Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the diagnosis and/or risk stratification of invasive fungal infections (IFI)/invasive fungal diseases (IFD) and in particular associated with sepsis or septic shock, wherein a determination of the marker proadrenomedullin (proADM) or a partial peptide or fragment thereof, in particular midregional proadrenomedullin (MR-proADM), or contained in a marker combination (panel, cluster), is carried out from a patient to be examined. Furthermore, the invention relates to a diagnostic assay and a kit for carrying out the method.

Abstract: Aspects involve estimating transitions in properties of a concrete mixture prior to batching and during transport of the mixture from a first location, such as a concrete batch plant, to a second location, such as a job site and controlling a mixture of ingredients for concrete in response. A tool may execute a method for estimating an initial temperature at batching and a change in temperature of the concrete mixture during transport due to the exothermic reaction of the mixture, percentages and types of ingredients of the mixture, and/or environmental factors along a transit route. A control system at the concrete batching plant may control one or more components of the concrete batch plant in response to the estimated temperature change, such as a dispenser of an ingredient of the mixture and/or a heating or cooling mechanism to adjust the temperature of an ingredient of the concrete mixture.

Abstract: Aspects involve estimating transitions in properties of a concrete mixture prior to batching and during transport of the mixture from a first location, such as a concrete batch plant, to a second location, such as a job site and controlling a mixture of ingredients for concrete in response. A tool may execute a method for estimating an initial temperature at batching and a change in temperature of the concrete mixture during transport due to the exothermic reaction of the mixture, percentages and types of ingredients of the mixture, and/or environmental factors along a transit route. A control system at the concrete batching plant may control one or more components of the concrete batch plant in response to the estimated temperature change, such as a dispenser of an ingredient of the mixture and/or a heating or cooling mechanism to adjust the temperature of an ingredient of the concrete mixture.

Abstract: Aspects involve an aggregate plow system that may be used in a system for cooling aggregate, such as may be found in a batch plant involved in producing concrete. The plow system generally contacts aggregate as it is conveyed by a conveyor belt to create a furrow within the aggregate prior to dispensing of liquid nitrogen or other coolant onto the aggregate. Additionally, the plow assembly may mix the ingredients of the aggregate on the belt by disputing the aggregate piled on the conveyor belt. The formation of the furrow, in place of a mound of aggregate on the belt, aids in retaining liquid nitrogen in the furrow such that it may better penetrate into the aggregate and thereby improving cooling. In either and both ways, the plow assembly improves dispersion of the coolant on and into the aggregate as it is conveyed by the conveyor belt.

Abstract: Data processing jobs are concentrated into instances of computing environments which instances are added to guarantee availability, while other instances may become idle and removed. Such data processing jobs are each assigned to a program running on (at least) one processor, while at the same time running such jobs in the smallest practical number of Virtual Computing Environments, while also ensuring sufficient Virtual Computing Environments are on standby for new jobs as they arise, while facilitating maintenance functions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to diagnosis, prognosis, risk assessment, and/or risk stratification of an adverse event, particularly mortality, of a subject. The invention relates to a method that comprises determining a level of proadrenomedullin (proADM) in a sample of said subject, and wherein said level of proADM is indicative of said adverse event of said subject, wherein said level of proADM is compared to a reference level of proADM; and wherein said adverse event of said subject is identified based on the comparison. The invention further relates to kits for carrying out the methods of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to diagnosis, prognosis, risk assessment, and/or risk stratification of an adverse event, particularly mortality, of a subject. The invention relates to a method that comprises determining a level of proadrenomedullin (proADM) in a sample of said subject, and wherein said level of proADM is indicative of said adverse event of said subject, wherein said level of proADM is compared to a reference level of proADM; and wherein said adverse event of said subject is identified based on the comparison. The invention further relates to kits for carrying out the methods of the invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the diagnosis and/or risk stratification of invasive fungal infections (IFI)/invasive fungal diseases (IFD) and in particular associated with sepsis or septic shock, wherein a determination of the marker proadrenomedullin (proADM) or a partial peptide or fragment thereof, in particular midregional proadrenomedullin (MR-proADM), or contained in a marker combination (panel, cluster), is carried out from a patient to be examined. Furthermore, the invention relates to a diagnostic assay and a kit for carrying out the method.

Abstract: A cigarette ash catching assembly a housing that has a first end, a second end, and a perimeter wall extending between the first and second ends. The first end has a well extending therein. The well extends toward and is spaced from the second end such that the second end forms a closed wall. The well defines a cigarette receiving space. The housing is comprised of a mesh material such that air can freely flow through the perimeter wall and into the well. A mouth piece is removably attachable to the first end and is in fluid communication with the housing. A cigarette is positionable in the well such that smoke may be drawn from the cigarette and through the mouth piece wherein ashes from the cigarette are retained within the housing.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for controlling a simulated object in a video game using a rotatable reticle, which allows a player to control the precise angle of an action and to select from a variety of actions, and then adjusts the effectiveness of the selected action based on the quality of the player's use of the reticle. The Video Game Reticle invention comprises a method of generating a symbol comprising a pivot point and a directional pointer, wherein the symbol acts as a dial with directional keys. A left rotational direction control key causes the dial to swing left, and a right rotational direction control key causes the dial to swing right. One or more action keys allow a player to activate an action, once the player decides on the angle of the action; wherein the relative effectiveness of the action is determined by the angle selected by the player.

