text:
Inventors list
Assignees list
Classification tree browser
Top 100 Inventors
Top 100 Assignees
Patent application title: APPARATUS AND METHOD USING ANTI-ADSORPTION AGENT TO FACILITATE SAMPLE MIXING AND ANALYSIS
Inventors: Niten V. Lalpuria (Mumbai, IN) Niten V. Lalpuria (Mumbai, IN) Darryn W. Unfricht (North Haven, CT, US) Darryn W. Unfricht (North Haven, CT, US) Igor Nikonorov (Whitestone, NY, US) Benjamin Ports (Hamden, CT, US) Douglas R. Olson (Pipersville, PA, US)
Assignees: Abbott Point of Care, Inc.
IPC8 Class: AG01N3368FI
USPC Class: 436 63
Class name: Chemistry: analytical and immunological testing biological cellular material tested
Patent application number: 20120149118
Sign up to receive free email alerts when patent applications with chosen keywords are published SIGN UP
An apparatus and method for analyzing a biological fluid sample is provided. The method includes the steps of: a) providing an analysis cartridge having a channel and an analysis chamber, wherein the channel is in fluid communication with the analysis chamber and includes at least one hydrophobic interior wall surface; b) admixing one or more anti-adsorption agents with fluid sample disposed within the channel, wherein the anti-adsorption agents are operable to inhibit adsorption of fluid sample onto the interior wall surface of the channel; c) moving the fluid sample into the analysis chamber; and d) analyzing the sample within the analysis chamber.
1. An analysis cartridge for biological fluid sample, comprising: a housing having a channel and an analysis chamber, wherein the channel is in fluid communication with the analysis chamber, and the channel includes at least one hydrophobic interior wall surface; and at least one anti-adsorption agent provided with the housing in a manner such that it can be admixed with fluid sample at the time the sample is deposited in the housing, or subsequently during passage within the housing, wherein the anti-adsorption agent is miscible with the fluid sample and is operable to inhibit adsorption of the sample onto the interior wall surface of the channel.
2. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the anti-adsorption agent includes a surfactant.
3. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the anti-adsorption agent engages proteins within the fluid sample to decrease an amount of attraction between the proteins and the interior wall surface.
5. The cartridge of claim 4, wherein the surfactant is one of non-ionic, cationic, anionic, or zwitterionic.
6. The cartridge of claim 4, wherein the surfactant is non-hemolytic.
7. The cartridge of claim 4, wherein the interior wall surfaces are at least partially covered with a hydrophobic coating.
8. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the cartridge includes a first reagent disclosed at a first axial position within the channel, and a second reagent located at a second axial position, which second axial position is separated from the first axial position, and is located between the first axial position and the analysis chamber.
9. The cartridge of claim 1, further comprising a deposit of a dye and dissolution additive mixture.
10. The cartridge of claim 9, wherein the dissolution additive includes trehalose.
11. The cartridge of claim 9, wherein the dissolution additive includes at least one of EDTA or a substance containing dendrimers.
12. A method for analyzing a biological fluid sample, comprising the steps of: providing an analysis cartridge having a channel and an analysis chamber, wherein the channel is in fluid communication with the analysis chamber and includes at least one hydrophobic wall surface; admixing one or more anti-adsorption agents with fluid sample disposed within the channel, wherein the anti-adsorption agents are operable to inhibit adsorption of fluid sample onto the interior wall surface of the channel; moving the fluid sample into the analysis chamber; and analyzing the sample within the analysis chamber.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of admixing the anti-adsorption agent with the sample includes admixing an anti-adsorption agent that inhibits adsorption of the fluid sample by engaging proteins within the fluid sample to decrease an amount of attraction between the proteins and the interior wall surface.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the biological fluid sample is whole blood, and the step of admixing the anti-adsorption agent with the sample includes admixing an anti-adsorption agent that inhibits adsorption of the blood by engaging one or more of Albumin, Immunoglobulin, and Fibrinogen proteins within the fluid sample to decrease attraction between the aforesaid proteins and the interior wall surface.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein the anti-adsorption agent includes a surfactant.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the surfactant is one of non-ionic, cationic, anionic, or zwitterionic.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the surfactant is non-hemolytic.
18. The method of claim 12, wherein the analysis cartridge includes a hydrophobic coating applied to one or more interior wall surfaces to at least partially cover the surfaces with the hydrophobic coating.
19. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of moving the fluid sample includes moving the sample within the channel in a manner that causes constituents within the sample to become suspended in a substantially uniform state within the sample.
20. The method of claim 12, wherein the channel has a hydraulic diameter in a range of about 1.0 mm and 4.0 mm, and wherein the step of moving the fluid sample includes moving a bolus of sample at an axial velocity not greater than about 20.0 mm/sec.
21. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of moving the fluid sample includes moving the bolus of sample at an axial velocity not greater than about 10.0 mm/sec.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of moving the fluid sample includes moving the bolus of sample at an axial velocity within the range of about 1.0 mm/sec to 5.0 mm/sec.
23. An analysis cartridge for biological fluid sample, comprising: a housing having a channel and an analysis chamber, wherein the channel is in fluid communication with the analysis chamber, and the channel includes at least one hydrophobic wall surface; and at least one dissolution additive provided with the housing in a manner such that it can be admixed with fluid sample at the time the sample is deposited in the housing, or subsequently during passage within the housing, wherein the dissolution additive is miscible with the fluid sample and is operable to facilitate dissolution of at least one reagent into the fluid sample.
[0001] The present application is entitled to the benefit of and incorporates by reference essential subject matter disclosed in the U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/421,451, filed Dec. 9, 2010.
[0002] 1. Technical Field
[0003] The present invention relates to apparatuses and methods for biological fluid analyses in general, and to the same in which a biological sample is mixed to produce a uniform distribution of constituents and/or reagents.
[0004] 2. Background Information
[0005] Historically, biological fluid samples such as whole blood, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, body cavity fluids, etc. have had their particulate or cellular contents evaluated by smearing a small undiluted amount of the fluid on a slide and evaluating that smear under a microscope. Reasonable results can be gained from such a smear, but the cell integrity, accuracy and reliability of the data depends largely on the technician's experience and technique. Analysis by smear is also limited, and cannot be used for analyses such as a complete blood count (CBC).
[0006] In some instances, constituents within a biological fluid sample can be analyzed using impedance or optical flow cytometry. These techniques evaluate a flow of diluted fluid sample by passing the diluted flow through one or more orifices located relative to an impedance measuring device or an optical imaging device. Disadvantages of these techniques include that they require dilution of the sample, and fluid flow handling apparatus.
[0007] It is known that biological fluid samples such as whole blood that are quiescently held for more than a given period of time will begin "settling out", during which time constituents within the sample will deviate from the constituent distribution present within the collected sample; e.g., deviate from a uniform distribution of constituents within the sample. If the sample is quiescently held long enough, constituents within the sample can settle out completely and stratify (e.g., in a sample of whole blood, layers of white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets can form within a quiescent sample). Non-uniformity within the sample can also occur when adsorption occurs within a fluid passage. The term "adsorption" as used herein refers to the tendency of fluid sample, or parts thereof, to adhere to the surfaces of a fluid passage. If a large enough population of constituents within a fluid sample (e.g., platelets, RBCs, WBCs in a sample of whole blood) adheres to a fluid passage between the point of collection and the chamber in which the sample will be analyzed, the sample available for analysis could be non-representative of the sample collected. In such instances, the accuracy of the analysis could be negatively affected.
[0008] In those embodiments where it is desirable to deposit one or more reagents within the cartridge for admixing with the sample, the reagents may be in a form (e.g., particulate form, crystalline form, low solubility, etc.) that inhibits dissolution with the sample. Undissolved particles of reagent above a certain size will not be admitted into the analysis chamber, but others may pass into the analysis chamber where they can appear as debris within the sample images. Large particles of dye, for example, can create localized high concentrations of dye, which concentrations can saturate cells and make them unidentifiable. In either instance, the concentration and uniformity of the reagent within the sample can be negatively affected.
[0009] What is needed is an apparatus and a method for analyzing biological fluid samples that facilitate sample uniformity, and/or reagent uniformity within the sample.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0010] According to an aspect of the present invention, an analysis cartridge for biological fluid sample is provided that includes a housing and at least one anti-adsorption agent. The housing includes a channel and an analysis chamber. The channel is in fluid communication with the analysis chamber, and the channel includes one or more hydrophobic interior wall surfaces. The anti-adsorption agent(s) is provided with the housing in a manner such that it can be admixed with fluid sample at the time the sample is deposited in the housing, or subsequently during passage within the housing. The anti-adsorption agent is operable to be miscible with the fluid sample and operable to inhibit adsorption of the sample onto the interior wall surface of the channel.
[0011] According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for analyzing a biological fluid sample is provided. The method includes the steps of: a) providing an analysis cartridge having a channel and an analysis chamber, wherein the channel is in fluid communication with the analysis chamber and includes at least one hydrophobic interior wall surface; b) admixing one or more anti-adsorption agents with fluid sample disposed within the channel, wherein the anti-adsorption agents are operable to inhibit adsorption of fluid sample onto a wall surface of the channel; c) moving the fluid sample into the analysis chamber; and d) analyzing the sample within the analysis chamber.
[0012] According to another aspect of the present invention, an analysis cartridge for biological fluid sample is provided. The cartridge includes a housing and at least one dissolution additive. The housing has a channel and an analysis chamber. The channel is in fluid communication with the analysis chamber. The channel includes at least one hydrophobic wall surface. The dissolution additive(s) are provided with the housing in a manner such that it can be admixed with fluid sample at the time the sample is deposited in the housing, or subsequently during passage within the housing. The dissolution additive is miscible with the fluid sample and is operable to facilitate dissolution of at least one reagent into the fluid sample.
[0013] The features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in light of the detailed description of the invention provided below, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates a biological fluid analysis device.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic planar view of a cartridge embodiment.
[0016] FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic sectional view of the cartridge embodiment.
[0017] FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic sectional view of an embodiment of the present cartridge interface and the cartridge.
[0018] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the present invention analysis system.
[0019] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a piezo disk type of bilateral actuator.
