Abstract: The present invention relates generally to methods for activating and expanding cells, and more particularly, to a novel method to activate and/or stimulate cells using an engineered multivalent signaling platform. Compositions of cells activated and expanded by the methods herein are further provided.

Abstract: A method for forming a diesel particulate filter is presented. The method includes provided an extruder for receiving material to be extruded such extruder being configured to converting such material into a honeycomb structure having a lower portion and an upper portion. The lower portion has a bottom surface and a pair of vertically extending sidewalls terminating along outer edges of the bottom surface. The upper portion has a pair of opposing, pitched, sidewalls having lower edges terminating along upper edges of the vertically extending sidewalls and upper edges terminating along a common edge.

Abstract: A medical device can be used to entrain biological or foreign material during a medical procedure for the fragmentation of the material. The device also can be used to remove the material safely from the body. The device has a core element with a first portion extending substantially longitudinally and a second portion wound to form at least a helical coil in the shape of cone. A flat wire can substantially wrap the first and second portions of the core element, or a wire can substantially wrap the first portion and a sheath can substantially cover the second portion.

Abstract: A medical device can be used to entrain biological or foreign material during a medical procedure for the fragmentation of the material. The device also can be used to remove the material safely from the body. The device has a core element with a first portion extending substantially longitudinally and a second portion wound to form at least a helical coil in the shape of cone. A flat wire can substantially wrap the first and second portions of the core element, or a wire can substantially wrap the first portion and a sheath can substantially cover the second portion.

Abstract: A wristband device which is adapted to at least partially surround a person's wrist is described which includes a clamshell joinder and a tail portion. The clamshell portion comprises a pair of similarly sized panels and may be folded over onto itself to capture a length of a wristband to complete the encircling of a wrist. It may be provided on a page sized sheet, and die cut into a laminate ply of a two ply business form, along with a plurality of self adhering labels, in any of a number of configurations, to suit any particular application, as desired by a user.

Abstract: A self laminating wristband separable from a multi-ply page form has a plurality of separated imaging areas, with one larger imaging area for receiving printed data corresponding to the wearer such as his name, i.d. number, etc., with one or more second imaging areas adapted to receive either printed information or markers which may be adhered thereto. The separated imaging areas are aligned along the length of the wristband so that the gap between them acts as a natural hinge point which allows the imaging areas to lie flatter against the wearer's wrist.

Abstract: A business form particularly adapted for generalized use, although it may be used in a medical or hospital environment includes a roll or continuous construction of a plurality of wristbands, with each wristband being separately formed in a panel comprised of an underlying continuous carrier of a laminating material with a series of face stock patches placed therealong. Each wristband is provided with a face stock imaging area die cut into each face stock patch and a laminating portion die cut into the underlying carrier of laminating material, with the two die cut portions being adhered to each other to form a matrix for ready separation from its panel. The laminating portion has a first area for receiving the face stock portion and a second similarly sized and shaped area for fold over lamination of the first area and face stock portion, along with a pair of straps extending to the opposing sides thereof.

Abstract: A fuel purchase incentive is provided incident to the sale of a vehicle. With respect to the sale of an automobile, the incentive consists of a program price, for example a discount price or a capped maximum price, for a specified quantity of a specified brand and type of gasoline. The incentive is calculated as a function of the anticipated fuel use factors of the automobile buyer. The incentive information is provided to the buyer at the time of purchase of the automobile and stored for use by an incentive program operator. When the buyer purchases gasoline pursuant to the incentive program, the buyer recognizes the program price through the provision of a rebate, credit, real-time discount or other appropriate mechanism. Program sponsors may participate in the fuel incentive program, for example providing a payment(s) to the program operator in exchange for establishing a relationship with a customer under the program.

Abstract: A fuel purchase incentive is provided incident to the sale of a vehicle. With respect to the sale of an automobile, the incentive consists of a program price, for example a discount price or a capped maximum price, for a specified quantity of a specified brand and type of gasoline. The incentive is calculated as a function of the anticipated fuel use factors of the automobile buyer. The incentive information is provided to the buyer at the time of purchase of the automobile and stored for use by an incentive program operator. When the buyer purchases gasoline pursuant to the incentive program, the buyer recognizes the program price through the provision of a rebate, credit, real-time discount or other appropriate mechanism. Program sponsors may participate in the fuel incentive program, for example providing a payment(s) to the program operator in exchange for establishing a relationship with a customer under the program.

Abstract: A wristband is assembled from a flexible preferably vinyl carrier and a preferably laminated ID label, the carrier having a panel portion and a strap portion with a snap closure located in a toe extension at the end of the carrier adjacent the panel. The strap has a series of holes, one of which is captured within the snap closure to attach the wristband to the wearer's limb. The laminated ID label has a pair of opposing slots, one of which slips over the strap to abut the panel and the other of which is captured by the snap closure to attach the label to the carrier. The panel portion has a relieved edge formed along its opposing sides which increases the comfort of the wristband as it is worn.

Abstract: The salt water distillation system includes a sprinkler to form a mist of salt water over a distillation plate. The distillation plate is heated by applying electrical current to a heating coil. The steam is transferred to a condensation chamber and condensed fresh water is collected. During the desalination process, salt impurities are deposited on the hot distillation plate. A sludge remover, i.e., a steam head and movable ram, is provided to clean the distillation plate of the salt impurities. An exhaust fan is provided to cool fresh water condensate and lower air pressure in the system. Heat transferred from the steam during condensation is used to pre-heat the salt water to increase efficiency of the system.

