1917 results about "Biowarfare Agents" patented technology

Items of mail are rapidly processed in a mail sampling system to determine if the mail is contaminated with a chemical or biological agent. The mail sampling system maintains a negative pressure in a containment chamber and includes a triggering sampler that makes a threshold determination regarding possible contamination, and a detecting sampler that obtains a sample for more detailed analysis in response to a signal from the triggering sampler. A sample of particulates collected from an item of mail is either removed for analysis or analyzed in the system to identify a contaminating agent. Optionally, the system includes an archiving sampler, which archives samples for subsequent processing and analysis, and a decontamination system, which is activated to decontaminate the mail if needed.

A prosthetic screw system that includes a prosthetic screw for at least partial insertion into a bone and / or cartilage. The prosthetic screw includes a head and a lower portion connected to the head. The prosthetic screw system also includes a set of head-pieces that can be connected to the head of the prosthetic screw. The head-pieces have differing configurations that are designed to be connected to different types of components of a prosthetic system. The universal connection arrangement between the prosthetic screw and the set of head-pieces enables the prosthetic screw to be customized for connection with a variety of components of a prosthetic system. The head-pieces can alternatively or additionally include a mechanical and / or electrical mechanism that provides one or more substances (e.g., medicine and / or other biological agent, etc.) and / or electrostimulation to a surgical site.

The present invention provides a flowable composition suitable for use as a controlled release implant. The flowable composition can be administered into the ocular region of a mammal. The composition includes: (a) a biodegradable, biocompatible thermoplastic polymer that is at least substantially insoluble in aqueous medium, water or body fluid; (b) a biological agent, a metabolite thereof, a biological agently acceptable salt thereof, or a prodrug thereof; and (c) a biocompatible organic liquid, at standard temperature and pressure, in which the thermoplastic polymer is soluble. The present invention also provides methods of medical treatment that include administering the flowable composition into the ocular region of a mammal.

A device, method and process for three-dimensional spatial localization and functional interconnection of the same or different types of cells. The two or three-dimensional device comprising multiple layers containing wells for cell deposition where both the wells and layers are interconnected through microfluidic channels. A process for fabricating the three-dimensional device and a method for depositing different types of cells within the device in a functional interdependent spatial orientation thereby mimicking physiological functions. The device is useful for diagnostic assays, determination of dysfunction of certain cells in the system, quantification of production of cellular proteins, metabolites, hormones or other cellular products, for organ or tissue replacement, for co-culturing different cells, for testing pharmaceutical agents and as a bioreactor for production of biologicals.

Method for detecting and identifying unknown bioagents, including bacteria, viruses and the like, by a combination of nucleic acid amplification and molecular weight determination using primers which hybridize to conserved sequence regions of nucleic acids derived from a bioagent and which bracket variable sequence regions that uniquely identify the bioagent. The result is a “base composition signature” (BCS) which is then matched against a database of base composition signatures, by which the bioagent is identified.

A safe and effective treatment to curtail and cure autism spectrum disorders has been described in this invention using insulin, IGF-1, with multiple known adjuvant therapeutic agents, as well as other pharmaceutical, biochemical, nurticeuticals, and biological agents or compounds delivered through the olfactory mucosal region of the nose and external auditory meatus.

Chemical and biological detector systems, devices and apparatus. Such devices may be portable and wearable, such as badges, that are analyte-general, rather than analyte-specific, and which provide an optimal way to notify and protect personnel against known and unknown airborne chemical and biological hazards. The devices of the present invention are advantageously low-cost, have low-power requirements, may be wearable and are designed to detect and alarm to a general chemical and biological threat. A sensor device of the present invention in one embodiment includes two or more sensor devices, a processing module coupled to each of the sensor devices and configured to process signals received from each of the two or more sensor devices to determine an environmental state; and a communication module that communicates information about the environmental state to a user.

A stent that is adapted for introduction into a body passageway and which releases at least one biological agent after being inserted in the body passageway. The release of the at least one biological agent can be a controlled release via molecular diffusion through a non-porous polymer layer.

