All The Claims

1. An optical computing device to determine a characteristic of a fluid sample, the device comprising:
a probe body adapted for use along a tubular body, the probe body comprising:
a first rod extending into the tubular body; and
a second rod extending into the tubular body adjacent the first rod, thereby forming a gap between the first and second rods wherein the sample fluid may flow;

electromagnetic radiation that optically interacts with the fluid sample flowing through the gap to thereby produce sample-interacted light;
an optical element that optically interacts with the sample-interacted light to produce optically-interacted light which corresponds to the characteristic of the fluid sample; and
a detector positioned to measure the optically-interacted light and thereby generate a signal utilized to determine the characteristic of the fluid sample.
2. An optical computing device as defined in claim 1, wherein the first and second rods each comprise a bore extending therethrough that is defined by a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the bores of the first and second rods being adapted to convey the electromagnetic radiation to the fluid sample, the sample-interacted light to the optical element, and the optically-interacted light to the detector.
3. An optical computing device as defined in claim 2, wherein the bores of the first and second rods each comprise a fiber optic cable to convey the electromagnetic radiation, sample-interacted light and the optically interacted light.
4. An optical computing device as defined in claim 1, wherein the first and second rods each comprise a bore extending therethrough that is defined by a first end and second end opposite the first end, the optical computing device further comprising:
an electromagnetic radiation source positioned adjacent the first end of the first rod, the electromagnetic radiation source adapted to generate the electromagnetic radiation;
a first reflective element positioned adjacent a second end of the first rod to thereby reflect the electromagnetic radiation across the gap to produce the sample-interacted light; and
a second reflective element positioned adjacent the second end of the second rod to thereby receive the sample-interacted light and convey the sample interacted light along the bore of the second rod towards the optical element,
wherein the optical element and detector are positioned adjacent the first end of the second rod.
5. An optical computing device as defined in claim 4, further comprising:
a first window positioned along the first rod adjacent the first reflective element; and
a second window positioned along the second rod adjacent the second reflective element, wherein the gap is formed between the first and second windows.
6. An optical computing device as defined in claim 1, wherein the first and second rods extend into the tubular body in a direction such that an axis of the rods is substantially parallel to an axis of the tubular body and a direction of flow of the fluid sample.
7. An optical computing device as defined in claim 1, wherein the first and second rods extend into the tubular body in a direction such that an axis of the rods is substantially perpendicular to an axis of the tubular body and a direction of flow of the fluid sample.
8. An optical computing device as defined in claim 1, further comprising an electromagnetic radiation source adapted to generate the electromagnetic radiation, wherein the electromagnetic radiation source, optical element and detector are positioned outside the tubular.
9. An optical computing device as defined in claim 8, wherein the electromagnetic radiation source, optical element and detector are removably attached to the tubular.
10. An optical computing device as defined in claim 1, wherein the first and second rods are removably attached to the tubular.
11. An optical computing device as defined in claim 1, wherein the first and second rods are comprised of at least one of aluminum, sapphire, glass, diamond, ZnSe, ZnS, Ge or Si.
12. An optical computing device as defined in claim 1, further comprising a signal processor communicably coupled to the detector to computationally determine the characteristic of the fluid sample.
13. An optical computing device as defined in claim 1, wherein the optical element is an Integrated Computational Element.
14. An optical computing device as defined in claim 1, wherein the characteristic of the fluid sample is at least one of a C1-C6 hydrocarbon, salinity, sand content, pH, total dissolved solids, H2S, CO2, asphaltenes, waxes, saturates, resins or water.
15. An optical computing device as defined in claim 1, wherein the tubular is a pipeline or downhole well tubular.
16. A method utilizing an optical computing device to determine a characteristic of a fluid sample, the method comprising:
positioning the optical computing device along a tubular body, the optical computing device having a probe body comprising:
a first rod extending into the tubular body; and
a second rod extending into the tubular body adjacent the first rod, thereby forming a gap between the first and second rods wherein the fluid sample may flow;

optically interacting electromagnetic radiation with the fluid sample flowing through the gap to produce sample-interacted light;
optically interacting an optical element with the sample-interacted light to generate optically-interacted light which corresponds to a characteristic of the fluid sample;
generating a signal that corresponds to the optically-interacted light through utilization of a detector; and
determining a characteristic of the fluid sample using the signal.
