Abstract: Methods of assessing, monitoring and/or predicting clinical disease activity, treatment response, disease progression, and/or active repair for chronic inflammatory disease such as axial spondyloarthritis are provided based on the level and/or pattern of LCN2, LCN2-MMP9 and/or OSM.

Abstract: A dispensing closure (40) for use with a container (44) includes a body (54) having a dispensing spout (72) with an interior surface (80) that defines at least a portion of a passage (132) for communicating with the container interior to permit the flow of a fluent substance through the body (54). The dispensing closure (40) includes a closing element (56) attached to the body (54). The closing element (56) defines a transverse cover (130) having a closed position relative to the body (54) and an actuated, open position relative to the body (54). The transverse cover (130) has an outwardly projecting toggle tab (58) for being engaged by a user to move the transverse cover (130) from the closed position to the actuated, open position. The transverse cover (130) further has a flexible, resilient cantilevered sealing portion (142) that seals against the interior surface (80) of the dispensing spout (72) with the transverse cover (130) located in the closed position.

Abstract: A low-force, non-displacement, micro/miniature valve and/or pump assembly is provided. A tube component having a first side port coupled to an inlet portion and a second side port coupled to an outlet portion can be selectively moved to alternatively couple the side ports to a first or second piston pump chamber. First and second pistons can be actuated after positioning the tube component to either draw in fluid or push out fluid from either the first or second piston pump chambers during each actuation of the pistons. The fluid can be drawn in from a reservoir and can be expelled to a patient for providing a dose of the fluid to the patient.

Abstract: A low-force, non-displacement, micro/miniature valve and/or pump assembly is provided. A tube component having a first side port coupled to an inlet portion and a second side port coupled to an outlet portion can be selectively moved to alternatively couple the side ports to a first or second piston pump chamber. First and second pistons can be actuated after positioning the tube component to either draw in fluid or push out fluid from either the first or second piston pump chambers during each actuation of the pistons. The fluid can be drawn in from a reservoir and can be expelled to a patient for providing a dose of the fluid to the patient.

Abstract: A wearable drug delivery device for monitoring unintended over-delivery and/or under-delivery of a stored liquid drug are provided. An absolute pressure sensor can be positioned within the fluid path of the drug delivery device. The absolute pressor sensor can detect both ambient pressure (e.g., absolute or atmospheric pressure) and relative pressure (gage or pumping pressure). Based on the detected pressures, the effects of external ambient pressure on air with the fluid path can be determined during both intended drug delivery events and unintended drug delivery events. In turn, under-delivery and/or over-delivery of the liquid drug can be determined. Based on the severity of the determined under-delivery or over-delivery of the liquid drug, alarms indicating different urgencies can be provided to the user.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to assessment of genetic variation, and in particular to techniques for detection of chromosomal and sub-chromosomal copy number variations. In one aspect, a computer-implemented method is provided for detecting a presence or absence of copy number variation in a target sample. The method includes obtaining sequencing data for a plurality of samples, determining a first normalized coverage for each segment/element in each of the samples according to the sequencing data, determining a second normalized coverage, including a copy number, for each segment/element in each of the samples according to the first normalized coverage, classifying the copy number for each segment/element in a target set in the target sample based on rule-based approaches, machine learning based approaches, or a combination thereof, and outputting a presence or absence of a copy number variation for each segment/element in the target set in the target sample according to the classification.

Abstract: Reservoir systems with improved wake up and fill volume detection techniques are provided. An example reservoir system may include a flexible reservoir and electrical components for detecting fill volume of the flexible reservoir without adversely affecting performance of the flexible reservoir when receiving or dispensing a liquid drug.

Abstract: A low-force, non-displacement, micro/miniature valve and/or pump assembly is provided. A tube component having a first side port coupled to an inlet portion and a second side port coupled to an outlet portion can be selectively moved to alternatively couple the side ports to a first or second piston pump chamber. First and second pistons can be actuated after positioning the tube component to either draw in fluid or push out fluid from either the first or second piston pump chambers during each actuation of the pistons. The fluid can be drawn in from a reservoir and can be expelled to a patient for providing a dose of the fluid to the patient.

Abstract: A low-force, non-displacement, micro/miniature valve and/or pump assembly is provided. A tube component having a first side port coupled to an inlet portion and a second side port coupled to an outlet portion can be selectively moved to alternatively couple the side ports to a first or second piston pump chamber. First and second pistons can be actuated after positioning the tube component to either draw in fluid or push out fluid from either the first or second piston pump chambers during each actuation of the pistons. The fluid can be drawn in from a reservoir and can be expelled to a patient for providing a dose of the fluid to the patient.

Abstract: A dispensing closure (40) for use with a container (44) includes a body (54) having a dispensing spout (72) with an interior surface (80) that defines at least a portion of a passage (132) for communicating with the container interior to permit the flow of a fluent substance through the body (54). The dispensing closure (40) includes a closing element (56) attached to the body (54). The closing element (56) defines a transverse cover (130) having a closed position relative to the body (54) and an actuated, open position relative to the body (54). The transverse cover (130) has an outwardly projecting toggle tab (58) for being engaged by a user to move the transverse cover (130) from the closed position to the actuated, open position. The transverse cover (130) further has a flexible, resilient cantilevered sealing portion (142) that seals against the interior surface (80) of the dispensing spout (72) with the transverse cover (130) located in the closed position.

