Abstract: The present disclosure provides an aerosol delivery device comprising a control device that is connectable with a cartridge and that can include one or more additional elements for improving one or both of visible indications of use to a user and resistance to infiltration of liquid into the control device. More particularly, the control device may include a light guide configured for transmitting to a window from a light source that is off-set from the window and a controller configured to direct a varying level of light from the light source. The control device may include one or more elements that are configured to limit infiltration of liquids into the control device and thus may be consider to be water-resistant or water-proof.

Abstract: An aerosol delivery device may include a rechargeable power source configured to provide power to generate an aerosol, device electronics configured to generate the aerosol responsive to application of the power from the power source, and a lock assembly configured to perform either one or both of preventing recharging the power source and preventing the application of the power from the power source to the device electronics in a locked state, and to enable recharging the power source and the application of power from the power source to the device electronics in an unlocked state. The lock assembly may be configured to detect a wake event while the lock assembly is in the locked state, wake the lock assembly in response to the wake event, perform an authentication process, and, in response to completing the authentication process, transition the lock assembly between the locked state and the unlocked state.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are reagents for use in quality control assessment of antibody profiling platforms, such as biopanning and Digital Serology. Also disclosed herein are kits, method of manufacturing, and methods of using the same.

Abstract: Activatable binding polypeptides (ABPs), which contain a target binding moiety (TBM), a masking moiety (MM), and a cleavable moiety (CM) are provided. Activatable antibody compositions, which contain a TBM containing an antigen binding domain (ABD), a MM and a CM are provided. Furthermore, ABPs which contain a first TBM, a second TBM and a CM are provided. The ABPs exhibit an “activatable” conformation such that at least one of the TBMs is less accessible to target when uncleaved than after cleavage of the CM in the presence of a cleaving agent capable of cleaving the CM. Further provided are libraries of candidate ABPs, methods of screening to identify such ABPs, and methods of use. Further provided are ABPs having TBMs that bind VEGF, CTLA-4, or VCAM, ABPs having a first TBM that binds VEGF and a second TBM that binds FGF, as well as compositions and methods of use.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods that can be used to determine a peptide signature for an antibody repertoire in a sample comprising multiple antibodies. The method can be used to characterize a phenotype in a sample, such as providing a diagnosis, prognosis or theranosis of a medical condition.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions including peptide display scaffolds that present at least one candidate peptide and at least one detectable moiety in at least one of the N-terminal and C-terminal candidate peptide presenting domains that when expressed in a cell are accessible at a surface of the cell outermembrane. In addition, the present invention also provides kits and methods for screening a library of cells presenting the candidate peptides in peptide display scaffolds to identify a ligand for an enzyme.

Abstract: A machine forms a whip from a length of cable. The machine includes a clamping assembly, a notching assembly, and a cutting assembly. The clamping assembly includes a pad which can be move into and out of a cable travel space. The notching assembly includes a notching saw which cuts an outer jacket of the cable in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. Movement of the pad also causes movement of the notching saw to move into the cable travel space or into a raised position. The cutting assembly includes a cutting tool which transversely cuts the conductors of the cable.

Abstract: Methods of making and using bacterial display polypeptide libraries using circularly permuted OmpX (CPX) variants are disclosed. The invention further relates to methods for enhancing the display of proteins and peptides at the surface of bacteria by optimizing linkers and incorporating mutations at positions 165 and 166 of CPX.

Abstract: A bender includes a rotatable bending shoe having at least one channel therein configured to receive a workpiece, a seat proximate to the bending shoe which is configured to receive the workpiece thereon, and a sensor provided on the seat which is configured to sense the presence of the workpiece. In some embodiments, the sensor is configured to sense an end of the workpiece.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods that can be used to determine a peptide signature for an antibody repertoire in a sample comprising multiple antibodies. The method can be used to characterize a phenotype in a sample, such as providing a diagnosis, prognosis or theranosis of a medical condition.

Abstract: An electronic nicotine delivery systems (“ENDS”) device may include aerosol delivery devices such as smoking articles that produce aerosol. The device may include a cartridge for the aerosol production. The cartridge is assigned a unique identifier that is approved for a user or that user's device such that the cartridge and/or the device only operate when approved. The unique identifiers help with user identification, tracking, and age verification.

