Abstract: A blade rinse composition comprising about 0.0001 to 0.01 wt. % disodium tetraborate decahydrate, about 0.0001 to 0.01 wt. % cationic surfactant, up to 5 wt. % anhydrous alcohol, and deionized water is disclosed, together with methods of making and using the same. The composition may prevent oxidation and/or contamination of metal blades and premature dullness of the blades.

Abstract: A blade rinse composition comprising about 0.0001 to 0.01 wt. % disodium tetraborate decahydrate, about 0.0001 to 0.01 wt. % cationic surfactant, up to 5 wt. % anhydrous alcohol, and deionized water is disclosed, together with methods of making and using the same. The composition may prevent oxidation and/or contamination of metal blades and premature dullness of the blades.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to an isolated polynucleotide encoding a modified picornavirus 3C protease, wherein the modified picornavirus 3C protease includes an altered secondary structure and one or more amino acid substitution(s) located at one or more amino acid position(s) corresponding to positions 16-25, 99-100 and 115-130 of a wild-type Fool-and-Mouth Disease Virus (FMDV) 3C protease, wherein the isolated polynucleotide encoding the modified picornavirus 3C protease, when transformed into and co-expressed in a host cell, enhances transgene expression of a P1 precursor polypeptide in comparison to an amount of P1 precursor polypeptide transgene expression exhibited in a host cell transformed and co-expressed with a control picornavirus 3C protease, wherein the one or more corresponding amino acid position(s) is/are identified by an alignment of the modified picornavirus 3C protease with the one or more of the wild type FMDV 3C protease(s).

Abstract: A hybrid light and fan fixture includes a plurality of LED lights surrounding a fan and its motor within a housing. A connector is made to allow the hybrid fixture to be installed in a conventional light socket for 110v electrical power. An alternative embodiment includes either or both features of a set or rotatable deflector blades and a serpentine heating element to more positively influence the air flow created by the fan and make the air stream more effective in de-fogging the mirror. Preferably, the fixture includes a circuit that allows the lights to be energized with and without the fan and heating element.

Abstract: A method of producing purified FMDV VLPs, comprising contacting cells containing FMDV VLPs with a lysis buffer and allowing the cells to lyse, the lysis buffer comprising 10-20 mM Tris-HCl, 150-200 mM NaCl, 3 mM MgCl2, and 1% Triton X-100, wherein the lysis buffer does not contain EDTA; centrifuging a solution; and removing a supernatant from the solution, the supernatant containing the purified FMDV VLPs.

Abstract: A blade rinse composition comprising about 0.0001 to 0.01 wt. % disodium tetraborate decahydrate, about 0.0001 to 0.01 wt. % cationic surfactant, up to 5 wt. % anhydrous alcohol, and deionized water is disclosed, together with methods of making and using the same. The composition may prevent oxidation and/or contamination of metal blades and premature dullness of the blades.

Abstract: A method of producing purified FMDV VLPs, comprising contacting cells containing FMDV VLPs with a lysis buffer and allowing the cells to lyse, the lysis buffer comprising 10-20 mM Tris-HCl, 150-200 mM NaCl, 3 mM MgCl2, and 1% Triton X-100, wherein the lysis buffer does not contain EDTA; centrifuging a solution; and removing a supernatant from the solution, the supernatant containing the purified FMDV VLPs.

Abstract: A blade rinse composition comprising about 0.0001 to 0.01 wt. % disodium tetraborate decahydrate, about 0.0001 to 0.01 wt. % cationic surfactant, up to 5 wt. % anhydrous alcohol, and deionized water is disclosed, together with methods of making and using the same. The composition may prevent oxidation and/or contamination of metal blades and premature dullness of the blades.

Abstract: A method of producing purified FMDV VLPs, comprising contacting cells containing FMDV VLPs with a lysis buffer and allowing the cells to lyse, the lysis buffer comprising 10-20 mM Tris-HCl, 150-200 mM NaCl, 3 mM MgCl2, and 1% Triton X-100, wherein the lysis buffer does not contain EDTA; centrifuging a solution; and removing a supernatant from the solution, the supernatant containing the purified FMDV VLPs.

Abstract: Polynucleotide constructs that express an engineered foot-and-mouth disease (FMDV) P1 precursor protein and a non-FMDV TEV protease and methods for safe and efficient recombinant production of FMDV antigens and immunogens. Recombinant production of FMDV antigens avoids the need to culture highly-infectious FMDV, while conventional culture methods for producing FMDV antigens rely on the native FMDV 3C protease which exerts toxic effects on host cells. The inventors have developed a new system that efficiently and safely processes FMDV P1 precursor without the FMDV 3C protease, thus avoiding the toxic effects associated with use of the 3C protease. The invention is also directed to the FMDV antigens and virus-like particles produced by this system as well as to FMDV vaccines, diagnostics and other biologics.

Abstract: This application is directed generally to foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) 3C proteases that have been modified by mutating a polynucleotide sequence coding for the FMDV 3C protease. The modified FMDV proteases exhibit proteolytic activity on FMDV P1 precursor protein and exhibit a reduction in one or more toxic or inhibitory properties associated with an unmodified FMDV 3C protease on a host cell used to recombinantly produce it. Vectors carrying polynucleotides encoding modified FMDV 3C protease sequences can induce production of FMDV virus-like particles in a host cell when expressed in the host cell. The modified FMDV 3C proteases can generally be used to produce immunogenic FMDV preparations capable of inducing an immune response against FMDV.

