Abstract: A needle assembly includes a needle with the needle having a handle at a proximal end portion thereof. The assembly also includes a guide tube sized to house the needle and handle, with the guide tube including an inwardly-extending projection adjacent a proximal end thereof. The inwardly-extending projection is configured to engage an engagement portion of the handle for retaining the needle within the guide tube such that a distal tip of the needle is positioned within the guide tube and a proximal end portion of the handle extends from the proximal end of the guide tube. The engagement being releasable upon a force applied to the proximal end portion of the handle to extend the distal tip of the needle out of the guide tube.

Abstract: A weightlifting system for hanging band technique is used to enable barbell-based strength training with a unique weight deployment that provides an advantageous muscular stimulus. The system is also configured to facilitate weight loading onto a barbell sleeve for workouts. The system includes a plurality of suspended weights. The plurality of suspended weights is a set of heavy plates that hang to connect to a barbell to enable performance of barbell exercises. Each of the plurality of suspended weights includes a length-adjustable elastic band, a roller, a U-shaped bracket, and a weight assembly. The length-adjustable elastic band enables the desirable oscillations and unbalance that provides the necessary muscular stimulation. The roller rotates relative to the U-shaped bracket. The U-shaped bracket supports both the roller and the weight of the weight assembly. The weight assembly provides the gravitational resistance necessary for assisting in exercises.

Abstract: A needle assembly includes a needle with the needle having a handle at a proximal end portion thereof. The assembly also includes a guide tube sized to house the needle and handle, with the guide tube including an inwardly-extending projection adjacent a proximal end thereof. The inwardly-extending projection is configured to engage an engagement portion of the handle for retaining the needle within the guide tube such that a distal tip of the needle is positioned within the guide tube and a proximal end portion of the handle extends from the proximal end of the guide tube. The engagement being releasable upon a force applied to the proximal end portion of the handle to extend the distal tip of the needle out of the guide tube.

Abstract: A weightlifting system for hanging band technique is used to enable barbell-based strength training with a unique weight deployment that provides an advantageous muscular stimulus. The system is also configured to facilitate weight loading onto a barbell sleeve for workouts. The system includes a plurality of suspended weights. The plurality of suspended weights is a set of heavy plates that hang to connect to a barbell to enable performance of barbell exercises. Each of the plurality of suspended weights includes a length-adjustable elastic band, a roller, a U-shaped bracket, and a weight assembly. The length-adjustable elastic band enables the desirable oscillations and unbalance that provides the necessary muscular stimulation. The roller rotates relative to the U-shaped bracket. The U-shaped bracket supports both the roller and the weight of the weight assembly. The weight assembly provides the gravitational resistance necessary for assisting in exercises.

Abstract: User-manipulated exercise equipment of the type utilizing a weight-plate stack comprises a stack of weight plates, of which a user-selected portion moves as a unit along a pair of guide rods in response to an exercise movement by the user. The selected portion of the stack moves with virtually no cross-wise (i.e., lateral) shifting among the plates and virtually no friction between the moving portion of the stack and the guide rods because (1) a keystone bushing below the weight plate stack provides virtually error free alignment with the guide rods by setting the non-selected portion of the stack at a highly accurate “home” position that resets the moving stack if it has shifted laterally during movement, even if that shift is very slight, and (2) the guide rod holed in the weight plates carry bushings which align with the bushings of the adjacent weight plates to prevent the plates within the moving portion of the stack from shifting laterally with respect to each other and thereby contacting a guide rod.

Abstract: A weight plate is added to the exterior of the weight plate mass of a weight plate device so that a magnetic pole region carried by the added weight plate is magnetically coupled to the weight plate mass to magnetically secure the added weight plate to the dumbbell. When decoupling is desired, the added weight plate is rotated with respect to the weight plate mass to bring the carried magnetic pole region into alignment with a magnetically non-attracting portion of the weight plate mass so that the added weight plate can be removed from the weight plate device without overcoming the magnetically-securing coupling force. In a variation of the method, the added weight plate is rotated to bring its carried magnetic pole into sufficient alignment with a pole of like polarity carried by the weight plate mass so that the added weight plate is magnetically repelled.