17. A method as defined in claim 16, wherein optically interacting electromagnetic radiation with the fluid sample further comprises conveying the electromagnetic radiation through a bore extending along the first rod and on to the fluid sample to produce the sample-interacted light.
18. A method as defined in claim 17, wherein optically interacting the optical element with the sample-interacted light further comprises conveying the sample-interacted light through a bore extending along the second rod and on to the optical element to generate the optically-interacted light.
19. A method as defined in claim 16, wherein positioning the optical computing device further comprises positioning the optical computing device along a pipeline or downhole well tubular.
20. A method as defined in claim 16, wherein positioning the optical computing device further comprises positioning a plurality of optical computing devices at various radial positions around the tubular body.
21. An optical computing device to determine a characteristic of a fluid sample, the device comprising:
a probe body adapted for use along a tubular body, the probe body comprising:
a first end that extends into the tubular body; and
a flow channel through which the fluid sample may flow, the flow channel extending through the probe body along an axis that traverses an axis of the probe body;

electromagnetic radiation that optically interacts with the fluid sample flowing through the flow channel to thereby produce sample-interacted light;
an optical element that optically interacts with the sample-interacted light to produce optically-interacted light which corresponds to the characteristic of the fluid sample; and
a detector positioned to measure the optically-interacted light and thereby generate a signal utilized to determine the characteristic of the fluid sample.
22. An optical computing device as defined in claim 21 further comprising an electromagnetic radiation source positioned adjacent the first end of the probe body, the electromagnetic radiation source adapted to generate the electromagnetic radiation, wherein the optical element and detector are positioned inside the probe body adjacent a second end of the probe body opposite the first end.
23. An optical computing device as defined in claim 22, further comprising:
a first window positioned along the flow channel to convey the electromagnetic radiation emanating from the electromagnetic radiation source; and
a second window positioned along the flow channel at a position opposite the first window to thereby convey the sample-interacted light to the optical computing device.
24. An optical computing device as defined in claim 21, wherein the flow channel comprises:
an inlet port to extract the fluid sample from fluid flowing through the tubular;
an outlet port to return the fluid sample back to the fluid flowing through the tubular; and
a diverter positioned at the first end of the probe body to divert the fluid towards the inlet port.
25. An optical computing device as defined in claim 24, wherein the axis of the flow channel traverses the axis of the probe body at an angle.
26. An optical computing device as defined in claim 21, wherein the probe body extends into the tubular such that an axis of the probe body is substantially parallel to an axis of the tubular body and a direction of flow of fluid through the tubular.
27. An optical computing device as defined in claim 22, wherein the second end of the probe body extends outside the tubular body.
28. An optical computing device as defined in claim 21, wherein the optical computing device is removably attached to the tubular body.
29. An optical computing device as defined in claim 21, further comprising a signal processor communicably coupled to the detector to computationally determine the characteristic of the fluid sample.
30. An optical computing device as defined in claim 21, wherein the optical element is an Integrated Computational Element.
31. An optical computing device as defined in claim 21, wherein the characteristic of the fluid sample is at least one of a C1-C6 hydrocarbon, salinity, sand content, pH, total dissolved solids, H2S, CO2, asphaltenes, waxes, saturates, resins or water.
32. An optical computing device as defined in claim 21, wherein the tubular is a pipeline or downhole well tubular.
33. A method utilizing an optical computing device to determine a characteristic of a fluid sample, the method comprising:
positioning the optical computing device along a tubular body, the optical computing device having a probe body comprising:
a first end that extends into the tubular body; and
a flow channel through which the fluid sample may flow, the flow channel extending through the probe body along an axis that traverses an axis of the probe body;

optically interacting electromagnetic radiation with the fluid sample flowing through the flow channel to produce sample-interacted light;
optically interacting an optical element with the sample-interacted light to generate optically-interacted light which corresponds to a characteristic of the fluid sample;
generating a signal that corresponds to the optically-interacted light through utilization of a detector; and
determining a characteristic of the fluid sample using the signal.
