Abstract: The present invention comprises methods and apparatuses that can provide accurate measurement of glucose or other analytes from a multilumen catheter in the presence of infusion of substances, including glucose. Examples of “multilumen catheters” include central venous catheters having multiple lumens, midline catheters having multiple lumens, multiple catheters configured or emplaced such that their lumens are in proximity to each other, and, in the case of indwelling analyte sensors, a catheter with a lumen for infusion and an indwelling sensor spaced apart from the infusion lumen. For blood withdrawal, anti-cross contamination controls can prevent the entrainment of blood which might be contaminated with feeding fluids or medications that are administered through other lumens within the catheter and in proximity of the blood sampling port. Cross contamination can occur under various situations, and is known to occur when the patient is connected to a ventilator.

Abstract: A highly selective and sensitive of a carbonic anhydrase-based method for measurement of zinc ion by an excitation ratiometric format based on resonance energy transfer: i.e., where the zinc ion level is transduced as the ratio of fluorescence intensities excited at two different excitation wavelengths, is provided. The method can be used very well in a fluorescence microscopy format. A detection limit of about 10 pM in zinc buffered systems, a ten to one thousand-fold improvement on the Fura indicators (which respond to Ca and Mg as well), and a one hundred thousand-fold improvement on the recently described FuraZin-1 is achieved.

Abstract: Recovery of hydrocarbons, such as petroleum products, from a liquid or solid substrate is facilitated by the use of microwave energy to energize and separate molecular bonds between the hydrocarbons and the substrate. A radio frequency (RF) applicator delivers microwave energy to a treatment volume containing an emulsion of a hydrocarbon and a substrate. Delivering the microwave energy to the emulsion facilitates separation of the hydrocarbon and substrate molecules into layers. Hydrocarbons and other products can then be recovered from their respective layers. The treatment volume may be located either above or below ground. The RF applicator may include an antenna body with slots formed substantially parallel to one another in a substantially horizontal orientation. The RF applicator efficiently delivers microwave energy into the treatment volume. Substantially all of the power supplied to the RF applicator is radiated, with very little power reflected internally within the RF applicator.

Abstract: Methods of forming electrostatically charged gelatin are provided. Gelatin is extracted by an acid extraction method (12) thereby producing a gelatin dispersion (14), the pH of which is adjusted to the isoelectric point of the gelatin. The pH of the gelatin dispersion (14) is then further adjusted (22) so as to cause the gelatin to assume an electrostatic charge.

Abstract: A CT collimator includes a first radiation absorbent lamination having a plurality of apertures formed therethrough. Each aperture formed through the first radiation absorbent lamination is aligned with a respective axis formed between a corresponding pixellating element and an x-ray emission source. The collimator includes a second radiation absorbent lamination having a plurality of apertures formed therethrough, each aperture formed through the second radiation absorbent lamination aligned with the respective axis formed between a corresponding pixellating element and the x-ray emission source. A spacer is positioned between the first and second radiation absorbent laminations.

Abstract: Animal feed compositions comprising amounts of protein, carbohydrate, fat and a functional ingredient for preventing hairball formation are provided. The functional ingredient comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of electrostatically charged gelatin, animal bile acid, fungal acid protease, papain, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: An arcuate support for a disk brake caliper is keyed to a tubular axle casing, for example, by way of a woodruff key, to transmit braking torque. The support may slide axially of the axle casing to permit the caliper to accommodate brake pad wear. This construction eliminates the need for a moving component of the brake caliper itself. In the latter case, braking torque may be transmitted via the keyed connections or via a separate torque arm.

Abstract: An introducer deploys an endoluminal device in a distal location from a proximal location. The introducer comprises a retrograde portion, an anterograde portion axially moveable relative to the retrograde portion, a shaft having a distal tip and an anterograde sheath attached to the distal tip, and an inflatable balloon mounted radially outside the retrograde portion for anchoring the device during deployment from its proximal end to its distal end. The retrograde portion may comprise bilumen tubing having an external wall, an internal wall that defines a central lumen radially inward of the internal wall, and an annular lumen in fluid communication with the balloon defined between the external wall and the internal wall.

Abstract: A tubular vehicle axle includes a primary air brake actuator within the axle. A tubular wall of the axle defines a pressure vessel of the primary actuator. The primary actuator has an output axis coincident with a rotary axis of the axle. An auxiliary air actuator can be directly operable on the primary actuator.

Abstract: The present invention comprises methods and apparatuses that can provide measurement of glucose and other analytes with a variety of sensors without many of the performance-degrading problems of conventional approaches. An apparatus according to the present invention comprises a blood access system, adapted to remove blood from a body and infuse at least a portion of the removed blood back into the body. Such an apparatus also comprises an analyte sensor, mounted with the blood access system such that the analyte sensor measures the analyte in the blood that has been removed from the body by the blood access system. A method according to the present invention comprises removing blood from a body, using an analyte sensor to measure an analyte in the removed blood, and infusing at least a portion of the removed blood back into the body. The use of a non-contact sensor with a closed system creates a system will minimal infection risk.