[0020] Referring to FIGS. 1-5, the present invention analysis system 20 includes a biological fluid sample cartridge 22 and an automated analysis device 24 for analyzing biological fluid samples such as whole blood. The automated analysis device 24 includes imaging hardware 26, a sample mixing system 28, and a programmable analyzer 30 for controlling the sample processing, imaging, and analyzing. The sample mixing system 28 is operable to manipulate a fluid sample to cause constituents within the sample to be at least substantially uniformly distributed within the sample prior to analysis of the sample. A sample analysis cartridge 22 is diagrammatically described below to illustrate the utility of the present invention. The present system 20 is not limited to any particular cartridge 22 embodiment. Examples of an acceptable cartridge 22 are described within U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 12/971,860; 61/470,142; and 61/527,114, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The present invention is not, however, limited to use with any particular cartridge 22.
[0021] The cartridge 22 described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/971,860, which is an example of a cartridge used herein to facilitate description of the present apparatus and method, includes a fluid sample collection port 32, a valve 34, an initial channel 36, a secondary channel 38, a fluid driver port 40, and an analysis chamber 42. The collection port 32 is configured to collect the fluid sample (e.g., by finger prick, deposition by needle, etc.). The initial channel 36 is in fluid communication with the collection port 32 and is sized so that sample deposited within the collection port 32 is drawn into the initial channel 36 by capillary forces. The valve 34 is disposed in, or in communication with, the initial channel 36, near the end of the channel 36 engaged with the collection port 32 (in alternative cartridge embodiments no valve is required). The secondary channel 38 is in fluid communication with the initial channel 36, downstream of the initial channel 36. The geometry of the intersection between the initial channel 36 and the secondary channel 38 is such that fluid sample residing within the initial channel 36 will not be drawn by capillary force into the secondary channel 38. The secondary channel 38 is directly or indirectly in fluid communication with the analysis chamber 42. The analysis chamber 42 includes a pair of panels (at least one of which is transparent) separated by a distance, configured to receive a fluid sample there between for image analysis. The structure that provides the fluid communication between the secondary channel 38 and the analysis chamber 42 can assume a variety of different forms. In one embodiment, a metering channel extends between the secondary channel 38 and the analysis chamber 42, which metering channel is sized to draw fluid out of the secondary channel 38 by capillary action. In another embodiment, an ante-chamber 46 is disposed between, and is in fluid contact with both, the secondary channel 38 and an edge of analysis chamber 42 (e.g., see FIG. 3). Fluid sample within the secondary channel 38 can, for example, be moved into the ante-chamber 46 via pressure from the sample mixing system 28 or by gravity, etc. The above cartridge embodiments are offered to illustrate the utility and scope of the present cartridge. The present cartridge and method are not limited to these embodiments.
[0022] According to the present invention, one or more reagents (e.g., heparin, EDTA, dyes such as Acridine Orange, etc.) are deposited within the cartridge in one or more areas (e.g., fluid sample collection port 32, initial channel 36, secondary channel 38, analysis chamber 42, etc.). For example, an anti-coagulant can be disposed within the collection port 32 to inhibit coagulation of the blood sample. For purposes of this disclosure, the term "reagent" is defined as including substances that interact with the sample, and dyes that add detectable coloration to the sample. As the sample fluid is drawn into and through the initial channel 36, the sample is at least partially admixed with the reagent initially disposed in the collection port 32.
[0023] In some embodiments of the present cartridge where more than one reagent is to be added to the sample, the order at which the sample traveling through the cartridge encounters the reagents is specifically chosen. For example, in those analyses where it is necessary or desirable to have the sample admix with reagent "A" before mixing with reagent "B", an appropriate amount of reagent "A" (e.g., an anticoagulant--EDTA) can be positioned upstream (e.g., in the initial channel 34) of an appropriate amount of reagent "B" (e.g., a dye disposed in the secondary channel 38). The distance between the reagent "A" and reagent "B" may be sufficient for reagent "A" to adequately mix with the sample prior to the introduction of reagent "B". Alternatively, as will be described below, the sample bolus can be cycled at the location of the reagent "A" prior to movement of the bolus to the position where reagent "B" is located. The cycling of the sample bolus can be accomplished using a bidirectional actuator to propel the bolus back and forth as will be described below. The aforesaid example is not intended to be limiting in any way. The positioning of the reagents within the fluid passages of the cartridge can be chosen, for example: a) to ensure that the pre-treatment of a reagent is accomplished before subsequent interaction; b) to minimize or avoid competition between particular reagents for cellular interaction; and/or c) for those instances where the characteristics of a reagent are such that the reagent may need additional sample interaction time relative to other reagents.
[0024] In those embodiments where it is desirable to deposit one or more reagents within the cartridge 22 for admixing with the sample when deposited within the cartridge, one or more additives may be added to a reagent to facilitate the dissolution of that reagent within the sample. It is, for example, common for dyes (e.g., Acridine Orange--also referred to as "AcO" or Basic Orange 15; Astrazon Orange--also referred to as "AzO" or Basic Orange 21) to be added to the sample to facilitate analysis of the sample. As indicated above, it is our experience that during the deposition process, such dyes may be in a form that inhibits dissolution with the sample, consequently negatively affecting the concentration and uniformity of the dye within the sample. To avoid these problems, a dissolution additive is mixed with the dye (or other reagent) prior to depositing the dye within the cartridge. An example of an acceptable dissolution additive is trehalose. The dye and trehalose are mixed into a liquid solution and are deposited within the cartridge, where they are subsequently allowed to dry. It is understood that the molecular structure of the trehalose promotes uniform dye particle size and avoids large particle formation; e.g., the molecular structure of the trehalose is such that smaller dye particles distribute within the trehalose matrix thereby facilitating a more uniform dye particle distribution and inhibiting large dye particle formation. As an example, in an analysis of whole blood an acceptable amount of AcO dye (e.g., 1.8 μg) is added to a 20 μL test sample of whole blood (i.e., a dye concentration of 90 ng/μL). Favorable dye dissolution within the 20 μL whole blood sample can be achieved by initially depositing a mixture of greater than 0.9 μg of trehalose with the 1.8 μg of dye within a cartridge passage; e.g., a ratio of greater than 1:2 trehalose to dye. Current data suggests that the ratio of trehalose to dye can be as high as 8:1 with favorable results. Alternatively, for a same size whole blood sample (20 μL), favorable dye dissolution can be achieved by mixing an amount of EDTA (e.g., in the range of about 10-30 μg) with the 1.8 μg of dye. Another example of an acceptable dissolution additive is a substance comprising dendrimers.
[0025] In some embodiments of the present invention, reagents operable to impede adsorption of the sample on the surfaces within the cartridge 22 (e.g., fluid channel walls) are included. The fluid passages within the cartridge 22 can be formed of a material such as a plastic or a glass. The plastics typically used are hydrophobic in nature; e.g., polycarbonate ("PC"), polytetrafluoroethylene ("PTFE"), silicone, Tygon®, polypropylene, fluorinated ethylene polypylene ("FEP"), perfluouroalkoxy copolymer ("PFA"), cyclic olefin copolymer ("COC"), ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), polyvinylidene fluoride, etc. In some applications, the fluid passages are coated to increase their hydrophobicity. An example of a hydrophobic material that can be applied as a coating is FluoroPel® polymer solution available from Cytonix Corporation, of Beltsville, Md., U.S.A. When a substance like water passes through a passage formed in (and/or coated with) a hydrophobic material, water does not adsorb on the surfaces of the hydrophobic passage. Whole blood and other biological fluids containing proteins (referred to hereinafter collectively as "blood" for ease of description) behave differently from pure water, however, and adsorb to the hydrophobic passage walls. It is believed that the adsorption occurs, at least in part, because blood contains amphiphilic proteins such as Albumin, Immunoglobulin, and Fibrinogen. These proteins are "amphiphilic" because they have hydrophobic regions and hydrophilic regions. The hydrophobic regions can be readily adsorbed to a hydrophobic surface, at which time the hydrophilic regions are exposed (e.g., outwardly exposed). As a result, the once hydrophobic surface effectively becomes a hydrophilic surface. When subsequent blood flows over the hydrophilic surface, a layer is adsorbed onto the surface.
[0026] To overcome undesirable adsorption, embodiments of the present invention include an "anti-adsorption" reagent that when mixed with the sample decreases adsorption of sample on the passage walls. In the case of a whole blood sample analysis, a reagent that impedes the ability of proteins within the sample to adhere to the passage walls can be used. Surfactants and/or other reagents that make the amphiphilic proteins "less active" relative to a hydrophobic surface (i.e., less attracted to the channel surface) are desirable anti-adsorption reagents because they decrease the propensity of the proteins to adhere to the surface. It is believed that the surfactants coat the amphiphilic proteins and thereby make the proteins less active. For most whole blood analyses, the surfactant can be of a type that is non-hemolytic and/or used in a concentration that is non-hemolytic when mixed with the sample. In fact, surfactants are desirable for whole blood analyses because they can be effectively used in concentrations that do not result in lysing of RBCs. For those sample analyses where lysing is not an issue, a hemolytic reagent can be used.
[0027] More than one type of surfactant can be used as an anti-adsorption reagent. For example, non-ionic surfactants (e.g., Triton X-305 from Dow Chemical Co., Surfactant 10G from Dixie Chemical Co., Pluronic F-108 from BASF Corporation, and Tween-20, Tween-60, and/or Tween-80 from Roche Diagnostics from Mannheim, Germany) operate very favorably with a variety of different passage surface types (e.g., FluoroPel® coating on a PC, FEP, PFA, ETFE, or polyvinylidene fluoride substrate). Concentrations of Triton-305 or Surfactant 10G® at, or above, 0.1 ng/μL within a whole blood sample exhibit acceptable adsorption within a polycarbonate passage coated with FluoroPel® coating. Similarly, concentrations of Tween-20®, Tween-60®, and Tween-80®, at, or above, 0.5 ng/μL within a whole blood sample exhibit acceptable adsorption within a polycarbonate passage coated with FluoroPel® coating. Other non-ionic surfactants that produce acceptable adsorption when mixed with a whole blood sample include Triton X-100 and Triton X-705.
[0028] Zwitterionic surfactants such as 3-dimethyl (methacryloyloxyethyl) ammonium propane sulfonate (DMAPS) and 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate (CHAPS) can also be used as anti-adsorption agents. For example, concentrations of DMAPS or CHAPS at, or above, 0.05 ng/μL within a whole blood sample exhibit acceptable adsorption within a polycarbonate passage coated with FluoroPel® coating.
[0029] Cationic surfactants (e.g., HDTAB) and anionic surfactants (e.g., sodium cholate hydrate, sodium deoxycholate) can also be used as anti-adsorption agents. Concentrations of any one of HDTAB, sodium cholate hydrate, or sodium deoxycholate at, or above, 0.05 ng/μL, within a whole blood sample exhibit acceptable adsorption within a polycarbonate passage coated with FluoroPel® coating.
[0030] Disposing the appropriate amount of anti-adsorption reagent in an upstream passage (e.g., within the initial channel) rather than a downstream passage (e.g., the secondary channel) is advantageous, but not required for the operability of the present cartridge. Testing indicates that disposing the anti-adsorption reagent in an upstream passage (e.g., bowl, channels, initial channel, etc.) facilitates the movement of sample by capillary action or otherwise through the various passages, and also appears to help other reagents (e.g., EDTA) dissolve and enter solution with the sample.
