Abstract: A sponge counting system for maintaining an inventory of articles used during a medical or surgical procedure, where, in the event an article for which the status needs to be reconciled is left in a patient, the system generates a record that the article is in a partially reconciled state and when a subsequent procedure is performed, the scanner employed during the procedure has the records of the partially reconciled articles associated with the patient.

Abstract: A belt loading device for loading an abrasive belt in a closed loop configuration on a machining tool is disclosed. The device includes a base support and a movable part engaged to the base support. The movable part is movable relative to the base support between a biased position and a belt releasing position, the base support and the movable part, while in the biased position, cooperating to maintain the abrasive belt in a fixed position defining a tool engaging area circumscribed by an inner surface of the abrasive belt. A biasing member interfaces between the base support and the movable part to bias the movable part into the biased position.

Abstract: The invention relates to antibodies or antibody fragments capable of binding to G-protein alpha, nucleic acid sequences coding for the antibody, vectors comprising the nucleic acid sequence, cells comprising the vector or the nucleic acid sequence and a kit-of-parts comprising (i) the antibody or antibody fragment or the composition and (ii) a source of GTP labeled with a member of a pair of RET partners.

Abstract: The invention relates to compounds of formula: in which X, Y, L and Ln3+ are as defined in the description.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the ability of a molecule to modulate the activation of a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), said method comprising the following steps: a) introducing, in a first container: a membrane preparation bearing one or more GPCRs and one or more alpha G-proteins, a source of nonhydrolyzable or slowly hydrolyzable GTP labeled with a first member of a pair of RET partners, a ligand of the alpha subunit of a G protein (alpha G-protein) labeled with a second member of the pair of RET partners, said ligand being capable of binding to the full alpha G-protein bound to the nonhydrolyzable or slowly hydrolyzable GTP labeled with the first member of a pair of RET partners, optionally a GPCR agonist; b) measuring the RET signal emitted in the first container; c) introducing (i) in a second container, the same reagents as in step a) and the molecule to be assayed or (ii) in the first container, the molecule to be assayed; d) measuring the RET signal emitted in the second