Abstract: A method for making a porous devitalised scaffold suitable for use in repair of osseous, chondral, or osteochondral defects in a mammal comprises the steps of providing micronized extracellular matrix (ECM) tissue, mixing the micronized extracellular matrix with a liquid to provide a slurry, and freeze-drying the slurry to provide the porous scaffold. A porous scaffold suitable for use in repair of osseous, chondral, or osteochondral defects in a mammal and comprising a porous freeze-dried matrix formed from micronised decellularised extracellular matrix tissue is also described.

Abstract: An improved method of culturing cells for cell therapy applications that includes growing desired cells in the presence of antigen-presenting cells and/or feeder cells and with medium volume to surface area ratio of up to 1 ml/cm2 if the growth surface is not comprised of gas permeable material and up to 2 ml/cm2 if the growth surface is comprised of gas permeable material. The desired cells are at a surface density of less than 0.5×106 cells/cm2 at the onset of a production cycle, and the surface density of the desired cells plus the surface density of the antigen presenting cells and/or feeder cells are at least about 1.25×105 cells/cm2.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are synthetic leathers, artificial epidermal layers, artificial dermal layers, layered structures, products produced therefrom and methods of producing the same.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system and method for treating wastewater, the method comprising the steps of: providing a vessel for receiving wastewater and a gas, wherein the gas comprises one or more constituent gas components; directing the wastewater and a first gas component of the gas to the vessel; reducing the temperature of the contents of the vessel from a first temperature to a second temperature to facilitate the formation of clathrate hydrates comprising the wastewater and the first gas component; increasing the temperature of the contents of the vessel with respect to the second temperature to facilitate melting of the clathrate hydrates; and removing clean water and/or the first gas component from the vessel.

Abstract: Provided are chimeric VEGF-binding proteins and nucleic acids (e.g., a vector) encoding chimeric VEGF-binding proteins, methods and host cells for producing these proteins and nucleic acids, and pharmaceutical compositions containing these proteins and nucleic acids. Also provided are methods of treating an angiogenic disease or disorder that include administering at least one of the chimeric VEGF-binding proteins or at least one of the nucleic acids (e.g., a vector) encoding a chimeric VEGF-binding protein.

Abstract: In an embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to a method of making magnetic nanoparticles through the utilization of a microfluidic reactor. In some embodiments, the microfluidic reactor includes a first inlet, a second inlet, and an outlet. In some embodiments, the method includes applying a magnetic nanoparticle precursor solution into the first inlet of the microfluidic reactor through a first flow rate and applying a reducing agent into the second inlet of the microfluidic reactor through a second flow rate. In some embodiments, the magnetic nanoparticles are produced in the microfluidic reactor and collected from the outlet of the microfluidic reactor. In an additional embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to a composition including a plurality of magnetic nanoparticles. In a further embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to a microfluidic reactor.

Abstract: A smart agricultural automatic feeding device includes a feeding box, a weighing part is disposed in the feeding box and connected with a top of the feeding box; a separating part is disposed below the weighing part and rotatably connected to an inner wall of the feeding box, a feed end of the separating part is connected with a discharge end of weighing part; a delivery part is disposed below the separating part and includes delivery tubes arranged in parallel, the delivery tubes are fixed to the inner wall of the feeding box, feed ends of the delivery tubes are connected to the discharge end of the separating part and configured to be arranged correspondingly to a fish pond; an air supply part is disposed outside the feeding box and connected to the delivery tubes through a pressurized part, the pressurized part is in transmission connection with the separating part.

Abstract: A microfluidic device for processing cells for the intracellular delivery of molecules or other cargo includes a plurality of microchannels disposed in a substrate or chip and fluidically coupled to an inlet configured to receive a solution containing the cells and the molecules or other cargo to be delivered intracellularly to the cells. Each of the plurality of microchannels has one or more constriction regions therein, wherein the constriction regions comprise an omniphobic, superhydrophilic, or superhydrophobic surface. In some embodiments, multiple microfluidic devices operating in parallel are used to process large numbers of cells. The device and method has particularly applicability to delivering gene-editing molecules intracellularly to cells.

Abstract: A speckle-suppressing lighting system includes an optical waveguide, a first solid-state light source, a second solid-state light source, and a diffuser. The optical waveguide has a proximal end and a distal end. At least part of the diffuser is between the proximal end and the distal end. The first solid-state light source is optically coupled to the optical waveguide near the proximal end, and emits a first light beam that propagates toward the distal end and has a first center wavelength. The second solid-state light source is optically coupled to the optical waveguide near the proximal end, and emits a second light beam that propagates toward the distal end and has a second center wavelength differing from the first center wavelength. The diffuser diffuses the first light beam and the second light beam.

Abstract: The disclosure provides adenosine deaminases that are capable of deaminating adenosine in DNA. The disclosure also provides fusion proteins comprising a Cas9 (e.g., a Cas9 nickase) domain and adenosine deaminases that deaminate adenosine in DNA. In some embodiments, the fusion proteins further comprise a nuclear localization sequence (NLS), and/or an inhibitor of base repair, such as, a nuclease dead inosine specific nuclease (dISN).

