Abstract: The invention is methods and related kits for diagnosing a disease state of cachexia by measuring biomarker profiles from a biological sample. Rapid measurement of early onset or progression of the disease in a subject is determined by measuring biomarker levels from the subject and optionally comparing the biomarker levels to a standard biomarker profile or metabolome phase portrait for the disease. The biomarkers measured in the assay and related kit for cachexia progression include biomarkers selected from the group consisting of lactate, citrate, formate, acetoacetate, 3-hydroxy butrate, alanine, glutamine, glutamate, valine, isoleucine leucine, thrionine, lysine, arginine, tyrosine, phenyl alanine, histidine and tryptophan.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to biologic-chemical herbicide compositions (BCHs) for controlling or preventing weeds that include one or more chemical herbicides and microorganisms including gram-negative bacteria and yeast. The addition of a biological microbial component to one or more chemical herbicides significantly increases the efficacy of the chemical herbicide thereby permitting lower amounts to be used to achieve a desired level of weed control. Any chemical herbicide or combination of herbicides can be used, including fatty acid herbicides like Round-UP®. The BCHs typically also include an optional nutrient component in an amount sufficient to support the growth and replication of the microorganisms. If the BCH is applied to soil rich in nutrients, or if the crops would support the growth of the microorganisms in the BCHs, then the nutrients can be omitted.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to biologic-chemical herbicide compositions (BCHs) for controlling or preventing weeds that include one or more chemical herbicides and microorganisms including gram-positive and/or gram-negative bacteria and yeast. The addition of a biologic microbial component to one or more chemical herbicides significantly increases the efficacy of the chemical herbicide thereby permitting lower amounts to be used to achieve a desired level of weed control. Any chemical herbicide or combination of herbicides can be used, including fatty acid herbicides like Round-UP®. The BCHs typically also include an optional nutrient component in an amount sufficient to support the growth and replication of the microorganisms. If the BCH is applied to soil rich in nutrients, or if the crops would support the growth of the microorganisms in the BCHs, then the nutrients can be omitted.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for reserve allocation of event data. A request event is received. The request event is associated with memory storing request event data. Memory for response event data is allocated from a first pool. The response event data is associated with a response, and the response is associated with the request. Upon failure of the allocation of memory for the response event data, memory is obtained for out-of-memory response event data. The out-of-memory response event data is associated with the response event. The request event is completed using the response event.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to biologic-chemical fungicide compositions (BCFs) that include one or more chemical fungicides, and microorganisms including gram-positive and/or gram-negative bacteria and yeast. Any chemical fungicide or combination of fungicides can be used. The BCFs typically also include an optional nutrient component in an amount sufficient to support the growth and replication of the microorganisms. If the BCF is applied to soil rich in nutrients, or if the crops would support the growth of the microorganisms in the BCFs, then the nutrients can be left out. Compositions having a biologic component of microorganisms in addition to one or more chemical fungicides are significantly more effective than chemical fungicides applied without microorganisms. The invention is also directed to chemical-free biologic fungicides that contain microorganisms with suppressive activity against pathogenic fungi, and nutrients.

Abstract: A method of feeding a ruminant that entails providing a feed that comprises sugar alcohol and at least one additional feed component, where the feed is free of rumen-protected fatty acid or comprises less than 10 weight percent rumen-protected fatty acid, based on the total weight of the feed and further entails orally supplying the feed to the ruminant during a pre-partum period when the ruminant is pregnant, where the ruminant ingests the feed and sugar alcohol during the pre-partum period.

Abstract: A method of improving the health of a first group of young monogastric mammals, the first group of young monogastric mammals nursing from a first lactating monogastric mammal during a pre-weaning period, the method including feeding the first lactating monogastric mammal an effective amount of an animal feed during the pre-weaning period, and feeding the first lactating monogastric mammal an effective amount of sugar alcohol during the pre-weaning period.

Abstract: A fall arrest belt assembly attaches to the body belt of a climber who climbs wooden utility poles or trees. The belt assembly has an outer strap to fit around the pole, an elastic cross strap to pull the outer belt against the pole, and a safety device on the outer strap. The safety device has a large tooth that is normally latched in a recessed or closed position. If the climber falls, a barb on the tooth pulls the tooth to an open position, assisted by a spring which helps deploy the tooth and hold it open. The tooth penetrates the pole and prevents falling. A pair of balls on the cross strap prevent abrasion of the cross strap on the pole.

Abstract: A ground-based flight simulator having a television type terrain visual display with simulated weather conditions. The visibility of the terrain image is varied over the picture area to simulate ground fog and cloud conditions, either one alone or both together. Either weather condition provides a zone of transitional visibility, i.e., spatially changing visibility between spaced zones of uniform visibility, e.g., between one of uniformly clear visibility and another zone of uniformly zero visibility. The transitional zones may be varied in width according to aircraft pitch and the entire weather pattern rotated, together with simulated terrain, according to aircraft roll.

Abstract: A fluidizing mixer works a mixture of materials, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resin, together with plasticizers and liquid stabilizers and the batch is then discharged at the end of a work cycle of operation. The mixer employs an electrically energized driver which drives a working member, such as a high speed mixing blade, such that electrical energy is expended as work is being performed on the material. During each work cycle of operation the amount of expended electrical energy is sensed for purposes of providing a work signal having a value in accordance with the energy being expended. A work cycle is terminated when the amount of energy being expended to work the material decreases by a given amount.