Abstract: A floor nozzle apparatus is provided, including a receiving chamber having a receiving space, at least one cleaning roller arranged in the receiving space and rotatable about an axis of rotation, and a suction connector on which a suction stream acts during operation, wherein there is arranged between the receiving space and the suction connector a funnel-shaped duct device opening into the receiving space by an orifice and connecting to the suction connector or including the suction connector, and wherein the orifice has a width, in a direction of width parallel to the axis of rotation, having at least one of the following: (i) the width of the orifice is at least 30% of a width of the receiving space in the direction of width; (ii) the width of the orifice is at least three times a width of an opening in the suction connector in the direction of width.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions useful in the diagnosis and management of autoimmune diseases. In particular, the present invention provides improved methods and compositions for the diagnosis and management of Graves' disease. The methods of the present invention not only avoids the need for radioactivity and are much simpler, economical, and rapid than methods traditionally used for the diagnosis of Graves' disease, but also improve upon the sensitivity and detection abilities of previous luciferase-based autoantibody detection assays. Such improvements are based upon the superior performance of assays comprising a chimeric TSH receptor in the presence of a glucocorticoid including, but not limited to, dexamethasone.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions useful in the diagnosis and management of autoimmune diseases. In particular, the present invention provides improved methods and compositions for the diagnosis and management of Graves' disease. The methods of the present invention not only avoids the need for radioactivity and are much simpler, economical, and rapid than methods traditionally used for the diagnosis of Graves' disease, but also improve upon the sensitivity and detection abilities of previous luciferase-based autoantibody detection assays. Such improvements are based upon the superior performance of assays comprising a chimeric TSH receptor in the presence of a glucocorticoid including, but not limited to, dexamethasone.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions useful in the diagnosis and management of autoimmune diseases. In particular, the present invention provides improved methods and compositions for the diagnosis and management of Graves' disease. The methods of the present invention not only avoids the need for radioactivity and are much simpler, economical, and rapid than methods traditionally used for the diagnosis of Graves' disease, but also improve upon the sensitivity and detection abilities of previous luciferase-based autoantibody detection assays. Such improvements are based upon the superior performance of assays comprising a chimeric TSH receptor in the presence of a glucocorticoid including, but not limited to, dexamethasone.

Abstract: The invention provides antibodies, and antigen-binding fragments thereof, that specifically bind to 3-hydroxycotinine (3HC). The invention also provides compositions containing these antibodies and fragments thereof, and to their use in diagnostic and therapeutic applications for diseases involving nicotine activity (e.g., smoking and/or smokeless tobacco use).

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions useful in the diagnosis and management of autoimmune diseases. In particular, the present invention provides improved methods and compositions for the diagnosis and management of Graves' disease. The methods of the present invention not only avoids the need for radioactivity and are much simpler, economical, and rapid than methods traditionally used for the diagnosis of Graves' disease, but also improve upon the sensitivity and detection abilities of previous luciferase-based autoantibody detection assays. Such improvements are based upon the superior performance of assays comprising a chimeric TSH receptor in the presence of a glucocorticoid including, but not limited to, dexamethasone.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to the field of diagnostic microbiology, and, more particularly; to compositions and methods for detecting and differentiating one or more viruses or other intracellular parasites present in a specimen. The present invention also provides compositions and methods to evaluate the susceptibility of organisms to antimicrobial agents.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods for detecting the presence of SARS-coronavirus, for screening anti-SARS coronavirus agents and vaccines, and for reducing infection with plus-strand RNA viruses such as SARS-coronavirus.

Abstract: A vision system (10) for a vehicle (14) includes a light source (46) that generates an illumination beam (20). A receiver (62) generates a first image signal and a second image signal. The first image signal is generated in response to a reflected portion of the illumination beam (20). A controller is coupled to the light source (46) and the receiver (62). The controller generates an image in response to the first image signal and the second image signal.

Abstract: A method for assessing noise generated during combustion in an internal combustion engine, such method comprising determining a noise index by processing a signal generated in a cylinder of such engine in accordance with a shift invariant wavelet transform.