Abstract: PD-1 antagonists are disclosed that can be used to reduce the expression or activity of PD-1 in a subject. An immune response specific to an infectious agent or to tumor cells can be enhanced using these PD-1 antagonists in conjunction with an antigen from the infectious agent or tumor. Thus, subjects with infections, such as persistent infections can be treated using PD-1 antagonists. In addition, subjects with tumors can be treated using the PD-1 antagonists. In several examples, subjects can be treated by transplanting a therapeutically effective amount of activated T cells that recognize an antigen of interest and by administering a therapeutically effective amount of a PD-1 antagonist.

Abstract: Embodiments of three parameter isolators including rolling seal damper assemblies are provided. In one embodiment, the three parameter isolator includes first and second isolator end portions, which are opposed along a working axis. A main spring and a tuning spring are mechanically coupled in parallel between the first and second isolator end portions. A rolling seal damper assembly is further mechanically coupled between the first and second isolator end portions in parallel with the main spring and in series with the tuning spring. The rolling seal damper assembly includes a first hydraulic chamber, a second hydraulic chamber fluidly coupled to the first hydraulic chamber, and first and second rolling diaphragm seals partially bounding the first and second hydraulic chambers, respectively. In certain implementations, the rolling seal damper assembly also contains a thermal compensator piston to which the first rolling diaphragm seal is attached.

Abstract: Embodiments of three parameter isolators including rolling seal damper assemblies are provided. In one embodiment, the three parameter isolator includes first and second isolator end portions, which are opposed along a working axis. A main spring and a tuning spring are mechanically coupled in parallel between the first and second isolator end portions. A rolling seal damper assembly is further mechanically coupled between the first and second isolator end portions in parallel with the main spring and in series with the tuning spring. The rolling seal damper assembly includes a first hydraulic chamber, a second hydraulic chamber fluidly coupled to the first hydraulic chamber, and first and second rolling diaphragm seals partially bounding the first and second hydraulic chambers, respectively. In certain implementations, the rolling seal damper assembly also contains a thermal compensator piston to which the first rolling diaphragm seal is attached.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of extracting keywords from a document based on certain statistical, positional and natural language data, as well as relationship maps between the keywords. Under this method, document data are processed to obtain an NLP result for each sentence of the document, and based on the NLP result, words in the document are filtered and grouped into terms; a frequency analysis as well as a co-occurrence analysis are performed over the terms to output one or more keywords representing the document.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for vibration damping and isolation. The apparatus includes an annular spring portion including a resilient member that is substantially equally resilient in two dimensions, an annular bellows portion including at least two pairs of diametrically opposed bellows providing damping in the two dimensions, and a rigid connection member coupling the annular spring portion and the annular bellow portion in parallel to one another.

Abstract: A method and related apparatus for managing files for producing a compilation of works, including the step of obtaining a complete file of a work to be compiled in the compilation of works, selecting a portion of the complete file as a separate excerpt file to be compiled in the compilation of works, and independently managing the complete file and the excerpt file for producing the compilation of works.

Abstract: A method and related computer program product for customizing price-related options for printing a compilation of works, including the steps of: compiling the compilation of works; setting different options for customers to print the compilation of works with different prices; and allowing a customer to change one or more of the options to print the compilation of works with a price based on the customer's needs and budget.

Abstract: A turbocharger system can include a housing that includes a bore defined at least in part by a bore wall; a rolling element bearing unit that includes an outer race; and a mixed-element damper assembly disposed at least in part between the outer race and the bore wall where the mixed-element damper assembly includes a lobed-spring element and a squeeze film damper element.

Abstract: A system and method for determining if a first image and a second image are correlated images includes partitioning a first image and a second image into a plurality of corresponding pixel partitions, calculating an average luminance value for each of the plurality of pixel partitions, determining if each of the plurality of pixel partitions of the first image is correlated with each of the corresponding plurality of pixel partitions of the second image, calculating a percentage of correlated pixel partitions of the first image and the corresponding plurality of pixel partitions of the second image and determining that the first image and the second image are correlated images if the percentage of correlated pixel partitions exceeds a predetermined pixel partition correlation threshold. The objective metric of the present invention determines whether two static rendered images are correlated enough to be undetectable by a human observer.

Abstract: A method for automating the management and interpretation of digital documents and their rights metadata to generate user access of a document protected by digital rights management (DRM), comprising the steps of a server obtaining a digital document and its associated rights metadata, the server interpreting the metadata to ascertain DRM useful information including identifications (IDs) of the document and its users and associated digital rights, and the server generating entries for a DRM database including policies associated with the document ID and users IDs based on the ascertained DRM useful information to enable DRM protection to the document.

Abstract: A turbocharger system can include a housing that includes a bore defined at least in part by a bore wall; a rolling element bearing unit that includes an outer race; and a mixed-element damper assembly disposed at least in part between the outer race and the bore wall where the mixed-element damper assembly includes a lobed-spring element and a squeeze film damper element.

