Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for chemically adhering a diene rubber to a piezoelectric polymer, the method comprising the steps of: a) providing a piezoelectric polymer having at least one surface, b) providing a rubber component having at least one surface and comprising a sulfur cross-linkable rubber composition, c) introducing oxygen-containing functional groups on the at least one surface of the piezoelectric polymer, d) reacting the oxygen-containing functional groups with a compound comprising thiocyanate groups, and e) contacting the surface of the piezoelectric polymer obtained of step d) with the surface of the rubber component, and cross-linking.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for chemically adhering a diene rubber to a piezoelectric polymer, the method comprising the steps of: a) providing a piezoelectric polymer having at least one surface, b) providing a rubber component having at least one surface and comprising a sulfur cross-linkable rubber composition, c) introducing oxygen-containing functional groups on the at least one surface of the piezoelectric polymer, d) reacting the oxygen-containing functional groups with a compound comprising thiocyanate groups, and e) contacting the surface of the piezoelectric polymer obtained of step d) with the surface of the rubber component, and cross-linking.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vehicle tyre comprising a piezoelectric device, wherein the piezoelectric device comprises a layer of a piezoelectric polymer having first and second opposing sides, and a first and a second layer of conductive rubber provided adjacent to the first and second opposing sides of the layer of piezoelectric polymer.

Abstract: A prokaryotic expression system or a recombinant adenovirus system is used to highly efficiently express VZV envelope gE glycoprotein and the flagellin fusion protein thereof. The produced recombinant gE protein, gE flagellin fusion protein and recombinant adenovirus vector, or composition thereof is used to immunize a mouse so as to promote the body to generate gE and VZV-specific antibody titer, as well as gE-specific and VZV-specific cell immunity.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an apparatus is presented that assesses an awareness of a user about a need for influencing a change in activity levels of the user by receiving information about activity levels of a user and receiving user input about user activity, associates the user with a category among plural categories based on the awareness assessment, and provides messaging to the user based on simulated effects of targeting various personal determinants to achieve a strong influence on the user's behavior.

Abstract: A vaccine for treating or preventing the establishment of latent tuberculosis infections is provided. The vaccine comprises a recombinant mycobacterium that overexpresses the transcription factor DosR, at a level sufficient to induce production of the dosR regulon genes or proteins. A host to whom the vaccine is administered mounts an immune response to the dosR regulon proteins and is thus protected from the establishment, persistence or reactivation of latent tuberculosis.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sensing method and an ultrasonic sensing device are provided. The ultrasonic sensing device includes a microprocessor, a signal-driving module and a transducer module. The microprocessor generates a first driving signal with a first frequency to the signal-driving module. The signal-driving module drives the transducer module to emit a first sensing signal to a target object in response to the first driving signal. Then, a first echo signal received by the transducer is transmitted to the microprocessor to calculate a first time of flight. In a similar manner, a second time of flight is obtained based on a second driving signal with a second frequency. The microprocessor determines a final time of flight according to the first time of flight or the second time of flight.

Abstract: A signal decay time adjusting method is used in an ultrasonic transducer. Firstly, a first driving signal is generated by a pre-processing module. When the first driving signal is received, an ultrasonic transmitting/receiving module generates vibration and transmits a sensing wave according to the first driving signal. Then, the pre-processing module stops generating the first driving signal so that the vibration generated within the ultrasonic transmitting/receiving module is decayed as a decay signal. Then, a second driving signal is generated by the pre-processing module according to the first driving signal, and the second driving signal is transmitted to the ultrasonic transmitting/receiving module. When the second driving signal is received, the decay signal is offset according to the second driving signal, so that a decay time of the decay signal is shortened. When the sensing wave is reflected by an object, a reflective wave is received by the ultrasonic transmitting/receiving module.

Abstract: A vaccine for treating or preventing the establishment of latent tuberculosis infections is provided. The vaccine comprises a recombinant mycobacterium that overexpresses the transcription factor DosR, at a level sufficient to induce production of the dosR regulon genes or proteins. A host to whom the vaccine is administered mounts an immune response to the dosR regulon proteins and is thus protected from the establishment, persistence or reactivation of latent tuberculosis.

Abstract: Multimeric hybrid genes encoding the corresponding chimeric protein comprise a gene sequence coding for an antigenic region of a protein from a first pathogen linked to a gene sequence coding for an antigenic region of a protein from a second pathogen. The pathogens particularly are parainfluenza virus (PIV) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). A single recombinant immunogen is capable of protecting infants and similar susceptible individuals against diseases caused by both PIV and RSV.

Abstract: Multimeric hybrid genes encoding the corresponding chimeric protein comprise a gene sequence coding for an antigenic region of a protein from a first pathogen linked to a gene sequence coding for an antigenic region of a protein from a second pathogen. The pathogens particularly are parainfluenza virus (PIV) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). A single recombinant immunogen is capable of protecting infants and similar susceptible individuals against diseases caused by both PIV and RSV.

