Abstract: A pest deterrent apparatus that uses a rotating mirror to paint a beam of sunlight onto a predetermined area of interest. The beam of sunlight being reflected onto the area of interest deters birds and other pests from landing or gathering in the area of interest. A global navigation satellite system (GNSS) device and a compass are used to determine the position of the sun with respect to the mirror. A pattern generator computes the movement of the mirror required to paint the predetermined area of interest with the beam of sunlight. The movement of the mirror is adjusted as the sun moves across the sky such that the predetermined area of interest continues to be covered with the beam of sunlight as the sun moves across the sky.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a person's own RBCs can be recruited as secondary bioscavenger carriers in vivo using a nanopolymer-BChE complex, with an affinity ligand (antibody or peptide) for selective targeting to the RBCs and a cell-penetrating peptide for uptake into the RBCs. A general approach according to an embodiment involves parenteral administration of the nanodevice to gain access to the systemic circulation, which then seeks out and attaches to the person's RBCs, followed by transport into the RBCs (to minimize clearance from the circulation), leading to long-term circulation of the bioscavenger enzymes and thus protection against intoxication.

Abstract: The present invention is a mutant retroviral protease which confers an increase in retroviral stability. Retroviruses expressing the instant mutant retroviral protease exhibit at least a 2-fold increase in infectivity half-life as compared to wild-type retrovirus. Unexpectedly, a Gly119Glu mutation in the protease enhances retroviral stability in the presence of various wild-type envelope proteins including wild-type amphotropic, ecotropic and 10A1 murine leukemia viruses. The improved stability of the mutant retrovirus leads to more facile virus production and enhanced infection efficiency.

Abstract: The present invention is a mutant retroviral protease which confers an increase in retroviral stability. Retroviruses expressing the instant mutant retroviral protease exhibit at least a 2-fold increase in infectivity half-life as compared to wild-type retrovirus. Unexpectedly, a Gly119Glu mutation in the protease enhances retroviral stability in the presence of various wild-type envelope proteins including wild-type amphotropic, ecotropic and 10A1 murine leukemia viruses. The improved stability of the mutant retrovirus leads to more facile virus production and enhanced infection efficiency.