34. A method as defined in claim 33, wherein optically interacting electromagnetic radiation with the fluid sample further comprises conveying the electromagnetic radiation from an electromagnetic radiation source positioned adjacent the first end of the probe body and on to the flow channel.
35. A method as defined in claim 34, wherein optically interacting the optical element with the sample-interacted light further comprises conveying the sample-interacted light to the optical element positioned adjacent a second end of the probe body opposite the first end.
36. A method as defined in claim 33, wherein optically interacting the electromagnetic radiation with the fluid sample flowing through the flow channel further comprises:
diverting fluid flowing through the tubular towards an inlet port of the flow channel utilizing a diverter positioned at the first end of the probe body;
extracting the fluid sample from the diverted fluid using the inlet port, whereby the fluid sample flows through the flow channel; and
returning the fluid sample back to the fluid flowing through the tubular.
37. A method as defined in claim 33, wherein positioning the optical computing device along the tubular body further comprises extending the probe body into the tubular such that an axis of the probe body is substantially parallel to an axis of the tubular body and a direction of fluid flow through the tubular.
38. A method as defined in claim 33, wherein positioning the optical computing device further comprises positioning the optical computing device along a pipeline or downhole well tubular.
39. A method as defined in claim 33, wherein positioning the optical computing device further comprises positioning a plurality of optical computing devices at various radial positions around the tubular body.
40. A method as defined in claim 33, wherein determining the characteristic of the fluid sample further comprises determining a presence of at least one of a C1-C6 hydrocarbon, salinity, sand content, pH, total dissolved solids, H2S, CO2, asphaltenes, waxes, saturates, resins or water.
41. An optical computing device to determine a characteristic of a fluid sample, the device comprising:
a tubular body having a bore extending therethrough;
an optical groove extending along a surface of the bore in which a fluid sample of the fluid may flow;
electromagnetic radiation that optically interacts with the fluid sample flowing through the optical groove to thereby produce sample-interacted light;
an optical element that optically interacts with the sample-interacted light to produce optically-interacted light which corresponds to the characteristic of the fluid sample; and
a detector positioned to measure the optically-interacted light and thereby generate a signal utilized to determine the characteristic of the fluid sample.
42. An optical computing device as defined in claim 41, further comprising an electromagnetic radiation source positioned along the tubular body adjacent to the optical groove, the electromagnetic radiation source being adapted to generate the electromagnetic radiation, wherein the optical element is positioned along the tubular body adjacent to the optical groove such that the optical element receives the sample-interacted light emanating from the fluid sample.
43. An optical computing device as defined in claim 42, wherein the electromagnetic radiation source emits the electromagnetic radiation in a direction such that the electromagnetic radiation traverses an axis of the optical groove.
44. An optical computing device as defined in claim 41, wherein the optical groove has a \u201cV\u201d shape, a squared shape or a rounded shape.
45. An optical computing device as defined in claim 41, wherein the optical groove tapers into the bore.
46. An optical computing device as defined in claim 41, wherein the optical groove spirals around the surface of the bore.
47. An optical computing device as defined in claim 41, further comprising multiple electromagnetic radiation sources and associated optical elements extending along the optical groove.
48. An optical computing device as defined in claim 41, further comprising multiple optical grooves extending along the surface of the bore, each optical groove having at least one electromagnetic radiation source and associated optical element.
49. An optical computing device as defined in claim 41, further comprising a signal processor communicably coupled to the detector to computationally determine the characteristic of the fluid sample.
50. An optical computing device as defined in claim 41, wherein the optical element is an Integrated Computational Element.
51. An optical computing device as defined in claim 41, wherein the characteristic of the fluid sample is at least one of a C1-C6 hydrocarbon, salinity, sand content, pH, total dissolved solids, H2S, CO2, asphaltenes, waxes, saturates, resins or water.
