Abstract: The present invention provides cell-targeting molecules which can deliver a CD8+ T-cell epitope cargo to the MHC class I presentation pathway of a target cell. The cell-targeting molecules of the invention can be used to deliver virtually any CD8+ T-cell epitope from an extracellular space to the MHC class I pathway of a target cell, which may be a malignant cell and/or non-immune cell. The target cell can then display on a cell-surface the delivered CD8+ T-cell epitope complexed with MHC I molecule. The cell-targeting molecules of the invention have uses which include the targeted labeling and/or killing of specific cell-types within a mixture of cell-types, including within a chordate, as well as the stimulation of beneficial immune responses. The cell-targeting molecules of the invention have uses, e.g., in the treatment of a variety of diseases, disorders, and conditions, including cancers, tumors, growth abnormalities, immune disorders, and microbial infections.

Abstract: Intraluminal imaging devices that include multiple conductor segments having conductors (312, 316) of different sizes at particular locations along the length of the intraluminal imaging device are provided. For example, the intraluminal imaging device may include a cable (310) comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion, an electrical connector (314) coupled to the proximal portion of the cable, and a flexible elongate member (320) comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion. A first plurality of conductors extends within the cable and a second plurality of conductors extends within the flexible elongate member. Each conductor of the first plurality of conductors is electrically coupled to a respective conductor of the second plurality of conductors. A conductor of the first plurality of conductors having a first cross section is electrically coupled to a conductor of the second plurality of conductors having a second cross section that is smaller than the first cross section.

Abstract: A self-locking latch assembly for a two-piece container is provided. The latch assembly has a latch hook pivotably biased in a parallel orientation to the first piece of the two-piece container, while a keeper is connected though spaced apart from the surface of the second piece of the two-piece container. The two-piece container is adapted to move between an open and closed position by sliding an open end of the larger piece over an open end of a smaller piece. During this sliding action, toward the closed position, a tapered edge of the latch hook strikes the keeper and is urged upward until the tapered edge ends, whereby the biasing of the latch hook urges it to engage the keeper in a locked condition. To unlock the latch hook, one can pivot it to a nonparallel orientation and slide the two pieces apart.

Abstract: The present invention relates to Shiga toxin A Subunit derived polypeptides and cell-targeting molecules comprising amino acid substitutions which equip the polypeptides with 1) de-immunization; 2) reduced, protease-cleavage sensitivity; and/or 3) a heterologous epitope cargo(s) while retaining Shiga toxin function(s), such as, e.g., potent cytotoxicity. Certain polypeptides of the invention exhibit reduced immunogenic potential in mammals and/or are capable of delivering an epitope to an MHC class molecule of a cell in which the polypeptide is present. Certain molecules comprising a polypeptide of the invention are well-tolerated by mammals while retaining one or more of the features mentioned above.

Abstract: The present invention relates to Shiga toxin effector polypeptides with reduced antigenic and/or immunogenic potential. Immunogenicity can be a limitation for the repeated administration to mammals of proteins and polypeptides derived from Shiga toxins. The Shiga toxin effector polypeptides of the present invention have uses as components of therapeutics, diagnostics, and immunization materials. The cytotoxic proteins of the present invention have uses for selective killing of specific cell types and as therapeutics for the treatment of a variety of diseases, including cancers, immune disorders, and microbial infections. The proteins of the present invention also have uses for detecting specific cell types, collecting diagnostic information, and monitoring the treatment of a variety of diseases, such as, e.g., cancers, immune disorders, and microbial infections.

Abstract: The present invention provides cell-targeting molecules which can deliver a CD8+ T-cell epitope cargo to the MHC class I presentation pathway of a target cell. The cell-targeting molecules of the invention can be used to deliver virtually any CD8+ T-cell epitope from an extracellular space to the MHC class I pathway of a target cell, which may be a malignant cell and/or non-immune cell. The target cell can then display on a cell-surface the delivered CD8+ T-cell epitope complexed with MHC I molecule. The cell-targeting molecules of the invention have uses which include the targeted labeling and/or killing of specific cell-types within a mixture of cell-types, including within a chordate, as well as the stimulation of beneficial immune responses. The cell-targeting molecules of the invention have uses, e.g., in the treatment of a variety of diseases, disorders, and conditions, including cancers, tumors, growth abnormalities, immune disorders, and microbial infections.

