Abstract: Compositions and methods for conditionally regulating activities of CRISPR-Cas systems. In some embodiments, the methods comprise providing an inactive guide RNA comprising a regulatory domain bound by a lock nucleic acid different from the guide RNA; and displacing the lock nuclei acid from the regulatory domain by a trigger nucleic acid, thereby activating the guide RNA, wherein the activated guide RNA forms a complex with a Cas enzyme.

Abstract: Provided herein are STING and SPARCS genes as biomarkers for determining an effective therapy for treating cancer. Further provided are methods for treating cancer using said biomarkers.

Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein is generally directed to modulating T cell dysfunctional and effector states by modulating glucocorticoid and IL-27 signaling. The invention further relates to modulating immune states, such as CD8 T cell immune states, in vivo, ex vivo and in vitro. The invention further relates to diagnostic and screening methods.

Abstract: In some aspects, the invention teaches pharmaceutical compositions that include a TGF-? ligand trap, and methods of using a TGF-? ligand trap to treat, prevent, or reduce the progression rate of pulmonary hypertension (PH). The invention also provides methods of using a TGF-? ligand trap to treat, prevent, or reduce the progression rate of a variety of conditions including, but not limited to, pulmonary vascular remodeling, pulmonary fibrosis, right ventricular hypertrophy, diseases associated with excessive TGF-? signaling, diseases associated with excessive GDF15 signaling, and diseases associated with excessive PAI-1 signaling. The invention further provides methods of using a TGF-? ligand trap to reduce right ventricular systolic pressure in a subject.

Abstract: Drug delivery articles, resident articles, and retrieval systems e.g., for gram-level dosing, are generally provided. In some embodiments, the residence articles are configured for transesophageal administration, transesophageal retrieval, and/or gastric retention to/in a subject. In certain embodiments, the residence article includes dimensions configured for transesophageal administration with a gastric resident system. In some cases, the residence article may be configured to control drug release e.g., with zero-order drug kinetics with no potential for burst release for weeks to months. In some embodiments, the residence articles described herein comprise biocompatible materials and/or are safe for gastric retention. In certain embodiments, the residence article includes dimensions configured for transesophageal retrieval. In some cases, the residence articles described herein may comprise relatively large doses of drug (e.g., greater than or equal to 1 gram).

Abstract: Described herein are compositions and methods for treating a disease in a subject by administering delivery vectors that express artificial microRNAs, artificial microRNA clusters, and/or a combination of microRNA clusters and associated non-coding RNAs to the subject. Also described herein are methods for preparing artificial microRNAs and artificial microRNA clusters.

Abstract: A system and method for sorting sperm is provided. The system includes a housing and a microfluidic system supported by the housing. The system also includes an inlet providing access to the microfluidic system to deliver sperm to the microfluidic system and an outlet providing access to the microfluidic system to harvest sorted sperm from the microfluidic system. The microfluidic system provides a flow path for sperm from the inlet to the outlet and includes at least one channel extending from the inlet to the outlet to allow sperm delivered to the microfluidic system through the inlet to progress along the flow path toward the outlet. The microfluidic system also includes a filter including a first plurality of micropores arranged in the flow path between the inlet and the outlet to cause sperm traveling along the flow path to move against through the filter and gravity to reach the outlet.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides, inter alia, compositions and methods for enforcing a pattern of cell surface fucosylated lactosaminyl glycans on a human cell. In certain embodiments, the compositions and/or methods utilize one or more members of the ?(1,3)-fucosyltransferase family. In certain embodiments, a process for custom-modifying a fucosylated lactosaminyl glycan on a human cell is disclosed.

Abstract: The disclosure provides methods and compositions for reprogramming fibroblasts into limb progenitors.

