Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of treating a fibrotic lung disease in a subject comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a therapeutic agent, wherein the subject is asymptomatic and wherein the subject is at risk of developing the fibrotic lung disease.

Abstract: Tooling and corresponding tool assembly configurations equipped with exemplary designs of tracking assemblies configured to track information, such as use history, and perform a variety of processing and storage functions relative to the same for more efficient use and maintenance of the tooling over their lifetimes. The tracking assemblies can have retrofit-ready constructions.

Abstract: The instant disclosure provides reagent compounds, and antibody and oligonucleotide reagents, for use in a variety of assays, including immunoassays and nucleic acid hybridizations. The reagent compounds comprise a bridging antigen or bridging oligonucleotide and a latent crosslinker moiety, such as a tyramide moiety. The bridging antigens are recognizable by the antibody of a corresponding antibody reagent with high affinity, and the bridging oligonucleotides are complementary to the oligonucleotide of a corresponding oligonucleotide reagent. The antibody reagents and oligonucleotide reagents also comprise a crosslinker activation agent, such as a peroxidase enzyme. Reaction of the reagent compounds with the crosslinker activation agent results in the amplification of signal in assays for target cellular markers, including cellular antigens and nucleic acids.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides high-performance hybridization reagents for use in a variety of hybridization assays and other related techniques. The hybridization reagents comprise an oligonucleotide probe and a bridging antigen, wherein the bridging antigen is recognized by a detectable antibody with high affinity. Also provided are compositions comprising panels of hybridization reagents specific for multiple different target nucleic acids and compositions comprising pairs of hybridization reagents and their complementary detectable antibodies. The paired hybridization reagents and detectable antibodies are useful in a variety of hybridization assays, particularly in highly multiplexed assays, where the structure of the bridging antigen is varied in tandem with variation in the detectable antibody, such that a multiplicity of hybridization reagents are provided that are capable of simultaneously detecting a multiplicity of target nucleic acids in a single assay.

Abstract: A gas monitor apparatus includes a sorbent material that adsorbs a target gas based on a concentration of the target gas in a monitored environment and a reference material that does not respond to the target gas. The gas monitor also includes a first thermistor disposed within the sorbent material and a second thermistor disposed within the reference material, the first thermistor to provide a first indication of a first temperature of the sorbent material and the second thermistor to provide a second indication of a second temperature of the reference material. A processing device determines a concentration of the target gas based at least in part on a differential measurement between the first temperature and the second temperature.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to high-affinity immunopolymers for use in a variety of immunoassays and other techniques. The immunopolymers comprise a plurality of antibodies, a plurality of coupling proteins, and a plurality of detectable labels. The plurality of antibodies and plurality of coupling proteins are associated by a high-efficiency conjugation moiety, and may be used in highly multiplexed assays. Methods of preparing the high-affinity immunopolymers are provided. Also disclosed are methods of detecting an antigen that include reacting an antigen with a high-affinity immunopolymer of the disclosure. Reagent mixtures and methods for quantitative immunochemical assays are also provided. The mixtures and methods may include the high-affinity immunopolymers disclosed herein.

Abstract: Complementary systems are provided for use with industrial punch presses which enhance the functionality of the presses relative to the machining of workpieces. The systems can be adapted to function with certain already-existing structure and operations of the presses, to maximize overall effectiveness and efficiency in using the systems with the presses. Alternately, or in combination, the systems can be linked to one or more functionalities of the punch presses, whereby these functionalities can be used in manipulating the systems when used with the presses.

Abstract: The invention provides diagnostic and therapeutic targets for pulmonary disease, in particular, fibrotic lung disease. The inventors have found that a genetic variant MUC5B gene is associated with increased expression of the gene, increased risk of developing a pulmonary disease, and an improved prognosis and survival among those developing the pulmonary disease.

Abstract: A bone plate system for use in an “open door” laminoplasty procedure, including a bone plate, a first fixation element, and at least one second fixation element. The bone plate is elongated and has a generally curved shape such that the plate has an associated radius of curvature. The plate is sized and dimensioned to span a gap between a pair of bony segments, for example a pair of bony segments constituting a divided lamina. The first and second fixation elements are each configured to securely attach the bone plate to the bony segments. The bone plate has a first end including a generally U-shaped slot extending therein such that the open end of the slot comprises a first terminal end of the plate.