Abstract: The present invention relates to Shiga toxin A Subunit derived polypeptides and cell-targeting molecules comprising amino acid substitutions which equip the polypeptides with 1) de-immunization; 2) reduced, protease-cleavage sensitivity; and/or 3) a heterologous epitope cargo(s) while retaining Shiga toxin function(s), such as, e.g., potent cytotoxicity. Certain polypeptides of the invention exhibit reduced immunogenic potential in mammals and/or are capable of delivering an epitope to an MHC class molecule of a cell in which the polypeptide is present. Certain molecules comprising a polypeptide of the invention are well-tolerated by mammals while retaining one or more of the features mentioned above.

Abstract: A system for generating mist includes a vehicle with ventilation system, a misting device configured to atomized fluid to generate a variable amount of mist, and a fan configured to move the variable amount of mist through the ventilation system. The system further includes a particle sensor configured to measure particles and a controller in communication with the particle sensor, misting device, and fan, configured to receive a particle concentration from the particle sensor, compare it to a threshold, and control the variable amount of mist and/or the fan to keep the particle concentration greater than the threshold. A method for controlling mist in a vehicle includes pumping fluid to a misting device, generating a mist of fluid, pumping the mist into a vehicle ventilation system, measuring a particle concentration, and manipulating a misting device, pump, and/or fan using a controller to keep the particle concentration above a threshold.

Abstract: A method and processing system for assessing of the health of a network of retail locations in a defined geographic area, by a process including the development of a greenfield benchmark score for a network of ideally sited locations, followed by the development of a brownfield score of current locations, for comparison to the greenfield score. The invention is further applicable to decisions to open a new location, relocate an existing location or close an existing location. In these cases, the effect of opening a new location, or relocating or closing an underperforming location is evaluated by recalculating the brownfield score after the addition of each of several potential new locations, and/or after relocating or closing each of several poorly performing locations.

Abstract: The present invention provides cell-targeting molecules which can deliver a CD8+ T-cell epitope cargo to the MHC class I presentation pathway of a target cell. The cell-targeting molecules of the invention can be used to deliver virtually any CD8+ T-cell epitope from an extracellular space to the MHC class I pathway of a target cell, which may be a malignant cell and/or non-immune cell. The target cell can then display on a cell-surface the delivered CD8+ T-cell epitope complexed with MHC I molecule. The cell-targeting molecules of the invention have uses which include the targeted labeling and/or killing of specific cell-types within a mixture of cell-types, including within a chordate, as well as the stimulation of beneficial immune responses. The cell-targeting molecules of the invention have uses, e.g., in the treatment of a variety of diseases, disorders, and conditions, including cancers, tumors, growth abnormalities, immune disorders, and microbial infections.

Abstract: The present invention relates to Shiga toxin A Subunit derived polypeptides and cell-targeting molecules comprising amino acid substitutions which equip the polypeptides with 1) de-immunization; 2) reduced, protease-cleavage sensitivity; and/or 3) a heterologous epitope cargo(s) while retaining Shiga toxin function(s), such as, e.g., potent cytotoxicity. Certain polypeptides of the invention exhibit reduced immunogenic potential in mammals and/or are capable of delivering an epitope to an MHC class molecule of a cell in which the polypeptide is present. Certain molecules comprising a polypeptide of the invention are well-tolerated by mammals while retaining one or more of the features mentioned above.

Abstract: An external beam radiation therapy method is described, wherein radiation therapy is performed on a subject by applying at least one ionizing radiation beam to the subject. While applying the at least one ionizing radiation beam to the subject, an ultrasound probe images the subject, where the ultrasound probe is not located in the ionizing radiation beam. While applying the ionizing radiation beam to the subject, a dosimeter that is integral with or attached to the ultrasound probe measures the radiation dose or radiation exposure received by the ultrasound probe.