[0031] Referring to FIG. 4, the fluid driver port 40 is configured to engage the sample mixing system 28 and to permit pressurized fluid (e.g., air at positive and/or negative pressures) to access the cartridge 22 to cause the movement of fluid sample within cartridge 22. The fluid driver port 40 is in fluid communication with the initial channel 36 via channel 41 at a position 50 downstream of the valve 34. At that position 50, the valve 34 is operable to close off the collection port 32 from the fluid driver port 40. An example of a fluid driver port 40 is a cavity within the cartridge 22 covered by a cap 52 that includes a rupturable membrane operable to be pierced by a probe 70 of the sample mixing system 28. The probe 70 engaging the port 40 creates fluid communication between sample mixing system 28 and the channels within the cartridge 22. As indicated above, the present invention is not limited to use with the exemplary cartridge described herein to facilitate description of the present invention; e.g., the present invention may be used with cartridges that do not include a valve 34 or a driver port 40, or others that include different valve and/or driver port configurations.
[0032] An example of an analysis device 24 that can be used with the present invention cartridge is schematically shown in FIG. 5, depicting its imaging hardware 26, a sample mixing system 28, a cartridge holding and manipulating device 54, a sample objective lens 56, a plurality of sample illuminators 58, and an image dissector 60. One or both of the objective lens 56 and cartridge holding device 54 are movable toward and away from each other to change a relative focal position. The sample illuminators 58 illuminate the sample using light along predetermined wavelengths. Light transmitted through the sample, or fluoresced from the sample, is captured using the image dissector 60, and a signal representative of the captured light is sent to the programmable analyzer 30, where it is processed into an image. The imaging hardware 26 described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,866,823 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/204,415 (each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety) are acceptable types of imaging hardware 26 for the present analysis device 24. The present invention is not limited to use with the aforesaid imaging hardware 26, however.
[0033] The programmable analyzer 30 includes a central processing unit (CPU) and is in communication with the cartridge holding and manipulating device 54, the sample illuminator 58, the image dissector 60, and the sample mixing system 28. The CPU is adapted (e.g., programmed) to receive the signals and selectively perform the functions necessary to operate the cartridge holding and manipulating device 54, the sample illuminator 58, the image dissector 60, and the sample mixing system 28. It should be noted that the functionality of the programmable analyzer 30 may be implemented using hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof A person skilled in the art would be able to program the unit to perform the functionality described herein without undue experimentation.
[0034] Referring to FIGS. 4-6, the sample mixing system 28 includes a bidirectional actuator 48 and a cartridge interface 62. The bidirectional actuator 48 (shown schematically in FIG. 6) is operable to independently produce both a positive and a negative fluid displacement at one or more frequencies, which displacement can move sample within the cartridge. An example of an acceptable bidirectional actuator 48 is a piezo bending disk type actuator, utilized with a driver 64 for controlling the actuator 48. Piezo bending disk type actuators typically have a relatively fast response time, low hysteresis, low vibration, high linearity, and high reliability. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the piezo bending disk type actuator includes a two-layer piezo bending disk 66 disposed in a housing 68. The two-layer piezo bending disk 66 is configured to create bending deflection in two opposing directions (e.g., -y, +y). Examples of a two-layer piezo bending disk 66 can be found in the T216-A4NO series offered by Piezo Systems, Inc., located in Cambridge, Mass., U.S.A. The present invention is not limited to piezo bending disk type actuators in general, and therefore not limited to these particular types of two layer piezo bending disks. The present invention is also not limited to a single fluid actuator that operates in a bidirectional manner; e.g., the present invention could be used with a system that utilizes a plurality of single-directional actuators, or combinations of single and bi-directional actuators.
[0035] The driver 64 is in communication with the bidirectional actuator 48 and is operable to control the actuator 48. The functionality of the driver 64 may be implemented using hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof. The driver 64 may be incorporated into the programmable analyzer 30, or may be a separate unit in communication with the programmable analyzer 30.
[0036] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the sample cartridge interface 62 includes fluid passage between the bidirectional actuator 48 and a probe 70 operable to engage the fluid driver port 40 of the cartridge 22. The interface 62 creates fluid communication between the bidirectional actuator 48 and the fluid driver port 40 of the cartridge 22. If the fluid driver port 40 has a cap 52 that includes a rupturable membrane, the probe 70 is operable to rupture the membrane and thereby provide fluid communication between the bidirectional actuator 48 and cartridge fluid driver port 40. The membrane, which is pierced by the probe 70, seals around the probe 70 to make the fluid path air tight. FIG. 4 diagrammatically illustrates this embodiment with a probe 70 shown in phantom. The present invention is not limited to the membrane/probe configuration, which is provided for illustration sake.
[0037] In the operation of the present system 20, a sample of biological fluid (e.g., whole blood) is deposited within the collection port 32 of the cartridge 22, and is subsequently drawn into the initial channel 36 of the cartridge 22 by capillary action, where it may reside for a period of time (e.g., the time between subject collection and sample analysis). The sample bolus will be drawn into the initial channel 36 by capillary forces until the leading edge of the sample bolus reaches the entrance to the secondary channel 38. In certain embodiments of the present cartridge 22, one or more reagents 72 may be disposed within the initial channel 36 and/or in the collection port 32. In those embodiments, as the sample is deposited in the cartridge 22 and travels within the initial channel 36, the reagents 72 are admixed with the sample. In those instances where the analysis of the sample is not performed immediately after sample collection, specific reagents (e.g., anticoagulants such as heparin or EDTA in a whole blood analysis) can be admixed with the sample to maintain the sample in an acceptable state (e.g., uncoagulated) for analysis.
[0038] Prior to the analysis being performed on the sample, the cartridge 22 is inserted into the analysis device 24 for analysis of the sample, the sample cartridge interface probe 70 engages the fluid driver port 40 of the cartridge 22, and the cartridge 22 configured to prevent fluid flow out of the cartridge 22 via the sample collection port 32; e.g., by actuating the valve closed. The specific order of these events can be arranged to suit the analysis at hand.
[0039] In the case of a whole blood sample that was collected and not immediately analyzed, constituents within the blood sample, RBCs, WBCs, platelets, and plasma, can settle and become stratified within the cartridge 22 over time. In such cases, there is considerable advantage in manipulating the sample prior to analysis so that the constituents become re-suspended in at least a substantially uniform state. In addition, in many applications there is also considerable advantage in uniformly mixing reagents with the sample. To create a uniform distribution of constituents and/or reagents within the sample, the analysis device 24 provides a signal to the bidirectional actuator 48 to provide positive and/or negative displacement of fluid (e.g., air) within the actuator 48 and connected cartridge passages to cause the sample bolus to move forward or backward (e.g., oscillate) within the initial channel 36. In terms of a piezo bending disk type embodiment of the bidirectional actuator 48, the analysis device 24 provides a signal to the driver 64, which in turn sends a high-voltage signal to the actuator 48 causing the disk 66 to deflect. Depending upon the desired action, the two-layer disk 66 may be operated to deflect and positively displace air and thereby move the sample bolus forward (i.e., in a direction toward the analysis chamber 42), or negatively displace air and thereby drawn the sample bolus backward (i.e., in a direction away from the analysis chamber 42), or to oscillate and cycle the sample bolus back and forth relative to a particular position.
[0040] The manner in which the sample bolus is manipulated within the cartridge 22 using the bidirectional actuator 48 can be selected to accommodate the analysis at hand. Using a whole blood sample analysis as an example, the sample residing within the initial channel 36 (already mixed with an anticoagulant to some degree) will likely have settled and constituents stratified to some degree prior to analysis. Initially, the bi-directional actuator 48 may be operated to pass the sample bolus between positions to verify the position of the sample, using the feedback controls 76. Once the location of the sample is verified, the sample may be cycled back and forth over a relatively short length to uniformly re-suspend constituents within the sample (and/or uniformly mix reagents). The frequency at which the sample is cycled and the "amplitude" of sample travel can be varied to suit the application at hand. The frequency and amplitude can be controlled by the selection of the bidirectional actuator and driver characteristics. At this point, the amount of manipulation may be selected to ensure that nothing more than an inconsequential (if any) amount of the sample bolus remains in the initial channel 36 when the sample is propelled further into the secondary channel 38. Once bidirectional actuator 48 is operated to move the sample bolus into the secondary channel 38, the sample may be more vigorously cycled to achieve the desired uniform distribution of constituents within the sample. Subsequently, the sample bolus may be driven to another position within the secondary channel 38 and cycled back and forth at that position to mix another reagent (e.g., dye 74) with the sample.
[0041] The velocity at which the sample is moved axially within the channels can have an effect on the amount of adsorption that occurs on the sample wall. In fluid channels having a hydrodynamic diameter in the range of 1.0 mm to 4.0 mm, it is our finding that a fluid sample velocity of not greater than about 20.0 mm/s is acceptable because it results in limited adsorption. A fluid sample velocity not greater than about 10.0 mm/s is preferred because it results in less adsorption. A fluid sample velocity within a range of between 1.0 mm/s and 5.0 mm/s is most preferred because it typically results in an inconsequential amount of adsorption.
[0042] Once the re-suspension and/or reagent mixing is complete, the bidirectional actuator 48 is operated to move the sample bolus to the portion of the secondary channel 38 in fluid communication with the analysis chamber 42. At that position, an amount of the sample bolus is drawn out of the secondary channel 38 where it can either be drawn or forced into the analysis chamber 42.
[0043] While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed herein as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention.
Patent applications by Benjamin Ports, Hamden, CT US
Patent applications by Darryn W. Unfricht, North Haven, CT US
Patent applications by Douglas R. Olson, Pipersville, PA US
Patent applications by Igor Nikonorov, Whitestone, NY US
Patent applications by Niten V. Lalpuria, Mumbai IN
Patent applications by Abbott Point of Care, Inc.
Patent applications in class BIOLOGICAL CELLULAR MATERIAL TESTED
Patent applications in all subclasses BIOLOGICAL CELLULAR MATERIAL TESTED
Comment about this patent or add new information about this topic:
Display my email:
Images included with this patent application:
Similar patent applications:
2010-06-03 Apparatus and method of measuring concentration of fuel
2012-06-21 Methods and systems for using actuated surface-attached posts for assessing biofluid rheology
2009-09-17 Method of reaction in flow channel of microchip and analysis device
2010-04-15 Nonflow-through appratus and mehod using enhanced flow mechanisms
New patent applications in this class:
2016-03-17 Devices and methods for capturing target molecules
2015-12-10 Apparatus and method for testing multi-function and drug response of centrifugal microfluidic-based platelets
2015-12-03 Uniform, functionalized, cross-linked nanostructures for monitoring ph
2015-11-26 Apparatus and method for platelet function and drug repsonse testing based on microfluidic chip
2015-11-26 Method for comprehensive assessment of platelet aggregation
New patent applications from these inventors:
2016-02-18 Method and apparatus for analyzing individual cells or particulates using fluorescent quenching and/or bleaching
2015-04-09 Method and apparatus for determining a focal position of an imaging device adapted to image a biologic sample
2015-01-29 Method and apparatus for producing an image of undiluted whole blood sample having wright stain coloration
Top Inventors for class "Chemistry: analytical and immunological testing"
Inventor's name
1 Andreas Bergmann
2 Richard E. Reitz
3 Joachim Struck
4 Georg Hess
5 Tetsuo Nagano
Website © 2020 Advameg, Inc.