52. An optical computing device as defined in claim 41, wherein the tubular body is a pipeline or downhole well tubular.
53. A method utilizing an optical computing device to determine a characteristic of a fluid sample, the method comprising:
deploying the optical computing device into an environment, the optical computing device comprising:
a tubular body having a bore extending therethrough; and
an optical groove extending along a surface of the bore in which a fluid sample of the fluid may flow;

optically interacting electromagnetic radiation with the fluid sample flowing through the optical groove to produce sample-interacted light;
optically interacting an optical element with the sample-interacted light to generate optically-interacted light which corresponds to a characteristic of the fluid sample;
generating a signal that corresponds to the optically-interacted light through utilization of a detector; and
determining a characteristic of the fluid sample using the signal.
54. A method as defined in claim 53, wherein optically interacting the electromagnetic radiation with the fluid sample further comprises conveying the electromagnetic radiation from an electromagnetic radiation source positioned along the tubular body adjacent the optical groove, the electromagnetic radiation being conveyed in a direction that traverses an axis of the optical groove.
55. A method as defined in claim 54, wherein optically interacting the optical element with the sample-interacted light further comprises conveying the sample-interacted light to the optical element positioned along the tubular body adjacent to the optical groove opposite the electromagnetic radiation source.
56. A method as defined in claim 54, wherein deploying the optical computing device into the environment further comprises deploying a plurality of optical computing devices into the environment, the plurality of optical computing devices each comprising electromagnetic radiation sources and associated optical elements extending along the optical groove.
57. A method as defined in claim 53, wherein deploying the optical computing device into the environment further comprises deploying the optical computing device as a pipeline or a downhole well tubular.
58. A method as defined in claim 53, wherein determining the characteristic of the fluid sample further comprises determining a presence of at least one of a C1-C6 hydrocarbon, salinity, sand content, pH, total dissolved solids, H2S, CO2, asphaltenes, waxes, saturates, resins or water.
59. An optical computing device to determine a characteristic of a fluid sample, the device comprising:
a device housing that attaches to a surface of a fluid-containing body;
an optical groove positioned on an exterior of the device housing along which a fluid sample may flow;
electromagnetic radiation that optically interacts with the fluid sample flowing along the optical groove to thereby produce sample-interacted light;
an optical element positioned inside the device housing to optically interact with the sample-interacted light to produce optically-interacted light which corresponds to the characteristic of the fluid sample; and
a detector positioned inside the device housing to measure the optically-interacted light and thereby generate a signal utilized to determine the characteristic of the fluid sample.
60. An optical computing device as defined in claim 59, wherein the device housing is dome-shaped.
61. An optical computing device as defined in claim 59, wherein the optical groove is an internal reflectance element.
62. An optical computing device as defined in claim 59, further comprising an electromagnetic radiation source positioned inside the device housing adjacent to the optical groove, the electromagnetic radiation source being adapted to generate the electromagnetic radiation, wherein the optical element is positioned adjacent to the optical groove such that the optical element receives the sample-interacted light emanating from the fluid sample.
63. An optical computing device as defined in claim 59, wherein the electromagnetic radiation source emits the electromagnetic radiation in a direction such that the electromagnetic radiation traverses an axis of the optical groove.
64. An optical computing device as defined in claim 59, wherein the optical groove has a \u201cV\u201d shape, a squared shape or a rounded shape.
65. An optical computing device as defined in claim 59, wherein the optical groove tapers into the device housing.
66. An optical computing device as defined in claim 59, further comprising multiple electromagnetic radiation sources and associated optical elements extending along the optical groove.
67. An optical computing device as defined in claim 59, further comprising a signal processor communicably coupled to the detector to computationally determine the characteristic of the fluid sample.
68. An optical computing device as defined in claim 59, wherein the optical element is an Integrated Computational Element.
69. An optical computing device as defined in claim 59, wherein the characteristic of the fluid sample is at least one of a C1-C6 hydrocarbon, salinity, sand content, pH, total dissolved solids, H2S, CO2, asphaltenes, waxes, saturates, resins or water.
70. An optical computing device as defined in claim 59, wherein the fluid-containing body is a pipeline or downhole well tubular.
