The invention relates to a method for determining the residual time until a cooking process of a foodstuff (12) has been finished. At first a set temperature value for a core (14) of the foodstuff (12) is defined. Next the actual temperatures in the core (14) of the foodstuff (12) at predetermined times are measured and the time dependence of the measured temperature in the core (14) of the foodstuff (12) is determined. At last the time dependence of the measured temperature is compared with the set temperature value and “the residual time of the cooking process is estimated. The invention relates further to a corresponding apparatus for determining the residual time until a cooking process of a foodstuff (12) has been finished.

A system and method for brewing beverages utilizing inertial separation and an adjustable-volume brewing chamber to selectively retain or release particulate matter, oils, and/or other components of the brewed beverage, whereby mechanical filtration may be avoided and smaller particulates may be separated from the beverage. Thus, less material is needed to achieve similar levels of infusion and brewing time may be reduced.

A method of converting a conventional atmospheric frying device to a vacuum frying device is provided. The method includes positioning a hood on top of a conventional frying device to provide an enclosure for drawing a vacuum within the modified devices. In addition, the method can include strengthening the existing vat so that it is capable of withstanding the forces associated with vacuum frying.

A treatment device for treating food products with conditioned air comprises a housing which delimits a treatment space and is provided with an entry and an exit, at least one conveying device for conveying the products from the entry throughout the treatment space to the exit, the conveying device between the entry and the exit following a conveying path with several windings which are situated one above the other, air-circulation device for circulating conditioned air throughout the treatment space via a hollow drum. According to a first aspect, air-conditioning device are provided upstream of the air-circulation device for conditioning the air. According to a second aspect, at least one winding of the conveying path near the entry has a pitch which is different to the pitch of the downstream windings.

An apparatus for preparing infant formula to be supplied to a bottle, and methods and circuits for operating the same, are disclosed. The apparatus includes a housing having a shape for integrating together components of the apparatus. A fluid reservoir for holding fluid and configured to be coupling to the housing is provided. Further provided is a formula disc disposed at a first location of the housing. The first location defined above a dispense location of the bottle, and the formula disc having a top end and a dispense end, the formula disc further includes a plurality of slots for holding the infant formula in a powder state. The apparatus has an end plate that is coupled to the dispense end of the formula disc, and the end plate has a dispense hole, such that the end plate is rotatable relative to the formula disc.

A method and apparatus for forming a beverage. Movement of a brew chamber may automatically enable the provision of beverage precursor liquid into a reservoir in a brewer, which is then used (heated or not) to form a beverage. For example, closing of the brew chamber may cause a lid for a water reservoir to be fully opened or otherwise permit movement of the lid to allow access to the reservoir, allowing a user to provide water into the reservoir. The reservoir lid may open with an abrupt action, causing attention to be drawn to the reservoir lid. In another arrangement, closure of the brew chamber may cause actuation of a baffle, pump, valve or other device to provide a suitable amount of water to a reservoir for beverage formation. In another arrangement, opening of the brew chamber may cause the reservoir lid to be automatically and simultaneously opened with the brew chamber.

The invention relates to a capsule for the preparation of a beverage. The capsule includes first and second covering walls connected for forming a cavity containing a beverage ingredient and a contactless identifying element for identifying the capsule by detecting the identifying element using the detector of a beverage producing device. The identifying element is preferably disposed in the cavity.

A system for preparing a beverage suitable for consumption, for instance coffee and/or tea, is disclosed. The system comprises an apparatus for dispensing beverage under pressure to a nozzle of the system, and at least one receiving chamber which is placeable or is placed downstream of this nozzle. During use, the nozzle spouts a jet of the beverage with relatively high velocity to and/or into the receiving chamber. The receiving chamber is provided with at least one outflow opening for dispensing beverage received in this chamber. The system is at least configured to substantially counteract or prevent formation of foam of this beverage, in particular when the beverage is spouted to and/or into the receiving chamber. Further disclosed is an assembly at least provided with a holder, to a holder, a receiving body, the use of a said system and to a method for preparing a beverage suitable for consumption.

