Abstract: Bacterial strains are provided having at least one of a reduced size, a sialic acid coat, inducibly altered surface antigens, and expression of PD-L1 or CTLA-4 antagonists and/or tryptophanase. The bacteria may have improved serum half-life, increased penetration into tumors, increased tumor targeting and increased antitumor activity. The bacteria are useful for delivery of therapeutic agents that treat of neoplastic diseases including solid tumors and lymphomas.

Abstract: A miniature mass spectrometer includes an atmospheric pressure ionisation source and a first vacuum chamber having an atmospheric pressure sampling orifice or capillary, a second vacuum chamber downstream of the first vacuum chamber, and a third vacuum chamber downstream of the second vacuum chamber. An ion detector is located in the third vacuum chamber. A first RF ion guide is located within the first vacuum chamber and a second RF ion guide is located within the second vacuum chamber. The ion path length from the atmospheric pressure sampling orifice or capillary to an ion detecting surface of the ion detector is ?400 mm. The mass spectrometer also includes a tandem quadrupole mass analyser, 3D ion trap mass analyser, 2D or linear ion trap mass analyser, Time of Flight mass analyser, quadrupole-Time of Flight mass analyser, or electrostatic mass analyser arranged in the third vacuum chamber.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to methods and devices for treatment of spinal deformity, and in particular to the utilization of at least one implant to either maintain the position of at least one vertebra of a patient to prevent increase in abnormal spinal curvature, to slow progression of abnormal curvature, or to impose at least one corrective displacement and/or rotation on at least one vertebra of a patient so as to incrementally correct abnormal spinal curvature.

Abstract: A radio tag comprising a first radio and a second radio and a method for providing a communications service are disclosed. For example, the method comprises entering, by a processor of the radio tag, an active state of the radio tag and activating the second radio when a wake-up signal is received, where the second radio draws power from a power source, transmitting, by the processor of the radio tag, data to a device or receiving the data from the device when the radio tag is in the active state, and deactivating, by the processor of the radio tag, the second radio and entering an idle state when the wake-up signal is no longer being received, where only the first radio draws power from the power source for listening for the wake-up signal in the idle state.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to methods and device for treatment of spinal deformity, wherein at least one tether is utilized to maintain the distance between the spine and the an ilium to (1) prevent increase in abnormal spinal curvature, (2) slow progression of abnormal curvature, and/or (3) impose at least one corrective displacement and/or rotation.

Abstract: A liquid control valve including a body comprising an inlet port, an outlet port, and an interior chamber, the body defining a liquid passageway between the inlet and outlet ports. Also included is a plunger comprising a groove provided on an external wall, the plunger being configured to reciprocate within the interior chamber of the body between a first position where the valve is closed and a second position where the valve is open. Also provided is a sealing arrangement within the groove configured to seal between the plunger and the interior chamber of the body. The sealing arrangement includes a first sealing element on the external wall of the plunger and spaced apart from an inner wall of the internal chamber, and a second sealing element on the inner wall of the internal chamber and spaced apart from the external wall of the plunger.

Abstract: An example embodiment of the present invention provides a pole cap for covering an end of a pole. The pole cap comprises a sheet that includes a central portion, a first strip, and a flap that has a slit. The central portion is configured to cover a base surface of an end of a pole. The first strip is configured to fold over an edge of the base surface and circumferentially wrap around a portion of a curved surface of the pole. The flap is configured to fold over the edge of the base surface.

Abstract: A miniature mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising an atmospheric pressure ionization source and a first vacuum chamber having an atmospheric pressure sampling orifice or capillary, a second vacuum chamber located downstream of the first vacuum chamber and a third vacuum chamber located downstream of the second vacuum chamber. An ion detector is located in the third vacuum chamber. A first RF ion guide is located within the first vacuum chamber and a second RF ion guide is located within the second vacuum chamber. The ion path length from the atmospheric pressure sampling orifice or capillary to an ion detecting surface of the ion detector is ?400 mm. The mass spectrometer further comprises a tandem quadrupole mass analyzer, a 3D ion trap mass analyzer, a 2D or linear ion trap mass analyzer, a Time of Flight mass analyzer, a quadrupole-Time of Flight mass analyzer or an electrostatic mass analyzer arranged in the third vacuum chamber.

