Abstract: There is disclosed an assay method for selectively detecting 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D in a biological fluid sample. According to the method, the pH of the test sample is adjusted to 6-9 and a receptor protein comprising the Ligand Binding Domain of Vitamin D Receptor (VDR-LBD) is added to the test sample, thereby obtaining the formation of a VDR-LBD/1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D complex in which the VDR-LBD portion is conformationally changed with respect to unbound VDR-LBD. The VDR-LBD/1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D complex is then detected by means of a capture moiety which is capable of specifically binding to VDR-LBD bound to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D. Also disclosed are an assay kit and an antibody for carrying out the method. The assay is preferably a sandwich immunoassay.

Abstract: A dumbbell system a plurality of weights vertically stackable on top of each other and each of the weights has a pair of outer edges disposed oppositely from each other to define a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge. The weights each have a centrally displaced opening vertically extending therethrough and defining a receiving space. The receiving space of each weight is vertically aligned with the receiving space of each of the other weights. A handle is removably extendable into the receiving space. A coupler releasably engages a selected one of the weights to the handle and defines a coupled weight. The coupled weight and each of the weights positioned above the coupled weight is releasably secured to the handle. Each of the weights positioned below the coupled weight are disengaged from the handle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D values in ratio with PTH as a prognostic biomarker. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for predicting or stratifying the risk of worsening renal function (WRF) in a patient at risk of renal injury or affected by renal injury. Levels of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D) are measured in a biological sample and taken together with parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels to provide a ratio indicative of the risk of worsening renal function.

Abstract: A high density mapping and ablation catheter includes a tip electrode positioned at its distal end and a plurality of electrodes (e.g., ring electrodes, ring-segment electrodes, spot electrodes, and/or printed traces) disposed proximally of the tip electrode within the distal region. A plurality of conductors extending through the elongate catheter body to electrically connect the tip electrode and other electrodes to a source of ablation energy, an electrophysiology mapping device, and/or a programmable electric stimulator. A switching circuit can be employed, for example to enable a practitioner to selectively activate certain electrodes for ablation, for electrophysiological mapping, for pacing, or to deactivate certain electrodes entirely.

Abstract: There is disclosed an assay method for selectively detecting 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D in a biological fluid sample. According to the method, the pH of the test sample is adjusted to 6-9 and a receptor protein comprising the Ligand Binding Domain of Vitamin D Receptor (VDR-LBD) is added to the test sample, thereby obtaining the formation of a VDR-LBD/1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D complex in which the VDR-LBD portion is conformationally changed with respect to unbound VDR-LBD. The VDR-LBD/1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D complex is then detected by means of a capture moiety which is capable of specifically binding to VDR-LBD bound to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D. Also disclosed are an assay kit and an antibody for carrying out the method. The assay is preferably a sandwich immunoassay.

Abstract: There is disclosed an assay method for selectively detecting 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D in a biological fluid sample. According to the method, the pH of the test sample is adjusted to 6-9 and a receptor protein comprising the Ligand Binding Domain of Vitamin D Receptor (VDR-LBD) is added to the test sample, thereby obtaining the formation of a VDR-LBD/1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D complex in which the VDR-LBD portion is conformationally changed with respect to unbound VDR-LBD. The VDR-LBD/1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D complex is then detected by means of a capture moiety which is capable of specifically binding to VDR-LBD bound to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D. Also disclosed are an assay kit and an antibody for carrying out the method. The assay is preferably a sandwich immunoassay.

Abstract: There is disclosed an assay method for selectively detecting 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D in a biological fluid sample. According to the method of the invention, the pH of the test sample is adjusted to 6-9 and a receptor protein comprising the Ligand Binding Domain of Vitamin D Receptor (VDR-LBD) is added to the test sample, thereby obtaining the formation of a VDR-LBD/1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D complex in which the VDR-LBD portion is conformationally changed with respect to unbound VDR-LBD. The VDR-LBD/1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D complex is then detected by means of a capture moiety which is capable of specifically binding to VDR-LBD bound to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D. Also disclosed are an assay kit and an antibody for carrying out the method of the invention. The assay of the invention is preferably a sandwich immunoassay.

Abstract: A high density mapping and ablation catheter includes a tip electrode positioned at its distal end and a plurality of electrodes (e.g., ring electrodes, ring-segment electrodes, spot electrodes, and/or printed traces) disposed proximally of the tip electrode within the distal region. A plurality of conductors extending through the elongate catheter body to electrically connect the tip electrode and other electrodes to a source of ablation energy, an electrophysiology mapping device, and/or a programmable electric stimulator. A switching circuit can be employed, for example to enable a practitioner to selectively activate certain electrodes for ablation, for electrophysiological mapping, for pacing, or to deactivate certain electrodes entirely.

Abstract: There is disclosed an assay method for selectively detecting 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D in a biological fluid sample. According to the method, the pH of the test sample is adjusted to 6-9 and a receptor protein comprising the Ligand Binding Domain of Vitamin D Receptor (VDR-LBD) is added to the test sample, thereby obtaining the formation of a VDR-LBD/1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D complex in which the VDR-LBD portion is conformationally changed with respect to unbound VDR-LBD. The VDR-LBD/1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D complex is then detected by means of a capture moiety which is capable of specifically binding to VDR-LBD bound to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D. Also disclosed are an assay kit and an antibody for carrying out the method. The assay is preferably a sandwich immunoassay.

