Abstract: The present disclosure provides affinity tagged heterodimeric polypeptides comprising a hepatitis C virus (HCV) E1 polypeptide and an HCV E2 polypeptide, where one or both of the E1 and E2 polypeptides comprises an affinity tag. The present disclosure provides a method of producing an affinity tagged E1/E2 heterodimer of the present disclosure. The present disclosure provides methods of producing untagged HCV E1/E2 heterodimers. The present disclosure provides HCV E1/E2 heterodimers, compositions comprising same, and methods of inducing an immune response to HCV.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides immunogenic compositions comprising: a) hepatitis C virus (HCV) E1E2 heterodimers, HCV E2, or HCV E1; and b) an adjuvant, where the adjuvant is a cyclic dinucleotide or an archaeosome. The present disclosure provides methods of inducing an immune response in an individual to HCV, the methods comprising administering to an individual an effective amount of an immunogenic composition of the present disclosure.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides immunogenic compositions comprising HCV E1, E2, or E1/E2 polypeptides from two or more different HCV genotypes. The present disclosure provides immunogenic compositions comprising HCV E2 or E1/E2 polypeptides from two or more different HCV genotypes. The immunogenic compositions are useful in carrying out methods of inducing an immune response to HCV. The present disclosure further provides methods of stimulating an immune response to HCV in an individual.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides heterodimeric polypeptides comprising: 1) a variant hepatitis C virus (HCV) E2 polypeptide and an HCV E1 polypeptide; 2) a variant HCV E1 polypeptide and an HCV E2 polypeptide; or 3) a variant HCV E1 polypeptide and a variant HCV E2 polypeptide, where the variant HCV E2 polypeptide and/or the HCV E1 polypeptide comprises one or more T cell epitopes, present in an HCV polypeptide other than an HCV E1 polypeptide or an HCV E2 polypeptide. The present disclosure provides nucleic acids encoding a polyprotein that includes E1 and variant E2, E2 and variant E1, or variant E2 and variant E1. The present disclosure provides a method of producing an E1/E2 heterodimer of the present disclosure. The present disclosure provides a method of inducing an immune response in an individual. The present disclosure provides variant E2 polypeptides and variant E1 polypeptides; and nucleic acids encoding same.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an immunogenic composition comprising: a) i) a hepatitis C virus (HCV) heterodimeric polypeptide that includes HCV E1 and E2 polypeptides; ii) an HCV E1 polypeptide; or iii) an HCV E2 polypeptide; b) a polypeptide (also referred to herein as a “T-cell epitope polypeptide” or an “HCV T-cell epitope polypeptide”) comprising T-cell epitopes (e.g., CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell epitopes that are conserved among some HCV genotypes and that are presented through one or multiple HLA alleles common within the human population) present in an HCV protein other than E1 and E2; and c) a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. The present disclosure provides a method of inducing an immune response, in an individual, to an HCV polypeptide.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides heterodimeric polypeptides comprising: 1) a variant hepatitis C virus (HCV) E2 polypeptide and an HCV E1 polypeptide; 2) a variant HCV E1 polypeptide and an HCV E2 polypeptide; or 3) a variant HCV E1 polypeptide and a variant HCV E2 polypeptide, where the variant HCV E2 polypeptide and/or the HCV E1 polypeptide comprises one or more T cell epitopes, present in an HCV polypeptide other than an HCV E1 polypeptide or an HCV E2 polypeptide. The present disclosure provides nucleic acids encoding a polyprotein that includes E1 and variant E2, E2 and variant E1, or variant E2 and variant E1. The present disclosure provides a method of producing an E1/E2 heterodimer of the present disclosure. The present disclosure provides a method of inducing an immune response in an individual. The present disclosure provides variant E2 polypeptides and variant E1 polypeptides; and nucleic acids encoding same.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides immunogenic compositions comprising: a) hepatitis C virus (HCV) E1E2 heterodimers, HCV E2, or HCV E1; and b) an adjuvant, where the adjuvant is a cyclic dinucleotide or an archaeosome. The present disclosure provides methods of inducing an immune response in an individual to HCV, the methods comprising administering to an individual an effective amount of an immunogenic composition of the present disclosure.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides heterodimeric polypeptides comprising: 1) a variant hepatitis C virus (HCV) E2 polypeptide and an HCV E1 polypeptide; 2) a variant HCV E1 polypeptide and an HCV E2 polypeptide; or 3) a variant HCV E1 polypeptide and a variant HCV E2 polypeptide, where the variant HCV E2 polypeptide and/or the HCV E1 polypeptide comprises one or more T cell epitopes, present in an HCV polypeptide other than an HCV E1 polypeptide or an HCV E2 polypeptide. The present disclosure provides nucleic acids encoding a polyprotein that includes E1 and variant E2, E2 and variant E1, or variant E2 and variant E1. The present disclosure provides a method of producing an E1/E2 heterodimer of the present disclosure. The present disclosure provides a method of inducing an immune response in an individual. The present disclosure provides variant E2 polypeptides and variant E1 polypeptides; and nucleic acids encoding same.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an immunogenic composition comprising: a) a hepatitis C virus (HCV) heterodimeric polypeptide that includes HCV E1 and E2 polypeptides; b) a T-cell epitope polypeptide comprising a T-cell epitope present in an HCV protein other than E1 and E2; and c) a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. The present disclosure provides a method of inducing an immune response, in an individual, to an HCV polypeptide. The present disclosure provides an immunogenic composition comprising: a) a polypeptide that comprises one or more T-cell epitopes present in an HCV protein other than E1 and E2; and b) a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides heterodimeric polypeptides comprising: 1) a variant hepatitis C virus (HCV) E2 polypeptide and an HCV E1 polypeptide; 2) a variant HCV E1 polypeptide and an HCV E2 polypeptide; or 3) a variant HCV E1 polypeptide and a variant HCV E2 polypeptide, where the variant HCV E2 polypeptide and/or the HCV E1 polypeptide comprises one or more T cell epitopes, present in an HCV polypeptide other than an HCV E1 polypeptide or an HCV E2 polypeptide. The present disclosure provides nucleic acids encoding a polyprotein that includes E1 and variant E2, E2 and variant E1, or variant E2 and variant E1. The present disclosure provides a method of producing an E1/E2 heterodimer of the present disclosure. The present disclosure provides a method of inducing an immune response in an individual. The present disclosure provides variant E2 polypeptides and variant E1 polypeptides; and nucleic acids encoding same.

