Abstract: Methods and systems for measuring and using the oxidation-reduction characteristics of a biological sample are provided. The system generally includes a test strip and a readout device. A fluid sample is placed in the test strip, and the test strip is in turn operatively connected to the readout device. The readout device provides a controlled current that is sent across the fluid in the sample chamber. In addition, the readout device identifies an inflection point or transition time at which the voltage between contacts of the test strip is changing at the highest rate. The oxidation-reduction capacity of the sample is taken as the integral of the current profile from the time at which current begins to be supplied to the sample to the identified transition time.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of inhibiting vascular hyperpermeability in an animal in need thereof. The method comprises administering a vascular-hyperpermeability-inhibiting amount of a danazol compound to the animal. The method comprises administering an effective amount of a danazol compound to the animal accounting for the body fat content of the animal. The invention also provides a method of modulating the cytoskeleton of an endothelial cell in an animal.

Abstract: The invention relates to food animal care and husbandry. Disclosed is a novel method of evaluating the production characteristics of a food animal or group of food animals, is provided. More specifically, the invention relates to a method of determining the overall oxidative status of a sample taken from a food animal by measuring the oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) of the sample. The measured ORP value of the sample is then used to review the animal's environment and, if necessary, adjust the environment of the animal. In order to improve the production characteristics of food products from the animal. Also provided is a method of using the ORP value of a food product to determine production characteristics of the food product.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and storage medium associated with providing enhanced privacy during usage of computer vision are disclosed. In embodiments, an apparatus may include one or more privacy indicators to indicate one or more privacy conditions of the apparatus in association with provision of computer vision on the apparatus. The apparatus may further include a privacy engine coupled with the one or more privacy indicators, and configured to pre-process images from an image source of the apparatus associated with the provision of computer vision to the apparatus, to increase privacy for a user of the apparatus, and to control the one or more privacy indicators. In embodiments, the apparatus may include means for blanking out one or more pixels with depth values identified as greater than a threshold. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of treating a joint condition. The method comprises administering a multi-dose regimen of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a diketopiperazine with amino acid side chains of aspartic acid and alanine (DA-DKP). The invention also provides a method of treating osteoarthritis with multiple doses of a low-molecular weight fraction of human serum albumin.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of treating T-cell mediated diseases and a method of inhibiting the activation of T-cells using certain diketopiperazines. The invention also provides methods of synthesizing diketopiperazines and pharmaceutical compositions comprising certain diketopiperazines. The invention further provides methods of making improved pharmaceutical compositions of proteins and peptides by either increasing or decreasing the content of diketopiperazines in the compositions and the resultant improved pharmaceutical compositions.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of inhibiting vascular hyperpermeability in an animal in need thereof. The method comprises administering a vascular-hyperpermeability-inhibiting amount of a danazol compound to the animal. The invention also provides a method of modulating the cytoskeleton of an endothelial cell in an animal. The method comprises administering an effective amount of a danazol compound to the animal.

Abstract: Methods of making increased amounts of diketopiperazines (DKP) such as DA-DKP in pharmaceutical compositions of proteins and peptides are disclosed. The disclosure further provides methods of making a DKP, including (1) contacting albumin with an enzyme (such as a dipeptidyl peptidase N (DPP-IV)) that cleaves a pair of N-terminal amino acids from the albumin, and (2 heating the albumin under conditions effective to cause the formation of the DKP. Further, treatment of DKP- and albumin-containing streams to produce improved, higher value, DKP compositions and purified albumin compositions for therapeutic uses is also disclosed. In addition to a first therapeutic DKP composition comprising a low albumin content, a second valuable therapeutic composition is also produced characterized by a high albumin concentration.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and storage medium associated with providing enhanced privacy during usage of computer vision are disclosed. In embodiments, an apparatus may include one or more privacy indicators to indicate one or more privacy conditions of the apparatus in association with provision of computer vision on the apparatus. The apparatus may further include a privacy engine coupled with the one or more privacy indicators, and configured to pre-process images from an image source of the apparatus associated with the provision of computer vision to the apparatus, to increase privacy for a user of the apparatus, and to control the one or more privacy indicators. In embodiments, the apparatus may include means for blanking out one or more pixels with depth values identified as greater than a threshold. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of treating a degenerative joint disease. The method comprises administering an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a diketopiperazine with amino acid side chains of aspartic acid and alanine (DA-DKP). The invention also provides a pharmaceutical product as well as a kit comprising DA-DKP.

