Abstract:
A new banana cultivar ‘QCAV-4’ is provided that, when under significant disease pressure, remains largely free from infection by Fusarium wilt tropical race 4 (TR4). In the absence of such significant disease pressure, ‘QCAV-4’ appears to be essentially phenotypically identical to the wild type parent Cavendish Grand Nain. This includes in relation to immature and mature plant characteristics, fruit characteristics, and yield.
Abstract:
A method for measuring an influence of an ophthalmic lens design is disclosed. The method comprises splitting an optical light beam into a wavefront measurement light path and a wavefront modulation light path; implementing the ophthalmic lens design in an adaptive optics device positioned in the wavefront modulation light path; and obtaining ocular biometric data in the ocular biometric and wavefront measurement light path to measure the influence of the ophthalmic lens design. Also disclosed are an apparatus and a system for measuring an influence of an ophthalmic lens design along with a method for assembling the device and system. The ocular biometric device may be an interferometer and the adaptive optics device may comprise one or more wavefront shapers.
Abstract:
Disclosed are methods for detecting the presence of a carcinoma or an increased likelihood that a carcinoma is present in a subject. More particularly, the present invention discloses methods for diagnosis, screening, treatment and monitoring of carcinomas associated with aberrant DNA methylation of the MED15 promoter region.
Abstract:
Allergenic Johnson Grass proteins, antibodies thereto and encoding nucleic acids are provided, which may be used for the diagnosis and/or therapy of sensitivity to these allergenic proteins or to immunologically cross-reactive allergenic proteins. In particular, the allergenic Johnson grass proteins and nucleic acids may be used for environmental testing for airborne allergens and/or for batch standardization of diagnostic and therapeutic compositions.
Abstract:
Systems and methods are disclosed for a future event prediction. Embodiments include capturing spatiotemporal data pertaining to activities, wherein the activities include a plurality of events, and employing an augmented-hidden-conditional-random-field (a-HCRF) predictor to generate a future event prediction based on a parameter-vector input, hidden states, and the spatiotemporal data. Methods therein utilize a graph including a first node associated with random variables corresponding to a future event state, a second node associated with random variables corresponding to spatiotemporal input data, a first group of nodes, each node therein associated with random variables corresponding to a subset of the spatiotemporal input data, a second group of nodes, each node therein associated with random variables corresponding to a hidden-state; wherein the edges connect the first node with the second node, the first node with the second group of nodes, and the first group of nodes with the second group of nodes.
Abstract:
Disclosed are methods and agents for modulating proliferation, migration and/or survival of cells. More particularly, the present invention discloses molecules that have any one or more activities selected from: inhibiting binding of vitronectin to at least one vitronectin-binding partner selected from an IGF and IGFBP, inhibiting formation of a complex comprising vitronectin and at least one vitronectin-binding partner selected from an IGF and IGFBP, or inhibiting proliferation or survival of a hyperproliferative cell (e.g., a neoplastic cell or non-neoplastic cell), or inhibiting migration or invasion of a hyperproliferative cell (e.g., a neoplastic cell or a non-neoplastic cell). Additionally, the present invention discloses the use of these molecules in methods and compositions for treating or preventing hyperproliferative cell disorders including neoplastic (e.g., cancers such as epithelial cancers) and non-neoplastic disorders.
Abstract:
A method is provided for treating a disease or condition characterized by aberrant epithelial cell proliferation and/or migration. One step of the method can include administering to a mammal an agent which disrupts an isolated protein complex including: insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I); an insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP) selected from IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-5; and vitronectin; or which prevents formation of the isolated protein complex, to thereby treat the disease or condition in the mammal. The agent is selected from the group consisting a polypeptide that is distinguished from IGF-II by substitution of at least one amino acid residue, wherein the polypeptide disrupts the isolated protein complex.
Abstract:
An apparatus for use in assessing strength of at least one knee flexor muscle of a subject, the apparatus including a support, two securing members, each securing member securing a respective lower leg of the subject in a position that in use is substantially fixed relative to the support and at least one sensor, which in use senses a force indicative of the strength of the at least one knee flexor muscle in at least one leg of the subject while the subject performs an eccentric contraction of the at least one knee flexor muscle.
Abstract:
Disclosed is a suturing training device and a method of using the device. The device comprises a base having a first side and a second side, the base defining a plane. The device also comprises a first anchor and a second anchor positioned on the first side of the base. The first and second anchors are each connectable to a segment of tissue so that the tissue is suspended therebetween in use of the device. An actuator is associated with one or both of the first anchor and the second anchor. The actuator is actuatable to cause relative movement of the first and second anchors along the plane. A force gauge is configured to measure a force applied to the tissue when the first and second anchors are moved relative one another by the actuator.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a three-dimensional multiphasic synthetic tissue scaffold comprising first, second and third compartments, wherein: each said compartment comprises distinct microstructural, and/or chemical, and/or mechanical properties, and is connected with at least one other compartment of the scaffold via a continuous interface; the tissue scaffold is porous; and the external morphology of the tissue scaffold mimics that of a mammalian joint or a component thereof. The invention further relates to a method for producing the three dimensional multiphasic synthetic tissue scaffold using a polymeric material, the method comprising using a three-dimensional (3D) bioprinter to print the tissue scaffold by continuously deposit the polymeric material onto a platform until the tissue scaffold is produced in its entirety.