Abstract: A surgical barrier material comprising a water-soluble polysaccharide, glycerol, and water, wherein the water-soluble polysaccharide by weight and glycerol by volume are present at a ratio of about 1:0.8 to 1:1.2, and wherein water is present at 8-20 wt %, wherein the water-soluble polysaccharide may be, for example, a cellulose, such as methyl cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose or a salt thereof (CMC), hyaluronic acid (HA) or a combination thereof and may have a molecular weight of 30,000 g/mol to 500,000 g/mol. The surgical barrier material is solid and flexible, typically possessing an elastic modulus of 0.5-2 MPa and penetration resistance of at least 1 Newton, and substantially dissolves within 72, 48, 24, 12, 6, 3, or 2 hours from the time it is placed at a surgical site. Also described herein is a method of preventing injury to tissue in a patient during a surgical procedure by using the described surgical barrier material as a protective barrier during the surgical procedure.

Abstract: The current document is directed to a leak-and-sealing-failure-detection sensor and a leak-detection system that incorporates the leak-and-sealing-failure sensor to detect leaks and sealing failures in a variety of different containers, packages, and products. The leak-and-sealing-failure-detection sensor produces a response signal when the leak-and-sealing-failure-detection sensor detects a difference between a local environment associated with the leak-and-sealing-failure-detection sensor and the environment external to the leak-and-sealing-failure-detection sensor and the container, package, and/or product to which the leak-and-sealing-failure-detection sensor is applied.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of lubricating biological tissue, such as joints, bone, ocular tissue, nasal tissue, tendons, tendon capsule, and vaginal tissue, by contacting the biological tissue with an effective amount of a block copolymer lubricating composition which functions at least or better than lubricin. In particular embodiments, the method is used to treat osteoarthritis. In specific embodiments, the block copolymer has an ammonium-containing polymer block and a non-ionic hydrophilic polymer block, or the copolymer has a carboxylic acid-containing polymer block and a non-acid non-ionic hydrophilic polymer block.

Abstract: Systems and methods for estimating treatment effects in randomized controlled trials using covariate adjusted stratification and pseudovalue regression in accordance with embodiments of the invention are illustrated. One embodiment includes a method for estimating treatment effects in randomized controlled trials, where the method includes receiving external data of previous randomized clinical trials. The method further includes generating sets of one or more subject characteristics of a plurality of trial subjects, estimating binary outcomes of trial subjects using a stratification process, and estimating time-to-event (TTE) treatment effects of trial subjects using pseudovalue regression.

Abstract: Cleanout conduit valve installations may include at least one cleanout housing having a cleanout housing interior and configured for placement in the cleanout conduit hole with the at least one cleanout conduit extending into the cleanout housing interior. A cleanout housing opening may overlie the cleanout housing interior. An openable cleanout housing door may be disposed in the cleanout housing opening. At least one cleanout conduit valve assembly may be configured to be disposed in fluid communication with the at least one cleanout conduit in the cleanout housing interior of the at least one cleanout housing. The at least one cleanout conduit valve assembly may include a valve housing configured for mounting on the at least one cleanout conduit. A valve mount may be carried by the valve housing. A valve may include a valve arm pivotally carried by the valve mount. A valve stop may extend from the valve arm. A valve body may be carried by the valve arm. The valve body may have a sealing surface.

Abstract: The present solution can temporarily impart the handling characteristics of corneal stroma to the otherwise very thin, flimsy, coiling, and fragile Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) tissue during its insertion into the anterior chamber and positioning in apposition against the cornea of the recipient eye. The device of the present solution can be configured in a number of ways. In a first configuration, a scaffold can be coupled with the endothelial side of the DMEK graft. In a second configuration, the scaffold can be coupled with the stromal side of the DMEK graft. In a third configuration, one or more scaffolds can be coupled with both the endothelial and stromal side of the DMEK graft.

Abstract: Cleanout conduit valve installations may include at least one cleanout housing having a cleanout housing interior and configured for placement in the cleanout conduit hole with the at least one cleanout conduit extending into the cleanout housing interior. A cleanout housing opening may overlie the cleanout housing interior. An openable cleanout housing door may be disposed in the cleanout housing opening. At least one cleanout conduit valve assembly may be configured to be disposed in fluid communication with the at least one cleanout conduit in the cleanout housing interior of the at least one cleanout housing. The at least one cleanout conduit valve assembly may include a valve housing configured for mounting on the at least one cleanout conduit. A valve mount may be carried by the valve housing. A valve may include a valve arm pivotally carried by the valve mount. A valve stop may extend from the valve arm. A valve body may be carried by the valve arm. The valve body may have a sealing surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of lubricating biological tissue, such as joints, bone, ocular tissue, nasal tissue, tendons, tendon capsule, and vaginal tissue, by contacting the biological tissue with an effective amount of a block copolymer lubricating composition which functions at least or better than lubricin. In particular embodiments, the method is used to treat osteoarthritis. In specific embodiments, the block copolymer has an ammonium-containing polymer block and a non-ionic hydrophilic polymer block, or the copolymer has a carboxylic acid-containing polymer block and a non-acid non-ionic hydrophilic polymer block.