Abstract: The present invention comprises methods and apparatuses that can provide measurement of glucose and other analytes with a variety of sensors without many of the performance-degrading problems of conventional approaches. An apparatus according to the present invention comprises a blood access system, adapted to remove blood from a body and infuse at least a portion of the removed blood back into the body. Such an apparatus also comprises an analyte sensor, mounted with the blood access system such that the analyte sensor measures the analyte in the blood that has been removed from the body by the blood access system. A method according to the present invention comprises removing blood from a body, using an analyte sensor to measure an analyte in the removed blood, and infusing at least a portion of the removed blood back into the body. The use of a non-contact sensor with a closed system creates a system will minimal infection risk.

Abstract: The present invention comprises methods and apparatuses that can provide measurement of glucose and other analytes with a variety of sensors without many of the performance-degrading problems of conventional approaches. An apparatus according to the present invention comprises a blood access system, adapted to remove blood from a body and infuse at least a portion of the removed blood back into the body. Such an apparatus also comprises an analyte sensor, mounted with the blood access system such that the analyte sensor measures the analyte in the blood that has been removed from the body by the blood access system. A method according to the present invention comprises removing blood from a body, using an analyte sensor to measure an analyte in the removed blood, and infusing at least a portion of the removed blood back into the body. The use of a non-contact sensor with a closed system creates a system will minimal infection risk.

Abstract: The present invention comprises methods and apparatuses that can provide measurement of glucose and other analytes with a variety of sensors without many of the performance-degrading problems of conventional approaches. As apparatus according to the present invention comprises a blood access system, adapted to remove blood from a body and infuse at least a portion of the removed blood back into the body. Such an apparatus also comprises an analyte sensor, mounted with the blood access system such that the analyte sensor measures the analyte in the blood that has been removed from the body by the blood access system. A method according to the present invention comprises removing blood from a body, using an analyte sensor to measure an analyte in the removed blood, and infusing at least a portion of the removed blood back into the body. The use of a non-contact sensor with a closed system creates a system will minimal infection risk.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for selectively acylating an A82846A, A82846B, A82846C or PA-42867-A glycopeptide at the N1, N2 or N3 positions and the monoacylated compounds prepared therefrom.

Abstract: An electronic device, such as, a computer, may be adapted for self-monitoring for compliance to an operating policy. The operating policy may specify a pay-per-use or subscription business model and measurements associated with compliant usage. A secure execution environment may measure usage in accordance with the business model as well as monitor and enforce compliance to the operating policy. To increase the difficulty of attacking or otherwise disabling the secure execution environment, elements of the secure execution environment may be distributed. The distribution points may include other functional elements of the computer, such as interface circuits, or may even be remotely located over a network. An implementation method for disaggregating the secure execution environment is also disclosed.

Abstract: A technique is provided for efficient dose management and/or scatter reduction during imaging. The technique includes estimating attenuation level of different portions of an imaged object, and independently adjusting at least one of X-ray flux and X-ray energy spectrum from each of a plurality of emission points of a distributed X-ray source based on the attenuation level of different portions of the imaged object. The technique also includes acquiring two or more projection images of different portions of an entire field of view via the distributed X-ray source, removing respective scatter components from each of the two or more projection images, and combining the projection images less scatter components to generate a final projection image of the entire field of view.

Abstract: A focally aligned scintillator is constructed such that its scintillator walls are sloped so as to be angularly aligned with an x-ray source. The scintillator has a planar x-ray reception surface and a planar light emission surface, and a plurality of sidewalls connecting the planar x-ray reception surface and the planar light emission surface. The sidewalls extend non-perpendicularly between the planar x-ray reception surface and the planar light emission surface.

Abstract: A domestic spray device comprising a liquid reservoir (1), a continuous feed gas pump (3) with a control means (5) for activation thereof, and a means of transferring liquid (2) from the liquid reservoir (1) to a nozzle unit (12), the nozzle unit (12) comprising a means of forming a film of liquid, a means of injecting bubbles of gas into said film of liquid, said gas being forced into the nozzle unit (12) by the continuous feed gas pump (3), and a section of hardware defining an exit orifice (19) for the spray generated.

Abstract: Phase contrast magnetic resonance images are produced using interleaved spiral k-space scanning with a bipolar phase contrast gradient. Spiral scanning is configured so that acquisition impulse response defines a central alias free portion in a partial field of view, and signal acquisition is arranged so that moving spins are contained with this central alias free portion. First and second signals are acquired with alternate phase encodings, and a complex difference of the acquired signals is obtained. The complex difference is substantially free of aliasing artifacts within the central portion.

Abstract: Methods of forming multilayer reflective polarizers are described. One method includes providing a multilayer polymer film having a plurality of alternating polymeric optical layer pairs, heating the multilayer polymer film to a temperature of about or greater than both polymers layer glass transition temperatures to from a heated multilayer film, and stretching the heated multilayer polymer film in an in-plane direction to form a multilayer reflective polarizer. Each first polymer layer includes a first polyester material and each second polymer layer includes a second polyester material that has a different polymer composition than the first polymer layer composition. The stretching includes a uniaxial stretch.