Micro-Digital Osmometer Type 15, determines the osmolality of solutions using freezing point depression. Ideal for applications such as serum, urine or other bodily fluids in clinical applications; and media or formulations in pharmaceutical, biotech or industrial applications.
The sample volume may be 50µl or 100µl but calibration and measurement must always be carried out on the same volume. Zero is set using distilled water, and the instrument is calibrated against a 300m/Osm/kg water standard (20 ampoules supplied.) Only occasional checks are necessary.


text:
George Murphy
For other uses, see George Murphy (disambiguation).
United States Senator
John V. Tunney
7th President of the Screen Actors Guild
George Lloyd Murphy
(1902-07-04)July 4, 1902
New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.
May 3, 1992(1992-05-03) (aged 89)
Palm Beach, Florida, U.S.
Julie Henkel-Johnson (1926–1973)
Betty Duhon Blandi (1982–1992)
Yale University (BA)
George Lloyd Murphy (July 4, 1902 – May 3, 1992) was an American dancer, actor, and politician. Murphy was a song-and-dance leading man in many big-budget Hollywood musicals from 1930 to 1952. He was the president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1944 to 1946, and was awarded an honorary Academy Award in 1951. Murphy served from 1965 to 1971 as U.S. Senator from California, the first notable U.S. actor to be elected to statewide office in California, predating Ronald Reagan and Arnold Schwarzenegger.[1] He is the only United States Senator represented by a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
2 Film career
3 Political career
Murphy was born in New Haven, Connecticut, of Irish Catholic extraction, the son of Michael Charles "Mike" Murphy, athletic trainer and coach, and the former Nora Long. He was educated at Trinity-Pawling School, Peddie School and Yale University in his native New Haven.[2] He worked as a tool maker for the Ford Motor Company, as a miner, a real estate agent, and a night club dancer.
Film career[edit]
In movies, Murphy was famous as a song-and-dance man and appeared in many big-budget musicals such as Broadway Melody of 1938, Broadway Melody of 1940 and For Me and My Gal. He made his movie debut shortly after talking pictures had replaced silent movies in 1930, and his career continued until he retired as an actor in 1952, at the age of 50. During World War II, he organized entertainment for American troops.[3]
In 1951, he was awarded an honorary Academy Award. He was never nominated for an Oscar in any competitive category.
He was the president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1944 to 1946. He was also a vice president of Desilu Studios and of the Technicolor Corporation. He was director of entertainment for presidential inaugurations in 1953, 1957 and 1961.
Political career[edit]
Murphy entered politics in 1953 by joining the leadership of the California Republican Party, having also directed the entertainment for the Eisenhower-Nixon inauguration that same year.
In 1964, he was elected as a Republican to the Senate, having defeated Pierre Salinger, the former presidential press secretary in the Kennedy White House, who had been appointed several months earlier to serve the remainder of the late Clair Engle's unexpired term. Murphy served from January 1, 1965 to January 3, 1971. Murphy assumed his seat two days early, when Salinger resigned from the seat to allow Murphy to gain an edge in seniority. Murphy was then appointed by Democratic Governor Pat Brown to serve the remaining two days of Salinger's term. His election attracted the attention of satirist Tom Lehrer, who wrote and performed a song about him.[4]
Murphy was in demand for a time to assist other Republican candidates seeking office. In 1966, he hosted a fundraising dinner in Atlanta, Georgia for US Representative Howard "Bo" Callaway, the first Republican candidate for Governor of Georgia since Reconstruction. In the election, Callaway outpolled Democrat Lester Maddox, but did not get a majority, and the state legislature elected Maddox.[5]
In 1967 and 1968, Murphy was the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee. During his Senate term, Murphy developed throat cancer, and part of his larynx had to be removed. For the rest of his life, he was unable to speak above a whisper.
In 1970, Murphy ran for re-election; he was challenged by Democratic US Representative John V. Tunney, the son of famed heavyweight boxing champion Gene Tunney. Murphy's surgery and staunch support for the lingering Vietnam War worked against him, as did reports that he had continued to receive a salary from Technicolor after taking office.[6] Tunney's successful Senate race in 1970 was reportedly the inspiration for the 1972 Robert Redford film The Candidate.[7]
Murphy subsequently moved to Palm Beach, Florida, where he died at the age of 89, from leukemia.
Legacy[edit]
Murphy's move from the screen to California politics paved the way for the successful transitions of actors such as Ronald Reagan and later Arnold Schwarzenegger. Reagan once famously referred to George Murphy as his own "John the Baptist".
Fellow Republicans praised Murphy's ability to speak at fundraising dinners and so consequently backed his bid to become the chairman of the Senate Republican Campaign Committee.[8]
During his tenure in the Senate, Murphy created the candy desk by placing a supply of confectionery on his desk on the US Senate floor. After 1971, the candy-desk duties were bequeathed to a string of successors; since 2015, the keeper of the candy desk has been Pennsylvania Republican Pat Toomey.
Murphy was married to his ballroom dancing partner, Juliette "Julie" Henkel-Johnson, from December 18, 1926 until her death, in 1973. They had two children: Dennis Michael Murphy and Melissa Elaine Murphy.
He was married to Bette Blandi from 1982 until his death in 1992.[9] His widow died in 1999.
Radio[edit]
Suspense (episode "Death on Highway 99" 1945)[10]
Lux Radio Theatre (episode Royal Wedding 1952)[11]
Films[edit]
in the film London by Night (1937)
Kid Millions (1934) as Jerry Lane
Jealousy (1934) as Larry O'Roarke
I'll Love You Always (1935) as Carl Brent
After the Dance (1935) as Jerry Davis
The Public Menace (1935) as Edward Joseph 'Red' Foster
Woman Trap (1936) as Keat Shevlin
Top of the Town (1937) as Ted Lane
London by Night (1937) as Michael Denis
Broadway Melody of 1938 (1937) as Sonny Ledford
The Women Men Marry (1937) as Bill Raeburn
You're a Sweetheart (1937) as Hal Adams
Little Miss Broadway (1938) as Roger Wendling
Letter of Introduction (1938) as Barry Paige
Hold That Co-ed (1938) as Rusty
Risky Business (1939) as Dan Clifford
Broadway Melody of 1940 (1940) as King Shaw
Two Girls on Broadway (1940) as Eddie Kerns
Public Deb No. 1 (1940) as Alan Blake
Little Nellie Kelly (1940) as Jerry Kelly
A Girl, a Guy, and a Gob (1941) as Coffee Cup
Tom, Dick and Harry (1941) as Tom
Ringside Maisie (1941) as Skeets Maguire
Rise and Shine (1941) as Jimmy McGonigle
The Mayor of 44th Street (1942) as Joe Jonathan
For Me and My Gal (1942) as Jimmy K. Metcalf
The Navy Comes Through (1942) as Lt. Thomas L. 'Tom' Sands
The Powers Girl (1943) as Jerry Hendricks
Bataan (1943) as Lieut. Steve Bentley
This Is the Army (1943) as Jerry Jones
Broadway Rhythm (1944) as Jonnie Demming
Show Business (1944) as George Doane
Step Lively (1944) as Gordon Miller
Having Wonderful Crime (1945) as Jake Justus
Up Goes Maisie (1946) as Joseph Morton
The Arnelo Affair (1947) as Theodore 'Ted' Parkson
Cynthia (1947) as Larry Bishop
Tenth Avenue Angel (1948) as Steve Abbutt
Big City (1948) as Patrick O'Donnell
Border Incident (1949) as Jack Bearnes
Battleground (1949) as'Pop' Stazak
No Questions Asked (1951) as Inspector Matt Duggan
It's a Big Country (1951) as Mr. Callaghan
Talk About a Stranger (1952) as Robert Fontaine Sr.
Walk East on Beacon (1952) as Inspector James 'Jim' Belden
Deep in My Heart (1954) (scenes deleted)
Connecticut portal
California portal
Florida portal
