Abstract: The present invention provides immunogenic compositions having one or more polysaccharide-protein conjugates in which one or more polysaccharides from Streptococcus pneumoniae bacterial capsules are conjugated to a carrier protein in an aprotic solvent such as dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). The present invention also provides methods for providing an enhanced immune response to a pneumococcal polysaccharide protein conjugate vaccine comprising administering to a human subject an immunogenic composition comprising polysaccharide-protein conjugates prepared in DMSO conditions.

Abstract: An apparatus for filtering radio frequency signals is provided. The apparatus includes a substrate and a membrane coupled to the substrate that includes piezoelectric material. The apparatus also includes an interdigital transducer (IDT) coupled to the membrane and includes a plurality of interleaved fingers. The apparatus also includes a lid, in which the membrane is arranged between the substrate and the lid with a first cavity having a first height between the lid and a first main surface of the membrane and a second cavity having a second height between the substrate and a second main surface of the membrane that opposes the first main surface. Moreover, the first height between the lid and the first main surface of the membrane is greater than a pitch of at least one pair of interleaved fingers of the plurality of interleaved fingers and at most four times greater than the second height.

Abstract: The invention is related to multivalent immunogenic compositions comprising more than one S. pneumoniae polysaccharide protein conjugates, wherein each of the conjugates comprises a polysaccharide from an S. pneumoniae serotype conjugated to a carrier protein, wherein the serotypes of S. pneumoniae are as defined herein. Also provided are methods for inducing a protective immune response in a human patient comprising administering the multivalent immunogenic compositions of the invention to the patient. The multivalent immunogenic compositions are useful for providing protection against S. pneumoniae infection and diseases caused by S. pneumoniae. The compositions of the invention are also useful as part of treatment regimes that provide complementary protection for patients that have been vaccinated with a multivalent vaccine indicated for the prevention of pneumococcal disease.

Abstract: Systems and methods for coordinating steering controls between towing vehicles and towed vehicles provide more cohesive parking experiences during towing events, including bidirectional charging towing events. The towed vehicle may be controlled to provide assistive parking steering maneuvers to assist the towing vehicle when parking during the towing event. The assistive parking steering maneuver may include maneuvering a drive wheel of the towed vehicle either toward or away from a detected curb or detected traffic, for example.

Abstract: A method is described for reconstituting lyophilized mutant diphtheria toxin in dimethyl sulfoxide for use in producing pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide mutant diphtheria toxin conjugates.

Abstract: The invention is related to multivalent immunogenic compositions comprising more than one S. pneumoniae polysaccharide protein conjugates, wherein each of the conjugates comprises a polysaccharide from an S. pneumoniae serotype conjugated to a carrier protein, wherein the serotypes of S. pneumoniae are as defined herein. In some embodiments, at least one of the polysaccharide protein conjugates is formed by a conjugation reaction comprising an aprotic solvent. In further embodiments, each of the polysaccharide protein conjugates is formed by a conjugation reaction comprising an aprotic solvent. Also provided are methods for inducing a protective immune response in a human patient comprising administering the multivalent immunogenic compositions of the invention to the patient. The multivalent immunogenic compositions are useful for providing protection against S. pneumoniae infection and diseases caused by S. pneumoniae.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to determine brake pad wear are disclosed herein. An example vehicle disclosed herein includes a brake, memory, and a processor to execute instructions to detect the vehicle is in operation on a road, determine a deceleration capability of the brake in response to a first brake check event, compare the deceleration capability of the vehicle to a first threshold, and in response to determining the deceleration capability of the vehicle does not satisfy the first threshold, cause the vehicle to navigate to an exit of the road prior to a portion of the road with a grade higher than a threshold grade.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture for vehicle turning in confined spaces are disclosed herein. An example apparatus disclosed herein instructions, at least one memory, a processor to execute the instructions to operate a first brake of a first wheel of a vehicle, operate a second brake of a second wheel of the vehicle, determine a frictional coefficient of a driving surface of the vehicle by rotating a third wheel of the vehicle, determine based on the frictional coefficient, if a turn command can be conducted by the vehicle, and when the turn command can be conducted, conduct the turn command.

Abstract: A method is described for producing a pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide protein conjugate in which one or more activated pneumococcal polysaccharides of particular pneumococcal serotypes and carrier protein are separately lyophilized, the separately lyophilized polysaccharides and carrier protein are separately reconstituted in an organic solvent, and the reconstituted polysaccharide and carrier protein are then combined together by Tee-mixing and conjugated together to produce polysaccharide carrier protein conjugates. A plurality of conjugates, each comprising polysaccharides of a particular serotype, may be used to produce multivalent pneumococcal immunogenic compositions having a combination of conjugates for use in vaccines.

Abstract: The present invention provides capsular polysaccharides from Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes identified using NMR. The present invention further provides polysaccharide-protein conjugates in which capsular polysaccharides from one or more of these serotypes are conjugated to a carrier protein such as CRM197. Polysaccharide-protein conjugates from one or more of these serotypes may be included in multivalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines having polysaccharides from multiple additional Steptococcus pneumoniae serotypes.

