Abstract: An anchoring system for an elongated medical article comprises an anchor pad and a retainer mounted upon the anchor pad. The retainer includes a base, a cover, and a compressible member including a receptacle into which the medical article to be retained is placed. When the cover is closed, the medical article is secured within the receptacle by the pressure of the compressible member and the cover upon the medical article. One or more biasing members act upon the compressible member to increase the frictional forces acting on the retained section of the medical article. The receptacle may form a channel that follows a curved path through the retainer. The retainer may also include guide extensions to support the medical article along a transverse bend toward the skin of the patient.

Abstract: A method of securing a medical article to the body of a patient is disclosed in which an anchoring device comprising an anchor and a retainer is used. The retainer is attached to an upper surface of the anchor and comprises a base, a cover and a post. The base is disposed on the upper surface of the anchor and the cover is connected to the base so as to move between an open and a closed position. When the cover is in the closed position, it lies above at least part of the base. The post is attached movably to either the base or the cover and is arranged so as to lie at least partially between the cover and the base when the cover is in the closed position. When securing a medical article, the cover is placed in the open position and the medical article placed onto the retainer. The cover may then be closed over the medical article and the anchoring device attached to the patient.

Abstract: An anchoring system provides secure attachment between a portion of a medical article and a body of a patient. The anchoring system comprises a securement device and a first fitting attached to the medical article, the first fitting having a first configuration. Embodiments of the anchoring system also comprise a second fitting attached to the medical article. The second fitting has a second configuration that differs from the first. The securement device includes a mounting surface for attaching the securement device to the patient's body and a receiving area. The receiving area is oriented so as to face away from the patient's body, and includes retainer mechanisms that are capable of engaging one or both of the first and second fittings, which have different configurations.

Abstract: The specification discloses apparatus (10) for excavating a trench (18) and preparing a base region of the trench (18) for laying of a pipeline, cabling or the like therein, the apparatus (10) including a trench forming machine (11) driven in a forward direction (14) while excavating the trench (18), the appraatus (10) also including a device (13) for laying bedding material in the base region of the trench, the device (13) being integrally part of the trench forming machine (11) or being towed thereby, the apparatus (10) further including conveyor means (20, 22, 23) for conveying excavated trench material created by the trench forming machine (11) to the device (13) for laying bedding material into the trench (18), the device (13) including a vibrating screen separator (25) for separating fine particulate material from coarser excavated trench material whereby the fine particulate material is delivered to the base region of the trench (18).

Abstract: An anchoring system for securing a dialysis catheter to a patient comprises an anchor pad and a retainer. The anchor pad is attached to the skin of the patient by an adhesive layer on one side of the pad. The retainer is disposed upon the surface of the anchor pad opposite the adhesive layer and includes a base and a cover and a adhesive spot. A groove upon the base is arranged to receive a Y-site portion of a dialysis catheter where the lumens merge distal to the insertion site. A post also protrudes from the base to the cover at a position which will be disposed between the two distal branches of the dialysis catheter. The cover closes over the base, securing the Y-site between the groove and the post. Closing the cover also places at least a portion of the catheter in contact with the adhesive spot. This contact between the retainer, adhesive spot and catheter thereby inhibits inadvertent motion of the catheter upon the patient.

Abstract: An anchoring system for an elongated medical article comprises an anchor pad and a retainer mounted upon the anchor pad. The retainer includes a base, a cover, and a compressible member including a receptacle into which the medical article to be retained is placed. When the cover is closed, the medical article is secured within the receptacle by the pressure of the compressible member and the cover upon the medical article. One or more biasing members act upon the compressible member to increase the frictional forces acting on the retained section of the medical article. The receptacle may form a channel that follows a curved path through the retainer. The retainer may also include guide extensions to support the medical article along a transverse bend toward the skin of the patient.

Abstract: A method of securing a medical article to the body of a patient is disclosed in which an anchoring device comprising an anchor and a retainer is used. The retainer is attached to an upper surface of the anchor and comprises a base, a cover and a post. The base is disposed on the upper surface of the anchor and the cover is connected to the base so as to move between an open and a closed position. When the cover is in the closed position, it lies above at least part of the base. The post is attached movably to either the base or the cover and is arranged so as to lie at least partially between the cover and the base when the cover is in the closed position. When securing a medical article, the cover is placed in the open position and the medical article placed onto the retainer. The cover may then be closed over the medical article and the anchoring device attached to the patient.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of identifying compounds that inhibit specific tRNA:34A deaminases encoded by yfhC genes, compounds that inhibit such deaminases and methods of using the deaminases in a variety of in vitro and in vivo contexts, such as in the treatment and prevention of bacterial infections.

Abstract: An anchoring system includes a simply-structured device which permits a portion of a catheter or similar medical article to be easily anchored to a patient, desirably without the use of tape or needles and suture. An anchoring system for an elongated medical article comprises an anchor pad and a retainer mounted upon the anchor pad. The retainer includes a channel into which the medical article to be retained is placed. The retainer is attached to an anchor pad including an adhesive bottom surface, which can be attached to the patient's skin. A medical article is secured within a channel by retaining at least one axially extending member on the medical article.