^ In 1944 Democrat Jimmie Davis (1899–2000)—popularizer of "You Are My Sunshine"—was elected to his first term as Governor of Louisiana. In 1948 Grand Ole Opry star Roy Acuff won the Republican nomination for Governor of Tennessee but was defeated in the general election. Helen Gahagan Douglas served in the House of Representatives from 1945-51.
^ George Lloyd Murphy, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed February 27, 2011.
^ "MURPHY, George Lloyd". Biographical Directory of the U. S. Congress. Office of the Historian, U. S. House of Representatives. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
^ Tom Lehrer - Topic (3 July 2015). "George Murphy". Retrieved 23 April 2018 – via YouTube.
^ Billy Hathorn, "The Frustration of Opportunity: Georgia Republicans and the Election of 1966", Atlanta History: A Journal of Georgia and the South, XXXI (Winter 1987-1988), pp. 42, 47
^ New York Times, "George Murphy, Singer and Actor Who Became Senator, Dies at 89."
^ Christensen, Terry, and Hass, Peter. Projecting Politics: Political Messages in American Films, p. 146
^ Weaver, Warren (8 December 1966). "Murphy Is Urged to Challenge Liberals for G.O.P. Senate Job; He Is Backed to Oppose Scott as Campaign Unit Leader Dirksen May Decide" (PDF). New York Times. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
^ Zan Thompson (12 June 1986). "The Personal Side of George Murphy at Age 83". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
^ "Escape and Suspense!: Suspense - Death on Highway 99". www.escape-suspense.com. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
^ Kirby, Walter (April 13, 1952). "Better Radio Programs for the Week". The Decatur Daily Review. p. 48. Retrieved May 11, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to George Murphy.
George Murphy on IMDb
George Murphy at the Internet Broadway Database
Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
Images of George Murphy's 1974 passport from www.passportland.com
George Lloyd Murphy at Find a Grave
Goodwin Knight Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from California
(Class 1)
S. I. Hayakawa
Thruston Ballard Morton Chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee
John Tower
Pierre Salinger U.S. Senator (Class 1) from California
Served alongside: Thomas Kuchel, Alan Cranston Succeeded by
United States Senators from California
Frémont
Conness
Casserly
Knowland
Engle
Tunney
Hayakawa
Gwin
Shortridge
McAdoo
Storke
Kuchel
Chairmen of the National Republican Senatorial Committee
Poindexter
Schoeppel
Boschwitz
Nickles
Moran
Presidents of the Screen Actors Guild and SAG-AFTRA
Ralph Morgan (1933)
Eddie Cantor (1933)
Robert Montgomery (1935)
Edward Arnold (1940)
James Cagney (1942)
George Murphy (1944)
Ronald Reagan (1947)
Walter Pidgeon (1952)
Leon Ames (1957)
Howard Keel (1958)
George Chandler (1960)
Dana Andrews (1963)
Charlton Heston (1965)
John Gavin (1971)
Dennis Weaver (1973)
Kathleen Nolan (1975)
William Schallert (1979)
Edward Asner (1981)
Barry Gordon (1988)
Richard Masur (1995)
William Daniels (1999)
Melissa Gilbert (2001)
Alan Rosenberg (2005)
Ken Howard (2009)
Gabrielle Carteris (2016)
Academy Honorary Award
Warner Bros. / Charlie Chaplin (1928)
Walt Disney (1932)
Shirley Temple (1934)
D. W. Griffith (1935)
The March of Time / W. Howard Greene and Harold Rosson (1936)
Edgar Bergen / W. Howard Greene / Museum of Modern Art Film Library / Mack Sennett (1937)
J. Arthur Ball / Walt Disney / Deanna Durbin and Mickey Rooney / Gordon Jennings, Jan Domela, Devereaux Jennings, Irmin Roberts, Art Smith, Farciot Edouart, Loyal Griggs, Loren L. Ryder, Harry D. Mills, Louis Mesenkop, Walter Oberst / Oliver T. Marsh and Allen Davey / Harry Warner (1938)
Douglas Fairbanks / Judy Garland / William Cameron Menzies / Motion Picture Relief Fund (Jean Hersholt, Ralph Morgan, Ralph Block, Conrad Nagel)/ Technicolor Company (1939)
Bob Hope / Nathan Levinson (1940)
Walt Disney, William Garity, John N. A. Hawkins, and the RCA Manufacturing Company / Leopold Stokowski and his associates / Rey Scott / British Ministry of Information (1941)
Charles Boyer / Noël Coward / Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (1942)
George Pal (1943)
Bob Hope / Margaret O'Brien (1944)
Republic Studio, Daniel J. Bloomberg, and the Republic Studio Sound Department / Walter Wanger / The House I Live In / Peggy Ann Garner (1945)
Harold Russell / Laurence Olivier / Ernst Lubitsch / Claude Jarman Jr. (1946)
James Baskett / Thomas Armat, William Nicholas Selig, Albert E. Smith, and George Kirke Spoor / Bill and Coo / Shoeshine (1947)
Walter Wanger / Monsieur Vincent / Sid Grauman / Adolph Zukor (1948)
Jean Hersholt / Fred Astaire / Cecil B. DeMille / The Bicycle Thief (1949)
Louis B. Mayer / George Murphy / The Walls of Malapaga (1950)
Gene Kelly / Rashomon (1951)
Merian C. Cooper / Bob Hope / Harold Lloyd / George Mitchell / Joseph M. Schenck / Forbidden Games (1952)
20th Century-Fox Film Corporation / Bell & Howell Company / Joseph Breen / Pete Smith (1953)
Bausch & Lomb Optical Company / Danny Kaye / Kemp Niver / Greta Garbo / Jon Whiteley / Vincent Winter / Gate of Hell (1954)
Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto (1955)
Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers / Gilbert M. "Broncho Billy" Anderson / Charles Brackett / B. B. Kahane (1957)
Maurice Chevalier (1958)
Buster Keaton / Lee de Forest (1959)
Gary Cooper / Stan Laurel / Hayley Mills (1960)
William L. Hendricks / Fred L. Metzler / Jerome Robbins (1961)
William J. Tuttle (1964)
Bob Hope (1965)
Yakima Canutt / Y. Frank Freeman (1966)
Arthur Freed (1967)
John Chambers / Onna White (1968)
Cary Grant (1969)
Lillian Gish / Orson Welles (1970)
Charlie Chaplin (1971)
Charles S. Boren / Edward G. Robinson (1972)
Henri Langlois / Groucho Marx (1973)
Howard Hawks / Jean Renoir (1974)
Mary Pickford (1975)
Margaret Booth (1977)
Walter Lantz / Laurence Olivier / King Vidor / Museum of Modern Art Department of Film (1978)
Hal Elias / Alec Guinness (1979)
Henry Fonda (1980)
Barbara Stanwyck (1981)
Mickey Rooney (1982)
Hal Roach (1983)
James Stewart / National Endowment for the Arts (1984)
Paul Newman / Alex North (1985)
Eastman Kodak Company / National Film Board of Canada (1988)
Akira Kurosawa (1989)
Sophia Loren / Myrna Loy (1990)
Satyajit Ray (1991)
Federico Fellini (1992)
Deborah Kerr (1993)
Michelangelo Antonioni (1994)
Kirk Douglas / Chuck Jones (1995)
Michael Kidd (1996)
Stanley Donen (1997)
Elia Kazan (1998)
Andrzej Wajda (1999)
Jack Cardiff / Ernest Lehman (2000)
Sidney Poitier / Robert Redford (2001)
Peter O'Toole (2002)
Blake Edwards (2003)
Sidney Lumet (2004)
Robert Altman (2005)
Ennio Morricone (2006)
Robert F. Boyle (2007)
Lauren Bacall / Roger Corman / Gordon Willis (2009)
Kevin Brownlow / Jean-Luc Godard / Eli Wallach (2010)
James Earl Jones / Dick Smith (2011)
D. A. Pennebaker / Hal Needham / George Stevens Jr. (2012)
Angela Lansbury / Steve Martin / Piero Tosi (2013)
Jean-Claude Carrière / Hayao Miyazaki / Maureen O'Hara (2014)
Spike Lee / Gena Rowlands (2015)
Jackie Chan / Lynn Stalmaster / Anne V. Coates / Frederick Wiseman (2016)
Charles Burnett / Owen Roizman / Donald Sutherland / Agnès Varda (2017)
Marvin Levy / Lalo Schifrin / Cicely Tyson (2018)
David Lynch / Wes Studi / Lina Wertmüller (2019)
BNF: cb14209711t (data)
SNAC: w67w75wb
US Congress: M001092
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=George_Murphy&oldid=903359070"
20th-century American male actors
20th-century American politicians
Academy Honorary Award recipients
Activists from California
American actor-politicians
American miners
American people of Irish descent
American Roman Catholics
American tap dancers
California Republicans
Candidates in the 1970 United States elections
Deaths from cancer in Florida
Deaths from leukemia
Florida Republicans
Male actors from New Haven, Connecticut
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract players
Peddie School alumni
People from Palm Beach, Florida
Presidents of the Screen Actors Guild
Republican Party United States Senators
University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy alumni
Catholics from Florida
American conservative people
20th-century American dancers
Articles with IBDb links
Wikipedia articles with SNAC-ID identifiers
Wikipedia articles with USCongress identifiers

