text:
|Publication number
|Publication type
|Application number
|Publication date
|Apr 16, 2002
|Filing date
|Dec 15, 1999
|Priority date
|May 1, 1998
|Fee status
|Also published as
|Publication number
|Stephen F. Mauro, Robert A. Reynolds
|Original Assignee
|Aalto Scientific Ltd
|Export Citation
|BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan
|Patent Citations (22), Referenced by (73), Classifications (23), Legal Events (11)
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet
This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/071,630, filed May 1, 1998, of like title, now abandoned.
1. Field of the Invention
The invention herein relates to the collection and analysis of body fluid samples, especially blood samples, from humans or animals. More particularly it is related to devices used for such collection and analysis.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The health care industry relies on the donation of blood and plasma by many thousands of people each year. For each blood donor, a health care professional performs a venipuncture and drains a pint (or half-liter) of blood through a length of transfer tubing and into a flexible plastic bag. Plasma typically is collected into a bottle, with red blood cells being returned to the donor. The resulting filled bag or bottle is known as a "unit' of blood or plasma,
After collection, each unit of blood or plasma must be tested for several infectious organisms, including the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and several types of hepatitis. Other tests may be performed as well. To perform these tests, a sample must be removed from each unit of collected blood or plasma. Each sample is then labeled, to identify the unit from which it was drawn, and sent to a laboratory for analysis.
Many techniques and devices are available to make these analyses. The particular ones used may vary with the substances of concern to the blood bank operator, the researcher, or whichever other party intends to use the product. Blood analyzers may range from small "per drop" analysis devices to large laboratory equipment capable of rapidly analyzing a large number of samples.
If the laboratory tests performed detect the presence of an infectious disease or other contaminant in the sample, the unit from which the sample was drawn must be identified and discarded. Personnel at the blood storage facility are responsible for matching the tested samples with their original units and correctly selecting the tainted units for disposal.
Clearly, this procedure requires considerable care and attention from everyone in the system—those who draw and label the samples, those Who issue the test results, and especially those who match the test results to the original units.
Unfortunately, although the system functions smoothly most of the time in the United States, on occasion a tainted unit of blood still finds its way into the blood pool and, eventually, into a patient who leaves the hospital with an incurable disease that he did not have when he entered the hospital. It should be mentioned that many Third World countries have too few resources to perform any screening tests at all on blood or plasma before delivering it to the end user. Consequently, although even the small degree of error encountered in the American system is unacceptable, the amount of risk incurred in other areas of the world may be staggering.
The same process—with the same risks—applies to veterinary blood supplies as well. The result of this potential for infected or contaminated blood products to be unknowingly administered to previously uninfected recipients has created a significant—and justified—level of anxiety among members of the public and among health care professionals responsible for ordering and administering these products.
Similar problems arise in the collection and analysis of other body fluids, such as urine, lymph, bile, pleural fluid, ascites fluid, stomach and intestinal fluids, colostrom, milk, and the like. While the principal emphasis in the medical field has been upon blood and blood plasma collection, because of the vast quantities collected, provision of secure collection and analysis means for other body fluids is also important and of significant interest.
Secure collection must also be followed by protection of the sample against subsequent contamination, either by handling or by the analysis testing itself. Even such acts as exposure of the sample to ambient air can introduce contaminants into the sample.
Further, whether with blood or other body fluids, it is important to have a long term record available of the properties of each sample obtained. Usually this is done for the most part by the keeping of written sample analysis records. However, written records can be misplaced or destroyed, or, most importantly, can be recognized or suspected of being incorrect. It would therefore be advantageous to have an analysis and collection/containment device which would maintain a drawn body fluid sample and its analyses in essentially permanent physical form, so that the sample and its analyses can be visually checked at a later date if written records are absent or of doubtful accuracy.
There have been devices described as useful for analysis of blood and related bodily fluids and which incorporate a test device in some manner with a collection bag or vial. See, for instance, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,820,297; 4,846,005; 4,900,321 and 5,595,187. Such devices have not proved successful or workable for many types of blood or fluid analysis, however, since they lack features such as maintenance of permanent unaltered samples of the blood or other fluid, they do not provide for controls to confirm that the device is operating properly, or they permit contact of the sample with the ambient atmosphere or other source of contaminants.
We have now developed a single, integrated device in which a body fluid (e.g., blood) can be both collected and analyzed easily without risk of contamination. The transfer of the body fluid between the collection portion and analysis portion of the device is through a unique structure designed to permit movement of small quantities of body fluid under controlled conditions, to minimize any waste of the body fluid and to ensure that no contamination reaches the main fluid volume. The device also is permanently associated with the collection container and retains a significant quantity of the blood or other fluid in a contamination- or reaction-free condition, so that tests can be repeated at subsequent periods with consistent and reliable results. Further, control means are incorporated into the device to provide assurance the when in operation the device contains a sufficient quantity of the fluid for accurate analysis, and that the testing reagents in the device are operating accurately.
A wide variety of different body fluid components which may be indicative of various diseases, dysfunctions and abnormalities of the patient or the body fluid itself can be analyzed. In some embodiments the device is entirely hand manipulated such that the device can be used in any location, even where no external sources of power or other mechanical or electrical aids are available. In other embodiments the operation of the device can be with mechanical or electrical pumping components. The device is thus ideal for use in the field for emergency and preliminary analysis of a patient's condition, thus allowing field medical personnel to deal with such conditions as appropriate long before the patient can be transferred to more extensive medical facilities, as well as in regular blood banks and research laboratories where analysis can be substantially automated.
The device is also useful for veterinary purposes. By appropriate selection of the testing and analysis sensors to be used, body fluid drawn from animals can be rapidly analyzed, such that, for instance, a diseased animal in a herd can be quickly identified and isolated from the other animals to prevent the spread of infection within the herd. The ability to use the device in the field is of significant advantage in veterinary use, since in many cases the animals are in remote locations far from veterinary medical facilities, or it is difficult or impractical to transport the animals to such facilities.
Of particular significance with the present device is that its structure and operation ensure that the main portion of the body fluid unit drawn from the patient or donor remains isolated within the collection container during transfer of the test sample and cannot be contaminated by external contaminants, by backflow of the test sample, by transfer of testing chemicals, by contamination from improper handling of the test sample or incorrect operation of the analysis equipment, or by malfunction of the transfer or analysis equipment.
Further, because the collection container and the analysis device are permanently joined, the fluid sample and its analyses remain physically available well into the future, such that if any question subsequently arises about the properties of the sample or the analyses observed, which question cannot be answered unequivocally by the written records, the sample and the analysis units can be physically inspected and the original results verified.
The permanent combination of the collection/retention container for the bodily fluid and the testing device, with prevention of return of any portion of the fluid withdrawn from the container for testing in the testing device, is a critical element in the success of this device. Other products presently available, or which have been available in the past, while providing containment or testing, have not been the equivalent of this invention. Only with the permanent, sealed, connected structure of the present device can there be assurance that the bodily fluid sample remains uncontaminated from any source, including airborne materials, and that the test results always remain directly and permanently with the sample and its container. It is imperative in medical testing, such as blood testing, that tests of a fluid sample remain available for retesting or for confirmation of prior results, and that there be no possibility that test results for a particular sample be misfiled, misidentified or mistaken for results of a different sample. While prior art systems which involve separate of sample and test results, i.e., those in which the testing device is removable from the container, purport to be reliable in maintaining absolute identification between the sample and the test results, errors by laboratory personnel are not uncommon, labels on separated containers and test kits can come off or be rendered illegible, and many other events can occur which makes it difficult or impossible to match a bodily fluid sample and its test results once they have been separated. Such occurrences are impossible with the present invention, since the sample in its container and the test results in the testing unit are permanently joined and cannot be separated. Consequently the laboratory, the patient, the physician, and all others involved with patient care or treatment can be assured that future reference to the bodily fluid sample will find the sample uncontaminated for inspection or if further sample withdrawals are required and the original test results unequivocally associated with the sample.
Thus, not only does the present device provide a fast, easy and economical way of collecting and analyzing blood on a unit by unit basis, but it also ensures that the analysis itself, including the transfer of test sample to the analyzer, does not put the main body of the fluid unit at risk.