Abstract: A detection warning system for caregivers in a home alerting a caregiver when a person exits a room, bed or walk through a doorway. This system comprises of two enclosures and an external reflector. A portable infrared emitter detector enclosure houses an emitter with a narrow, infrared beam, detector and transmitter. A portable receiving enclosure houses a receiver with an adjustable audio alarm. An emitter in the emitter detector enclosure emits an infrared beam to the reflector, which reflects the beam back to the detector. The detector senses when the beam is obstructed from reaching the reflector and energizes the transmitter. The transmitter receives the signal from the transmitter activating the adjustable audio alarm alerting a caregiver.

Abstract: A cushioned wristband includes a carrier having a multi-layered band portion and a strap sewn to the back of the band portion of the carrier. The band has a surface with loop material and the strap has a surface of hook material, the hook and loop surfaces being intended to secure the band in place as it is wrapped about a patient's appendage. The strap is appropriately sized to insert through one or both of two cinch slots of a self-laminating hang tag which may be printed with patient information and separated from a sheetlet or page sized business form processed through a printer for imaging of patient information thereon. The band portion of the carrier includes a cushioned layer of soft foamy or spongy material for contacting a patient's skin to thereby substantially eliminate any possibility for abrasion, rash, or other irritation or injury to the patient through wearing of the wristband.

Abstract: A business form particularly adapted for generalized use, although it may be used in a medical or hospital environment includes in a first embodiment a wristband that is provided with a laminate backing including a tab portion at the opposite end of a free end, with the tab portion having a cinch slot through which the free end is inserted for securing the wristband about a person's appendage. Several self adhering labels are provided inboard of the tab and may be individually separated from the wristband. The labels and the wristband may each be imprinted with identifying indicia such as bar coding. A second embodiment of the invention includes a page sized form with one or more self laminating wristbands readily separable from a carrier with each wristband comprised of a layer of face stock and a laminate, with the wristband including a printable face stock region die cut into the face stock and a strap portion, a laminating portion, and a cinch die cut into the laminate layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for modulating HIV-1 fusion cofactor expression by manipulating CTLA-4 on the surface of T cells. The invention encompasses methods for modulating HIV-1 fusion cofactor expression by inhibiting one or more intracellular signals resulting from stimulation of CTLA-4. In one embodiment, expression of the HIV-1 fusion cofactor, CCR5, is downregulated by binding of anti-CTLA-4 antibody to CTLA-4.

Abstract: A multi-channel imaging system generates an ensemble of images for each field of view of an object. Each image in the ensemble is intended to contain information from only one source among a plurality of sources for the object. However, due to crosstalk, at least a portion of the signal from a first source appears in a channel intended for a second source. Because the accuracy of the correction will be degraded if the images in an ensemble are spatially misaligned with respect to one another, the spatial offset between images is determined and a correction is applied to substantially eliminate the offset. Then, a correction to the signals is determined to substantially reduce the contributions to the signal in a channel from the signals in other channels. The signal processing can be employed to process the output signals for each of a plurality of different disclosed imaging systems.

Abstract: A medical retrieval device, and related method, uses a basket formed by one or more legs to retrieve material such as calculi. At least one of the legs has at least an inner and an outer surface. The outer surface is an atraumatic surface such as a curved surface. The atraumatic surface can include one or more radii. The inner surface can be flat such that the leg has a D-shaped cross section. Other shapes are possible for the inner surface including a pointed shape that enhances the basket's stone crushing or breaking ability. The inner surface, whatever its shape, can have a rough surface (e.g., serrated, etched, toothed, etc.) for further enhancing the basket's ability to capture stones and other calculi.

Abstract: A business form particularly adapted for use during medical emergencies includes in a first embodiment a wristband/label assembly that is readily separable from a carrier, with the wristband including a single end for looping around a victim's appendage through a cinch and a tab carrying a plurality of labels with the wristband and each label having an identifying indicia such as a bar code printed thereon. The wristband bar code thus becomes associated with the victim and the labels are used to identify items associated with the patient such as his possessions, medical charts, medicines, etc. The wristband may be color coded so that as the medical personnel triage victims they are categorized by color as to their need for medical care, with the color coding thus being readily ascertainable by others as multiple victims are processed.

Abstract: Baskets with atraumatic distal tips allow the capture of material from difficult-to-reach areas of the body, while reducing the risk of tissue damage.

Abstract: A business form particularly adapted for use in a medical or hospital environment includes in a first embodiment a wristband assembly that is readily separable from a carrier comprised of a layer of face stock and a laminate, with the wristband including a printable face stock region die cut into the face stock and a strap portion, a laminating portion, and a cinch die cut into the laminate layer. The laminating portion includes two halves which fold together about a fold line to enclose the face stock, with the strap portion extending from one of said halves. The cinch may be located in one of two locations, either in an extension from the other side of the face stock or intermediate the face stock and the strap portion. In either case the cinch comprises a slot through which the strap portion is inserted and then adhered to itself after its length has been adjusted by the medical professional.