71. An optical computing device as defined in claim 59, wherein the optical computing device is removably attached to the surface of the fluid-containing body.
72. A method utilizing an optical computing device to determine a characteristic of a fluid sample, the method comprising:
attaching the optical computing device to a surface of a fluid-containing body, the optical computing device comprising:
a device housing that attaches to the surface of the fluid-containing body; and
an optical groove positioned on an exterior of the device housing along which a fluid sample may flow;
optically interacting electromagnetic radiation with the fluid sample flowing along the optical groove to produce sample-interacted light;
optically interacting an optical element with the sample-interacted light to generate optically-interacted light which corresponds to a characteristic of the fluid sample;
generating a signal that corresponds to the optically-interacted light through utilization of a detector; and
determining a characteristic of the fluid sample using the signal.
73. A method as defined in claim 72, wherein optically interacting electromagnetic radiation with the fluid sample further comprises conveying the electromagnetic radiation from an electromagnetic radiation source positioned inside the device housing adjacent to the optical groove, the electromagnetic radiation being conveyed in a direction such that the electromagnetic radiation traverses an axis of the optical groove.
74. A method as defined in claim 73, wherein optically interacting the optical element with the sample-interacted light further comprises conveying the sample-interacted light to the optical element positioned along the device housing adjacent to the optical groove opposite the electromagnetic radiation source.
75. A method as defined in claim 74, wherein attaching the optical computing device to the surface of the fluid-containing body further comprises attaching a plurality of optical computing devices to the surface of the fluid-containing body, the plurality of optical computing devices each comprising electromagnetic radiation sources and associated optical elements extending along the optical groove.
76. A method as defined in claim 72, wherein attaching the optical computing device to the surface of the fluid-containing body further comprises attaching at least one optical computing device to a surface of a pipeline or a downhole well tubular.
77. A method as defined in claim 72, wherein determining the characteristic of the fluid sample further comprises determining a presence of at least one of a C1-C6 hydrocarbon, salinity, sand content, pH, total dissolved solids, H2S, CO2, asphaltenes, waxes, saturates, resins or water.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

What is claimed is:

1. A switching power supply apparatus comprising:
a first switching circuit for supplying and interrupting power from a power supply input unit;
an inductor for accumulating the power input through the first switching circuit and discharging the power to a power supply output unit;
a rectifier diode for rectifying a current flowing to the output unit; and
a smoothing capacitor for smoothing a voltage of the output unit; wherein a first commutation inductor is provided in a path of current flowing from the power supply input unit through the first switching circuit and the inductor during an ON period of the first switching circuit;
a second commutation inductor is provided in a path of current flowing through the inductor during an OFF period of the first switching circuit;
the inductor and the first and second commutation inductors are connected to a first junction point;
a clamping series circuit including a second switching circuit and a series capacitor connected in series is provided, and one end of the clamping series circuit is connected to a second junction point, which connects the first commutation inductor and the first switching circuit, so that the first and second commutation inductors and the series capacitor constitute a resonance circuit;
the first switching circuit includes a parallel circuit of a first switching element, a first diode, and a first capacitor;
the second switching circuit includes a parallel circuit of a second switching element, a second diode, and a second capacitor; and
a switching control circuit for alternately turning onoff the first and second switching elements in a period when both switching elements are off therebetween is provided.
2. A switching power supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the clamping series circuit is connected in parallel to a series circuit of the first and second commutation inductors.
3. A switching power supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one end of the clamping series circuit including the second switching circuit and the series capacitor connected in series is connected to the second junction point, and the other end of the clamping series circuit is connected to at least one of the power supply input unit, the power supply output unit, and the ground.
4. A switching power supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second commutation inductors are magnetically coupled.
5. A switching power supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an overcurrent protective circuit for detecting a current flowing through the second switching element, turning off the second switching element when the current reaches a predetermined value so as to suppress a peak of the current flowing through the second switching element, and suppressing magnetic saturation of the first and second commutation inductors is connected in series with the second switching element.
