Abstract:
The present invention provides live, attenuated Mycoplasma gallisepticum bacteria that exhibit reduced expression of a protein identified as MGA_0621. In certain embodiments, the attenuated bacteria may additionally exhibit reduced expression of one or more proteins selected from the group consisting of pyruvate dehydrogenase, phosphopyruvate hydratase, 2-deoxyribose-5-phosphate aldolase, and ribosomal protein L35, relative to a wild-type M. gallisepticum bacterium. Also provided are vaccines and vaccination methods involving the use of the live, attenuated M. gallisepticum bacteria, and methods for making live attenuated M. gallisepticum bacteria. An exemplary live, attenuated strain of M. gallisepticum is provided, designated MGx+47, which was shown by proteomics analysis to exhibit significantly reduced expression of MGA_0621, and was shown to be safe and effective when administered as a vaccine against M. gallisepticum infection in chickens.
Abstract:
Antigenic isolates and vaccines for Infectious Bursal Disease Virus include variants of the molecular Group 6 family of IBDV isolates, in particular the 28-1 isolate.
Abstract:
A genetic deletion mutant live E. coli vaccine suitable for mass application to poultry, including chickens, is provided. Also provided is a safe and effective method to protect poultry against the ravages of Escherichia coli bacillosis infection and disease in which a live mutant aroA-gene deleted E. coli immunogen is administered to chickens, turkeys and the like via mass application routes such as coarse sprays and drinking water.
Abstract:
Antigenic isolates and vaccines for Infectious Bursal Disease Virus include variants of the molecular Group 6 family of IBDV isolates, in particular the 28-1 isolate.
Abstract:
A digitally controlled active phase shifter with vernier control consists of a 180 degree phase bit in series with a 90 degree bit and a digitally controlled active vector generator with vernier control. The digitally controlled active vector generator consists of an active power divider with digitally adjustable amplitude, a pair of phase delay networks with an active power combiner employing vernier control. The power divider consists of two sets of parallel pairs of FET's in cascode configuration with all input nodes connected together and all output nodes from the same set tied together. The FET at the output node of each pair is a common gate configuration with its gate RF grounded through a bypass capacitor. The gate bias voltage is applied to the common gate FET to switch it ON or OFF to thereby provide a set of desired signal amplitudes which can be obtained by selecting the gain of each of the cascode stages in each of the parallel pairs. Two output signals from the power divider are fed into a pair of phase delay networks to get 90 degree phase differences. The two 90 degree out of phase signals are then combined by an active power combiner which consists of two pairs of FET's in cascode configuration with their output nodes connected together. The combined signal while maintaining constant amplitude can have phase variations beteen 0-90 degrees according to the amplitude ratio of the two 90 degree out of phase signals. The gate bias voltage applied to the two common gate FET's of the power combiner can be varied continuously to give additional phase variations of the combined signal at the output.
Abstract:
Amplifiers operating in push-pull are implemented to obviate input baluns and output signal combiners and their attendant losses. Amplifiers having two signal branches that each receive the input signal and have their signal branch outputs connected directly together. Each branch operates during alternate half cycles of the input signal while direct combining of the branch signal outputs produces a composite signal corresponding to the complete input signal. Each branch includes a matching input circuit and a heterojunction bipolar transistor whcih may be configured in either common collector or common emitter arrangement. The transistors are different since one is an NPN while the other is a PNP but they are selected to have similar direct current and radio frequency characteristics.
Abstract:
An in-phase power combiner is constructed of a double field-effect transistor having a common drain, first and second gates and first and second sources. The gates are adapted to receive radio frequency signals of powers P1and P2, where P1=P2, to be power combined. The combined power output signal P equal to at least P1+P2 appears at the drain. An alternative power combiner for producing power combination of two unequal power input signals is constructed of a double dual gate FET having, in addition to the above-mentioned elements, third and fourth gates.
Abstract:
A vaccine composition and method which is effective in preventing or ameliorating Avian Influenza Virus infection is set forth herein. The vaccine contains at least two inactivated strains of avian influenza virus, wherein the combined hemagglutinin (HA) total is at least about 200 HA/dose of the vaccine composition, and wherein each of the strains presents at least about 128 HA/dose, and further wherein one of the strains has the same HA subtype as that of a challenge virus, and wherein at least one of the strains has a different NA subtype than the challenge virus.
Abstract:
Methods and devices for balancing voltages of capacitors in an electronic circuit are provided. The device includes a chopper circuit having a chopper inductor. Further, the chopper circuit may detect voltages across capacitors as well as an output current of the electronic circuit. In addition, the device may include a chopper control unit receiving the output current then generating a signal representing charging of the chopper inductor based on the output current. Also, the chopper control unit may receive the voltages across the capacitors and detect an imbalance between the voltages based on a polarity of the output current. Additionally, the chopper control unit may transfer of charge between the two capacitors, using the chopper inductor. Further, the chopper inductor is substantially discharged, during the transfer of charge between the capacitors.
Abstract:
A set of data is received containing values associated with respective data points, the values associated with each of the data points being characterized by a distribution. The values for each of the data points are expressed in a form that includes information about a distribution of the values for each of the data points. The distribution information is used in clustering the set of data with at least one other set of data containing values associated with data points.