Abstract: A diagnostic system for determining the presence of a target in a sample liquid that includes a diagnostic reader and a microfluidic strip having a microfluidic channel network therein. An actuator within the reader modifies the pressure of a gas in gaseous communication with a liquid-gas interface of a sample liquid within the microfluidic channel network to move and/or mix the sample liquid. The pressure modifications may be continuous and/or oscillatory.

Abstract: A collapsible rotor assembly and a method to assemble the rotor assembly are disclosed. The rotor assembly may include a mast, a blade, a first arm and a second arm. The rotor assembly may further include a first connection member attached to a mast top portion and a second connection member attached to a mast bottom portion. The rotor assembly may additionally include a third connection member attached to a blade top portion and a fourth connection member attached to a blade bottom portion. A first arm distal end may be pivotally attached with the first connection member and a first arm proximal end may be pivotally attached with the third connection member. Furthermore, a second arm distal end may be removably attached with the second connection member and a second arm proximal end may be pivotally attached with the fourth connection member.

Abstract: This invention relates to the medical use of pathogen associated molecular pattern (PAMP) displaying immuno-stimulatory microbial immuno-adjuvants [MIAs], as therapeutics when used in combination with check point inhibitors to treat various types of cancer and to methods of treatment which involve treating a subject with these compounds and compound mixtures and process methods for identifying and optimally composing them for their therapeutic use in cancer treatment. It also relates to the use of inhibitors of these PAMP displaying immuno-stimulatory microbial immuno-adjuvants [MIAs], as therapeutics when used to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) including Crohn's Disease and ulcerative colitis and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and process methods for identifying and optimally composing them for their therapeutic use in IBD and IBS.

Abstract: A vertical axis wind turbine is disclosed. The wind turbine may include a polygonal mast having a predefined count of faceted sides. The polygonal mast may include a mast top end and a mast bottom end. The wind turbine may further include a drive shaft having a polygonal drive shaft top end and a drive shaft bottom end. The polygonal drive shaft top end may be configured to connect the mast bottom end with the drive shaft. The polygonal drive shaft top end too may have the predefined count of faceted sides.

Abstract: A vertical axis wind turbine with variable thickness blade is disclosed. The wind turbine may include a blade including a skin having a first skin section and a second skin section. A first skin section thickness may be greater than a second skin section thickness. The blade may further include a bracketed structural member disposed on the first skin section. The bracketed structural member may include one or more L-shaped brackets. The wind turbine may further include a nut bar, which may be a flat nut bar. The bracketed structural member may be configured to hold the nut bar between the L-shaped brackets. The wind turbine may further include an arm connecting bracket that may be configured to attach the arm to the blade via the nut bar. The wind turbine may further include a transition fairing that may attach to the blade via the nut bar.

Abstract: A vertical axis wind turbine is disclosed. The wind turbine may include a mast, a first arm, a second arm, a blade, a first vertical bracing member, and a second vertical bracing member. The first arm may be attached to the mast at a first mast connection point, and the second arm may be attached to the mast at a second mast connection point via respective arm proximal ends. The blade may be attached to the first arm and the second arm via respective arm distal ends. The first vertical bracing member may connect the mast with the first arm, and the second vertical bracing member may connect the mast with the second arm. The wind turbine may further include one or more horizontal bracing members connecting adjacent wind turbine arms.

Abstract: A polygonal mast connected to an arm of a vertical axis wind turbine via a hinged connection member is disclosed. The connection member may include an L-shaped bracket having a first portion and a second portion disposed perpendicular to the first portion. The first portion may be attached to a mast exterior surface. The connection member may further include a first plate and a second plate. The first plate may be attached to the second portion and first plate plane may be disposed perpendicular to mast longitudinal axis. The second arm may be attached to an arm distal end and second plate plane may be disposed parallel to arm longitudinal axis. The connection member may additionally include a first pivot connector and a second pivot connector pivotally connecting the first plate and the second plate. The arm distal end may be disposed between the first and second pivot connectors.

Abstract: The invention provides for mammalian cells capable of producing recombinant CTLA4-Ig and variants thereof. The invention also provides for compositions comprising CTLA4-Ig and formulations thereof. The invention further provides for methods for mass-producing CTLA4-Ig from mammalian cells capable of producing this recombinant protein, and for purifying the CTLA4-Ig.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for assessing respiratory viral infections, the method includes preparing one or more precision-cut human bronchial tissues; exposing a cilia-rich epithelium within the precision-cut human bronchial tissues to establish an ex vivo model of human bronchus for viral infections; assessing infectivity, tropism, and pathogenesis of one or more respiratory viruses in the ex vivo model; and providing a semi-quantitative and normalized approach to supplement data from the ex vivo model of human bronchus for pandemic risk assessment of the one or more respiratory viruses. The present invention involves micro-dissection of bronchial tissues to expose the cilia-rich epithelium for ex vivo virus infection, along with a semi-quantitative approach for analyzing virus tropism and replication competence.

Abstract: A connection member to connect a blade with an arm of a vertical axis wind turbine is disclosed. The connection member may include a bracket including a bracket plate. A bracket plate curvature may be equivalent to a blade inside portion skin curvature. The bracket plate may include a first connection insert configured to receive a first fastener. The bracket plate may be attached to the blade via the first fastener. The connection member may further include a yoke including a second connection insert configured to receive a second fastener. The yoke may attach to the arm via the second fastener. The connection member may further include a pivotal pin configured to axially attach the bracket with the yoke and a device to attach a fairing to the blade.