Abstract: A wearable drug delivery device for monitoring unintended over-delivery and/or under-delivery of a stored liquid drug are provided. An absolute pressure sensor can be positioned within the fluid path of the drug delivery device. The absolute pressor sensor can detect both ambient pressure (e.g., absolute or atmospheric pressure) and relative pressure (gage or pumping pressure). Based on the detected pressures, the effects of external ambient pressure on air with the fluid path can be determined during both intended drug delivery events and unintended drug delivery events. In turn, under-delivery and/or over-delivery of the liquid drug can be determined. Based on the severity of the determined under-delivery or over-delivery of the liquid drug, alarms indicating different urgencies can be provided to the user.

Abstract: A low-force, non-displacement, micro/miniature valve and/or pump assembly is provided. A tube component having a first side port coupled to an inlet portion and a second side port coupled to an outlet portion can be selectively moved to alternatively couple the side ports to a first or second piston pump chamber. First and second pistons can be actuated after positioning the tube component to either draw in fluid or push out fluid from either the first or second piston pump chambers during each actuation of the pistons. The fluid can be drawn in from a reservoir and can be expelled to a patient for providing a dose of the fluid to the patient.

Abstract: A storage device that has a wall-mounted configuration and a freestanding configuration is provided and includes a first vertical support with one or more horizontal support members pivotably attached at intervals to the first vertical support, and includes a plurality of second vertical supports hingeably attached to the first vertical support on a first end of the vertical support, wherein the first vertical support and the second vertical supports can be collapsed together to form a wall-mountable vertical support that can be releasably attached to a wall-mounted bracket.

Abstract: A storage device that has a wall-mounted configuration and a freestanding configuration is provided and includes a first vertical support with one or more horizontal support members pivotably attached at intervals to the first vertical support, and includes a plurality of second vertical supports hingeably attached to the first vertical support on a first end of the vertical support, wherein the first vertical support and the second vertical supports can be collapsed together to form a wall-mountable vertical support that can be releasably attached to a wall-mounted bracket.

Abstract: A dispensing closure (40) for a container (44) of a fluent substance is disclosed. The closure includes a body (54) having an inlet portion (68) defining an inlet flow passage (74) for receiving the fluent substance from the container (44) and an elongate outlet portion (70) defining an outlet flow passage (78) for discharging the fluent substance. The closure (40) further has a valve (56) located within the body (54), across the inlet flow passage (74) and spaced axially inwardly of outlet flow passage (78) to define a chamber (216). The valve (56) has a flexible, resilient valve head portion (160) that has confronting, openable portions (212) movable from a closed configuration to an open configuration when the valve head portion (160) is subjected to a pressure differential acting across the valve head portion (160).

Abstract: An integrated, hand-held device combining optical bar-code reading means with RFID-transponder commissioning means includes an on-board processing means, such as a portable-data-terminal that releasably couples to the device and wireless communicates with a host or network computer and seamlessly integrates data communication to and from the optical reader means and the commissioning means. A rechargeable battery pack provides power to each component and a single trigger mechanism enables multi-modal operation based on sensed conditions. Blank or pre-encoded RFID-transponders are supplied by a replaceable cartridge.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods to regulate gene expression in plants. In particular, manipulation of the expression in a plant cell of a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide comprising a 3?-5? exonuclease domain is disclosed. More stable and predictable expression is thus obtained. The present invention also relates to method of increasing or decreasing post-transcriptional silencing. The invention further relates to novel nucleic acid molecules comprising nucleotide sequences encoding polypeptides comprising a 3?-5? exonuclease domain.

Abstract: The present inventors have discovered that pectin esterase is essential for plant growth. Specifically, the inhibition of pectin esterase gene expression resulted in seedlings that were damaged, short, and stunted at a very early growth stage. Thus, pectin esterase can be used as a target for the identification of herbicides. Accordingly, the present invention provides methods for the identification of compounds that inhibit pectin esterase expression or activity, comprising: contacting a compound with a pectin esterase and detecting the presence and/or absence of binding between said compound and said pectin esterase, or detecting a decrease in pectin esterase expression or activity. The methods of the invention are useful for the identification of herbicides.

Abstract: The present inventors have discovered that Flavanone 3-hydroxylase (“FHT”) is essential for plant growth. Specifically, the inhibition of FHT gene expression in plant seedlings results in small and chlorotic seedlings. Thus, FHT can be used as a target for the identification of herbicides. Accordingly, the present invention provides methods for the identification of compounds that inhibit FHT expression or activity. The present invention can be used to identify compounds having herbicide activity by contacting a compound with FHT and detecting the presence and/or absence of binding between the compound and the FHT, or alternatively, detecting a decrease in FHT expression or activity.

Abstract: The present inventors have discovered that 3-oxo-5-alpha-steroid 4-dehydrogenase (DET2) is essential for plant growth. Specifically, the inhibition of DET2 gene expression in plant seedlings resulted in seedlings that are shorter than controls and chlorotic. Thus, DET2 can be used as a target for the identification of herbicides. Accordingly, the present invention provides methods for the identification of compounds that inhibit DET2 expression or activity, comprising: contacting a compound with a DET2 and detecting the presence and/or absence of binding between said compound and said DET2, or detecting a decrease in DET2 expression or activity. The methods of the invention are useful for the identification of herbicides.