Abstract: A protease directed to a non-neuronal SNARE protein is described. The protease is produced by selective mutation of a botulinum neurotoxin light chain, and is characterized utilizing a reporting construct that includes all or part of the non-neuronal SNARE protein. Such a protease has utility in the treatment of diseases associated with hypersecretion, where the hypersecretion is mediated by a non-neuronal SNARE protein.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for analyzing protease activity, and especially BoNT/B, BoNT/G, BoNT/D, and/or BoNT/F protease activity, using a cell based assay are provided. Cells express at least two recombinant hybrid proteins each of which includes a fluorophore and a membrane anchoring peptide, and at least one of which includes a BoNT protease recognition and cleavage sequence positioned to release a fluorophore upon cleavage. Analysis is performed by monitoring fluorescence following exposure to a BoNT. The fluorophores are positioned so that no useful FRET occurs between them, permitting fluorescence produced by the non-released fluorophore to be used in data normalization.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for analyzing intracellular BoNT protease activity, and especially BoNT/B, BoNT/G, BoNT/D, and/or BoNT/F protease activity are provided. Cells express at least two recombinant hybrid proteins each of which includes a fluorophore and a membrane anchoring peptide, and at least one of which includes a BoNT protease recognition and cleavage sequence positioned to release a fluorophore upon cleavage. Analysis is performed by monitoring fluorescence following exposure to a BoNT.

Abstract: A portable parts washer for cleaning mechanical parts that includes a washer body having an upper portion, a lower portion, and a wash basin formed within the upper portion having inner sidewalls, a floor panel and at least one drain aperture. The portable parts washer also includes an in-use reservoir formed within the lower portion of the washer body and having a bottom panel spaced from the floor panel and outer sidewalls, and which is configured to receive cleaning fluid from the wash basin through the drain aperture when the floor panel is in a substantially horizontal orientation. The portable parts washer further includes a storage reservoir formed within the upper and lower portions and which is configured to contain the cleaning fluid from the in-use reservoir when the floor panel is rotated to a substantially vertical orientation.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for improved cell-based methods of characterizing botulinum neurotoxins are provided. Cells utilized in these methods include a reporting construct that is cleaved following uptake and processing of botulinum neurotoxin by the cell, resulting in proteolysis of the portion of the reporting construct that is released following cleavage. The released portion includes a fluorophore and amino acid substitutions or sequences that enhance the rate of proteolysis. A pair of reporting constructs can be utilized in which one member of the pair is modified to resist cleavage by the botulinum neurotoxin while co-localizing with the remaining member of the pair.

Abstract: A portable parts washer for cleaning mechanical parts that includes a washer body having an upper portion, a lower portion, and a wash basin formed within the upper portion having inner sidewalls, a floor panel and at least one drain aperture. The portable parts washer also includes an in-use reservoir formed within the lower portion of the washer body and having a bottom panel spaced from the floor panel and outer sidewalls, and which is configured to receive cleaning fluid from the wash basin through the drain aperture when the floor panel is in a substantially horizontal orientation. The portable parts washer further includes a storage reservoir formed within the upper and lower portions and which is configured to contain the cleaning fluid from the in-use reservoir when the floor panel is rotated to a substantially vertical orientation.

Abstract: A protease directed to a non-neuronal SNARE protein is described. The protease is produced by selective mutation of a botulinum neurotoxin light chain, and is characterized utilizing a reporting construct that includes all or part of the non-neuronal SNARE protein. Such a protease has utility in the treatment of diseases associated with hypersecretion, where the hypersecretion is mediated by a non-neuronal SNARE protein.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for analyzing intracellular BoNT protease activity, and especially BoNT/B, BoNT/G, BoNT/D, and/or BoNT/F protease activity are provided. Cells express at least two recombinant hybrid proteins each of which includes a fluorophore and a membrane anchoring peptide, and at least one of which includes a BoNT protease recognition and cleavage sequence positioned to release a fluorophore upon cleavage. Analysis is performed by monitoring fluorescence following exposure to a BoNT.

Abstract: A portable parts washer for cleaning mechanical parts that includes a washer body having an upper portion, a lower portion, and a wash basin formed within the upper portion having inner sidewalls, a floor panel and at least one drain aperture. The portable parts washer also includes an in-use reservoir formed within the lower portion of the washer body and having a bottom panel spaced from the floor panel and outer sidewalls, and which is configured to receive cleaning fluid from the wash basin through the drain aperture when the floor panel is in a substantially horizontal orientation. The portable parts washer further includes a storage reservoir formed within the upper and lower portions and which is configured to contain the cleaning fluid from the in-use reservoir when the floor panel is rotated to a substantially vertical orientation.

Abstract: A portable parts washer for cleaning mechanical parts that includes a washer body having an upper portion, a lower portion, and a wash basin formed within the upper portion having inner sidewalls, a floor panel and at least one drain aperture. The portable parts washer also includes an in-use reservoir formed within the lower portion of the washer body and having a bottom panel spaced from the floor panel and outer sidewalls, and which is configured to receive cleaning fluid from the wash basin through the drain aperture when the floor panel is in a substantially horizontal orientation. The portable parts washer further includes a storage reservoir formed within the upper and lower portions and which is configured to contain the cleaning fluid from the in-use reservoir when the floor panel is rotated to a substantially vertical orientation.

