Abstract: The present invention relates to swimming paddles used for strength training in fitness swimming and performance swimming. A swimming paddle comprises an oversized paddle body having top and bottom surfaces, proximal and distal sides, and lateral and medial sides, the paddle body having a hand placement portion for placing a hand thereon. The swimming paddle further comprises a hand securing portion configured to secure a hand to the paddle body. A portion of a side of the paddle body is scalloped.

Abstract: The present invention relates to swimming fins used for strength training in fitness swimming and performance swimming. A swimming fin comprises a fin body having top and bottom surfaces, and proximal and distal ends, the fin body defining an opening at the proximal side and configured to receive a foot. A portion of the distal edge is scalloped.

Abstract: Provided herein is a three-dimensional scaffold composition comprising randomly oriented fibers, wherein the fibers comprise a polyethylene glycol-polylactic acid block copolymer (PEG-PLA) and a poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA). Also provided are methods for using the three-dimensional scaffolds described herein.

Abstract: The present invention provides primers which can be used for M. tuberculosis complex-specific detection of &agr;-antigen DNA in a diagnostic assay performed on clinical specimens or in a culture-confirmation assay following growth of the organism in vitro. These primers and probes can also be employed in a reverse transcriptase-mediated amplification system for M. tuberculosis complex &agr;-antigen mRNA. Such an assay provides a means by which to determine the viability of M. tuberculosis complex organisms either in clinical specimens or when grown in culture. Also described are methods for the detection of the products of amplification with a radiolabeled probe by chemiluminescent assay or fluorescence polarization analysis.

Abstract: The present invention provides primers which can be used for M. tuberculosis complex-specific detection of .alpha.-antigen DNA in a diagnostic assay performed on clinical specimens or in a culture-confirmation assay following growth of the organism in vitro. These primers and probes can also be employed in a reverse transcriptase-mediated amplification system for M. tuberculosis complex .alpha.-antigen mRNA. Such an assay provides a means by which to determine the viability of M. tuberculosis complex organisms either in clinical specimens or when grown in culture. The specific DNA or mRNA target region can be amplified using SDA, PCR, LCR, Nucleic Acid Sequence Based Amplification (NASBA), Self-sustained Sequence Replication (3SR) or Q.beta. Replicase-mediated systems. Also described are methods for the detection of the products of amplification with a radiolabeled probe by chemiluminescent assay or fluorescence polarization analysis.