Therefore, the device of the present invention will be seen to be an integrated assembly that contains a bag, bottle, or other container for collecting human or animal body fluid, especially blood or plasma; one or more testing chambers containing one or more analysis units activated by the body fluid; a manual or automated pump or vacuum assembly to transfer one or more samples into one or more analysis units; and one-way valves or the equivalent to prevent any portion of the withdrawn sample from being returned to the volume of body fluid in the collection container. In one embodiment there is a pump or vacuum assembly between the main collection container and the testing chamber(s). Means are also present to insure that the device is properly filled with fluid and that the fluid is being analyzed correctly. In another embodiment the testing chamber(s) lies between the main collection container and a pump or vacuum assembly.
Thus, in a broad embodiment, the invention is of a body fluid collection and analysis device for analysis of a body fluid comprising a body fluid reservoir; a body fluid-activated analysis unit permanently associated therewith; a fluid conduit between the reservoir and the analysis unit for passage of the body fluid from the reservoir to the analysis unit; transfer means for transferring the body fluid from the reservoir to the analysis unit through the fluid conduit; and a backflow restrictor in the fluid conduit; such that no portion of body fluid transferred by the pump from the reservoir to the analysis unit returns to the reservoir.
The body fluid acted upon may be, but is not limited to, blood, blood plasma, urine, bile, pleural fluid, ascites fluid, stomach or intestine fluid, colostrom, milk or lymph.
The transfer means may be a mechanical or electromechanical pump or a vacuum fluid drawing assembly.
The analysis unit may contain a single detector for detecting the presence or absence of a single component of the body fluid which may be indicative of various diseases, dysfunctions and abnormalities of the patient or the body fluid itself. Alternatively, there may be a plurality of such detectors, each of which is configured with appropriate reactants to detect and indicate the presence or absences of different respective components of the body fluid which may be indicative of various diseases, dysfunctions and abnormalities of the patient or the body fluid itself.
Other embodiments will be described expressly below or will be evident from the descriptions below.
FIG. 1 is a schematic representation, partially cut away or in section, of one embodiment of a device of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic representation, partially cut away or in section, of an alternative embodiment of a device of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a schematic representation, also partially in section, of a representative pump useful in the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a vacuum fluid drawing apparatus for use in the present invention.
FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the portion of the device designated by the circle V in FIG. 1.
FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the portion of the device designated by the circle VI in FIG. 1.
The device of the present invention is best understood by reference to the FIGS., considering first FIG. 1. For brevity herein the body fluid will be exemplified by blood. It will be understood, of course, that the same disclosure and principles apply to the collection and analysis of various body fluids, including but not limited to blood, blood plasma, urine, bile, pleural fluid, ascites fluid, stomach or intestine fluid, colostrom, milk, lymph and the like.
The body fluid (e.g., blood) collection pouch 2 portion of the device is generally similar to present blood collection pouches widely used in blood banks, hospitals, etc. It is preferably made from a flexible, transparent or translucent polymeric material, so that the bag can be easily manipulated and the amount of blood present in the pouch 2 can be readily determined by visual inspection at any time, particularly during collection. Commonly various information is written, printed or written on the outside surface of the pouch, or on labels are attached to the pouch for identification, special handling instructions, and so forth. The structure and operation of pouch 2, except to the extent that it is integrated with transfer unit 4 and analysis unit 6 in the device of the present invention, is otherwise conventional. It will also be understood that other types of containers may be used in place of pouch 2, depending on the type of body fluid to be collected, the facilities available for storage of the containers, the manner in which the containers will be handled, etc. For instance, urine is normally collected in sealable vials rather than in pouches. The type of container will be a matter of choice with the person collecting the fluid.
Considering the exemplary blood collection pouch 2, it is initially subjected to reduced pressure (partial vacuum) conditions to remove substantially all of the air initially present within the pouch. Thereafter in use it is filled with the donor's blood sample through filling tube 8 which terminates in a blood collection needle 10 which is inserted into the donor's vein. A clamp or constriction indicated at 12 is used to control the flow of the donor's blood into the pouch 2 and to close off the tube 8 when the predetermined quantity of blood has been collected. The combination of the donor's blood pressure and the partial vacuum within the pouch causes the donor's blood sample to be rapidly withdrawn and passed into the pouch 2. Other tubes 14 and 16 are commonly also molded into the pouch and provide outlets for removal of the blood for other purposes or inlets for adding materials such as preservatives or anticoagulants to the main body 11 of the unit of blood. Constrictions or clamps indicated at 18 and 20 are used to seal these tubes 14 and 16, respectively, in a conventional manner.
The blood analysis unit 6 may be any of a wide variety of flow-through analysis devices which have been used for separate analysis of blood in laboratories and hospitals for many different purposes. Blood, of course, contains many natural components such as red and white cells, platelets, hemoglobin and so forth, all of which have been extensively studied and documented. Blood composition can also be indicative of the health of the donor, particularly being indicative of the presence of disease, organ dysfunction, potentially harmful medical conditions, etc. The presence or absence of various types of antibodies, sugars, microorganisms, viruses and many other materials in a blood sample can confirm or suggest the presence in the donor of diseases such as diabetes, HIV infection, AIDS or the different types of hepatitis, or can indicate dysfunctions of organs such as the liver, heart, kidneys, and so forth. Individual detection devices to analyze for these different conditions are commercially available, and in many cases the analysis devices have been designed to simultaneously analyze for two or more conditions.
Such analyzers commonly function by having at one end a small inlet port for a sample of a particular bodily fluid (in this case, blood) from which a carrier causes the blood sample to migrate along a fluid flow path from one end of the device to the other. Along the flow path will be the analyzers; if there is more than one they will normally be in series. At the opposite (distal) end of the device is a control sensor which confirms that the blood sample has been dispersed thoroughly and completely along the entire length of the detection device and therefore has adequate sample has reached each of the intermediate analyzers, each of which is specific for a disease, dysfunction or abnormality for which the blood is being tested.
Analysis unit 6 is generally equivalent to those stand-alone devices. The blood sample is transferred to the inlet 22 at the proximal end of the analyzer 6 by the pumping unit 4 in the manner to be described below. The blood sample flows into and fills flow path 24. Upon entry into the analysis unit 6 the blood sample first encounters filter 26 which removes solid components, notably cellular material. The specific types and sizes of solids to be removed will be determined by the pore size of the filter 26. The blood filtrate flows on through a continuation of flow path 24 to a single analysis unit 28 or, usually, through a plurality of such units joined by segments of flow path 24. There may be any convenient number of such units in the plurality; in the embodiment exemplified in FIG. 1, two analysis units are shown and designated respectively 28 and 28′. After passing through the last of the units 28, 28′, . . . , the blood filtrate passes through the final segment of flow path 24 to control sensor 30.
Each of the units 28, 28′. . . is normally used to analyze for an indicator of a different target disease, dysfunction or abnormality, which will be predetermined by the specific purpose of the blood analysis. For instance, one analysis unit 28 may have chemical, monoclonal or other constituents to detect the presence of antibodies to the HIV virus, while the next unit 28′ may be intended to detect the presence of one or more of the various strains of hepatitis. Conversely, two or more, or all, of the analysis units 28, 28′, . . . , may be chosen to test for the same disease, either to confirm one another or to provide multiple detection protocols for the target disease. Similarly, a sensor may be designed to detect the absence of a component that would ordinarily be in the blood stream and thereby identify a donor's condition for a disease, dysfunction or abnormality which is indicated by the absence of a specific component.
