Abstract: The present invention relates to bioluminescence resonance energy transfer sensor molecules having the structure R1-L-R2—B or B—R2-L-R1, wherein R1 is a bioluminescent protein, L is a linking element, R2 is a non-protein acceptor domain and B is a blocking group, and wherein R2 bound to B comprises a hydrolysable bond which produces a change in BRET when hydrolysed. The invention also discloses a method of detecting a hydrolase by contacting a sample with a molecule B—R2, then contacting with a compound R1-L or L-R1 under conditions to cause attaching of R2 to L, and detecting a change in the BRET ratio. Specifically exemplified sensors comprise luciferase and fluorescein diacetate, which is hydrolysed by an esterase. The invention also discloses luciferase enzymes derived from RLuc8 by removing cysteine residues.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing a coefficient of friction of an article is provided. The apparatus includes a base, a ramp, and an actuator. The ramp includes a first rail and a second rail that are spaced apart by a first distance. The first and second rails cooperate to define a first travel path for the article. The actuator is coupled with the base and is operably coupled with the ramp to facilitate selective pivoting of the ramp between a first angular position and a second angular position.

Abstract: An immune gene expression signature is associated with favorable clinical features in Treg-enriched tumor samples and can be used to predict immunogenicity of a tumor, overall survival, and/or chemosensitivity.

Abstract: A waistband with retractable display panel apparatus having a waistband, a display panel frame and a display panel. The waistband includes a first strap and a buckle. The first strap including a plurality of notches, wherein one of the plurality of notches connects to the buckle to allow the waistband to be worn around a wearer's waist. The display panel frame includes a second strap and a first attachment mechanism. The second strap includes a plurality of notches. The first attachment mechanism connects the second strap to the first strap, by attaching one or more of the plurality of notches located along a left side of the second strap to one or more of the plurality of notches located on a left side of the first strap and by attaching one or more of the plurality of notches located along a right side of the second strap to one or more of the plurality of notches located on a right side of the first strap.

Abstract: A method is provided for reducing a duration of an inactivate step of a decontamination process of contents within a chamber of a container. The method includes at least one of directing air in contact with a catalyst to reduce a level of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in the air during the inactivate step and/or altering a temperature of air within the chamber during the inactivate step. A system is also provided for performing one or more steps of the method. The system includes the container defining the chamber; the catalyst; a component configured to direct air through the catalyst; and a processor configured to cause components of the system to perform one or more steps of the method.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing a coefficient of friction of an article is provided. The apparatus includes a base, a ramp, and an actuator. The ramp includes a first rail and a second rail that are spaced apart by a first distance. The first and second rails cooperate to define a first travel path for the article. The actuator is coupled with the base and is operably coupled with the ramp to facilitate selective pivoting of the ramp between a first angular position and a second angular position.

Abstract: One embodiment of a humidifier designed to supplement humidity for the purpose of maintaining the moisture content of a wooden instrument such as a guitar. The humidifier comprises of an absorbent material, contained within an expandable outer shell, sealed at both ends. The shell is made from a non-permeable material but is constructed to be permeable. The humidifier is hydrated by submerging it in water, resulting in the absorption of liquid, causing expansion of the absorbent core and consequently expansion of the outer shell. Once hydrated, the outer shell is dried, and then, in the case of a hollow bodied instrument, is placed inside the body, or alternatively, and in the case of a solid bodied instrument, is placed in proximity to the instrument in a case or other enclosure. The shell allows the efficient egress of water vapor while isolating the instrument from liquid sequestered by the absorbent within.

Abstract: A versatile carrier system for systemic delivery of oncolytic viruses comprises dendritic cells having at least one oncolytic virus loaded therein. It is believed that the dendritic cells will protect the oncolytic virus(es) against neutralizing antibodies, can transport the oncolytic virus(es) to targeted tumor locations, and then deliver virions to the tumor locations.

Abstract: There are provided methods for preparing lithium carbonate. For example, such methods can comprise reacting an aqueous composition comprising lithium hydroxide with CO2 by sparging the CO2 the said composition, thereby obtaining a precipitate comprising the lithium carbonate. The methods can also comprise inserting at least a portion of the precipitate into a clarifier and obtaining a supernatant comprising lithium bicarbonate and a solid comprising the lithium carbonate, separating the solid from the supernatant; and heating the supernatant at a desired temperature so as to at least partially convert the lithium bicarbonate into lithium carbonate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to sensors and methods for detecting carbohydrates, such as lactose, in a sample. The sensors and methods may also be used to determine the amount of carbohydrate in the sample.

