Abstract: The various implementations described herein include methods and systems for configuring, managing, and/or using a health utility network. A system includes a health utility platform configured to execute collaboration services and distributed ledger services. The system also includes a health network including a private network interconnect configured to provide access, routing and service discovery. The health network is communicatively coupled to the health utility platform. The system also includes landing zones communicatively coupled to the health utility platform via the health network. Each landing zone is configured to run applications for a participant. The applications are configured to consume data and/or provide services on the health network. The collaboration services and the distributed ledger services are configured to provide context or facilitate data exchanges between different landing zones.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of detecting platelet activation in a patient, the method comprising the steps of a) obtaining a blood sample from a patient suspected of having heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT); b) incubating an effective amount of platelet factor 4 (PF4) with a sample of platelets to yield a sample of PF4-treated platelets; c) contacting the patient blood sample with the PF4-treated platelets; and d) measuring the extent of platelet activation, wherein an increase in platelet activation compared with results obtained using a normal blood sample is indicative of the patient having HIT.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of detecting platelet activation in a patient, the method comprising the steps of a) obtaining a blood sample from a patient suspected of having heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT); b) incubating an effective amount of platelet factor 4 (PF4) with a sample of platelets to yield a sample of PF4-treated platelets; c) contacting the patient blood sample with the PF4-treated platelets; and d) measuring the extent of platelet activation, wherein an increase in platelet activation compared with results obtained using a normal blood sample is indicative of the patient having HIT.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of detecting platelet activation in a patient, the method comprising the steps of a) obtaining a blood sample from a patient suspected of having heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT); b) incubating an effective amount of platelet factor 4 (PF4) with a sample of platelets to yield a sample of PF4-treated platelets; c) contacting the patient blood sample with the PF4-treated platelets; and d) measuring the extent of platelet activation, wherein an increase in platelet activation compared with results obtained using a normal blood sample is indicative of the patient having HIT.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of detecting platelet activation in a patient, the method comprising the steps of a) obtaining a blood sample from a patient suspected of having heparin-induced thrombo-cytopenia (HIT); b) incubating an effective amount of platelet factor 4 (PF4) with a sample of platelets to yield a sample of PF4-treated platelets; c) contacting the patient blood sample with the PF4-treated platelets; and d) measuring the extent of platelet activation, wherein an increase in platelet activation compared with results obtained using a normal blood sample is indicative of the patient having HIT.

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and methods for storing or transporting spent nuclear fuel. In one embodiment, a container for storing spent nuclear fuel comprises a plurality of elongated tubes that receives spent nuclear fuel rods. Each tube has four sidewalls and four corners defining a rectangular cross section. The plurality of tubes is arranged in an alternating pattern. An attachment means attaches together the plurality of tubes at the corners so that two adjacent sidewalls of adjacent tubes are substantially aligned.

Abstract: An apparatus for the biological treatment of saltwater-based domestic wastewater, the apparatus having an inlet for the introduction of the saltwater-based domestic wastewater, an outlet for the removal of treated wastewater, means for monitoring the salinity level of the saltwater-based domestic wastewater entering or within the apparatus and means for controlling the salinity level of the saltwater-based domestic wastewater entering or within the apparatus such that fluctuations in the salinity level of the saltwater-based domestic wastewater are reduced and the biological treatment of the saltwater-based domestic wastewater is thereby maintained.

Abstract: An apparatus for the biological treatment of saltwater-based domestic wastewater, the apparatus having an inlet for the introduction of the saltwater-based domestic wastewater, an outlet for the removal of treated wastewater, means for monitoring the salinity level of the saltwater-based domestic wastewater entering or within the apparatus and means for controlling the salinity level of the saltwater-based domestic wastewater entering or within the apparatus such that fluctuations in the salinity level of the saltwater-based domestic wastewater are reduced and the biological treatment of the saltwater-based domestic wastewater is thereby maintained.

