Abstract: A system for performing a medical procedure on a patient is provided. The system comprises at least one of: an energy delivery device: a chronic energy delivery device; and/or a force applying device. In particular, the system can be configured to treat and/or diagnose a patient suffering from sleep apnea. Methods and devices for treating sleep apnea and other medical conditions are also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for producing a target protein, in which a recombinant polynucleotide is constructed to encode a fusion protein including: (i) an anchoring protein that includes a N-terminal amino acid sequence of an ice nucleation protein, so that the fusion protein, once expressed in the host cell, is directed by the anchoring protein to be anchored and exposed on the outer membrane of the host cell; (ii) the target protein; and (iii) a self-splicing protein that includes a first end fused with the anchoring protein and a second end fused with the target protein, wherein the self-splicing protein includes a N-terminal or C-terminal amino acid sequence of an intein protein at the second end thereof, such that upon an environmental stimulus, the self-splicing protein exerts a self-cleavage at the second end thereof to release the target protein from the fusion protein.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for producing a target protein, in which a recombinant polynucleotide is constructed to encode a fusion protein including: (i) an anchoring protein that includes a N-terminal amino acid sequence of an ice nucleation protein, so that the fusion protein, once expressed in the host cell, is directed by the anchoring protein to be anchored and exposed on the outer membrane of the host cell; (ii) the target protein; and (iii) a self-splicing protein that includes a first end fused with the anchoring protein and a second end fused with the target protein, wherein the self-splicing protein includes a N-terminal or C-terminal amino acid sequence of an intein protein at the second end thereof, such that upon an environmental stimulus, the self-splicing protein exerts a self-cleavage at the second end thereof to release the target protein from the fusion protein.

Abstract: A portable, scanning and analyzing apparatus that uses an integrated scan probe for the scanning operation is described. The integrated scanning probe is formed with a light emitting diode array light source and a photodiode detector array. After a test sample finishes the reaction in test strip paper, a scanner device scans the test paper to collect the optical signals at variable, consecutive intervals along the scanning path to obtain the test signal accordingly. Then, the scanner device outputs the test signal for amplification. The amplified test signals are sent to an analog/digital converter such that the amplified test signals are converted into digital signals, which are then output to a computing unit for analyzing for subjective analytical results. The computing unit couples with the controller device, wherein the controller device controls a driver device that drives the scanner device to perform the scanning operation on the test paper.

Abstract: A scanning analyzer unit comprises a scanner device, a signal amplifier, an analog/digital converter, a driver device, a controller device, a computing unit, and a RS-232 interface. After chemical, biological, or chemi-enzymatic reaction, a resulting color change of a testing support through reacted multi-chromogens therein is quantified by means of the scanning analyzer unit. Via the sensitivity differences of the multi-chromogens at a fixed wavelength of the scan, multi-analyte concentrations of wide range variations in one sample can be simultaneously assayed.

Abstract: A portable, scanning and analyzing apparatus that uses an integrated scan probe for the scanning operation is described. The integrated scanning probe is formed with a light emitting diode array light source and a photodiode detector array. After a test sample finishes the reaction in test strip paper, a scanner device scans the test paper to collect the optical signals at variable, consecutive intervals along the scanning path to obtain the test signal accordingly. Then, the scanner device outputs the test signal for amplification. The amplified test signals are sent to an analog/digital converter such that the amplified test signals are converted into digital signals, which are then output to a computing unit for analyzing for subjective analytical results. The computing unit couples with the controller device, wherein the controller device controls a driver device that drives the scanner device to perform the scanning operation on the test paper.

Abstract: A method of selectively staining the water-soluble protein in which a commonly used reactive dye binds to the protein by reacting with a carboxyl group, amino group, and thiol group from the amino acids that make up the protein. When the specimen to be stained is an antibody, the reaction is adjusted to occur in an acidic environment so as to promote reacting the reactive dye with the carboxyl groups of the amino acids of the antibody and the carboxyl group of oligosaccharide conjugated to the constant region of the antibody. The staining reaction occurs in an alkaline solution to produce a more intense staining for the protein, without using the antibody as a marker ligand. After the protein is stained with the reactive dye, an unreacted portion of portion dye molecules is separated from the stained protein. The stained protein is purified and the stained protein is further freeze-dried.

Abstract: A scanning analyzer unit comprises a scanner device, a signal amplifier, an analog/digital converter, a driver device, a controller device, a computing unit, and a RS-232 interface. After chemical, biological, or chemi-enzymatic reaction, a resulting color change of a testing support through reacted multi-chromogens therein is quantified by means of the scanning analyzer unit. Via the sensitivity differences of the multi-chromogens at a fixed wavelength of the scan, multi-analyte concentrations of wide range variations in one sample can be simultaneously assayed.

Abstract: A bracket includes a housing and a cover attached to the housing. The housing includes a base and first and second side walls extending from opposite sides of the base. The base forms a number of first sills to define a receiving space for engagingly receiving a fan therein. The first side wall forms a pair of first tabs. The second side wall forms a secure plate. The cover forms a pair of second tabs pivotablly attached to the first tabs of the first side wall. A latching plate extends from the cover opposite the second tabs for engaging with the secure plate of the second side wall.

Abstract: A bracket includes a housing and a cover attached to the housing. The housing includes a base and first and second side walls extending from opposite sides of the base. The base forms a number of first sills to define a receiving space for engagingly receiving a fan therein. The first side wall forms a pair of first tabs. The second side wall forms a secure plate. The cover forms a pair of second tabs pivotablly attached to the first tabs of the first side wall. A latching plate extends from the cover opposite the second tabs for engaging with the secure plate of the second side wall.