Compositions and methods for enhancing delivery of molecules, e.g. biological agents, into cells are described. The composition is a conjugate of the biological agent, preferably a nucleic acid analog having a substantially uncharged backbone, covalently linked to a peptide transporter moiety as described. Conjugation of the peptide transporter to a substantially uncharged nucleic acid analog, such as a morpholino oligomer, is also shown to enhance binding of the oligomer to its target sequence and enhance antisense activity.

Disclosed are mixtures and compositions for controlling invertebrate pests relating to combinations comprising (a) 3-bromo-N-[4-chloro-2-methyl-6-[(methylamino)carbonyl]phenyl]-1-(3-chloro-2-pyridinyl)-1H-pyrazole-5-carboxamide, and its N-oxides, and suitable salts thereof and a component (b) wherein the component (b) is at least one compound or agent selected from neonicotinoids, cholinesterase inhibitors, sodium channel modulators, chitin synthesis inhibitors, ecdysone agonists, lipid biosynthesis inhibitors, macrocyclic lactones, GABA-regulated chloride channel blockers, juvenile hormone mimics, ryanodine receptor ligands, octopamine receptor ligands, mitochondrial electron transport inhibitors, nereistoxin analogs, pyridalyl, flonicamid, pymetrozine, dieldrin, metaflumizone, biological agents, and suitable salts of the foregoing. Also disclosed are methods for controlling an invertebrate pest comprising contacting the invertebrate pest or its environment with a biologically effective amount of a mixture or composition of the invention.

A chemical composition including a moiety comprising a quencher (Q), a tethering element (T), and a ligand (L) that associates with and quenches a fluorescent polymer is disclosed. When an analyte sample is introduced, the ligand (L) binds to a target biological agent if it is present, thereby causing the QTL molecule to separate from the fluorescent polymer resulting in an increase in detected fluorescence. The same chemistry is advantageously employed in a competitive assay. An electric field can also be applied to separate the QTL molecule from the fluorescent polymer. A method for detecting targets for these methods are also disclosed.

A composite biological agent with ternary microorganism for composting process of agricultural waste is composed of a composite biological agent I, a composite biological agent II, and a composite biological agent III, which is characterized in that the composite biological agent I is composed of bacillus, actinomycetes, microzyme and lactobacillus, the composite biological agent II is composed of trichoderma, ergillus, penicillium and trametes versicolor, and the composite biological agent III is composed of photosynthetic bacterium, azotobacter, phosphorus bacteria, and silicate bacterium. 30-60% composite biological agent I, 30-60% composite biological agent II, 10-20% composite biological agent III are mixed or applied to the process of composting process of agricultural waste in phases. Each component ratio and recruitment of biological agents can be both properly adjusted with different dung materials and dung purpose, thereby achieving purpose of using microorganism resources efficiently and raising fermentation efficiency.

Sequence-specific nucleic acid hybridization assays are used for the detection of specific genetic sequences as indicators of genetic anomalies, mutations, and disease propensity. In addition, they are used for the detection of various biological agents and infectious pathogens. Because a complementary probe or nucleic acid sequence is required to detect a sequence of interest in a hybridization-based assay, nucleic acid sequencing techniques can rapidly determine the specific probe sequence being used for detection. This allows reverse engineered assays to be produced rapidly. In addition, it enables the circumvention of hybridization-based assays for biological agent or infectious pathogen detection by providing the information necessary to create or alter nucleic acid sequences to produce false positives or false negatives. The present invention provides methods and compositions for inhibiting the identification of specific detection sequences. More specifically, the invention provides masking sequences that mask the identity of specific detection sequences.

The present invention provides a flowable composition suitable for use as a controlled release implant. The composition includes: (a) a biodegradable, biocompatible thermoplastic polymer that is at least substantially insoluble in aqueous medium, water or body fluid; (b) a cell-cycle dependent biological agent, a schedule-dependent biological agent, a metabolite thereof, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a prodrug thereof; and (c) a biocompatible organic liquid, at standard temperature and pressure, in which the thermoplastic polymer is soluble. The present invention also provides a method of treating cancer in a mammal. The present invention also provides a method of blocking, impeding, or otherwise interfering with cell cycle progression at the G1-phase, G1 / S interphase, S-phase, G2 / M interface or M-phase of the cell cycle in a mammal. The methods includes administering to a mammal an effective amount of a flowable composition of the present invention.