The presence or absence of the predetermined component in each of the sensors may be indicated in a variety of different ways, most of which involve the use of a visual indicator which appears or fails to appear during the analysis. The embodiment of FIG. 1 shows a typical example of such indication. The housing 31 of the analysis unit 6 is formed of an opaque plastic, metal, etc. with a series of holes 33 in it, each hole 33 aligned with an analysis or control unit 28, 28′, . . . , 30 so that the face of the unit can be observed. In turn, each face of a unit 28, 28′, . . . , 30 is transparent, or is a transparent portion of the analysis or control unit's own housing. Thus the operator can observe the condition of the pretreated substrate within the analysis or control unit. Each unit's substrate is commonly treated with a detection chemical, monoclonal antibody, etc., preferably in a distinctive shape or pattern. Typically before the test the treated area is clear or of a specific "unreacted" color. When the blood fluid flows through the unit, if the component to be detected is not present, there is no reaction with the treating chemical, and the treated area remains clear without appearance of the pattern, or stays the original "unreacted" color. On the other hand, if the blood does contain the desired component, a reaction between that component and the detecting substance occurs. The color of the treated area changes substantially and/or the distinctive pattern appears on the substrate, both the new color and the pattern being visible through the transparent portion of the sensor. Commonly, the treated portions are printed in the pattern of a wide line, a circle, a cross, etc. Whether the color change or pattern appearance represents a positive or negative result, of course, depends on what is being tested for. If one is seeking the presence of a blood component, the color change or pattern appearance is positive, whereas if the absence of the component is sought, the same change represents a negative result. Conversely, lack of a change is positive if absence of the component is sought and negative if its presence is sought.
For example, in FIG. 1, sensor 28 shows a typical pattern with a positive result for a component whose presence is sought to be detected. The analysis unit 28 has two horizontal bands impregnated with detection chemicals, the first band 32 being the band to detect the desired blood component and the second band 34 being a control band, which will be described below (and which is present in each analysis and control unit). In the case of the illustrated unit 28, a positive result has occurred and the band 32 has become a dark color (or visible, if it were initially clear) as indicated by the shading, thus indicating that the blood does contain the sought after component. On the other hand, in unit 28′, the test strip 36 remains clear or of a light color, indicating that a second sought after component is not present in the blood. Finally, at the opposite end of the analyzer 6 from the entry port 22 is control unit 30, which contains only the single control band 34.
The purpose of band 34 in each unit 28, 28′, . . . , 30 is to insure that the blood has reached, passed through and saturated all of the various units. The use of control unit 30 at the end of flow path 24 is to confirm that the blood fluid has passed through the entire analysis unit 6. The confirmation chemical or monoclonal antibody in band 34 can be chosen so that the condition of the blood at each unit can be determined, to insure that a significantly strong concentration of the blood has reached each of the units. Most conveniently this is accomplished by making the degree of color change occurring in band 34 dependent on the condition of the blood. Of course, where the condition of the blood as it passes through the analysis unit is either not significant or is expected to be substantially unchanged, the function of the control sensor 30 will merely be to confirm that at least some of the blood has traversed the entire length of the unit 6 and the detection chemical will be selected accordingly.
Similarly, it is desirable to have a second control band 35 which insures that the reaction at test strip 36 can be expected to be accurate, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. Control band 35 contains a reactant for which the reaction with the blood or bodily fluid is known to be positive both qualitatively and quantitatively. The expected position reaction at each band 35 therefore indicates that the fluid in that unit 28, 28′, 30, . . . , is the fluid that it is supposed to be, and is present in the intended concentration and composition. Since control band 35 thus confirms to the user of the device that the known reaction has occurred in the manner expected, the user can then be confident that the reaction of the test strip 36 has a high probability of being a true result.
It will also be appreciated that for some fluids and reactions, the functions of bands 34 and 35 can be combined into a single dual-purpose reactant, whose reaction indicates both the proper filling of each test unit 28, 28′, 30, . . . , and the accuracy of the test result.
The various analysis units 28, 28′, . . . , may, as indicated, be intended to detect different diseases or conditions or some or all of the sensors may be intended to detect the same condition either by using different detection means as a cross check, or by repeating the same detection to ensure that a single detector did not give a false reading.
The mechanism for transferring the blood sample from the blood collection pouch 2 to the analysis unit 6, the transfer mechanism 4, is critical to the present invention. It is this transfer unit 4 which allows a precise amount of the blood sample to be withdrawn from the pouch 2 and transferred to the analysis unit 6 without loss or contamination of the main body 11 of the blood, which remains in pouch 2, and which ensures that the blood sample will be forced throughout the analysis unit 6. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the transfer unit 4 is connected to the pouch 2 by conduit 38 which terminates in one-way valve 40. Valve 40 allows blood to flow only "downstream," i.e., in the direction from the pouch to the analyzer 6 as indicated by arrow 42. No backflow or "upstream" flow of blood is permitted through valve 40, thus ensuring that no blood which is extracted from pouch 2 is allowed to return, thus ensuring that no contamination which might occur to the blood sample after withdrawal will be imparted to the main body 11 of the blood in pouch 2.
Attached on the downstream side of valve 40, opposite the conduit 38, is pump 44. Pump 44 in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 is in the form of an expanded conduit which encloses a chamber 50 with an inlet 52 which is connected to the outlet of valve 40. The walls of the pump 44 are made of a flexible thermoplastic or elastomeric material, such as a natural or synthetic rubber, polyethylene, polypropylene, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or other well known material used for making medically acceptable tubing and similar conduits. Preferably the material comprising the walls of pump 44 will be transparent or translucent so that the quantity of blood which is in chamber 50 will be visually evident.
At the other end of chamber 50 of pump 44 is outlet 54 which connects with the inlet of a second one-way valve 56. Valve 56 is oriented in the same downstream flow direction as valve 40 and serves to ensure that any blood which is pumped out of pump 44 into analysis unit 6 does not flow back into pump 44. The outlet of valve 56 and the inlet port 22 of analysis unit 6 are connected by conduit 58.
It is critical that the collection container 2 and the analysis unit 6 be permanently connected, either through transfer unit 4 as in the embodiment of FIG. 1, or directly through a conduit 38/58 as in the embodiment of FIG. 2. Only by maintaining the container 2 and the analysis unit 6 together permanently can the archival function of the device—i.e., the retention of the sample 11 and the results of the analyses in detectors 28, 28′, . . . ,—be accomplished.
From this description, the operation of the entire device can be readily understood. A blood sample is taken from a donor or patient in the conventional manner using needle 10, through which the withdrawn blood is passed through conduit 8 into pouch 2. Neither the flow rate of the blood into the bag nor the volume of blood collected is sufficient to open valve 40. When the bag has been filled with the predetermined quantity of the main body 11 of the donor's blood, the tube 8 is sealed at constriction or clamp 12 and the needle 10 is withdrawn from the donor or patient. Commonly thereafter the tube 8 is permanently sealed a short distance outside constriction 8 and the remaining length of the tube 8, including the needle 10, is discarded. The body 11 of blood in the pouch 2 is now ready for analysis.
The operator then squeezes the flexible pouch 2 to force a sample of blood through one-way valve 40 and into chamber 50 of pump 44. The flow of the blood into chamber 50 is under sufficient pressure to exhaust air through one-way valve 56 and through flow path 24 of analysis unit 6, venting the air through a distal gas outlet 62 leading to vent 60 on the exterior of the housing 31 of analysis unit 6. The operator's hand pressure on the blood pouch 2 serves to fill chamber 50, but is not sufficient to force the blood sample through one-way valve 56 and into the analysis unit 6. This may be accomplished by having valve 56 being somewhat more resistant to flow than valve 40, or a flow shut-off valve 64 may be inserted into outlet conduit 54 upstream of one-way valve 56. Valve 54 may be operated by any convenient off/on device such as thumbscrew 66 (FIG. 2).
The filling of chamber 50 of pump 44 allows for relatively precise measurement of the volume of blood withdrawn from pouch 2 to be obtained. To this end, the material from which the walls of pump 44 are made will be of a material and wall thickness which provides sufficient stiffness to resist stretching or ballooning, yet not so stiff that it cannot be easily compressed when squeezed by the operator's fingers, thus providing that the full chamber 50 will have a substantially constant and known volume.
