Abstract: Biochar is provided that is treated to have certain chemical and physical properties found to have the highest impact on plant growth and/or soil health. In particular, the following physical and/or chemical properties, among others, of a biochar have been identified as critical properties to control for in the selection of biomass feedstock, pyrolysis conditions, and/or enhancing treatment to increase biochar performance: (i) bulk density (ii) impregnation capacity; (iii) particle size distribution; (iv) solid particle density; (v) surface area; (vi) porosity; (vii) total porosity; (viii) ratio of macroporosity to total porosity (ix) content of residual organic compounds; (x) content of volatile organic compounds; (xii) ash content; (xiii) water holding capacity; (xiv) water retention capabilities; (xv) levels of dioxins and other potentially hazardous byproducts of pyrolysis; and (xvi) pH.

Abstract: Biochar is provided that is treated to have certain chemical and physical properties found to have the highest impact on plant growth and/or soil health. In particular, the following physical and/or chemical properties, among others, of a biochar have been identified as critical properties to control for in the selection of biomass feedstock, pyrolysis conditions, and/or enhancing treatment to increase biochar performance: (i) bulk density (ii) impregnation capacity; (iii) particle size distribution; (iv) solid particle density; (v) surface area; (vi) porosity; (vii) total porosity; (viii) ratio of macroporosity to total porosity (ix) content of residual organic compounds; (x) content of volatile organic compounds; (xii) ash content; (xiii) water holding capacity; (xiv) water retention capabilities; (xv) levels of dioxins and other potentially hazardous byproducts of pyrolysis; and (xvi) pH.

Abstract: According to some aspects of the present disclosure a method for presenting a GUI for modifying medical data on a handheld medical device is disclosed. The method includes determining a correction bolus amount and a meal bolus amount for the patient. The method also includes presenting the GUI on a display of the medical device and presenting the correction bolus amount, the meal bolus amount and a total bolus amount in the GUI. The method also includes presenting a correction bolus amount modification field and a meal bolus amount field in the GUI. The correction bolus amount modification field and the meal bolus amount modification field allow the patient to provide input to modify the correction bolus amount and meal bolus amount, respectively. The method further includes receiving the input and generating an advice history record based on the input.

Abstract: A method of producing a modified biochar and the use of the biochar as a soil amendment. The modified biochar can be produced by contacting biochar with an acid-containing solution obtained from an acid containing stream produced in a pyrolysis process, which produces biochar. In accordance with one aspect, a cellulose-containing biomass is pyrolyzed to generate a gaseous organic acid-containing stream, which is condensed to produce an organic acid-containing solution. The biochar is then modified by contact with the organic acid-containing solution.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for applying biochar to turf and landscape to allow the turf and landscape to be effectively maintained under reduced water and/or reduced fertilizer applications.

Abstract: A method of producing a modified biochar and the use of the biochar as a soil amendment. The modified biochar can be produced by contacting biochar with an acid-containing solution obtained from an acid containing stream produced in a pyrolysis process, which produces biochar. In accordance with one aspect, a cellulose-containing biomass is pyrolyzed to generate a gaseous organic acid-containing stream, which is condensed to produce an organic acid-containing solution. The biochar is then modified by contact with the organic acid-containing solution.

Abstract: Biochar is provided that is treated to have certain chemical and physical properties found to have the highest impact on plant growth and/or soil health. In particular, the following physical and/or chemical properties, among others, of a biochar have been identified as critical properties to control for in the selection of biomass feedstock, pyrolysis conditions, and/or enhancing treatment to increase biochar performance: (i) bulk density (ii) impregnation capacity; (iii) particle size distribution; (iv) solid particle density; (v) surface area; (vi) porosity; (vii) total porosity; (viii) ratio of macroporosity to total porosity (ix) content of residual organic compounds; (x) content of volatile organic compounds; (xii) ash content; (xiii) water holding capacity; (xiv) water retention capabilities; (xv) levels of dioxins and other potentially hazardous byproducts of pyrolysis; and (xvi) pH.

Abstract: A handheld diabetes manager is presented with an improved graphical user interface for a bolus calculator. The bolus calculator is configured to receive blood glucose measurements from a blood glucose measurement module and operates, in response to an input, to compute an insulin recommendation for a patient based in part on the blood glucose measurements. The graphical user interface for the bolus calculator includes a health adjustment screen that enables a user to input a value for health events associated with the insulin recommendation, where the input value represents a cumulative effect of the health events on insulin of the patient and the health adjustment screen presents a different icon for each of the health events associated with the insulin recommendation.

Abstract: A handheld diabetes manager is presented with an improved graphical user interface for a bolus calculator. The bolus calculator is configured to receive blood glucose measurements from a blood glucose measurement module and operates, in response to an input, to compute an insulin recommendation for a patient based in part on the blood glucose measurements. The graphical user interface for the bolus calculator includes a health adjustment screen that enables a user to input a value for health events associated with the insulin recommendation, where the input value represents a cumulative effect of the health events on insulin of the patient and the health adjustment screen presents a different icon for each of the health events associated with the insulin recommendation.