Abstract: Systems and methods for coordinating and providing braking assistance between towing vehicles and towed vehicles during towing events, such as bidirectional charging towing events, are provided. The towing braking assistance may be provided by the towed vehicle in the form of an assistive braking torque output to assist the towing vehicle with meeting a target deceleration rate during the towing event. The assistive braking torque output may be provided to account for mutual vehicle deceleration events, brake compensation or brake fade events, and stability events of the coupled vehicles during the towing events, for example.

Abstract: Systems and methods for coordinating steering controls between towing vehicles and towed vehicles provide more cohesive parking experiences during towing events, including bidirectional charging towing events. The towed vehicle may be controlled to provide assistive parking steering maneuvers to assist the towing vehicle when parking during the towing event. The assistive parking steering maneuver may include maneuvering a drive wheel of the towed vehicle either toward or away from a detected curb or detected traffic, for example.

Abstract: Systems and methods for coordinating and providing steering assistance between towing vehicles and towed vehicles during towing events. The towing steering assistance may be provided by the towed vehicle in the form of assistive steering maneuvers to assist the towing vehicle with turning during the towing event. The assistive steering maneuvers may be provided to account for turning maneuvers, steering compensation, and stability events of the coupled vehicles during the towing events, for example.

Abstract: The present invention provides a number of process improvements related to the conjugation of capsular polysaccharides from Streptococcus pneumoniae to a carrier protein. These process are serotype specific and include acid hydrolysis, addition of sodium chloride to the reductive amination reaction, and addition of sucrose to dissolve polysaccharides. Polysaccharide-protein conjugates prepared using the processes of the invention can be included in multivalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines.

Abstract: The present invention provides a number of process improvements related to the conjugation of capsular polysaccharides from Streptococcus pneumoniae to a carrier protein. These process are serotype specific and include acid hydrolysis, addition of sodium chloride to the reductive amination reaction, and addition of sucrose to dissolve polysaccharides. Polysaccharide-protein conjugates prepared using the processes of the invention can be included in multivalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process improvement related to the conjugation of capsular polysaccharides from Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) serotype 35B to a carrier protein. The serotype 35B polysaccharide-protein conjugate, prepared by the disclosed process, is, among other things, more immunogenic than similar conjugates made by prior art methods. S. pneumoniae serotype 35B polysaccharide-protein conjugates prepared using the processes of the invention can be included in multivalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine compositions.

Abstract: A system for servicing cable includes a field-end assembly and a live-end assembly, each mounted on a support structure having at least one drive mechanism operable to cause relative linear movement between the field-end assembly and the live-end assembly. A drilling-and-shorting assembly can create a short circuit in a field-end of the cable, and a continuity tester can test the integrity of the short-circuit. The field end of the cable can then be ejected from the system, and an end-cap-cradle assembly can position an end cap on a live end of an electrical cable and test its installation.

Abstract: Processes and systems for producing glass fibers having regions devoid of glass using submerged combustion melters, including feeding a vitrifiable feed material into a feed inlet of a melting zone of a melter vessel, and heating the vitrifiable material with at least one burner directing combustion products of an oxidant and a first fuel into the melting zone under a level of the molten material in the zone. One or more of the burners is configured to impart heat and turbulence to the molten material, producing a turbulent molten material comprising a plurality of bubbles suspended in the molten material, the bubbles comprising at least some of the combustion products, and optionally other gas species introduced by the burners. The molten material and bubbles are drawn through a bushing fluidly connected to a forehearth to produce a glass fiber comprising a plurality of interior regions substantially devoid of glass.

Abstract: The invention is related to multivalent immunogenic compositions comprising more than one S. pneumoniae polysaccharide protein conjugates, wherein each of the conjugates comprises a polysaccharide from an S. pneumoniae serotype conjugated to a carrier protein, wherein the serotypes of S. pneumoniae are as defined herein. In some embodiments, at least one of the polysaccharide protein conjugates is formed by a conjugation reaction comprising an aprotic solvent. In further embodiments, each of the polysaccharide protein conjugates is formed by a conjugation reaction comprising an aprotic solvent. Also provided are methods for inducing a protective immune response in a human patient comprising administering the multivalent immunogenic compositions of the invention to the patient. The multivalent immunogenic compositions are useful for providing protection against S. pneumoniae infection and diseases caused by S. pneumoniae.

Abstract: The present invention provides immunogenic compositions having one or more polysaccharide-protein conjugates in which one or more polysaccharides from Streptococcus pneumoniae bacterial capsules are conjugated to a carrier protein in an aprotic solvent such as dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). The present invention also provides methods for providing an enhanced immune response to a pneumococcal polysaccharide protein conjugate vaccine comprising administering to a human subject an immunogenic composition comprising polysaccharide-protein conjugates prepared in DMSO conditions.