Abstract: A method for evaluating sperm fertility. The method includes the steps of obtaining a sample of sperm from an animal of a species; staining the sample with a fluorescent DNA-binding dye; collecting at least one image of the stained sample; determining an edge of a nucleus of at least one sperm within the stained sample in the at least one image; measuring an intensity of the DNA-binding dye within an area defined by the edge of the nucleus of the at least one sperm; determining an average intensity per unit area of the area defined by the edge of the nucleus of the at least one sperm; comparing the average intensity per unit area to an average intensity per unit area for high-fertility sperm and low-fertility sperm of the same species to determine if the sample has high or low fertility.

Abstract: A method for evaluating sperm fertility. The method includes the steps of obtaining a sample of sperm from an animal of a species; staining the sample with a fluorescent DNA-binding dye; collecting at least one image of the stained sample; determining an edge of a nucleus of at least one sperm within the stained sample in the at least one image; measuring an intensity of the DNA-binding dye within an area defined by the edge of the nucleus of the at least one sperm; determining an average intensity per unit area of the area defined by the edge of the nucleus of the at least one sperm; comparing the average intensity per unit area to an average intensity per unit area for high-fertility sperm and low-fertility sperm of the same species to determine if the sample has high or low fertility.

Abstract: A method for evaluating sperm fertility. The method includes the steps of obtaining a sample of sperm from an animal of a species; staining the sample with a fluorescent DNA-binding dye; collecting at least one image of the stained sample; determining an edge of a nucleus of at least one sperm within the stained sample in the at least one image; measuring an intensity of the DNA-binding dye within an area defined by the edge of the nucleus of the at least one sperm; determining an average intensity per unit area of the area defined by the edge of the nucleus of the at least one sperm; comparing the average intensity per unit area to an average intensity per unit area for high-fertility sperm and low-fertility sperm of the same species to determine if the sample has high or low fertility.

Abstract: A method, system and computer readable medium are capable of identifying information to display. The method includes identifying a location of a display device. The method includes identifying, in response to a user input, places within a predetermined distance of the location of the display device. The method includes identifying current information about items or services available at the identified places. The method includes displaying, on the display device, the current information about the items or services available at the identified places within the predetermined distance of the display device.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a chromatograph used to control production of a chemical product. The method involves sampling a chemical mixture of chemical components used during the production to form the chemical product, measuring the composition of the sample with a chromatograph and adjusting the amount of the chemical components based on the measured composition. The method also involves measuring actual parameters of the sample with at least one gauge, determining expected parameters of the sample based on the measured composition and the measured actual parameters using an equation-of-state, and detecting a fault in the chromatograph by comparing the expected parameters with the actual parameters.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a chromatograph used to control production of a chemical product. The method involves sampling a chemical mixture of chemical components used during the production to form the chemical product, measuring the composition of the sample with a chromatograph and adjusting the amount of the chemical components based on the measured composition. The method also involves measuring actual parameters of the sample with at least one gauge, determining expected parameters of the sample based on the measured composition and the measured actual parameters using an equation-of-state, and detecting a fault in the chromatograph by comparing the expected parameters with the actual parameters.

Abstract: A method, system and computer readable medium are capable of identifying information to display. The method includes identifying a location of a display device. The method includes identifying, in response to a user input, places within a predetermined distance of the location of the display device. The method includes identifying current information about items or services available at the identified places. The method includes displaying, on the display device, the current information about the items or services available at the identified places within the predetermined distance of the display device.

Abstract: A method, system and computer readable medium are capable of identifying information to display. The method includes identifying a location of a display device. The method includes identifying, in response to a user input, places within a predetermined distance of the location of the display device. The method includes identifying current information about items or services available at the identified places. The method includes displaying, on the display device, the current information about the items or services available at the identified places within the predetermined distance of the display device.

Abstract: A method for evaluating sperm fertility. The method includes the steps of obtaining a sample of sperm from an animal of a species; staining the sample with a fluorescent DNA-binding dye; collecting at least one image of the stained sample; determining an edge of a nucleus of at least one sperm within the stained sample in the at least one image; measuring an intensity of the DNA-binding dye within an area defined by the edge of the nucleus of the at least one sperm; determining an average intensity per unit area of the area defined by the edge of the nucleus of the at least one sperm; comparing the average intensity per unit area to an average intensity per unit area for high-fertility sperm and low-fertility sperm of the same species to determine if the sample has high or low fertility.

Abstract: Various methods and devices for minimally invasive treatment and prevention of conditions of the fascia are provided. In one aspect, a method includes providing an acoustic wave source effective to deliver a focused acoustic wave to a target site within a patient's body, and focusing an acoustic wave through a patient's skin such that at least one location in the patient's fascia is fenestrated in a desired pattern.