Abstract: A surgical drape allows access to a vaginal area during cesarean sections without breaking a sterile field. The drape comprises a base sheet defined by an incision panel that overlays a peritoneal region, where the cesarean section primarily occurs; and a vagina panel that overlays a vaginal area. The incision panel has a transparent polymer film panel for viewing the incision. A collection pouch catches bodily fluids. The vagina panel enables sterile manipulation of the vagina while performing the cesarean section. The vagina panel is defined by a viewing pane for viewing the vaginal region through the base sheet. A sleeve extends through a hole in the viewing pane to manipulate the vaginal region and a baby. The sleeve is configured to allow insertion of a hand through an open end, and then manipulate the vaginal region with a closed end without breaking a sterile field.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a radar system with auto-alignment suitable for use in an automated vehicle is provided. The system includes a radar-sensor, a speed-sensor, and a controller. The radar-sensor is used to detect objects present in a field-of-view proximate to a host-vehicle on which the radar-sensor is mounted. The radar-sensor is operable to determine a measured-range-rate (dRm), a measured-azimuth-angle (Am), and a measured-elevation-angle (Em) to each of at least three objects present in the field-of-view. The speed-sensor is used to determine a measured-speed (Sm) of the host-vehicle. The controller is in communication with the radar-sensor and the speed-sensor.

Abstract: A power module configured for use with archery bows to enhance use of the bows and/or provide other functionality.

Abstract: An object detection system for an automated vehicle includes a radar, a camera, and a controller. The radar detects a cluster of targets characterized by a radar-distance (x) from the host-vehicle. The camera renders an image of an object and a lane-marking present in the area.

Abstract: The described invention relates to methods for preventing or treating graft-versus-host disease while preserving a graft-versus-tumor effect, increasing survival of, preserving alloreactivity, or a combination thereof in a patient with a tumor receiving a transplant. The described methods comprise administering to the patient a therapeutic amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a Rho kinase inhibitor compound, e.g., telmisartan or related angiotensin receptor blockers, and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. The therapeutic amount may be effective to attenuate graft-versus-host disease and to preserve the graft-versus-tumor effect of the transplant.

Abstract: A road-model-definition system suitable for an automated-vehicle includes a camera, a lidar-unit, and a controller. The camera used is to provide an image of an area proximate to a host-vehicle. The lidar-unit is used to provide a point-cloud descriptive of the area. The controller is in communication with the camera and the lidar-unit. The controller is configured to determine an image-position of a lane-marking in the image, select ground-points from the point-cloud indicative of a travel-surface, determine coefficients of a three-dimensional (3D) road-model based on the ground-points, and determine a transformation to map the lane-marking in the image onto the travel-surface based on the image-position of a lane-marking and the 3D road-model and thereby obtain a 3D marking-model.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a radar system with auto-alignment suitable for use in an automated vehicle is provided. The system includes a radar-sensor, a speed-sensor, and a controller. The radar-sensor is used to detect objects present in a field-of-view proximate to a host-vehicle on which the radar-sensor is mounted. The radar-sensor is operable to determine a measured-range-rate (dRm), a measured-azimuth-angle (Am), and a measured-elevation-angle (Em) to each of at least three objects present in the field-of-view. The speed-sensor is used to determine a measured-speed (Sm) of the host-vehicle. The controller is in communication with the radar-sensor and the speed-sensor.

Abstract: A method for telephony includes receiving at an Internet telephony service provider a subscriber request to place a call to a telephone number. A cache associated with the internet telephony service provider is queried to check if the cache holds a record for the telephone number. If the cache holds the record, the record is obtained. If the cache does not hold the record, a request is sent to a database server that maintains a database of records associating endpoint user terminal telephone numbers of subscribers with respective packet network addresses of the endpoint user terminal. The call is placed to the endpoint user terminal telephone number via a public switched telephone network while the request is sent to the database server to retrieve the packet network address of the endpoint user terminal to which calls to the telephone number should be placed.

Abstract: A bone plate system for use in an “open door” laminoplasty procedure, including a bone plate, a first fixation element, and at least one second fixation element. The bone plate is elongated and has a generally curved shape such that the plate has an associated radius of curvature. The plate is sized and dimensioned to span a gap between a pair of bony segments, for example a pair of bony segments constituting a divided lamina. The first and second fixation elements are each configured to securely attach the bone plate to the bony segments. The bone plate has a first end including a generally U-shaped slot extending therein such that the open end of the slot comprises a first terminal end of the plate.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions and formulations comprising glucosamine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof for use in the treatment of joint conditions and adapted for use in a bath or soak or bath beads, powders, salts, and oils, kits, and methods of treatment using the same. Also disclosed are lozenges, suppositories, patches, and topical creams comprising glucosamine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof for use in the treatment of joint conditions and methods of treatment using the same. In some embodiments the joint conditions include ostearthritis.

Abstract: A method for telephony includes receiving at an Internet telephony service provider a subscriber request to place a call to a telephone number. A cache associated with the internet telephony service provider is queried to check if the cache holds a record for the telephone number. If the cache holds the record, the record is obtained. If the cache does not hold the record, a request is sent to a database server that maintains a database of records associating endpoint user terminal telephone numbers of subscribers with respective packet network addresses of the endpoint user terminal. The call is placed to the endpoint user terminal telephone number via a public switched telephone network whilst the request is sent to the database server to retrieve the packet network address of the endpoint user terminal to which calls to the telephone number should be placed.