Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions for vaccination against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) comprising a RSV F polypeptide stabilized in a prefusion conformation and an inulin adjuvant. Also disclosed herein are methods of vaccinating a subject against a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection comprising administering to the subject an RSV F polypeptide stabilized in a prefusion conformation and an inulin adjuvant. In some embodiments, the subject is a female, and the method can reduce RSV infection in the subject and/or in the offspring of the subject. In some embodiments, the method decreases vaccine-enhanced respiratory disease (VERD) and/or eosinophilia in the subject or offspring of the subject.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present invention provides respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) F proteins, polypeptides and protein complexes that comprise one or more cross-links to stabilize the protein, polypeptide or protein complex in its pre-fusion conformation. In some embodiments the present invention provides RSV F proteins, polypeptides and protein complexes comprising one or more mutations to facilitate such cross-linking. In some embodiments the present invention provides compositions comprising such proteins, polypeptides or protein complexes, including vaccine compositions, and methods of making and using the same.

Abstract: In some embodiments the present invention provides influenza hemagglutinin (“HA”) polypeptides, proteins, and protein complexes that comprise a stalk domain that is engineered to facilitate maintenance of its native trimeric conformation, even if the head domain of the HA protein is removed or disrupted. In some embodiments, the present invention provides compositions comprising such polypeptides, proteins, and protein complexes, and methods of use of such proteins and compositions, for example as vaccine immunogens.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present invention provides respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) F proteins, polypeptides and protein complexes that comprise one or more cross-links to stabilize the protein, polypeptide or protein complex in its pre-fusion conformation. In some embodiments the present invention provides RSV F proteins, polypeptides and protein complexes comprising one or more mutations to facilitate such cross-linking. In some embodiments the present invention provides compositions comprising such proteins, polypeptides or protein complexes, including vaccine compositions, and methods of making and using the same.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of making engineered viral proteins and protein complexes that are useful as vaccine immunogens, engineered viral proteins and protein complexes made using such methods, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising such engineered viral proteins and protein complexes. Such engineered viral proteins and protein complexes may comprise one or more cross-links that stabilize the conformation of an antibody epitope, such as a quaternary neutralizing antibody, and may exhibit an enhanced ability to elicit a protective immune response when administered to a subject as a component of a vaccine.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present invention provides respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) F proteins, polypeptides and protein complexes that comprise one or more cross-links to stabilize the protein, polypeptide or protein complex in its pre-fusion conformation. In some embodiments the present invention provides RSV F proteins, polypeptides and protein complexes comprising one or more mutations to facilitate such cross-linking. In some embodiments the present invention provides compositions comprising such proteins, polypeptides or protein complexes, including vaccine compositions, and methods of making and using the same.

Abstract: A unit for harnessing solar power for heating water at high pressure, in which the circuit is exposed to freezing, comprising: a heat exchanger made as a single piece for a hydraulic circuit, made up of parallel polymer pipes (1) connected at one end thereof to a main branch-off pipe (2, 3) and, at the other end thereof, to a main collector pipe (2, 3); a sealed box (4) for a whole number of units connected in series, having a profile of regular section (5), reinforced by brackets that can be inserted in corners, with a translucent face (6), the other face having an insulated cover (7); the profile having a geometry suitable for connecting the box to a support structure; the profile having a geometry suitable for holding the insulating material (8) and the rubber seals on the inner part of the translucent face (9); the profile being such that complementary profiles (10) may be assembled thereon, by snap-fitting, and the complementary profiles have a housing for rubber seals (11) on the outer part of the trans

Abstract: A unit for harnessing solar power for heating water at high pressure, in which the circuit is exposed to freezing, comprising: a heat exchanger made as a single piece for a hydraulic circuit, made up of parallel polymer pipes (1) connected at one end thereof to a main branch-off pipe (2, 3) and, at the other end thereof, to a main collector pipe (2, 3); a sealed box (4) for a whole number of units connected in series, having a profile of regular section (5), reinforced by brackets that can be inserted in In corners, with a translucent face (6), the other face having an insulated cover (7); the profile having a geometry suitable for connecting the box to a support structure; the profile having a geometry suitable for holding the insulating material (8) and the rubber seals on the inner part of the translucent face (9); the profile being such that complementary profiles (10) may be assembled thereon, by snap-fitting, and the complementary profiles have a housing for rubber seals (11) on the outer part of the tr

Abstract: The invention relates to a modular construction system comprising a system in which the carcass results from the juxtaposition and/or stacking assembly of a plurality of prefabricated units (1), each of said units (1) including a framework made up of the juxtaposition in coaxial alignment of multiple elements forming a frame (2), spaced two-by-two and assembled by means of bottom girders (30) and top girders (31). The top or bottom girders (30, 31, 34) of each units run along the outside of the frames (2), and each of said girders (30, 31) is designed to be securable to the equivalent girder (30, 31) of a juxtaposed unit (1); while each of the top girders (31) is designed to be capable of being shared by two stacked units (1) and of forming a bottom girder thereof.

