Abstract: The present invention relates to a newly identified hydrolase from thermophilic microorganisms having thermostable properties, and more specifically, to a novel thermostable hydrolase showing high activity at high temperatures.

Abstract: A method of making a composite tubular article made up of at least two concentric members, the outer of said members being tubular and the inner of said members being at least cylindrical and preferably tubular, and struts disposed in supporting and positioning orientation between the inner and outer members, by extruding a moldable material into the desired profile; stretching the inner tubular member over a cooling mandrel and disposing a cooling sleeve over the outer tubular member under conditions sufficient to solidify the article; twisting and longitudinally pulling the solidified article, so that it rotates over the cooling mandrel and inside the cooling sleeve while it is moving down stream across the cooling mandrel, whereby causing the extrudate to be twisted into a helical shape.

Abstract: An folding exercising machine includes an upright with a bottom frame for positioning on a floor, two handlebars pivotally coupled to the upright at two sides, two pedal frames respectively pivoted to the bottom sides of the handlebars, each pedal frame having a bottom pin, a wheel module pivoted to the bottom frame of the upright and alternatively set between an operative position and a non-operative position, a lock screw provided at the bottom frame of the upright for locking the wheel module in the operative position, two first sockets respectively provided at two pedal cranks of a wheel of the wheel module for receiving the bottom pins of the pedal frames to hold the wheel module in the operative position, two second sockets provided at a transverse bar at the rear side of the wheel module for receiving the bottom pins of the pedal frames to hold the wheel module in the non-operative position, and a retaining member provided at the upright for locking the wheel module in the non-operative position.

Abstract: An folding exercising machine includes an upright with a bottom frame for positioning on a floor, two handlebars pivotally coupled to the upright at two sides, two pedal frames respectively pivoted to the bottom sides of the handlebars, each pedal frame having a bottom pin, a wheel module pivoted to the bottom frame of the upright and alternatively set between an operative position and a non-operative position, a lock screw provided at the bottom frame of the upright for locking the wheel module in the operative position, two first sockets respectively provided at two pedal cranks of a wheel of the wheel module for receiving the bottom pins of the pedal frames to hold the wheel module in the operative position, two second sockets provided at a transverse bar at the rear side of the wheel module for receiving the bottom pins of the pedal frames to hold the wheel module in the non-operative position, and a retaining member provided at the upright for locking the wheel module in the non-operative position.

Abstract: An appliance configured to process food includes a primary motor and a secondary motor. The primary motor is configured to rotate a blade connected to a spindle and the blade and the spindle are positioned above a blade platform. The primary motor is mounted on a second platform. The second motor is configured to translate the blade platform and the spindle by a first linkage from a first position to a second position relative to the second platform.

Abstract: Implantable hermetically sealed structures and methods for making the same are provided. Also provided are devices, systems and kits including the hermetically sealed structures, as well as methods of using such devices and systems.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for automatically optimizing CRT procedures using a multi-electrode pacing lead. During operation, the system performs a first set of iterations to select one or more satellites on one or more pacing leads inserted in a patient. A pacing lead includes a plurality of pacing satellites, and a pacing satellite includes a plurality of electrodes that can be individually addressed and used for transmitting or detecting electric signals. The system then performs a second set of iterations to select one or more electrodes on the selected satellites. The system further performs a third set of iterations to select one or more timing configurations for pacing signals transmitted through one or more of the selected electrodes.

Abstract: Compositions, systems and methods that allow for the detection of the actual physical delivery of a pharmaceutical agent to a body are provided. Embodiments of the compositions include an identifier and an active agent. The invention finds use in a variety of different applications, including but not limited to, monitoring of therapeutic regimen compliance, tracking the history of pharmaceutical agents, etc.

Abstract: Methods for evaluating motion of a cardiac tissue location, e.g., heart wall, are provided. In the subject methods, timing of a signal obtain from a strain gauge stably associated with the tissue location of interest is employed to evaluate movement of the cardiac tissue location. Also provided are systems, devices and related compositions for practicing the subject methods. The subject methods and devices find use in a variety of different applications, including cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Abstract: Implantable pressure sensors and methods for making and using the same are provided. A feature of embodiments of the subject pressure sensors is that they are low-drift sensors. The subject sensors find use in a variety of applications.