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Awning ~ Retractable Awnings To Retract Or Not That Is The Awning How Do You Make Picture Ideas For Car 40 How Do You Make A Retractable Awning Picture Ideas. How Do You Make A Retractable Awning For Sale Craigslist Near Me. How Do You Make A Retractable Awning For Door Lock Screen. How Do You Make A Retractable Awning Cover Kits For Trucks.
Awningctable awnings and more from solair shade solutions how do you make picture ideas 2versatile. How dou make retractable awning for car battery replacement sale near me by owner windows door hardware. Awning how do you make retractable for car rental companies door hardware replacement parts and.


"Sense of Place, Sense of Mystery"
"When the VOID Was One"
"The Hael's First Baronial Champions Event"
"Aftermeetings: An Excuse to Tell Svid Stories"
"The Origin of Aethelmearc's Ancestral Pelican Medallion"
I don't feel like a blog kind of guy. And quite frankly I usually write to a greater purpose, such as publication or teaching materials. But I love to write, so I'm willing to give it a go.
As I am practicing it, a blog should have spontaneity as I am making this up as I go, rather than carefully writing it and vetting it. Fair enough. This is your chance to see my writing with all the warts.
I have desired a website for about fifteen years. And now that it is here, I am amazed at the amount of work it is. Attempting to hyperlink pages in an intelligent way, while using a web builder that does not really anticipate the needs of someone like me, is a challenge. In fact, it's another effing learning experience. Such is life.
To spice this up I'll admit to my greatest fear. Homonym errors. My mother did a fabulous job of training me to get all homonyms and apostrophes correct on the initial draft. In 1987 I was hit by a car. I was severely physically damaged, but I thought I was cognitively fine. Until I got out of the hospital bed, wrote a few things, and proof-read them. I shouted out loud! I had lost all ability to get homonyms and apostrophes perfect on the first turn through.
Sometimes such cognitive function returns with time. As I write this it has been exactly 28 years, and there is no sign of my regaining that function. I'm not going to hold my breath.
That said, I can't notice that I had one poem published before getting my neurons scrambled, and a thousand or so since. Perhaps it has been a positive contributor.
Either way, it scares me to put my grammatical vulnerability on the firing line. But then everything scares me, and almost nothing stops me: witness this blog entry. I think that's quite enough for the day.


