Abstract: A composting system including a vertically-orientated vessel with mechanisms attached to a vertically oriented central mounted rotating shaft, including rotatable size reduction blade(s), agitation mechanism(s), and discharge blade/mechanism(s). The composting system includes internal size reduction mechanism for reducing the size of material introduced to the vessel. The composting system includes a loading hatch, a discharge hatch, and a source of air to maintain aerobic conditions within the vessel. In use, material introduced moves from the upper region of the vessel gravitationally and via agitation through a zone of size reduction to the lower region of the vessel. Process conditions within the vessel are controlled by an operator and via electronic control mechanism, which can monitor operating conditions such as temperature and loading rate (for example), to manage air injection, mechanical agitation and size reduction such that composting proceeds efficiently and at an optimal rate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for production of a multi-layer analysis element for liquid samples, with at least one test field for the analysis of the liquid samples, in which method an analysis element blank composed of at least two superposed material layers is made available. The multi-layer analysis element or a constituent part of the multi-layer analysis element is cut out from the analysis element blank by means of laser radiation. The laser radiation cuts through different material layers in at least two areas and has a laser power which is effective for the cutting and which is varied as a function of the thickness and the material of the different material layers to be cut in the areas.

Abstract: The invention relates to a test element for the testing of a liquid sample. The test element includes a sample application area, a test field, a sample transport path extending between the sample application area and the test field and an actuator field including an electrically-conductive layer. The actuator field is switchable between a first state attracting the sample and a second state attracting the sample less by applying to the conductive layer an electric voltage that is different from an earth potential. The actuator field has a section that is arranged at about the same distance from the sample application area as the test field, measured along the sample transport path. Such that, a wetting of the test field by the sample can be controlled by applying a voltage to the actuator field.

Abstract: A lancet device for generating a puncture wound in a skin surface, comprising a housing, in which a lancet can be moved on a puncturing path, a lancet drive with a drive rotor that can be driven by a drive spring, a lancet coupling mechanism that transforms a rotational motion of the drive rotor into a puncturing and returning motion of the lancet during a working cycle of the lancet drive, a reference element that is mobile relative to the lancet and relative to the housing and is fixed in a defined position relative to the lancet drive during the puncturing and rests against the surface of the skin with a contact surface thereof such that a puncture wound with a reproducible puncturing depth is generated by the puncturing motion, and a reference element coupling mechanism that is coupled to the lancet drive in order to move the reference element. The invention further relates to a suitable lancet drive assembly for a lancet device of this type.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and a device for piercing a body part and determining whether a sufficient volume of blood has been withdrawn. A lancing element is rapidly inserted into a body part in a forward phase and retracted quickly to a lesser puncturing depth. Subsequently, the lancing element is retracted slower than during the first retraction movement and the distance retracted during the second retraction is shorter than the first retraction movement. During the second retraction movement, body fluid is collected in a collection phase by a capillary structure of the lancing element. Contact between the lancing element and the body fluid is detected after the forward phase at the beginning and the end of a waiting period.

Abstract: A method for synthesizing a chalcogenide nanoparticle is provided. The method comprises reacting a metal component with an elemental chalcogen precursor in the presence of an organic solvent. The chalcogenide nanoparticles include ternary, binary and/or multinary chalcogenide nanoparticles and the metal component comprises metal halides or elemental metal precursors. The alkylamine solvent has a normal boiling temperature of above about 220° C. and an average particle size of from about 5 nm to about 1000 nm.

Abstract: A method and system for the operation of trains on a rail network, and particularly in the context of long-haul rail networks. The invention provides a method and system which monitors the progress of a train on a long-haul network, calculates efficient control profiles for the train, and displays driving advice to the train crew. The system calculates and provides driving advice that assists to keep the train on time and reduce the energy used by the train by: (i) monitoring the progress of a journey to determine the current location and speed of the train; (ii) estimating some parameters of a train performance model; (iii) calculating or selecting an energy-efficient driving strategy that will get the train to the next key location as close as possible to the desired time; and (iv) generating and providing driving advice for the driver.

Abstract: The invention concerns test elements, in particular diagnostic test elements, for determining the presence or concentration of biological, medical or biologically or medically effective substances including nucleic acids, proteins, viruses, microorganisms and cells, characterized in that these test elements contain nanofibers.

