Abstract: Fusion proteins and nucleic acid molecules encoding fusion proteins are disclosed. Fusion proteins comprising non-IL-15 signal peptide linked to IL-15 protein sequences and fusion proteins comprising an IgE signal peptide linked to non-IgE protein sequences are disclosed. Vectors comprising such nucleic acid molecules; and to host cells comprising such vectors are disclosed as well as recombinant vaccines and live attenuated pathogens encoding fusion proteins, and methods of using the same, are disclosed. The immunomodulatory effect following delivery of IL-15 and CD40L, with or without immunogens, is disclosed as are various nucleic acid molecules and compositions thereof used for delivering such proteins and methods of using such compositions.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 14, 2004
Date of Patent:
May 8, 2012
Assignee:
The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania
Inventors:
David B. Weiner, Michele Kutzler, Andrew Y. Choo, Joo-Sung Yang, Jean D. Boyer
Abstract: Improved anti-HIV immunogens and nucleic acid molecules that encode them are disclosed, Immunogens disclosed include those having consensus sequences for HIV Subtype A Envelope protein, those having consensus sequences for HIV Subtype B Envelope protein, those having consensus sequences for HIV Subtype C Envelope protein, those having consensus sequences for HIV Subtype D Envelope protein, those having consensus sequences for HIV Subtype B consensus Nef-Rev protein, and those having consensus sequences form HIV Gag protein subtypes A, B, C and D. Improved anti-HPV immunogens and nucleic acid molecules that encode them; improved anti-HCV immunogens and nucleic acid molecules that encode them; improved hTERT immunogens and nucleic acid molecules that encode them; and improved anti-Influenza immunogens and nucleic acid molecules that encode them are disclosed.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 30, 2007
Date of Patent:
May 1, 2012
Assignee:
The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania
Abstract: The present invention provides, inter alia, inhibitors of cardiovascular diseases and disorders. The present invention also provides therapeutic methods for preventing and/or treating cardiovascular diseases and disorders. Further, the present invention provides methods of identifying inhibitors of cardiovascular diseases and disorders as well as model systems suitable for identifying such inhibitors as well as methods and compositions for detecting and/or diagnosing cardiovascular diseases and disorders.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 19, 2006
Date of Patent:
April 24, 2012
Assignee:
The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania
Abstract: A method of providing access to data via a public communications network includes the receiving a first data session request having a storage group mark, the storage group mark defining a server storage group, a load balancer route the request to a first server that processes request and any related session information, storing any altered first session data in a data storage. The load balancer receives a second request, wherein the second request also has the same storage group mark. The load balance selects a second server to respond to the second request. As before, the second server processes the second request and the altered first session data loaded from the data storage. After processing, the second server stores any altered second session data in the stored data on the first server as well as the second server and returns the altered second session data.
Abstract: A system and method of selecting a package model may include maintaining a data structure of a plurality of package models. Each package model may have a plurality of package model attributes including at least a size and a style. A user input may be received that is descriptive of a desired package capability. The user input may be analyzed using a semantic reasoner to determine one or more desired attributes. One or more package models may be automatically selected by accessing the data structure wherein, for each selected package model, each desired attribute satisfies the corresponding package model attribute. The one or more selected package models may be presented.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 15, 2008
Date of Patent:
April 17, 2012
Assignee:
Xerox Corporation
Inventors:
Barry Glynn Gombert, John Oliver Walker, Philip Crane Rose, Jennifer Colleen Perotti
Abstract: Digital images or the charge from pixels in light sensitive semiconductor based imagers may be used to detect gamma rays and energetic particles emitted by radioactive materials. Methods may be used to identify pixel-scale artifacts introduced into digital images and video images by high energy gamma rays. Statistical tests and other comparisons on the artifacts in the images or pixels may be used to prevent false-positive detection of gamma rays. The sensitivity of the system may be used to detect radiological material at distances in excess of 50 meters. Advanced processing techniques allow for gradient searches to more accurately determine the source's location, while other acts may be used to identify the specific isotope. Coordination of different imagers and network alerts permit the system to separate non-radioactive objects from radioactive objects.
Abstract: Methods and systems for adaptively deferring prepress operations are disclosed. A prepress workflow system may analyze a workflow to determine whether the performance of one or more prepress operations in the workflow can be deferred to a printing device. A deferred operations ticket may be stored corresponding to the workflow. The deferred operations ticket may contain one or more deferrable prepress operations. The prepress workflow system may receive a document to be processed by the workflow. The document and the deferred operations ticket may be sent to the printing device. The printing device may perform the one or more deferrable prepress operations contained in the deferred operations ticket on the document to produce a processed document and print the processed document.
Abstract: The invention provides a system and method for dissolution testing. The system includes multiple dissolution vessels and a dose carrier positioned above the dissolution vessels. The dose carrier holds multiple removable carousels that receive individual doses for dissolution tested. Carousels that receive tablets or sinkers typically have a first configuration, while carousels that receive baskets typically have a second configuration. The two different configurations of carousels are interchangeable on the same dose ring. The system further includes a drive head positioned above the dose carrier, the drive head having a basket arbor and a mixing paddle removably and interchangeably attached. A pipettor integral with the system transfers sample aliquots having volumes in the range of 50 ?l to 1 ml from the dissolution vessels to wells of an external receptacle.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 28, 2006
Date of Patent:
April 17, 2012
Assignee:
Sotax Corporation
Inventors:
Colin Kennedy, Syed Husain, Dale von Behren, Rick Bernal
Abstract: A multi media payment device includes a banknote acceptor and a RF card reader, and also may include a magnetic card reader. A bezel assembly for connection to the bill acceptor preferably includes a reader unit to read magnetic swipe cards and contactless chip cards.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 23, 2007
Date of Patent:
April 17, 2012
Assignee:
MEI, Inc.