Abstract: There is disclosed an assay method for selectively detecting 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D in a biological fluid sample. According to the method of the invention, the pH of the test sample is adjusted to 6-9 and a receptor protein comprising the Ligand Binding Domain of Vitamin D Receptor (VDR-LBD) is added to the test sample, thereby obtaining the formation of a VDR-LBD/1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D complex in which the VDR-LBD portion is conformationally changed with respect to unbound VDR-LBD. The VDR-LBD/1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D complex is then detected by means of a capture moiety which is capable of specifically binding to VDR-LBD bound to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D. Also disclosed are an assay kit and an antibody for carrying out the method of the invention. The assay of the invention is preferably a sandwich immunoassay.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an indicator is set to indicate that all of a plurality of most significant bytes of characters in a character array are zero. A first index and an input character are received. The input character comprises a first most significant byte and a first least significant byte. The first most significant byte is stored at a first storage location and the first least significant byte is stored at a second storage location, wherein the first storage location and the second storage location have non-contiguous addresses. If the first most significant byte does not equal zero, the indicator is set to indicate that at least one of a plurality of most significant bytes of the characters in the character array is non-zero. The character array comprises the first most significant byte and the first least significant byte.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an indicator is set to indicate that all of a plurality of most significant bytes of characters in a character array are zero. A first index and an input character are received. The input character comprises a first most significant byte and a first least significant byte. The first most significant byte is stored at a first storage location and the first least significant byte is stored at a second storage location, wherein the first storage location and the second storage location have non-contiguous addresses. If the first most significant byte does not equal zero, the indicator is set to indicate that at least one of a plurality of most significant bytes of the characters in the character array is non-zero. The character array comprises the first most significant byte and the first least significant byte.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of recovering molybdenum from a molybdenum bearing sulfide material. The material is contacted with a leaching solution in the presence of iron compounds and mesophilic or thermophilic iron oxidizing microorganisms and subsequently, a leaching process is performed by controlling the molar ratio of dissolved ferric iron to dissolved molybdenum. Preferably, a high amount and molar excess of dissolved iron is used. The presence of high concentrations of ferric iron in bioleach solutions allows iron-oxidizing microorganisms to grow and oxidize iron and bioleach molybdenite at dissolved Mo concentrations as high as 4.4 g/L. Organic metabolites were not required for protecting cells from Mo toxicity. Maximum dissolution rates depend on reactor configuration, with agglomerated material simulating heap leaching of almost 1% Mo/day, but up to 10.2% Mo/day in suspension/stirred reactor configurations, with rate highly dependent on temperature within the range of 25° C. to 40° C.

Abstract: Call stack inspection for a thread of execution, including, for each stack frame in the call stack, beginning with the stack frame at the top of the call stack: inspecting the stack frame; determining whether the stack frame was present in the call stack on a previous inspection of the call stack; if the stack frame was not present on a previous inspection, indicating in the stack frame the stack frame's presence on the current inspection of the call stack; and if the stack frame was present on a previous inspection, notifying a user.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and program product are provided for managing power consumption in a computer system based on the degree with which performance of tasks can be degraded in order to save power. A criticality value controls the degree with which performance of a task may be degraded is associated with tasks within a computer system. Power consumption of the computer system is then managed based on the criticality values associated with tasks executing within the computer system. A reduction in computer system power consumption can be realized by degrading the performance of non-critical tasks, which is accomplished by reducing the power consumed by at least a portion of the computer system. Power can also be reduced by scheduling non-critical tasks to portions of the computer system and reducing power consumption of other portions of the computer system.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an indicator is set to indicate that all of a plurality of most significant bytes of characters in a character array are zero. A first index and an input character are received. The input character comprises a first most significant byte and a first least significant byte. The first most significant byte is stored at a first storage location and the first least significant byte is stored at a second storage location, wherein the first storage location and the second storage location have non-contiguous addresses. If the first most significant byte does not equal zero, the indicator is set to indicate that at least one of a plurality of most significant bytes of the characters in the character array is non-zero. The character array comprises the first most significant byte and the first least significant byte.

Abstract: In various embodiments, an adaptive spectral surface is provided including an upper layer having a frequency selective surface, a lower layer being at least partially reflective, and an active dielectric material layer therebetween. The active dielectric material may include a dielectric material with an adjustable permittivity, permeability, or thickness. The active dielectric material may be a dielectric material adapted to change its dielectric constant in response to at an applied electric field, an applied magnetic field, or/and thermal stimulus. Some embodiments allow shifting of the resonance of the spectral absorptive/reflective emissions of the adaptive spectral surface. Some embodiments allow modification of the electromagnetic signature of an adaptive spectral surface apparatus.

Abstract: A medical device shaft with varying flexibility along its length is provided. The shaft includes at least first and second elongate shaft portions that have differing geometries and differing flexibilities. The elongate shaft portions can be made of different materials.

Abstract: A method and system for financial allocation and forecasting for calculating daily, weekly, and monthly spending rates that can be used by a company or a person is disclosed, providing an over/under forecast variance. The forecast variance is converted to the number of days required to reduce all spending to zero to eliminate over spending. The method receives financial data either manually or by a program application and treats all transactions as cash equivalents. The method includes a plurality of program applications formulated to generate a plurality of forecasting parameters. A rate factor which is a subjective decision of the user is received from a range ?3 to +3 to automatically calculate an under/over value variance. The invention utilizes Gregorian calendar that has a five week month occurring every three months to identify 7.7% savings of yearly income. Further, the method converts the irregular yearly and quarterly expenses into monthly amounts and put the expenses in savings.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products for CPU signaturing to aide in performance analysis. Exemplary embodiments include a performance analysis method including identifying a workload having one or more testcases, assigning a CPU signature to each of the one or more testcases, calling a CPU signature application programming interface that toggles the CPU to generate the CPU signature, passing four parameters to the CPU signature application programming interface, prior to running each of the one or more testcases of the workload, generating the CPU signature, dynamically determining a run order of the one or more testcases at a run time of the workload and reviewing performance data during the running of each of the one or more testcases, each of the one or more testcases being identifiable by its respective CPU signature.