Abstract: A method for testing burning performance of a dark-colored cigarette using a dark-colored cigarette paper is provided. The dark-colored cigarette paper has a grayscale less than 255. The method includes: simulating, by a robotic arm, a cigarette smoking process and environment; acquiring, by a full-vision camera system, an image of a burn line and ash column region of the dark-colored cigarette; and analyzing a burning performance indicator of the dark-colored cigarette according to coordinate information of the burn line and ash column region. The method is based on a surface reflection characteristic of the dark-colored cigarette paper and a principle of optical reflection to light and highlight an edge of the dark-colored cigarette sample by a light source at a certain angle from a side. In this way, the method forms a chromatic aberration to localize the dark-colored cigarette sample, thereby testing the burning performance of the dark-colored cigarette sample.

Abstract: A method for comprehensively analyzing and/or evaluating cigarette burning quality index is disclosed. The steps include collecting cigarette burning quality index data, filtering the cigarette burning quality index data, standardizing cigarette data, and measuring cigarette burning quality. The importance of the cigarette burning quality indicators can also be evaluated. The method for comprehensively analyzing and/or evaluating cigarette burning quality indicators can reflect general laws more accurately by maintaining the sample distribution through a singularity detection method, and analyzing correlations of each index with cigarette performance from multiple perspectives, to fuse them into a comprehensive measurement value. The importance ranking and weight of indicators can be obtained more completely and stably.

Abstract: Embodiments of a recombinant human Parainfluenza Virus (hPIV) F ectodomain trimer stabilized in a prefusion conformation are provided. Also disclosed are nucleic acids encoding the hPIV F ectodomain trimer and methods of producing the hPIV F ectodomain trimer. Methods for inducing an immune response in a subject are also disclosed. In some embodiments, the method can be a method for treating or inhibiting a hPIV infection in a subject by administering a effective amount of the recombinant hPIV F ectodomain trimer to the subject.

Abstract: A method for testing burning performance of a dark-colored cigarette using a dark-colored cigarette paper is provided. The dark-colored cigarette paper has a grayscale less than 255. The method includes: simulating, by a robotic arm, a cigarette smoking process and environment; acquiring, by a full-vision camera system, an image of a burn line and ash column region of the dark-colored cigarette; and analyzing a burning performance indicator of the dark-colored cigarette according to coordinate information of the burn line and ash column region. The method is based on a surface reflection characteristic of the dark-colored cigarette paper and a principle of optical reflection to light and highlight an edge of the dark-colored cigarette sample by a light source at a certain angle from a side. In this way, the method forms a chromatic aberration to localize the dark-colored cigarette sample, thereby testing the burning performance of the dark-colored cigarette sample.

Abstract: Metapneumovirus (MPV) F proteins stabilized in a prefusion conformation, nucleic acid molecules and vectors encoding these proteins, and methods of their use and production are disclosed. In several embodiments, the MPV F proteins and/or nucleic acid molecules can be used to generate an immune response to MPV in a subject. In additional embodiments, the therapeutically effective amount of the MPV F ectodomain trimers and/or nucleic acid molecules can be administered to a subject in a method of treating or preventing MPV infection.

Abstract: Embodiments of a recombinant Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) F ectodomain trimer stabilized in a prefusion conformation are provided. Also disclosed are nucleic acids encoding the RSV F ectodomain trimer and methods of producing the RSV F ectodomain trimer. Methods for inducing an immune response in a subject are also disclosed. In some embodiments, the method can be a method for treating or preventing a RSV infection in a subject by administering a therapeutically effective amount of the recombinant RSV F ectodomain trimer to the subject.

Abstract: Disclosed are Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) antigens including a recombinant RSV F protein stabilized in a prefusion conformation. Also disclosed are nucleic acids encoding the antigens and methods of producing the antigens. Methods for generating an immune response in a subject are also disclosed. In some embodiments, the method is a method for treating or preventing a RSV infection in a subject by administering a therapeutically effective amount of the antigen to the subject.

Abstract: Embodiments of a recombinant human Parainfluenza Virus (hPIV) F ectodomain trimer stabilized in a prefusion conformation are provided. Also disclosed are nucleic acids encoding the hPIV F ectodomain trimer and methods of producing the hPIV F ectodomain trimer. Methods for inducing an immune response in a subject are also disclosed. In some embodiments, the method can be a method for treating or inhibiting a hPIV infection in a subject by administering a effective amount of the recombinant hPIV F ectodomain trimer to the subject.

Abstract: Embodiments of immunogens based on the HIV-1 Env fusion peptide and methods of their use and production are disclosed. Nucleic acid molecules encoding the immunogens are also provided. In several embodiments, the immunogens can be used to generate an immune response to HIV-1 Env in a subject, for example, to treat or prevent an HIV-1 infection in the subject.

