Abstract: This disclosure provides a thermocycler system for performing polymerase chain reaction. The thermocycler system can comprise a plurality of bus bars, a microplate, a clamp and a current application device in electrical communication with the bus bars. The clamp is suitable for forming a low resistance electrical connection between the microplate and an individual bus bar of the plurality of bus bars. In some instances, the clamp includes a spring-loaded pivot and a ram. Operation of the clamp forces the microplate into contact with the bus bar, or vice versa, to provide an electrical contact between the microplate and the bus bar. The microplate can comprise a substrate having a metallic material for heating samples, and a barrier layer disposed adjacent to the substrate.

Abstract: Intraocular pressure can be reduced by insertion of an intraocular shunt in the eye such that it forms a drainage pathway between the anterior chamber and a region of lower pressure. A hollow shaft that holds an intraocular shunt can be advanced through the anterior chamber. The sclera can be penetrated with the hollow shaft. A beveled tip of the shaft can be oriented such that a beveled surface thereof faces toward the Tenon's capsule when the beveled tip passes out of the sclera. After the beveled tip passes out of the sclera, at least a portion of the shunt can be advanced from the hollow shaft.

Abstract: Glaucoma can be treated by implanting an intraocular shunt into an eye. The eye has an anterior chamber and sclera. A shunt can be placed into the eye to establish fluid communication from the anterior chamber of the eye through the sclera, and a pharmaceutical or biological agent can be administered to the eye.

Abstract: A compound which is 3-hydroxybutyl 3-hydroxybutyrate enantiomerically enriched with respect to (3R)-hydroxybutyl (3R)-hydroxybutyrate of formula (I) is an effective and palatable precursor to the ketone body (3R)-hydroxybutyrate and may therefore be used to treat a condition which is caused by, exacerbated by or associated with elevated plasma levels of free fatty acids in a human or animal subject, for instance a condition where weight loss or weight gain is implicated, or to promote alertness or improve cognitive function, or to treat, prevent or reduce the effects of neurodegeneration, free radical toxicity, hypoxic conditions or hyperglycaemia.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a fiber element are disclosed. The method includes the steps of opening a first control valve element (355) at a proximate end region of a first lumen (310) that extends along a flexible pipe (100), opening a first vent valve element (400) at a remote end region of a second lumen (320) that extends along the flexible pipe (100), providing a new fiber element along the second lumen (320) via an opening (350) at a proximate end region of the second lumen (320) and closing the first vent valve element (382) and the first control valve element (355).

Abstract: Non-time dependent measured variables are used to effectively determine an optimal hold profile for an expanding crosslinking polymer part in a mold cavity. A system and/or approach may first inject molten expanding crosslinking polymer into a mold cavity, then measure at least one non-time dependent variable during an injection molding cycle. Next, the system and/or method commences a hold profile for the part, and upon completing the hold profile, the part is ejected from the mold cavity.

Abstract: Non-time dependent measured variables are used to effectively determine an optimal hold profile for an expanding crosslinking polymer part in a mold cavity. A system and/or approach may first inject molten expanding crosslinking polymer into a mold cavity, then measure at least one non-time dependent variable during an injection molding cycle. Next, the system and/or method commences a hold profile for the part, and upon completing the hold profile, the part is ejected from the mold cavity, whereupon a cure profile is commenced.

Abstract: The subject disclosure provides compositions for reducing serum cholesterol and/or triglyceride levels in subjects. These compositions can comprise racemic ?-hydroxybutyrate or D-?-hydroxybutyrate, optionally in the acid form, physiologically compatible salts of racemic ?-hydroxybutyrate or D-?-hydroxybutyrate, esters of D-?-hydroxybutyrate, oligomers of D-?-hydroxybutyrate containing from 2 to 20 or more monomeric units in either linear or cyclic form, racemic 1,3 butandiol or R-1,3 butandiol alone and can be, optionally, administered in conjunction with a low fat diet to a subject.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for the thermal treatment of friction linings by means of IR-radiation, characterized in that IR radiators or IR heating fields are used as a source of infrared radiation, said radiators or heating fields generating IR-radiation in the wavelength range of 2260 nm to 3000 nm.

Abstract: Glaucoma can be treated by implanting an intraocular shunt into an eye. The eye has an anterior chamber and sclera. A shunt can be placed into the eye to establish fluid communication from the anterior chamber of the eye through the sclera, and a pharmaceutical or biological agent can be administered to the eye.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a safety light, such as a barricade lamp. The safety light comprises a light member and a power source comprising a non-rechargeable battery source and a rechargeable battery source. A solar cell array is also included and is adapted to recharge the rechargeable battery source. A battery monitor and a power control processor are configured to control the supply of power to the light member by causing the rechargeable battery source to power the light member until the charge level of the rechargeable battery source falls below a certain level, at which time the power control processor causes power from the non-rechargeable battery source to power the light member.