Abstract: Implantable connector arrangements are provided for allowing a plurality of electrode leads to be connected to an implantable device through a single port in the device. Also provided are leads that include the same, implantable pulse generators that include the leads, as well as systems and kits having components thereof, and methods of making and using the subject devices.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method used to determine the mutational load of a gene bank obtained by means of random mutagenesis of a gene of interest comprising: a) the preparation of a chart linking the mutational load (ML) of gene bank obtained by means of random mutagenesis of a model gene with the fraction of mutated model genes observed in said bank; b) the random mutagenesis of the model gene used for the preparation of the chart for step (a) and the gene of interest to obtain the corresponding mutated gene banks; c) the determination of the mutational load (ML) of the gene bank obtained using the model gene in step (b) on the basis of the chart plotted in step (a); d) the application of a correction factor (CF) to the mutational load (ML) of the mutated model gene bank determined in step (c) to determine the mutational load (ML) of the banks of mutated genes of interest from step (b).

Abstract: Techniques for controlling one or more modular circuits (“satellites”) that are intended for placement in a subject's body. The one or more satellites are controlled by sending signals over a bus that includes first and second conduction paths. Also coupled to the bus in system embodiments is a device such as a pacemaker that provides power and includes control circuitry. Each satellite includes satellite circuitry and one or more effectors that interact with the tissue. The satellite circuitry is coupled to the bus, and thus interfaces the controller to the one or more effectors, which may function as actuators, sensors, or both. The effectors may be electrodes that are used to introduce analog electrical signals (e.g., one or more pacing pulses) into the tissue in the local areas where the electrodes are positioned (e.g., heart muscles) or to sense analog signals (e.g., a propagating depolarization signal) within the tissue.

Abstract: A method for producing a durable electromagnetic and radio frequency interference shield between two or more structural members of a wall or enclosure and a shielded shelter produced using the method. In one embodiment, joints between structural members are preferably filled with an electrically conductive filler. A base coat of a metal spray that adheres well to the filler and structural member is then applied. At least one layer of a metal spray with magnetic field attenuation properties such as steel, and at least one layer of a metal spray that has plane wave attenuation properties such as tin are applied to the base coat. Optionally, a coat of protective or conductive paint is then applied to the top surface of the metal spray layers. An enclosure with shielded joints according to the present invention has superior shielding capability and durability over the art.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fragmentation process that depends on mismatches between two strands of parental polynucleotides. One embodiment, comprises a method for preparing polynucleotide fragments of DNA comprising formation of heteroduplex molecules by hybridizing polynucleotides. The invention also provides a method and process of forming fragments which can be used with any shuffling process or combination of shuffling processes.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and test-kits for rapidly detecting and/or quantifying a group of organism, cultivable or not cultivable, sharing the same enzymatic activity. In particular, the methods and kits can be used for example in the field of cosmetics, where the activities of (microbial) enzymes, which are responsible for malodor or dandruff, are detected as an indicator for the presence of particular groups of microorganisms. Furthermore, the effect on substances acting on the causative microbes can be determined rapidly, easily and at low cost.

Abstract: Implantable pressure sensors and methods for making and using the same are provided. A feature of embodiments of the subject pressure sensors is that they are low-drift sensors. The subject sensors find use in a variety of applications.

Abstract: A cardiac sensor system includes implanted cardiac sensor assemblies and an external controller which receives information from the implanted sensors. The sensors permit direct measurement of a number of physiologic parameters. The external controller permits calculation of a variety of performance values based on the measured physiological parameters. Optionally, patient oxygen consumption can be measured externally and combined with the internally measured physiologic parameters in order to calculate a variety of unique performance values.

Abstract: This invention has as its object a process for generating the idiosyncratic catalytic imprint of a sample, characterized in that it comprises the following stages: the sample that is likely to have the catalytic activity is brought into contact with a group of substrates; the signals that are generated after said contact are captured in some way. Advantageously, after the signals are captured, a processing of the latter that consists of assigning to each signal a digital value constituting a component of a graphic display, for example a color display, of the idiosyncratic imprint is carried out.

Abstract: Techniques for controlling one or more modular circuits (“satellites”) that are intended for placement in a subject's body. The one or more satellites are controlled by sending signals over a bus that includes first and second conduction paths. Also coupled to the bus in system embodiments is a device such as a pacemaker that provides power and includes control circuitry. Each satellite includes satellite circuitry and one or more effectors that interact with the tissue. The satellite circuitry is coupled to the bus, and thus interfaces the controller to the one or more effectors, which may function as actuators, sensors, or both. The effectors may be electrodes that are used to introduce analog electrical signals (e.g., one or more pacing pulses) into the tissue in the local areas where the electrodes are positioned (e.g., heart muscles) or to sense analog signals (e.g., a propagating depolarization signal) within the tissue.