Compositions and methods for enhancing delivery of molecules, e.g. biological agents, into cells are described. The composition is a conjugate of the biological agent, preferably a nucleic acid analog having a substantially uncharged backbone, covalently linked to a peptide transporter moiety as described. Conjugation of the peptide transporter to a substantially uncharged nucleic acid analog, such as a morpholino oligomer, is also shown to enhance binding of the oligomer to its target sequence and enhance antisense activity.

The invention provides surgical devices that provide access to the sub-retinal space using delicate traction to hold the sensory retina to create and maintain a patent sub-retinal space of sufficient size to introduce and perform treatments on the eye. Such treatments may include the introduction of illumination or imaging agents or tools, surgical tools, the infusion of pharmaceutical or biological agents, and the placement of grafts, transplants or implants and the closure of the site through the delivery of a sealant.

The invention is directed to methods and compositions for preparing matrices for controlled delivery of at least one therapeutic or biological agent to a target site in a subject. This is accomplished using nanoparticles coupled to the therapeutic or biological agent that are incorporated within the matrix or reacted on the surface of the matrix.

The invention is a system and method for handling items to be shipped that securely verifies the sender. The invention makes use of pre-printed, unique, labels which are affixed by hand or machine to items to be mailed or shipped. These labels are packaged and distributed in groups. The groups of labels can be sold or freely distributed. Each person or organization that originates shipments is assigned a unique customer account number and their identity is authenticated when this account is created. The group number for a group of labels is linked to a customer account prior to the use of any of the labels from the group. The linking can be done at the time of sale or distribution of the group of labels, or after the sale or distribution thereof. Post-sale linking of a group of labels to a customer account can be done over the phone or through a web-site. The invention overcomes limitations in the prior art by creating a method for authenticating the sender of each item without requiring the use of a computer, printer, postage machine, or any other specialized hardware by the sender. The unique label identifiers are stored in a database that is used to ensure that each label that can be used only once. The invention is suitable for bulk mail processing and individual mail items. The invention provides a method for making selective use of specialized handling equipment, including equipment to irradiate the mail to destroy biological agents.

A method for enhancing the uptake of a therapeutic biological agent by treated cells. A low-power, unfocused field of acoustic energy is directed at the treated cells after the delivery of the therapeutic agent to the treated cells. A related method for stimulating either neural cells or cells in a cell culture. A portable sized device provides the field, and may include either an array of emitters or a scanable emitter.

The present invention is directed to the use of antibodies or binding portions thereof, probes, ligands, or other biological agents which either recognize an extracellular domain of prostate specific membrane antigen or bind to and are internalized with prostate specific membrane antigen. These biological agents can be labeled and used for detection of normal, benign hyperplastic, and cancerous prostate epithelial cells or portions thereof. They also can be used alone or bound to a substance effective to ablate or kill such cells as a therapy for prostate cancer. Also disclosed are four hybridoma cell lines, each of which produces a monoclonal antibody recognizing extracellular domains of prostate specific membrane antigens of normal, benign hyperplastic, and cancerous prostate epithelial cells or portions thereof.

Apparatuses and methods for analyzing particles using an impedance sensor. A flow-through impedance sensor may use two in-line electrodes driven in counter phase. A common sensor electrode may be used to, for example, detect impedance and determine trajectories through the sensor area. The sensor may be used in a wide variety of applications, including but not limited to use with microfluidic devices for determining particle characteristics such as position, velocity, size, and concentration as well as detection of bacterial spores and other biological agents of potential use in warfare and bio-terrorism.

The invention discloses an enteric-solubility multilayer encysted bacterium microcapsule and making method in the biological agent technical domain, which is characterized by the following: adopting sodium alginate, calcium chloride and chitose as clad material of microcapsule; making lactic acid bacteria or bifidobacteria as core-clad material; proceeding ionic exchange for sodium alginate and calcium chloride; forming second clad on the surface of calcium alginate through different isoelectric points of calcium alginate and chitose; freezing at low temperature to obtain the product.