The invention relates to a domestic cooking pot (1) comprising means of controlling (7) at least part of its operation, wherein said control means (7) have a mobile mounting between a plurality of positions, wherein said pot (1) is characterized in that it is further fitted with an information window (8) and at least an indicator (10) that is representative of one of the positions of the control means (7), and in that the window (8), the indicator (10) and the control means (7) work together so that said indicator (10) appears in the window (8) when the control means (7) are in the corresponding position.

In a method for controlling a cooking process of a cooking item contained in a cooking container, the sound of the cooking process is detected by means of at least one acoustic sensor and the course of the sound is directly analyzed for determining of a temperature and in particular the boiling point of the cooking item.

Machine (1) for extracting puree, or fruit juice starting from vegetable or animal food, such as a rough extractor or a fine extractor. The machine (1) comprises essentially a cylindrical body (2) having an inlet (3) for the product to treat, an outlet (4) for a part of the product that can be used and an outlet (5) for another part of product to dispose of. The rotor (6) is wheeled to a motor (80) by a shaft (15). The product that is put in the cylindrical body (2) of the machine (1) is pushed by centrifugal force by a plurality of blades (20) of the rotor (6) to pass through a sieve (7) having holes (8) and a cylindrical or conical shape. The blades (20) of the rotor (6) comprise, in particular a first portion (21) having a first concavity and a second portion (22) having a second concavity opposite to the first.

A container assembly (10) for retaining a liquid (16) during aging of the liquid (16) comprises a container (12) and an oxygenator (230). The container (12) includes a container body (14) that defines a chamber (14A) that receives and retains liquid (16). The oxygenator (230) is positioned substantially within the chamber (14A). The oxygenator (230) includes a fluid source (662), one or more diffusers (672), and a valve (670). The one or more diffusers (672) are in fluid communication with the fluid source (662). The valve (670) selectively controls the introduction of a fluid from the fluid source (662) into the liquid (16) through the one or more diffusers (672). The container assembly (10) further comprises an insert retainer assembly (338) and one or more flavor inserts (440) that are received and retained by the insert retainer assembly (338).

The present invention relates to a device to regulate the level of a liquid inside a boiler of a coffee machine, having a transparent duct connected to the boiler and designed to visibly display the level of the liquid inside the boiler, a capacitive sensor that can be positioned outside the transparent duct in determined positions and designed to generate electric signals representing the presence or absence of liquid in correspondence to the position of the sensor along the transparent duct. The sensor of the device has first measuring elements and second measuring elements, both of capacitive type; the second measuring elements are positioned at a predetermined distance from the first measuring elements, and a measuring device designed to measure the impedance between the first and second measuring elements and to generate signals indicating the presence or absence of liquid in correspondence to the position of the sensor. The invention also relates to the machine that includes this device.

The present invention provides apparatus and methods for adjusting the atmosphere within a substantially sealed chamber containing respiring produce. The chamber of the present invention includes inlet means to permit ambient atmosphere to enter the chamber, and outlet means to permit chamber atmosphere to exit the chamber. Methods using apparatus of the present invention comprise: (a) monitoring the oxygen concentration within the chamber;(b) following detection that the oxygen concentration in the chamber has fallen below a predetermined amount, opening the inlet means so that the amount of oxygen in the chamber increases; and(c) removing carbon dioxide from the chamber atmosphere substantially at a predetermined rate, the predetermined rate having been selected such that the carbon dioxide concentration within the chamber atmosphere does not substantially exceed a predetermined amount. The methods may also comprise opening the inlet means for a time that is approximately proportional to the difference between the detected oxygen concentration and an oxygen setpoint.

System for application of ozone on grains made up essentially by one or more ozone mixers with particulates separator (1) for injecting air in the grains mass, one or more ozone mixers (2) for injecting air in the grains mass, a base of the device for grains treatment with ozone (3), a transport and discharge device (4), and an air cooling filter (5) that can be used individually or jointly to apply ozone on the grains mass.

