Abstract: A plug connector system is described. The plug connector system includes: a plug connector; a housing on which the plug connector is installed; the housing having an opening having a first inner wall; the plug connector having a sheet-metal shield that projects at least in portions into the opening; a ring being disposed in the opening and, with an outer wall, electrically contacting the first inner wall of the opening; the sheet-metal shield electrically contacting, with a further outer wall of the sheet-metal shield, a second inner wall of the ring.

Abstract: Provided are various embodiments relating to anti-IL17A antibodies and IL17Ra ECD polypeptides that bind to IL17A. In various embodiments, such anti-IL17A antibodies or IL17Ra ECD polypeptides can be used in methods to treat IL17-induced conditions in subjects, such as humans or companion animals, such as canines, felines, and equines. Also provided are various embodiments relating to IgG Fc variant polypeptides having one or more amino acid substitutions for reducing binding to C1q and/or CD16. In some embodiments, the IgG Fc variants and/or polypeptides comprising the IgG Fc variants (e.g., fusion polypeptides comprising the IgG Fc variants and the anti-IL17A antibodies and/or IL17Ra ECD polypeptides described herein) may have reduced complement-mediated immune responses and/or antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity.

Abstract: Provided are various embodiments relating to TrkA ECD polypeptides from companion animal species that bind to NGF. Such polypeptides can be used in methods to treat NGF-induced condition related to chronic pain and/or inflammatory pain in companion animals, such as canines, felines, and equines.

Abstract: Provided are various embodiments relating to anti-IL17A antibodies and IL17Ra ECD polypeptides that bind to IL17A. In various embodiments, such anti-IL17A antibodies or IL17Ra ECD polypeptides can be used in methods to treat IL17-induced conditions in subjects, such as humans or companion animals, such as canines, felines, and equines. Also provided are various embodiments relating to IgG Fc variant polypeptides having one or more amino acid substitutions for reducing binding to C1q and/or CD16. In some embodiments, the IgG Fc variants and/or polypeptides comprising the IgG Fc variants (e.g., fusion polypeptides comprising the IgG Fc variants and the anti-IL17A antibodies and/or IL17Ra ECD polypeptides described herein) may have reduced complement-mediated immune responses and/or antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity.

Abstract: Provided are various embodiments relating to variant IgG Fc polypeptides of companion animals having increased Protein A binding for ease of purification, decreased C1q binding for reduced complement-mediated immune responses, decreased CD 16 binding (e.g., for reduced antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) induction), increased stability, and/or the ability to form multimeric proteins. In addition, various embodiments relating to antibodies and fusion proteins comprising such variant IgG Fc polypeptides are provided. In various embodiments, such polypeptides may be used to treat companion animals, such as canines, felines, and equines.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention include training an optimal interpretable decision tree for regression using mixed-integer linear programming techniques. A non-limiting example computer-implemented method includes receiving, using a processor, input data that includes time-series data. The method further includes training, using a binary mixed-integer linear program of the processor, an ODT for regression based on the input data. During the training process one or more outliers are filtered out by a linear loss model that minimizes training loss and outlier loss.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention include implemented method includes selecting an optimization algorithm for the control system of a processing plant based on whether the control system is guided by a linear-based predictive model or a non-linear-based predictive model, in which a gradient is available. Calculating set-point variables using the optimization algorithm. Predicting an output based on the calculated set-point variables. Comparing an actual output at the processing plant to the predicted output. Suspending a physical process at the processing plant in response to the actual output being a threshold value apart from the predicted output.

Abstract: Provided are various embodiments relating to anti-IL4R antibodies that bind to canine IL4R. In various embodiments, such anti-IL4R antibodies can be used in methods to treat IL4/IL13-induced conditions, such as atopic dermatitis, allergic dermatitis, pruritus, asthma, psoriasis, scleroderma and eczema, in companion animals, such as canines and felines. Also provided are various embodiments relating to variant IgG Fc polypeptides and variant light chain constant regions of companion animal species for the preparation of antibodies or bispecific antibodies.

Abstract: In an approach to hyperparameter optimization, one or more computer processors express a hyperparameter tuning process of a model based on a type of model, one or more dimensions of a training dataset, associated loss function of the model, and associated computational constraints of the model, comprising: identifying a set of optimal hyper-rectangles based a calculated local variability and a calculated best function value; calculating a point as a representative for each identified potentially optimal hyper-rectangle by locally searching over the identified set of potentially optimal hyper-rectangles; dividing one or more hyper-rectangles in the identified set of optimal hyper-rectangles into a plurality of smaller hyper-rectangles based on each calculated point; and calculating one or more optimal hyperparameters utilizing a globally converged hyper-rectangle from the plurality of smaller hyper-rectangles.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for automatically generating an optimization model for site-wide plant optimization includes mapping a process flow diagram of a plant process to a graph comprising nodes and edges, wherein the nodes represent processes and the edges represent flows between processes. A behavior is learned for each node of the graph based at least on historic data of the plant process. One or more regression functions are modeled for each node to predict an output of each of the processes, wherein the one or more regression functions are modeled based on the learned behavior for each node.

