Abstract: Sequences encoding two immunoreactive glycoproteins were cloned from Ehrlichia canis (p153 gene) and Ehrlichia chaffeensis (p156 gene). These two glycoproteins are species-specific immunoreactive orthologs that are useful as subunit vaccines and for serologic and molecular diagnostics for E. canis and E. chaffeensis.

Abstract: At least one actuating element emits a signal in response to blowing and/or suction airflow from a person and is connected to a mouthpiece, and is coupled by way of an evaluation circuit to the appliance to be controlled. In order to maximize the total number of possible combinations of control signal and/or control data, two position transmitters (X-pos, Y-pos) are coupled to further inputs of the evaluation circuit, which incorporates at least one microprocessor, and, when the mouthpiece is used, each transmitter emits a coordinate signal characteristic of the position of the mouthpiece in a coordinate system. The microprocessor is adapted to process the signals from the actuating element, which is in the form of an impact pressure transducer and also the coordinate signals from the position transmitters (X-pos, Y-pos) to produce control data for the appliance.

Abstract: A positron emission tomography camera having a plurality of detector rings positioned side-by-side around the axis of a patient area. Each detector plane includes a plurality of photomultiplier tubes with at least two rows of scintillation crystals positioned on each photomultiplier tube and extending to photomultiplier tubes in other detector planes. Each row of crystals is offset from the other rows of crystals. Each crystal has a first end of a length in the axial direction less than the size of the photomultiplier tube for increasing a slice resolution. In order to provide identification of which crystal is activated by radiation, the second ends of some of the crystals adjacent the photomultiplier tubes are shaped differently from others. in one embodiment, the scintillation crystals are made out of a crystal bar with grooves cut into the block.

Abstract: A controller for enabling a person with limited physical abilities to control one or more electrically operated machines. A movable mouthpiece actuates a pressure transducer in response to blowing or sucking air and a plurality of position transducers are connected to and measure the position of the mouthpiece in a plurality of planes. A controller receives the output of the pressure transducer and position transducers and provides control signals to control one or more machines. The operator can calibrate and adjust the controller to compensate for his/her individual disabilities.

Abstract: Basal lamina grafts for reconnecting severed nerves are prepared from muscle by removing cellular material therefrom while preserving the tubular structure of the basal lamina. When connected to nerve stumps the basal lamina surfaces promote axon regeneration therethrough, eventually reestablishing nerve function through the regenerated graft.

Abstract: A positron emission tomography camera having a plurality of scintillation crystal planes positioned side-by-side around a patient area to detect radiation therefrom and forming adjacent rows of crystals transverse to the planes. Each row of each plane has a plurality of crystals and a row of light detectors are positioned adjacent each row of crystals. A row of slanting light guides are positioned between the crystals and the coacting detectors. The light guides are equal in number to the crystals and have a first end adjacent to one crystal and a second end positioned adjacent the detectors. The second ends of the light guides are axially offset in the rows a different amount from each other for providing an identification to the detectors of which crystal detects radiation.

Abstract: A positron emission tomography camera having a patient area with a plurality of fixed detector rings positioned side-by-side around the patient area to detect radiation. Each ring includes multiple layers of scintillation detectors in which the detectors in one of the layers is offset relative to the detectors in the other layers. The thickness of each layer increases exponentially from the inside of the ring to the outside of the ring. Identification of the scintillation detector may be performed by using layers with different timing constants, using silicon avalanche photodiodes or using a light guide transferring the light received from the staggered detectors to a non-staggered rectangular matrix.

Abstract: A positron emission tomography camera having a patient area with a plurality of fixed detector rings positioned side by side around the patient area to detect radiation. Each ring contains a plurality of scintillation detectors directed toward the patient area for defining a plane slice. Each ring includes multiple layers of scintillation detectors in which the detectors in one of the layers is offset relative to the detectors in the other layers in a ring for increasing the sampling of detected radiation. Photo multipliers for converting detected radiation into electrical pulses are positioned adjacent each ring but offset from the plane of each ring and are directed perpendicularly to the plane of the adjacent ring. The depth of each ring is sufficient to stop gamma radiation but the depth of each layer is less whereby image resolution is improved.

Abstract: A position emission tomography camera having a plurality of detector planes positioned side-by-side around a patient area to detect radiation. Each plane includes a plurality of photomultiplier tubes and at least two rows of scintillation crystals on each photomultiplier tube extend across to adjacent photomultiplier tubes for detecting radiation from the patient area. Each row of crystals on each photomultiplier tube is offset from the other rows of crystals, and the area of each crystal on each tube in each row is different than the area of the crystals on the tube in other rows for detecting which crystal is actuated and allowing the detector to detect more interplane slices. The crystals are offset by an amount equal to the length of the crystal divided by the number of rows. The rows of crystals on opposite sides of the patient may be rotated 90 degrees relative to each other.

Abstract: A positron emission tomography camera having a plurality of detector rings positioned side-by-side or offset by one-half of the detector cross section around a patient area to detect radiation therefrom. Each ring contains a plurality of scintillation detectors which are positioned around an inner circumference with a septum ring extending inwardly from the inner circumference along each outer edge of each ring. An additional septum ring is positioned in the middle of each ring of detectors and parallel to the other septa rings whereby the inward extent of all the septa rings may be reduced by one-half and the number of detectors required in each ring is reduced. Each detector ring or offset ring includes a plurality of photomultiplier tubes and a plurality of scintillation crystals are positioned relative to the photomultiplier tubes whereby each tube is responsive to more than one crystal.

Abstract: An improved sensitivity, multiple detector ring positron emission camera utilizing time-of-flight information to localize the position of a detected annihilation is disclosed. The annihilations detected along each cross-coincidence line between any detector in one ring and a plurality of detectors on the other rings are included in the data of the image slices by determining the nearest measurement position on the plane or interplane slice to the actual location of the annihilation for summing therewith. The positional uncertainty function which characterizes the error in the measurement of the true position of an annihilation along a coincidence line is weighted by an attenuation-uniformity coefficient to determine the contributions to those measurement positions which lie closest to the coincidence line between the detectors detecting the annihilation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a culture medium and methods for lymphocyte assessment of the nutritional status of humans by which repeatable and quantitative assays for deficiencies, abnormal requirements for or imbalances of vitamins, minerals and amino acids; for carbohydrate utilization, metabolism and imbalances and the like are obtained so that nutrition for each individual can be optimized thereby providing a significant impact on human health and productivity. Minimal amounts of lymphocytes and components of the culture medium are utilized making it possible to conduct a large number of nutritional assays with a small sample of blood.