Abstract: Provided herein are oligomeric reagents, including oligomeric reagents of streptavidin or a streptavidin mutein, and compositions thereof and methods for manufacturing oligomeric reagents, including methods for reliably manufacturing oligomeric particle reagents of a desired size. In some cases, the reagents are oligomeric particle reagents containing a plurality of binding sites for agents, and thus the one or more agents are multimerized by reversibly binding to the oligomeric particle reagent, e.g., thereby creating a multimerized oligomeric particle reagent, having stimulatory agents multimerized thereon. Also provided are methods for using the oligomeric reagents for incubation or culturing, such as to induce stimulation of expansion (proliferation), activation, costimulation and/or survival, of a composition of cells such as a population of lymphocytes. In some aspects, the disclosure provides methods and reagents for the stimulation, e.g.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and devices for ablation of stomach tissue to treat obesity. For example, the invention may involve ablation of mucosal tissue to inhibit ghrelin production, recognized as a root cause of increased appetite. The invention alternatively may involve ablation of sub-mucosal tissue to alter myoelectric activity and thereby induce gastroparesis. As a further alternative, gastric muscle tissue, vagal nerves within the stomach or the pyloric region may be ablated to alter stomach function and thereby induce gastroparesis.

Abstract: A method for streaming a viscous material onto an electronic substrate using a dispensing system having a dispenser includes positioning a nozzle of the dispenser at a nominal clearance height above the substrate, dispensing a continuous stream of viscous material from the nozzle to dispense an amount of material on the substrate, controlling the volumetric flow rate of the viscous material being dispensed by the dispenser, moving the nozzle over areas of the substrate requiring viscous material, and terminating the continuous stream of viscous material. A dispensing system for performing methods of streaming viscous material is further disclosed.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention are directed to systems and methods for dispensing materials onto a substrate. In one aspect, a dispensing system includes a dispenser having a dispensing outlet positionable over a top surface of the substrate, the dispenser having a substantially vertical dispensing axis along which material from the dispenser is dispensed, and a vision system, coupled to the dispenser, the vision system being positionable to obtain images of the top surface of the substrate along an optical axis, wherein the vision system is constructed and arranged such that the optical axis intersects the dispensing axis.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and devices to reduce stomach acid secretion in a patient with a hyper acid condition. For example, the invention may involve ablation of the stomach lining to destroy acid-producing cells. Destroying acid-producing cells may reduce the amount of stomach acid produced and, therefore the amount of acid refluxed in the esophagus. The invention may further provide methods and devices to monitor the esophageal acid level before and after the ablation procedure.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and devices to treat obesity by ablating tissue from an exterior surface of a stomach of a patient. For example, the invention may involve ablation of exterior stomach tissue to alter gastric myoelectric activity or muscle function from the exterior surface of the stomach to produce abnormal gastric peristalsis without damaging the mucosal lining of the stomach. The invention may further provide methods and devices to monitor the gastric myoelectric activity before and after the ablation procedure.

Abstract: A dispensing system and method for dispensing material onto a substrate. The dispensing system includes a frame, a support, coupled to the frame, that supports the substrate at a dispensing position in the dispensing system, and a dispensing head, coupled to the frame, that dispenses the material onto the substrate. The dispensing head includes a motor unit having a first motor coupled to an output drive mechanism, and a dispensing unit, removably coupled to the motor unit, having a material outlet from which the dispensing material is dispensed, the dispensing unit having a dispensing mechanism coupled to the material outlet and coupled to the output drive mechanism of the motor unit such that operation of the first motor causes the dispensing mechanism to dispense material through the outlet.

Abstract: A sanitary storage unit for storage of one or more toothbrushes, each toothbrush having a handle end and a bristle end, the sanitary storage unit comprising an upper chamber, at least one removable reservoir supported under the upper chamber and adapted to hold a liquid, a middle divider mounted between the reservoir and the upper chamber, and a cover adapted for opening and closing the upper chamber. The middle divider has at least one hole therein adapted for insertion of a toothbrush therethrough such that the bristle end of the toothbrush rests in the reservoir and the handle end of the toothbrush extends through the hole into the upper chamber. The cover may be attached to the storage unit at a hinge about which the cover can pivot open and closed. The reservoir may be slidably removable from the storage unit on a track or on a shelf.