Abstract: Examples are disclosed that relate to generating expressive avatars using multi-modal three-dimensional face modeling and tracking. One example includes a computer system comprising a processor coupled to a storage system that stores instructions. Upon execution by the processor, the instructions cause the processor to receive initialization data describing an initial state of a facial model. The instructions further cause the processor to receive a plurality of multi-modal data signals. The instructions further cause the processor to perform a fitting process using the initialization data and the plurality of multi-modal data signals. The instructions further cause the processor to determine a set of parameters based on the fitting process, wherein the determined set of parameters describes an updated state of the facial model.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for assessing respiratory viral infections, the method includes preparing one or more precision-cut human bronchial tissues; exposing a cilia-rich epithelium within the precision-cut human bronchial tissues to establish an ex vivo model of human bronchus for viral infections; assessing infectivity, tropism, and pathogenesis of one or more respiratory viruses in the ex vivo model; and providing a semi-quantitative and normalized approach to supplement data from the ex vivo model of human bronchus for pandemic risk assessment of the one or more respiratory viruses. The present invention involves micro-dissection of bronchial tissues to expose the cilia-rich epithelium for ex vivo virus infection, along with a semi-quantitative approach for analyzing virus tropism and replication competence.

Abstract: A connection member to connect a blade with an arm of a vertical axis wind turbine is disclosed. The connection member may include a bracket including a bracket plate. A bracket plate curvature may be equivalent to a blade inside portion skin curvature. The bracket plate may include a first connection insert configured to receive a first fastener. The bracket plate may be attached to the blade via the first fastener. The connection member may further include a yoke including a second connection insert configured to receive a second fastener. The yoke may attach to the arm via the second fastener. The connection member may further include a pivotal pin configured to axially attach the bracket with the yoke and a device to attach a fairing to the blade.

Abstract: Techniques are described for dynamically determining the flow of screens to be presented in a user interface (UI) of an application executing on a computing device, based at least partly on a detected presence of a user device (e.g., a portable computing device) in a particular geographic area. Area designation data is transmitted to, and stored on, a user device. The area designation data can describe a geofenced area and/or beacon signals. In response to determining that the user device is in the geographic area indicated by the area designation data, the user device may transmit an alert signal that causes an interface flow to be dynamically determined and executed for an application executing on the computing device that is separate from the user device.

Abstract: A combination hydraulic master cylinder comprising two typically parallel pumps disposed within adjacent compartments within a common body of the combination hydraulic master cylinder. Each pump's piston physically pressurizes hydraulic fluid that has been separately drawn into its respective cylinder and in hydraulic isolation, however the proximate location of the independent pumps allows for convenient operation using one hand on one handlebar with reduced congestion of space rather than the more conventional arrangement of two separate master cylinders. The pistons are actuated mechanically using dedicated levers mounted externally to the cylinders. The levers are adjustable in the manner to which they are disposed to the pistons. One lever is oriented such that it is operable using a finger pull action; the second lever is oriented such that it is operable using a thumb push action.

Abstract: An oral fluid collection device is provided that includes a borosilicate glass collection tube that can be capped post-collection for containing a human donor's expectorated oral fluid. The collection tube has a lyophilized reagent disposed therein that is essentially free of surfactants and solvents and includes a bacteriostatic, a peptidoglycan cleaving enzyme, an esterase inhibitor, an antioxidant, and a buffer at a pH range of about 5.7 to about 6.5 for stabilizing drugs and drug metabolites that may be present in the donor oral fluid. Interaction between the collected oral fluid and the buffer-preservative is provided by gravity drawing the collected oral fluid downward into contact with the lyophilized buffer-preservative.

Abstract: A sawmill assembly includes a bed and a carriage. The bed has a pair of substantially parallel rails, and the carriage is movably supported along the rails. The bed includes an extension bed member pivotably attached to a main bed member with a combination bunk/hinge to allow an operator to fold the bed between an extended in use position and a stowed position for transporting the sawmill assembly to or from a work site with a tow vehicle.

Abstract: This invention relates to the development of products that are alternatives to antibiotics with medically important human therapeutic uses for livestock meat and protein production efficiency. These products will be used to replace antibiotics used to rapidly increase lean muscle mass with specific feed regimens. The present invention is for the identification of non-human antibiotic products to be used with different feed regimens for livestock growth and meat promotion that include prebiotic supplements and keystone species probiotics that produce the desired growth promotion phenotypic effects. The present invention includes the identification of enterotypes that can be used as targets for recapitulation by compounds that are screened to produce the desired phenotype.

Abstract: This invention relates to the medical use of an antimicrobial agent, racemic Ornidazole, its (R) and (S) enantiomers, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or esters thereof, and to methods of treatment which involve treating a subject with Ornidazole. The racemic (rac)-ornidazole, its enantiomers, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or esters thereof, may be used in combination with other actives. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical formulations and compositions comprising (rac)-ornidazole, (R)-ornidazole, (S)-ornidazole, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or esters thereof, and/or other actives as well as methods to stereoselectively manufacture the enantiomers.

