Abstract: A method for treating scoliosis in a patient is disclosed. The method comprises identifying a spinal column having a lateral convex curve; providing a first anchor, a second anchor, and a tether; securing the first anchor to a posterior region of a first vertebra; securing the second anchor to a posterior region of a second vertebra; securing a first tether end at a first tether connection location; and securing a second tether end at a second tether connection location. A scoliosis treatment system comprises anchors, each having a tether connection location positioned at a first location offset in a first lateral direction from a midsagittal plane of the first or second vertebra, and the anchors do not include any tether connection locations offset in in a second lateral direction, opposite the first lateral direction, from the midsagittal plane of the first vertebra or second vertebra.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system, method and apparatus for determining the status of coupled assets during transport. According to a first preferred embodiment, a method of the present invention preferably includes triggering a set of tracking devices to transmit time stamp data indicating when the tracked assets cross pre-set speed thresholds. The present invention preferably further includes comparing the received time stamp data to equivalent data points from other assets and identifying unique pairs of assets which crossed the same speed thresholds at similar times and positions (i.e. matching velocity profiles). The system then designates the unique pair of assets as coupled and may apply custom tracking rules and power saving algorithms to the coupled assets.

Abstract: The invention features devices for fragmenting polymers or particles in a sample using a centrifuge. In its simplest embodiment, the device includes a body and a valve. The valve, to one side of which a sample is applied, is designed to remain closed until a specified centrifugal force is reached or exceeded. Once open, the valve allows the passage of the sample through a channel in the body. The channel includes one to four fragmenting regions, and the polymers or particles are fragmented as they traverse the fragmenting regions under an applied centrifugal force. The invention further features methods of fragmenting polymers using a device of the invention.

Abstract: Novel methods for determining the existence or nonexistence of a test nucleotide on a strand of DNA are provided. The methods involve the use of a proofreading polymerase that is capable of incorporating a labeled nucleotide in a primer into and extension product if there is a match between the test nucleotide on the strand of DNA and the complementary nucleotide on the primer, but which excises the labeled nucleotide and does not incorporate it into an extension product if there is a mismatch. The presence or absence of the test nucleotide then may be established by determining whether the label is preserved or lost following the reaction. Methods involving the use of a quencher-chromophore pair are also provided.