Once the chamber 50 is full of blood, the operator ceases squeezing pouch 2 and begins squeezing the walls of pump 44 to force the blood out through outlet conduit 54 and through valve 56 (valve 60 having previously been opened if present) and through conduit 58 and inlet 22 into the flow path 24 of analysis unit 6. The finger pressure on the conduit 44 will be such as to move the blood through the unit 6, but not so great as to create a flow velocity which will disrupt the filter 26 or any of the analysis or control units 28, 28′, . . . , 30. Since the faces of the units 28, 28′, . . . , 30 are transparent, the operator will be able to visually note the progress of the blood fluids through these sensors and will be able to control the pressure on the pump 44 accordingly. The volumetric size of the chamber 50 will be calculated originally with regard to the sizes of the analysis units 6 which are to be used within the invention, so as to minimize the amount of blood removed from the main body 11 and avoid the presence of an excessive quantity of blood in the chamber 50 as compared to what is needed to activate the analysis units, but still to have sufficient blood present to ensure that all the analysis units are completely filled with blood fluid, taking into consideration that not all of the blood in chamber 50 can be expelled by finger compression of the pump 44. The appropriate hand- and finger-pressure needed by the operator for manipulation of pouch 2 and pump 44 will be readily learned.
An alternative embodiment of the device of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 2. In this embodiment the collection container 2 and the analysis unit 6 are in direct fluid communication and permanently connected through conduits 38 and 58 and one-way valve 40, which all operate as discussed above. If desired, both valves 40 and 56 may be present in the conduit 38/58 to provide additional security against return of any blood to the container 2. Transfer means 4′ in this embodiment is disposed distally of the analysis unit 6 and operates to draw the blood 11 out of the container 2 and through the analysis unit 6 by pump suction or vacuum. To accomplish this the gas outlet 62 and vent 60 are replaced by fluid conduit 94, in which is disposed one-way valve 90. When pump 44′ is activated, it creates a suction in conduit 94. Since conduit 94 connects through unit 30 with conduit 24, and then on through conduits 38/58 with container 2, the suction created by pump 44′ draws blood 11 from container 2 and into and through each of the units 28, 28′, . . . , and 30. To insure that blood has fully traversed into and through all detectors of unit 6, it is advisable to continue operation of pump 44′ until blood appears in pump outlet conduit 92 and a small amount is exhausted with the expelled air as indicated by arrow 96. The presence of one-way valve 90 then prevents air from returning to the analysis unit 6, maintaining each of the units 28, 28′, . . . , and 30 full of blood. Transfer unit 4′ may thereafter be disconnected from the device, leaving the collection container 2 and the analysis unit 6 attached as a unitary combination. This will be discussed further below in connection with FIG. 4.
The manual operation of the pump 44 and 44′ is the preferred embodiment, since it is simple to manufacture and use, can be used anywhere and under virtually any condition, requires no outside source of power, and minimizes the size of the pump 44 or 44′. Alternatively, however, if there are to be many tests of drawn blood to be made in a large number of the devices of this invention, it may be desirable to have a mechanized way of pumping the blood from container 2 into unit 6. Such an embodiment is shown in FIG. 3 which represents an alternative embodiment of the transfer unit 4 (or equivalently for transfer unit 4′), within the dashed circle 46. In this case, a pair of motor driven rollers 70 are placed around the inlet conduit 52. These may be driven by flexible worms 72 from electric motor 74, which in turn is powered by battery 76 through center-off reversing switch 78. As the rollers move downstream as indicated by arrows 80, they gradually compress the walls of pump 44 reducing the size of chamber 50 and forcing the blood through outlet conduit 54 and on through valves 64 and 56 to unit 6 as described previously. Once the rollers reach the position 70′ so that the pump 44 has been reduced in diameter to the shape shown at 44′, the motor 74 is stopped. Thereafter, when it is desired to reset the unit, the reversing switch 78 is thrown and the motor reverses the direction of the rollers' travel returning them to the original position at 70. While the reversing switch preferable has the off/on control, there may alternatively be a separate off/on switch in the motor/battery circuit. In order to reuse the system for a different pouch and analysis unit, removal bar 82 is provided which links the axles of the two rollers 70. When this bar is removed, the rollers can be separated and dismounted from the conduit 52. They can then be mounted on another device surrounding that device's conduit 52 and coupled into place by replacement of the bar 82, making the motor/roller system ready for reuse.
The embodiment of FIG. 2 also lends itself to operation of the device with vacuum fluid transfer apparatus 100 as shown in FIG. 4. This apparatus may be a vacuum pump, an aspirator, or any other convenient means of creating the previously suction in conduit 94. The vacuum apparatus 100 may be connection to conduit 94 by vacuum tubing 98, and in used in place of pump 44′. It will be operated in an analogous manner to pump 44′, including drawing up a slight excess of blood 11 to insure that all detectors in analysis unit 6 are completely filled with blood. Since it is contemplated that the vacuum apparatus 100 will be disconnected from the device once the unit 6 has been filled with blood, it is desirable to make conduit 94 sufficiently long that it can be sealed distally of valve 90 to insure that disconnection of the apparatus 100 and uncoupling of conduits 94 and 98 will not allow air incursion into conduit 94, notwithstanding valve 90. The same should be done when transfer unit 4′ is removed from conduit 94.
The device of the present invention will find widespread use in many areas of medical treatment and analysis not limited to only the general testing of blood supplies for blood bank use and research, as described above. Other areas of use include plasmapheresis in which patients are bled frequently, but in which heretofore the blood has not been tested at the same intervals; in emergency medical cases where rapid blood typing or the identification of Rh factors is important; or in other emergency situations such as combat where there may be a need to provide immediate blood transfusions without being able to draw on the supplies of conventional blood banks. The use of the device is particularly significant in ensuring that all blood of donors and patients can be tested to prevent potentially hazardous agents in blood from being passed on from donors who are asymptomatic carriers of the infectious or other hazardous agents. It will also find extensive use in research where rapid screening is needed to go through a large number of blood samples and identify for further use only those which contain a particular agent or component. With such ability to do rapid screening directly of the blood samples, the desired samples can be readily and quickly identified, thus speeding the research and dramatically reducing the costs associated with conventional blood testing.
It will be evident to those skilled in the art that there are numerous embodiments of this invention which, while not expressly set forth above, are clearly within the scope and spirit of the invention. The above description is therefore to be considered exemplary only and the invention is to be limited solely by the appended claims.
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|U.S. Classification
|422/417, 604/409, 604/318, 600/584
|International Classification
|Cooperative Classification
|European Classification
|Dec 15, 1999
Owner name: AALTO SCIENTIFIC, LTD., CALIFORNIA
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text:
All sales are final (No returns)
South Pacific by Rodgers and Hammerstein
Manor Musical Theatre Company - Registered Charity No. 1165250
The action of 'South Pacific' takes place on a Polynesian island near the USA battlefront of the World War II conflict with Japan. it is a tale of love trying to succeed despite the characters being from different backgrounds. Feel the tensions in the relationship between Nurse Ensign Nellie Forbush and Emile de Becque, a French planter on the island, and predict the future of Lt. Cable's tryst with local Tonkinese girl Liat.
Rodgers and Hammerstein's South Pacific is widely recognised as one of the great classics of the twentieth century, featuring well-known musical numbers including 'Some enchanted evning', 'I'm in love with a wondferful guy', 'Younger than Springtime' and the guy's favourite 'There is nothin like a dame'. Matched with a large cast, the society's 15 piece professional orchestra fully exploits this wonderful score.
Box Office 0121 296 9543 (open Mon-Fri 10am-4pm).
Wheelchair users please contact the Box Office for designated seating.
Family friendly, licensed bar and refreshments.
Doors open 1 hour before show commences.
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
This complex of apartments offers simple style accommodation and is well placed for the sandy beach and the amenities of Kardamena lively resort centre.Situated on a side road 300m from the sandy beach at Kardamena and 300m from shops, bars, restaurants and nightlife. A bus stop is located 200m from the property with services to Kos Town and Kefalos.Due to the steps accessing the property, it is not suitable for disabled guests.Facilities: Outdoor swimming pool, children's pool, furnished sun terrace, pool bar serving snacks
All studios have either two single beds or two single beds and a sofa bed, safety deposit box(at extra charge), kitchenette with two cooking rings,shower room with wc and a balcony. Individually-controlled air conditioning is also available (payable locally).


text:
irish289 Photographer
Sunnie SkyModel Female Nashville, Tennessee, US
My Website: PUSH Model ProfileMy MM URL: http://www.modelmayhem.com/sunniesky
Mayhem # 2761432
About MeI am currently looking to book TF shoots in order to add more current photos to my portfolio. I am brunette now.