Abstract: This invention relates to the development of prebiotic and probiotic products that treat obesity and overweight conditions and allow people with these tendencies to covert food to lean muscle mass rather than fat.

Abstract: This invention relates to the development of products that are alternatives to antibiotics with medically important human therapeutic uses for livestock meat and protein production efficiency. These products will be used to replace antibiotics used to rapidly increase lean muscle mass with specific feed regimens. The present invention is for the identification of non-human antibiotic products to be used with different feed regimens for livestock growth and meat promotion that include prebiotic supplements and keystone species probiotics that produce the desired growth promotion phenotypic effects. The present invention includes the identification of enterotypes that can be used as targets for recapitulation by compounds that are screened to produce the desired phenotype.

Abstract: This invention relates to the medical use of pathogen associated molecular pattern (PAMP) displaying immunostimulatory microbial immuno-adjuvants [MIAs], as therapeutics when used in combination with check point inhibitors to treat various types of cancer and to methods of treatment which involve treating a subject with these compounds and compound mixtures and process methods for identifying and optimally composing them for their therapeutic use in cancer treatment. It also relates to the use of inhibitors of these PAMP displaying immunostimulatory microbial immuno-adjuvants [MIAs], as therapeutics when used to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) including Crohn's Disease and ulcerative colitis and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and process methods for identifying and optimally composing them for their therapeutic use in IBD and IBS.

Abstract: This invention relates to the medical use of an antimicrobial agent, racemic Ornidazole, its (R) and (S) enantiomers, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or esters thereof, and to methods of treatment which involve treating a subject with Ornidazole. The racemic (rac)-ornidazole, its enantiomers, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or esters thereof, may be used in combination with other actives, and in particular, beta lactam antibiotics combined with beta lactamase inhibitors, like co-amoxiclay. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical formulations and compositions comprising (rac)-ornidazole, (R)-ornidazole, (S)-ornidazole, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or esters thereof, and/or other actives and their use with bio-threat pathogens that utilize a mechanism of tolerance or resistance by facultatively switching from aerobic to anaerobic confirmations and by switching back and forth from planktonic to biofilm forms.

Abstract: This invention relates to the medical use of an antimicrobial agent, racemic Ornidazole, its (R) and (S) enantiomers, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or esters thereof, and to methods of treatment which involve treating a subject with Ornidazole. The racemic (rac)-ornidazole, its enantiomers, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or esters thereof, may be used in combination with other actives. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical formulations and compositions comprising (rac)-ornidazole, (R)-ornidazole, (S)-ornidazole, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or esters thereof, and/or other actives as well as methods to stereoselectively manufacture the enantiomers.

Abstract: The invention provides for mammalian cells capable of producing recombinant CTLA4-Ig and variants thereof. The invention also provides for compositions comprising CTLA4-Ig and formulations thereof. The invention further provides for methods for mass-producing CTLA4-Ig from mammalian cells capable of producing this recombinant protein, and for purifying the CTLA4-Ig.

Abstract: The invention provides for mammalian cells capable of producing recombinant CTLA4-Ig and variants thereof. The invention also provides for compositions comprising CTLA4-Ig and formulations thereof. The invention further provides for methods for mass-producing CTLA4-Ig from mammalian cells capable of producing this recombinant protein, and for purifying the CTLA4-Ig.

Abstract: The invention provides for mammalian cells capable of producing recombinant CTLA4-Ig and variants thereof. The invention also provides for compositions comprising CTLA4-Ig and formulations thereof. The invention further provides for methods for mass-producing CTLA4-Ig from mammalian cells capable of producing this recombinant protein, and for purifying the CTLA4-Ig.

Abstract: This invention relates to the medical use of an antimicrobial agent, racemic Ornidazole, its (R) and (S) enantiomers, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or esters thereof, and to methods of treatment which involve treating a subject with Ornidazole. The racemic (rac)-ornidazole, its enantiomers, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or esters thereof, may be used in combination with other actives. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical formulations and compositions comprising (rac)-ornidazole, (R)-ornidazole, (S)-ornidazole, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or esters thereof, and/or other actives as well as methods to stereoselectively manufacture the enantiomers.

Abstract: The invention provides for mammalian cells capable of producing recombinant CTLA4-Ig and variants thereof. The invention also provides for compositions comprising CTLA4-Ig and formulations thereof. The invention further provides for methods for mass-producing CTLA4-Ig from mammalian cells capable of producing this recombinant protein, and for purifying the CTLA4-Ig.

Abstract: The invention provides for mammalian cells capable of producing recombinant CTLA4-Ig and variants thereof. The invention also provides for compositions comprising CTLA4-Ig and formulations thereof The invention further provides for methods for mass-producing CTLA4-Ig from mammalian cells capable of producing this recombinant protein, and for purifying the CTLA4-Ig.