Abstract: A method for improving estimation of leaf area index in an early growth stage of wheat based on red-edge bands of Sentinel-2 satellite images includes the following steps: acquiring field background spectrum and wheat canopy spectrum information by means of Sentinel-2; respectively acquiring a “straw-soil” spectrum and a “wheat-straw-soil” spectrum, and calculating slopes of red-edge areas of the “straw-soil” spectrum and the “wheat-straw-soil” spectrum; calculating a tangent function SATF corrected by a background adjustment coefficient ?; constructing a wheat LAI estimation model based on a spectral variable SATFNIR-RE2; performing preliminary screening on the LAI estimation model using cross validation; and then testing the screened model with independent data.

Abstract: A polycrystalline diamond compact including a cemented carbide substrate and a polycrystalline diamond layer bonded to the cemented carbide substrate. The cemented carbide substrate is cylindrical and includes a circumferential wall. The polycrystalline diamond layer includes a central part including between 8 and 15 wt. % of cobalt and an outer part including between 0.5 and 2 wt. % of cobalt. The outer part is a columnar ring belt and includes a chamfer. The outer part includes an upper surface, a side surface connected to the circumferential wall of the cemented carbide substrate, and a chamfer surface connecting the upper surface and the side surface. The chamfer includes a first terminal connected to the upper surface of the outer part and a second terminal connected to the side surface of the outer part.

Abstract: A polycrystalline diamond compact including a cemented carbide substrate and a polycrystalline diamond layer bonded to the cemented carbide substrate. The cemented carbide substrate is cylindrical and includes a circumferential wall. The polycrystalline diamond layer includes a central part including between 8 and 15 wt. % of cobalt and an outer part including between 0.5 and 2 wt. % of cobalt. The outer part is a columnar ring belt and includes a chamfer. The outer part includes an upper surface, a side surface connected to the circumferential wall of the cemented carbide substrate, and a chamfer surface connecting the upper surface and the side surface. The chamfer includes a first terminal connected to the upper surface of the outer part and a second terminal connected to the side surface of the outer part.

Abstract: Antagonists of human proprotein convertase subtilisin-kexin type 9 (“PCSK9”) are disclosed. The disclosed antagonists are effective in the inhibition of PCSK9 function and, accordingly, present desirable antagonists for use in the treatment of conditions associated with PCSK9 activity. The present invention also discloses nucleic acid encoding said antagonists, vectors, host cells, and compositions comprising the antagonists. Methods of making PCSK9-specific antagonists as well as methods of using the antagonists for inhibiting or antagonizing PCSK9 function are also disclosed and form important additional aspects of the present disclosure.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of introducing diversity into antibody molecules comprising introducing or substituting at least one amino acid sequence in the CDR of the target antibody together with at least one amino acid in the FW region spanning the 3 amino acid adjoining the CRD on each side. The resulting diverse antibodies with variant CDRs and FW region sequences comprising diverse amino acid sequences are also described. These polypeptides regions, herein referred to as 3+CDR3+, that form the gist of the invention contribution described herein provide a flexible and simple source of sequence diversity that can be used as a source for expressing and identifying diverse antibodies or antigen binding polypeptides. Libraries comprising a plurality of these polypeptides are also provided. In addition, methods of and compositions for generating and using these polypeptides and libraries are provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides expression vectors and helper display vectors which can be used in various combinations as vector sets for display of polypeptides on the outer surface of eukaryotic host cells. The expression vector of the invention can be used alone for soluble expression without having to change or reengineer the display vectors. The display systems of the invention are particularly useful for displaying a genetically diverse repertoire or library of polypeptides on the surface of yeast cells, and mammalian cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides expression vectors and helper display vectors which can be used in various combinations as vector sets for display of polypeptides on the outer surface of eukaryotic host cells. The expression vector of the invention can be used alone for soluble expression without having to change or reengineer the display vectors. The display systems of the invention are particularly useful for displaying a genetically diverse repertoire or library of polypeptides on the surface of yeast cells, and mammalian cells.

Abstract: Antagonists of human proprotein convertase subtilisin-kexin type 9 (“PCSK9”) are disclosed. The disclosed antagonists are effective in the inhibition of PCSK9 function and, accordingly, present desirable antagonists for use in the treatment of conditions associated with PCSK9 activity. The present invention also discloses nucleic acid encoding said antagonists, vectors, host cells, and compositions comprising the antagonists. Methods of making PCSK9-specific antagonists as well as methods of using the antagonists for inhibiting or antagonizing PCSK9 function are also disclosed and form important additional aspects of the present disclosure.