PAID assignments- If you want me for lingerie or implied, I will request payment. Unless I have requested to shoot with you involving that. (I will not shoot nudes.)
If any of the photographs will be used in a website, magazine, or advertisement, I will most likely request payment.
*If you want me for any paying jobs, please contact me.*
**Please, no scams or fakes!!**
Hi, I'm Stevie! I was born and raised in Nashville, TN.
I love seeing what different things photographers can do, and what different looks and poses they can teach me. I would like to add to my experience and portfolio while helping photographers do the same. If you would like to work something out, please contact me on here. :)
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This step is voluntary but will dramatically raise your chances of having members look at your profile. Write a little something about yourself, your pasttimes and upload some good photos of yourself.
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text: This is my blog Hi I'm Abbie and this is my blog what am i to do if i cant move on from the past and pull up my big girl panties and go to school advice is needed. Is it wrong of me to be throwing my life away. #Blog


text:
Adventure Concept Art 5 by artursadlosWatch
©2011-2017 artursadlos
Animated version - vimeo.com/24417900
Find me on: INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | ARTSTATION | TWITTER | PRINTS
Find me on: INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | ARTSTATION | TWITTER | PRINTS
Daily DeviationGiven 2011-05-29
Adventure Concept Art 5 by ~artursadlos "is beautiful, surreal and a real treat to look at. The details and colours make the piece come to life as well as making the viewer want to explore the temple ... But watch out for those glowing eyes at the entrance!" - Suggester's words. ( Suggested by SpiritLullaby and Featured by Lyricanna )
Your animated version no longer exists by the way.
spierdalaj , gnojku .
Wow! this looks really good!
how many hours did you take to do this piece?
how many hours did you take to do this piece?
It was long ago. I was damn slow. I think it took 8-10h
Awesome work!
This reminds me of a world in the metroid prime 1 videogame . @___@
So lovely!!!
So lovely!!!
sweet aunt jemima thats awesome!!!
I like the way it sort of invites you in. Very good.
A simply breathtaking piece. I can almost feel the damp humidity of the jungle environment, and can't help but wonder what lies just out of sight in that doorway.
Wow. Very well done. Great job.
Lots of life in this forgotten place =0
you handled the light so beautifully. Worthy of being used in an "Uncharted" PS3 game.
This is great! You seem like one after my own heart, given that this picture is incredibly appealing to my adventurousness and your icon happens to be my all-time favorite character. lol Excellent work! *favorites*
Love how detailed this is...Reminds me of Angkor Wat, or whatever that place in Cambodia's called...
amazing work. You think you could possible show a process on your next work or maybe a speed paint or tutorial showing how you do the work you do>?
hot damn,thats awesome
Is that the talking tree from pocohontas?
lol just kidding, nice work, i like the mood
lol just kidding, nice work, i like the mood
This is beautiful! So many details. You did an amazing job on this. It makes me miss playing Tomb Raider for some reason
Very nice Congrats
I would love to see this brought into 3d. Fantastic.
Wonderfully mysterious! <3
I'd love to play whatever game that would be in
I'd love to play whatever game that would be in
I love it!
I love the whole thing, especially the hidden glowing eyes.
I shudder thinking about how many amount of hours must've been spent to create things like this.
puzzle: how many faces are on the this art?
wooo w ...
...wow. Makes the imagination reel with wonder and imagination. Gorgeous workmanship: lighting, depth and perspective, brush and detailing...everything works here.
This is amazing! It's such an immersive scene; as if I'd just wandered there myself. Absolutely beautiful
Awesome. I really like this style.
This looks like something from a Tomb Raider game I really like it
I agree with the suggester that this is a pretty, mysterious scene... peaceful because of the soft green light and the subtle colours. But then there's the shadow with the glowing eyes, catching your attention just in time.
Epic paintwork!
Epic paintwork!
This is beautiful!!! Did you have a specific temple in mind as an inspiration for this?
I was generally inspired by all adventure stuff Ive watched and played. Indy, Uncharted etc. And lots of references. Angkor Wat is one of them and Tibetan shrines are too.
Fascinating! Man, this piece is so realistic! And I can see how you're inspired by those styles of temples and adventure movies/games! I hope I run into more of your art later
Wow! Beautiful


text:
I have been doing some work on modelling some cave like meshes in Blender and using some vertex painting to achieve some fairly realistic but low as possible poly environments for the mod. Will probably redo the floor of the cave as there are too many poly's there. But over all the effect is coming on quite nicely.
Also been doing some work to make it possible to configure certain monsters to only be damageable by specific weapons. E.g. some monsters can only be damaged by magic projectiles such as fireballs.


text:
Back in 1986 I was seven-years-old, my family was dirt poor, and we lived in an ancient farm house that had been remodeled and added onto over the 150 year history of the house. My little brother and I shared one large room, what was originally the back room of the house. Sometime in the 1950's a laundry room was built right onto the back of the house, along with an insanely small bathroom and a more modern kitchen. The original back door was in our room, and I mean the original one. Glass panels and all, and led directly to the laundry room. My mother, being rather ingenious, acquired a set of steel shelves and placed them in front of the old back door, and that served as our closet. She would just take our laundry out of the dryer and hang it on the steel rack, and it was accessible from either side.
My little brother was deathly afraid of the dark, so the laundry room light was always on, providing him with the comfort he needed to sleep. It was our little night light. It kept me awake, and being the hyper and imaginative one of the pair, I would sit up at night and quietly play with our various action figures, or try to read by the light pouring through the glass in the door. Occasionally, a shadow would pass over the light, but when I would look up I would see nothing. Sometimes I ignored this and went back to my toys or book, but sometimes I would get a cold chill, and despite seeing nothing, would go and hide under my covers and shiver myself to sleep.
One particular night I was actually staying in my bed, pretending my hands were professional wrestlers, and basically just banging them together while a litany of color commentary played through my head. A shadow passed over the light, like it often did, but it seemed to move much more slowly this time. I glanced up from my playing towards the door. Nothing unusual at first, but the familiar chill began to set in. Before I could even twitch, the various items of clothing hanging on the steel rack parted rather forcefully, and a severe-looking old woman was staring directly at me, holding my brother and I's clothing apart. I remember her face clearly. She had a hawkish look, with sharp features and a big nose. I would say now that she looked distinctively Greek, and very, very old. Her face held an accusatory expression, and she stared directly at me, looking as if she was about to scold me for being up so late, but she withdrew into the laundry room, letting our clothes swing back together. I still remember the sound of buttons on our Osh Kosh over-alls clinking, just barely audible. Doing what any sensible seven-year-old kid would do, I ducked under my Pac-Man comforter and hid until I fell asleep.
I actually waited until I was a teenager before mentioning the incident to my mom. She was silent for a while, turned pale and told me I must have been dreaming. She still insists to this day that it was a dream, and gets uncomfortable, finds something to fidget with, or changes the subject.


text:
Octopus aquaculture
The development of octopus aquaculture, the farming of octopus, is being driven by strong market demands in the Mediterranean and in South American and Asian countries.[1] Octopus live short lives, growing rapidly and maturing early. They typically reach two or three kilograms (high weights for invertebrates). There is little overlap between successive generations.[2]
The supply of octopus has been constrained by overfishing in many key fisheries.[3] The common octopus seems particularly suitable for aquaculture. However, it is currently difficult to culture the early life stages of octopus and maintain high survival rates for their paralarvae. This difficulty is limiting the development of fully closed life cycle octopus hatchery systems.