Abstract: A combination hydraulic master cylinder comprising two typically parallel pumps disposed within adjacent compartments within a common body of the combination hydraulic master cylinder. Each pump's piston physically pressurizes hydraulic fluid that has been separately drawn into its respective cylinder and in hydraulic isolation, however the proximate location of the independent pumps allows for convenient operation using one hand on one handlebar with reduced congestion of space rather than the more conventional arrangement of two separate master cylinders. The pistons are actuated mechanically using dedicated levers mounted externally to the cylinders. The levers are adjustable in the manner to which they are disposed to the pistons. One lever is oriented such that it is operable using a finger pull action; the second lever is oriented such that it is operable using a thumb push action.

Abstract: An oral fluid collection device is provided that includes a borosilicate glass collection tube that can be capped post-collection for containing a human donor's expectorated oral fluid. The collection tube has a lyophilized reagent disposed therein that is essentially free of surfactants and solvents and includes a bacteriostatic, a peptidoglycan cleaving enzyme, an esterase inhibitor, an antioxidant, and a buffer at a pH range of about 5.7 to about 6.5 for stabilizing drugs and drug metabolites that may be present in the donor oral fluid. Interaction between the collected oral fluid and the buffer-preservative is provided by gravity drawing the collected oral fluid downward into contact with the lyophilized buffer-preservative.

Abstract: A sawmill assembly includes a bed and a carriage. The bed has a pair of substantially parallel rails, and the carriage is movably supported along the rails. The bed includes an extension bed member pivotably attached to a main bed member with a combination bunk/hinge to allow an operator to fold the bed between an extended in use position and a stowed position for transporting the sawmill assembly to or from a work site with a tow vehicle.

Abstract: This invention relates to the development of products that are alternatives to antibiotics with medically important human therapeutic uses for livestock meat and protein production efficiency. These products will be used to replace antibiotics used to rapidly increase lean muscle mass with specific feed regimens. The present invention is for the identification of non-human antibiotic products to be used with different feed regimens for livestock growth and meat promotion that include prebiotic supplements and keystone species probiotics that produce the desired growth promotion phenotypic effects. The present invention includes the identification of enterotypes that can be used as targets for recapitulation by compounds that are screened to produce the desired phenotype.

Abstract: This invention relates to the medical use of an antimicrobial agent, racemic Ornidazole, its (R) and (S) enantiomers, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or esters thereof, and to methods of treatment which involve treating a subject with Ornidazole. The racemic (rac)-ornidazole, its enantiomers, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or esters thereof, may be used in combination with other actives. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical formulations and compositions comprising (rac)-ornidazole, (R)-ornidazole, (S)-ornidazole, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or esters thereof, and/or other actives as well as methods to stereoselectively manufacture the enantiomers.

Abstract: This invention relates to the development of prebiotic and probiotic products that treat obesity and overweight conditions and allow people with these tendencies to covert food to lean muscle mass rather than fat.

Abstract: This invention relates to the development of products that are alternatives to antibiotics with medically important human therapeutic uses for livestock meat and protein production efficiency. These products will be used to replace antibiotics used to rapidly increase lean muscle mass with specific feed regimens. The present invention is for the identification of non-human antibiotic products to be used with different feed regimens for livestock growth and meat promotion that include prebiotic supplements and keystone species probiotics that produce the desired growth promotion phenotypic effects. The present invention includes the identification of enterotypes that can be used as targets for recapitulation by compounds that are screened to produce the desired phenotype.

Abstract: This invention relates to the medical use of an antimicrobial agent, racemic Ornidazole, its (R) and (S) enantiomers, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or esters thereof, and to methods of treatment which involve treating a subject with Ornidazole. The racemic (rac)-ornidazole, its enantiomers, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or esters thereof, may be used in combination with other actives, and in particular, beta lactam antibiotics combined with beta lactamase inhibitors, like co-amoxiclay. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical formulations and compositions comprising (rac)-ornidazole, (R)-ornidazole, (S)-ornidazole, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or esters thereof, and/or other actives and their use with bio-threat pathogens that utilize a mechanism of tolerance or resistance by facultatively switching from aerobic to anaerobic confirmations and by switching back and forth from planktonic to biofilm forms.

Abstract: This invention relates to the medical use of pathogen associated molecular pattern (PAMP) displaying immunostimulatory microbial immuno-adjuvants [MIAs], as therapeutics when used in combination with check point inhibitors to treat various types of cancer and to methods of treatment which involve treating a subject with these compounds and compound mixtures and process methods for identifying and optimally composing them for their therapeutic use in cancer treatment. It also relates to the use of inhibitors of these PAMP displaying immunostimulatory microbial immuno-adjuvants [MIAs], as therapeutics when used to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) including Crohn's Disease and ulcerative colitis and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and process methods for identifying and optimally composing them for their therapeutic use in IBD and IBS.

Abstract: This invention relates to the medical use of an antimicrobial agent, racemic Ornidazole, its (R) and (S) enantiomers, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or esters thereof, and to methods of treatment which involve treating a subject with Ornidazole. The racemic (rac)-ornidazole, its enantiomers, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or esters thereof, may be used in combination with other actives. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical formulations and compositions comprising (rac)-ornidazole, (R)-ornidazole, (S)-ornidazole, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or esters thereof, and/or other actives as well as methods to stereoselectively manufacture the enantiomers.