Abstract: A lossless call may be established over a wireless radio network by determining, at a target subscriber device during a received call, that one or more identified media items in a stream of media items of the call being received over a first radio channel was not successfully received, and responsively: continuing to receive first subsequent media items of the call and buffering, instead of rendering at the target subscriber device, the first subsequent media items, requesting the identified media items, receiving by the target subscriber device via an established second radio channel, different from the first radio channel, the identified media items, re-ordering the identified media items chronologically with respect to the buffered first subsequent media items to create the re-ordered subsequent media stream, and rendering, by the target subscriber device, the re-ordered subsequent media stream at a first increased relative rate.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for reducing noise by using a depth map is disclosed herein. The method includes detecting a plurality of audio signals. The method includes obtaining depth information and image information and creating a depth map. The method further includes determining a primary audio source from a number of audio sources in the depth map. The method also includes removing noise from the audio signals originating from the primary audio source.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing a powder adhesive for attaching a veneer comprising the steps of: (a) providing expanded perlite; (b) providing cement; (c) providing a dispersible polymer powder; and (d) mixing said expanded perlite, said cement, and said dispersible polymer powder, for creating said adhesive for attaching stone veneer.

Abstract: Methods and systems for measuring the oxidation-reduction potential of a fluid sample are provided. The system includes a test strip with a sample chamber adapted to receive a fluid sample. The sample chamber can be associated with a filter membrane. The test strip also includes a reference cell. The oxidation-reduction potential of a fluid sample placed in the sample chamber can be read by a readout device interconnected to a test lead that is in electrical contact with the sample chamber, and a reference lead that is in electrical contact with the reference cell. Electrical contact between a fluid sample placed in the sample chamber and the reference cell can be established by a bridge. The bridge may comprise filter element such as a piece of filter paper that is wetted, for example by the fluid sample, or an electrolytic gel. The oxidation-reduction potential may be read as an electrical potential between the test lead and the reference lead of the test strip.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of determining the overall oxidative status of a body fluid or a tissue of a patient by measuring the oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) of the body fluid or tissue. The method has been found to be useful in the diagnosis, evaluation and monitoring of patients who have suffered a trauma (such as a head injury), patients suspected of being critically-ill, patients who have a viral infection, and patients suspected of having a myocardial infarction. The method has also been found useful in monitoring and evaluating exercise performance in patients. In addition, the method has been found useful in monitoring and evaluating stored blood products and patients who will receive such a product.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of treating a degenerative joint disease. The method comprises administering an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a diketopiperazine with amino acid side chains of aspartic acid and alanine (DA-DKP). The invention also provides a pharmaceutical product as well as a kit comprising DA-DKP.

Abstract: Methods and systems for measuring the oxidation-reduction potential of a fluid sample are provided. The system includes a test strip with a sample chamber adapted to receive a fluid sample. The sample chamber can be associated with a filter membrane. The test strip also includes a reference cell. The oxidation-reduction potential of a fluid sample placed in the sample chamber can be read by a readout device interconnected to a test lead that is in electrical contact with the sample chamber, and a reference lead that is in electrical contact with the reference cell. Electrical contact between a fluid sample placed in the sample chamber and the reference cell can be established by a bridge. The oxidation-reduction potential may be read as an electrical potential between the test lead and the reference lead of the test strip.

Abstract: The invention provides (i) a method of treating metabolic syndrome in an animal, (ii) a method of suppressing the appetite of an animal, (iii) a method of treating obesity in an animal, (iv) a method of reducing the weight of an animal in need thereof, (v) a method of reducing a blood lipid level in an animal in need thereof, (vi) a method of treating non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in an animal, and (vii) a method of inhibiting adipogenesis. The methods comprise administering an effective amount of an active ingredient, wherein the active ingredient comprises a diketopiperazine, a prodrug of a diketopiperazine or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt of either of them to the animal. The invention also provides a kit comprising a container holding a diketopiperazine, a prodrug of a diketopiperazine or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt of either of them; and instructions for administration. The diketopiperazines have the formula given in the application.

Abstract: A lossless call may be established over a wireless radio network by determining, at a target subscriber device during a received call, that one or more identified media items in a stream of media items of the call being received over a first radio channel was not successfully received, and responsively: continuing to receive first subsequent media items of the call and buffering, instead of rendering at the target subscriber device, the first subsequent media items, requesting the identified media items, receiving by the target subscriber device via an established second radio channel, different from the first radio channel, the identified media items, re-ordering the identified media items chronologically with respect to the buffered first subsequent media items to create the re-ordered subsequent media stream, and rendering, by the target subscriber device, the re-ordered subsequent media stream at a first increased relative rate.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of treating a degenerative joint disease. The method comprises administering an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a diketopiperazine with amino acid side chains of aspartic acid and alanine (DA-DKP). The invention also provides a pharmaceutical product as well as a kit comprising DA-DKP.