Abstract: Various methods and devices for minimally invasive treatment and prevention of conditions of the fascia are provided. In one aspect, a method includes providing an acoustic wave source effective to deliver a focused acoustic wave to a target site within a patient's body focusing an acoustic wave through a patient's skin such that at least one location in the patient's fascia is fenestrated in a desired pattern.

Abstract: Various methods and devices for minimally invasive treatment and prevention of conditions of the fascia are provided. In one aspect, a method includes providing an acoustic wave source effective to deliver a focused acoustic wave to a target site within a patient's body, and focusing an acoustic wave through a patient's skin such that at least one location in the patient's fascia is fenestrated in a desired pattern.

Abstract: A process for controlling a continuous gas phase exothermic process in a reactor comprising: (i) effecting a gas phase exothermic reaction under a set of operating conditions in the presence of a cooling agent, the cooling agent having a pre-selected concentration and feed rate of an induced cooling agent; (ii) determining a maximum production rate (I) without regard to limitations due to the cooling agent under the operating conditions; (iii) determining a maximum production rate (II) with regard to limitations due to the cooling agent under the operating conditions; (iv) calculating an optimal concentration of the induced cooling agent such that the difference between (I) and (II) is minimized; and (v) adjusting the feed rate of the induced cooling agent to achieve the concentration value calculated in (iv).

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method for determining initial conditions for a transition from an initial reaction to a target reaction to minimize (or substantially minimize) the amount of off-grade material produced during the transition, and optionally also process control variables for implementing the transition. Some embodiments also include the steps of setting the reaction conditions to determined initial conditions and then implementing the transition.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a polymer composition that includes initiating a polymerization reaction at an initial set of polymerization parameters, determining an instantaneous split of the at least one property of an intermediate polymer composition, and adjusting the initial set of polymerization parameters based on the instantaneous split of the at least one property to obtain a desired distribution of the at least one property in the polymer composition.

Abstract: The present method is directed to techniques for estimating and periodically controlling the reactor split of alpha-olefin polymerizations using multiple catalysts that selectively incorporate monomers and other reactants into polymer compositions. The method provides for the rapid determination of instantaneous reactor split and cumulative split in polymerization reactors by the use of a novel linear relationship between Incorporation and Reactor Split.

Abstract: A method of ablating atherosclerotic plaque by means of short-duration laser light pulses. A carotenoid, such as beta-carotene, is preferably administered to the patient by injection or ingestion prior to exposing the plaque with laser light. Research data obtained by analysis of the absorption characteristics of plaque and the healthy arterial tissue reveals that the plaque may be selectively ablated without damaging the surrounding normal tissue by illuminating the plaque with laser light having a wavelength of about 430 to about 510 nanometers such that the relative absorption coefficient exhibited by the plaque is more than 1.5 times the absorption coefficient of the arterial tissue. Short duration laser light pulses preferably illuminate the plaque for less than the thermal relaxation time of the volume of exposed material. The intensity of the laser light is preferably in the range from about 1 to about 9 joules/cm.sup.2 in order to ablate the plaque without endangering the surrounding tissue.

Abstract: A method for distinguishing between a full thickness and a partial thickness skin burn in a patient having a skin burn. The methods includes administering a fluorescent compound, which is excited by infrared light, to the patient to cause the compound to enter one or more capillaries below and adjacent the skin burn. The compound is then excited with infrared light, and the amount of fluorescence of the compound caused by the infrared light detected at the skin burn and at unburned skin adjacent the skin burn. The ratio of fluorescence detected at the skin burn and at the unburned skin is an indication of the thickness of the skin burn, e.g., a ratio of less than 0.4 indicates a full thickness skin burn.

Abstract: A method of administering a therapeutic substance to a human patient, the method having the steps of ablating the stratum corneum of a region of the skin of the patient using pulsed laser light of wavelength, pulse length, pulse energy, pulse number, and pulse repetition rate sufficient to ablate the stratum corneum without significantly damaging the underlying epidermis, and applying the therapeutic substance to the region of ablation.

Abstract: A method of killing carcinoma cells associated normal cells using light of a predetermined wavelength. The method includes contacting the cells with a chromophor at a given concentration. The chromophor is positively charged and sufficiently lipophilic to be taken up by the mitochondria of the carcinoma cells and is retained substantially longer in the mitochondria of carcinoma cells than in normal cell mitochondria; or it may be taken up in greater quantity by the carcinoma cells than by the normal cells. The chromophor must also have a therapeutic index for light-induced cell killing of at least 500 for light of the predetermined wavelength, and has a therapeutic ratio for light-induced killing of at least 50 for light of said pre-determined wavelength. The cells are then exposed to light of this wavelength.