Abstract: Provided herein are compositions including peptides, pharmaceutical preparations thereof, and methods of preventing photoreceptor death therewith and protecting of retinal cells, including, but not limited to, photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelium, from Fas- or TRAIL-mediated apoptosis.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods for brewing a desired portion of a beverage, such as a single-cup portion of coffee, are provided. The system can include one or more hopper assemblies configured to provide a controlled dose of beverage material to a brew chamber. The system can also include a water input system configured to wet the ground beverage material as the grinds enter the brew chamber and substantially prevent steam from reaching grinder components of the system. Further, the system can include an automatic cleaning mechanism such that a user does not need to manually clean components of a brewing machine between brew cycles.

Abstract: An ultrasonic instrument includes a body, an actuation assembly, a shaft assembly, and an end effector. The actuation assembly includes an activation member that is operable to move in a first direction to select a mode of operation. The shaft assembly extends distally from the body and includes an acoustic waveguide. The end effector includes an ultrasonic blade that is in acoustic communication with the acoustic waveguide. The activation member is operable to move in a second direction to activate the end effector in a mode of operation selected by movement of the activation member in the first direction.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide a monitoring system comprising a continuous analyte sensor configured to penetrate a skin of a patient and generate a sensor current indicative of analyte levels of the patient, and a sensor electronics module coupled to the continuous analyte sensor. The sensor electronics module comprises an analog to digital converter configured to receive the sensor and convert the sensor current generated by the continuous analyte sensor into digital signals, one or more processors configured to convert the digital signals to a set of analyte measurements indicative of the analyte levels of the patient, and a Bluetooth antenna configured to transmit the set of analyte measurements wirelessly to a wireless communications device using Bluetooth or BLE communications protocols.

Abstract: Coating compositions may combine durability and stain resistance with reduced environmental emissions and health risks. A coating composition may comprise an isocyanate component, an amine-functional resin comprising an aspartic amine, a reactive silicone component having a molecular weight of at least of 500, and TiO2 in an amount of at least 5 wt. %. The coating composition may further comprise a cure retardant in an amount of at least 5 wt. % and a solvent in an amount of up to 20 wt. %.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for detecting anomalies in a semiconductor processing system. According to certain embodiments, one or more external sensors are mounted to a sub-fab component, communicating with the processing system via a communication channel different than a communication channel utilized by the sub-fab component and providing extrinsic sensor data that the sub-fab component is not configured to provide. The extrinsic sensor data may be combined with sensor data from a processing tool of the system and/or intrinsic sensor data of the sub-fab component to form virtual sensor data. In the event the virtual data exceeds or falls below a threshold, an intervention or a maintenance signal is dispatched, and in certain embodiments, an intervention or maintenance action is taken by the system.

Abstract: An earth boring cutting insert including a cemented carbide comprising metal carbide grains dispersed in a metallic binder including at least one of platinum, palladium, rhenium, rhodium, and ruthenium.

Abstract: Recombinant Factor IX characterized by a high percentage of active protein can be obtained in the milk of transgenic animals that incorporate chimeric DNA molecules according to the present invention. Transgenic animals of the present invention are produced by introducing into developing embryos DNA that encodes Factor IX, such that the foreign DNA is stably incorporated in the DNA of germ line cells of the mature animal. Particularly efficient expression was accomplished using a chimeric construct comprising a mammary gland specific promoter, Factor IX cDNA that lacked the complete or any portion of the 5?-untranslated and 3?-untranslated region, which is substituted with a 5-? and 3?-end of the mouse whey acidic protein gene. In vitro cell cultures of cells explanted from the transgenic mammal of the invention and methods of producing Factor IX from such said culture and methods of treating hemophilia B are also described.

Abstract: A network for managing account addresses (such as for credit card accounts) where correspondence and other communications mailed to account holders may have different purposes (e.g., credit card statement, new credit card, marketing correspondence). The network has a database for storing addresses and a database management system for retrieving those addresses. A default address is provided when there is no address stored in the database for the intended purpose of a mailing. The addresses are in categories, with each category associated with a different communication purpose, and with multiple addresses in each category. The multiple addresses within each category may be permanent, temporary or repeating. If temporary or repeating, effective start and end dates are associated with the addresses. There may be multiple cardholders for each account, in which case the address categories (and multiple addresses within each category) are associated with each cardholder.

Abstract: A transgenic, non-human mammalian animal is capable of expressing a heterologous gene for human or other recombinant physiologically functional fibrinogen holoprotein or individual subunit chain polypeptides thereof or a modified or fusion fibrinogen in mammary glands of the animals and secreting the expressed product into a body fluid. Methodology employing such a mammal yields recombinant physiologically functional fibrinogens, subunit chain polypeptides thereof, and modified or fusion fibrinogens.

Abstract: Recombinant Factor IX characterized by a high percentage of active protein can be obtained in the milk of transgenic animals that incorporate chimeric DNA molecules according to the present invention. Transgenic animals of the present invention are produced by introducing into developing embryos DNA that encodes Factor IX, such that the foreign DNA is stably incorporated in the DNA of germ line cells of the mature animal. Particularly efficient expression was accomplished using a chimeric construct comprising a mammary gland specific promoter, Factor IX cDNA that lacked the complete or any portion of the 5?-untranslated and 3?-untranslated region, which is substituted with a 5-? and 3?-end of the mouse whey acidic protein gene. In vitro cell cultures of cells explanted from the transgenic mammal of the invention and methods of producing Factor IX from such said culture and methods of treating hemophilia B are also described.