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented that allow for selection of tumor neoepitopes that are then used to generate a recombinant polytope that is optimized for proper trafficking and processing. In preferred methods, the polytope is encoded in a viral expression system that is used as a therapeutic agent.

Abstract: A system and method are described for receiving biological process input data from a biological process input data source and transforming the biological process input data into curated data, which may be in a flattened or normalized data space. As an example, a curation server is disclosed with the ability to transform biological process input data from the scientific literature such that the data can be mapped to patient-specific genomic data.

Abstract: A waistband with retractable display panel apparatus having a waistband, a display panel frame and a display panel. The waistband includes a first strap and a buckle. The first strap including a plurality of notches, wherein one of the plurality of notches connects to the buckle to allow the waistband to be worn around a wearer's waist. The display panel frame includes a second strap and a first attachment mechanism. The second strap includes a plurality of notches. The first attachment mechanism connects the second strap to the first strap, by attaching one or more of the plurality of notches located along a left side of the second strap to one or more of the plurality of notches located on a left side of the first strap and by attaching one or more of the plurality of notches located along a right side of the second strap to one or more of the plurality of notches located on a right side of the first strap.

Abstract: Contemplated systems and methods allow for computational genomic analysis using paired-end sequence analysis and split read refinement to thereby identify high-confidence breakpoints associated with high copy numbers and orientation of rearrangements, which is then the basis for full reconstruction of double minutes (DM). In especially preferred aspects, the DM will also include an oncogene or tumor suppressor gene, and/or may be found in blood or blood derived fluids.

Abstract: Methods are provided for identifying whether a cancer patient, and especially a breast cancer patient, will be responsive to treatment. Specified TOPO2A, IDO1 and/or p16 fragment peptides are precisely detected and quantitated by SRM-mass spectrometry directly in cancer cells collected from tumor tissue that was obtained from a cancer patient and compared to reference levels in order to determine if the cancer patient will positively respond to treatment. Measurement of TOPO2A provides a direct indication of whether a patient will respond to anthracycline-containing therapy, and, in particular, neoadjuvant anthracycline-containing therapy. Quantitative levels of IDO1 and p16 are compared to reference levels in order to determine if a breast cancer patient will likely demonstrate a pathologically complete response (pCR) of cancer after cancer therapy treatment, irrespective of the chosen treatment.

Abstract: A method is provided for vaporized hydrogen peroxide cleaning of a chamber. The method includes altering a temperature of air in the chamber from an initial temperature to a sterilization temperature over a first time period. The method also includes injecting vaporized hydrogen peroxide into air in the chamber to alter a relative humidity of hydrogen peroxide vapor in the chamber to a sterilization level over the first time period. The method also includes maintaining the temperature at the sterilization temperature and the relative humidity at the sterilization level over a second time period. The method also includes reducing the relative humidity from the sterilization level to a safe level over a third time period. In one embodiment, the method is provided for vaporized hydrogen peroxide cleaning of an interior chamber of an incubation container. In other embodiments, the incubation chamber featured in the method is provided.

Abstract: Contemplated panomic systems and methods significantly improve accuracy of genetic testing by taking into account matched normal data and expression levels of various genes in diseased tissue. Analysis and physician guidance is further improved by combining so identified clinically relevant changes with pathway analysis to thereby allow for classification of a tumor and/or identification of potentially druggable targets within affected pathways.

Abstract: The invention provides a dual VEGF/PDGF antagonist comprising a VEGF antagonist linked to a PDGF antagonist. The VEGF antagonist is an antibody to a VEGF or VEGFR or is a VEGFR extracellular trap segment (i.e., a segment from the extracellular region of one or more VEGFR receptors that inhibits binding of at least one VEGFR to at least one VEGF). The PDGF antagonist is an antibody to a PDGF or PDGFR or is a PDGFR extracellular trap segment (i.e., segment from the extracellular region of one or more PDGFRs, which inhibits binding of at least one PDGFR and at least one PDGF). The dual antagonist is preferably conjugated to a half-life extending moiety, such as a HEMA-PC polymer. The dual antagonist is particularly useful for treating wet aged related macular degeneration.

Abstract: A spray head for an agricultural sprayer, the spray head including a fan with a central axis, the spray head also including dual liquid manifolds coaxial about the fan's central axis, each manifold having a plurality of spray nozzles positioned to be capable of spraying liquid into air exiting the fan, and each manifold having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet so as to permit individual control of liquid through each manifold.

Abstract: The present invention provides multi-armed high MW polymers containing hydrophilic groups conjugated to Factor VIII, and methods of preparing such polymers.