Abstract: The present invention relates to methods, compositions and kits for increasing the in vivo circulation time of isolated platelets by storing the platelets with one or more sialidase inhibitors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for reducing sialidase activity and inhibiting bacterial proliferation of one or more bacteria in a platelet product preparation from one or more donors. In general, the method includes contacting the platelet product preparation with an amount of a sialidase inhibitor, to thereby obtain a sialidase inhibitor-treated platelet product preparation. Sialidase activity is reduced and the proliferation of one or more bacteria is inhibited, as compared to a platelet product preparation not subjected to the sialidase inhibitor treatment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a platelet additive solution (PAS) having an amount of one or more sialidase inhibitors and optionally one or more glycan-modifying agents; and one or more of PAS components that includes a salt, a citrate source, a carbon source, and any combination thereof.

Abstract: This invention relates to enzymatic removal of type A and B antigens from blood group A, B, and AB reactive cells in blood products, and thereby converting these to non-A and non-B reactive cells. The invention further relates to using unique ?-N-acetylgalactosaminidases and ?-galactosidases with superior kinetic properties for removing the immunodominant monosaccharides of the blood group A and B antigens and improved performance in enzymatic conversion of red blood cells. The preferred unique ?-N-acetylgalactosaminidases and ?-galactosidases exhibit the following characteristics: (i) exclusive, preferred or no less than 10% substrate specificity for the type A and B branched polysaccharide structures relative to measurable activity with simple mono- and disaccharide structures and aglycon derivatives hereof; (ii) optimal performance at neutral pH with blood group oligosaccharides and in enzymatic conversion of cells; and (iii) a favorable kinetic constant Km with mono- and oligosaccharide substrates.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to assessing heart failure in vitro by measuring the concentration of the marker mimecan in a sample, and optionally measuring in the sample the concentration of one or more other marker(s) of heart failure, and of assessing heart failure by comparing the concentration of mimecan and the one or more other marker(s) to reference concentrations of this (or these) marker(s) as established in a reference population. The one or more markers may be selected from the group comprising a natriuretic peptide marker, a cardiac troponin marker, and a marker of inflammation. Also disclosed are the use of mimecan as a marker protein in the assessment of heart failure, a marker combination comprising mimecan, and a kit for measuring mimecan.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus which operates to substantially evenly distribute commands and/or data packets issued from a managed program or other entity over a given time period. The even distribution of these commands or data packets minimizes congestion in critical resources such as memory, I/O devices and/or the bus for transferring the data between source and destination. Any unmanaged commands or data packets are treated as in conventional technology.

Abstract: This invention relates to enzymatic removal of type A and B antigens from blood group A, B, and AB reactive cells in blood products, and thereby converting these to non-A and non-B reactive cells. The invention further relates to using unique ?-N-acetylgalactosaminidases and ?-galactosidases with superior kinetic properties for removing the immunodominant monosaccharides of the blood group A and B antigens and improved performance in enzymatic conversion of red blood cells. The preferred unique ?-N-acetylgalactosaminidases and ?-galactosidases exhibit the following characteristics: (i) exclusive, preferred or no less than 10% substrate specificity for the type A and B branched polysaccharide structures relative to measurable activity with simple mono- and disaccharide structures and aglycon derivatives hereof; (ii) optimal performance at neutral pH with blood group oligosaccharides and in enzymatic conversion of cells; and (iii) a favorable kinetic constant Km with mono- and oligosaccharide substrates.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for assessing heart failure in vitro and involves the steps of measuring in a sample the concentration of the marker biglycan, of optionally measuring in the sample the concentration of one or more other marker(s) of heart failure, and of assessing heart failure by comparing the concentration determined in for biglycan and the concentration(s) determined for the optionally one or more other marker to the concentration of this marker or these markers as established in a reference population. Also disclosed are the use of biglycan as a marker protein in the assessment of heart failure, a marker combination comprising biglycan and a kit for measuring biglycan.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel ?-galactosidases for the enzymatic removal of the immunodominant monosaccharides on blood products and tissues. Specifically this invention provides a novel family of ?3 glycosidases, used for the enzymatic removal of type B antigens from blood group B and AB reactive blood products, and the GaIiIi antigen from non-human animal tissues, thereby converting these to non-immunogenic cells and tissues suitable for transplantation.

