Abstract: Methods and apparatus for improved microbial sampling of foods and sample treatment are provided herein. Such methods may include sampling production lots of produce or other food items such as meat using an aggregating sampler to create one or more samples. Methods and devices that improve concentration of the fluid sample obtained from the aggregate sample include filtering of fluid sample through a filter and/or filter aid materials and lysing target material trapped within the filter and/or filter aid materials to release molecules from targeted microorganisms, which are recovered in a concentrated fluid sample for testing. Sample treatment systems and methods can be automated with various buffer reservoirs and removable cartridges that facilitate controlled flow of fluid sample therethrough to produce a purified, concentrated fluid sample, typically within two hours or less. Such systems can further be configured with removable cartridges and use with sample filter cups and collection cups.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a switching DC-DC converter with a first half-bridge circuit including a first switch and a second switch, with a second half-bridge circuit including a third switch and a fourth switch and with an inductance connected between the center taps of the first and the second half-bridge circuit includes, according to embodiments, a control unit that is configured to adapt, in dependence on an input voltage and an output voltage at the switching DC-DC converter, a switching frequency of the switches of the DC-DC converter, the duty cycles of the first and fourth switch and the time delay between switching on the first and the fourth switch. The control unit is configured to determine the switching frequency, the first duty cycle, the second duty cycle and the time delay based on an output current of the switching DC-DC converter.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a switching DC-DC converter with a first half-bridge circuit including a first switch and a second switch, with a second half-bridge circuit including a third switch and a fourth switch and with an inductance connected between the center taps of the first and the second half-bridge circuit includes, according to embodiments, a control unit that is configured to adapt, in dependence on an input voltage and an output voltage at the switching DC-DC converter, a switching frequency of the switches of the DC-DC converter, the duty cycles of the first and fourth switch and the time delay between switching on the first and the fourth switch. The control unit is configured to determine the switching frequency, the first duty cycle, the second duty cycle and the time delay based on an output current of the switching DC-DC converter.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a DC-DC converter having a first DC voltage gate, a second DC voltage gate and a storage choke. The storage choke is coupled between the first DC voltage gate and the second DC voltage gate by means of electric switching elements. The DC-DC converter is configured such that a direction of a current flow through the storage choke is inverted at least once during a switching period of the electric switching elements. Further, the DC-DC converter is configured to track or readjust a switching frequency of the electric switching elements in case of a change of operating parameters of the DC-DC converter such that a change of direction of the current flow through the storage choke during a switching period of the electric switching elements is ensured.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a DC-DC converter having a first DC voltage gate, a second DC voltage gate and a storage choke. The storage choke is coupled between the first DC voltage gate and the second DC voltage gate by means of electric switching elements. The DC-DC converter is configured such that a direction of a current flow through the storage choke is inverted at least once during a switching period of the electric switching elements. Further, the DC-DC converter is configured to track or readjust a switching frequency of the electric switching elements in case of a change of operating parameters of the DC-DC converter such that a change of direction of the current flow through the storage choke during a switching period of the electric switching elements is ensured.

Abstract: An electrical energy supply system (12) comprises an input rectifier (14) for rectifying an input voltage into a DC voltage, an inverter (18) with semiconductor switches for generating an AC output voltage from the DC voltage and a controller (24) for switching the switches of the inverter (18). The inverter (18) is adapted for generating a 5-level AC output voltage. The controller (18) is adapted to switch the semiconductor switches such that an asymmetric pulse shape is generated from the inverter (18) in a half cycle of the AC output voltage.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and computer program product for providing information for surgical planning based on automated biomechanical analysis of a bone-implant system using finite element analysis of a patient's 3D medical image, including automated biomechanical analysis of bone-implant systems for use in surgical planning both pre-operatively and intra-operatively and for use in research and development studies.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for improving treatment effect in a patient suffering from gastric cancer, in particular, adenocarcinoma of the stomach or gastro-esophageal junction (“GEJ”), by treatment with bevacizumab (Avastin®) in combination with a chemotherapy regimen by determining the expression level of neuropilin relative to a control level determined in patients suffering from gastric cancer, in particular, adenocarcinoma of the stomach or gastro-esophageal junction (“GEJ”). The improved treatment effect may be improved overall survival or improved progression free survival. The present invention further provides for methods for assessing the sensitivity or responsiveness of a patient to bevacizumab (Avastin®) in combination with a chemotherapy regimen, by determining the expression level of neuropilin relative to a control level determined in patients suffering from gastric cancer, in particular, adenocarcinoma of the stomach or gastro-esophageal junction (“GEJ”).