6. A switching power supply apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a third diode having a shorter reverse recovery time than that of the second switching element and preventing a reverse current to the second switching element is provided in the clamping series circuit, and a fourth diode is connected in parallel to a series circuit including the second switching circuit, in a direction opposite to a conduction direction of the second switching element.
7. A switching power supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a third diode is connected in parallel to the series capacitor, in a direction for preventing application of a reverse voltage to the series capacitor.
8. A switching power supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a full-wave rectification circuit for performing full-wave rectification of input from a commercial AC power supply is provided, and a low-pass filter for allowing frequency components of the commercial AC power supply to pass therethrough and cutting off components of switching frequencies of the first and second switching elements and their harmonic contents is provided between the full-wave rectification circuit and the power supply input unit.
9. A switching power supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the switching control circuit includes a unit for multiplying a voltage proportional to a full-wave rectification voltage signal obtained by rectifying the commercial AC power supply voltage by a DC output voltage or a DC voltage obtained by dividing the output voltage so as to obtain a reference signal for a current error amplifier which controls both input current and output voltage, and controlling the pulse width of a control signal for the first and second switching elements based on the reference signal.
10. A switching power supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second switching circuits is a field-effect transistor.
11. A switching power supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the switching control circuit includes timing control unit for turning on the first or second switching element after a voltage applied across the first or second switching element drops to zero or nearly zero.

1. An assay for detecting the presence of an isocitrate dehydrogenase mutation in a sample obtained from a subject which comprises
determining the methylation status of all or part of the retinol-binding protein 1 (RBP1) promoter in the sample, wherein the presence of the isocitrate dehydrogenase mutation is indicated where the methylation status is hypermethylated.
2. The assay according to claim 1, which comprises characterizing the methylation status to be hypermethylated where the all or part of the RBP1 promoter is significantly more methylated than that of the corresponding part of a standard which is a methylation profile of a wild type RBP1 promoter or a consensus methylation profile of the RBP1 promoters obtained from a plurality of normal subjects.
3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the methylation status is characterized as being hypermethylated where the overall methylation of the all or part of the RBP1 promoter is methylated by 50% or more than that of the corresponding part of the standard.
4. The assay according to claim 1, wherein the RBP1 promoter is located on chromosome 3 at 140740839-140741418.
5. The assay according to claim 1, wherein the part of the RBP1 promoter comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of one or more of the CpG sites of the RBP1 promoter.
6. The assay according to claim 1, wherein the part of the RBP1 promoter comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of CpG sites 5-25 of the CpG island located on chromosome 3 at 140740839-140741418.
7. The assay according to claim 1, wherein the part of the RBP1 promoter comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of at least 3, preferably at least 5, more preferably at least 10 CpG sites selected from the group consisting of CpG sites 14-24, 26-31, 39-45 and 59 of the CpG island located on chromosome 3 at 140740839-140741418.
8. The assay according to claim 1, wherein the part of the RBP1 promoter comprises, consists essentially of or consists of at least 6, preferably at least 10, more preferably at least 15 CpG sites selected from the group consisting of CpG sites 1-5, 14-24, 26-31, 39-45 and 59 of the CpG island located on chromosome 3 at 140740839-140741418.
9. The assay according to claim 1, wherein the part of the RBP1 promoter comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of at least 10, preferably at least 15, more preferably at least 20 CpG sites selected from the group consisting of CpG sites 1-5, 14-24, 26-31, 39-45 and 59-62 of the CpG island located on chromosome 3 at 140740839-140741418.
10. The assay according to claim 4, which comprises characterizing the methylation status as being hypermethylated where the overall methylation of the all or part of the RBP1 promoter is methylated by 50% or more than that of the corresponding part of a standard which is a methylation profile of a wild type RBP1 promoter or a consensus methylation profile of the RBP1 promoters obtained from a plurality of normal subjects.
11. The assay according to claim 1, wherein when one or more of the CpG sites 15, 21, 24, 29, 30, 40, 44 or 45 of the CpG island located on chromosome 3 at 140740839-140741418 are methylated, the methylation status is designated as hypermethylated.
