Abstract: Methods and compositions for the treatment of respiratory conditions are provided. Aspects of the subject methods include administering to the subject a composition comprising an inhibitor of NKG2D-mediated activation of leukocytes. Also provided are compositions suitable for use in the subject methods, as well as pharmaceutical preparations thereof.

Abstract: Methods for targeting adaptive responses to chemotherapy are described. In various embodiments, a method comprises administering at least one compound that inhibits S6K1, mTORC, or upstream or downstream pathway components of S6K1 or mTORC, in association with administration of at least one antagonist of PPAR?, PPAR?, or PGC1?. In various embodiments, the compound that inhibits S6K1, mTORC, or upstream or downstream pathway components of S6K1 or mTORC is rapamycin, everolimus, temsirolimus, or imatinib. The antagonist of PPAR?, PPAR?, or PGC1? can be GW7647, GW6471, GW501516, GSK3787, or GSK0660.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a method of inhibiting proliferation of a cell induced by asTF that includes exposing the proliferating cell to an inhibitor of asTF at a concentration sufficient to attenuate asTF induced proliferation. In an embodiment, the proliferating cell is a cancer cell such as a breast cancer cell. The inhibitor of asTF may be an anti-asTF antibody, such as a monoclonal antibody or an antibody fragment, a small molecule, a peptide, nucleic acid, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: Transgenic microbes with an altered electrogenic efficacy, biofilms comprising such microbes, and microbial fuel cells comprising such microbes are provided. The microbial fuel cells can be operated as monitors, filtration devices, and sensors.

Abstract: A method for treating or preventing a T-cell-mediated autoimmune disease is provided herein, the method including administering to a mammal in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of soluble CD137 or CD137pos regulatory T cells. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions for treating or preventing T-cell-mediated autoimmune diseases, the pharmaceutical compositions including a therapeutically effective amount of soluble CD137 or CD137pos regulatory T cells and a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier.

Abstract: Kits for assessing lung cancer in patients with solitary pulmonary nodules and methods for assessing lung cancer. The kit includes reagents for detection and/or quantification of serum secretory phospholipase A2-IIA in plasma, reagents for detection and/or quantification of carcinoembryonic antigen in plasma, and reagents for detection and/or quantification of cytokeratin-19 fragment in plasma. The method includes contacting a sample with a specific binding agent for serum secretory phospholipase A2-IIA, a specific binding agent for carcinoembryonic antigen, and a specific binding agent for cytokeratin-19 fragment, calculating levels of serum secretory phospholipase A2-IIA, carcinoembryonic antigen, and cytokeratin-19 fragment, and assessing as indicating lung cancer in the patient if the calculated levels are elevated.

Abstract: The invention relates to textiles, reservoirs, or films which may be switchably rendered hydrophilic or hydrophobic for liquid wicking, repelling, moving, holding, absorbing, drying, wetting, dispensing, and other means of electrically manipulation of liquids.

Abstract: Methods and systems for predicting an end of life of a wind turbine component including receiving environmental conditions indicative of natural surroundings of wind turbines within a wind turbine farm, receiving component performance metrics indicative of an operation of wind turbines within a wind turbine farm, and distributing the wind turbines into peer-clusters such that the wind turbines within each of the peer-clusters have similar environmental conditions. The methods and systems further include identifying a low performing wind turbine and a remaining portion of wind turbines within one of the peer-clusters based upon a predicted performance model, processing the component performance metrics of the low performing wind turbine, identifying a critical component of the low performing wind turbine and predicting the end of life of the critical component of the low performing wind turbine.

Abstract: Embodiments of handheld devices for dilating tissue along the paranasal sinuses include a handle assembly that includes a grip portion, an inflation mechanism, and a digital actuation member configured to actuate the inflation mechanism. The handheld devices also include a rigid cannula that includes a distal end and a proximal end, where the rigid cannula is coupled to the handle assembly along the proximal end. The handheld devices further include an inflatable balloon coupled to an outside of the rigid cannula proximate to the distal end, an inflation lumen at least partially disposed along the rigid cannula and in fluid communication with the inflatable balloon and the inflation mechanism, and an aspiration lumen at least partially disposed along the rigid cannula and includes an aspiration port proximate to the distal end.