Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a haptic manipulandum are described. In one described system, a lever arm is pivotably coupled to a housing, and configured to apply a processor-controlled force to a substantially-spherical manipulandum to provide a haptic effect. The described system may include a processor in communication with an actuator for providing the haptic effect.

Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying and selecting a desired display device of one or more display devices for multimedia output are provided. In one embodiment, a respective identifying spatial orientation and one or more connectivity identifiers are associated with each of one or more display devices. A respective selecting spatial orientation is then received. The respective selecting spatial orientation is matched to the respective identifying spatial orientation to thereby determine the desired display device from the one or more display devices. Multimedia content is then routed from a source device to the desired display device via one of the one or more associated connectivity identifiers.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a haptic manipulandum are described. In one described system, a lever arm is pivotably coupled to a housing, and configured to apply a processor-controlled force to a substantially-spherical manipulandum to provide a haptic effect. The described system may include a processor in communication with an actuator for providing the haptic effect.

Abstract: The present invention relates to anti-sense oligonucleotides (AONs) used to induce exon 9 skipping in IL-23R? gene. Exon 9 skipping of the IL23R? gene ultimately causes specific induction of a novel soluble truncated IL-23R? (?9) protein, characterized by a lack in a transmembrane domain and has a unique eight (8) amino acids (GLKEGSYC) at its C-terminus end as a result of frame-shift. The present invention provides a utility application of the use of AONs to induce production of a ?9 protein which inhibits IL-23R-mediated cell signaling. More particularly, ?9 protein blocks STAT3 formation as well as Th17 maturation. There is provided a therapeutic application of AONs in treating a mammal such as a human patient inflicted with Crohn's disease.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel polypeptides that bind to IL-23 receptor and inhibit the binding of IL-23 to its corresponding receptor and cell signaling thereof. The novel polypeptides of the present invention has a core structure of WX1X2X3W, where W is tryptophan, and X1, X2 and X3 are amino acids, with the proviso that when one of X1, X2 or X3 is W, the remaining two of X1, X2 or X3 cannot be W. Preferred core structures include WVDYW or WQDYW. The present invention relates a composition containing the novel polypeptides, and use of same in treating IL-23 associated human diseases including, for example, inflammatory bowel diseases, psoriasis and Crohn's disease.

Abstract: An interactive and custom support kiosk is disclosed. In one embodiment, a kiosk is provided including a user attribute identification system and a region-specific linkage. The user attribute identification system may be a user language identification system where the user's preferred language may be detected. With detection of a user's preferred language, the kiosk may display a language-customized display with customized features based on the identified language. In some embodiments, the customized features may include a language-based experience format similar to a user's experience which would be expected in the user's home geography. In some examples, a second level of interaction may be provided wherein the user may be connected to a region-specific operator. The operator may provide immediate live help or assistance through the kiosk. In addition, security controls may be provided with the interactive language and custom support kiosk.

Abstract: A disk drive comprising a rotatable disk, a head actuated over the disk, and a controller is disclosed. The controller is configured to write a first force unit access write data to the cache as part of the cache data, write the first force unit access write data and a first metadata corresponding to the first force unit access write data to the first location by using the head, transmit a first write complete status to a host, and maintain the first force unit access write data in the cache as part of the cache data. The controller is also configured to store write data as part of the cache data. Furthermore, the controller is configured to write the cache data to a third location, and a metadata corresponding to the cache data to the disk.

Abstract: Managing data objects in a Data Storage Device (DSD) including a disk and a volatile memory for storing data. A data object is written from the volatile memory in a data object zone of the disk of the DSD. At least one most recent version of a previously written data object is rewritten in the data object zone so that an earlier version of the data object written from the volatile memory does not interrupt a contiguous plurality of most recent versions of data objects stored in the data object zone.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel polypeptides that bind to IL-23 receptor and inhibit the binding of IL-23 to its corresponding receptor and cell signaling thereof. The novel polypeptides of the present invention has a core structure of WX1X2X3W, where W is tryptophan, and X1, X2 and X3 are amino acids, with the proviso that when one of X1, X2 or X3 is W, the remaining two of X1, X2 or X3 cannot be W. The present invention relates a composition containing the novel polypeptides, and use of same in treating IL-23 associated human diseases including, for example, inflammatory bowel diseases, psoriasis and Crohn's disease.

Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying and selecting a desired display device of one or more display devices for multimedia output are provided. In one embodiment, a respective identifying spatial orientation and one or more connectivity identifiers are associated with each of one or more display devices. A respective selecting spatial orientation is then received. The respective selecting spatial orientation is matched to the respective identifying spatial orientation to thereby determine the desired display device from the one or more display devices. Multimedia content is then routed from a source device to the desired display device via one of the one or more associated connectivity identifiers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to anti-sense oligonucleotides (AONs) used to induce exon 9 skipping in IL-23R?gene. Exon 9 skipping of the IL23R? gene ultimately causes specific induction of a novel soluble truncated IL-23R? (?9) protein, characterized by a lack in a transmembrane domain and has a unique eight (8) amino acids (GLKEGSYC) at its C-terminus end as a result of frame-shift. The present invention provides a utility application of the use of AONs to induce production of a ?9 protein which inhibits IL-23R-mediated cell signaling. More particularly, ?9 protein blocks STAT3 formation as well as Th17 maturation. There is provided a therapeutic application of AONs in treating a mammal such as a human patient inflicted with Crohn's disease.