Inventors:
Evan J. Cost, Peter Bullard, Robert Martin
Abstract: Modular building structures and methods of forming such structures are disclosed. A modular building structure may include a plurality of walls, a ceiling and a landing. The plurality of walls may include a front wall. The ceiling may be positioned at a top portion of each of the plurality of walls and may have a top surface. The landing may be connected to the ceiling by one or more pin assemblies. The one or more pin assemblies are configured to enable the landing to be moved between a retracted position and an extended position. An upper surface of the landing may be adjacent to a top surface of the ceiling when the landing is in the retracted position. The landing may extend from the front wall when the landing is in the extended position.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 11, 2010
Date of Patent:
April 17, 2012
Assignee:
New Enterprise Stone and Line Co., Inc
Inventors:
Russell George Dickson, Gregory James Gorman
Abstract: Enveloped virus vectors are described which comprise a cellular virus receptor protein and which are capable of fusing with a cell which comprises a viral envelope protein to which the cellular virus receptor protein is cognate. Enveloped virus vectors comprising a plurality of cellular virus receptor proteins are also described. Methods for making the enveloped virus vectors are described, as are methods of using the enveloped virus vectors. The invention further relates to a lipoparticle comprising a membrane spanning protein, and the lipoparticle can be attached to a sensor surface. The invention relates to methods of producing and using the lipoparticle to, inter alia, assess protein binding interactions.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 9, 2010
Date of Patent:
April 17, 2012
Assignee:
The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania
Inventors:
Robert W Doms, Joseph Rucker, Trevor L Hoffman, Paul Bates, James A Hoxie, Michael J Endres, John Balliet, Dennis L Kolson
Abstract: A printable media hold-down system includes a print head array, a transport surface positioned adjacent to the print head array which transports a printable medium past the print head array in a location where the print head array may apply ink to the printable medium, and a vacuum system that creates vacuum pressure that holds the printable medium to the transport surface, the vacuum system having at least one adjustable baffle configured to move in a cross process direction and change a dimension of the vacuum system based on a dimension of the printable medium.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 26, 2010
Date of Patent:
April 17, 2012
Assignee:
Xerox Corporation
Inventors:
Linn C. Hoover, Barry Paul Mandel, Ruddy Castillo, Matthew Dondiego, Joannes N. M. deJong, Lloyd A. Williams
Abstract: The invention described herein is generally directed to methods for analyzing an image. In particular, crowded field images may be analyzed for unidentified, unobserved objects based on an iterative analysis of modified images including artificial objects or removed real objects. The results can provide an estimate of the completeness of analysis of the image, an estimate of the number of objects that are unobserved in the image, and an assessment of the quality of other similar images.
Abstract: Compositions and methods for inducing the deposition of elastin in skin by administering compositions including a mineralocorticoid, such as, for example, aldosterone and, optionally, a secondary active agent for enhancing or modulating the effect of the mineralocorticoid are described herein.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 6, 2008
Date of Patent:
April 3, 2012
Assignees:
Human Matrix Sciences, LLC, The Hospital for Sick Children
Abstract: An assembly includes a currency cassette, a pressure plate, and a plurality of gears rotatably connected to at least two opposite edges of the pressure plate. In an implementation, a plurality of substantially parallel racks are configured to engage a plurality of the gears.
Abstract: A system of scheduling a plurality of print jobs in a document production environment may include resources and a computer-readable storage medium including programming instructions for performing a method of processing print jobs. The method may include receiving print jobs and setup characteristics corresponding to each print job. Each print job may have a corresponding job size. The print jobs may be grouped into sets based on a common characteristic and each set may be identified as a fast job set or a slow job set based on setup characteristics associated with the set and the job sizes of the print jobs in the set. The fast job set may be routed to a fast job autonomous cell and the slow job set may be routed to a slow job autonomous cell.
Abstract: A production printing system for processing a plurality of print jobs may include a plurality of print job processing resources and a computer-readable storage medium including one or more programming instructions for performing a method of processing a plurality of print jobs in a document production environment. The method may include identifying a print job size distribution for a plurality of print jobs in a document production environment and determining whether the print job size distribution exhibits a heavy-tail characteristic. For each print job size distribution that exhibits a heavy-tail characteristic, the plurality of print jobs may be grouped into a plurality of subgroups such that at least one of the plurality of subgroups exhibits a non-heavy-tail characteristic, and each job in the at least one of the plurality of subgroups exhibiting the non-heavy-tail characteristic may be processed by one or more print job processing resources.
Abstract: Method of identifying a microRNA-recognition element and of generating microRNAs are disclosed. System and computer programs for performing such methods are disclosed. Recombinant nucleic acid molecule comprising a heterologous coding sequences and one or more MREs are also disclosed as are isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising one or more MRE sequences and being free of a coding sequence operably linked to regulatory elements. MicroRNA generated by a methods of the invention and the use of the microRNAs to downregulate gene expression are disclosed.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 15, 2004
Date of Patent:
March 27, 2012
Assignee:
The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania
Inventors:
Artemis G. Hatzigeorgiou, Zissimos Mourelatos
Abstract: The present invention relates to a three dimensional, malleable cell culture composition and method of forming the same comprising hyaluronic acid, chitosan and a polyelectrolytic complex of hyaluronic acid and chitosan. These three components in combination constitute an initial microenvironment for support of stromal cells, and their undifferentiated mesenchymal cell progeny. The tissue engineering device and method of forming the same comprising hyaluronic acid and chitosan and the use of said device with compositions of pluripotent cells and various formulations of cell culture media for repair of tissues is disclosed.