Abstract: The present invention relates to assays for predicting the presence, absence or development of cancer in an individual, particularly breast and ovarian cancer, by determining the methylation status of certain CpGs in a population of DNA molecules in a sample which has been taken from the individual, deriving an index value based on the methylation status of the certain CpGs, and predicting the presence, absence or development of cancer in the individual based on the cancer index value. The invention further relates to a method of treating and/or prevention of cancer in an individual, particularly breast and ovarian cancer, the method comprising assessing the presence, absence or development of cancer in an individual by performing the assays of the invention, followed by administering one or more therapeutic treatments or measures to the individual based on the assessment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to assays for predicting the presence, absence or development of cancer in an individual, particularly ovarian and endometrial cancer, by determining the methylation status of certain CpGs in a population of DNA molecules in a sample which has been taken from the individual, deriving an index value based on the methylation status of the certain CpGs, and predicting the presence, absence or development of cancer in the individual based on the cancer index value. The invention further relates to a method of treating and/or prevention of cancer in an individual, particularly ovarian and endometrial cancer, the method comprising assessing the presence, absence or development of cancer in an individual by performing the assays of the invention, followed by administering one or more therapeutic treatments or measures to the individual based on the assessment.

Abstract: A substrate retaining apparatus, a load lock assembly comprising the substrate retaining apparatus, and a system including the substrate retaining apparatus are disclosed. The substrate retaining apparatus can include at least one sidewall and one or more heat shields. One or more of the at least one sidewall can include a cooling fluid conduit to facilitate cooling of substrates retained by the substrate retaining apparatus. Additionally or alternatively, one or more of the at least one sidewall can include a gas conduit to provide gas to a surface of a retained substrate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to assays for predicting the presence, absence or development of CIN3 and/or cancer, particularly cervical or endometrial cancer, most preferably cervical cancer, in an individual, particularly cervical and endometrial cancer, by determining the methylation status of certain CpGs in a population of DNA molecules in a sample which has been taken from the individual, deriving an index value based on the methylation status of the certain CpGs, and predicting the presence, absence or development of CIN3 and/or cancer, particularly cervical or endometrial cancer, most preferably cervical cancer, in the individual based on the cancer index value.

Abstract: A removable seat partition and/or seat blocker allows reconfiguration of any combination of seats to provide a barrier between seated persons and/or block or inhibit use of a seat to promote social distancing. The removable seat partition and/or blocker may be used on an aircraft seat, and/or on a seat in other modes of transportation, including but not limited to buses, subways, trains, etc., and/or on a seat in restaurants, bars, movie theaters, or any other public setting with seating.

Abstract: A system includes a panel extending in a plane, an actuator attached to a surface of the panel, and an electronic control module to activate the actuator to cause vibration of the panel. The actuator includes: a plate to create a force to cause vibration of the panel to generate sound waves, having a width, WT, at a first edge; a stub extending from the first edge of the plate, having a width at a region of connection to the plate that is less than WT, the stub being attached to the surface of the panel to transfer the force received from the plate to the panel and cause the panel to vibrate; and a damper supported by a surface of the plate facing the panel coupling the plate to the panel, the damper having a having a width greater than WS.

Abstract: This invention relates to collagen biomaterials and methods for manufacturing collagen biomaterials. Method disclosed herein include steps of providing a suspension of insoluble collagen fibres, providing a layer deposition interface and applying an electric field across the suspension to cause electrophoretic deposition of the insoluble collagen fibres at the layer deposition interface. Biomaterials disclosed herein include a layer comprising an array of fibres of collagen, and a layered composite material comprising at least first and second fibrous layers each comprising an array of fibres of collagen, and a shape adapting layer sandwiched between the first and second fibrous layers. Biomaterials as described herein may be useful in a range of tissue engineering and other applications.

Abstract: A system includes a panel extending in a plane, an actuator attached to a surface of the panel, and an electronic control module to activate the actuator to cause vibration of the panel. The actuator includes: a plate to create a force to cause vibration of the panel to generate sound waves, having a width, WT, at a first edge; a stub extending from the first edge of the plate, having a width at a region of connection to the plate that is less than WT, the stub being attached to the surface of the panel to transfer the force received from the plate to the panel and cause the panel to vibrate; and a damper supported by a surface of the plate facing the panel coupling the plate to the panel, the damper having a having a width greater than WS.

Abstract: A system includes a panel extending in a plane, an actuator attached to a surface of the panel, and an electronic control module to activate the actuator to cause vibration of the panel. The actuator includes: a plate to create a force to cause vibration of the panel to generate sound waves, having a width, WT, at a first edge; a stub extending from the first edge of the plate, having a width at a region of connection to the plate that is less than WT, the stub being attached to the surface of the panel to transfer the force received from the plate to the panel and cause the panel to vibrate; and a damper supported by a surface of the plate facing the panel coupling the plate to the panel, the damper having a having a width greater than WS.