Abstract: Method and system for processing a page-image based input document such as PDF and generate output documents, in a page-image based format or another format, which have a different layout than the original document. Certain contents in the original document removed and other contents are reorganized in this process. The method is used to re-target documents for different types of display devices, such as desktop and laptop computers, tablet computers, e-readers, smart phones, etc. When generating the output documents, the method takes into consideration the different form factors of the display devices as well as the different types of user input devices and methods such as touch screen (including different gestures used, whether stylus or finger is used for input, etc.), physical keyboard, mouse, etc. used by the targeted display device, so that each output documents is optimized for a particular type of display device.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for the treatment, prevention, or reduction of persistent infections, such as chronic infections, latent infections, and slow infections and cancer. The methods and compositions of the invention are also useful for the alleviation of one or more symptoms associated with such infections and cancer.

Abstract: A system and method for determining if a first image and a second image are correlated images includes partitioning a first image and a second image into a plurality of corresponding pixel partitions, calculating an average luminance value for each of the plurality of pixel partitions, determining if each of the plurality of pixel partitions of the first image is correlated with each of the corresponding plurality of pixel partitions of the second image, calculating a percentage of correlated pixel partitions of the first image and the corresponding plurality of pixel partitions of the second image and determining that the first image and the second image are correlated images if the percentage of correlated pixel partitions exceeds a predetermined pixel partition correlation threshold. The objective metric of the present invention determines whether two static rendered images are correlated enough to be undetectable by a human observer.

Abstract: Launch lock assemblies with reduced preload are provided. The launch lock assembly comprises first and second mount pieces, a releasable clamp device, and a pair of retracting assemblies. Each retracting assembly comprises a pair of toothed members having interacting toothed surfaces. The releasable clamp device normally maintains the first and second mount pieces in clamped engagement. When the releasable clamp device is actuated, the first and second mount pieces are released from clamped engagement and one toothed member of each retracting assembly moves in an opposite direction relative to the other one toothed member of the other retracting assembly to define an axial gap on each side of the first mount piece.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for the treatment, prevention, or reduction of persistent infections, such as chronic infections, latent infections, and slow infections and cancer. The methods and compositions of the invention are also useful for the alleviation of one or more symptoms associated with such infections and cancer.

Abstract: Mounting systems for structural members, fastening assemblies thereof, and vibration isolation systems including the same are provided. Mounting systems comprise a pair of mounting brackets, each clamped against a fastening assembly forming a mounting assembly. Fastening assemblies comprise a spherical rod end comprising a spherical member having a through opening and an integrally threaded shaft, first and second seating members on opposite sides of the spherical member and each having a through opening that is substantially coaxial with the spherical member through opening, and a partially threaded fastener that threadably engages each mounting bracket forming the mounting assembly. Structural members have axial end portions, each releasably coupled to a mounting bracket by the integrally threaded shaft. Axial end portions are threaded in opposite directions for permitting structural member rotation to adjust a length thereof to a substantially zero strain position.

Abstract: A method for automating the management and interpretation of digital documents and their rights metadata to generate user access of a document protected by digital rights management (DRM), comprising the steps of a server obtaining a digital document and its associated rights metadata, the server interpreting the metadata to ascertain DRM useful information including identifications (IDs) of the document and its users and associated digital rights, and the server generating entries for a DRM database including policies associated with the document ID and users IDs based on the ascertained DRM useful information to enable DRM protection to the document.

Abstract: A method implemented in a MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) system for handling requests for peer-review of student's homework assignments. When a peer-review request is received, the system first selects as candidate reviewers a number of students who are about to become active on the MOOCs system, then calculates a peer-review matching score for each candidate reviewer. The score is based on language, academic ability on the subject of the homework, peer-review history, etc. of the students. The peer-review request is assigned to a relatively small number of candidate reviewers with top matching scores. After a number of completed reviews (grades) are received, the system determines whether a sufficient number of completed reviews having grades within one standard deviation are received. If so, a final grade is calculated from the grades within one standard deviation; and if not, the assignment process is repeated. This method promotes efficient and effective peer-review.

Abstract: A method for managing a forum of a MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) system customizes the presentation of forum questions to each individual viewing student in a way that optimizes the likelihood of questions posted on the forum being answered by competent students. The system rates the students' academic abilities using information gathered from their activities on the MOOCs system. When a student browses the forum, the forum questions are sorted and presented to the viewing student in an order that takes into account the subjects of the questions and the student's academic ability in various subjects, so that questions on subjects in which the student excels are displayed near the top of the list of postings. The sorting may consider other factors including language, locale, past forum activities, and proximity of the questions posting time and the time period when the viewing student frequently accesses the forum.