Abstract: The protective circuit includes a voltage dividing circuit connected in parallel between a first electrode and a second electrode of the unit cell and including a first voltage dividing resistor and a second voltage dividing resistor; a first switching device connected to a junction between the first voltage dividing resistor and the second voltage dividing resistor; a second switching device connected between the junction and the third switching device; and a fourth switching device connected between the junction and the third switching device, wherein, when output voltage of the unit cell becomes equal to or lower than a first reference voltage, the fourth switching device and the first switching device are sequentially turned off, the second switching device is turned on, and the third switching device is turned off, so that voltage output through the first output terminal can be cut off.

Abstract: The invention relates to measuring the effectiveness and an compliance of inhaler medication, such as for asthma treatment. In one embodiment, the invention provides a method of determining the effectiveness of an inhaler medication, comprising taking a measurement of HFA-134(a) from an exhaled breath of an individual after the individual has inhaled a medication, and determining an effective administration of the medication based on the presence of a high level of HFA-134(a).

Abstract: Disclosed herein are devices comprising a solid state gas sensor comprising a catalyst and a detection component capable of sensing halogenated gases through an increase or decrease in electrical conductivity. Further disclosed herein are methods of detecting one or more halogenated organic compounds, comprising providing a device comprising a solid state gas sensor comprising a catalyst and a detection component capable of sensing halogenated gases through an increase or decrease in electrical conductivity, and using the device to detect one or more small solid state halogenated organic compounds. Also disclosed herein are various methods of treating asthma in an individual.

Abstract: Disclosed is a battery assembly with a PCB substrate, comprising a bus bar stepped and end processed for enhanced assembly performance and electrical bonding reliability, and a PCB substrate having an assembling groove with an end of the bus bar and an insulating film for an improved stability.

Abstract: The protective circuit includes a voltage dividing circuit connected in parallel between a first electrode and a second electrode of the unit cell and including a first voltage dividing resistor and a second voltage dividing resistor; a first switching device connected to a junction between the first voltage dividing resistor and the second voltage dividing resistor; a second switching device connected between the junction and the third switching device; and a fourth switching device connected between the junction and the third switching device, wherein, when output voltage of the unit cell becomes equal to or lower than a first reference voltage, the fourth switching device and the first switching device are sequentially turned off, the second switching device is turned on, and the third switching device is turned off, so that voltage output through the first output terminal can be cut off.

Abstract: The invention relates to measuring the effectiveness and an compliance of inhaler medication, such as for asthma treatment. In one embodiment, the invention provides a method of determining the effectiveness of an inhaler medication, comprising taking a measurement of HFA-134(a) from an exhaled breath of an individual after the individual has inhaled a medication, and determining an effective administration of the medication based on the presence of a high level of HFA-134(a).

Abstract: A bioreactor for sampling the headspace above cells includes a glass reactor vessel having an interior space and a plurality of valves operatively coupled to the interior space of the glass reactor vessel. The bioreactor includes a sample holder configured to reside in the interior space. The interior space includes a charge of air with a known composition of volatile organic gases and, in some instances, doped with carbon dioxide. The sample holder may hold cells, bacteria, or viruses. The headspace may be sampled after incubation to determine the VOC content or content of specific VOC constituents. Examples include acetaldehyde and hexanaldehyde.

Abstract: A method is provided for preparing an instant embryo bud-retaining white rice product. The rice is polished like white rice using a low-speed, uniform pressure method to keep embryo buds and is rich in nutrients and has white rice's flavor. Its lipid oxidation is similar to that of white rice. The immersion time period of the embryo bud-retaining white rice is controlled so as not to generate sticky materials after the immersion, thus allowing effective sterilization of the rice. Therefore, the instant embryo bud-retaining white rice can be stored at room temperature for 6 months or longer.

Abstract: A bioreactor for sampling the headspace above cells includes a glass reactor vessel having an interior space and a plurality of valves operatively coupled to the interior space of the glass reactor vessel. The bioreactor includes a sample holder configured to reside in the interior space. The interior space includes a charge of air with a known composition of volatile organic gases and, in some instances, doped with carbon dioxide. The sample holder may hold cells, bacteria, or viruses. The headspace may be sampled after incubation to determine the VOC content or content of specific VOC constituents. Examples include acetaldehyde and hexanaldehyde.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to characterize NO gas exchange dynamics in human lungs comprising the steps of: (1) performing a series of breath hold maneuvers of progressively increasingly breath hold times, each breath hold maneuver comprising a) inhaling a gas, b) holding a breath for a selected time duration, and c) exhaling at a flow rate which is uncontrolled but which is effective to ensure evacuation of the airway space and (2) measuring airway NO parameters during consecutive breath hold maneuvers. As a result disease states of the lungs are diagnosed using the measured airway NO parameters.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to characterize NO gas exchange dynamics in human lungs, including performing a plurality of breathing maneuvers of substantially constant flow rates within a predetermined range, measuring data relating to at least one of an NO concentration and an NO elimination rate as a function of exhaled volume or exhalation flow rate, applying a lung model to the measured data, and obtaining at least one parameter indicative of disease states of the lung based on the lung model and the measured data, wherein the lung model, when applied in the predetermined range, predicts a substantially linear relationship between the NO elimination rate and the exhalation flow rate.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to characterize NO gas exchange dynamics in human lungs comprising the steps of: (1) performing a series of breath hold maneuvers of progressively increasingly breath hold times, each breath hold maneuver comprising a) inhaling a gas, b) holding a breath for a selected time duration, and c) exhaling at a flow rate which is uncontrolled but which is effective to ensure evacuation of the airway space and (2) measuring airway NO parameters during consecutive breath hold maneuvers. As a result disease states of the lungs are diagnosed using the measured airway NO parameters.