The aquaculture potential of several octopus species has been investigated in recent years, including Octopus maya,[5] Octopus bimaculoides,[6] Octopus ocellatus,[7] and Octopus mimus.[8]
The common octopus, Octopus vulgaris, appears to be the most serious candidate for aquaculture in terms of its biological and market potential.[9] It has a worldwide distribution in tropical, subtropical and temperate waters. It is a benthic species occurring from the coastal line to the outer edge of the continental shelf, at depths to 200 m and in very diverse marine habitats.[10] The common octopus is easily adapted to captive conditions and has a rapid growth rate of 5% body weight per day.[9] It also has a high feed conversion rate with 30–60% of ingested food being incorporated in its own weight,[11][12] and a high fecundity of 100,000–500,000 eggs per female.[11]
There is an optimum temperature at which a cold-blooded species does best in terms of growth, survival and food intake. The common octopus is sensitive to temperature, with an optimum range for commercial growth of 16–21 °C.[12] Above its optimal thermal range, growth and food intake decrease, and above 23 °C loss in weight and increased mortality has been recorded.[12] A narrow thermal band can mean seasonality in growth due to seasonal variations in water temperatures. The incorporation of temperature control mechanisms, such as in the use of closed or onshore farming systems, can reduce seasonal variances in production.[12]
Crustaceans, such as crabs and lobster are an important dietary constituent of both natural and captive populations of octopus.[13] Fish are not as important. Fish-based diets have been shown to provide both lower growth rates and food conversion to growth ratios in captive octopus. This may be because of high lipid levels in fish flesh.[12] Cephalopods, such as octopus and squids, show low lipid digestibility as a result of low lipid requirements. Consequently, a large component of the fish feed will not be taken up.[14] Crustacean diets are favored possibly as a result of their high protein relative to lipid levels.[12]
Whether octopus farming is profitable depends in large part on how much it costs to maintain a steady supply of crustaceans.[13] Economic profitability can be maximized without significantly compromising biological productivity by incorporating a mix of fish and crustacean-based feed strategies. García García and Cerezo Velverde (2006) found a feeding regime of one day of crab followed by three days of fish can reduce the cost of producing one kg of octopus by a predicted value of €2.96.[13]
Commercial aquaculture so far has been confined to starting with young juveniles caught in the wild, weighing about 750 g. In Spain, these juveniles are purchased from local fishermen and transferred to offshore floating sea cages. There they are fattened with bycatch (fish, molluscs and crabs) for several months until a commercial size, about 3 kilograms, is reached. However, acquiring juveniles in this way, from the wild, further increases the fishing pressure on octopus stocks that are already managed badly, possibly producing cascades in marine ecosystems. A cost analysis of this practice found that over 40% of total costs went into acquiring the juveniles. The profitability of this approach is low, depending as it does on fishing and the supply of sub-adults, a costly and highly variable process.[15]
The bottleneck currently hindering the commercial development of octopus aquaculture is the difficulty of rearing octopus during their early paralarva stage.[16][17] Paralarva is the name given to the larva of cephalopods. Paralarvae are small, less than 3 millimetres at hatching, with a long planktonic life stage. Current rearing techniques are inadequate, resulting in very high mortality rates.[18] Results vary when octopus paralarvae are fed different combinations of prey. The best results have been with a mix of brine shrimp and other living prey, such as crab zoeae.[1][16] However the survival and settlement rates of the paralarvae is typically low in such studies, highlighting the difficulties in raising octopus paralarvae. Maintaining high survival rates for paralarvae appears to be the main factor limiting the development of a fully closed life cycle octopus hatchery system.[19]
To achieve both profitable and environmentally sustainable results, much research has been focused on paralarval rearing.[17] In 2005, scientists from the principal research groups in the field concluded the key factor affecting paralarval mortality is nutrition, making nutritional research the highest priority.[19] There is "no reason not to believe that the aquacultural rearing of octopus will be of great economic potential" as soon as the rearing technology and nutritional issues have been addressed.[15] Research in these areas is promising.[15]
- ^ a b Iglesias, J., Otero, J.J., Moxica, C., Fuentes, L., Sánchez, F.J. (2004) "The completed life cycle of the octopus (Octopus vulgaris, Cuvier) under culture conditions: paralarval rearing using Artemia and zoeae, and first data on juvenile growth up to 8 months of age" Aquac. Int. 12: 481–487.
- ^ Boyle, P.R., Rodhouse, P.G. (2005) Cephalopods: ecology and fisheries Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN 978-0-632-06048-1.
- ^ FAO (2010) The State of the World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2010. FAO, Rome. Page 41.
- ^ Octopus vulgaris FAO: Species Fact Sheets, Rome.
- ^ Rosas, C., Cuzon, G., Pascual, C., Gaxiola, G., Chay, Lòpez, N., Maldonado, T., Domingues, P.M. (2007) "Energy balance of Octopus maya fed crab or an artificial diet" Marine Biology, 152: 371–381.
- ^ Solorzano, Y., Viana, M.T., López, L.Mc, Correa, J.G.,True, C.C., Rosas, C. (2009) "Response of newly hatched Octopus bimaculoides fed enriched Artemia salina: Growth performance, ontogeny of the digestive enzyme and tissue amino acid content" Aquaculture, 289: 84–90.
- ^ Segawa, S., Nomoto, A. (2002) "Laboratory growth, feeding, oxygen consumption and ammonia excretion of Octopus ocellatus" Bulletin of Marine Science, 71: 801–813.
- ^ Baltazar, P., Rodríguez, P., Rivera, W., Valdivieso, V. (2000) "Cultivo experimental de Octopus mimus, Gould 1852 en perú" Revista Peruana de Biología, 7: 151–160.
- ^ a b Iglesias J., Sánchez F.J. and Otero J.J. (1997) "Primeras experiencias sobre el cultivo integral del pulpo (Octopus vulgaris, Cuvier) en el Instituto Español de Oceanografía". In: Costa J., Abellán E., García García B., Ortega A. and Zamora S. (Eds.), VI Congreso Nacional de Acuicultura, Cartagena, Spain, pp. 221–226.
- ^ Guerra, A. (1992) "Mollusca: Cephalopoda" In: Ramos, M.A., et al. (Eds.) Fauna Iberica, vol. 1. Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, Madrid, p. 327. ISBN 84-00-07010-0.
- ^ a b Mangold, K.M. (1983) "Octopus vulgaris". In: Boyle, P.R. (Ed.), Cephalopod Life Cycles, vol. 1. Academic Press, London, pp. 335–364.
- ^ a b c d e f Aguado, F., García García, B. (2002) "Growth and food intake models in Octopus vulgaris Cuvier/1797: influence of body weight, temperature, sex and diet" Aquac. Int. 10: 361–377.
- ^ a b c García García, B., Cerezo Valverde, J. (2006) "Optimal proportions of crabs and fish in diet for common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) ongrowing" Aquaculture, 253: 502–511.
- ^ Lee P.G. (1994) "Nutrition of cephalopods: Fueling the system" In: Pörtner H.O., O'Dor R.K. and Mac- millan D.L. (eds), Physiology of Cephalopod Molluscs: Lifestyle and Performance Adaptations Gordon & Brench Publishers, Switzerland, pp. 35–51.
- ^ a b c García García, J., Rodriguez Gonzalez, L.M., García García, B. (2004) "Cost analysis of octopus ongrowing installation in Galicia" Span. Jour. Agr. Res. 2(4): 521-537.
- ^ a b Carrasco, J.F., Arronte, J.C., Rodríguez, C. (2006) "Paralarval rearing of the common octopus, Octopus vulgaris (Cuvier)" Aquac. Res. 37: 1601–1605.
- ^ a b Vaz-Pires, P., Seixas, P., Barbosa, A. (2004) "Aquaculture potential of the common octopus (Octopus vulgaris Cuvier, 1797): a review" Aquaculture, 238(1–4): 221–238.
- ^ Moxica, C; F. Linares, J. J. Otero, J. Iglesias and F. J. Sánchez(2002) "Cultivo intensivo de paralarvas de pulpo, Octopus vulgaris Cuvier, 1797, en tanques de 9 m3" Bol. Inst. Esp. Oceanogr., 18 (1-4): 31-36.
- ^ a b Iglesiasa J.; F.J. Sáncheza, J.G.F. Bersanob, J.F. Carrascoc, J. Dhontd, L. Fuentesa, F. Linarese, J.L. Muñozf, S. Okumurag, J. Rooh, T. van der Meereni, E.A.G. Vidalj and R. Villanuevak (2007) "Rearing of Octopus vulgaris paralarvae: Present status, bottlenecks and trends" Aquaculture, 266 (1-4): 1–15.
