Abstract: Embodiments allow for rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) at a low cost. Embodiments may use changes in the pixel intensity from reflected light to determine microorganism growth and antimicrobial resistance. Dilutions of an antimicrobial are added to a standard well plate or other array. A pathogen or other microorganism may be added to the dilutions in the well plate. The well plate may be incubated for a time period less than 3 hours. The well plate may then be imaged and the resulting image data may be analyzed. Wells where the microorganism is able to grow may appear darker than wells where the microorganism did not grow. Differences pixel intensity of the wells is used to determine the susceptibility or resistance of the microorganism to the antimicrobial. The image data may be used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), the lowest dilution concentration of antimicrobial that inhibits growth.

Abstract: System and methods for determining placement of a transducer array relative to a subject's head, which may be used in treating cancer in the subject, are provided. These techniques may include constructing, based on one or more images, a representation of the subject's head that includes information for a plurality of structures including one or more tumors positioned within the subject's brain. The representation of the subject's head may be used to calculate electric field propagation for one or more arrangements of a transducer array on a surface of the subject's head. These techniques may further include determining one or more rate of energy absorption distributions and/or one or more electric field distributions using the calculated electric field propagation for multiple arrangements of the transducer array. A rate of energy absorption distribution may indicate a rate of energy absorbed at the one or more tumors.

Abstract: By hijacking endogenous E3 ligase to degrade protein targets via the ubiquitin-proteasome system, PROTACs (PRoteolysis TArgeting Chimeras) provide a new strategy to inhibit protein targets that were previously regarded as undruggable. The compounds described herein comprise a photolabile group on PROTACs, enabling the degradation of protein targets in a spatiotemporally controlled manner By adding a photolabile caging group on ubiquitin recruiting moieties, light-inducible protein degradation was acheived. These opto-PROTACs display no activity in the dark, while restricted degradation can be induced at a specific time and rate by UVA-irradiation. Accordingly, these compounds provide light-controlled PROTACs and methods of using such compounds.

Abstract: Ultrasensitive and quantitative assays for detecting toxins of Clostridium difficile, which may involve digital ELISA, are provided. Also provided herein are differential detection assays that allow for distinguishing toxin B of highly virulent Clostridium difficile strains from toxin B of less virulent strains.

Abstract: Some aspects of the present disclosure relate a method for magnetic resonance imaging, which can include acquiring, by applying an imaging pulse sequence, magnetic resonance data associated with a region of interest of a subject. The imaging pulse sequence can include a plurality of RF pulses configured to generate a desired image contrast, and an outer-volume suppression (OVS) module to attenuate the signal outside the region of interest. The method can further include reconstructing, from the acquired magnetic resonance data, a plurality of reduced field of view (rFOV) magnetic resonance images corresponding to the region of interest.

Abstract: Disclosed are bifunctional compounds comprising a GDC-0068 analog that binds AKT isoforms AKT1, 2 and 3, pharmaceutical compositions, and methods for treating diseases or conditions mediated by dysfunctional AKT activity.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are example methods and systems for predicting efficacy of pacemakers or cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) devices prior to implantation in patients based on electrocardiogram (ECG) heterogeneity analysis. A method of determining or predicting efficacy of implanting a pacemaker or cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) device in a patient includes receiving a first set of electrocardiogram (ECG) signals associated with the patients heart from spatially separated leads, analyzing data from the first set of ECG signals, quantifying a spatio-temporal heterogeneity of the first set of ECG signals based on the analysis, and determining or predicting efficacy of implanting the pacemaker or cardiac re-synchronization therapy (CRT) device in the patient based on the quantified spatio-temporal heterogeneity.

