Abstract: Methods and apparatus for improved yard and garden maintenance are disclosed. The yard and garden maintenance include manual and powered leaf and debris cleaning systems some incorporating specialized fork and teeth designs. In some examples, the powered leaf and debris cleaning systems may include processors, navigation and communications capability.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to medical devices, and more particularly to an improved intravascular intervention device. In one embodiment, an intravascular intervention device includes a microcatheter configured for intravascular delivery, an imaging wire received within the microcatheter, and a treatment device received within the microcatheter, wherein the imaging wire and the treatment device may be simultaneously advanced. The treatment device is configured to perform intravascular intervention. For example, the treatment device may be configured to deliver a stent, an embolic coil and/or a thrombolytic agent. In this embodiment, the intravascular intervention device may image the area of interest while performing the intravascular intervention, thus allowing imaging to take place in real time.

Abstract: Various methods are provided for the enzymatic production of glycolic acid from glycolonitrile. These methods include: 1) use of Acidovorax facilis 72W nitrilase mutants having improved nitrilase activity for converting glycolonitrile to glycolic acid, and 2) methods to improve catalyst stability and/or productivity. The methods to improve catalyst stability/productivity include use of reaction stabilizers, running the reactions under substantially oxygen free conditions, and controlling the concentration of substrate in the reaction mixture.

Abstract: A power supply monitoring circuit is provided that utilises an adaptive internal control of the refresh rates of capacitors to reduce the power requirements of the circuit. The circuit provides at an output a signal indicative of the level of the supply voltage relative to a predetermined reference voltage.

Abstract: This invention relates to nitrilase mutants having improved nitrilase activity for converting 3-hydroxynitriles to 3-hydroxycarboxylic acids. More specifically, the Acidovorax facilis 72W (ATCC 55746) nitrilase gene was mutated using error-prone PCR and site-directed mutagenesis to create nitrilase enzymes having improved nitrilase activity for converting 3-hydroxynitriles (e.g., 3-hydroxybutyronitrile or 3-hydroxyvaleronitrile) to the corresponding 3-hydroxycarboxylic acids. A process using these improved mutants to produce the 3-hydroxycarboxylic acids is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to medical devices, and more particularly to an improved intravascular intervention device. In one embodiment, an intravascular intervention device includes a microcatheter configured for intravascular delivery, an imaging wire received within the microcatheter, and a treatment device received within the microcatheter, wherein the imaging wire and the treatment device may be simultaneously advanced. The treatment device is configured to perform intravascular intervention. For example, the treatment device may be configured to deliver a stent, an embolic coil and/or a thrombolytic agent. In this embodiment, the intravascular intervention device may image the area of interest while performing the intravascular intervention, thus allowing imaging to take place in real time.

Abstract: A process is provided for producing glycolic acid from formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide. More specifically, heat-treated formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide are reacted to produce glycolonitrile having low concentrations of impurities. The glycolonitrile is subsequently converted to an aqueous solution of ammonium glycolate using an enzyme catalyst having nitrilase activity derived from Acidovorax facilis 72W (ATCC 57746). Glycolic acid is recovered in the form of the acid or salt from the aqueous ammonium glycolate solution using a variety of methods described herein.

Abstract: A rapid and efficient method for novel biological substance screening by surface analysis has been developed using Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (ToF-SIMS). This method relies on the surface screening of an array of micro-organisms grown on porous membranes, which had previously been in contact with a solid growth medium. TOF-SIMS analysis differentiates among organisms producing different substances, either directly as molecular product, or indirectly through the use of multivariate statistical data reduction techniques. This method has many advantages over traditional microbial screening methods, which require sample preparation and time for assay development.

Abstract: Various methods are provided for the enzymatic production of glycolic acid from glycolonitrile. These methods include: 1) use of Acidovorax facilis 72W nitrilase mutants having improved nitrilase activity for converting glycolonitrile to glycolic acid, and 2) methods to improve catalyst stability and/or productivity. The methods to improve catalyst stability/productivity include use of reaction stabilizers, running the reactions under substantially oxygen free conditions, and controlling the concentration of substrate in the reaction mixture.

Abstract: This invention relates to nitrilase mutants having improved nitrilase activity for converting 3-hydroxynitriles to 3-hydroxycarboxylic acids. More specifically, the Acidovorax facilis 72W (ATCC 55746) nitrilase gene was mutated using error-prone PCR and site-directed mutagenesis to create nitrilase enzymes having improved nitrilase activity for converting 3-hydroxynitriles (e.g., 3-hydroxybutyronitrile or 3-hydroxyvaleronitrile) to the corresponding 3-hydroxycarboxylic acids. A process using these improved mutants to produce the 3-hydroxycarboxylic acids is also provided.