Abstract: An aspect is a composition containing at least one of inositol, erythritol or sorbitol and formulated for administration to a subject such that the at least one of inositol, erythritol or sorbitol enhance growth of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii in the microbiome of the subject. Another aspect is a method to treat, prevent, reduce a severity of, and/or reduce an incidence of a pathological condition in the subject, and the method includes enhancing growth of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii in the microbiome of the subject by administering, to the subject, at least one of inositol, erythritol or sorbitol. Yet another aspect is a method to achieve at least one of a metabolic effect, an anti-aging effect, or an anti-inflammatory effect in a subject, and the method includes enhancing growth of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii in the microbiome of the subject by administering, to the subject, at least one of inositol, erythritol or sorbitol.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for providing individualized microbiome recommendations to improve or maintain microbiome health. In several embodiments of the invention, the individualized microbiome health recommendations are diets, menus and recipes for improving or maintaining a healthy microbiome. In several embodiments, the microbiome-healthy recommendations are delivered by a computer-implemented system.

Abstract: Use of a pomegranate skin extract for use in the treatment of metabolic syndrome, more particularly, fatty liver disease. More particularly, the pomegranate skin extract is used in inhibiting body weight gain in the prevention and/or the treatment of fatty liver disease in mammals.

Abstract: A steering column lock comprises a bearing-mounted, free-rotating keyhole cover that covers an underlying locking device. When installed on the steering column of a vehicle, the steering column lock prevents a would-be car thief from grabbing the lock with pliers or another tool and using the lock to turn the steering column and thus drive the vehicle, because rotation of the free-rotating outer cover does not cause rotation of the other portions of the lock.

Abstract: Use of a pomegranate skin extract for use in the treatment of metabolic syndrome, more particularly, fatty liver disease. More particularly, the pomegranate skin extract is used in inhibiting body weight gain in the prevention and/or the treatment of fatty liver disease in mammals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to predicting the risk of developing hypertriglyceridemia in a subject by quantitating the amount of enterobacteria, e.g., E. coli, in the subject's gastrointestinal system. The invention also relates to treating a subject with hypertriglyceridemia or at risk of having the condition.

Abstract: A signal digitizing system and method based on analog-to-time optical mapping, optically maps amplitude information of an analog signal of interest first into wavelength information using an amplitude tunable filter (ATF) to impress spectral changes induced by the amplitude of the analog signal onto a carrier signal, i.e. a train of optical pulses, and next from wavelength information to temporal information using a dispersive element so that temporal information representing the amplitude information is encoded in the time domain in the carrier signal. Optical-to-electrical conversion of the optical pulses into voltage waveforms and subsequently digitizing the voltage waveforms into a digital image enables the temporal information to be resolved and quantized in the time domain. The digital image may them be digital signal processed to digitally reconstruct the analog signal based on the temporal information with high fidelity.

Abstract: A signal digitizing system and method based on analog-to-time optical mapping, optically maps amplitude information of an analog signal of interest first into wavelength information using an amplitude tunable filter (ATF) to impress spectral changes induced by the amplitude of the analog signal onto a carrier signal, i.e. a train of optical pulses, and next from wavelength information to temporal information using a dispersive element so that temporal information representing the amplitude information is encoded in the time domain in the carrier signal. Optical-to-electrical conversion of the optical pulses into voltage waveforms and subsequently digitizing the voltage waveforms into a digital image enables the temporal information to be resolved and quantized in the time domain. The digital image may them be digital signal processed to digitally reconstruct the analog signal based on the temporal information with high fidelity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to supporting weight management, weight loss and/or to the prevention and/or treatment of metabolic disorders. In particular the present invention relates to preventing and/or treating metabolic disorders by modulating, in particular reducing the amount of proteobacteria and/or deferribacteres in the gut. One embodiment of the present invention relates to the use of a primary composition comprising an agent that reduces the amount of proteobacteria, preferably gamma-proteobacteria, even more preferred enterobacteria; and/or deferribacteres in the gut for the preparation of a composition to treat or prevent metabolic disorders, to support weight loss and/or to support weight management.