Abstract: The invention relates to immunogenic compositions and vaccines containing a coronavirus (e.g., Wuhan coronavirus (2019-nCoV; also referred to as SARS-CoV-2)) protein or a polynucleotide encoding a coronavirus (e.g., Wuhan coronavirus (2019-nCoV; SARS-CoV-2)) protein and uses thereof. The invention also provides methods of treating and/or preventing a coronavirus (e.g., Wuhan coronavirus (2019-nCoV; SARS-CoV-2)) infection by administering an immunogenic composition or vaccine to a subject (e.g., a human). The invention also provides methods of detecting and/or monitoring a protective anti-coronavirus (e.g., Wuhan coronavirus (2019-nCoV; SARS-CoV-2)) antibody response (e.g., anti-coronavirus antibody response, e.g., anti-2019-nCoV antibody response, e.g., anti-Spike antibody response, e.g., anti-Spike neutralizing antibody response).

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for producing hyperpolarized materials for use during a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) process. The system and methods include the use of microfluidic and/or microreactor methods in one or more of the stages of parahydrogen production, enriched substrate production, and spin order transfer from the parahydrogen to a substrate.

Abstract: The invention relates to compositions and methods for inhibiting Krüppel-like Factor 10 (KLF10) for modulation of T regulatory cells and cancer immunotherapy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of treating patients with advanced forms of cancer, such as clear cell renal cell carcinoma, in which X4P-001 is administered in order to reduce angiogenic escape that typically occurs with TKI therapy. The methods demonstrate surprising results, including regression of tumor size and cell number, with comparatively little toxicity.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a class of molecules termed remodilins that are effective in treating asthma, pulmonary fibrosis, and associated disorders. The molecules ameliorate asthma and pulmonary fibrosis symptoms by various mechanisms, including inhibiting airway smooth muscle contractile protein accumulation, reducing airway constrictor hyperresponsiveness, inhibiting bronchial fibroblast transformation into myofibroblasts, and/or treating or preventing airway or pulmonary fibrosis.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to novel targets for angiogenic disorders. Novel oligonucleotides are also provided. Methods of using the novel oligonucleotides for the treatment of angiogenic disorders (e.g., preeclampsia) are also provided.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions, methods, and kits for the treatment or prevention of viral infections. The polyvalent (e.g., 2-valent) vaccines described herein incorporate computationally-optimized viral polypeptides that can increase the diversity or breadth and depth of cellular immune response in vaccinated subjects.

Abstract: A pipetting device includes a housing, a valve assembly, and an actuator assembly. The housing includes a tip for receiving a capillary tube. The valve assembly includes a shuttle valve having a filling position and a dispensing position and a valve rod. The actuator assembly includes an actuator, a valve trigger, a piston mount, and an indexing mechanism. The actuator extends from the housing and has a push button coupled to a push rod. The valve trigger being configured to engage the valve assembly and includes an aperture configured to receive the piston mount therein. The indexing mechanism is configured to index a rotated position of the push button to a predefined volume of dispensed fluid.

Abstract: The present invention features methods of extracting amylase trypsin inhibitors (ATIs) from processed and unprocessed foodstuff, determining bioactivity of ATIs, quantifying the amount of ATIs in a foodstuff, and reducing the content of ATIs in a foodstuff.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides compounds of Formula (I). The compounds described herein may be useful in treating and/or preventing proliferative diseases (e.g., cancer). Also provided in the present disclosure are pharmaceutical compositions, kits, methods, and uses including or using a compound described herein.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a class of molecules termed remodilins that inhibit serum response factor (SRF). By inhibiting SRF, a number of downstream pathways can be targeted. The remodilins can be used to treat glaucoma, inhibit tumor cell growth, inhibit tumor metastasis, inhibit hypoxia-induced response, and/or reduce cellular metabolism.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are disclosed herein for treating or reducing the symptoms of a renal disease, such as focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), hypertensive end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), and HIV-associated nephropathy (a distinct form of FSGS, also termed collapsing glomerulopathy). The compositions include the common variant of APOL1 and fragments thereof, as well as antibodies and fragments thereof that bind and neutralize pathogenic APOL1, nucleic acid molecules that encode the common variant of APOL1 and fragments thereof, and other compounds that bind and neutralize pathogenic APOL1. The methods of the invention include administering one or more of the compositions of the invention to a subject having or at risk of developing renal disease.