Abstract: A process for the large-scale chemoenzymatic production of (6S)-5-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrofolic acid, also known as (6S)-5-methylTHFA, the process comprising the steps of: (1) reducing folic acid (FA) so as to yield dihydrofolic acid (DHFA); (2) stereoselectively reducing DHFA with dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) in the presence of NADP/NADPH, glucose and GluDH so as to yield (6S)-THFA; (3) converting (6S)-THFA to (6S)-5-methylTHFA; and (4) isolating (6S)-5-methylTHFA.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel approach for the preparation of fatty alcohol esters of ?-hydroxy carboxylic acids. The present invention also provides a novel topical gel for the transdermal delivery of steroids using the fatty alcohol esters as permeation enhancers.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel approach for the preparation of fatty alcohol esters of ?-hydroxy carboxylic acids. In one form of the invention, the target fatty alcohol ester of ?-hydroxy carboxylic acid is produced by converting a lower alkyl ester of ?-hydroxy carboxylic acid into a fatty alcohol ester of ?-hydroxy carboxylic acid via alcoholysis (i.e., transesterification). The transesterification process is an equilibrium reaction, catalyzed chemically (i.e., with acids or bases) or enzymatically, that is shifted in the desired direction to produce the desired product. One preferred way of shifting the reaction in the direction of the desired product is by reducing the concentration of one of the products (e.g., distillation of a lower-boiling alcohol as soon as it is formed). Another preferred way of shifting the reaction in-the direction of the desired product is by increasing the concentration of one of the reactants (e.q., adding more of the starting ester).

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and methods for storing or transporting spent nuclear fuel. In one embodiment, a container for storing spent nuclear fuel comprises a plurality of elongated tubes that receives spent nuclear fuel rods. Each tube has four sidewalls and four corners defining a rectangular cross section. The plurality of tubes is arranged in an alternating pattern. An attachment means attaches together the plurality of tubes at the corners so that two adjacent sidewalls of adjacent tubes are substantially aligned.

Abstract: A portable air pressure decay test apparatus for leak testing of a sealed system includes a hollow housing, an air pump having an inlet and an outlet disposed in the housing, and a controller disposed in the housing and connected to the pump for controlling the operation of the pump. A test head is mounted on the housing for releasably attaching to an attachment point of a sealed system. The test head is in fluid communication with the outlet of the pump. When the test head is attached to the attachment point of the sealed system, the controller operates the pump to provide pressured air to the sealed system and raise the pressure in the sealed system to a predetermined value. After the predetermined value of pressure is reached, the controller stops the pump and monitors the air pressure in the sealed system for a predetermined time interval to measure an air pressure decay rate.

Abstract: A portable air pressure decay test apparatus for leak testing of a sealed system includes a hollow housing, an air pump having an inlet and an outlet disposed in the housing, and a controller disposed in the housing and connected to the pump for controlling the operation of the pump. A test head is mounted on the housing for releasably attaching to an attachment point of a sealed system. The test head is in fluid communication with the outlet of the pump. When the test head is attached to the attachment point of the sealed system, the controller operates the pump to provide pressured air to the sealed system and raise the pressure in the sealed system to a predetermined value. After the predetermined value of pressure is reached, the controller stops the pump and monitors the air pressure in the sealed system for a predetermined time interval to measure an air pressure decay rate.

Abstract: A method of determining a quality metric for a message. The method comprises receiving (500) a message, constructing (502) a trellis array associated with the message, and determining (512) a quality metric for the message based on the trellis array. In one embodiment, the quality metric is derived from state information obtained from selected columns in the trellis array. The state information may include target states defining correct and/or incorrect transitions in the selected columns. The quality metric comprises in one embodiment a cumulative number of the occurrences of the target states in the selected columns.

Abstract: A high-pressure, flexible, self-supportive piping assembly includes a jointed conduit formed by a plurality of ball and socket joint elements, a flexible internal conduit extending through the jointed conduit, an external sheath, and fittings at opposite ends which communicate with the internal conduit. The sheath is heat shrunk onto the jointed conduit. Each joint element has a ball at one end and a socket at an opposite end whereby the joint elements can be connected serially in end-to-end relationship to form the jointed conduit. The ball of one joint element frictionally engages the socket of the next joint element and, in combination with the stiffness of the external sheath, result in a piping assembly which can selectively configured in shape and which will tend to retain such a shape until subsequently configured.