Abstract: The invention relates in various aspects to a synthetic chimeric vaccinia virus or compositions comprising such viruses, and the development and use of systems and methods for producing such synthetic chimeric vaccinia viruses. The synthetic chimeric vaccinia viruses are well suited, among others, as virus vaccines or to generate an oncolytic response and pharmaceutical formulations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for siRNA therapeutics for prevention and treatment of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus (MERS-CoV) infections. The compositions include a pharmaceutical composition comprising siRNA cocktails that target viral genes and pharmaceutically acceptable polymeric nanoparticle carriers and liposomal nanoparticle carriers.

Abstract: A lidding station for containers, including a conveyor structured and arranged for moving unrestrained containers in a conveyance direction; a lid infeed chute above said conveyor; and first, second and third compression rollers positioned above said conveyor and downstream of said lid infeed chute, and methods for affixing lids to containers.

Abstract: An a method for simulating a data center is provided and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having recorded thereon a computer program for executing the method of simulating a data center. The method includes storing at least one hardware configuration file and at least one functional description file of a data center to be simulated in a configuration file application; generating a simulation program of the data center using the at least one hardware configuration file and the at least one functional description file by a data center storage evaluation framework (DCEF) application; and executing a flow-based simulation on the simulation program generated by the DCEF application by a simulator.

Abstract: A method of adapting a first key-value store to a second key-value store may include determining a conversion strategy based on one or more characteristics of the first key-value store and one or more characteristics of the second key-value store, converting the second key-value store to a converted key-value store based on the conversion strategy, and mapping the first key-value store to the converted key-value store based on a mapping function. The converted key-value store may be accessed on-the-fly. A data storage system may include a key-value interface configured to provide access to a lower key-value store, and a key-value adapter coupled to the key-value interface and configured to adapt an upper key-value store to the lower key-value store, wherein the key-value adapter may be configured to adapt at least two different types of the upper key-value store to the lower key-value store.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a compound of formula (Ia) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, or N-oxide thereof that includes reacting a compound of formula (IIIa) or (Va) with a compound of formula (IX) to form the compound of formula (Ia)

Abstract: An apparatus includes a valve and an actuator. The valve has a portion movably disposed within a valve pocket defined by a cylinder head of an engine. The valve is configured to move relative to the cylinder head a distance between a closed position and an opened position. The portion of the valve defines a flow opening that is in fluid communication with a cylinder of an engine when the valve is in the opened position. The actuator is configured to selectively vary the distance between the closed position and the opened position.

Abstract: A method of encoding fixed length data bit strings includes receiving and sequentially encoding a sequence of data bit strings. For a data bit string immediately following a preceding data bit string, this includes obtaining a reference bit string, and a mask bit string and a tracking bit string as present at the end of a previous encoding of the preceding data bit string, identifying bits that differ form corresponding bits in the reference bit string, determining, as unpredictable bits, all those bits in the data bit string that are indicated as not predictable by the mask bit string and are not in bit positions indicated by the tracking bit string, generating a sequence of position indicators, generating an encoded data packet that includes representations of values of the unpredictable bits and the sequence of positon indicators, and periodically updating the mask bit string and the tracking bit string.

Abstract: Various computers will communicate messages back and forth over a communication network. These communications may exchange various information. In one aspect, an apparatus for communicating data over a communication network may comprise a computer processor, a receiver, and a memory. The computer processor may generate a request for transmission to a first server via the communication network. The request may include a data inquiry for data about an authorized user of a communication device. The computer processor may also generate a communication message for transmission to the authorized user with a prompt to provide user data via the communication device. The receiver may receive a response from the first server and user data from the communication device. The computer processor may further format the user data and generate a dynamic value based on the formatted response for display.

Abstract: A load balancing system includes: a centralized queue; a pool of resource nodes connected to the centralized queue; one or more processors; and memory coupled to the one or more processors and storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: monitor a queue status of the centralized queue to identify a bursty traffic period; calculate an index value for a load associated with the bursty traffic period; select a load balancing strategy based on the index value; distribute the load to the pool of resource nodes based on the load balancing strategy; observe a state of the pool of resource nodes in response to the load balancing strategy; calculate a reward based on the observed state; and adjust the load balancing strategy based on the reward.