12. The assay according to claim 1, which further comprises designating the presence of the isocitrate dehydrogenase mutation where the methylation status is hypermethylated.
13. The assay according to claim 1, wherein the isocitrate dehydrogenase mutation is an isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) mutation or an isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 (IDH2) mutation.
14. The assay according to claim 1, which comprises modifying all or part of the retinol-binding protein 1 (RBP1) promoter in the sample to make the methylated cytosines of CpG dinucleotides distinguishable from the unmethylated cytosines of CpG dinucleotides.
15. The assay according to claim 14, wherein the modification comprises subjecting all or part of the RBP 1 promoter in the sample to (a) a bisulfite that converts the unmethylated cytosines to uracils, (b) a restriction enzyme that selectively cleaves the unmethylated cytosines, (c) a label specific for either the unmethylated cytosines or the methylated cytosines, or (d) a combination thereof.
16. The assay according to claim 1, wherein the methylation status is determined using reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS).
17. A method of providing a diagnosis andor prognosis to a subject having a cancer, which comprises
giving the diagnosis andor prognosis to the subject based on the presence or absence of an isocitrate dehydrogenase mutation andor the methylation status of all or part of the retinol-binding protein 1 (RBP1) promoter in a sample obtained from the subject,
wherein the diagnosis is that the cancer may likely be treated with one or more retinoids where the isocitrate dehydrogenase mutation is present andor the all or part of the RBP1 promoter is hypermethylated, and
wherein the prognosis is that the subject will have an estimated time of survival that will likely be increased with treatment with one or more retinoids where the isocitrate dehydrogenase mutation is present andor the all or part of the RBP1 promoter is hypermethylated.
18. A method of treating a subject having a cancer having been determined to be associated with an isocitrate dehydrogenase mutation andor associated with hypermethylation of all or part of the retinol-binding protein 1 (RBP1) promoter, which comprises
administering to the subject one or more retinoids.
19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the presence or association with the isocitrate dehydrogenase mutation andor the methylation status of the all or part of the RBP1 promoter is or was determined using an assay.
20-23. (canceled)

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A method of providing solutions for trading securities, the method comprising the steps of:
receiving a level-two quote, the level-two quote comprising a symbol and at least one market participant quote, the market participant quote further comprising a quote price, a quote quantity, a quote market participant identification (\u201cMPID\u201d), and a quote side;
creating in computer memory a solution set comprising at least one solution record corresponding to each market participant quote in the level-two quote, the solution record comprising a solution symbol, a solution side, a solution MPID, a solution price, a solution quantity, and a solution latency, the solution latency comprising a latency for the market identified by the solution MPID; and
sending the solution set to at least one client, wherein the solution record further comprises a type code.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the client comprises an automated system for trading securities, the method further comprising the steps of:
storing the sent solution set in computer memory in the client system;
using at least one of the sent solution records to create orders for securities; and
deleting from computer memory the used solution records.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the client comprises more than one automated system for trading securities and the automated systems for trading securities are scaled.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein creating a solution set further comprises recording in the solution record the solution side derived from the quote side, the solution MPID derived from the quote MPID, the solution price derived from the quote price, and the solution symbol derived from the symbol in the level-two quote.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the solution set comprises at least two solution records, the method further comprising sorting the solution records to yield sorted solution records.
6. The method of claim 5 further comprising sorting the solution records according to side.
7. The method of claim 5 further comprising sorting the solution records according to price.
8. The method of claim 5 further comprising sorting the solution records according to latency.
9. The method of claim 5 further comprising sorting the solution records according to price and latency.
10. The method of claim 5 further comprising sorting the solution records according to side, price, and latency.
11. The method of claim 5 further comprising deleting solution latency from the sorted solution records.
12. The method of claim 1 further comprising creating an index for the solution set.
13. The method of claim 1 wherein latency comprises the difference between the time when a broker-dealer receives from a market a response to an order and the time when the order was sent to the market.