A grill is provided with a removable storage basket assembly for providing a conveniently accessible receptacle or storage platform for articles such as seasonings, cooking tools, towels, or other articles. The storage basket assembly includes a frame having a basket or tray that can be mounted thereto, and a handle. The handle is configured to be received within a recess formed in a shelf of the grill for removably but stably mounting the storage basket assembly on the grill.

A coffee machine comprises a frothing device, wherein an internal milk channel leading to a frothing chamber is provided into which opens a bypass air inlet for operable air supply to the frothing device. A flexible milk suction line connects the frothing device with a milk supply container. Means are provided for cleaning the frothing device and the milk suction line with rinsing water from a continuous-flow water heater of the coffee machine. A controlled valve arrangement is provided which feeds rinsing water from the continuous-flow water heater to the bypass air inlet of the frothing device. A milk suction end of the milk suction line is directly or indirectly, fluid-conductively connectable with a residual water pan of the coffee machine prior to feeding rinsing water to the bypass air inlet.

The invention proposes a device for decaffeinating a liquid. The device includes at least one cathode electrode and at least one anode electrode which are spaced apart and which are immersed in the liquid; a power supply coupled to the at least one cathode electrode and the at least one anode electrode and configured to apply power thereto, wherein the at least one cathode electrode and the at least one anode electrode are configured to generate an electric field in the liquid upon application of the power to attract caffeine molecules in the liquid to the at least one cathode electrode; wherein the at least one cathode electrode is made of or coated with an absorbing material configured to absorb at least part of the caffeine molecules that are attracted to the at least one cathode electrode.

The invention provides a new method for preparing ultra-small polymeric-lipidic delivery nanoparticles (USDNs) that were synthesized by a nanoprecipitation method followed by a layer-by-layer nanodeposition. The USDNs particle size can be controlled between 5-25 mn and provides loading capacities of 22.12% to 72.08%. Moreover, the USDNs platform provides pH controlled drug release, within a terminal release ratio of 68% at pH 5.0 and almost no release to pH of 7.5. Furthermore, based on their small sizes (5-25 nm) and unique composition, the USDNs penetrates the skin strata efficiently, release the payload at the target site as topical or transdermal treatment of a variety of skin disorders. Additionally the USDNs system can be used to treat and diagnoses other crucial diseases (Cancer, Alzheimer, etc) can be combined with various micro-needles or needles free array technologies for special application.

The disclosure provides methods and compositions for suppressing retroviruses, including novel methods for treating a retroviral infection in a human in need of such treatment, comprising delivering a functional meiosis arrest female protein 1 (MARF1) to cells containing a retroviral provirus, together with novel expression constructs comprising a coding sequence encoding a functional MARF1 operatively linked to a promoter, vectors comprising such constructs, and packaging cell lines for use in making such vectors.

This document provided methods and materials involved in treating medical conditions. For example, methods and materials for using anti-Interleukin 4, anti-Interleukin 5, and/or anti-Interleukin 13 antibodies to treat asthma in a mammal identified as having a Th2 immune response using a whole blood cell-based cytokine whole blood cell-based cytokine assay are provided.

Provided in some embodiments are antibodies comprising a heavy chain having no native interchain cysteine amino acids, a light chain having no native interchain cysteine amino acids, and having no native interchain disulphide linkages between the heavy chain and the light chain. Also provided in certain embodiments are antibodies comprising a heavy chain having no native interchain cysteine amino acids, a light chain having no native interchain cysteine amino acids, and having no native interchain disulphide linkages between the heavy chain and the light chain where the native interchain cysteine amino acids have been replaced by amino acids having no thiol moiety.

The present invention relates to Chimeric Antigen Receptors (CAR) that are recombinant chimeric proteins able to redirect immune cell specificity and reactivity toward selected membrane antigens, and more particularly in which extracellular ligand binding is a scFV derived from a CD123 monoclonal antibody, conferring specific immunity against CD123 positive cells. The engineered immune cells endowed with such CARs are particularly suited for treating lymphomas and leukemia.

Cysteine engineered antibodies useful for the site-specific conjugation to a variety of agents are provided. Methods for the design, preparation, screening, selection and use of such antibodies are also provided.