Abstract: The invention relates to an analysis system for analysing a sample on an analytical test element. The analysis system comprises a measuring module for carrying out measurements on the sample on the analytical test element and an optical module which comprises a lens and a diaphragm by which the light can be focused. The lens and the diaphragm of the optical module are combined as one piece in a multi-component injection-molded part.

Abstract: The invention concerns an array and a method for dosing a hormone regulating the blood glucose, especially insulin, of a diabetic patient.

Abstract: The invention relates to a portable hand-held analytical device for analysis of a medically significant component of a sample, the device including a housing having a loading opening for receiving a replaceable drum cartridge containing analytical consumables, whereby the housing comprises on an outer side a dispensing opening through which the consumables can be pushed by means of a removal facility. The device includes a loading opening which is closeable by means of a lid, which upon closing effects a linear motion of a pushing part which moves the drum cartridge to a working position, in which it can be rotated about its geometric longitudinal axis.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and products related to carbodithioate ligands bonded to surfaces. The invention is further directed to molecular and biomolecular sensing methods based on analyte recognition by carbodithioate ligands bonded to surfaces.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ignition system for a pulse fog generator having a carburetor, a pump for pumping air into the carburetor, and a priming pump for directing a quantity of fuel into the carburetor. The ignition system includes an igniter operable on low voltage, a switch for activating and deactivating the igniter, and a grounding connection for grounding the igniter to the carburetor. The grounding connection for grounding the igniter can include an igniter bracket and a ground wire assembly which couples to the igniter and to a location substantially near a sparkplug of the pulse fog generator.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed towards the field of lancing aids in which disposable lancet systems are used. The lancet system according to the invention has a needle body which surrounds the needle tip in a lancet system in a protective manner and also comprises a protection against re-use of an ejected lancet system.

Abstract: A puncturing device for generating a puncture wound to sample a body fluid is provided and comprises a press-on part or contact element to be pressed against a body part to generate a puncture, a test sensor for measuring a test parameter value, and an analytical unit for determining whether the value of the measured test parameter satisfies a predefined minimum requirement for successful sampling. In one embodiment, the value of the test parameter is monitored during a waiting period by the test sensor once the value satisfies the predefined minimum requirement. After the waiting period has elapsed, so long as the values of the test parameter monitored during the waiting period are in a range of values that predicts sampling to be successful, the analytical unit initiates a puncture.

Abstract: An analytical test element for determining an analyte in a body fluid comprises a detection area in which the analyte is detected and an application site at which the body fluid can be applied to the test element. The application site is spaced apart from the detection area, wherein at least some of the body fluid applied to the application site moves from the application site to the detection area. The test element also comprises a contamination area which at least partially adjoins the application site, wherein an adhesive substance is applied to at least part of the contamination area of the test element. The adhesive substance adheres to the contamination area of the test element and is able to interact with an excess amount of applied body fluid such that at least some of the body fluid adheres to the test element and thereby an excess amount of body fluid remains in the contamination area. An additional embodiment provides for test elements which, after use, can be stored in a storage container.

Abstract: The present invention provides a portable blood sugar measuring device comprising a tape unit for winding a test tape forward in sections, a detection unit for detecting measured values on the sections of tape to which body fluid has been applied, and a housing to hold the tape unit and detection unit. The tape unit and/or the detection unit can be deflected relative to the housing (10) from an operating position against a flexible restoring element (18) when subjected to a shock load. Also disclosed is a novel cover having open and closed positions. The cover is positioned at an opening of the housing through which the receiving site of the tape unit protrudes. The cover thus protects the receiving site from external effects when the cover is in the closed position. Similarly, the receiving site is accessible to apply body fluid thereto when the cover is in the open position.

Abstract: Method of protecting host application code comprising a plurality of code blocks. The method includes steps of preprocessing the host application code; obfuscating the host application code; installing guards in the host application code to protect client blocks; randomly rearranging the code blocks of the host application code; linking the rearranged host application code with other resources to produce a binary executable image; and patching the binary executable image with data values to be used by the guard. The method can be used to install a plurality of guards to form a distributed network of guards that cooperatively protect the host application code and the other guards in the network. The installation of the guards can be performed automatically using a guard formation graph; and guard formation graph customization parameters. The obfuscation step can include control flow graph merging, cloning, and data-aliasing.

Abstract: A boat including a having a first side, a second side, a bottom coupled to the first side and the second side. Each of the first and second sides and bottom can include a plurality of hollow beams welded along seams to form a double hulled boat.