text:
Test for Update SVG position values on SVG DOM updates

This test PASSES if he does not crash

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
I need advice for a cool real-time Space Themed Game besides SINS...
Agent_Noob_Fury
November 20, 2010 9:49:00 PM from Stardock Forums
i've been addicted to SINS since it was released... any other space games you can recommend that are real time and comparable to SINS?
2 Pages1 2 Next
TheProgress
Reply #1 November 20, 2010 9:50:06 PM
from Elemental Forums
Sword of the stars. The battles are in real time.
Das123
Reply #2 November 20, 2010 10:06:55 PM
Distant Worlds. By far the best Space 4X game I've played.
Soon to be updated and will be even better.
from Demigod Forums
Better than sins? Do tell. Why do you like it so much/what is excellent about it? Thanks!
Reply #4 November 21, 2010 1:56:58 AM
Quoting OMG_pacov,
First of all, I should say that I usually prefer TBS rather than RTS and even though Distant Worlds is a RTS, it is pausable at any time so to me it plays much like a TBS game. So basically it isn't a click-fest. People who prefer games like Supremacy or other click-fest games are going to get bored with Distant Worlds.
As far as the game itself is concerned it is seriously unbalanced. If you scout enough there is a strong chance you'll find a game-altering starship or ship grave-yard. There are also some unique planets in the game (you can play with hundreds or thousands of systems consisting of multiple planets) that will boost certain aspects of your production through the roof. Its funny, but this 'unbalance' makes the game really fun because it can flip on its head at any time. If a 'friend' finds one of the unique planets you need to really think hard about letting them develop it or to declare war and take it yourself.
Running under the strategy game itself is a whole trade and civil system that you don't control. The AI controls this for you. You can build military ships and support ships but you don't decide on freighters or trade. If you take planets outside the range of your civil freighter range then you won't get the benefit of certain resources until you build a star-base network to link everything up. This aspect works really well once you know what is going on because you need to develop the network but have no control over how it is used by the freighters.
All aspects within the game can be automated to varying degrees. If you don't like colonising or planning and only want to control a single fleet (or even just a single ship) you can do so. If you want to micro-manage all aspects then you can also do this as well. When I play I have most things on auto but I usually over-ride certain aspects once I see unique opportunities. I usually also control the attack fleets but leave the system defences on auto. With potentially hundreds of systems to manage it could be a nightmare without this automation.
There are many different races in the game that each play with a nice unique flavour. Some are militaristic, others scientific, etc.
Here is the main page at Matrix.
Thanks for all the info! I've been on the fence about distant worlds for some time now. It had so so reviews at release, but your feedback is really helpful. I think I'll wait for that next patch to come out, and the will hop off the fence if all looks well. Happy to hear a review from you after that comes out with feedback on what's been changed that makes it even better, etc.
Khardis
The games that I've tried so far in this or a similar genre:
GC2+
X-3:TC
MOO1,2,3
Planetarion (browser game)
Star Ruler
The ones I have not tried that I've heard various interesting things about is:
Star Empires IV, V
Now, for the first list, I'll bulk them according to features.
How fun is the game world? Is a planet 'one,normal' or 'a teeming green world orbited by a precursor defence system'. Can you get surprises?
Staple games of ths are GC2, MOO's, SOTS. However, X-3:TC should be mentioned here. As it is a flight sim-rpg kind of game (with the option to build a space emprie) it does this bit really well.
Colonization. Explore is about how much life there is in the galaxy. How much life is there in your empire? Interesting races? Unique features? Racial traits? Advisors? Research and technology?
GC2, SOTS are good at this. SINS with all the expansions are decent as well. MOO series was good at this too.
Diplomacy and strategy. Is diplomacy limited to 'shoot first, talk to the hand' or can you have genuine allies and enemies? Strategic advantages? That sort of thing.
SOTS does the strategy well, with the radical travel differences between the races. Diplomacy is less good, though. SINS, GC2 are good at diplomacy. But here is the reason I mentioned Planetarion - it's massive MO, with hundreds or thousands of players, resulting in coalition building and diplomacy more complex than in any 'normal' game - same with EVE online, incidentally, but it has no empire building so it can't really be counted - but once you're in a corp, it qualifies well enough. This is also where X-3:TC falls through.
Exterminate:
Or, 'combat! What's it about and is it fun?. For my part, I like combat to include ship design and tactical combat, with an option to autoresolve inconsequential battles. SOTS, IMO, is the best of the listed in that, with MOO2, X-3:TC good contenders. GC2+, planetarion would probably be the worst. Stack fights is in my opinion the worst possible option. SINS, while the combat system is good and exciting, lacks the unqiue components 4X games should include, IMO.
Special mention: Armada 2526 and Star Ruler. They were heavily recommended indy games, but for me, they failed to deliver enjoyment. Star Ruler remains a tech demo, Armada 2526 suffers from crashes and lack of being fun (tm).
Another special mention:
Pirates of the Burning Seas. Yes, it's a pirate MMO. It does, however, feature ship combat, exploration, building up a trade empire (if that strikes your fancy), etc. Worth a look now that it (soon) enters Free to Play. And the ship combat? It's brilliant. Probably the best ship combat I've run into, period.
Nasarog
I am enjoying Sword of the Stars right now.
Gazz_
X3 fits right in because you can play it on the "fleet" level - but it's no 4X game at all.
There are no winning conditions.
You set your own winning conditions and do whatever you like. It's a sandbox game at heart.
Large scope battles or large empires will be next to impossible to control without custom mods and scripts... which do exist.
And if the factories, ships, or fleets don't do exactly what you want - you can write your own scripts which control their entire behaviour.
TorinReborn
I would suggest ST: Birth of the Federation to anyone. I found that game after playing MOO2 for years and never looked back.
It is a pure 4x game, it is TBS, but battles are really interesting as they happen at the same time, as in you pick your tactics and the AI(or player does) does it and then you both fight for one round at the same time (this was a big upgrade from MOO2 where you were always first and you could easily eradicate half the enemy ships in 1st turn).
It is also really fun in MP fighting against other players. There are million mods for it that change the balance or races or add additional ones like Dominion or Borg.
RooksBailey
Reply #10 November 21, 2010 4:38:24 PM
To be honest, there is no RTS game like Sins currently on the market. It is a thoroughly unique in it's approach and, hence, why it is an established classic of the genre. This is why you're not going to find anything similar.
There are other good sci-fi games, though, most of which have been mentioned above. My summary:
1) Galactic Civilizations II: Not RTS, but turn-based. Nonetheless, it is probably me second favorite sci-fi 4X game of all time. Part of the reason is that is plays sort of like a board game, which is something of a plus in my book. It has that good "simple to play but hard to master" mix that many other games bungle. It also has the best planetary development component of any game. I definitely recommend you give it a try as long as the lack of a RTS component does not bother you.
2) Sword of the Stars: My third most-played sci-fi game (my review here). This is basically Total War in space. Of all the games, it has the best tech tree around. However, I find the planetary development to be much too simplistic, and the battles, while a lot of fun, can be repetitious after a while. Nonetheless, this is a solid entry into the 4X genre with a wide fan base. I personally can't wait for SotS II next year!
3) Distant Worlds: This is the latest entry to the world of 4X gaming (my review here). While the others keep it simple, DW is much more complex. Nonetheless, I have found it a thoroughly immersive experience with an wonderfully innovative "private market" system that really brings the game to life. However, because there is a major expansion in the works that is going to be changing some of the core mechanics (a new tech tree system, carriers, and more!) I would wait to pick this up. The expansion is supposed to be out before Christmas (details will be released this week), so waiting a few weeks won't be that hard. Also, DW, while RTS, is not a Sins type of RTS. It is much slower.
4) AI War: Fleet Command: This is a great indie game and, in many ways, is a lot like Sins in its gameplay (my review here). However, AI War uses a 16-bit graphics system, so don't expect to be wowed in that department. Despite that, AI War is a masterful combination of the 4X and tower defense genres where the player has to build massive fleets and carefully pick which planets to take from the AI, all the while defending his own systems with a series of minefields and turrets. It is a very challenging game and well worth your time.
The only game I haven't tried yet is the campaign expansion for Gratuitous Space Battles. It's still in beta, so I am waiting. But I found the core GSB game to be a lot of fun, so this might be good too when it is finished. Sounds a bit rudimentary, though, so I don't expect a deep experience like GalCiv or the others.
Truth be told, each one of the above games offers something unique. Unfortunately, none of them does everything well. I really wish somebody would combine the best elements of my top four games into one super game. Eh, maybe that will be GalCiv III. If anyone can do it, SD can!
Nice reviews RooksBailey.
I forgot about AI War. I don't currently have this installed but was also very impressed with this game. Quite a different approach. Your description of 'masterful combination of the 4X and tower defense genres' sums it up nicely.
Another game worth looking at is Armada 2526. This has been patched recently and is miles better than the release version. A TBS game but what makes this game so interesting is that each race has different ways of winning. For some it is about how many of their race they can populate. Others are how many of any race they control. Others how many populations they can kill. And so on for each race. One race loses points for each unit of population they destroy. Some races get points for the trade networks they establish and so on.
When playing you have vastly different experiences as you meet each other race in the game. Some will be very friendly (because of their victory conditions) and others will be very aggressive.
Quoting Das123,
Thanks! I really like my sci-fi gaming.
Another game worth looking at is Armada 2526. This has been patched recently and is miles better than the release version.
I forgot about that game. I did try it when it came out (I even interviewed the dev) but it didn't impress me. However, I've been hearing people say that the improvements made over the last few months really have changed the game. I've got to take another look at it.
ZehDon
Imperium Galactica II. No Real Time Sci-Fi game has even come close to the sheer genius of this game, although Homeworld was a contender.
It's old school, but it's still the king. Skip the third one, it was trash.
GoaFan77
from Sins of a Solar Empire Forums
Quoting OMG_pacov, reply 3
I'm not trying to discredit your point, but you know you can do this in Sins too right? It might still seem like a clickfest though.
FadedC
I picked this one up recently because I have really fond memories of Armada 2525, a game which is so old it makes the original Master of Orion look recent. They did a good job of bringing in elements of the original game and it had some strong parts to it. But I just really didn't like the space combat, it was kind of boring and nonintuitive. And this is even in comparison to the original game which featured uncontrollable 8 bit squiggly ships shooting each other. There was also more emphasis on manually setting up transports to shuttle stuff between planets then I like. Finally I thought that while the idea of having different races with different victory conditions was really cool, they didn't actually do as much with it as they should have and all the races seemed kind of bland.
Obviously though your mileage may vary and it's not an awful game by any stretch. It was just the combat that killed it for me, the other things I could have dealt with.
Annatar11
Reply #16 November 22, 2010 11:43:49 AM
AI War is definitely a nice little gem. The structure of the game is a bit different, though. In all these other games, you and your AI opponents start off on the same foot and build up with you trying to out-do the AI. In AI War, you start with one planet, and the AI has everything else already settled. Your goal is to defeat the AI smartly - just about everything you do that hurts the AI increases its aggressiveness (think of it like the Borg, while you don't mess with them they just go about their normal routines since you're kind of insignificant, but once you start pissing them off you start to regret it). This leads to all sorts of unpleasantries, such that the game becomes very difficult to win (if not impossible) unless you make smart choices on what planets to take.
It is a complex game, there are tons of ships, starships (think Capital ships in Sins, minus the abilities). Some ships can be customized. Some special ship factories might be randomly seeded into the galaxy, so the AI planets with those on them might be high priority targets. There are tons and tons of AI types that (unlike Sins) do actually dictate the AI behaviors pretty well. One might be a heavy Turtler who'll barely attack you but have very tough defenses to crack, another might be an Assassin type with lots of Cloak usage, etc.
The game recently received a graphics overhaul and was ported to a new and flashier engine. It's still the same style, but the UI, particles, etc all look considerably better. The demo for the game has also been updated so you can try it out on the current game version.
I'd highly recommend the game
That was a solid description of AI War (especially the impossible to win part). It really is a remarkably ambitious title from such a small company (really, a lot of AAA titles could learn from some the ideas Arcen's been implementing). The only downside is that they are pumping out the expansions so frequently now that the game is morphing on almost a weekly basis! I put it down recently because of this. I might as well wait until Light of the Spire is released as that is the last expansion (announced anyway ). Hopefully the game will settle down for a bit at that point so we all have time to get acquainted to the tremendous changes made since 4.0.
Yeah, I'm looking forward to Light of the Spire. Zenith Remnant was a pretty tremendous change to the game (very happy about the Golem buffs in 4.0), and the premise for Light of the Spire sounds pretty awesome. Since those Spire starships are damned annoying to kill (and are quite powerful), I can only imagine the rest..
I stopped trying to keep track of the changes after 4.0, though. Every time I start it up there's at least 1 beta patch, if not more. The 4.0 changelog itself would probably win Guiness World Record for the longest change log ever.
uga-bugga
Reply #19 November 24, 2010 2:09:46 AM
Conquest: Frontier Wars. Fully networkable like the old StarCraft!
TobiWahn_Kenobi
Haegemonia (Hegemony) - wonderful space game similar to sins in some respect.
Haree78
Distant Worlds is the best I have played. Going to be even more awesome with the expansion coming up soon.
Kamamura_CZ
Try Homeworld and Homeworld Cataclysm. I am surprised no one mentioned them - Haegemonia is a poor spinoff of those games. Original Homeworld is epic in every way, but have flawed gameplay, but Cataclysm is truly excellent.
Haegemonia is no spin-off of Homeworld. It's got its own style and gameplay. And I liked it much more than HW. A mix of Sins, Haegemonia and HW would be a hit though.
Cykur
Reply #24 December 3, 2010 5:51:42 PM
I've been playing around with Distant Worlds a bit and really enjoying it, but it isn't for everybody -- it is part part RTS, part 4X, part economic sim. Wish it was multiplayer.
I'm really excited about SOTS 2 next year.
I have managed to restrain myself from getting SC2....don't want to spend $60 just to get bored of it.
bonscott
Reply #25 December 3, 2010 10:46:24 PM
Let's not forget about the classic Space Rangers 2. Very nice game.
And thanks for the info on Distant Worlds...I'll certainly check it out. Doesn't look like there is a demo though?


Before embarking on the study of your own religion it is important to realize that there is beauty and wisdom in all religions. We must try to understand, respect and honour not only our own religion but other religions too. Remember that each religion and culture is to be celebrated. Encouraging and allowing each individual to practice their own religion and culture is to show unconditional love towards others. It is the best way to be true to yourself while allowing others to be true to themselves.
Being true to our Zarathushti principals would mean being part of a society that allows, encourages and promotes religious diversity. When we achieve this, we achieve the highest form of society. It would mean we have grown from being a "tolerant" society into being a society that "celebrates religious diversity" --- a society without prejudice --- a society of Peace and Harmony. To understand our religious teachings is to understand Harmony in the Diversity of Religions. It is to understand that Kindness and Charity know no bounds. It is to understand that the practice of Truth, Justice and Love to all Humanity are essential to the peaceful and orderly functioning of all societies.
We achieve this kind of compassion, peace and harmony when we direct our thoughts and love to Ahura Mazda. As we live our life by a religious code (i.e. moral code + spiritual code), virtuous emotions and desires arise within us and strengthen our soul's energy and power to make good things happen. It allows us to become better people and become part of a better society.


an ultrasound examination of the tibia.
directed to the patient's head.
and proximal tibia are identified.
and on the anterior surface of the tibia.
and ends at the distal tibia.
which gradually tapers in the distal bone.
3D animation demonstrating an ultrasound exam of the Tibia.