Abstract: This invention relates to enzymatic removal of type A and B antigens from blood group A, B, and AB reactive cells in blood products, and thereby converting these to non-A and non-B reactive cells. The invention further relates to using unique ?-N-acetylgalactosaminidases and ?-galactosidases with superior kinetic properties for removing the immunodominant monosaccharides of the blood group A and B antigens and improved performance in enzymatic conversion of red blood cells. The preferred unique ?-N-acetylgalactosaminidases and ?-galactosidases exhibit the following characteristics: (i) exclusive, preferred or no less than 10% substrate specificity for the type A and B branched polysaccharide structures relative to measurable activity with simple mono- and disaccharide structures and aglycon derivatives hereof; (ii) optimal performance at neutral pH with blood group oligosaccharides and in enzymatic conversion of cells; and (iii) a favorable kinetic constant Km with mono- and oligosaccharide substrates.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for assessing heart failure in vitro including the steps of measuring in a sample the concentration of the marker SFRP-3, of optionally measuring in the sample the concentration of one or more other marker(s) of heart failure, and of assessing heart failure by comparing the concentration determined in for SFRP-3 and the concentration(s) determined for the optionally one or more other marker to the concentration of this marker or these markers as established in a reference population. Also disclosed are the use of SFRP-3 as a marker protein in the assessment of heart failure, a marker combination comprising SFRP-3 and a kit for measuring SFRP-3.

Abstract: An apparatus and a computer program product are provided for completing a plurality of (direct memory access) DMA commands in a computer system. It is determined whether the DMA commands are chained together as a list DMA command. Upon a determination that the DMA commands are chained together as a list DMA command, it is also determined whether a current list element of the list DMA command is fenced. Upon a determination that the current list element is not fenced, a next list element is fetched and processed before the current list element has been completed.

Abstract: The present invention is a solid effervescent mixture for oral absorption which comes in the following forms: tablets, pills, granules, chewing gum, and candy. The formulation and preparation methods of the solid effervescent mixture are also disclosed. The solid effervescent formulation is administrated orally without water for dissolving and swallowing. In general, the present invention is directed to a solid or other mixture that comprises an orally administrable therapeutic agent or agents, in combination with an effervescent formulation that may be used as an absorption enhancer for the therapeutic agents across the buccal, sublingual, and/or gingival mucosa in order to relieve local and systemic symptoms rapidly.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel ?-galactosidases for the enzymatic removal of the immunodominant monosaccharides on blood products and tissues. Specifically this invention provides a novel family of ?3 glycosidases, used for the enzymatic removal of type B antigens from blood group B and AB reactive blood products, and the Galili antigen from non-human animal tissues, thereby converting these to non-immunogenic cells and tissues suitable for transplantation.

Abstract: A method of making an ice skate blade that comprises providing an upper member made of aluminum and a bottom member made of stainless steel. The upper member has a bottom portion comprising one of a recess and a projection and a top portion having attachment portions for allowing attachment of the upper member to a blade holder. The bottom member has a top portion comprising the other one of a recess and a projection and a bottom portion having a surface for contacting ice. The method further comprises joining the upper member and the bottom member together by registering the one of a recess and a projection of the upper member with the other one of a recess and a projection of the bottom member for making the blade.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for assessing heart failure in vitro comprising the steps of measuring in a sample the concentration of the marker IGFBP-7, of optionally measuring in the sample the concentration of one or more other marker(s) of heart failure, and of assessing heart failure by comparing the concentration determined in for IGFBP-7 and the concentration(s) determined for the optionally one or more other marker to the concentration of this marker or these markers as established in a reference population. Also disclosed are the use of IGFBP-7 as a marker protein in the assessment of heart failure, a marker combination comprising IGFBP-7 and a kit for measuring IGFBP-7.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for assessing heart failure in vitro comprising the steps of measuring in a sample the concentration of the marker SLIM-1, of optionally measuring in the sample the concentration of one or more other marker(s) of heart failure, and of assessing heart failure by comparing the concentration determined in for SLIM-1 and the concentration(s) determined for the optionally one or more other marker to the concentration of this marker or these markers as established in a reference population. Also disclosed are the use of SLIM-1 as a marker protein in the assessment of heart failure, a marker combination comprising SLIM-1 and a kit for measuring SLIM-1.

Abstract: A flash vaporizing liquid jet cutting tool and method for piercing with minimal damage to the cut material. The liquid is preferably superheated water, typically with abrasive particles added after the jet is expressed through a nozzle (abrasive water jet, AWJ) or with abrasive particles added before the jet is expressed through a nozzle (abrasive slurry jet, ASJ). In piercing, only a portion of water that has not changed phase enters into the cavity or must leave the cavity and the piercing pressure, which can damage the material, is therefore reduced.

Abstract: The present invention provides for atomic update primitives in an asymmetric single-chip heterogeneous multiprocessor computer system having a shared memory with DMA transfers. At least one lock line command is generated from a set comprising a get lock line command with reservation, a put lock line conditional command, and a put lock line unconditional command.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an anti-rootkit module compares operating system kernel binary files to their loaded kernel file image in memory to find a difference between them. The difference may be scanned for telltale signs of rootkit modification. To prevent rootkits from interfering with memory access of the kernel file image, a pre-scan may be performed to ensure that paging functions and the interrupt dispatch table are in known good condition. If the difference is due to a rootkit modification, the kernel file image may be restored to a known good condition to disable the rootkit. A subsequent virus scan may be performed to remove remaining traces of the rootkit and other malicious codes from the computer.