The present invention relates to Chimeric Antigen Receptors (CAR) that are recombinant chimeric proteins able to redirect immune cell specificity and reactivity toward selected membrane antigens, and more particularly in which extracellular ligand binding is a scFV derived from a BCMA monoclonal antibody, conferring specific immunity against BCMA positive cells. The engineered immune cells endowed with such CARs are particularly suited for treating lymphomas, multiple myeloma and leukemia.

Provided herein are methods of treatment to regenerate, restore or rejuvenate a tissue. Methods include making adult somatic and germ cells pluripotent for administration to a patient. Alternatively, created pluripotent cells may be differentiated to the desired tissue type and administered to a patient to repair or enhance the target tissue.

Materials and methods for treating and preventing American Foulbrood disease in honeybees, such as materials and methods for using phage lysin enzymes to lyse Paenibacillus larvae, are provided herein.

The present invention relates to the use of the miRNA expression profile, particularly of miR-199a-5p, and the target genes regulated thereby for the diagnosis, prognosis and use of miR-199a-5p inhibitors for treating fibroproliferative disorders.

Provided herein are compositions and methods for modifying a predetermined nucleic acid sequence. A programmable nucleoprotein molecular complex containing a polypeptide moiety and a specificity conferring nucleic acid (SCNA) which assembles in-vivo, in a target cell, and is capable of interacting with the predetermined target nucleic acid sequence is provided. The programmable nucleoprotein molecular complex is capable of specifically modifying and/or editing a target site within the target nucleic acid sequence and/or modifying the function of the target nucleic acid sequence.

The invention provides diagnostic and therapeutic targets for pulmonary disease, in particular, fibrotic lung disease. The inventors have found that a genetic variant MUC5B gene is associated with increased expression of the gene, increased risk of developing a pulmonary disease, and an improved prognosis and survival among those developing the pulmonary disease.

By a genome-wide gene analysis of expression profiles of known or putative gene sequences in peripheral blood and biopsy samples, the present inventors have identified a consensus set of gene expression-based molecular biomarkers for distinguishing liver transplantation patients who have Acute Rejection (AR), Hepatitis C Virus Recurrence (HCV-R), both AR/HCV-R, or Acute Dysfunction No Rejection (ADNR). These molecular biomarkers are useful for diagnosis, prognosis and monitoring of liver transplantation patients.

Provided herein are methods for the prognosis of prostate cancer progression in a patient by analyzing the gene expression in a tumor sample obtained from the patient the prognosis of prostate cancer progression in a patient by analyzing the gene expression in a tumor sample obtained from the patient. In particular, gene expression levels of GCOM1, MEX3D, TRPM4, ATPAF1, PTRF, GLYATL1, FLNA, OBSCN, STRA13, WHSCl, ARFGAP3, KDM2A, FAM83H, CLDN7, CNOT6, and B3GNT9 are measured. Kits containing means for the measurement of gene expression as described herein and methods for treatment of prostate cancer are also provided.

Fibrous structures that exhibit a novel combination of properties and to methods for making such fibrous structures are provided.

The invention provides for a proteomic approach for identification of specific bacterial protein profiles that may be used in the development of methods for the diagnosis of bacterial chronic sinusitis. The invention provides for methods for determining the presence of pathogenic bacteria in the upper respiratory tract of a subject using protein profiles of the pathogenic bacteria. The invention also provides for methods of diagnosing a bacterial infection of the upper respiratory tract of a subject using protein profiles of a pathogenic bacteria. In addition, the invention provides for devices, immunoassays and kits for identifying pathogenic bacteria in the upper respiratory tract.

A cold rolling mill is described wherein the unstressed shape of metal sheet is continuously sensed during rolling by a plurality of negligible displacement force sensors perpendicularly disposed relative to the pass line at a mill location producing a tensile stress above 4,000 p.s.i. in the metal sheet being rolled. The output signals from those sensors underlying opposite edges of the metal sheet are compared to equalize reduction at the sheet edges while the difference between the force measured by a centrally situated sensor and the average force measured by the sensors underlying opposite edges of the sheet provide a signal indicative of the roll bending force required to produce flat sheet.

