Abstract: Effective delivery of an insecticide to a growing plant can sometimes be problematic. Topical delivery of an insecticide at the post-emergence stage of growth can sometimes be ineffective. It can also be difficult to deliver an insecticide to the roots of a growing plant, such as to combat a subsurface insect infestation. Accordingly, soil blends having insecticidal activity can comprise a soil medium, a porous soil additive, and an insecticide dispersed within the soil medium. Such soil blends may be used in conjunction with cultivating a variety of plants. Methods for producing the soil blends can comprise providing a soil medium and a porous soil additive, and dispersing the porous soil additive and an insecticide within the soil medium.

Abstract: The present specification provides an anti-EpoR peptide. A peptide having the structure represented by formula (I): V-SCH(A1)(A2)(A3)(A4)(A5)(A6)v(A7)(A8)-X2 (wherein X1 is the amino terminal side of the peptide; X2 is the carboxy terminal side of the peptide; A1 is M or F, phenylglycine or phenethylglycine optionally substituted by a halogen atom or a hydroxyl group; A2 is A, d-alanine or G; A3 is P, homoproline or A; A4 is M, L, A or I; A5 is T or A; A6 is M or W, F, Y, ?-homotryptophan, ?-naphthylalanine, ?-naphthylalanine, or quinolylalanine optionally substituted by methyl or a halogen atom; A7 is C, homocysteine, or penicillamine; and A8 is K, R or absent) is provided.

Abstract: An electrode guide device is described for inserting a cochlear implant electrode array into a scala tympany of a patient cochlea has an electrode guide tube and an end positioner at least partially contained within a cavity of the guide tube at the distal end and slidable within the cavity for adjustable extension beyond the distal end. The end positioner has a natural curvature that is constrained by the cavity of the guide tube for any portion contained within the cavity of the guide tube, and any portion of the end positioner extended beyond the distal end follows the natural curvature. The electrode array can be introduced through the groove of the guide tube along a first directional line towards an electrode opening in the patient cochlea, and then the distal end of electrode array emerging from the guide tube is redirected by the extension of the end positioner along a different second directional line through the electrode opening.

Abstract: Implantable medical devices have zones of high in vivo stability that are adjacent to zones of relatively low in vivo stability, so that when these medical devices are implanted into a host, the zones of low in vivo stability degrade first and allow the formation of independent segments of relatively intact high in vivo stability bands that are sufficiently small that they may pass from the host in a non-harmful manner.

Abstract: Approaches are described for adjusting a cochlear implant system that has an electrode array with multiple electrode contacts, which is implanted in a patient. For selected individual electrode contacts, a corresponding channel-specific monoaural interaction component (MIC) score is calculated that represents a channel interaction factor based on a ratio of: i. an electrically evoked auditory brain-stem response (cABR) measurement of an electrical stimulation signal applied to the individual electrode contact, and ii. a sum of individual eABR measurements from simultaneous electrical stimulation of selected electrode contacts nearest to the individual electrode contact. Each electrode contact having a channel-specific MIC score below a MIC score threshold value is then deactivated, whereby electrical stimulation signals are not delivered to deactivated electrode contacts.

Abstract: There is provided procoagulant peptides, and use of same, such as in treatment of hemostasis-related diseases or disorders, and/or wound healing.

Abstract: An imaging assembly includes a shaft which extends from a housing, the shaft including a distal tip, an imaging device located in the shaft or in the housing, a controller for operating the imaging device, a skin adhering fastening member coupled to the housing, and an actuator coupled to the housing and operative to tilt the housing about a joint about one or more rotation axes.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel methods of improving the overall outcome of a dermal tattoo when it is applied, such methods including applying a silicone-based material (such as a silicone-based film or silicone ointment) to a freshly created tattoo to improve comfort, offer barrier function, promote moist healing, and provide an effect to prevent and reduce scar formation. The invention also relates to a novel method of improving the overall outcome when a dermal tattoo is removed, such method including applying a silicone-based material to the tattoo site as a pre-treatment to laser tattoo removal.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an instrument kit tracking system that includes a housing that has a parent tracker affixed thereto as well as at least one medical instrument tray residing in the instrument kit housing that receives at least one medical instrument. A child tracker affixed to each of the at least one medical instrument tray where the child tracker communicates data to the parent tracker to obviate the need for full communications electronics, such as including GPS, within the child tracker to thereby save costs while sacrificing minimal loss of accuracy. The temperature sensor in the parent tracker records a temperature reading and calculate a usage of the at least one medical instrument if the temperature reading is above a predetermined value.

Abstract: A single-use cover assembly that obscures a substantial majority or an entirety of an injection needle from view before, during, and after an injection procedure. The cover assembly includes a housing and a needle sleeve that retracts and extends by sliding axially within the housing. The needle sleeve carries a locking collar that moves from a first position to a second position once the needle sleeve is fully retracted. In the first position the locking collar allows retraction of the needle sleeve from a fully extended position. In the second position, a portion of the locking collar covers a tip of the needle, thereby preventing retraction of the needle sleeve from the fully extended position.