Abstract: Bacterial strains are provided having at least one of a reduced size, a sialic acid coat, inducibly altered surface antigens, and expression of PD-L1 or CTLA-4 antagonists and/or tryptophanase. The bacteria may have improved serum half-life, increased penetration into tumors, increased tumor targeting and increased antitumor activity. The bacteria are useful for delivery of therapeutic agents that treat of neoplastic diseases including solid tumors and lymphomas.

Abstract: An atherectomy system includes a handle having a handle housing, with a drive member extending through the handle housing and operably coupled to an atherectomy burr. A drive mechanism is disposed within the handle housing and is adapted to rotatably engage the drive member. The drive mechanism may include an electric drive motor, a drive gear that is rotatably engaged with the electric drive motor and a driven gear that is coupled with the drive member and is engaged with the drive gear such that rotation of the driven gear causes rotation of the drive member. The drive mechanism may be configured to enable a rotation speed of the atherectomy burr of up to at least about 200,000 revolutions per minute (rpm).

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to methods and devices for treatment of spinal deformity, and in particular to the utilization of at least one implant to either maintain the position of at least one vertebra of a patient to prevent increase in abnormal spinal curvature, to slow progression of abnormal curvature, or to impose at least one corrective displacement and/or rotation on at least one vertebra of a patient so as to incrementally correct abnormal spinal curvature.

Abstract: An alert communication device, an alert activation device, and an alert management system are provided. The alert management system may include one or more alert communication devices communicatively coupled to one or more other alert communication devices and configured to provide one or more of a visual alert and an audio alert and one or more alert activation devices communicatively coupled to at least one alert communication device of the one or more alert communication devices.

Abstract: Determining a location for a non-access point device based on non-access point device emulation of an access point (AP) device is disclosed. A non-AP device can pass itself off as an actual AP device to piggyback of location reporting by user equipment (UE). Where a UE observes an emulated AP, e.g., a non-AP device masquerading as an AP device, the observance of the emulated AP can be reported, along with UE location information captured at the time of the observance, to a network database. The UE location information can be used to determine a location of the emulated AP. The location of the emulated AP can be retrieved from the database in response to a query identifying the emulated AP. This can enable the non-AP device to query its own location as observed by the UE. This can enable other devices to receive the location of the non-AP device.

Abstract: An atherectomy system includes a drive mechanism that is adapted to rotatably actuate an atherectomy burr and a controller that is adapted to regulate operation of the drive mechanism. In some cases, the drive mechanism includes a drive cable that is coupled with the atherectomy burr and an electric drive motor that is adapted to rotate the drive cable. The controller is adapted to regulate operation of the electric drive motor such that the drive mechanism emulates one or more performance parameters of an air turbine.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an ion guide comprising a plurality of axially stacked plates, wherein at least some or all of said plates comprise: a first electrically conductive portion; and a second electrically conductive portion, wherein the second electrically conductive portion is electrically isolated from the first electrically conductive portion, the first and second electrically conductive portions being shaped and arranged relative to each other so as to define an opening through which ions are axially transmitted in use; wherein, in use, a first AC or RF voltage is applied to the first electrically conductive portion and a second AC or RF voltage is applied to the second electrically conductive portion in order to confine ions radially within said opening. The first and second electrically conductive portions (1, 2) may be separately formed and interleaved within the ion guide to define the plates.

Abstract: Bacteria with tumor-targeting capability express, surface displayed, secreted and/or released modified chimeric therapeutic proteins with enhanced therapeutic activity against a neoplastic tissue including solid tumors, lymphomas and leukemias. The bacteria may be attenuated, non-pathogenic, low pathogenic or a probiotic. The chimeric proteins may be protease sensitive and may optionally be further accompanied by co-expression of a secreted protease inhibitor as a separate molecule or as a fusion.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising an atmospheric pressure interface comprising a gas cone 6 having an inlet aperture, wherein the gas cone 6 has a first longitudinal axis arranged along an x-axis and an Electrospray ion source comprising a first capillary tube 2 having an outlet and having a second longitudinal axis and a second capillary tube 3 which surrounds the first capillary tube 2. The mass spectrometer further comprises a desolvation gas supply tube and a first device arranged and adapted to supply an analyte liquid via the first capillary tube 2 so that the liquid exits the outlet of the first capillary tube 2 at a flow rate >200 ?L/min.

Abstract: An alert communication device, an alert activation device, and an alert management system are provided. The alert management system may include one or more alert communication devices communicatively coupled to one or more other alert communication devices and configured to provide one or more of a visual alert and an audio alert and one or more alert activation devices communicatively coupled to at least one alert communication device of the one or more alert communication devices.