Abstract: Provided are various embodiments relating to erythropoietin (EPO) polypeptide analogs with one or more additional glycosylation sites and/or additional cysteine residues and methods of producing and using the same to treat anemia in companion animals. Also provided are various embodiments relating to polypeptides comprising an extracellular domain of EPO receptor and methods of using the same for treating polycythemia in mammals.

Abstract: Provided are various embodiments relating to IL13R/IL4R heterodimeric proteins derived from companion animal species and that bind to IL13 and/or IL4. Such heterodimeric proteins can be used in methods to treat IL13 and/or IL4-induced conditions in companion animals, such as canines, felines, and equines.

Abstract: Provided are various embodiments relating to variant IgG Fc polypeptides with altered FcRn binding activity. Also provided are polypeptides and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the variant IgG Fc polypeptides described herein. Polypeptides comprising variant IgG Fc polypeptides of the present invention may have extended half-life in vivo. Such products may be used in methods to treat disease in companion animals, such as canines, felines, and equines.

Abstract: A concentrated coffee extract powder (instant coffee) and a system for producing the same are disclosed which includes: selecting and preparing coffee beans by a predetermined quality guideline; receiving a coffee extract by inputting the coffee beans into a high-volume coffee brewing machine a high-volume coffee brewing machine having a plurality of percolation tanks whose fluid inter-communication is controlled by a a Boolen logic performed by a proportional integral derivative controller (PIDC) after receiving time, temperature, and pressure data from the plurality of percolation tanks so that the coffee extract is qualitatively constant in each of said plurality of percolation tanks; freezing the coffee extract mixed with the probiotics in molds using an individual quick freezer (IQF) to obtain frozen coffee extract blocks; and vacuum freezing the frozen coffee extract blocks using a convection current vacuum freeze drying apparatus.

Abstract: A microwave connector assembly comprises a waveguide ferrule having a receiving end receiving a dielectric waveguide, a connecting end distal to the receiving end, and a locking member, and a ferrule socket at least partially receiving the waveguide ferrule in a ferrule receptacle. The ferrule socket engages in a locking connection with the locking member. The ferrule socket has a coding member engaging a complementary coding member of the waveguide ferrule only when the waveguide ferrule is positioned relative to the ferrule socket in a single predetermined angular position or in one of two predetermined angular positions that are rotated by 180° with respect to each other.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention include an optimal interpretable decision tree using integer linear programming techniques. A non-limiting example computer-implemented method includes receiving, using a processor, a plurality of data inputs from a process and selecting, using the processor, a data subset from the plurality of data inputs by solving linear programming to obtain a solution. The method builds and optimizes, using the processor, an optimal decision tree based on the data subset and alerts, using the processor, a user when a prediction of the optimal decision tree is greater than a threshold value.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for controlling a production system includes mapping, by a controller, the production system as a directed acyclic graph. The production system can include multiple plants that are represented as nodes and relations between the plants represented by edges of the directed acyclic graph. The method further includes generating, by the controller, a regression model for each of the plants in the production system. The method further includes predicting, by the controller, an output of each plant based on sensor data associated from each plant. The method further includes adjusting, by the controller, one or more control variables for each plant based on a target output by using machine learning. The method further includes adjusting, by the controller, the one or more control variables for each plant to generate the target output.

Abstract: In a first aspect, the invention concerns a method for detecting or quantifying DNA methylation at a locus. In one embodiment, a methylation-sensitive endonuclease is formulated together with a polymerase enzyme in an appropriate reaction mixture such that amplification of DNA occurs in a methylation specific manor. Quantitative DNA amplification at selected loci can be used to determine the level of methylation. Kits and reagents for performing such methods are also provided.

Abstract: Provided are various embodiments relating to anti-IL31 antibodies binding to canine IL31. Such antibodies can be used in methods to treat IL31-induced conditions in companion animals, such as canines, felines, and equines.

Abstract: A concentrated fruit juice powder obtained by a convection current vacuum freeze drying process that includes: selecting and preparing fruits by predetermined quality guideline; extracting fruit juice by inserting the fruits into a screw press juicing apparatus having a precutter and a screw press whose body surface varies non-linearly, which is configured to achieve a maximum extraction efficiency; adding probiotics into the extracted fruit juice; freezing the fruit juice mixed with the probiotics in molds using an individual quick freezer (IQF) to obtain frozen fruit juice blocks; and vacuum freezing the frozen fruit juice blocks using a convection current vacuum freeze drying apparatus.