Abstract: A system includes a panel extending in a plane, an actuator attached to a surface of the panel, and an electronic control module to activate the actuator to cause vibration of the panel. The actuator includes: a plate to create a force to cause vibration of the panel to generate sound waves, having a width, WT, at a first edge; a stub extending from the first edge of the plate, having a width at a region of connection to the plate that is less than WT, the stub being attached to the surface of the panel to transfer the force received from the plate to the panel and cause the panel to vibrate; and a damper supported by a surface of the plate facing the panel coupling the plate to the panel, the damper having a having a width greater than WS.

Abstract: A method for servicing a co-funded installment includes: storing agreement data entries, each related to a co-funding agreement and including a merchant identifier, acquirer identifier, and one or more installment parameters; receiving a transaction message for a payment transaction, the transaction message including a specific merchant identifier, a specific acquirer identifier, and transaction data; identifying at least one agreement data entry where the included merchant identifier corresponds to the specific merchant identifier and where the included acquirer identifier corresponds to the specific acquirer identifier; identifying a plurality of installment terms based on the transaction data and the one or more installment parameters included in one of the at least one identified agreement data entries; and transmitting the identified plurality of installment terms.

Abstract: A method for periodic savings and usage via transaction controls includes: storing an account profile, the profile including a primary account number and account balance; receiving a saving request, the request including a period of time, periodic amount, total amount, and transaction criteria; storing a transaction control in the account profile that prevents usage of a saved amount of the account balance where the saved amount corresponds to the periodic amount; increasing the saved amount by the periodic amount after the period of time; repeating the increasing step until the saved amount is equal to or greater than the total amount; and updating the transaction control to prevent usage of the saved amount outside of a payment transaction in compliance with the one or more transaction criteria.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for purging atmospheric air from a chamber with a gas including means for generating a substantially non-turbulent, laminar flow front of the gas into the chamber with minimal turbulence to displace the atmospheric air in the chamber, the chamber having exhaust means associated therewith to permit the displaced atmospheric air to exit the chamber. The chamber is preferably a welding chamber and the gas is preferably argon.

Abstract: In a method of video coding, in which a difference is formed between input picture values and picture prediction values and that difference is transforming with a DCT, the picture prediction is formed as: P=(1?c)Pc+CPO where PC is a closed loop predictor which is restricted to prediction values capable of exact reconstruction in a downstream decoder and PO is a spatial predictor which is not restricted to prediction values capable of exact reconstruction. The factor can vary from zero to unity depending on a variety of parameters.

Abstract: In a method of video coding, in which a difference is formed between input picture values and picture prediction values and that difference is transforming with a DCT, the picture prediction is formed as: P=(1?c)Pc+CPo where Pc is a closed loop predictor which is restricted to prediction values capable of exact reconstruction in a downstream decoder and Po is a spatial predictor which is not restricted to prediction values capable of exact reconstruction. The factor can vary from zero to unity depending on a variety of parameters.

Abstract: A clip 10 is provided for the retention of cables or wiring 44 in electrical installation trunking 46. The clip 10 has a first member 12 and a second member 14, which are coupled together in a sliding relationship. In use, the clip 10 slides apart, extending across the open face 50 of the trunking 46 until the lateral ends of the clip abut against an internal side wall 52 of the trunking 46. Cooperating locking strips (26, 40, see FIGS. 3 and 4) act to lock the relative positions of the first 12 and second 14 members and to prevent the clip 10 from falling out of the trunking 46.

Abstract: A cast metal article is formed with an internal cavity. The internal cavity is formed by a ceramic core which is removed from the cast metal article to leave the cavity. The ceramic core is formed with a cavity to facilitate removal of the core from the cast metal article. To remove the core from the cast metal article, the cavity in the core is filled with a leaching liquid.

Abstract: A cast metal article is formed with an internal cavity. The internal cavity is formed by a ceramic core which is removed from the cast metal article to leave the cavity. The ceramic core is formed with a cavity to facilitate removal of the core from the cast metal article. To remove the core from the cast metal article, the cavity in the core is filled with a leaching liquid.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for purging atmospheric air from a chamber with a gas including means for generating a substantially non-turbulent, laminar flow front of the gas into the chamber with minimal turbulence to displace the atmospheric air in the chamber, the chamber having exhaust means associated therewith to permit the displaced atmospheric air to exit the chamber. The chamber is preferably a welding chamber and the gas is preferably argon.

Abstract: In a method of video coding, in which a difference is formed between input picture values and picture prediction values and that difference is transforming with a DCT, the picture prediction is formed as: P=(1?c)Pc+CPo where Pc is a closed loop predictor which is restricted to prediction values capable of exact reconstruction in a downstream decoder and Po is a spatial predictor which is not restricted to prediction values capable of exact reconstruction. The factor can vary from zero to unity depending on a variety of parameters.