Abstract: A compound which is 3-hydroxybutyl 3-hydroxybutyrate enantiomerically enriched with respect to (3R)-hydroxybutyl (3R)-hydroxybutyrate of formula (I) is an effective and palatable precursor to the ketone body (3R)-hydroxybutyrate and may therefore be used to treat a condition which is caused by, exacerbated by or associated with elevated plasma levels of free fatty acids in a human or animal subject, for instance a condition where weight loss or weight gain is implicated, or to promote alertness or improve cognitive function, or to treat, prevent or reduce the effects of neurodegeneration, free radical toxicity, hypoxic conditions or hyperglycaemia.

Abstract: A present disclosure provides a garbage collector capable of freeing memory reachable only by a terminated thread immediately upon thread exit without scanning the heap or blocking other threads. A heap, including a plurality of spans, is walked, for example when the heap reaches a predetermined size. Reachable objects are marked in a mark bitmap. A mutator sweeps the mark bitmap without clearing mark bits, and newly allocated objects are not marked. When the thread terminates, sweep pointers in each of the spans owned by the terminated thread are reset. Moreover, a write barrier that makes a first unpublished object reachable from a second published object, also publishes the first object and all objects reachable from the first object.

Abstract: Novel compounds and compositions containing (R)-3-hydroxybutyrate derivatives are disclosed. The compounds and compositions can be used as nutritional supplements to increase physical performance and as therapeutics to ameliorate symptoms of medical conditions, particularly neurological conditions, such as Alzheimer's and similar conditions. Novel methods for making R-3-hydroxybutyrate derivatives also are disclosed. Exemplary methods employ a supercritical solvent, such as supercritical carbon dioxide, and employ a lipase catalyzed esterification or transesterification reaction to produce the (R)-3-hydroxybutyrate derivatives.

Abstract: An intraocular shunt can be placed into a human eye using a hollow shaft having a distal tip with a bevel. The hollow shaft can be advanced through the anterior chamber while the hollow shaft holds the intraocular shunt. The distal tip can penetrate the sclera until the bevel is positioned distal to a superficial wall of the sclera. The shunt can be advanced at least partially from the hollow shaft into a drainage space of lower pressure than the anterior chamber. The hollow shaft can be withdrawn from the eye, leaving the shunt extending from the anterior chamber completely through the sclera to the drainage space.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of cold transfer postage stamps for mail pieces (0), methods for manufacturing said postage stamps and uses thereof. In particular, it relates to cold transfer postage stamps comprising a first release coated substrate (1), one or more printed layers (2) comprising one or more security features (6), a white opaque printed layer (3), a pressure sensitive adhesive layer (4), and a second release coated substrate (5).

Abstract: Metal objects are treated by anodising the metal object in contact with an aqueous electrolyte, and then subjecting the anodised metal object to a reversed voltage. The anodising is performed in two stages, firstly to passivate with the formation of an oxide layer, and secondly to form regions in the oxide layer having a higher oxygen to metal atom ratio, for example pits or caps, in this oxide layer. The second stage of anodising is performed by applying a multiplicity of voltage cycles, each voltage cycle involving ramping the voltage between a lower threshold voltage and an upper threshold voltage, and then returning to the lower threshold voltage. The reversed voltage step forms a hydrous metal oxide in the regions of higher oxygen to metal atom ratio, and the oxide layer and hydrous metal oxide together constitute a surface layer which is integral with the metal object, and has ion exchange capacity.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to an apparatus for refining a liquid stream. The apparatus includes a first flow chamber, an inclined plate region, and a second flow chamber. The first flow chamber forms a first portion of an hourglass double cone structure and directs the liquid stream in a first direction at a first velocity. The inclined plate region includes inclined plates radiating outward from the hourglass double cone structure in a helical pattern. The inclined plate region directs the liquid carrier in a second direction opposite the first direction at a second velocity less than the first velocity forming a laminar flow condition in the liquid stream to separate heavy waste and light waste from the liquid stream. The second flow chamber forms a second portion of the hourglass double cone structure and directs the liquid stream to a liquid stream outlet.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to an apparatus for refining a liquid stream which includes a liquid carrier with a heavier waste and a lighter waste. The apparatus includes a first flow chamber, a second flow chamber, and plates. The first flow chamber is a cone structure and directs the liquid stream downwards in a first direction at a first velocity. The first velocity is greater than a settling velocity of a heavier waste in the liquid carrier. The second flow chamber directs the liquid carrier upwards in a second direction at a second velocity less than the settling velocity. The plates are in the second flow chamber and at a transition between the first and second flow chambers. The plates have an inclined geometry to cause laminar flow in the liquid stream to separate the heavier waste to a lower collection chamber and lighter waste to an upper collection reservoir.