Abstract: A network for managing account addresses (such as for credit card accounts) where correspondence and other communications mailed to account holders may have different purposes (e.g., credit card statement, new credit card, marketing correspondence). The network has a database for storing addresses and a database management system for retrieving those addresses. A default address is provided when there is no address stored in the database for the intended purpose of a mailing. The addresses are in categories, with each category associated with a different communication purpose, and with multiple addresses in each category. The multiple addresses within each category may be permanent, temporary or repeating. If temporary or repeating, effective start and end dates are associated with the addresses. There may be multiple cardholders for each account, in which case the address categories (and multiple addresses within each category) are associated with each cardholder.

Abstract: A transgenic, non-human mammalian animal is capable of expressing a heterologous gene for human or other recombinant physiologically functional fibrinogen holoprotein or individual subunit chain polypeptides thereof or a modified or fusion fibrinogen in mammary glands of the animals and secreting the expressed product into a body fluid. Methodology employing such a mammal yields recombinant physiologically functional fibrinogens, subunit chain polypeptides thereof, and modified or fusion fibrinogens.

Abstract: An optical system utilizing phosphors to perform mathematical operations without the direct or necessary use of an electronic component or electrical power source is disclosed. The luminenscent and quenching properties of phosphors are combined with at least one first-order relaxation subsystem such that when the optical system achieves equilibrium, it will have performed certain mathematical operations. The precise mathematical operation to be performed is determined by controlling the materials utilized, light inputs, and certain variables within the optical system.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for measuring the density variations, static and dynamic, in substances that are at least partially transparent to electromagnetic waves is disclosed. A special birefringement crystal phase shifting assembly encodes the angle of incidence resulting from the refractive effects of the electromagnetic waves having passed through a density variation. The angle of incidence is encoded as a poralization phase shift. Specifically, the poralization phase shift is between the ordinary and the extraordinary rays. That poralization phase shift has a known and definable relationship to the gas density experienced by the electromagnetic wave during its path.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for measuring the density variations, static and dynamic, in substances that are at least partially transparent to electromagnetic waves is disclosed. A special birefringement crystal phase shifting assembly encodes the angle of incidence resulting from the refractive effects of the electromagnetic waves having passed through a density variation. The angle of incidence is encoded as a poralization phase shift. Specifically, the poralization phase shift is between the ordinary and the extraordinary rays. That poralization phase shift has a known and definable relationship to the gas density experienced by the electromagnetic wave during its path.

Abstract: A network for managing account addresses (such as for credit card accounts) where correspondence and other communications mailed to account holders may have different purposes (e.g., credit card statement, new credit card, marketing correspondence). The network has a database for storing addresses and a database management system for retrieving those addresses. A default address is provided when there is no address stored in the database for the intended purpose of a mailing. The addresses are in categories, with each category associated with a different communication purpose, and with multiple addresses in each category. The multiple addresses within each category may be permanent, temporary or repeating. If temporary or repeating, effective start and end dates are associated with the addresses. There may be multiple cardholders for each account, in which case the address categories (and multiple addresses within each category) are associated with each cardholder.

Abstract: An optical system utilizing phosphors to perform mathematical operations without the direct or necessary use of an electronic component or electrical power source is disclosed. The luminenscent and quenching properties of phosphors are combined with at least one first-order relaxation subsystem such that when the optical system achieves equilibrium, it will have performed certain mathematical operations. The precise mathematical operation to be performed is determined by controlling the materials utilized, light inputs, and certain variables within the optical system.

Abstract: Recombinant Factor IX characterized by a high percentage of active protein can be obtained in the milk of transgenic animals that incorporate chimeric DNA molecules according to the present invention. Transgenic animals of the present invention are produced by introducing into developing embryos DNA that encodes Factor IX, such that the foreign DNA is stably incorporated in the DNA of germ line cells of the mature animal. Particularly efficient expression was accomplished using a chimeric construct comprising a mammary gland specific promoter, Factor IX cDNA that lacked the complete or any portion of the 5′-untranslated and 3′-untranslated region, which is substituted with a 5-′ and 3′- end of the mouse whey acidic protein gene. In vitro cell cultures of cells explanted from the transgenic mammal of the invention and methods of producing Factor IX from such said culture and methods of treating hemophilia B are also described.

Abstract: Polarization phase plate Assembly comprises at least two uniaxial crystal plates which are identical to each other in structure and dimension and a retarder plate sandwiched between the two uniaxial crystal plates. Initially the optic axes of the crystal plates are aligned to be parallel with each other. Then the plates are subsequently rotated around the normals of the plates by an equal twist angle but in opposite directions. When a beam of light is passed through the assembly post-twist, the result is high-quality fringes that are straight, smooth and capable of exhibiting close to 100% contrast. The fringes have a sinusoidal cross-fringe profile and vary in number in relation to the degree of the twist angle.