Abstract: A method and system for targeted in-store advertising content is disclosed. In order to improve the success of advertising content on a group of customers, the present invention monitors and records items as they are purchased from the store. These records generate data that is used to categorize customers into defined segments. Segments are matched to pre-defined profiles, which describe certain demographic characteristics common to customers in a particular segment. Advertisers can create advertising campaigns directed to these profiles, and when a certain number of matching segments appear within a certain amount of time within the store, the present invention will display the matching media content. The present invention tracks segment frequency, and applies a weighted T-distribution analysis to determine the likelihood of certain frequencies of segments appearing at a certain time.

Abstract: A system and process for data exchange using a stateless router and stateless server is disclosed. Using commodity hardware, the present invention enables assembly of a flexible extensible information management system without complexity or productivity loss. Comprising of a client computer, a stateless router, a stateless server and a database stored in a persistent layer associated with the stateless server, the present invention is easy to set up and use. System elements may communicate over a network, and consistency between data records is defined by an item-schema. The server accepts data record requests from the client, and automatically locates the requested data record. Because it is stateless, it retains no record of the data record transaction, and does not need to anticipate future requests.

Abstract: A mechanical linkage having a geometry designed to substantially hold the plane of a main screed and the plane of an extension screed at a generally constant relative angle with respect to one another through a predetermined range of screed depth adjustments. The linkage is configured to allow the extension screed to be raised and lowered by an amount sufficient to compensate for angle of attack and elevation changes in the main screed. In particular, the linkage compensates for the effect of the radial distance differences from the axis of rotation of tow bars of the main screed and extension screed as the main screed pivots with respect to the tow point of the tow bars for different asphalt mat depths. An alternate embodiment includes actuators, together with sensors, for sensing the position of the extension screed with respect to the main screed and automatically compensating for changes in main screed position to properly orient the extension screed with respect to the main screed.

Abstract: A high pressure water control device comprising a water inlet, a high pressure water outlet, a low pressure water outlet and a valve for selectively communicating the inlet with one or other of the outlets. The valve is a spool valve comprising a sleeve and a spool slidable in the sleeve. The spool has two axially spaced apart annular seals and the sleeve includes an annular groove in its outer surface and one or more dump ports which communicate between the groove and the inside of the sleeve so that when the dump ports are disposed between the spaced apart seals of the spool high pressure water will be delivered to the high pressure water outlet. The control device is in the form of a water gun having an elongate nozzle terminating in the high pressure outlet and a barrel surrounding the nozzle and terminating in the low pressure outlet.

Abstract: A high pressure water control device comprising a water inlet, a high pressure water outlet, a low pressure water outlet and a valve for selectively communicating the inlet with one or other of the outlets. The valve is a spool valve comprising a sleeve and a spool slidable in the sleeve. The spool has two axially spaced apart annular seals and the sleeve includes an annular groove in its outer surface and one or more dump ports which communicate between the groove and the inside of the sleeve so that when the dump ports are disposed between the spaced apart seals of the spool high pressure water will he delivered to the high pressure water outlet. The control device is in the form of a water gun having an elongate nozzle terminating in the high pressure outlet and a barrel surrounding the nozzle and terminating in the low pressure outlet.

Abstract: An energy recovery device includes at least one cylinder, a piston slidable in the cylinder, a first valve for selectively connecting one end of the cylinder to waste liquid at a first relatively high pressure and to drain and a second valve for allowing feed liquid to enter the other end of the cylinder at a second lower pressure via a feed liquid entry port and to be discharged via a feed liquid discharge port from the other end of the cylinder in response to movement of the piston caused by waste liquid entering the one end of the cylinder. A rod which extends from the other end of the cylinder and into but not through the piston, ensures that the area of the piston acting on the feed liquid is less than the area of the piston acted upon by the waste liquid so that the piston acts as a pressure intensifier to discharge feed liquid through the feed liquid discharge port at a higher pressure than the pressure of waste liquid entering the one end of the cylinder.