Abstract: The present invention provides a structure-based methodology for efficiently generating and screening a library of recombinant antibodies for optimized antibodies with desirable functions, such as higher binding affinity or low immunogenicity. In one embodiment, a method is provided for constructing a library of antibody sequences based on a three dimensional structure of a lead antibody. The method comprises: providing a lead structural template comprising the amino acid sequence of the variable region of the heavy chain (VH) or light chain (VL) of a lead antibody, comparing the lead template sequence with a plurality of tester protein sequences; selecting a hit library from the tester protein sequences; determining if a member of the hit library is structurally compatible with the lead structural template using a scoring function; selecting members for the hit library that score equal to or better than the lead sequence and screening members for improved function(s).

Abstract: The present invention provides novel anti-CD26 antibodies and other, related polypeptides, as well as novel polynucleotides encoding the antibodies and polypeptides. The invention also provides methods of making the antibodies and polypeptides. Compositions and cells comprising the antibodies or polypeptides are further provided. Methods of using the antibodies and/or polypeptides, such as to inhibit cell proliferation and in the treatment of conditions associated with CD26, are also provided.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel method for generating stable mammalian cell lines with enhanced protein production capabilities, and to expression vectors and related methods for high level expression of biopharmaceutical proteins of interest.

Abstract: The present invention provides a methodology for efficiently generating and screening protein libraries for optimized proteins with desirable biological functions, such as improved binding affinity towards biologically and/or therapeutically important target molecules. The process is carried out computationally in a high throughput manner by mining the ever-expanding databases of protein sequences of all organisms, especially human.

Abstract: The present invention provides adapter-directed display systems for expressing exogenous polypeptide within a host cell and/or displaying the exogenous polypeptide on the outer surface of a genetic package. This subject systems are particularly useful for displaying a genetically diverse repertoire of monomeric and multimeric polypeptides. The invention also provides both expression and helper vectors and kits containing components of the subject display systems. Also provided are genetic packages displaying the exogenous polypeptides of particular interest. Further provided by the invention are methods of using the subject display systems.

Abstract: The present invention provides expression vectors and helper display vectors which can be used in various combinations as vector sets for display of polypeptides on the outer surface of eukaryotic host cells. The expression vector of the invention can be used alone for soluble expression without having to change or reengineer the display vectors. The display systems of the invention are particularly useful for displaying a genetically diverse repertoire or library of polypeptides on the surface of yeast cells, and mammalian cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel anti-CD26 antibodies and other, related polypeptides, as well as novel polynucleotides encoding the antibodies and polypeptides. The invention also provides methods of making the antibodies and polypeptides. Compositions and cells comprising the antibodies or polypeptides are further provided. Methods of using the antibodies and/or polypeptides, such as to inhibit cell proliferation and in the treatment of conditions associated with CD26, are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides expression vectors and helper display vectors which can be used in various combinations as vector sets for multi-species and cross-species display of polypeptides on the outer surface of prokaryotic genetic packages and/or eukaryotic host cells. The multi-species and cross-species display systems can be practiced using the vector sets of the invention without having to change or reengineer the display vectors. The display systems of the invention are particularly useful for displaying a genetically diverse repertoire or library of polypeptides on the surface of phage, bacterial host cells, yeast cells, and mammalian cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel anti-CD26 antibodies and other, related polypeptides, as well as novel polynucleotides encoding the antibodies and polypeptides. The invention also provides methods of making the antibodies and polypeptides. Compositions and cells comprising the antibodies or polypeptides are further provided. Methods of using the antibodies and/or polypeptides, such as to inhibit cell proliferation and in the treatment of conditions associated with CD26, are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a technique for specific assembly of monomeric polypeptides to form a heteromultimer. This technique is particularly useful for generating a genetically diverse repertoire of heteromultimers such as antigen-binding units. The invention also provides both non-single-chain and single-chain antigen-binding units that are assembled by the technique described herein. The present invention also provides recombinant polynucleotides, vectors, host cells, and kits for producing the subject antigen-binding units. Further provided by the invention are methods of using the subject antigen-binding units.

Abstract: The present invention provides a methodology for efficiently generating and screening protein libraries for optimized proteins with desirable biological functions, such as improved binding affinity towards biologically and/or therapeutically important target molecules. The process is carried out computationally in a high throughput manner by mining the ever-expanding databases of protein sequences of all organisms, especially human.

Abstract: The present invention provides a structure-based methodology for efficiently generating and screening protein libraries for optimized proteins with desirable biological functions, such as antibodies with high binding affinity and low immunogenicity in humans. In one embodiment, a method is provided for constructing a library of antibody sequences based on a three dimensional structure of a lead antibody.