Wich they barely do, well okay, Pran does.
Since it seems it needs doing, I will clarify my comment.
I was joking concerning AA protecting the shaws and other areas. I dont give a hoot about those areas. I believe in people having fun when playing.
Protecting areas is just a splendid source for griefing.
Awesome!! I can finally resume my circa 1995 practice of grinding those guards outside the AA guild with my mortal. Arman, can you set those back to pre-millenial code, please?
Arman, can you set those back to pre-millenial code, please?
SO, any update on this?
IMHO you're wrong. It's more fun smashing hobbits against the walls than fighting your own men.


text:
Q: Change select background to match selected option background I have a simple query here:
I built a simple select with 2 different colored options: red and green.
.green { color: #217A23; }
.red    { color: #AA0000; }

<select id="select">
    <option class='green'>green</option>
    <option class='red'>red</option>
</select>

I'd like the select text WHEN CLOSED to match the selected text's color.
Thus, after selecting green in the dropdown, I would like the select text to be green as well. Right now, I can select the green text, but when the menu closes, the word "green" is still black in color.
Does this require jQuery to do?
http://jsfiddle.net/8zkx9yu0/

A: You could do it like this, using your existing classes:

$("select").change(function() {
 let color = $(this).find("option:selected").attr("class");
  $(this).removeClass().addClass(color);
})
.green_bg { background-color: #217A23; }
.red_bg { background-color: #AA0000; }
<script src="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/jquery/3.3.1/jquery.min.js"></script>
<select id="select">
    <option>Select</option>
    <option class='green_bg'>green</option>
    <option class='red_bg'>red</option>
</select>

A: Use following code :
$("#select").on('change',(e)=>{
 // to make backgroud color
    $('body').css({background:e.target.value});
   $(e).removeClass().addClass($(e).find("option:selected").attr("class"););
})

enter code here

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Posted in Reflections and Nostalgia, Uncategorized.
Please see the registration information, including agenda, pricing, hotel info and the registration form for the Lewis & Clark County Master Gardener Celebration to be held March 4, 2017 in Helena. Look like a GREAT time!
Make check payable to: Lewis & Clark County Extension Fund.
Hotel Accommodations: Comfort Suites, 3180 N. Washington St., Helena, MT: 406.495.0505. This is legislative season so make your reservations early. The hotel provides a shuttle to/from the Fair-grounds, rooms are at state rate ($95, single/double occupancy), there is continental breakfast, and vehicle plug-ins. Lewis & Clark County Fairgrounds is located 2.5 miles due west on Custer Avenue. Room block expires Feb. 16, 2017, reference: Master Gardeners. Registrants are responsible for their own accommodations.
Posted in Association News, Classes and Workshops, Education Opportunities, On the Calendar, Places to Visit, Uncategorized.
The upcoming International Master Gardener Conference will be in Portland, Oregon at the Oregon Convention Center July 10-14, 2017. Early registration deadline is January 13, 2017. This is going to be super fun!
There are social events, movies, a trade show and tours, plus full days of seminars and keynote speakers. Lunches are included in the conference price. This conference is open to anyone!
The International Master Gardener Conference (IMGC) has been held every two years since 1987. The IMGC provides an opportunity for Master Gardeners, State and County coordinators to come together and learn through seminars and tours, celebrate successes through the International Search for Excellence Program, and meet and network with Master Gardener volunteers, faculty and staff from across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and South Korea.
Check out their website and blog via the link below. They also have a Facebook page as well as online Newsletters covering facts and details about the conference and Portland.
Native plants may be a wise choice for many landscapes for several reasons. First of all, once native plants are established they seldom need watered, which can be very cost-effective due to the rising cost and shortage of available water. Besides providing ground cover, drought resistant deep-rooted native plants help hold soil in place and prevent erosion by taking up water that might otherwise cause flooding. Also, native plants help with biodiversity in the environment by producing the exact type of nectar, pollen and seeds that are needed as a food source for native birds, bees, butterflies and other wildlife. Furthermore, native plants that have evolved to grow in our conditions are usually less susceptible to diseases and therefore require fewer pesticides, fertilizes and other chemicals which is better for the environment.
has a booklet entitled 'Creating Native Landscapes in the Northern Great Plains and Rocky Mountains' which gives pointers on how to get native plants established and has native plant choices listed according to their bloom period. https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb1167611.pdf. A list of pollinator friendly plants that are native to Montana can be found at: https://plants.usda.gov/pollinator/Montana_Native_Plants_for_Pollinator-Friendly_Plantings.pdf.
in Plains all carry native plants.
Note: Wildflower Seed Mixes are not always Native species.
to make your own travel and hotel arrangements as well as purchase your flower show tickets.
evening, February 23, 2017. If you are attending the show and want to join the Montana group for a free dinner please RSVP to me by February 1, 2017 so Dara can confirm your reservation number at the restaurant. She will email you the dinner details at that time.
For hotel options go to: https://www.gtameetings.com.
The Crowne Plaza is the hotel we have used in the past. It is a very nice hotel, right in downtown Seattle and only 2-3 blocks to the Convention Center, they have the best rate for being so close to the show.
Flower Show Tickets: http://www.gardenshow.com/tickets. Early bird tickets (before February 21) are $17 per person/per day, after that they are $22.
Flower Show Information: http://www.gardenshow.com. This lists all the show details and seminar schedules as well as exhibitor info.
This is a wonderful show and we always have a great time and learn many new things…as well as coming home with some fun souvenirs. Please consider attending, it is well worth it!
Posted in Association News, Classes and Workshops, Education Opportunities, Uncategorized.
So you have all the Christmas decorations stored, the income tax information compiled in a folder and now without any other interruptions, let's get the seed catalogs all spread out and start making plans. You probably have a list of your standard vegetables and varieties. Have you ever thought about trying something entirely different just to see if it would grow well? Try two variety types to see which one produced more? How much space do you have for how many vegetables? When I look through catalogs, it's like a kid in a candy store – I'd like one of each item.
What do we believe and expect from catalog products? Keep in mind as you swoon over all the pretty pictures that their purpose is to entice you to buy first-most, and to educate you last-most. Those pretty silver Artemesia that are "hardy and easy to grow" could barge into your property like a band of evil pixies, then float over the fence on the wind and take over your neighbor's lawn, the back alley, and the cracks in the sidewalk out front! What the catalog might not tell you is that your Montana climate will turn those hardy annual plants into perennials that come from seed and from all the root bits, and if you aren't ready for that it could be a three-year weed-pulling seed experiment gone bad.
When buying seeds it's important to do your homework. Some seeds need special care to sprout. If you are preparing to pay $5 for a packet of 5 geranium seeds, for example, you should be aware that they are that expensive for a reason. That doesn't mean to avoid them, it means you will want to know all you can about geranium seeds before they arrive in your mailbox. You won't want to waste them because you didn't know they want warm feet until they come up, and then watered from the bottom to avoid any extra moisture at the base of the seedling to avoid damping off. Pansies, on the other hand, better not be on that heat mat – they like it cool. And some seeds will want to be dark when others need to be exposed to the light! They won't tell you those things in the catalog. Avoid preventable failures by having at hand (hard copy or online) a good seed identification guide that includes germination information (light requirements, moisture preferences, temperature, scarification, etc.), pictures of seedlings and first true leaves, time to germination, susceptibility to fungus or rots, and other helpful facts. [Park's Success With Seeds is Corinna's favorite reference.] You will want specific germination information on every seed you plan to buy for the best success.
before you fall for it.
It should be pointed out that if you are looking for specialty potatoes Montana has a Premier Seed Potato production that supplies seed potatoes to Idaho, Washington and other states that are famous for their potatoes. (http://www.montana.edu/news/11804/montana-certified-seed-potatoes-available-at-local-nurseries-garden-centers-and-extension-offices) Nina Zidack of the MT Potato Lab "wants to encourage home gardeners to plant Montana-certified seed potatoes." One reason is that certified seed potatoes grow better potatoes than potatoes bought in a grocery store or potatoes left over from previous seasons. Potatoes sold in grocery stores are often treated to restrict the sprouting of tubers, Zidack said, "and more importantly they may come from other states and carry virus diseases and tuber and soil-borne pests, or come from areas that have frequent outbreaks of Late Blight." The Irish potato famine was caused by Late Blight, the most destructive disease of potatoes, which can also infect tomato, eggplant, pepper and petunia. Spores from the fungus may be wind borne and carried 50 miles or more. "Increased planting of Montana-certified seed in gardens will reduce the risk of introducing pathogens or other pests which would cause serious disease outbreaks resulting in monetary losses to [home and professional] growers," Zidack said. If you have questions about sources for certified seed potatoes, contact your local extension agent or Nina Zidack at (406) 994-3150, potato-cert@montana.edu.
Don't forget that your Master Gardener Association and Extension is a great source of information when you are trying new things. Use the online resources and your personal relationships through Master Gardeners to help you be a successful seed planter!
Posted in Plant Varieties and Sources, Practices and Procedures, reference, Seed and Plant Sources, Tips and Tricks, Uncategorized.


Bruges is a historical City with a lot of nice views and buildings.
Nice banner and not too long. Ideal to see the center of Brugges. Good for a walk in the afternoon. The city centre can be verry crowded.


ARCHETYPAL American hard rockers Little Caesar have broken the mould by signing with an Australian record company, Golden Robot.
The Ron Young-fronted band, best known for their 1990 cover of Aretha Franklin's "Chain Of Fools", will release their first album for the label – Eight – in March.
It will be preceded by the single "Time Enough For That" on February 5.
"Little Caesar is excited about joining the ever-growing Golden Robot Records family," Young said in a statement.
Mark Alexander-Erber, Golden Robot's president and founder, added: "With Golden Robot Records currently expanding its artist roster to include bands based in the USA, Canada and Europe, when I met Ron Young in LA last year, and having been a fan of Little Caesar for many years, I knew that they would fit perfectly into the growing GRR family.
Little Caesar tour Britain next month, playing Hard Rock Hell in Caernarfon between March 8 and March 11.
Golden Robot's artist roster includes Rose Tattoo's Angry Anderson, The Superjesus' Sarah McLeod and Nick Barker's The Heartache State.


The new Pebble Ice Maker from Electrolux is the latest addition to our range of ultra-efficient, easy-to-clean machines and the answer to all your ice needs.
The right ice makes all the difference to your business.
Wherever you are and however much you need, Electrolux has the high performance, energy efficient pebble ice maker for you.
The use of natural gas R290 as the refrigerant means that pebble ice makers are better for the environment and future generations too.
Lower utility bills for you and zero waste of the world's most precious resource: water.
Use Pebbles in every application, in every sector: from catering and hospitality, to retail, industry and medicine.
Compliant to CE requirements for safety.