Abstract: The present invention relates to diagnosis, prognosis, risk assessment, and/or risk stratification of an adverse event, particularly mortality, of a subject. The invention relates to a method that comprises determining a level of proadrenomedullin (proADM) in a sample of said subject, and wherein said level of proADM is indicative of said adverse event of said subject, wherein said level of proADM is compared to a reference level of proADM; and wherein said adverse event of said subject is identified based on the comparison. The invention further relates to kits for carrying out the methods of the invention.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for controlling a simulated object in a video game using a rotatable reticle, which allows a player to control the precise angle of an action and to select from a variety of actions, and then adjusts the effectiveness of the selected action based on the quality of the player's use of the reticle. The Video Game Reticle invention comprises a method of generating a symbol comprising a pivot point and a directional pointer, wherein the symbol acts as a dial with directional keys. A left rotational direction control key causes the dial to swing left, and a right rotational direction control key causes the dial to swing right. One or more action keys allow a player to activate an action, once the player decides on the angle of the action; wherein the relative effectiveness of the action is determined by the angle selected by the player.

Abstract: A method and device for local delivery of a water-insoluble therapeutic agent to the tissue of a normal or diseased body lumen is disclosed. An expandable structure of a medical disposable device, such as a balloon of a balloon catheter, is coated with a non-durable coating which includes an amphiphilic polymer or copolymer, in embodiments polyethylene glycol, having a substantially water-insoluble therapeutic agent dispersed therein. In some embodiments, the coating may also include iodine. The medical disposable device is inserted into a body lumen, and expanded to contact the non-durable coating against the body lumen and deliver the substantially water-insoluble therapeutic agent to the body lumen tissue.

Abstract: A composite document is scanned for the existence of fields or placeholders or other information input areas, so that their disposition within the composite document and other properties, are collated. Object placeholders (which might be a rectangle object for example) may then replace fields or placeholders or information input areas within in the document. This is to suitably create “whitespace” for an equivalent appropriate field, control or widget to be rendered in that space such as in a Web presentation. After this, the composite document is rasterised to create one or more pixmap pages. The pixmaps are then sent to a user device via a computer network for display in a program such as a Web browser, along with any properties relating to the fields, placeholders or other information input areas that were detected in the composite document.

Abstract: A targeted method for providing coupons and samples to consumers, that provides extensive feedback to manufacturers, identifies consumers that represent a desired demographic profile, enables a convenient consumer couponing experience, controls and contains fraud through the use of expiration methods and location data.

Abstract: A method and device for local delivery of a water-insoluble therapeutic agent to the tissue of a normal or diseased body lumen is disclosed. An expandable structure of a medical disposable device, such as a balloon of a balloon catheter, is coated with a non-durable coating which includes an amphiphilic polymer or copolymer, in embodiments polyethylene glycol, having a substantially water-insoluble therapeutic agent dispersed therein. In some embodiments, the coating may also include iodine. The medical disposable device is inserted into a body lumen, and expanded to contact the non-durable coating against the body lumen and deliver the substantially water-insoluble therapeutic agent to the body lumen tissue.

Abstract: A computer acting as display device can present pixmap screen page image(s), and with end-user input, can act on associated interaction(s) area(s) specification(s); with the screen page image(s) and associated interaction(s) area(s) specification(s) created automatically from electronic document processing on another computer; such other computer paginating the documents for information viewing area(s) on such display device(s), record interaction(s) area(s) data corresponding with styled hypertext or interactive graphical elements within the electronic document, rasterising these document page(s) into screen page image pixmap(s), and compile interaction(s) area(s) data into persistent interaction(s) area(s) specification(s), together for communication to the display device. References to content elements in document pages can be associated with screen page images to allow end-users find information.

Abstract: A targeted method for providing coupons and samples to consumers, that provides extensive feedback to manufacturers, identifies consumers that represent a desired demographic profile, enables a convenient consumer couponing experience, controls and contains fraud through the use of expiration methods and location data.

Abstract: Data processing jobs are concentrated into instances of computing environments which instances are added to guarantee availability, while other instances may become idle and removed. Such data processing jobs are each assigned to a program running on (at least) one processor, while at the same time running such jobs in the smallest practical number of Virtual Computing Environments, while also ensuring sufficient Virtual Computing Environments are on standby for new jobs as they arise, while facilitating maintenance functions.

Abstract: A method and device for local delivery of a water-insoluble therapeutic agent to the tissue of a normal or diseased body lumen is disclosed. An expandable structure of a medical disposable device, such as a balloon of a balloon catheter, is coated with a non-durable coating which includes an amphiphilic polymer or copolymer, in embodiments polyethylene glycol, having a substantially water-insoluble therapeutic agent dispersed therein. In some embodiments, the coating may also include iodine. The medical disposable device is inserted into a body lumen, and expanded to contact the non-durable coating against the body lumen and deliver the substantially water-insoluble therapeutic agent to the body lumen tissue.