Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions useful for the diagnosis or prognosis of a systemic inflammatory condition such as sepsis.

Abstract: A power supply protection device for an electric appliance includes a switching circuit for establishing an electrical connection to receive an external voltage from the external power supply and output the external voltage to the electric appliance, a detecting circuit for disabling the switch circuit to break the electrical connection when determining the external voltage is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, and an alert circuit for generating an alert signal when the electrical connection is broken and outputting the alert signal to a user.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions useful for the diagnosis or prognosis of a systemic inflammatory condition such as sepsis.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for the rapid determination of the antibiotic susceptibility of a microorganism, such as, an infectious microorganism in a biological sample, using fluorescence in situ hybridization (“FISH”). Methods of the invention may be applied to the rapid identification, typing, antibiotic susceptibility determination, and/or antibiotic minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination for any infectious microorganism, such as a Gram positive bacteria, a Gram negative bacteria, or a yeast.

Abstract: An exemplary charging control circuit includes a signal shaping unit, a first switch unit, and a second switch unit. The signal shaping unit receives a control signal, and is capable of reshaping the received control signal to have a time interval transited from a first state to a second state. The first switch unit receives the shaped control signal, and generates a first switching signal. The second switch unit receives the first switching signal, and is capable of being turned on based on the first switching signal for allowing electrical power to be outputted to a battery.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods, monitors and systems measuring lysophosphatidylcholine, its derivatives and/or procalcitonin as well as at least one clinical marker (e.g. temperature or respiration rate) and/or at least one biomarker for the early detection of sepsis in a subject.

Abstract: The power management circuit includes a sampling unit, a reference voltage unit, a comparator, and a power managing unit. The sampling unit divides an input voltage from the power supply to generate a sampling voltage. The reference voltage unit receives the input voltage and generates a reference voltage when the input voltage is larger than a predetermined value. The comparator compares the sampling voltage with the reference voltage, generates a first signal when the sampling voltage is larger than the reference voltage, and generates a second signal when the sampling voltage is smaller than the reference voltage. The power managing unit establishes an electrical connection between the power supply and the load according to the first signal, and cuts off the electrical connection between the power supply and the load according to the second signal. A related electronic device is also provided.

Abstract: A device is used for measuring an output voltage of a battery. The device includes a detecting circuit, an encoding circuit, a control circuit, and a processing circuit. The detecting circuit is configured for detecting the output voltage of the battery and generating a first signal, a second signal, and a third signal accordingly. The encoding circuit is configured for generating a first code and a second code according to the first signal and the second signal. The control unit is configured for modifying the second code when the third signal indicates that the output voltage is lower than a predetermined value. The processing unit is configured for generating and outputting display control signals according to the first and second codes. The display control signals are used to control a display panel to display information of the output voltage of the battery.

Abstract: Methods for diagnosis of HPV infection in a subject are provided. HPV infection in a subject can be determined by generating mass profile data for a biological sample from the subject and correlating the mass profile data with reference mass profiles to detect the presence or absence, and/or quantity of at least one biomarker associated with HPV infection. Methods for detecting at least one biomarker associated with HPV infection in a biological sample are also provided.

Abstract: The early prediction or diagnosis of sepsis advantageously allows for clinical intervention before the disease rapidly progresses beyond initial stages to the more severe stages, such as severe sepsis or septic shock, which are associated with high mortality. Early prediction or diagnosis is accomplished using a molecular diagnostics approach, involving comparing an individual's profile of biomarker expression to profiles obtained from one or more control, or reference, populations, which may include a population who develops sepsis. Recognition of features in the individual's biomarker profile that are characteristic of the onset of sepsis allows a clinician to diagnose the onset of sepsis from a bodily fluid isolated at the individual at a single point in time. The necessity of monitoring the patient over a period of time is, therefore, avoided, advantageously allowing clinical intervention before the onset of serious symptoms.

Abstract: Mass spectrometry techniques for determining the status of sepsis in an individual are provided. A biomarker profile resolved from a biological sample, taken from the individual, using a mass spectrometry technique is compared to a reference biomarker profile. A single such comparison classifies the individual as belonging to or not belonging to a reference population. The individual's biomarker profile and the reference biomarker profile comprise a plurality of ions each having a mass-to-charge ratio of about 100 Daltons to about 1000 Daltons. The plurality of ions can be detected by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry in positive mode. The comparison uses a decision rule, such as a classification tree, that determines the status of sepsis in the individual without requiring knowledge of the identity of the biomarkers in the biomarker profile from the individual and without requiring knowledge of the identity of the biomarkers in the reference biomarker profile.