A photocatalyst nanocomposite which can be used to destroying biological agents includes a carbon nanotube core, and a photocatalyst coating layer covalently or ionically bound to a surface of the nanotube core. The coating layer has a nanoscale thickness. A method of forming photocatalytic nanocomposites includes the steps of providing a plurality of dispersed carbon nanotubes, chemically oxidizing the nanotubes under conditions to produce surface functionalized nanotubes to provide C and O including groups thereon which form ionic or covalent bonds to metal oxides, and processing a metal oxide photocatalyst sol-gel precursor in the presence of the nanotubes, wherein a nanoscale metal oxide photocatalyst layer becomes covalently or ionically bound to the nanotubes.

The invention relates to a group of alive microbial preparations for preparing compound microbial fertilizer and the preparation method thereof. The alive microbial preparations include a microbial inoculant and an organic material degradation agent. The microbial inoculant includes Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus mucilaginosus, Bacillus laterosporus, Azotobocter chroococcum, etc. The organic material degradation agent includes Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus circulans, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida lipolytica, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus cereus, Streptomyces griseus, Pseudomonas alcaligenes, Pseudomonas cepacia, Streptococcus salivarius subsp. Thermophilus, Geobacillus stearothermophilus, Streptomyces Thermophilus, Geotrichum candidum and Aspergillus oryzae. The preparation method comprises the following steps: carrying out submerged fermentation, directly mixing the bacterial liquids and stirring to obtain a liquid preparation; or mixing with an absorbent to obtain a solid preparation. The alive microbial preparations have the advantages of improving soil fertility, promoting plant growth, enhancing anti-disease, anti-insect and anti-drought capacities of plants, improving quality of agricultural products and so on.

A method of sensing an environmental agent, comprising obtaining a sample from the environment and transferring the sample into the working fluid for dispensation to a detection module. The sample and working fluid mixture is filtered through a porous polymer Bragg grating. By comparing the refractive index of the grating with the mixture to the refractive index of a grating without the sample, a difference in the refractive index aids in the identification of a hazardous agent in the environment. The sensor also acts as a chemical filter by trapping specific target agents by a highly specific reaction with a conjugate molecule. Recirculation of the working fluid throughout the system provides a sensor that is “always on.”

Disclosed are mixtures and compositions for controlling invertebrate pests relating to combinations comprising (a) 3-bromo-N-[4-cyano-2-methyl-6[(methylamino)carbonyl]phenyl]-1-(3-chloro-2-pyridinyl)-1H-pyrazole-5-carboxamide, an N-oxide, or a salt thereof, Formula (1) and (b) at least one invertebrate pest control agent selected from neonicotinoids, cholinesterase inhibitors, sodium channel modulators, chitin synthesis inhibitors, ecdysone agonists, lipid biosynthesis inhibitors, macrocyclic lactones, GABA-regulated chloride channel blockers, juvenile hormone mimics, ryanodine receptor ligands, octopamine receptor ligands, mitochondrial electron transport inhibitors, nereistoxin analogs, pyridalyl, flonicamid, pymetrozine, dieldrin, metaflumizone, biological agents, and salts of the foregoing. Also disclosed are methods for controlling an invertebrate pest comprising contacting the invertebrate pest or its environment with a biologically effective amount of a mixture or composition of the invention.

The present invention provides a catch and snare system for an unmanned aerial vehicle comprising: (a) a detection system, (b) a deployment system in communication with the detection system, (c) a capture system placed at an interference position by the deployment system, wherein the capture system comprises a net, a plurality of foam deploying canisters attached to the net for deploying foam, and at least one canister for deploying a decelerating parachute attached to the net, wherein the foam prevents the release of chemical or biological agents from the captured unmanned aerial vehicle, and (d) a descent system to bring the capture system and a captured unmanned aerial vehicle back to earth.

Embodiments of the invention relate to a curable nucleus pulposus implant having water absorption and swelling capabilities, compositions for producing the curable nucleus pulposus implants, and methods of using the curable nucleus pulposus implants. The curable nucleus pulposus implant can be created from a polymer blend composition comprising a ratio of a curable material and at least one hydrophilic polymer. The resulting polymer blend composition may be used to generate curable nucleus pulposus implants to treat a number of disease and / or disorders, such as herniated discs. The curable nucleus pulposus implants may further contain polyelectrolytes and elastomer compounds, as well as pharmacological and biological agents.