Abstract: A method of securing a medical article to the body of a patient is disclosed in which an anchoring device comprising an anchor and a retainer is used. The retainer is attached to an upper surface of the anchor and comprises a base, a cover and a post. The base is disposed on the upper surface of the anchor and the cover is connected to the base so as to move between an open and a closed position. When the cover is in the closed position, it lies above at least part of the base. The post is attached movably to either the base or the cover and is arranged so as to lie at least partially between the cover and the base when the cover is in the closed position. When securing a medical article, the cover is placed in the open position and the medical article placed onto the retainer. The cover may then be closed over the medical article and the anchoring device attached to the patient.

Abstract: Chlamydia pneumoniae polypeptides are provided. The C. pneumoniae polypeptides can be used to prepare pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment or prevention of disease. In addition, the proteins can be used in methods for the diagnosis of C. pneumoniae infection.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of putatively identifying, based on presence of rare codon usage, cellular components involved in virulence. Also included are methods of verifying putative virulence genes and methods of attenuating such virulence, e.g., through identification and modification of genes/gene products that modulate translation of gene subsets involved in pathogen virulence. The methods include examining the codon usage and frequency employed in the organism, and identifying and structurally characterizing, e.g., tRNA molecules associated with over-represented or under-represented codons. By targeting the cell's ability to decode specific sets of genes, the virulence of a pathogen can be modulated.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and method of controlling timing of release of traffic for a communication switch. The traffic originates from at least one source, is directed to a common ingress point of the switch and is directed to a common egress point in the switch. The egress point has a maximum egress transmission rate. The traffic has at least one datastream. Each datastream has a requested transmission rate. The method comprises, for each datastream, establishing a maximum cell release rate such that a sum of each of the maximum cell release rate does not exceed the maximum egress transmission rate and utilizing the maximum cell release rate to govern release of local traffic in the datastream from the ingress point.

Abstract: An apparatus for cooking and dispensing starch to laundry machines has a hopper (10) holding dry starch and a stirrer (15) and auger (25) for delivering predetermined amounts of dry starch to a mixing chamber (35) to be mixed with water. The mixing chamber (35) has a circulation pump (60) for circulating the starch and water mixture. A pressure pump (70) delivers starch and water mix from the mixing chamber (35) to a cooking chamber (80). The cooking chamber (80) also receives steam, which cooks the starch and water mix. A programmed computer (100) causes the apparatus to receive a request for starch from a laundry machine and dispense a predetermined amount of cooked starch to the requesting machine through one or more discharge valves (125) connected to a manifold (120). The computer (110) starts and stops the stirrer (15), auger (25), pressure pump (70), a steam valve (100), and discharge valves (125) to particular laundry machines in a programmed sequence.

Abstract: Methods for identifying one or more positions of conserved difference in a set of similar sequence strings are provided, as well as systems and devices for identifying one or more positions of conserved difference in a set of similar sequence strings, and sets of positions of conserved differences.

Abstract: Methods for identifying genes and gene products involved in RNA modification, and methods for screening test compounds or antibiotics for activity are provided. Additionally, the gene products identified in the methods, the genes that encode the gene products, modified sentinel molecules produced by the gene products, and compounds or antibiotics which inhibit the modification process are provided.

Abstract: A controlled-release supplement coolant additive for use in diesel engine coolant systems comprising a core containing at least one supplemental coolant additive (SCA) active component and a polymeric coating material encapsulating said core. The controlled released supplement coolant additive slowly releases the SCA active components to a diesel engine coolant system, thereby delivering an effective concentration level of SCA active components over an extended period. The controlled-release supplement coolant additive maintains a minimum concentration level of active SCA components in the coolant system. Additionally, the controlled-release supplemental coolant additive prevents overdosing the coolant system with particular SCA active components such as nitrates.

Abstract: A controlled-release supplement coolant additive for use in diesel engine coolant systems comprising a core containing at least one supplemental coolant additive (SCA) active component and a polymeric coating material encapsulating said core. The controlled released supplement coolant additive slowly releases the SCA active components to a diesel engine coolant system, thereby delivering an effective concentration level of SCA active components over an extended period. The controlled-release supplement coolant additive maintains a minimum concentration level of active SCA components in the coolant system. Additionally, the controlled-release supplemental coolant additive prevents overdosing the coolant system with particular SCA active components such as nitrates.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cooking a single batch of starch solution and dispensing the solution to a commercial laundry machine utilizes a single batch reservoir. The reservoir is substantially filled with water, the water in the reservoir agitated while adding dry starch to form a starch suspension. The starch suspension is heated to cook the starch to form a starch solution. The entire batch of starch solution is dispensed to a commercial laundry machine while water is sprayed into the reservoir to clean residual starch from the reservoir.

Abstract: An electrical apparatus (100) line actuator (102), such as a voltage regulator or circuit breaker, has resident therein a personality module, electronically reconfigurable memory device (126) which stores actuator operational information, such as specifications (132), historical and maintenance information. An apparatus controller (106) communicates with the personality module (126) and can change the operational information stored therein. If either or both of the controller (106) and actuator (102) is replaced at a site, the controller (106) of the replacement apparatus configuration (100) can read the operational information stored in the personality module (126) and adapt its operational interaction with the actuator (102) in conformance with the information.