Abstract: A card edge connector for use with a daughter board, and comprises an insulative elongated housing extending along a longitudinal direction, and defining opposite first and second side walls and a central slot formed therebetween for receiving the daughter board therein, a plurality of contacts each defining a retention portion retained in the housing, a resilient contact portion extending into the central slot from an upper portion of the retention portion for contacting with the daughter board, and a solder tail extending out of the housing form a lower portion of the retention portion. Wherein the contacts include a first row of contacts disposed in the first side wall, and a second row of contacts disposed in the second side wall. The first row of contacts have at least two adjacent grounding contacts electrically connected with each other during the contact portions of the contacts are contacting with the daughter board.

Abstract: A method for mounting a thinned semiconductor wafer on a carrier substrate for further processing is disclosed. The method consists of a series of steps, which is based on providing a frame with a double-side tape to mount the thinned wafer on the carrier substrate. The frame is used to support the double-side tape and can be designed to fit the conventional production line for holding, picking and transferring wafers. The carrier substrate can be a sapphire substrate, a quartz substrate or other substrates that can sustain further processing, such as thermal treatments and/or chemical etchings. The method of the present invention not only prevents possible damages to the highly brittle chip after wafer thinning, but also fits the conventional production line for processing semiconductor wafers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to supporting weight management, weight loss and/or to the prevention and/or treatment of metabolic disorders. In particular the present invention relates to preventing and/or treating metabolic disorders by modulating, in particular reducing the amount of proteobacteria and/or deferribacteres in the gut. One embodiment of the present invention relates to the use of a primary composition comprising an agent that reduces the amount of proteobacteria, preferably gamma-proteobacteria, even more preferred enterobacteria; and/or deferribacteres in the gut for the preparation of a composition to treat or prevent metabolic disorders, to support weight loss and/or to support weight management.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring Raman-type spectra using optical dispersion to convert an optical spectrum into a waveform which can be detected directly in the time domain without the use of a conventional spectrometer. In the example of stimulated Raman spectroscopy, the apparatus and method exposes a sample to a chirped, pulsed probe beam and a Raman pump beam and the resulting Raman spectra is detected by an optical detector in the time domain, and analyzed. Alternatively, the Raman spectra from the probe and pump beams is chirped with a dispersive element prior to detection and analysis. Each probe pulse provides a snapshot of the Raman spectrum that is sampled in time so that neither repetitive waveforms nor static samples are required. Therefore, high speed acquisitions and high throughput assays can be conducted. To facilitate detection, these spectral signals can also be amplified using distributed Raman amplification directly in the dispersive element.

Abstract: Use of at least 25 mg of a polyphenol for the preparation of a product to be consumed before or during exercise for reducing oxidative stress damage during or after exercise.

Abstract: A method for mounting a thinned semiconductor wafer on a carrier substrate for further processing is disclosed. The method consists of a series of steps, which is based on providing a frame with a double-side tape to mount the thinned wafer on the carrier substrate. The frame is used to support the double-side tape and can be designed to fit the conventional production line for holding, picking and transferring wafers. The carrier substrate can be a sapphire substrate, a quartz substrate or other substrates that can sustain further processing, such as thermal treatments and/or chemical etchings. The method of the present invention not only prevents possible damages to the highly brittle chip after wafer thinning, but also fits the conventional production line for processing semiconductor wafers.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring Raman-type spectra using optical dispersion to convert an optical spectrum into a waveform which can be detected directly in the time domain without the use of a conventional spectrometer. In the example of stimulated Raman spectroscopy, the apparatus and method exposes a sample to a chirped, pulsed probe beam and a Raman pump beam and the resulting Raman spectra is detected by an optical detector in the time domain, and analyzed. Alternatively, the Raman spectra from the probe and pump beams is chirped with a dispersive element prior to detection and analysis. Each probe pulse provides a snapshot of the Raman spectrum that is sampled in time so that neither repetitive waveforms nor static samples are required. Therefore, high speed acquisitions and high throughput assays can be conducted. To facilitate detection, these spectral signals can also be amplified using distributed Raman amplification directly in the dispersive element.