Abstract: A catheter for collecting fluid such as blood from a vessel such as a coronary sinus of a patient has an elongated, flexible tubular portion and an annular sealing member spaced from a distal end of the tubular member. A proximal end of the tubular member is adapted to be connected to a source of suction for applying suction to a collection lumen of the tubular member. The distal end is placed in a blood vessel with the sealing member spaced from opposing surface of the vessel in an absence of a suction applied to the collection lumen. Suction is applied to the collection lumen in an amount sufficient to draw blood from the vessel through the fluid inlet and into the collection lumen and further sufficient to urge the opposing surface of the vessel to migrate into sealing engagement with the sealing member.

Abstract: A portable parts washer for cleaning mechanical parts that includes a washer body having an upper portion, a lower portion, and a wash basin formed within the upper portion having inner sidewalls, a floor panel and at least one drain aperture. The portable parts washer also includes an in-use reservoir formed within the lower portion of the washer body and having a bottom panel spaced from the floor panel and outer sidewalls, and which is configured to receive cleaning fluid from the wash basin through the drain aperture when the floor panel is in a substantially horizontal orientation. The portable parts washer further includes a storage reservoir formed within the upper and lower portions and which is configured to contain the cleaning fluid from the in-use reservoir when the floor panel is rotated to a substantially vertical orientation.

Abstract: A wide angle imaging system combines compound array fore-optics with single axis relay optics to generate distortion free images with an infinite depth of field. A curved first array of objective lenslets focuses multiple apertures of light through the tubes of a louver baffle terminated by field stops. A curved second array of field lenslets, positioned immediately after the field stops, passes the light beams through an array of pupil planes. A curved final array of erector lenslets refocuses the beams into a curved array of sub-images. The relay optics transform the curved array of sub-images into a flat final image that is contiguous. The fore-optics and relay optics are optimized concurrently to achieve much higher performance than is possible in either compound array optics or sequential optics. This is accomplished by varying the lenslet radii of the fore-optics in annular increments to compensate for aberrations introduced by the relay lenses.

Abstract: A wide angle imaging system combines compound array fore-optics with single axis relay optics to generate distortion free images with an infinite depth of field. A curved first array of objective lenslets focuses multiple apertures of light through the tubes of a louver baffle terminated by field stops. An intermediate curved array of field lenslets, positioned immediately after the field stops, passes the light beams through an array of pupil planes. A curved final array of erector lenslets refocuses and adjoins the beams into a contiguous image that is curved. The relay optics transform the curved intermediate image into a flat final image. The fore-optics and relay optics are optimized concurrently to achieve much higher performance than is possible in either compound array optics or sequential optics. This is accomplished by varying the lenslet radii of the fore-optics in annular increments to compensate for aberrations introduced by the relay lenses.

Abstract: Disclosed is a quenching medium for treating a heated metal part, said medium comprising water and a polyacrylate terpolymer comprising acrylamide and/or methacrylamide monomer units, acrylic acid and/or methacrylic acid monomer units and alkyl alkoxylate allyl ether monomer units where the acid groups are in the form of an alkali metal salt and where the alkyl alkoxylate allyl ether monomers are of the formula where n is an integer from 1 to about 30, R is ethylene, propylene or butylene and G is an alkyl group of 8 to 30 carbon atoms. Also disclosed is a method for quenching a heated metal part, which process comprises immersing said metal part in the quenching medium. Also disclosed are the polyacrylate ternary copolymers.

Abstract: Disclosed is a quenching medium for treating a heated metal part, said medium comprising water and a polyacrylate terpolymer comprising acrylamide and/or methacrylamide monomer units, acrylic acid and/or methacrylic acid monomer units and alkyl alkoxylate allyl ether monomer units where the acid groups are in the form of an alkali metal salt and where the alkyl alkoxylate allyl ether monomers are of the formula where n is an integer from 1 to about 30, R is ethylene, propylene or butylene and G is an alkyl group of 8 to 30 carbon atoms. Also disclosed is a method for quenching a heated metal part, which process comprises immersing said metal part in the quenching medium. Also disclosed are the polyacrylate ternary copolymers.

Abstract: Provided is a parts washer that includes a multi-tiered basin, a cleaning fluid and a biological component, living within the fluid, that breaks down organic waste. The multi-tiered basin includes a sink member with a false bottom, and a support grid and filter are interposed between the false bottom and a bottom panel of the sink member. The false bottom, support grid, and filter are readily removable from the sink member. The tank is partially filled with the cleaning fluid and a pump and conduit assembly direct a flow of the cleaning fluid to the basin. The cleaning fluid discharged into the basin flows through a drain hole in the false bottom, through the filter and support grid, and then through a drain hole in the bottom panel of the sink member back into the tank for reuse. The cleaning fluid includes, at least, a surfactant that functions to remove organic waste from the parts being washed.