Abstract: An electrosurgical generator arranged to supply radio frequency (RF) energy to fuse tissue is provided. The generator is arranged to supply RF energy through a removably coupled electrosurgical instrument to fuse tissue grasped by the instrument. The generator monitors a phase angle of the supplied RF energy and adjusts or terminates the supplied RF energy based on the monitored phase angle in comparison to predetermined thresholds and conditions to optimally fuse the tissue. The electrosurgical instrument conducts radio frequency energy to fuse tissue captured between the jaws and a blade to mechanically cut tissue between the jaws.

Abstract: An electrosurgical generator arranged to supply radio frequency (RF) energy to fuse tissue is provided. The generator is arranged to supply RF energy through a removably coupled electrosurgical instrument to fuse tissue grasped by the instrument. The generator monitors a phase angle of the supplied RF energy and adjusts or terminates the supplied RF energy based on the monitored phase angle in comparison to predetermined thresholds and conditions to optimally fuse the tissue. The electrosurgical instrument conducts radio frequency energy to fuse tissue captured between the jaws and a blade to mechanically cut tissue between the jaws. A conductive post positioned on the jaw adjacent to the blade.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides affinity tagged heterodimeric polypeptides comprising a hepatitis C virus (HCV) E1 polypeptide and an HCV E2 polypeptide, where one or both of the E1 and E2 polypeptides comprises an affinity tag. The present disclosure provides a method of producing an affinity tagged E1/E2 heterodimer of the present disclosure. The present disclosure provides methods of producing untagged HCV E1/E2 heterodimers. The present disclosure provides HCV E1/E2 heterodimers, compositions comprising same, and methods of inducing an immune response to HCV.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides heterodimeric polypeptides comprising: 1) a variant hepatitis C virus (HCV) E2 polypeptide and an HCV E1 polypeptide; 2) a variant HCV E1 polypeptide and an HCV E2 polypeptide; or 3) a variant HCV E1 polypeptide and a variant HCV E2 polypeptide, where the variant HCV E2 polypeptide and/or the HCV E1 polypeptide comprises one or more T cell epitopes, present in an HCV polypeptide other than an HCV E1 polypeptide or an HCV E2 polypeptide. The present disclosure provides nucleic acids encoding a polyprotein that includes E1 and variant E2, E2 and variant E1, or variant E2 and variant E1. The present disclosure provides a method of producing an E1/E2 heterodimer of the present disclosure. The present disclosure provides a method of inducing an immune response in an individual. The present disclosure provides variant E2 polypeptides and variant E1 polypeptides; and nucleic acids encoding same.

Abstract: Methods and devices for transmitting message attachments from a messaging server to a mobile device. The mobile device identifies if any of the attachments are of a first type and requests transmission, from the messaging server, of the identified attachments of the first type, if any. The device determines the remaining transmission capacity by subtracting the collective size of the message body received and the identified attachments of the first type, if any, from the initial data limit. Based on the remaining transmission capacity, the device determines that at least one of the one or more attachments, other than the identified attachments, has a size smaller than the remaining transmission capacity, and based on that determination, requests transmission of said at least one of the one or more attachments from the messaging server to the mobile device.

Abstract: In a computer-implemented method of joining a user to a conference call event an interface associated with a time management software application is displayed. The interface displays information relating to the conference call event including a date for a conference call which is subject of the conference call event and a start time of the conference call. While displaying the interface, a menu offering one or more options is displayed; these one or more options include an option to join the conference call. When an indication of a selection of the option to join the conference call is received, information associated with the conference call is located; this information includes a telephone number for a conference call bridge. A connection with the conference call bridge using the telephone number is initiated.

Abstract: A rope auto spooler is configured to spool rope onto a cable spool. The rope auto spooler includes a frame, a spool mounting and driving assembly rotatably mounted on the frame around a first axis, the spool mounting and driving assembly configured to mount the spool thereon, a guide linearly translatable along the frame along a second axis, the guide being configured to accept rope therethrough, and a drive apparatus to which the guide is operatively coupled, the drive apparatus configured to linearly translate the guide relative to the frame along the second axis.

Abstract: A method of managing communications services begins with a communications platform receiving a request for a communications service to be provided to a communications device by a source other than the communications platform. The communications platform determines an authorization of the communications device to receive the communications service. The authorization comprises a permission of the communications device to receive the communications service during a lifetime of a communications session maintained with the communications device. The communications network authorizes delivery of the communications service to the communications device during the lifetime of the communications session, in accordance with the authorization.

Abstract: A method is provided for use on an electronic device having a display, a communication component, a memory, and a processor coupled to the display, the communication component, and the memory. The memory stores data in a first sandbox and data in a second sandbox, the first sandbox being a secure sandbox and having a shadow data component, the shadow data component storing a subset of the data stored in the first sandbox. The method comprises, in response to a request, providing the data stored in the first sandbox when the first sandbox is in an unlocked mode and providing the data stored in the shadow data component when the first sandbox is in a locked mode.