External links[edit]
- Jiménez, Lourdes; Virgilio Arenas, Daniel Méndez, Gerardo Preciado, Ana Gabriela Díaz and Mitzy Blanco (2009) Sustainable Octopus Fishery Program in Veracruz Reef System National Park, Mexico World Aquaculture Society, , World Aquaculture 2009. Conference presentation
- Seixas, Pedro F. and Manuel Rey-Méndez (2006) Potential use of octopus species for aquaculture: Present state of the situation, perspectives and limitations World Aquaculture Society, AQUA 2006, Firenze, Italy. Conference presentation


text: I have a flatbed pickup 11' long 6 or 6 1/2' wide. It is too high off the ground (3' 9" off ground). I need to get a 21" mower in and out, since its so high off the ground I need to be able to walk up it myself. (My biggest problem is I am only 5' tall myself) I have searched high and low on this site to find lots of places to get ramps but unfortunately none of the ramps are long enough, way to steep if not real long but cant be over 11' or I cant put them in the truck. Have contacted a welder he wants to lower the bed about 4", for $400 or so. But 4" wouldn't make a huge difference would still need some kind of ramp or a gate would be good. Thought about a gate to put on the back that folds up but cant seem to find one that is over 8' Oh by the way I do have a trailer for a tractor but dont want to pull it for the mower as its 16' long and for 2 mowers a trimmer and a blower thats a little over kill. Besides I dont like to pull it and most places I mow you cant get around with a trailer. ANY IDEAS??????????


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How to Change Temp Folder Location- %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Temp
When you install a software in your computer, it uses Temp folder to install the software. Sometimes system denies installation due to lack of enough rights to Temp folder. In such cases, we can change the location of Temp folder easily. Temp folder stores temporary internet files, setup files, windows explorer files & history and program files that are of no use.
This step by step guide will help you to change your existing Temp folder location to new a Temp location. This example is given on Win-7 operating system.
How to change Temp Folder Location
Temp folder resides in following location in Win-7 Operating System.
First create a Folder in your D:\ Drive >> D:\TEMP then
Go to START menu >> Choose RUN and type sysdm.cpl to start System Properties.
Right click on My Computer and click on Properties >> Click on Advance System Settings under the left side of panel.
Now click on Advanced Tab under System Properties dialog box >> Click on Environment Variables button.
Double click on User variable named TEMP and change it to a path on your D:\ drive.
%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Temp to D:\Temp
Now double click on User variable named TMP and change it to a path on your D:\ drive.
%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Temp to D:\Temp
Finally click on OK button to change the location of Temp folder permanently.
You need not to restart the PC but if it doesn't work, you may restart the PC to make the changes permanent.
By this way you can change Temp Folder Location- %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Temp to new loaction.
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2011 Toyota Tacoma Questions
Get answers to questions about your 2011 Toyota Tacoma at RepairPal. Find solutions, diagnose problems and get back on the road.Refine by vehicle
I have 2 sets of keys I want to be able to keep the engine going,run the air conditioner and lock the truck so no one can drive off with my pet. Is that possible.
It only happens on curvy roads
The electrical issue seemed to occur while I was turning the steering wheel while driving.
It has happened once or twice before and I thought I mistakenly touched the radio button on the steering wheel. Today it was turning off and on randomly all by itself as I was turning or not turning the steering wheel.
It is due for a oil change that I will be doing, but the lit staying on is driving me crazy.
There was a recall on this problem(12V092000).It only included model years 2005-2009.Called Toyota customer service # and was told my trucks VIN # was not included.I checked for diagnostic codes using an actron pocket scan plus(CP9550)and it read no codes.


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Target: Richard T. O'Brien, Chief Executive Officer of Newmont Mining Corporation
Goal: End gold mining project in Peru that will ruin local water resources
The U.S.-based Newmont Mining Corporation is spearheading what will be the largest gold mine in Peru, although locals are desperately protesting the project. The mine will destroy four mountain lakes whose streams provide water for thousands of local farms, representing a vital food and drinking water source. The Newmont Mining Corporation must not continue with this ecologically disastrous project.
The upcoming mining project called, Conga, will destroy almost 12 square miles of fragile wetlands in Northern Peru. The type of mining necessary for this particular project is notorious for producing toxic waste and contaminating local waterways. Peruvians in the area have already suffered from the effects of previous mining efforts, giving them every reason to protest this further insult to the local environment. A recent poll found that 78 percent of residents oppose the Conga project, and this opposition has already inspired violence. Recent protesters of the mine were gunned down by police and military troops, killing five people. Had Newmont listened to local pleas sooner, those lives would not have been lost.
The Newport Mining Company plans to move forward despite the lives already taken and the certain destruction to local agriculture and water safety. Apparently, the thousands of people that will be adversely affected are no comparison to a lust for gold. The American people must take a stand against this greedy corporate giant and insist on responsible action. Sign the petition below, and demand that Richard T. O'Brien, Chief Executive Officer of the Newmont Mining Corporation, end the Conga mining project immediately.
Dear Mr. O'Brien,
I am writing to express deep concerns regarding the Conga mining project in Peru. As you are undoubtedly aware, the gold mine that you intend on spearheading will destroy almost 12 square miles of fragile wetlands, as well as four mountain lakes that are vital for local life. These lakes supply water to thousands of local farmers, and the nearby agricultural communities rely heavily upon them. Although you may plan to eventually replace these lakes with reservoirs, the toxins left from your mining activities will leave these poor substitute resources contaminated and unfit for consumption. Realistically, there is only one possible outcome – the Conga mine will destroy life for thousands of Peruvians.
While this gold mine is obviously a desirable and lucrative business move, I would truly hope that you could place the cost of human life above your own financial gain. As if it isn't bad enough that we purchase conflict minerals from unscrupulous foreign miners, must we now create this widespread destruction ourselves? Please listen to what the American and Peruvian people are saying. I implore you to stop this disastrous project and leave the people of Cajamarca in peace.
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: quinet via Flickr.


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Director Govi says actress Trisha Krishnan will be seen essaying a role much younger than her real self in the upcoming Tamil-Telugu horror-comedy Nayaki. He said she will be portraying a 20-year-old character in the film.
"Trisha will be seen playing a 20-year-old. She has been preparing herself to look much younger over the last couple of months," Govi informed.
For her role, Trisha, who is in her early 30s, also lost some weight. "I didn't have to tell her how she should look for the character. When I narrated the story, she understood what was expected from her to do justice to the role," he said.
For Trisha's special look, the team has hired a popular make-up artist and costume designer from Mumbai, he shared.
Govi calls Nayaki a retro horror-comedy, a genre that hasn't been attempted before. "Trisha will be mostly seen in the 1980s look. The story will go back and forth in time. The film is 98 percent comedy and two percent horror," said Govi, who will be making his Telugu directorial debut with the film.
Trisha is hero of the film, says Govi, who is also her biggest fan. "Although there's a male lead in the film, Trisha is my hero. I'm her biggest fan and I've always wanted to make a film with her. It took her only 10 minutes to accept the offer," he said.
For the first time, Trisha will be crooning in Nayaki. "She will be singing a three-minute promo song. One minute of the song will be used as the title track and the rest of it will feature in the film," Govi said, and added that nearly 60 percent of the film will be shot here and the rest in Hyderabad.


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There has recently been a change in the status of rabies in Boulder county. The chance of you or your pet coming in contact with a rabid animal has significantly increased. We encourage you to be sure your pet is kept current on their rabies vaccination. If you have any question about your pet's vaccination status, please don't hesitate to call us.
Click here for an update on Rabies from Boulder County
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PROPHETIC Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries leader Walter Magaya has predicted a bumper crowd at his South African crusade this week.
Archive | General
Friendly diplomats donate to Jairos Jiri
JAIROS Jiri Children's centre in Southerton, Harare, was established in 1963 to provide basic education to children with disabilities drawn mostly from marginalised rural communities across Zimbabwe.
Child President election date set
ZIMBABWE Youth Council (ZYC), custodians of Junior Parliament, has announced June 20 as the date for the new junior presidential elections to be conducted at the Harare Institute of Technology.
Deregistered prophet resurfaces as sangoma
RENOWNED former Bulawayo apostolic sect leader Thabiso Ngwenya, who was stripped of his government-issued certificate to practice as a nationally recognised prophet , has resurfaced as a sangoma.