Abstract: Systems and methods for designing random control trials in accordance with embodiments of the invention are illustrated. One embodiment includes a method for designing a target random control trial. The method includes steps for generating a set of prognostic scores for a set of samples, computing a first correlation between the set of prognostic scores and a set of outcomes for the set of samples, computing a first variance for the set of outcomes for the set of samples, estimating a second correlation and a second variance for a target random control trial, and determining a set of target trial parameters based on the first and second correlations and the first and second variances.

Abstract: Cleanout conduit valve assemblies for a cleanout conduit may include a vertically oriented valve housing. The valve housing may include a valve inlet end configured to be disposed in fluid communication with the cleanout conduit and a valve discharge end opposite to and generally above the valve inlet end. The valve discharge end may be oriented within a valve discharge plane disposed at a discharge angle of greater than 0 degrees with respect to a horizontal plane. The valve discharge end may have an upper discharge opening side and a lower discharge opening side sloped downwardly from the upper discharge opening side. A valve body may be pivotally carried by the valve housing at the upper discharge opening side of the valve discharge end. Methods of preventing precipitation and runoff on a ground surface from entering a cleanout conduit connected to a sewer service line are also disclosed.

Abstract: Traffic-compatible vented precipitation guarding manhole cover assemblies may include a manhole cover having an exterior manhole cover surface and an interior manhole cover surface. At least one opening may extend through the manhole cover from the interior manhole cover surface to the exterior manhole cover surface. A flexible, resilient extension conduit having elastic recoil memory may extend from the exterior manhole cover surface at the at least one opening.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a probiotic cell transformed with a construct suitable to overexpress and display on the surface of the probiotic cell a fusion protein comprising at least a portion of a transport protein coupled to at least a portion of one or more antigenic proteins or peptides. Probiotic-derived vesicles displaying this fusion protein as well as methods of inducing an immune response using the probiotic cells or vesicles are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a probiotic cell transformed with a construct suitable to overexpress and display on the surface of the probiotic cell a fusion protein comprising at least a portion of a transport protein coupled to at least a portion of one or more antigenic proteins or peptides. Probiotic-derived vesicles displaying this fusion protein as well as methods of inducing an immune response using the probiotic cells or vesicles are also disclosed.

Abstract: Polymer compositions having the following chemical structure: wherein L1 represents a polymeric linker having the structure shown connecting ethylene oxide oligomers and their use in surgical devices containing the above composition is also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a probiotic cell transformed with a construct suitable to overexpress and display on the surface of the probiotic cell a fusion protein comprising at least a portion of a transport protein coupled to at least a portion of one or more antigenic proteins or peptides. Probiotic-derived vesicles displaying this fusion protein as well as methods of inducing an immune response using the probiotic cells or vesicles are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a microparticle. The microparticle includes one or more recombinant outer membrane vesicles, at least some of which display a fusion protein, where the fusion protein comprises at least a portion of a transport protein coupled to at least a portion of one or more antigenic proteins or peptides, and a polymeric coating over the one or more recombinant outer membrane vesicles. The present invention further relates to a method of eliciting an immune response in a mammal and a method of making encapsulated outer membrane vesicles displaying a fusion protein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a probiotic cell transformed with a construct suitable to overexpress and display on the surface of the probiotic cell a fusion protein comprising at least a portion of a transport protein coupled to at least a portion of one or more antigenic proteins or peptides. Probiotic-derived vesicles displaying this fusion protein as well as methods of inducing an immune response using the probiotic cells or vesicles are also disclosed.

Abstract: The application relates to a device and method for preparing and testing a fluid sample using a filtration procedure for analysis of a filterable constituent of the fluid. In particular the process employs an enclosed pathway whereby the fluid sample may be put into a sealable flexible containment-vessel, and can then be passed through a fluid passageway to a removable enclosable filter cartridge, wherein the filterable constituent may be removed and the resultant filtrate fluid discharged from the cartridge. Once introduced to the flexible vessel, the enclosed pathway system thereby enables the fluid to be filtered and the filterable constituent examined with minimal complications of contamination of the sample through exposure to environmental pollutant external to the fluid sample. A useful objective of the device and method is to enable analyses of microbiological content of a fluid sample.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of lubricating biological tissue, such as joints, bone, ocular tissue, nasal tissue, tendons, tendon capsule, and vaginal tissue, by contacting the biological tissue with an effective amount of a block copolymer lubricating composition which functions at least or better than lubricin. In particular embodiments, the method is used to treat osteoarthritis. In specific embodiments, the block copolymer has an ammonium-containing polymer block and a non-ionic hydrophilic polymer block, or the copolymer has a carboxylic acid-containing polymer block and a non-acid non-ionic hydrophilic polymer block.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods of lubrication for biological tissue, especially joint and cartilage surfaces, and to methods of treating osteoarthritis using high molecular weight, hydrophilic polymer brushes, which mimic the structure and activity of lubricin. These synthetic lubricin analog polymer brushes (termed herein graft brush polymers), include poly(acrylic acid) backbones grafted with polyethylene glycol.