Abstract: Mass spectrometry techniques for determining the status of sepsis in an individual are provided. A biomarker profile resolved from a biological sample, taken from the individual, using a mass spectrometry technique is compared to a reference biomarker profile. A single such comparison classifies the individual as belonging to or not belonging to a reference population. The individual's biomarker profile and the reference biomarker profile comprise a plurality of ions each having a mass-to-charge ratio of about 100 Daltons to about 1000 Daltons. The plurality of ions can be detected by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry in positive mode. The comparison uses a decision rule, such as a classification tree, that determines the status of sepsis in the individual without requiring knowledge of the identity of the biomarkers in the biomarker profile from the individual and without requiring knowledge of the identity of the biomarkers in the reference biomarker profile.

Abstract: A switching power supply includes a rectifier circuit, a converter, a detecting unit, a control unit, a switching unit, and a protection unit. The rectifier circuit is used for rectifying an input voltage into a first direct current voltage. The converter is configured for generating a first current according to the first direct current voltage. The detecting unit is used for generating a detected voltage according to the first current. The control unit is configured for generating a control signal. The switching unit is used for enabling the converter, and conducting the first current to the detecting unit when receiving the control signal. The protection unit is configured for shunting the first current with the detecting unit when the first current becomes a large current surge. The control unit stops generating the control signal when determining that the detected voltage is equal to or higher than a predetermined value.

Abstract: Methods for diagnosis of HPV infection in a subject are provided. HPV infection in a subject can be determined by generating mass profile data for a biological sample from the subject and correlating the mass profile data with reference mass profiles to detect the presence or absence, and/or quantity of at least one biomarker associated with HPV infection. Methods for detecting at least one biomarker associated with HPV infection in a biological sample are also provided.

Abstract: A power supply protection device for an electric appliance includes a switching circuit for establishing an electrical connection to receive an external voltage from the external power supply and output the external voltage to the electric appliance, a detecting circuit for disabling the switch circuit to break the electrical connection when determining the external voltage is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, and an alert circuit for generating an alert signal when the electrical connection is broken and outputting the alert signal to a user.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to methods of quantifying the levels of at least one analyte in a sample or extract comprising adding a known quantity of at least one internal standard to the sample or extract. The present invention also relates to internal standards used in mass spectrometry, as well as compositions thereof. Internal standards for mass spectrometry according to the invention can be used, for example, to assist aligning mass spectra obtained from two different samples, each of which comprises the internal standard. In one aspect of the invention, the internal standard is a dendrimer. A labile internal standard may be used in conjunction with the dendrimer.

Abstract: An electronic device includes an operation circuit, a positive input terminal, a negative input terminal, a resistor, and a field effect transistor. The negative input terminal is used for cooperating with the positive input terminal to receive an input voltage. The field effect transistor includes a source connected to the positive input terminal, a drain connected to the operation circuit, and a gate connected to the positive input terminal and the operation circuit via the resistor.

Abstract: An exemplary charging control circuit includes a signal shaping unit, a first switch unit, and a second switch unit. The signal shaping unit receives a control signal, and is capable of reshaping the received control signal to have a time interval transited from a first state to a second state. The first switch unit receives the shaped control signal, and generates a first switching signal. The second switch unit receives the first switching signal, and is capable of being turned on based on the first switching signal for allowing electrical power to be outputted to a battery.

Abstract: The early prediction or diagnosis of sepsis advantageously allows for clinical intervention before the disease rapidly progresses beyond initial stages to the more severe stages, such as severe sepsis or septic shock, which are associated with high mortality. Early prediction or diagnosis is accomplished by comparing an individual's profile of biomarker expression to profiles obtained from one or more control, or reference, populations, which may include a population that develops sepsis. Recognition of features in the individual's biomarker profile that are characteristic of the onset of sepsis allows a clinician to diagnose the onset of sepsis from a bodily fluid isolated from the individual at a single point in time. The necessity of monitoring the patient over a period of time is, therefore, avoided, advantageously allowing clinical intervention before the onset of serious symptoms of sepsis.

Abstract: Mass spectrometry techniques for determining the status of sepsis in an individual are provided. A biomarker profile resolved from a biological sample, taken from the individual, using a mass spectrometry technique is compared to a reference biomarker profile. A single such comparison classifies the individual as belonging to or not belonging to a reference population. The individual's biomarker profile and the reference biomarker profile comprise a plurality of ions each having a mass-to-charge ratio of about 100 Daltons to about 1000 Daltons. The plurality of ions can be detected by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry in positive mode. The comparison uses a decision rule, such as a classification tree, that determines the status of sepsis in the individual without requiring knowledge of the identity of the biomarkers in the biomarker profile from the individual and without requiring knowledge of the identity of the biomarkers in the reference biomarker profile.