Abstract: A bar bell comprises a plate-accepting bar that extends longitudinally between two end regions at which weight plates can be mounted, a longitudinally-extending handle positioned above the plate-accepting bar and supported by the barbell, a pair of barbell-supporting brackets positioned at respective end regions of the plate-accepting bar to stably support the barbell on a supporting surface without contact between mounted weight plates and the supporting surface, and at least one longitudinally-extending fulcrum bar affixed to the barbell in such a way that it is positioned to contact a user's forearm during a bicep curl and create a lever arm vis-à-vis the handle that maintains the barbell's center of gravity in a lagging position with respect to the user's hands so as to exert enhanced resistance to the curling movement during the movement.

Abstract: A dumbbell comprises a pair of frame members, each having a lower plate-like portion and an upper stem portion. The frame members are coupled together via spacer bars. An upper spacer bar is coupled to the frames members at the stem portions, and a handle is mounted for rotation about the upper spacer bar. Two lower spacer bars positioned near the front and back of the plate-like portions of the frame members. The frame members may provide the desired weight, either through choice of material, plate thickness or both, or the frame members may be provide a basic “master” weight plate for the dumbbell, with additional weight being provided by the addition of one or more weight plates to each frame member. Pads are mounted about the lower spacer bars, and are positioned to contact the wrist area of a user during exercise movements.

Abstract: A cable attachment that permits the strap of an exercise machine to be replaced independently of the machine's handle without the need for sewing machines or special tools such as crimping devices comprises a body having three juncture points arranged in a generally triangular relationship, the first point being near its top to accommodate the body's attachment to the cable of the exercise machine, the other two juncture points lying below the first point and separated from each other by the center section of the body. The two lower junction points are configured to securely accommodate a removably-coupled handle-coupling strap, and are the locations to which the straps can be secured, preferably with a suitable knot. The two lower juncture points are configured to resist lateral slippage of the straps in order to laterally stabilize the load against which the user is working, and to accommodate knots having excellent holding strength.

Abstract: SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome virus, a coronavirus) immunogens, antigens, or epitopes, nucleic acid molecules encoding such immunogens, antigens, or epitopes; vectors containing such nucleic acid molecules, e.g., viral vectors such as baculovirus vectors, DNA vectors, such as DNA plasmid vectors, e.g., DNA plasmids that express a nucleic acid molecule in a mammalian cell, uses for such immunogens, antigens or epitopes and vectors, e.g., as an active component immunogenic, immunological or vaccine compositions, or to generate antibodies, such as monoclonal antibodies, and methods for making, and using such immunogens, antigens or epitopes, vectors, antibodies, including in methods for eliciting an immunological or immunogenic or vaccine response, as well as in assays or diagnostic kits or methods, are discussed, as well as a seamless fusion of sequences in a plasmid or vector, e.g., a sequence encoding a leader sequence and a sequence encoding a protein, epitope or immunogen or antigen.

Abstract: User-manipulated exercise equipment of the type utilizing a weight-plate stack comprises a stack of weight plates, of which a user-selected portion moves as a unit along a pair of guide rods in response to an exercise movement by the user. The selected portion of the stack moves with virtually no cross-wise (i.e., lateral) shifting among the plates and virtually no friction between the moving portion of the stack and the guide rods because (1) a keystone bushing below the weight plate stack provides virtually error free alignment with the guide rods by setting the non-selected portion of the stack at a highly accurate “home” position that resets the moving stack if it has shifted laterally during movement, even if that shift is very slight, and (2) the guide rod holed in the weight plates carry bushings which align with the bushings of the adjacent weight plates to prevent the plates within the moving portion of the stack from shifting laterally with respect to each other and thereby contacting a guide rod.