Abstract: A device comprises a manipulandum moveable in at least two degrees of freedom including a first link rotatably moveable about a pivot axis and a second link rotatably moveable about a pivot axis. The first link and the second link are coupled to a ground member. A first actuator is configured to engage the first link and provide an output about a drive axis of the first actuator. A second actuator is configured to engage the second link and provide an output about a drive axis of the second actuator. The drive axis of the first actuator is substantially parallel to the drive axis of the second actuator. The first actuator and the second actuator are each configured to receive a signal associated with a force feedback. The force feedback being associated with the manipulandum.

Abstract: The present invention relates to anti-sense oligonucleotides (AONs) used to induce exon 9 skipping in IL-23R? gene. Exon 9 skipping of the IL23R? gene ultimately causes specific induction of a novel soluble truncated IL-23R? (?9) protein, characterized by a lack in a transmembrane domain and has a unique eight (8) amino acids (GLKEGSYC) at its C-terminus end as a result of frame-shift. The present invention provides a utility application of the use of AONs to induce production of a ?9 protein which inhibits IL-23R-mediated cell signaling. More particularly, ?9 protein blocks STAT3 formation as well as Th17 maturation. There is provided a therapeutic application of AONs in treating a mammal such as a human patient inflicted with Crohn's disease.

Abstract: There is disclosed the cloning and identification of human IL-23R splice variants caused by alternative splicing of the IL-23R mRNA in human. Alternative mRNA forms occur through skipping one, multiple full exons or partial exons, within the IL-23R gene. A total of twenty-five (25) different IL-23R transcripts were identified. A novel exon deletion (exon 9) isoform in the interleukin 23 receptor is disclosed, denoted as ?9. The present application also describes a quantitative assay to measure different IL-23R isoform. Detection of ?9 isoform of IL-23R is predominantly present in colon and cervical tissues. A decrease in ?9 is observed in inflamed colon tissues in Crohn's patients. There is disclosed a method of predicting Crohn's disease by measuring ?9 isoform of IL-23R.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an isolated naturally-occurring soluble truncated IL-23R? protein, which is a translated protein resulting from a mRNA splice variant of IL-23R?. The soluble IL-23R? proteins (e.g., ?9 and ?8,9) represents a novel soluble IL-23R? protein, which is lacking a transmembrane domain and has a unique eight (8) amino acids (GLKEGSYC) at its C-terminus end (due to frame-shift). ELISA reveals that ?9 is present in blood and can serve as a diagnostic tool for auto-immune diseases including Crohn's disease. There is also provided a method of recombinant production for this soluble truncated form of IL-23R? protein. More importantly, the present invention provides an utility application of the ?9 and ?8,9 protein in inhibit IL-23R-mediated cell signaling. More particularly, ?9 and ?8,9 blocks STAT3 formation as well as Th17 maturation. There is provided a therapeutic application of ?9 and ?8,9 in treating a human patient inflicted with Crohn's disease.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel polypeptides that bind to IL-23 receptor and inhibit the binding of IL-23 to its corresponding receptor and cell signaling thereof. The novel polypeptides of the present invention has a core structure of WX1X2X3W, where W is tryptophan, and X1, X2 and X3 are amino acids, with the proviso that when one of X1, X2 or X3 is W, the remaining two of X1, X2 or X3 cannot be W. Preferred core structures include WVDYW or WQDYW. The present invention relates a composition containing the novel polypeptides, and use of same in treating IL-23 associated human diseases including, for example, inflammatory bowel diseases, psoriasis and Crohn's disease.

Abstract: There is disclosed the cloning and identification of human IL-23R splice variants caused by alternative splicing of the IL-23R mRNA in human. Alternative mRNA forms occur through skipping one, multiple full exons or partial exons, within the IL-23R gene. A total of twenty-five (25) different IL-23R transcripts were identified. A novel exon deletion (exon 9) isoform in the interleukin 23 receptor is disclosed, denoted as ?9. The present application also describes a quantitative assay to measure different IL-23R isoform. Detection of ?9 isoform of IL-23R is predominantly present in colon and cervical tissues. A decrease in ?9 is observed in inflamed colon tissues in Crohn's patients. There is disclosed a method of predicting Crohn's disease by measuring ?9 isoform of IL-23R.

Abstract: The present invention relates to anti-sense oligonucleotides (AONs) used to induce exon 9 skipping in IL-23R? gene. Exon 9 skipping of the IL23R? gene ultimately causes specific induction of a novel soluble truncated IL-23R? (?9) protein, characterized by a lack in a transmembrane domain and has a unique eight (8) amino acids (GLKEGSYC) at its C-terminus end as a result of frame-shift. The present invention provides a utility application of the use of AONs to induce production of a ?9 protein which inhibits IL-23R-mediated cell signaling. More particularly, ?9 protein blocks STAT3 formation as well as Th17 maturation. There is provided a therapeutic application of AONs in treating a mammal such as a human patient inflicted with Crohn's disease.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel polypeptides that bind to IL-23 receptor and inhibit the binding of IL-23 to its corresponding receptor and cell signaling thereof. The novel polypeptides of the present invention has a core structure of WX1X2X3W, where W is tryptophan, and X1, X2 and X3 are amino acids, with the proviso that when one of X1, X2 or X3 is W, the remaining two of X1, X2 or X3 cannot be W. The present invention relates a composition containing the novel polypeptides, and use of same in treating IL-23 associated human diseases including, for example, inflammatory bowel diseases, psoriasis and Crohn's disease.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for an interactive and collaborative computing device. One example device enables users to establish a communicative link with the interactive and collaborative computing device such that each user may view and share information whether in a local or remote interactive and collaborative environment. The systems and methods described herein further provide a way for users to annotate content displayed on the interactive and collaborative computing device by providing annotative input via another computing device.