Abstract: A method and processing system for assessing of the health of a network of retail locations in a defined geographic area, by a process including the development of a greenfield benchmark score for a network of ideally sited locations, followed by the development of a brownfield score of current locations, for comparison to the greenfield score. The invention is further applicable to decisions to open a new location, relocate an existing location or close an existing location. In these cases, the effect of opening a new location, or relocating or closing an underperforming location is evaluated by recalculating the brownfield score after the addition of each of several potential new locations, and/or after relocating or closing each of several poorly performing locations.

Abstract: An ultrasound system includes a 3D imaging probe and a needle guide which attaches to the probe for guidance of needle insertion into a volumetric region which can be scanned by the 3D imaging probe. The needle guide responds to the insertion of a needle through the guide by identifying a plane for scanning by the probe which is the insertion plane through which the needle will pass during insertion. The orientation of the insertion plane is communicated to the probe to cause the probe to scan the identified plane and produce images of the needle as it travels through the insertion plane.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe includes an ultrasound probe housing and one or more ultrasound transducers disposed in the ultrasound probe housing. A dosimeter or ionizing radiation detector is disposed in or attached to the ultrasound probe housing. An alarm device receives radiation dose or radiation exposure data acquired by the dosimeter or ionizing radiation detector. The alarm device includes an electronic processor programmed to detect excessive radiation dose or radiation exposure received by the ultrasound probe based on the radiation dose or radiation exposure data acquired by the dosimeter or ionizing radiation detector, and output an alarm warning of the detection of excessive radiation dose or radiation exposure received by the ultrasound probe. In some embodiments, the dosimeter is a one-time use dosimeter that is not resettable.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer probe comprises an array transducer and a microbeamformer ASIC (46a, 46b) containing transmit amplifiers and receive circuitry for operation of the array transducer. For higher power operation, the drive current of the amplifiers is increased, rather than the transmit voltage. The elements of the array present a low impedance to the transmit amplifiers for increased drive current by their construction of thin layers (12) of piezoelectric material which are electrically coupled in parallel to an amplifier while being mechanically coupled in series for ultrasound transmission.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ultrasound imaging system comprising an ultrasound probe having a transducer array configured to provide an ultrasound receive signal. The system further comprises a B-mode volume processing unit configured to generate a B-mode volume based on the ultrasound receive signal, and a B-mode image processing unit configured to provide a current B-mode image based on the B-mode volume. The system further comprises a memory configured to store a previously acquired 3D-vessel map. Also, the system comprises a registration unit configured to register the previously acquired 3D-vessel map to the B-mode volume and to select a portion of the 3D-vessel map corresponding to the current B-mode image. Further, the system comprises a display configured to display an ultrasound image based on the current B-mode image and the selected portion of the 3D-vessel map.

Abstract: Ultrasound imaging systems are provided. An ultrasound system according to some embodiments includes a console configured to selectively communicate with a first ultrasound imaging device and a second ultrasound imaging device. The console includes a housing, a computing device disposed within the housing, and a connector receptacle assembly coupled to the housing. The connector receptacle assembly includes a first connector bank including a first plurality of electrical connections; and a second connector bank including a second plurality of electrical connections. The connector receptacle assembly is selectively matable to a first connector of the first ultrasound imaging device via only the first connector bank and to a second connector of the second ultrasound imaging device via the first and second connector banks.

Abstract: A method and processing system for assessing of the health of a network of retail locations in a defined geographic area, by a process including the development of a greenfield benchmark score for a network of ideally sited locations, followed by the development of a brownfield score of current locations, for comparison to the greenfield score. The invention is further applicable to decisions to open a new location, relocate an existing location or close an existing location. In these cases, the effect of opening a new location, or relocating or closing an underperforming location is evaluated by recalculating the brownfield score after the addition of each of several potential new locations, and/or after relocating or closing each of several poorly performing locations.

Abstract: A new and distinct variety of Cercis plant named ‘RNI-RCC3’ is disclosed, characterized by distinctive, dark purple foliage that retains its color in heat. Plants are very straight and upright, with exceptional vigor. The new variety is a Cercis, normally used for outdoor ornamental purposes.