Abstract: The invention provides fusion proteins comprising at least two fluorescent proteins, with the fluorescent proteins emitting different wavelengths of light from one another, at least one plant hormone binding domain that changes three-dimensional conformation upon specifically binding to a plant hormone, and two linker peptides, with the first linker linking the first fluorescent protein to the N-terminus of the plant hormone binding domain and the second linker linking the second fluorescent protein to the C-terminus of the plant hormone binding domain. The invention also provides for methods of using the fusion proteins of the present invention and nucleic acids encoding the fusion proteins.

Abstract: A cervical plate is disclosed. The plate includes plate body with a first end adapted for attachment to a first vertebra in a cephalad relation to the plate body and a second end adapted for attachment to second vertebra in a caudad relation to the plate body. The plate body being of a first thickness at the first end and of a second thickness at the second end, the first thickness being smaller than the second thickness, and the plate body transitioning from the first thickness to the second thickness in a graduated manner.

Abstract: A cervical plate is disclosed. The plate includes plate body with a first end adapted for attachment to a first vertebra in a cephalad relation to the plate body and a second end adapted for attachment to second vertebra in a caudad relation to the plate body. The plate body being of a first thickness at the first end and of a second thickness at the second end, the first thickness being smaller than the second thickness, and the plate body transitioning from the first thickness to the second thickness in a graduated manner.

Abstract: A system and method for shimming a hole drilled in a bone for the insertion of an orthopedic screw. The system includes a sleeve with an elongated sleeve shaped body having an external surface and an internal surface, a first end, a mid portion, and a second end. The mid portion of the body is made from woven fibers that are free to move relative to one another and being woven in a crisscrossing spiral arrangement along the sleeve shaped body. The first end of the body includes an opening that can accept a rod. The second end of the body is smaller than the first end of the body, so that the first end of the sleeve shaped body may be inserted into the hole with the aid of the rod, and so that when the orthopedic screw is inserted into the elongated sleeve the woven fibers of the body will move relative to one other to accommodate the orthopedic screw and take up any space between the screw and the hole.