clear image.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for automatic food recognition by means of portable devices equipped with digital cameras. With this system, it is possible to identify a previously established food menu. To this purpose, a semi-automated method of segmentation is applied to delineate the regions in which each type of food in an image of a plate of food, captured by a user. Pattern recognition techniques are used in images, integrated into a system whose goal is to label each type of food contained in the photo of a plate of food. No type of preprocessing is performed to correct deficiencies in capturing the image, just using the auto-focus component present in the portable device to capture a clear image.

Abstract: The present invention relates to conjugates of formula (I) having colloidal stability in a medium, wherein NP is a gold, silver or platinum nanoparticle; L is a linker selected from the group consisting of formula (II), formula (III), and a stereoisomer of any of the formulas (II) and (III), which is attached to the nanoparticle NP through sulfur atoms; wherein the meanings of X, n, p, Y and s are further specified in the description; and A is a platinum (II) biradical selected from the group consisting of formula (IV), formula (V) and formula (VI) including any of the stereoisomers of all of them, wherein the biradical is optionally in the form of a salt and is attached to the linker L through the single bonded oxygen atoms of the carboxyl groups. It also relates to a process for the preparation of the conjugates of formula (I) and to pharmaceutical compositions containing them. The conjugates of the invention are used for the treatment of cancer.

Abstract: A system for decoding barcodes, by having an integrated hardware and software solution for reading and decoding of barcode using portable devices that have a camera.

Abstract: A double fluke security sealing ring for use in polyphase and single phase watt-hour meter includes a series of elements such as, a ring-type circular band made of stainless steel that has, at one end, annular rims folded at 90° along itself and two slotted flanges also folded at 90° forming the double fluke, and at the other end, two parallel and equidistant slots. It is not possible to revert the hooking action and effect once the sealing wire is installed due to the reduced internal space within the two flange slots. Therefore, the security sealing ring is red-flagged when the security sealing ring has been violated with the intention of manually moving the record pointers in order to alter the meter consumption lecture.

Abstract: A double fluke security sealing ring is protected, which is novel due to the simplicity of its locking device to be used in polyphase and single phase watt-hour meters, consisting of a series of elements such as, a ring-type circular band made of stainless steel, which presents, at one end, annular rims folded at 90° along itself; and two slotted flanges also folded at 90°, forming the double fluke; and at the other end, two parallel and equidistant slots. It is not possible to revert said hooking action and effect, once the sealing wire is placed, due to the reduced internal space within the two flange slots. Therefore it is red-flagged, when the security sealing ring has been violated with the intention of manually moving the record pointers in order to alter the meter consumption lecture.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are disclosed to enable a public switching network to limit the geographical calling area of calls charged to a credit card. When a credit card call is originated, the called party number is included as part of the credit card validation request. The called party number is compared against numbers stored in a call restriction table previously entered by the owner of the credit card. The network accepts or denies credit card calls as a result of this comparison.