Abstract: The invention provides methods for identifying patient who may benefit from treatment with an anti-cancer therapy comprising a VEGF antagonist. The invention also provides methods for monitoring a patients' response to the anti-cancer therapy. The invention also provides kits and articles of manufacture for use in the methods.

Abstract: Benzopyran and benzoxepin compounds of Formulas I and II, and including stereoisomers, geometric isomers, tautomer solvates, metabolites and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, are useful for inhibiting lipid kinases including p110 alpha and other isoforms of PI3K, and for treating disorders such as cancer mediated by lipid kinases. Methods of using compounds of Formulas I and II for in vitro, in situ, and in vivo diagnosis, prevention or treatment of such disorders in mammalian cells, or associated pathological conditions, are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for improving the treatment effect of a chemotherapy regimen of a patient suffering from breast cancer, in particular locally advanced, recurrent or metastatic HER-2 negative breast cancer, by adding bevacizumab (Avastin®) to a chemotherapy regimen by determining the expression level, in particular the blood plasma expression level, of one or more of VEGFA, VEGFR2 and PLGF relative to control levels of patients diagnosed with breast cancer, in particular locally advanced, recurrent or metastatic HER-2 negative breast cancer. In particular, the present invention provides methods of improving the treatment effect, wherein the treatment effect is the progression-free survival of the patient.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for improving the treatment effect of a chemotherapy regimen of a patient suffering from pancreatic cancer, in particular metastatic pancreatic cancer by adding bevacizumab (Avastin®) to a chemotherapy regimen by determining the expression level, in particular the blood plasma expression level, of one or more of VEGFA, VEGFR2 and PLGF relative to control levels of patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, in particular metastatic pancreatic cancer. In particular, the present invention provides methods of improving the treatment effect, wherein the treatment effect is the overall survival and/or progression-free survival of the patient.

Abstract: For the removal of high molecular weight compounds from recombinantly produced polypeptides generally chromatographic methods are employed. It has been found that underivatized controlled pore glass (uCPG) selectively binds high molecular weight compounds present in a solution. The purified polypeptide can be recovered e.g. from the flow through of a chromatography column containing uCPG as chromatography material. It has been found that this effect is pronounced at a pH value of about 4 to 6 in buffered solutions. With approximately 100 m2 to 150 m2 uCPG surface per g of polypeptide almost 80% to 95% of the high molecular weight compounds are removed with a yield of 80% to 90% of polypeptide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a compound having the general formula I, optionally in the form of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, polymorph, prodrug, tautomer, racemate, enantiomer, or diastereomer or mixture thereof, which is useful in treating, ameliorating or preventing a viral disease. Furthermore, specific combination therapies are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a compound having the general formula II, optionally in the form of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, polymorph, prodrug, tautomer, racemate, enantiomer, or diastereomer or mixture thereof, which is useful in treating, ameloriating or preventing a viral disease. Furthermore, specific combination therapies are disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and compositions useful for identifying therapies likely to confer optimal clinical benefit for patients with cancer.

Abstract: Disclosed are color management methods and systems to adaptively tune colors for one or more image marking devices. Specifically, exemplary embodiments include methods and systems to create profiles for preference color matching. For example, Lab values associated with target node colors can be warped using a predefined function for special regions of interest.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and computer program product for providing information for surgical planning based on automated biomechanical analysis of a bone-implant system using finite element analysis of a patient's 3D medical image, including automated biomechanical analysis of bone-implant systems for use in surgical planning both pre-operatively and intra-operatively and for use in research and development studies.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image color management system and method for controlling an image output device. The method for controlling the image output device comprises generating an image output device profile LUT (look-up-table) characterizing the color profile of the image output device for a plurality of drift states associated with the image output device; generating a set of basis vectors representing the LUT; storing the set of basis vectors in an image output device controller; and generating an image output device active profile associated with a current drift state of the image output device to convert image color data for display or printing by the image output device, wherein the image output device active profile is generated from the set of basis vectors.

Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to methods and systems for color management in image/text printing or display systems, and more particularly to a system and method for automatically achieving spot color production through use of a plurality of gain matrices per spot color in determining spot color coordinates. Furthermore, this disclosure provides a means for mapping out-of-gamut target spot colors substantially near a boundary of the gamut of an image output device, such as a printer or display.