Abstract: A system for reducing twisting of medical tubing includes a spinning component and a tubing connector. The spinning component includes a first fluid channel and a protrusion, and the tubing connector includes a second fluid channel, male mating portion, and a sheath. Accordingly, the spinning component is configured to couple to the tubing connector such that the first fluid channel and the second fluid channel together form a unified fluid channel, the first fluid channel encompasses the male mating portion, the protrusion is positioned within a recess of the sheath, and the spinning component is rotatable relative to and independently of the tubing connector.

Abstract: Nanocellular expanded polymer beads with cells have an average size less than 1 ?m, a relative density less than 0.25, wherein the relative density is the ratio between the density of the expanded polymer beads with respect to the density of the solid polymer beads, and a solid skin with a thickness less than 5 ?m. A method for manufacturing the beads by dissolution foaming of a foaming agent, use of the nanocellular expanded polymer beads for manufacturing a nanocellular polymeric material or a nanocellular powder, and the nanocellular polymeric material or nanocellular powder having the nanocellular expanded polymer beads are also related.

Abstract: Insect-derived promoters for foreign proteins expression in insect cells. Regulatory polynucleotide sequences which drive the expression of major insect proteins (hexamerins) at specific evolution stages of larva have been isolated from insects (Trichoplusia ni) in the present invention. Said regulatory polynucleotide sequences promote stronger foreign gene expression in the baculovirus system than the conventional polyhedrin promoter. Additionally, the combination of the new larva-derived promoters of the invention with the pL promoter increased baculovirus expression levels up to 61%-375% (depending on the time of infection) with respect to conventional baculoviruses used in the biotechnology industry. Promoter pB2 also drives gene expression at earlier times than polyhedrin promoter, being this feature a great advantage for correct protein folding and posttranslational modification.