Abstract: An optimized baculovirus/insect cell-mediated system is provided for the production of enterovirus 71 virus-like particles to produce a vaccine against recent EV71 virus outbreaks. Co-expression of the viral capsid polyprotein P1 ORF derived from a fatal case in the Fuyang province of the People's Republic of China plus the 3 CD protease of EV71 prototype strain BrCr resulted in the formation of VLPs. The yields were increased by co-expression of both P1 and 3CD in separate transgene cassettes arranged in opposite orientation in a bicistronic baculovirus vector and by inserting the translational enhancing signal L21 in front of the capsid protein open reading frame. Faster transgene processing was achieved by using insect Sf21 cells instead of Sf9 cells.

Abstract: A non-invasive monitoring apparatus for end-tidal gas concentrations, and a method of use thereof, is described for the detection of endogenous gas concentrations, including respiratory gases, in exhaled breath.

Abstract: Methods for preparing ex vivo T cell cultures using IL-21 compositions for use in adoptive immunotherapy are described. Addition of IL-21 to cultures of non-terminally differentiated T cells population, either isolated or present in peripheral blood mononuclear cells are exposed to one or more tumor antigens, and in the presence of IL-21 compositions and antigen presenting cells (APCs), the resulting T cell population has an enhanced antigen-specificity, and can be reintroduced into the patient. Methods are also disclosed for identifying tumor antigens by culturing T cell populations exposed to IL-21 compositions and APCs in the presence of tumor material.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for accurately detecting mutations by uniquely tagging double stranded nucleic acid molecules with dual cyphers such that sequence data obtained from a sense strand can be linked to sequence data obtained from an anti-sense strand when sequenced, for example, by massively parallel sequencing methods.

Abstract: In order to inhibit thrombotic processes locally rather than systemically, higher levels of antithrombotic drugs in the deep veins of the legs than in the systemic circulation are obtained using devices and methods that provide venous cannulation in the dorsum of the foot of a patient while applying pressure to the foot proximal to the venous cannulation, potentially as far up the leg as the knee, in an amount sufficient to compress the superficial veins and divert the venous drainage in the deep venous system into the venous plexus.

Abstract: A fluid delivery device includes an array of needles, each in fluid communication with a respective reservoir. Respective actuators are coupled so as to be operable to drive fluid from the reservoirs via needle ports. Each needle can have a plurality of ports, and the ports can be arranged to deliver a substantially equal amount of fluid at any given location along its length. A driver is coupled to the actuators to selectively control the rate, volume, and direction of flow of fluid through the needles. The device can simultaneously deliver a plurality of fluid agents along respective axes in solid tissue in vivo. If thereafter resected, the tissue can be sectioned for evaluation of an effect of each agent on the tissue, and based on the evaluation, candidate agents selected or deselected for clinical trials or therapy, and subjects selected or deselected for clinical trials or therapeutic treatment.

Abstract: A widely distributed security system (SDI-SCAM) that protects computers at individual client locations, but which constantly pools and analyzes information gathered from machines across a network in order to quickly detect patterns consistent with intrusion or attack, singular or coordinated. When a novel method of attack has been detected, the system distributes warnings and potential countermeasures to each individual machine on the network. Such a warning may potentially consist of a probability distribution of the likelihood of an intrusion or attack as well as the relative probabilistic likelihood that such potential intrusion possesses certain characteristics or typologies or even strategic objectives in order to best recommend and/or distribute to each machine the most befitting countermeasure(s) given all presently known particular data and associated predicted probabilistic information regarding the prospective intrusion or attack.

Abstract: A database system stores information about potential patients that allows medical professionals to gauge the legal risk presented by the potential patients, giving the medical professionals the opportunity to avoid medical involvement with those individuals most prone to engaging in unwarranted legal actions. The database may also be used by insurance companies, legal services and other professional service providers to screen for potentially litigious customers. Information in the database is processed to provide a risk assessment score for each patient that is used for screening purposes.

Abstract: Embodiments methods and compositions involving inhibitors of the immunoreceptor Natural Killer Group 2, Member D, (NKG2D) for inhibiting tumor progression and treating cancer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods, kits and compositions for expansion of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells and providing hematopoietic function to human patients in need thereof. In one aspect, it relates to kits and compositions comprising a Notch agonist and an aryl hydrocarbon receptor antagonist. Also provided herein are methods for expanding the hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells using kits and compositions comprising a Notch agonist and an aryl hydrocarbon receptor antagonist. The hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells expanded using the disclosed kits, compositions and methods include human umbilical cord blood stem/progenitor cells, placental cord blood stem/progenitor cells and peripheral blood stem cells. The present invention also relates to administering hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells expanded using a combination of a Notch agonist and an aryl hydrocarbon receptor antagonist to a patient for short-term and/or long-term in vivo repopulation benefits.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions to confer and/or augment immune responses mediated by cellular immunotherapy, such as by adoptively transferring genetically modified tumor specific CD8+ T cells in the presence of tumor-specific, subset specific genetically modified CD4+ T cells, wherein the CD4+ T cells confer and/or augment a CD8+ T cells ability to sustain anti-tumor reactivity and increase and/or maximize tumor-specific proliferation of the tumor-specific CD8+ T cells of interest. Pharmaceutical formulations produced by the method, and methods of using the same, are also described.

