Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide compositions, methods, and uses for recombinant vectors encoding Zika virus (ZIKV) protein subunits, and immunogenic compositions thereof. Certain embodiments provide recombinant vectors encoding ZIKV nonstructural protein 1 (NS 1), and optionally, ZIKV envelope (E) protein and premembrane (prM) protein. Other embodiments provide expression cassettes comprising a promoter operably linked to a polynucleotide that encodes the ZIKV NS 1 protein, and optionally ZIKV E and prM proteins. In some embodiments, the disclosed expression cassettes can be incorporated into a vector to produce a recombinant vector. Also provided are immunogenic compositions comprising one or more recombinant vectors described herein, and methods for inducing an immune response against ZIKV in a subject comprising administering to the subject an immunologically effective dose of an immunogenic composition of the present disclosure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to Adeno-associated virus type 9 methods and materials useful for intrathecal delivery of polynucleotides. Use of the methods and materials is indicated, for example, for treatment of lower motor neuron diseases such as SMA and ALS as well as Pompe disease and lysosomal storage disorders. It is disclosed that administration of a non-ionic, low-os-molar contrast agent, together with a rAA9 vector for the expression of Survival Motor Neuron protein, improves the survival of SMN mutant mice as compared to the administration of the expression vector alone.

Abstract: The exemplified systems and methods disclosed herein involve the contemporaneous and concurrent stimulation of both eyes of a patient with dissimilar visual scenes that substantially span an expected or normal visual field of both eyes. During an assessment via the exemplified system and methods, a test eye (i.e., eye being assessed) is presented a visual scene that is rich in contours (e.g., a scene with rich texture patterns) that substantially span an expected or normal visual field of a person while the non-tested eye is presented an impoverished visual scene (e.g., a contour-free or non-distinguishing-contour scene, e.g., with a homogeneous color, with respect to the contour-rich scene). Defects in the visual field can be detected by assessing for breaks or discontinuity in the observation of the contour-rich scene by the person.

Abstract: According to one aspect, the present disclosure provides a system for manufacturing transition structures including fiber threads embedded within a metal component. The system may include a supply of base sheet metal. The system may include a conveyor supported on a plurality of rollers and configured to move the base sheet metal in a production direction. The system may include a plurality of stages arranged in the production direction. Each stage may include a channel forming device configured to form a channel in the base sheet metal, a fiber inserting device configured to insert a portion of a fiber material into the channel, and one or more ultrasonic welders configured to consolidate a layer of metal foil over the fiber. The disclosure includes methods of using the system to produce transition structures and reinforced components.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for real-time data processing and for emergency planning. Scenario test data may be collected in real-time based on monitoring local or regional data to ascertain any anomaly phenomenon that may indicate an imminent danger or of concern. A computer-implemented method may include filtering a plurality of different test scenarios to identify a sub-set of test scenarios from the plurality of different test scenarios that may have similar behavior characteristics. A sub-set of test scenarios is provided to a trained neural network to identify one or more sub-set of test scenarios. The one or more identified sub-set of test scenarios may correspond to one or more anomaly test scenarios from the sub-set of test scenarios that is most likely to lead to an undesirable outcome. The neural network may be one of: a conventional neural network and a modular neural network.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to synthetic oncolytic viruses comprising a lipid nanoparticle comprising one or more types of lipid and a self-amplifying replicon RNA comprising a sequence that encodes an immunomodulatory molecule.

Abstract: A system and method indicate capability for detecting methane leaks inside buildings. This approach provides the ability to detect methane behind high efficiency coated windows and can extract methane concentration (rather than concentration-path length product CL). Lock-in imaging technologies can facilitate lower laser transmitter power. A field deployable, hand held prototype sensor for use in remote sensing a appropriate standoff distances can support operational testing. Distance infrared imaging of methane is feasible. Fully characterized real time image of a methane cloud offers operational advantages in accuracy and safety as compared to current sensors.

Abstract: Disclosed are compounds that activate excitatory amino acid transporter 2 (EAAT2), as well as methods of using these compounds to treat or preventing diseases, disorders, and conditions associated with glutamate excitotoxicity.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for characterizing a behavior change of a process. A behavior model that can include a set of behavior parameters can be generated based on behavior data characterizing a prior behavior change of a process. A stimulus parameter for a performance test can be determined based on the set of behavior parameters. An application of the performance test to the process can be controlled based on the stimulus parameter to provide a measure of behavior change of the process. Response data characterizing one or more responses associated with the process during the performance test can be received. The set of behavior parameters can be updated based on the response data to update the behavior model characterizing the behavior change of the process. In some examples, the behavior model can be evaluated to improve or affect a future behavior performance of the process.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to recombinant EGFL7, EGFL7 antibodies, and uses thereof.