Abstract: This application is directed generally to foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) 3C proteases that have been modified by mutating a polynucleotide sequence coding for the FMDV 3C protease. The modified FMDV proteases exhibit proteolytic activity on FMDV P1 precursor protein and exhibit a reduction in one or more toxic or inhibitory properties associated with an unmodified FMDV 3C protease on a host cell used to recombinantly produce it. Vectors carrying polynucleotides encoding modified FMDV 3C protease sequences can induce production of FMDV virus-like particles in a host cell when expressed in the host cell. The modified FMDV 3C proteases can generally be used to produce immunogenic FMDV preparations capable of inducing an immune response against FMDV.

Abstract: This application is directed generally to foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) 3C proteases that have been modified by mutating a polynucleotide sequence coding for the FMDV 3C protease. The modified FMDV proteases exhibit proteolytic activity on FMDV P1 precursor protein and exhibit a reduction in one or more toxic or inhibitory properties associated with an unmodified FMDV 3C protease on a host cell used to recombinantly produce it. Vectors carrying polynucleotides encoding modified FMDV 3C protease sequences can induce production of FMDV virus-like particles in a host cell when expressed in the host cell. The modified FMDV 3C proteases can generally be used to produce immunogenic FMDV preparations capable of inducing an immune response against FMDV.

Abstract: Polynucleotides encoding fusion proteins contain a secretable luciferase fused to a modified polypeptide of interest are disclosed. The polypeptide of interest has been modified to remove a native N-terminal secretion sequence and has been replaced by the secretable luciferase. One example of a modified polypeptide of interest is interferon. The polynucleotides and fusion proteins have biotherapeutic, diagnostic, and quality control applications in biotechnological, medical, and veterinary fields. Methods for producing the secretable fusion protein are also disclosed.

Abstract: Techniques for operating electronic paper displays of respective electronic devices are described. One set of techniques described below enhances user experience by utilizing multiple different waveform and/or display-update modes when rendering content on these displays. Another set of techniques are able to render lines on electronic paper displays having variable and arbitrary darkness, despite the restricted color depth inherent in these displays. In addition, this disclosure describes techniques for utilizing supersampling to select which shades to render on an electronic paper display of an electronic device. In still other implementations, the techniques described herein allocate a predefined frame rate of an electronic paper display between multiple different application components requesting to update the display, resulting smooth animation and relatively high-frame updates.

Abstract: A blade rinse composition comprising about 0.0001 to 0.01 wt. % disodium tetraborate decahydrate, about 0.0001 to 0.01 wt. % cationic surfactant, up to 5 wt. % anhydrous alcohol, and deionized water is disclosed, together with methods of making and using the same. The composition may prevent oxidation and/or contamination of metal blades and premature dullness of the blades.

Abstract: This application is directed generally to minicircle DNA vectors for the vaccination of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). The transgene expression cassette in the minicircle DNA vector includes: a eukaryotic translation initiation nucleotide sequence, a mutant nucleotide sequence that encodes a foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) capsid polyprotein precursor that contains at least one mutation to eliminate a restriction enzyme recognition site, a nucleotide sequence that encodes a protease that cleaves the MEW capsid polyprotein precursor into plurality of FMDV capsid proteins and a translational regulatory element to regulate the expression of the protease. The minicircle DNA vectors can be transfected directly into the cell of a mammalian host. When transfected into the mammalian host cell, virus-like particles can be produced intrinsically to stimulate the mammalian host's immune system to develop adaptive immunity toward foot-and-mouth disease.

Abstract: Polynucleotides encoding fusion proteins contain a secretable luciferase fused to a modified polypeptide of interest are disclosed. The polypeptide of interest has been modified to remove a native N-terminal secretion sequence and has been replaced by the secretable luciferase. One example of a modified polypeptide of interest is interferon. The polynucleotides and fusion proteins have biotherapeutic, diagnostic, and quality control applications in biotechnological, medical, and veterinary fields. Methods for producing the secretable fusion protein are also disclosed.

Abstract: This application is directed generally to minicircle DNA vectors for the vaccination of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). The transgene expression cassette in the minicircle DNA vector includes: a eukaryotic translation initiation nucleotide sequence, a mutant nucleotide sequence that encodes a foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) capsid polyprotein precursor that contains at least one mutation to eliminate a restriction enzyme recognition site, a nucleotide sequence that encodes a protease that cleaves the FMDV capsid polyprotein precursor into a plurality of FMDV capsid proteins and a translational regulatory element to regulate the expression of the protease. The minicircle DNA vectors can be transfected directly into the cell of a mammalian host. When transfected into the mammalian host cell, virus-like particles can be produced intrinsically to stimulate the mammalian host's immune system to develop adaptive immunity toward foot-and-mouth disease.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to an isolated polynucleotide encoding a modified picornavirus 3C protease, wherein the modified picornavirus 3C protease includes an altered secondary structure and one or more amino acid substitution(s) located at one or more amino acid position(s) corresponding to positions 16-25, 99-100 and 115-130 of a wild-type Fool-and-Mouth Disease Virus (FMDV) 3C protease, wherein the isolated polynucleotide encoding the modified picornavirus 3C protease, when transformed into and co-expressed in a host cell, enhances transgene expression of a P1 precursor polypeptide in comparison to an amount of P1 precursor polypeptide transgene expression exhibited in a host cell transformed and co-expressed with a control picornavirus 3C protease, wherein the one or more corresponding amino acid position(s) is/are identified by an alignment of the modified picornavirus 3C protease with the one or more of the wild type FMDV 3C protease(s).