Abstract: A handheld diabetes manager is presented with an improved graphical user interface for a bolus calculator. The bolus calculator is configured to receive blood glucose measurements from a blood glucose measurement module and operates, in response to an input, to compute an insulin recommendation for a patient based in part on the blood glucose measurements. The graphical user interface for the bolus calculator includes a health adjustment screen that enables a user to input a value for health events associated with the insulin recommendation, where the input value represents a cumulative effect of the health events on insulin of the patient and the health adjustment screen presents a different icon for each of the health events associated with the insulin recommendation.

Abstract: A method for conducting a Testing In Pairs (TIPs) blood glucose (bG) test using a handheld diabetes management device carried by a user. A processing subsystem of the device implements a software module for managing the TIPs test. The software module generates a plurality of predetermined acceptance time windows corresponding to different user defined events. The processing subsystem can identify specific ones of a plurality of bG test values read by the device that are obtained during the predetermined bG acceptance time windows, and which are identified as being related pairs of accepted bG test values that correspond to specific ones of the user defined events. The related pairs of accepted bG test values can then be stored in a database.

Abstract: Processes and systems for production of bioproducts such as biofuels are provided. The bioproduct production processes and systems utilize pretreatment of a carbohydrate-containing feedstock to produce soluble sugar molecules and continuous conversion of the pretreated feedstock to a bioproduct by an immobilized fermenting microorganism.

Abstract: A method of checking the integrity of a dynamic link library (DLL) file called by an application being executed on a handheld medical device is described. The method includes loading a DLL from a read only memory (ROM) to a random access memory (RAM) beginning at a fixed location in the RAM. The DLL includes a first routine for performing a safety critical function of the handheld medical device and a second routine for performing a cyclical redundancy check (CRC) once the DLL is loaded to the RAM. The method includes selectively executing the first routine from the RAM. The method includes selectively executing the second routine from the RAM including: calculating a check value based on the DLL; comparing the check value with a predetermined check value; and indicating that an error is present when the check value is different than the predetermined check value.

Abstract: According to some aspects of the present disclosure a method for presenting a GUI for modifying medical data on a handheld medical device is disclosed. The method includes determining a correction bolus amount and a meal bolus amount for the patient. The method also includes presenting the GUI on a display of the medical device and presenting the correction bolus amount, the meal bolus amount and a total bolus amount in the GUI. The method also includes presenting a correction bolus amount modification field and a meal bolus amount field in the GUI. The correction bolus amount modification field and the meal bolus amount modification field allow the patient to provide input to modify the correction bolus amount and meal bolus amount, respectively. The method further includes receiving the input and generating an advice history record based on the input.

Abstract: According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a device and method for determining an allowable amount of blood glucose (bG) of a patient is disclosed. The method further includes receiving a current bG measurement, determining a target bG value, and determining a correction delta bG value based on one or more advice history records. The method includes determining a correction meal rise value and determining a maximum allowed bG value based on the target bG value, the correction delta bG value, and the correction meal rise value. The method includes setting the allowable amount of bG value equal to the maximum allowed bG value when the current bG measurement is greater than the target bG value and determining the allowable amount of bG value using the target bG value and the correction delta bG value when the current bG measurement is less than the target bG value.

Abstract: A method for monitoring blood glucose (bG) levels of a diabetic user. The method may be implemented on a non-transitory computer readable medium adapted to run on a processing subsystem, the processing subsystem forming a portion of a handheld diabetes management device for monitoring the bG levels of a diabetic user and determining a correction bolus to be provided to the user. The method may comprise using a memory to store information in a plurality of different time blocks. The information may include a plurality of differing user defined health events that each include a predetermined associated percentage value set by the user by which a correction bolus calculation will be modified to account for one of an increase or a decrease in insulin associated with each one of the defined health events. The processing subsystem may be used to communicate with the memory and to obtain the information and to calculate therefrom the correction bolus.

Abstract: Processes and systems for production of bioproducts such as biofuels are provided. The bioproduct production processes and systems utilize pretreatment of a carbohydrate-containing feedstock to produce soluble sugar molecules and continuous conversion of the pretreated feedstock to a bioproduct by an immobilized fermenting microorganism.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for managing a three day profile blood glucose (bG) measurements that are provided by a user using a handheld diabetes management device. The method may involve configuring a database carried by the device to store a plurality of bG test values input by a user for each day of a three day test period. The bG test values are required to be provided by the user in accordance with a predetermined plurality of differing acceptance time windows during each day of the three day test period. If two or more windows are open concurrently when a given bG test value is obtained, the system allows the user to select the appropriate time window that the given bG test value should be associated with.

Abstract: Processes and systems for production of bioproducts such as biofuels are provided. The bioproduct production processes and systems utilize pretreatment of a carbohydrate-containing feedstock to produce soluble sugar molecules and continuous conversion of the pretreated feedstock to a bioproduct by an immobilized fermenting microorganism.

Abstract: A method of checking the integrity of a dynamic link library (DLL) file called by an application being executed on a handheld medical device is described. The method includes loading a DLL from a read only memory (ROM) to a random access memory (RAM) beginning at a fixed location in the RAM. The DLL includes a first routine for performing a safety critical function of the handheld medical device and a second routine for performing a cyclical redundancy check (CRC) once the DLL is loaded to the RAM. The method includes selectively executing the first routine from the RAM. The method includes selectively executing the second routine from the RAM including: calculating a check value based on the DLL; comparing the check value with a predetermined check value; and indicating that an error is present when the check value is different than the predetermined check value.