Abstract: Multimeric hybrid genes encoding the corresponding chimeric protein comprise a gene sequence coding for an antigenic region of a protein from a first pathogen linked to a gene sequence coding for an antigenic region of a protein from a second pathogen. The pathogens particularly are parainfluenza virus (PIV) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). A single recombinant immunogen is capable of protecting infants and similar susceptible individuals against diseases caused by both PIV and RSV.

Abstract: An isolated and purified outer membrane protein of a Moraxella strain, particularly M. catarrhalis, having a molecular mass of about 200 kDa, is provided by recombinant means. The about 200 kDa outer membrane protein as well as nucleic acid molecules encoding the same are useful in diagnostic applications and immunogenic compositions, particularly for in vivo administration to a host to confer protection against disease caused by a bacterial pathogen that produces the about 200 kDa outer membrane protein or produces a protein capable of inducing antibodies in a host specifically reactive with the about 200 kDa outer membrane protein.

Abstract: Immunogenic compositions for administration to adults particularly to the elderly, to protect them against disease caused by infection by respiratory syncytial virus and influenza virus comprise an immunoeffective amount of a mixture of purified fusion (F) protein, attachment (G) protein and matrix (M) protein of RSV and an immunoeffective amount of a non-virulent influenza virus preparation. The components of the composition when formulated as a vaccine for in vivo administration do not impair the immunogenicity of each other. The immunogenic composition may also contain an adjuvant.

Abstract: Multivalent immunogenic molecules comprise a carrier molecule containing at least one functional T-cell epitope and multiple different carbohydrate fragments each linker to the carrier molecule and each containing at least one functional B-cell epitope. The carrier molecule inputs enhanced immunogenicity to the multiple carbohydrate fragments. The carbohydrate fragments may be capsular oligosaccharide fragments from Streptococcus pneumoniae, which may be serotypes 1, 4, 5, 6B, 9V, 14, 18C, 19F or 23F, or Neisseria meningitidis, which may be serotype A, B, C, W-135 or Y. Such oligosaccharide fragments may be sized from 2 to 5 kDa. Alternatively, the carbohydrate fragments may be fragments of carbohydrate-based tumor antigens, such as Globo H, LeY or STn. The multivalent molecules may be produced by random conjugation or site-directed conjugation of the carbohydrate fragments to the carrier molecule.

Abstract: A virus neutralizing level of antibodies to a primary HIV isolate is generated in a host by a prime-boost administration of antigens. The primary antigen is a DNA molecule encoding an envelop glycoprotein of a primary isolate of HIV-1 while the boosting antigen is either a non-infectious, non-replicating HIV-like particle having the envelope glycoprotein of a primary isolate of HIV-1 or an attenuated viral vector expressing an envelope glycoprotein of a primary isolate of HIV-1.

Abstract: Non-infectious, retrovirus-like particles contain mutations to reduce gag-dependent RNA-packaging of the gag gene product, eliminate reverse transcriptase activity of the pol gene product, eliminate integrase activity of the pol gene product and eliminate RNase H activity of the pol gene product through genetic manipulation of the gag and pol genes. The corresponding nucleic acid molecules are described. The non-infectious, retrovirus-like particles have utility in in vivo administration including to humans and in diagnosis.

Abstract: An isolated and purified outer membrane protein of a Moraxella strain, particularly M. catarrhalis, having a molecular mass of about 200 kDa, is provided by recombinant means. The about 200 kDa outer membrane protein as well as nucleic acid molecules encoding the same are useful in diagnostic applications and immunogenic compositions, particularly for in vivo administration to a host to confer protection against disease caused by a bacterial pathogen that produces the about 200 kDa outer membrane protein or produces a protein capable of inducing antibodies in a host specifically reactive with the about 200 kDa outer membrane protein.

Abstract: Copolymers designed for use as particulate carriers containing functionalizable amino acid subunits for coupling with targeting ligands are described. The copolymers are polyesters composed of ?-hydroxy acid subunits such as D,L-lactide and pseudo-?-amino acid subunits which may be derived from serine or terpolymers of D,L-lactide and glycolide and pseudo-?-amino acid subunits which may be derived from serine. Stable vaccine preparations useful as delayed release formulations containing antigen or antigens and adjuvants encapsulated within or physically mixed with polymeric microparticles are described. The particulate carriers are useful for delivering agents to the immune system of a subject by mucosal or parenteral routes to produce immune responses, including antibody and protective responses.

Abstract: Multimeric hybrid genes encoding the corresponding chimeric protein comprise a gene sequence coding for an antigenic region of a protein from a first pathogen linked to a gene sequence coding for an antigenic region of a protein from a second pathogen. The pathogens particularly are parainfluenza virus (PIV) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). A single recombinant immunogen is capable of protecting infants and similar susceptible individuals against diseases caused by both PIV and RSV.