Sabi Mine shut down
SABI Gold Mine in Zvishavane has been shut down throwing about 500 workers out of work.
Leave my lovers alone –Tsvangirai
MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai yesterday asked his detractors to stay off his social life and stop snooping around his love life.
Distressed people caught in the middle
Leaders are responsible for those whom they lead. The lives of the people are entrusted to them.
Prison, a blessing in disguise for others
IMAGINING incarceration in Zimbabwe prisons always invokes sad feelings from members of the public.
Schoolchildren march against child sexual abuse
WOMEN'S Affairs, Gender and Community Development Minister Oppah Muchinguri yesterday said 33% of females and nine percent males were experiencing sexual violence prior to the age of 18 years.
Cossa gives helping hand to Chegutu orphans
AFRICAN culture has always regarded any child as everyone's child, resulting in people taking responsibility over extended families.


text: Posted January 7, 2015 In the chat, all of the community guidelines apply, in addition to these other basic rules everyone in chat must follow: Continually logging into the chat impersonating another user for the purpose of trolling is disallowed following some recent problems. If you choose to use a different nickname in chat using the /nick command, we must still be able to tell who you are. Using somebody else's nickname for any length of time longer than 60 seconds is prohibited, unless the nickname belongs to a banned user. Using exploits in chat without administrative permission and/or when there is an active crowd in chat will result in serious consequences. Anti-Idling Rule: Do not idle in chat longer than 90 minutes. Doing so may result in being kicked. An auto-kick feature will be set up soon. All members of chat who do not have active forum accounts are still under the main Simmania guidelines. -csc4 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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Friday, May 5, 2006
THQ, HBO Create Sopranos Videogame
Agoura Hills-based THQ, a maker of video games, and HBO, are going to ship a new game based on HBO's popular show The Sopranos. The companies said that the game will include voices from key members of the cast, and will support Xbox 360 and PlayStation 2 entertainment systems. James Gandolfini will lend his voice as Tony Soprano.


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cmunce01 2420479wrote a review of Burton Hail Snowboard Boot - Men's on January 2, 2008
Hail mens snowboard boots
Son loved the boots. Ultra comfortable and warm. Wondered why they put in the extra laces, but either it was a fluke or by necessity- the laces ripped after only about 7 runs- his bindings might be rubbing them though. Either way, it was a great purchase for the money. Would recommend highly!!!


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I am broken. I am sick. I have body dysmorphic disorder. I didn't even know that was a thing until two months ago. I am bulimic.
I don't really know how to get better.
I have spent nights sobbing on my bathroom floor because of a scale number. Hours pulling at what I perceive as flab on my naked body. Measured my waist, hips, and around my bellybutton hundreds of times. Been near tears during tap because my thigh has to jiggle to do a nerve tap. I have taken countless photos of:
My stomach from the front to see if it's smooth
My stomach from the side to see if it's flat
My profile so I can check on my double chin
I don't really know how I got here. I feel like it probably has something to do with my ex – more to do with him than I probably want to admit – and then something to do with my brief summer romance, and something to do with comments other people make. And it probably has a lot to do with my fear of not being good enough.
Not being good enough.
Talented enough.
Pretty enough.
Smart enough.
Thin enough.
Events that aren't really necessary to go into at this very moment convinced me if that I were "thin enough," I would feel better. I would feel more worthwhile, less lonely, and that maybe someone could fall in love with me again.
They would fall in love with the Shiny New Chloe, version 2.0
Completely rebuilt and redesigned, untarnished by bad relationships and past hurts and mistakes.
Yeah. That sounded good.
So I cut my calories down drastically (about 900 a day) and worked out like crazy. I was probably spending about 2 hours at the gym and biking about 2 miles a day. And that didn't work. I gained more weight. So I tried that Fast Metabolism Diet.
Which worked. I lost the weight, all the way down to my goal weight. And it didn't work: I was terrified to gain it back. I still felt like shit. I can't even pinpoint the day that I thought purging was the solution, I really can't. There were a lot of desperate days where I was stepping on the scale every hour or less.
I probably had just eaten something deliciously unhealthy, and felt so guilty about it that I had to get rid of it. I had to get it out of my body. I never sit down and decide that I will be throwing this meal up. It always hits me about 10-15 minutes later, when I think about it, and I decide, "Nope. That was way too many calories. Let me get rid of this, and I'll eat something more healthy next time. Clean slate."
I purged two nights ago because I ate a package of Sour Patch Kids, as dessert for my salad. I was so excited to eat these Sour Patch Kids and they were perfect – not too hard and not too squishy. And I knew as I ate the last one, that I was going to have to get them out. My stomach was churning and I cried and cried because that night I lost.
Some days, I can eat whatever I want and it doesn't even phase me. Other days, I eat mostly what I want and it's a battle to keep that chai tea down, but I remind myself that I work out and dance and there is no reason to not have that chai tea in the morning or the iced chai tea in the afternoon when it's 90 degrees. I manage to beat that inner bitch and shut her up. And other days, that inner bitch hits me with a baseball right in the face and I lose.
And I guess that's part of recovery.
The days I lose are hard. I don't wake up knowing that it will be a losing day. I try to think that every day, I'll win. I might be feeling great and wearing the cutest red and white shorts ever. And then some girl (and there is history between us – long story short, I am her punching bag) says, "Oh, somebody needs to put her thunder thighs away." And that throws me into a tailspin.
Body dysmorphic disorder means that you perceive a flaw in your body and you cannot see past it or see any improvement in it. Meaning I can intuitively see that I have a thigh gap and that my legs are muscular and toned, but emotionally it is really hard to register that.
Am I always going to struggle with this? Because one summer of my life, I lost that battle with my critic and now this is how my life is always going to be? I am never going to be content with what I see? I am always going to fight this fight?
When I am lying flat on my back, I can stick my fingers well up into my rib cage. Intuitively, I know that that is probably not good. Emotionally, all I see is the pooch on my lower stomach. These two things overshadow and battle each other for my attention and that makes for a very conflicted, confused me.
Am I always going to fight this?
I can honestly say that I have no idea. I don't know that it will ever go away, if I will ever have the easy relationship I had with food and my body again.
But I am on the road to recovery. And it's a twisty, tricky, narrow, dark road. But I'm on it.
I finally told my parents the whole truth. And it feels so good and so safe to have them holding my hands through this.
I have a whole army of prayer warriors and people who love me walking alongside me.
I saw my counselor for the first time on Monday.
I am trying to let my raw throat heal, and my new voice teacher gave me some soothing sprays to try, as well as informing me that meditative prayer and affirmation were a required part of my warm-up.
And I actually have the desire to write about this. It is about 1:00 am and I cannot sleep because I so needed to get these words out.
And I know I have God leading the way out of this darkness.
An image that is very profound to me – and I have not a clue where it came from, a dream, a story, I don't know – is the image of me. I'm on the floor in the bathroom, vomiting into the toilet. But I'm not alone. Jesus is kneeling beside me, holding my hair back, rubbing my shoulders, and then holding me as I cry. And he's crying with me. Even in the darkest time, Jesus is there, suffering with us.
When we are hurt, He is hurt. His love is unconditional. And that is so comforting to remember and lock onto.
It would be so hopeless to be trying to get through this and think that there was no master plan. No big picture. But there is. Even if I have no idea what it is.
That is my life right now. And that's ok. Because God has a plan for me. And I'm going to have one hell of a testimony to share when I kick bulimia's butt.


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Having previously featured Music Taliban, "Oritse Femi", on a track titled "Number One", talented artist under Ehiz Music Entertainment "Flamzey" is here with another brand new single "Vybration" which has a gangster, streetwise feel to it.
Produced by Black Jersey and directed by Endee Visuals, the video features hood dancing and colorful cut-out outfits. It is a catchy and interesting song that would keep you grooving from inception to the end, with no dull moment!
Download and share your thoughts.
Also Download
Dope Song… Flamzey is clearly a talented chap… OldG's in the game better watch their back …
Great Song, Dope Beat… #Flamzey
He iz d baddest•nice jam•