Abstract: An ultrasonic additive manufacturing system may include a base structure, a sonotrode configured to rotate about an axis of rotation, and one or more transducers configured to vibrate the sonotrode. The sonotrode may include a welding surface extending along a circumference of the sonotrode, and the welding surface may have a contoured profile. At least one of the sonotrode and the base structure may be configured to translate relative to the other of the sonotrode and the base structure.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for treating periodontal disease, peri-implantitis, or to preserve a tooth socket in a subject. These methods include selecting a subject with periodontal disease, peri-implantitis, or in need of tooth socket preservation; and locally administering into the periodontium of the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP) polypeptide, or a nucleic acid molecule encoding the recombinant TNAP polypeptide. Methods are also disclosed for i) promoting alveolar bone regeneration in the subject; ii) increasing attachment of a periodontal ligament to a root surface of a tooth in the subject; iii) increasing cementum formation; and/or iv) increasing mineralization in a tooth in the subject. Pharmaceutical compositions are also disclosed that are of use in these methods.

Abstract: An end-to-end software framework is provided for information extraction, enrichment, and caching in applications that involve exploring real-world data through a camera-based viewport in an augmented reality (AR) setting. It allows users to gather supplementary information through cross-modal data fusion against cloud-based datastores. Additional context is provided by retrieving data units from remote datastores that are relevant to the queried item. Given that such datastores often do not fit in main memory, a client-server architecture is used. Users interact with real-world objects via a camera-enabled client interface, and queries are executed using gesture-based interactions as supplementary information is retrieved from a back-end server (if necessary) and overlaid in the client's live camera-view.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions related to synthetic PD-1 peptides, chimeric PD-1 peptides, anti-PD-1 antibodies and methods of treating cancers, autoimmune diseases, and Alzheimer's disease using said peptides or antibodies.

Abstract: A biometric monitoring system comprises a substrate with a first surface having a length and a width. A first transmitting antenna is coupled to the first surface at a first end of the length of the first surface. A second transmitting antenna is coupled to the first surface at a second end of the length of the first surface. The first and second transmitting antennas extend across the width of the first surface. A plurality of receiving antennas are coupled to the first surface, each of which extends across the width of the substrate and is spaced apart from an adjacent receiving antenna along the length by a predetermined distance. A controller is configured to supply a first signal to the first transmitting antenna and sequentially measure a transmission coefficient or voltage of the first signal at the plurality of receiving antennas until an attenuation in the transmission coefficient or voltage exceeds a threshold.

Abstract: A finger for a robotic gripper may include a flexible backbone, a plurality of jamming layers, and a membrane bag. The backbone may have a first side, a second side, a third side, and a fourth side. The backbone may include a flexible beam, and a plurality of branches attached to the flexible beam and spaced apart from one another. Each branch may include a first end surface extending along the first side, and a second end surface extending along the second side. The first end surfaces may collectively extend along a majority of the first side, and the second end surfaces may collectively extend along a majority of the second side. The jamming layers may be positioned along the third side or the fourth side. The membrane bag may be positioned over the jamming layers.

Abstract: Systems and methods utilize an infrared probe and discriminating software to rapidly discriminate normal tissue processes from normal tissue during surgery, physical examination of in-situ lesions, and in the assessment of biopsy and resected tissue specimens. Examples demonstrate discrimination of cancerous from noncancerous tissues. The discriminating software, i.e. the metrics, algorithms, calibrant spectra, and decision equations, allows tissue to be identified as abnormal or normal using a minimum of infrared (IR) wavelengths in order to be measured rapidly. The probe records IR metrics approximately 1000 times faster than current commercial instruments, i.e. on a timescale fast enough for clinical use. The probe uses a tunable mid-infrared laser with a small set of selected wavelengths that are optimized for detecting the chemical and molecular signatures of tissue specific lesions to include, but not limited to, cancer, preneoplasia, intracellular accumulations (e.g.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for inhibiting Fatty Acid Synthase (FASN) with a FASN inhibitor, methods for treating cancer and viral infections with a FASN inhibitor, and compounds and compositions inhibiting FASN.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a large combinatorial library of cell-permeable bicyclic peptides. The bicyclic peptides described herein include the first ring consisted of randomized peptide sequences for potential binding to a target of interest while the second ring featured a family of different cell-penetrating motifs, for both cell penetration and target binding. The library was screened against the I?B kinase ?/? (IKK?/?)-binding domain of NF-?B essential modulator (NEMO), resulting in the discovery of several cell-permeable bicyclic peptides which inhibited the NEMO-IKK? interaction, thereby selectively inhibiting canonical NF-?B signaling in mammalian cells and the proliferation of cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer cells.

Abstract: Therapeutic extracellular vesicles (EVs) containing high copies of functional nucleic acids and other biomolecules are produced in large quantities by laying donor cells on a surface of a chip, adding various plasmids, other transfection vectors and their combinations to a buffer on the chip, applying a pulsulatic electric field across the cells laid on top of the chip surface and plasmids/vectors buffer solution below the chip surface, and collecting the EVs secreted by the transfected cells. The chip surface has a three-dimensional (3D) nanochannel electroporation (NEP) biochip formed on it, capable of handling large quantities of the donor cells. The buffer is adapted for receiving plasmids and other transfection vectors.