Abstract: An adjustable exhaust assembly for a pneumatic fastener includes a base, which includes a base plate and a protrusion protruding from the base plate. The protrusion is centrally hollow and includes an inner surface and an outer surface. The base plate includes an inlet opening and an exhaust opening defined therethrough. The inlet opening is interconnected with a channel defined by the inner surface of the protrusion. A cap is coupled to and supported by the base and includes an exit opening. A quick connector coupler is positioned inside the channel defined by the inner surface of the protrusion. When coupled to a pneumatic fastener, the quick connector coupler is suitable for connecting to an air supply hose to input compressed air to the pneumatic fastener via the channel defined by the inner surface of the protrusion and the inlet opening, and exhaust from the pneumatic fastener may exit through the exhaust opening and the exit opening.

Abstract: The present invention provides a head valve assembly for a pneumatic fastener including a piston assembly reciprocated within a cylinder assembly for driving a fastener and a housing having an end cap for at least partially enclosing the head valve assembly. The head valve assembly includes a valve piston for causing supply pressure to be ported to the piston assembly for moving the piston assembly within the cylinder assembly from a non-actuated position to an actuated position for driving the fastener. Further, an inner cap is disposed within the end cap around the valve piston. The inner cap includes an inlet port for porting pressure to the valve piston. In addition, a main seal is coupled to the valve piston for sealing the cylinder assembly from supply pressure while pressure is ported to the valve piston by the inner cap for holding the piston assembly in the non-actuated position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the continuous deposition of RP HPLC eluent, from isocratic or gradient elutions, on to a MALDI target using a parallel sample desalting method, allows increased sensitivity of the MALDI sample by pre-concentration of the analyte, separation of interfering contaminants from the analyte and increased dynamic range of peptide abundance that can be analyzed. The parallel processing of sample material allows greater throughput than that of manual methods.

Abstract: The sequences of antisense nucleic acids which inhibit the proliferation of prokaryotes are disclosed. Cell-based assays which employ the antisense nucleic acids to identify and develop antibiotics are also disclosed. The antisense nucleic acids can also be used to identify proteins required for proliferation, express these proteins or portions thereof, obtain antibodies capable of specifically binding to the expressed proteins, and to use those expressed proteins as a screen to isolate candidate molecules for rational drug discovery programs. The nucleic acids can also be used to screen for homologous nucleic acids that are required for proliferation in cells other than Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhimurium, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The nucleic acids of the present invention can also be used in various assay systems to screen for proliferation required genes in other organisms.

Abstract: Stabilized nucleic acids for use in gene and drug discovery are disclosed. Vectors and host cells useful in the production of stabilized nucleic acids are also disclosed. Cell-based assays which employ stabilized antisense nucleic acids to identify and develop antibiotics and to identify genes required for proliferation are described. The use of stabilized nucleic acids to identify homologous nucleic acids required for the proliferation of heterologous organisms is also described. Inhibition of the expression of genes required for proliferation in heterologous organisms through the use of stabilized antisense nucleic acids is disclosed.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are disclosed herein that relate to the development of fusion promoters for regulating gene expression in bacteria. Embodiments include fusion promoters comprising one or more operators linked to a promoter that is modified to have altered activity in Gram-positive organisms. Vectors and cells containing these fusion promoters are also described. Other embodiments include, methods of using these fusion promoters to regulate nucleic acid and/or polypeptide expression, methods of using these fusion promoters to identify proliferation-required genes, and methods of using these fusion promoters to identify molecules having potential antibiotic activity.

Abstract: The sequences of antisense nucleic acids which inhibit the proliferation of prokaryotes are disclosed. Cell-based assays which employ the antisense nucleic acids to identify and develop antibiotics are also disclosed. The antisense nucleic acids can also be used to identify proteins required for proliferation, express these proteins or portions thereof, obtain antibodies capable of specifically binding to the expressed proteins, and to use those expressed proteins as a screen to isolate candidate molecules for rational drug discovery programs. The nucleic acids can also be used to screen for homologous nucleic acids that are required for proliferation in cells other than Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhimurium, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The nucleic acids of the present invention can also be used in various assay systems to screen for proliferation required genes in other organisms.