14. A system for providing solutions for trading securities, the system comprising:
means for receiving a level-two quote, the level-two quote comprising a symbol and at least one market participant quote, the market participant quote further comprising a quote price, a quote quantity, a quote market participant identification (\u201cMPID\u201d), and a quote side;
means for creating in computer memory a solution set comprising at least one solution record corresponding to each market participant quote in the level-two quote, the solution record comprising a solution symbol, a solution side, a solution MPID, a solution price, a solution quantity, and a solution latency, the solution latency comprising a latency for a market identified by the solution MPID; and
means for sending the solution set to at least one client, wherein the solution record further comprises a type code.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein the client comprises an automated system for trading securities, the system further comprising:
means for storing the sent solution set in computer memory in the client; means for creating, from at least one of the sent solution records, an order for securities, wherein creating an order from the sent solution record further comprises creating a used solution record; and
means for deleting from computer memory the used solution record.
16. The system of claim 14 wherein the client comprises more than one automated system for trading securities and the automated systems for trading securities are scaled.
17. The system of claim 14 wherein means for creating a solution set further comprises means for recording in the solution record the solution side derived from the quote side, the solution MPID derived from the quote MPID, the solution price derived from the quote price, and the solution symbol derived from the symbol in the level-two quote.
18. The system of claim 14, wherein the solution set comprises at least two solution records, the system further comprising means for sorting the solution records to yield sorted solution records.
19. The system of claim 18 further comprising means for sorting the solution records according to side.
20. The system of claim 18 further comprising means for sorting the solution records according to price.
21. The system of claim 18 further comprising means for sorting the solution records according to latency.
22. The system of claim 18 further comprising means for sorting the solution records according to price and latency.
23. The system of claim 18 further comprising means for sorting the solution records according to side, price, and latency.
24. The system of claim 18 further comprising means for deleting solution latency from the sorted solution records.
25. The system of claim 14 further comprising means for creating an index for the solution set.
26. The system of claim 14 wherein solution latency comprises the difference between the time when a broker-dealer receives from a market a response to an order and the time when the order was sent to the market.
27. A system for providing solutions for trading securities, the system comprising:
a processor coupled to at least one source of quotes and coupled to at least one client, the processor programmed to:
receive at least one level-two quote, the level-two quote comprising a symbol and at least one market participant quote, the market participant quote comprising a quote price, a quote quantity, a quote market participant identification (\u201cMPID\u201d), and a quote side;
create a solution set comprising at least one solution record corresponding to each market participant quote, the solution record comprising a solution symbol, a solution side, a solution MPID, a solution price, a solution quantity, and a solution latency, the solution latency comprising a latency for the market identified by the solution MPED; and
send the solution set to a client; and a memory coupled to the processor, the processor programmed to store the solution set in the memory, wherein the solution record further comprises a type code.
28. The system of claim 27 wherein the client comprises an automated system for trading securities, the system further comprising a client processor coupled to client memory, the client processor programmed to:
store the sent solution set in client memory;
create, dependent upon the sent solution records, orders for securities; and
send the orders for securities to markets.
29. The system of claim 27 wherein the client comprises more than one automated system for trading securities and the automated systems for trading securities are scaled.
30. The system of claim 27 wherein the processor is further programmed to record in the solution set the solution side derived from the quote side, the solution MPID derived from the quote MPID, the solution price derived from the quote price, and the solution symbol derived from the symbol in the level-two quote.
31. The system of claim 27, wherein the solution set comprises at least two solution records, the processor being further programmed the solution records to yield a sorted solution set.
32. The system of claim 31 wherein the processor is further programmed to sort the solution records according to side.
33. The system of claim 31 wherein the processor is further programmed to sort the solution records according to price.
34. The system of claim 31 wherein the processor is further programmed to sort the solution records according to latency.
35. The system of claim 31 wherein the processor is further programmed to sort the solution records according to price and latency.
36. The system of claim 31 wherein the processor is further programmed to sort the solution records according to side, price, and latency.
37. The system of claim 31 wherein the processor is further programmed to delete solution latency from the sorted solution records.
38. The system of claim 27 wherein the processor is further programmed to create an index for the solution set.
39. The system of claim 27 wherein latency comprises the difference between the time when a broker-dealer receives from a market a response to an order and the time when the order was sent to the market.