Abstract: The following class of molecule is disclosed: a dimer containing a first neublastin polypeptide and a second neublastin polypeptide, wherein: (a) at least one of the polypeptides is glycosylated; (b) at least one of the polypeptides is conjugated at its N-terminus to a water-soluble synthetic polymer; and (c) neither of the polypeptides is conjugated to a water-soluble synthetic polymer at a position other than the N-terminus. Such dimers possess the biological activity of wild-type neublastin while displaying enhanced serum half-life and enhanced potency relative to wild-type neublastin.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of increasing vascularization in a tissue by administering a neublastin polypeptide to a mammal exhibiting impaired or inadequate blood flow in the tissue. The methods can be used to in the treatment or prevention of a disorder characterized by impaired or inadequate blood flow or to increase vascularization in an organ that has been transplanted into a subject.

Abstract: An audio system for an outdoor umbrella includes an audio housing, a detachable locker, and an audio device. The audio housing includes a first housing body and a second housing body defining a mounting slot for a shaft of the outdoor umbrella fitting therewithin. The detachable locker includes a first locker provided at the first housing body and a second locker which is provided at the second housing body and is releasably locked with the first locker so as to detachably lock up the second housing body with the first housing body. The audio device includes a speaker supported in the first housing body and an audio input operatively coupling with the speaker such that when the audio input sends an audio signal to the speaker, the speaker is adapted for producing audio sound as an additional function for the outdoor umbrella.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of producing aglycosylated Fc-containing polypeptides, such as antibodies, having desired effector function. The invention also provides aglycosylated antibodies produced according to the method as well as methods of using such antibodies as therapeutics.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to methods of increasing the efficiency of producing a bioproduct. In some embodiments, the method increases the quantity of a bioproduct produced, or decreases bioproduct production time, in a bioreactor cell culture producing the bioproduct, the method comprising, (a) intermittently or continuously analyzing the concentration of one or more nutrients in the bioreactor cell culture; and (b) adding to the bioreactor cell culture additional nutrient media when the concentration of the one or more nutrients is lower than a target value.

Abstract: A method for multi-selection gifting, including maintaining, by at least one of a plurality of computers, a gift database including records for multi-selection gifts, each record including a plurality of product identifiers for items of merchandise, and at least one selection rule governing selection of at least two of the items of merchandise, and interactively enabling, by at least one of the plurality of computers, a gift giver to generate a multi-selection gift for at least one gift recipient, including presenting, to the gift giver, a group of selection rules for selection by the gift giver, the group including allowing a gift recipient to select up to a specified total number of items of merchandise in the multi-selection gift, allowing the gift recipient to select items of merchandise in the multi-selection gift up to a specified total cost, and allowing the gift recipient to select items of merchandise in the multi-selection gift up to a specified total measure.

Abstract: This invention features methods for prognosticating the efficacy of a cancer treatment comprising administration of a lymphotoxin-? receptor (LT-?-R) using TRAF3, TRAF2, and/or p53 markers, as well as combination therapies that include a composition that activates lymphotoxin-beta receptor signaling in combination with one or more other agents.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a non-naturally occurring BAFF-R glycoprotein having a deletion in the extracellular domain which results in an altered 0-linked glycosylation pattern. The disclosure also provides methods and pharmaceutical compositions for treating B-cell- and T-cell-mediated disorders.

Abstract: This invention provides binding proteins, including antibodies, antibody derivatives and antibody fragments, that specifically bind a CD154 (CD40L) protein. This invention also provides a chimeric, humanized or fully human antibody, antibody derivative or antibody fragment that specifically binds to an epitope to which a humanized Fab fragment comprising a variable heavy chain sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 1 and comprising a variable light chain sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 2 specifically binds. CD154 binding proteins of this invention may elicit reduced effector function relative to a second anti-CD154 antibody. CD154 binding proteins of this invention are useful in diagnostic and therapeutic methods, such as in the treatment and prevention of diseases including those that involve undesirable immune responses that are mediated by CD154-CD40 interactions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to modulators of IRAK kinases of formula (I) and provides compositions comprising such modulators, as well as methods therewith for treating IRAK-mediated or IRAK-associated conditions or diseases.

Abstract: In a process for reading the barcodes on the cylindrical elements and a system therefor, the system includes a working table having a transferring path and an inspection area on the transferring path, a shifting means driving a plurality of the standing cylindrical elements to gradually move along transferring path into the inspection area, an element barcode adhered on the outer all of the cylindrical element, a transmission means driving the cylindrical elements to self-rotate a certain rotation angle, an element reader reading the barcodes of the self-rotating cylindrical elements in order to automatically identify and record the information of the cylindrical elements entering into the inspection area.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to methods of preventing and eliminating trisulfide bonds in proteins such as antibodies. In one embodiment, trisulfide bonds in proteins are converted to disulfide bonds as part of chromatographic purification procedures. In another embodiment, the formation of trisulfide bonds in proteins is inhibited by implementation of methods described herein during the cell culture production of such proteins. In another embodiment, monoclonal antibodies are produced by the methods described herein.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for assaying the level of analytes in a sample, related to VLA-4, are disclosed. A method of decreasing the level of an anti-integrin antibody in a subject is described including a) contacting a biological sample from a subject with a detectable capture agent associated with a substrate, wherein the capture agent can bind an anti-integrin antibody in the sample; b) detecting binding of the capture agent with the level of the anti-integrin antibody; and c) treating the subject with plasma exchange until the level of the anti-integrin antibody in the sample reaches a predetermined level.

Abstract: Compositions and methods comprising “lymphotoxin-? receptor blocking agents” which block lymphotoxin-? receptor signalling and are useful for altering immunological diseases, and particularly antibody mediated immune responses.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for determining whether a subject is at risk for PML, including subjects being treated with immunosuppressants, by determining whether the subject harbors a JCV variant with reduced binding for sialic acid relative to a normal JCV, are presented. Furthermore, combinations of JCV-VP1 sequence variations that are associated with PML and that can be used as a basis of an assay for identifying subjects susceptible to PML, subjects with PML (e.g., early stage PML), or subjects at risk of developing PML in response to an immunosuppressive treatment are provided.

Abstract: Provided are certain methods of screening, identifying, and evaluating neuroprotective compounds useful for treatment of neurological diseases, such as, e.g., multiple sclerosis (MS). The compounds described upregulate the cellular cytoprotective pathway regulated by Nrf2. Also provided are certain methods of utilizing such compounds in therapy for neurological disease, particularly, for slowing or reducing demyelination, axonal loss, or neuronal and oligodendrocyte death.

Abstract: Methods for high level expression of active lymphotoxin-? receptor immunoglobulin chimeric proteins and their purification.

Abstract: Monoclonal antibodies that specifically bind to M.96. Also included are methods of using these antibodies to treat mammals having or at risk of having 006-mediated diseases, or to diagnose % Qmediated diseases.

Abstract: The invention relates to the treatment of demyelinating disorders, e.g. multiple sclerosis, using a soluble lymphotoxin beta receptor (LT?R) as an inhibitor of the lymphotoxin pathway.

Abstract: Compounds that have agonist activity at one or more of the S1P receptors are provided. The compounds are sphingosine analogs that, after phosphorylation, can behave as agonists at S1P receptors.