Abstract: An aerosol delivery or electronic nicotine delivery systems (“ENDS”) device may include smoking articles that produce aerosol. The device may operate upon authentication. The authentication may first include an age verification before an authentication allows for operation of the device. The authentication may include a control signal communication to the device. The control signal communication may include an audio signal, such as an authentication tone that is detected by a microphone or pressure sensor on the device. The control signal communication may include a visual, optical, or light signal that is detected by a light sensor or photodiode on the device.

Abstract: A charger for an electronic nicotine delivery systems (“ENDS”) device, which may include aerosol delivery devices provides functionality for authentication, including age verification. Such devices may be restricted based on age or other factors that require some form of authentication, verification, and/or identification to satisfy the restriction. The accessory or charger may provide or connect with a verification system for confirming an age of a user. If the authentication or verification is not satisfied, the charger or accessory will not charge the device, rendering it unusable.

Abstract: A bender includes a rotatable bending shoe having a plurality of channels therein configured to receive a workpiece and a follower assembly. The follower assembly includes a mount, a follower bar attached to the mount, the follower bar having a plurality of channels therein configured to receive the workpiece, a roller attached to the mount and engaged against the follower bar, the roller having an eccentric shaft extending therefrom, and a motor for rotating the shaft and roller, wherein rotation of the shaft and roller causes the follower bar to translate toward or away from the bending shoe. A drive member can be provided to move the mount toward or away from the bending shoe.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices comprising a power unit and a cartridge that is configured for engagement with the power unit. In particular, the cartridge can be configured for rotation about a longitudinal axis thereof so as to be insertable into a chamber of the power unit in a plurality of different orientations. Further, the aerosol delivery device can include processing circuitry that can be configured for detection of the cartridge orientation and execution of a control function assigned to the respective orientation.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an aerosol delivery device. The aerosol delivery device comprises one or more rechargeable batteries, charging circuitry including an electrical connector configured to interconnect the one or more rechargeable batteries with a power supply, and a sensor configured to detect an action of using the aerosol delivery device by a user and output a signal. The aerosol delivery device also comprises a microprocessor coupled to the charging circuitry and the sensor, the microprocessor, in response to receiving the signal from the sensor, is configured to control the aerosol delivery device to allow vaping or puffing by a user while the aerosol delivery device is connected to a charger.

Abstract: An aerosol delivery device is provided. The aerosol delivery device includes a power source, an aerosol production component, a sensor to produce measurements of atmospheric air pressure in an air flow path through at least one housing, and a switch coupled to and between the power source and the aerosol production component. The aerosol delivery device also includes processing circuitry that determines a difference between the measurements of atmospheric air pressure and a reference atmospheric air pressure. Only when the difference is at least a threshold difference, the processing circuitry outputs a signal to cause the switch to switchably connect and disconnect an output voltage from the power source to the aerosol production component to adjust power provided to the aerosol production component to a power target that is variable according to a predetermined relationship between the difference and the power target.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an aerosol delivery device comprising a control device that is connectable with a cartridge and that can include one or more additional elements for improving one or both of visible indications of use to a user and resistance to infiltration of liquid into the control device. More particularly, the control device may include a light guide configured for transmitting to a window from a light source that is off-set from the window and a controller configured to direct a varying level of light from the light source. The control device may include one or more elements that are configured to limit infiltration of liquids into the control device and thus may be consider to be water-resistant or water-proof.

Abstract: An aerosol delivery device is provided that includes a power source, a heating element, a switch coupled to and between the power source and the heating element, and processing circuitry coupled to the switch. The processing circuitry outputs a PWM signal during a heating time period to cause the switch to switchably connect and disconnect the output voltage to the heating element to power the heating element. The processing circuitry outputs a pulse of known current to the heating element, and measure voltage across the heating element, between adjacent pulses of the PWM signal. And the processing circuitry calculates the resistance of the heating element based on the known current and the voltage, calculates the temperature of the heating element based on the resistance, and adjusts a duty cycle of the PWM signal when the temperature deviates from a predetermined target.

Abstract: Methods of making and using bacterial display polypeptide libraries using circularly permuted OmpX (CPX) variants are disclosed. The invention further relates to methods for enhancing the display of proteins and peptides at the surface of bacteria by optimizing linkers and incorporating mutations at positions 165 and 166 of CPX.