Abstract: A circuit connector for a humidification system, the system comprising a base unit configured to be engaged by a humidification chamber. The circuit connector comprises an inlet to fluidly connect to an outlet of the humidification chamber to receive humidified gases therefrom, an outlet to sealably connect to or integral with a conduit for directing the humidified gases to a user, and an electrical terminal for electrically coupling the circuit connector to an electrical terminal associated with the base unit. The circuit connector may be releasably and lockably connectable to the outlet of the humidification chamber and/or orientation features may control orientation of component parts of the system as they are assembled.

Abstract: There is provided a topical formulation comprising a nucleophile, such as amino acids and most polypetides and/or a derivative thereof, for use in the treatment or prevention of itchy dry skin caused by urea, such as in uremic pruritus, of a subject. The amino acid may be histidine and the derivative may be a histidine degradation product, a peptide of histidine, a peptide of histidine and one or more additional amino acids, and a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt of histidine.

Abstract: An apparatus for enrobing a product portion can include a polymer spray head arranged to direct a plurality of polymeric fibers in an upward direction and levitate product portions in a polymer enrobing zone above the polymer spray head. Polymeric fibers produced by the polymer spray head can wrap around the product portions levitated in the polymer enrobing zone to create an enrobed product. Side guide structure(s) and/or air knife(s) can be provided adjacent to the polymer enrobing zone to inhibit levitated product portions from falling out of the polymer enrobing zone and/or to guide levitated product portions along a desired path. Exemplary enrobed products include smokeless tobacco products.

Abstract: An apparatus, a method, a method of manufacturing an apparatus, and a method of constructing an integrated circuit are provided. A processor of an application server layer detects a degree of a change in a workload in an input/output stream received through a network from one or more user devices. The processor determines a degree range, from a plurality of preset degree ranges, that the degree of the change in the workload is within. The processor determines a distribution strategy, from among a plurality of distribution strategies, to distribute the workload across one or more of a plurality of solid state devices (SSDs) in a performance cache tier of a centralized multi-tier storage pool, based on the determined degree range. The processor distributes the workload across the one or more of the plurality of solid state devices based on the determined distribution strategy.

Abstract: A system and method for managing input output queue pairs. In some embodiments, the method includes calculating a system utilization ratio, the system utilization ratio being a ratio of: an arrival rate of input output requests, to a service rate; determining whether: the system utilization ratio has exceeded a first threshold utilization during a time period exceeding a first threshold length, and adding a new queue pair is expected to improve system performance; and in response to determining: that the system utilization ratio has exceeded the first threshold utilization during a time period exceeding the first threshold length, and that adding a new queue pair is expected to improve system performance: adding a new queue pair.

Abstract: A non-volatile memory (NVM) express (NVMe) system includes at least one user application, an NVMe controller and a hypervisor. Each user application runs in a respective virtual machine environment and including a user input/output (I/O) queue. The NVMe controller is coupled to at least one NVM storage device, and the NVMe controller includes a driver that includes at least one device queue. The hypervisor is coupled to the user I/O queue of each user application and to the NVMe controller, and selectively forces each user I/O queue to empty to a corresponding device queue in the driver of the NVMe controller or enables a private I/O channel between the user I/O queue and a corresponding device queue in the driver of the NVMe controller.

Abstract: A circuit connector for a humidification system, the system comprising a base unit configured to be engaged by a humidification chamber. The circuit connector comprises an inlet to fluidly connect to an outlet of the humidification chamber to receive humidified gases therefrom, an outlet to sealably connect to or integral with a conduit for directing the humidified gases to a user, and an electrical terminal for electrically coupling the circuit connector to an electrical terminal associated with the base unit. The circuit connector may be releasably and lockably connectable to the outlet of the humidification chamber and/or orientation features may control orientation of component parts of the system as they are assembled.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a compound of formula (Ia) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, or N-oxide thereof that includes reacting a compound of formula (IIIa) or (Va) with a compound of formula (IX) to form the compound of formula (Ia)