A button and pin assembly machine for producing badges and the like comprising buttons having rearwardly extending rims adapted to receive and retain respective pin structures therein, in which the buttons are sequentially supplied to a pin-forming head and supported thereat with the button rim encircling the end of such head, straight pin blanks being sequentially supplied to said head, with a portion of a pin blank being inserted into the head and rotated thereby with respect to a stationary abutment to curl an end of such blank sufficiently to enable its insertion in the rim of a button disposed thereat, said head having means for forming a bend in the portion of the pin blank inserted in such head to resiliently bias the pointed end of the pin blank toward the button.

Portions of a pin-on button are cut and assembled as a result of a plurality of operations in a machine having a vertical press. Cutter and work deforming tools are displaced by a single press ram to cut blanks and deform the blanks onto a button top placed in one of two die assemblies positioned in alignment below the work deforming tool on the lower end of the ram.

Device for forming buttons from a pin-on back plate, a front plate, and a cover over the front plate, with the device having a pair of button-forming dies alternately shiftable into operation alignment with a forming punch which on descent with the successively aligned dies cooperates with the latter to assemble the separate button parts into a button, and a cover-blanking punch and die set above the forming punch, of which the blanking die is topmost and has a die aperture open at the top and bottom and a cutting edge at the bottom of the aperture, with the blanking die being by the forming punch raised into blanking cooperation with the blanking die, and the forming punch being moved upwardly and downwardly by manually operable means.

Device for forming buttons from a pin-on back plate, a front plate, and a cover over the front plate, with the device having a pair of button-forming dies alternately shiftable into operative alignment with a forming punch which on descent into the successively aligned dies cooperates with the latter to assemble the separate button parts into a button, and a blanking punch and die set above the forming punch, of which the blanking punch is raised into cooperation with the blanking die for blanking a cover from a supply sheet, and a handlever operatively connected with the punches for simultaneously lowering the forming punch and raising the blanking punch.

Apparatus for the manufacture of a laminated button comprising a metallic backing plate having a transverse peripheral edge and an outwardly extending flange, an illustrated paper sheet and a protective acetate covering. The apparatus comprises a pneumatically operated press which receives the plate, illustrated sheet and covering, and, with a single downward movement, causes the sheet to conform to the plate and be crimped between the transverse edge and flange.

Apparatus for covering buttons operable in an automatic, semi-automatic or manual mode. The apparatus includes a rotatable table having alternately positioned shell and back receiving lower dies, means for automatically delivering the shells and backs to their respective lower dies, a reciprocating upper die synchronized for movement with the rotation of the rotatable table and engageable with the lower dies at a first station to transfer a shell and fabric covering from a shell receiving lower die to the upper die and press-fit a back from a back receiving lower die into the covered shell in the upper die to form an assembled covered button and having means permitting its use with a range of fabric cover thicknesses, and means for ejecting the assembled covered buttons.

A machine for the manufacture of buckles, buttons or the like which comprises an upper tool and a lower tool. The lower tool has an outer, spring-mounted frame and an inner core piece displaceable vertically with respect to the surrounding frame. The lower tool is adapted to support the assembled button after the opening stroke of the upper tool. A device is provided for lifting the core piece of the lower tool relative to the surrounding frame up to about the height of a transversely directed stream of blast air serving for discharging the product from the lower tool.

A method for fabrication of a relatively low cost display or communicative novelty button in which a consumable restrictor sheet is placed over a vacuum draw type female mold cavity. The restrictor sheet may be of cardboard and be apertured with a diameter smaller than the mold cavity diameter. A thermoplastic sheet material is then placed over the restrictor sheet, heated to reach a formable state and vacuum drawn through the restricted aperture and down so that the sheet comes into contact with and generally conforms to the desired shape defined by the mold cavity. The plastic sheet material may then be trimmed near the edge of the restrictor sheet to leave a button shell mounted on a restrictor sheet which may then be used for purposes of display. The restrictor sheet also enables fabrication with an inwardly facing peripheral groove that may be used to secure a pin fastener. An alternate form of fastener in which a portion of the remaining plastic sheet is used is also disclosed.