Abstract: SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome virus, a coronavirus) immunogens, antigens, or epitopes, nucleic acid molecules encoding such immunogens, antigens, or epitopes; vectors containing such nucleic acid molecules, e.g., viral vectors such as baculovirus vectors, DNA vectors, such as DNA plasmid vectors, e.g., DNA plasmids that express a nucleic acid molecule in a mammalian cell, uses for such immunogens, antigens or epitopes and vectors, e.g., as an active component immunogenic, immunological or vaccine compositions, or to generate antibodies, such as monoclonal antibodies, and methods for making, and using such immunogens, antigens or epitopes, vectors, antibodies, including in methods for eliciting an immunological or immunogenic or vaccine response, as well as in assays or diagnostic kits or methods, are discussed, as well as a seamless fusion of sequences in a plasmid or vector, e.g., a sequence encoding a leader sequence and a sequence encoding a protein, epitope or immunogen or antigen.

Abstract: Data is received from multiple data sources. The data received from the data sources provides information about patients in a population who have received one or more therapies. Patient-centric records are generated. Each of the patient-centric records stores patient data regarding a different patient in the population. The patient data stored in the patient-centric records is based on the data received from the data sources.

Abstract: In a method for adjusting the weight-training mass of a weightplate device, a weight plate is added to the exterior of the weight plate mass so that a magnetic pole region carried by the added weight plate is magnetically coupled to the weight plate mass to magnetically secure the added weight plate to the dumbbell. When decoupling is desired, the added weight plate is rotated with respect to the weight plate mass to bring the carried magnetic pole region into alignment with a magnetically non-attracting portion of the weight plate mass so that the added weight plate can be removed from the weight plate device without overcoming the magnetically-securing coupling force. In a variation of the method, the added weight plate is rotated to bring its carried magnetic pole into sufficient alignment with a pole of like polarity carried by the weight plate mass so that the added weight plate is magnetically repelled.

Abstract: A dumbbell having an antimicrobial handle comprises a bar having a pair of end regions, and extending generally longitudinally therebetween along a generally central axis, weight plate masses mounted at the end regions and mechanically secured thereto, and a pair of collars located at longitudinally opposed positions on bar to define a handle region therebetween. A handle is located within the handle region and includes a generally tubular supporting substrate positioned about the bar, and a generally tubular grip surface member supported by the substrate and formed from an antimicrobial copper alloy, the supporting substrate and generally tubular grip surface member extending generally axially between longitudinally spaced-apart end regions. The collars have axially-inwardly extending flange portions sized and structured to substantially circumscribe the end regions of the grip surface member and to securely capture the end regions between the flange portions and the bar.

Abstract: A dumbbell comprises a bar that extends generally axially between opposing end regions, a weight plate mass mounted about the bar at each end region, means for retaining the mounted weight plate mass at the respective end regions to define a handle region axially inward of the end regions that can be gripped by a user during exercise movement of the dumbbell, means for mechanically securing the weight plate mass to the dumbbell, said bar extending sufficiently axially outward of the mechanically secured weight plate mass to accommodate an incremental weight plate mounted about the bar axially outward of the mechanically secured weight plate mass, means for magnetically securing a magnetically responsive incremental weight plate to the dumbbell via magnetic attraction unless the mounted incremental weight plate has been rotated about the bar to a decoupling position, and means for establishing a decoupling position in which there is no magnetic attraction between the mounted incremental weight plate and the du

Abstract: A dumbbell having an antimicrobial handle comprises a bar having a pair of end regions, and extending generally longitudinally therebetween along a generally central axis, weight plate masses mounted at the end regions and mechanically secured thereto, and a pair of collars located at longitudinally opposed positions on bar to define a handle region therebetween. A handle is located within the handle region and includes a generally tubular grip surface member supported by the bar and formed from an antimicrobial copper alloy, the generally tubular grip surface member extending generally axially between longitudinally spaced-apart end regions. The pair of longitudinally-spaced generally annular collars have axially-inwardly extending flange portions sized and structured to substantially circumscribe the end regions of the generally cylindrical grip surface member and to securely capture the end regions between the flange portions and the bar.

Abstract: A adjustable barbell producing decreased destabilizing forces during the lifting movement, and a method for making same, includes a bar having a pair of longitudinally-separated inner collars weighing no less than approximately 30 lbs, a pair of sleeves mounted for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the bar and sized to accommodate the through-holes of removable weight plates mounted on said sleeves, each sleeve being positioned longitudinally outward of a respective one of said collars, the collars thereby decreasing the stress on the bar and the moment of inertia of the weight being lifted.