Abstract: Aspects and embodiments provide an MRI scanner-compatible virtual reality system comprising: user equipment locatable within an MRI scanner bore, the user equipment being configured to provide a subject with an immersive virtual environment; the system further comprising: at least one sensor configured to track eye movement of the subject; wherein interaction of the subject with the immersive virtual environment is controlled by the tracked eye movement. Aspects and embodiments may be implemented in a manner which recognises that VR techniques, which typically rely upon dynamic movement of a VR subject, can be used to aid with maintenance of minimal motion of a subject to be placed within an MRI scanner bore. Implementations may be such that calmness of a subject can be increased and awareness of their physical surroundings diminished, thus allowing for successful MRI image acquisition whilst seeking to minimise distress, boredom and/or frustration experienced by the subject under study.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to imaging cells, for example, to determine phenotypes and/or genotypes in populations of cells. In some aspects, cells may be analyzed, e.g., imaged, to determine their phenotype, and their genotypes may be determined by exposing the cells to nucleic acid probes, e.g., as in smFISH. MERFISH, FISH, in situ hybridization, or other suitable techniques. In some cases, the cells may be exposed to a nucleic acid comprising an identification portion, which may be used to distinguish the cells from each other. In some embodiments, the cells may be exposed to a nucleic acid comprising an expression portion, e.g. a gene, or coding region for a non-translated RNA, etc., that when expressed, produces a protein, RNA, DNA, or the like that may alter the phenotype of the cell or the variable nucleic acid sequence can consist of promoters, gene regulatory elements, transcription factor binding sites, Cas9 guide RNA coding regions, etc. that otherwise alter the phenotype of the cell.

Abstract: The disclosure provides adenosine deaminases that are capable of deaminating adenosine in DNA to treat Hutchin-son-Gilford progeria syndrome (HOPS). The disclosure also provides fusion proteins, guide RNAs and compositions comprising a Cas9 (e.g., a Cas9 nickase) domain and adenosine deaminases that deaminate adenosine in DNA, for example in a LNA gene. In some embodiments, adenosine deaminases provided herein are used to correct a C1824T mutation in LMNA. In some embodiments, the methods and compositions provided herein are used to treat Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS).

Abstract: Compounds of the formula (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof: (I) wherein the substituents are defined in the specification. The compounds are hyperpolarisation activated cyclic-nucleotide modulated ion channel 2 (HCN2) inhibitors. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds, and the use of the compounds for the treatment or prevention of medical conditions mediated by HCN2, including neuropathic pain.

Abstract: According to aspects of embodiments described herein, an optical computing device (100) comprises a plurality of input waveguides (101), a photonic meta-surface (103) in contact with the plurality of input waveguides, and a plurality of output waveguides (105) in contact with the transformational meta-surface. The optical computing device may be configured to perform a mathematical operation may be a matrix multiplication. A computer-implemented method (300) of designing an optical computing device includes a plurality of input waveguides, a photonic meta-surface, and a plurality of output waveguides, the method includes exciting each input waveguide one-by-one (303) and measuring the energy at the input region and the output region (305) to determine a contribution of the current input waveguide. The sum of contributions (307) of all input waveguides are compared to a target transformation (315) to determine a loss value used to update a set of design parameters (317).

Abstract: Compounds of the formula (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof: wherein the substituents are defined in the specification. The compounds are hyperpolarisation activated cyclic-nucleotide modulated ion channel 2 (HCN2) inhibitors. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds, and the use of the compounds for the treatment or prevention of medical conditions mediated by HCN2, including neuropathic pain.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention provides a trocar including: a central cylinder defining a central channel and having a distal end adapted and configured for insertion within a subject; one or more gas outlets located within the central cylinder proximate to the distal end of the trocar; and one or more liquid outlets located within the central cylinder on a proximal side of the one or more gas outlets. The one or more liquid outlets are adapted and configured to dispense a liquid when an endoscope is withdrawn from a fully extended position within the central channel of the trocar to a position proximate to the one or more liquid outlets. Distal advancement of the endoscope to a position adjacent to the one or more gas outlets removes liquid from a distal end of the endoscope.

Abstract: A display system includes an optical device configured according to constructive interference for a plurality of wavelengths at a focal length. The display system includes a fiber. The display system includes a controller configured to scan the fiber using a Lissajous scanning method to generate a display. The display can be disposed within a focal plane of the optical device. The controller is configured to modulate light intensity from the fiber. The controller can be configured to form a display image that passes through the optical device. The display system can include an optical combiner configured to reflect the display image from the optical device and form a virtual image. The optical device can be configured to magnify a display image from the display and form a virtual image.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system for navigation and display of 3D image data is described. In the method, a 3D image dataset to be displayed is retrieved and a highlight position is identified within the 3D image dataset. A scalar opacity map is calculated for the 3D image dataset, the opacity map having a value for each of a plurality of positions in the 3D image dataset, the respective value being dependent on the respective position relative to the highlight position, and on the value of the 3D image at the respective position relative to the value of the 3D image at the highlight position. The opacity is applied to the 3D image dataset to generate a modified 3D image view.

Abstract: A composition and method for killing feral hogs: a bait that is attractive to hogs is mixed with a lethal amount of sodium nitrite, along with sufficient base to inhibit decomposition of the sodium nitrite. At sufficiently high pH, encapsulation of the sodium nitrite is not required to inhibit decomposition. In the absence of substantial decomposition, the sodium nitrite itself is not aversive to the pigs, and may even enhance acceptance of the baits by the pigs. Optionally, an anti-emetic compound is added to the mixture to reduce the likelihood the bait will be vomited. Optionally, an additional toxicant such as luteolin is added to the mixture.