Abstract: Provided is a lentivirus packaging system, which comprises: a transfer plasmid comprising a nucleotide sequence of TAR-reserved-chimeric 5? long terminal repeat (LTR); at least one packaging plasmid comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding TAR RNA binding protein, a nucleotide sequence of rev gene, a nucleotide sequence of gag gene, and a nucleotide sequence of pol gene; and an envelope plasmid. Due to the expression of gene of TAR RNA binding protein by the packaging plasmids, the produced lentivirus has higher virus titer and can improve the transduction rate and the gene delivery efficiency during cell transduction. The present invention further provides a method of improving lentivirus production in a host cell, which comprises using the lentivirus packaging system to transfect the host cell. The present invention further provides a cell transduced by the lentivirus and a method of using the cell for treating cancer.

Abstract: A single-use needle cover configured to obscure, protect, or hide at least a portion of a needle from view before, during, and/or after an injection and/or aspiration procedure is disclosed. In some embodiments, the cover includes a housing at least partially containing the needle and configured to couple to a syringe, wherein the housing includes an axis and a guide member. In some embodiments, a sleeve has a plurality of tracks configured to slidingly receive the guide member, wherein the sleeve is configured to retract, extend, and rotate with respect to the housing. In some embodiments, after the sleeve has been retracted and extended one time, a first locking member inhibits further retraction of the sleeve and a second locking member inhibits rotation of the sleeve.

Abstract: A virtual consultation method and an electronic device are provided. The method includes: receiving physiological information obtained through sensing a user by a sensing device; analyzing the physiological information to obtain an analysis result; adjusting weights of a plurality of questions according to the analysis result and determining a first question applicable to the user and an order of the first question according to the weights; and outputting the first question according to the order to simulate a question asked by a doctor for the user during consultation.

Abstract: A simulator apparatus for training medical professionals in various procedures involving the head, eye, larynx, and esophagus. The apparatus includes a head and neck model, an eye model, a cricothyroid model, and an esophagus model. The head and neck model is designed to be removably attached to the eye model, cricothyroid model, and esophagus model. The head and neck model simulates the human head, the eye model simulates the human eye, the cricothyroid model simulates the human larynx thyroid, and cricothyroid cartilage, and the esophagus model simulates the human esophagus. For training purposes, the models may be used individually without accompaniment of the other models, or in conjunction with one or more of the other models. The purpose of the simulator is to provide a user with a cost-effective, portable training simulator to practice performing procedures involving the human head, eye, larynx and cricothyroid muscle, and esophagus.

Abstract: A centrifuge having a housing containing a rotational mechanism and a centrifugal container having a longitudinal axis. The rotational mechanism has a circuit including an electrical motor, a switch, and an internal electrical power source. The centrifugal container is operably connected to the rotational mechanism through the housing, and is rotatable about the longitudinal axis. The centrifuge is portable and is for single use.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses compositions comprising a hyaluronidase, devices comprising such compositions, as well as methods and uses employing such compositions and devices to reduce or eliminate a hyaluronic acid-induced blockage of one or more blood vessels supplying an eye of an individual; methods and uses for employing such compositions and devices to reduce or inhibit a vascular occlusion in an eye of an individual; and methods and uses for employing such compositions and devices to reduce or inhibit a hyaluronic acid-induced loss of vision of an individual.

Abstract: A continuous refrigeration system for kidney transplantation surgery includes: a kidney bag, an extracorporeal ring and an intracorporal ring. One end of the kidney bag is provided with a bag mouth that allows the kidney and crushed ice to enter the interior of the kidney bag; the extracorporeal ring and the intracorporal ring are spaced on the kidney bag, and a lead-out end is provided both outside and inside the bottom of the kidney bag. A partial length of the kidney bag is supported to form the through circulation passage through which the kidney enters the kidney bag and thus obtaining a carrier for entering the human body, making the operation simple, convenient and fast. The lead-out end is provided so that the kidney bag is adapted to laparoscopic surgery.

Abstract: A double network hydrogel consists of a first network and a second network, where the first network is, or includes, a first polymer that is formed, at least in part, of —CH2—CH(OH)— units, and the second network is, or includes, a second polymer that is formed, at least in part, of carboxyl (COOH)-containing units or salts thereof, sulfonyl (SO3H)-containing units or salts thereof, and at least one of hydroxyl (OH)-containing units or amino (NH2)-containing units, where the hydrogel may be used as a cartilage replacement.

Abstract: A polymeric mesh is disclosed. The polymeric mesh comprises an absorbable polymeric fiber and a non-absorbable polymeric fiber knitted together to form an interdependent, co-knit mesh structure. Also disclosed are methods for making the polymeric mesh and methods for using the polymeric mesh.