Abstract: Antibodies, and antigen-binding fragments thereof, that specifically bind to bone morphogenetic protein-9 (BMP9) are provided. Embodiments include uses, and associated methods of using the antibodies, and antigen-binding fragments thereof.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for provided for automatic evaluation of sperm morphology. An image of a semen sample is obtained, and at least a portion of the image is provided to a convolutional neural network classifier. The convolutional neural network classifier evaluates the portion of the image to assign to the portion of the image a set of likelihoods that the portion of the image belongs to a plurality of output classes representing the morphology of sperm within the portion of the image. A metric is assigned to the semen sample based on the likelihoods assigned by the convolutional neural network.

Abstract: A continuum robot having at least two independently manipulateable bendable section for advancing the robot through a passage, without contacting fragile elements within the passage, wherein the robot incorporates control algorithms that enable the continuum robot to operate and advance into the passage, as well as the systems and procedures associated with the continuum robot and said functionality.

Abstract: Evolved sortases exhibiting enhanced reaction kinetics and/or altered substrate preferences are provided herein, for example evolved sortases that bind recognitions motifs comprising a LMVGG [SEQ ID NO: 3] sequence. Also provided are methods (e.g., orthogonal transpeptidation and diagnostics methods) for using such sortases.

Abstract: The disclosure provides compositions and methods for characterizing the genome and transcriptome at a single cell level. In some embodiments, the method provides for the characterization of CRISPR editing outcomes and phenotypes, as well as other alterations in polynucleotide sequences, particularly in primary cells.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides diagnostic methods for evaluating a urinary bladder and methods of enhancing the visibility of the bladder from outside of a patient. The method includes introducing urinary catheter having a proximal end and a distal end into a patient's urinary bladder by way of the urethra, the urinary catheter including an outer tubular member including an inflatable balloon disposed thereon, and a visualization stylet that is slidably disposable within a passage defined in the outer tubular member. The method further includes inflating the inflatable member inside of the bladder, inflating the bladder with a liquid to enhance visualization of an inner surface of the bladder, illuminating a light source through the inflatable member to illuminate the inner surface of the bladder, and visualizing an inner portion of the bladder using the visualization stylet.

Abstract: Described herein are methods for treating fibrosis, e.g., kidney fibrosis, using agents that target Secreted Modular Calcium-binding protein 2 (SMOC2).

Abstract: This invention relates generally to compositions and methods for modulating complement component 3 (C3) activity or expression to treat, control or otherwise influence tumors and tissues, including cells and cell types of the tumors and tissues, and malignant, microenvironmental, or immunologic states of the tumor cells and tissues. The invention also relates to methods of diagnosing, prognosing and/or staging of tumors, tissues and cells.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a means to prevent and/or ameliorate age, disease and obesity associated metabolic diseases, such as diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance. Also disclosed are compositions and methods that relate to the findings that GDF11 prevents weight gain, improves glucose tolerance and reduces hepatosteatosis in aged mice administered a high fat diet. In particular, the methods and compositions described herein relate to increasing the level of GDF11 in a subject, thereby treating or preventing the development of obesity in the subject, reducing the metabolic consequences of obesity and improving the subject's metabolic health.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to the use of microvesicle biomarkers such as nucleic acids, including nucleic acid signatures, and/or proteins for assessing a kidney transplant rejection in a patient. The invention further relates to assessing, and/or to monitoring kidney transplant rejection in patients who have received a renal transplant.

Abstract: Systems and methods for creating images of an environment includes controlling at least one camera to acquire imaging data from the environment and selecting, from the imaging data, a three-dimensional-two-dimensional correspondence as a control point for use in a perspective-n-point problem to determine a position and orientation of the at least one camera from n known correspondences between three-dimensional object points and their two-dimensional image projections in the environment. The method also includes reprojecting at least a selected number of the projections, determining a reprojection error for each of the projections, and performing a weight assignment of reprojection errors to distinguish the inliers form outliers. These steps of the method are repeated to apply the weight assignment to outliers in a decreased fashion during iterations to reduce an impact of outliers in the real-time display of the environment.