Abstract: In one aspect, the invention relates to an immunogenic composition that includes a mutant Clostridium difficile toxin A and/or a mutant Clostridium difficile toxin B. The mutant toxin may include a glucosyltransferase domain having at least one mutation and a cysteine protease domain having at least one mutation, relative to the corresponding wild-type C. difficile toxin. The mutant toxins may include at least one amino acid that is chemically crosslinked. In another aspect, the invention relates to methods and compositions for use in culturing Clostridium difficile and in producing C. difficile toxins.

Abstract: A radiant energy collector comprising a reflective surface having a concave cross-sectional shape, wherein the reflective surface focuses radiant energy onto a receiving surface that is disposed along the focal axis of the reflective surface, wherein the focused radiant energy provides substantially uniform illumination along the entire axial length of the receiving surface.

Abstract: An arrangement is provided for a data manipulation device disposed in a low profile form factor housing. A data manipulation device includes a memory configured to provide data storage and a backup storage configure to provide backup space when the memory is being backed up.

Abstract: A radiant energy collector comprising a reflective surface having a concave cross-sectional shape, wherein the reflective surface focuses radiant energy onto a receiving surface that is disposed along the focal axis of the reflective surface, wherein the focused radiant energy provides substantially uniform illumination along the entire axial length of the receiving surface.

Abstract: An arrangement is provided for storage systems that use solid state disks for multiple functions. Solid state disks can be configured as cache under the control of a RAID controller. In some embodiments, a storage space can be divided into multiple zones according to information access traffic patterns.

Abstract: A monitoring system for an outdoor power implement. The monitoring system comprises an accelerometer, a GPS receiver, a processing module, and a storage device. The accelerometer collects impact force data of the outdoor power implement. The GPS receiver collects position data of the outdoor power implement. The processing module is coupled to the accelerometer and the GPS receiver and has a filter module operable to receive the impact force data from the accelerometer, filter the impact data, and provide filtered impact data. The filter module comprises a resistor capacitor filter circuit having a cutoff frequency at 50 Hz. The processing module also has a data extraction module operable to receive the positioning data from the GPS receiver. The storage device is coupled to the processing module and is operable to record the filtered impact data and the positioning data. The outdoor power implement may include a lawnmower.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for detecting the presence of edema in a mammalian host. In the subject methods, the perimeter of at least one limbic extremity, preferably a lower limbic extremity such as an ankle or foot, is measured to obtain a perimeter value. The perimeter value is then compared to a control value and any difference is identified. The difference is then related to the presence of edema in the patient. The subject methods find use in the diagnosis and management of diseases characterized by the presence of edema as a physical manifestation, particularly congestive heart failure, more particularly right-sided or biventricular failure.

Abstract: Large numbers of data files are moved between computer systems using an export process and an import process. To begin, a user specifies files to export from a first computer system. A volume location for each of the specified files is identified within the first computer system. File handles corresponding to the specified files are stored to a directory volume. Next, a user physically removes all of the identified volumes and the directory volume from the first computer system and installs them in the second computer system. The import process begins when a user for a second computer system loads the volumes and the directory volume into the second computer system. The imported files are then merged with existing files on the second computer system.

Abstract: Apparatus for enveloping battery plates within porous separators and for feeding a separator sheet to form a fold at the approximate midpoint of the separator, simultaneously positioning a battery plate with an edge adjacent to the fold line, passing the plate and separator through rollers to press the separator against both sides of the battery plate, and passing the folded separator and enclosed battery plate through an ultrasonic sealing unit for sealing opposite edges of the separator to form an envelope. The apparatus includes a separator sheet dispenser for dispensing individual separator sheets into an elongated passageway. The end of the passageway is blocked so that a separator reaching the stopping point buckles to form a fold at the approximate midpoint of the separator.