Abstract: Compounds are described that are useful for treating an apoptosis-associated disease, which are specifically cytotoxic to tumor cells that are overexpressing Bcl-xL, and are much less cytotoxic in isogenic cells that are not overexpressing Bcl-xL. Also described is a method for treating an apoptosis-associated disease in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of an active compound that is specifically cytotoxic to tumor cells that are overexpressing Bcl-xL, and are much less cytotoxic in isogenic cells that are not overexpressing Bcl-xL. Several scaffolds of active compounds are described.

Abstract: A fluid delivery device includes an array of needles, each in fluid communication with a respective reservoir. Respective actuators are coupled so as to be operable to drive fluid from the reservoirs via needle ports. Each needle can have a plurality of ports, and the ports can be arranged to deliver a substantially equal amount of fluid at any given location along its length. A driver is coupled to the actuators to selectively control the rate, volume, and direction of flow of fluid through the needles. The device can simultaneously deliver a plurality of fluid agents along respective axes in solid tissue in vivo. If thereafter resected, the tissue can be sectioned for evaluation of an effect of each agent on the tissue, and based on the evaluation, candidate agents selected or deselected for clinical trials or therapy, and subjects selected or deselected for clinical trials or therapeutic treatment.

Abstract: A sensor device for sensing wetness in an absorbent article worn by a subject includes one or more sensing elements; and a coupling for communicating sensor signals between the one or more sensing elements and a receiver. A change in environmental parameter causes a change in electrical behaviour of at least one of the sensing elements, which behaviour can be analysed to determine occurrence of a wetness event in the absorbent article. The changes in electrical behaviour are communicated in the sensor signals to the receiver. The analysis may be by the receiver or a processor in communication with the receiver. Ideally, the sensing elements include capacitive elements and preferably, resonance circuits.

Abstract: A fluid delivery device includes an array of needles, each in fluid communication with a respective reservoir. Respective actuators are coupled so as to be operable to drive fluid from the reservoirs via needle ports. Each needle can have a plurality of ports, and the ports can be arranged to deliver a substantially equal amount of fluid at any given location along its length. A driver is coupled to the actuators to selectively control the rate, volume, and direction of flow of fluid through the needles. The device can simultaneously deliver a plurality of fluid agents along respective axes in solid tissue in vivo. If thereafter resected, the tissue can be sectioned for evaluation of an effect of each agent on the tissue, and based on the evaluation, candidate agents selected or deselected for clinical trials or therapy, and subjects selected or deselected for clinical trials or therapeutic treatment.

Abstract: A method of measuring immunocompetence is described. This method provides a means for assessing the effects of diseases or conditions that compromise the immune system and of therapies aimed to reconstitute it. This method is based on quantifying T-cell diversity by calculating the number of diverse T-cell receptor (TCR) beta chain variable regions from blood cells.

Abstract: The present invention concerns the use of oxygen antagonists and other active compounds for inducing stasis or pre-stasis in cells, tissues, and/or organs in vivo or in an organism overall, in addition to enhancing their survivability. It includes compositions, methods, articles of manufacture and apparatuses for enhancing survivability and for achieving stasis or pre-stasis in any of these biological materials, so as to preserve and/or protect them. In specific embodiments, there are also therapeutic methods and apparatuses for organ transplantation, hyperthermia, wound healing, hemorrhagic shock, cardioplegia for bypass surgery, neurodegeneration, hypothermia, and cancer using the active compounds described.

Abstract: A method for analysing incoming data, comprising the steps of processing the incoming data in segments to output a sequence of segment types by extracting one or more properties of an incoming data segment and forming an Unknown Property Vector for each segment of data in the incoming data, and processing the sequence of segment types to identify events in the incoming data. The sequence of segment types is determined, for each segment, by reference to a set of Reference Property Vectors that are relevant to the Unknown Property Vector. This may involve application of first and/or second and/or further functions to identify at least a first subset of Reference Property Vectors that are relevant to the Unknown Property Vector. Alternatively, a logistic regression algorithm, derived using clustering or classification methods for identifying candidate vectors, may be used.

Abstract: A chlorotoxin conjugate detectable by fluorescence imaging that allows for intra-operative visualization of cancerous tissues, compositions that include the chlorotoxin conjugate, and methods for using the chlorotoxin conjugate.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention relates to methods for increasing, decreasing or maintaining the innate immune response in a mammalian subject comprising modulating the expression of DUX4-fl, or modulating the expression of beta-defensin 3 (DEFB103). In another aspect, the present invention relates to methods for increasing, decreasing or maintaining myogenesis or muscle differentiation in a mammalian subject comprising modulating the expression of beta-defensin 3 (DEFB103). In additional aspects, the present invention involves diagnostic methods based on assessment of identified biomarkers.