Abstract: Metapneumovirus (MPV) F proteins stabilized in a prefusion conformation, nucleic acid molecules and vectors encoding these proteins, and methods of their use and production are disclosed. In several embodiments, the MPV F proteins and/or nucleic acid molecules can be used to generate an immune response to MPV in a subject. In additional embodiments, the therapeutically effective amount of the MPV F ectodomain trimers and/or nucleic acid molecules can be administered to a subject in a method of treating or preventing MPV infection.

Abstract: HIV-1 Env ectodomain trimers stabilized in a prefusion mature closed conformation and methods of their use and production are disclosed. In several embodiments, the HIV-1 Env ectodomain trimers and/or nucleic acid molecules can be used to generate an immune response to HIV-1 in a subject. In additional embodiments, the therapeutically effective amount of the HIV-1 Env ectodomain trimers can be administered to a subject in a method of treating or preventing HIV-1 infection.

Abstract: Metapneumovirus (HMPV) F ectodomain trimers stabilized in a prefusion or postfusion conformation, nucleic acid molecules and vectors encoding these proteins, and methods of their use and production are disclosed. In several embodiments, the HMPV F ectodomain trimers and/or nucleic acid molecules can be used to generate an immune response to HMPV in a subject. In additional embodiments, the therapeutically effective amount of the HMPV F ectodomain trimers and/or nucleic acid molecules can be administered to a subject in a method of treating or preventing HMPV infection.

Abstract: Embodiments of immunogens based on the HIV-1 Env fusion peptide and methods of their use and production are disclosed. Nucleic acid molecules encoding the immunogens are also provided. In several embodiments, the immunogens can be used to generate an immune response to HIV-1 Env in a subject, for example, to treat or prevent an HIV-1 infection in the subject.

Abstract: HIV-1 Env ectodomain trimers stabilized in a prefusion mature closed conformation and methods of their use and production are disclosed. In several embodiments, the HIV-1 Env ectodomain trimers and/or nucleic acid molecules can be used to generate an immune response to HIV-1 in a subject. In additional embodiments, the therapeutically effective amount of the HIV-1 Env ectodomain trimers can be administered to a subject in a method of treating or preventing HIV-1 infection.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to antibodies and Fc fusion proteins comprising Fc variants, and uses thereof. The Fc variants disclosed herein exhibit elevated affinity towards FcRn at pH 6.0, and/or rapidly disassociate from FcRn at pH 7.

Abstract: Neutralizing antibodies that specifically bind to HIV-1 Env and antigen binding fragments of these antibodies are disclosed. Nucleic acids encoding these antibodies, vectors and host cells are also provided. Methods for detecting HIV-1 using these antibodies are disclosed. In addition, the use of these antibodies, antigen binding fragment, nucleic acids and vectors to prevent and/or treat an HIV-1 infection is disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments of a recombinant Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) F ectodomain trimer stabilized in a prefusion conformation are provided. Also disclosed are nucleic acids encoding the RSV F ectodomain trimer and methods of producing the RSV F ectodomain trimer. Methods for inducing an immune response in a subject are also disclosed. In some embodiments, the method can be a method for treating or preventing a RSV infection in a subject by administering a therapeutically effective amount of the recombinant RSV F ectodomain trimer to the subject.

Abstract: Neutralizing antibodies that specifically bind to HIV-1 Env and antigen binding fragments of these antibodies are disclosed. Nucleic acids encoding these antibodies, vectors and host cells are also provided. Methods for detecting HIV-1 using these antibodies are disclosed. In addition, the use of these antibodies, antigen binding fragment, nucleic acids and vectors to prevent and/or treat an HIV-1 infection is disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments of a recombinant human Parainfluenza Virus (hPIV) F ectodomain trimer stabilized in a prefusion conformation are provided. Also disclosed are nucleic acids encoding the hPIV F ectodomain trimer and methods of producing the hPIV F ectodomain trimer. Methods for inducing an immune response in a subject are also disclosed. In some embodiments, the method can be a method for treating or inhibiting a hPIV infection in a subject by administering a effective amount of the recombinant hPIV F ectodomain trimer to the subject.

Abstract: Disclosed are Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) antigens including a recombinant RSV F protein stabilized in a prefusion conformation. Also disclosed are nucleic acids encoding the antigens and methods of producing the antigens. Methods for generating an immune response in a subject are also disclosed. In some embodiments, the method is a method for treating or preventing a RSV infection in a subject by administering a therapeutically effective amount of the antigen to the subject.