Abstract: The present invention features novel peripherally-restricted non-benzodiazipene analogs with reduced blood brain barrier permeability and methods of use thereof for reducing tactile dysfunction, social impairment, and anxiety in a subject diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Rett syndrome, Phelan McDermid syndrome, or Fragile X syndrome, or for treating touch over-reactivity, pain, or mechanical allodynia.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions, devices, kits, and methods for treatment of Enterobacteriaceae infection. Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to bacteriophage compositions comprising one or more of ES17, ES19, HP3, HP3.1, and HP3.2. Certain aspects of the disclosure are directed to compositions comprising (a) bacteriophage ES17 or bacteriophage ES19, (b) bacteriophage HP3, and (c) bacteriophage HP3.1. Also disclosed are compositions comprising bacteriophage HP 3.2. Further disclosed are devices and kits comprising such compositions and methods for use of such compositions in treatment and prevention of pathogenic E. coli infection.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a preparation method and use of a hydrogel material for growth of blood vessel organoids (BVOs). The preparation method of the hydrogel material includes: (1) synthesis of gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA), and (2) synthesis of ns-GelMA-PEO. The hydrogel material may be used for in vitro cultivation of BVOs. The hydrogel material ns-GelMA-PEO prepared by the present disclosure may significantly improve the survival and budding abilities of BVOs. The ns-GelMA-PEO provides a novel solution for in vitro cultivation of BVOs, and may well support the growth and differentiation of organoids.

Abstract: A system and method for enhancing cognitive function of an individual during exercising use stationary exercise equipment to self-propel the individual's avatar or avatar's point of view through a virtual pathway while interacting to complete a cognitive task including registration of the task, verification of discrimination of basic learning, and performance of manipulation of the cognitive task.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include methods and compositions related to CD105-targeting polypeptides. In some aspects, disclosed are chimeric receptors engineered to bind to CD105. Cells (e.g., NK cells, T-cells) expressing CD105-targeting peptides are described. Also described are therapeutic methods using polypeptides of the disclosure.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to a rotaxane composition that includes macrocyclic rings and polymers, where the polymers are covalently appended to one or more macrocycle-binding molecules, where each of the macrocyclic rings includes a cavity that is threaded onto the polymers, where some of the threaded macrocyclic rings are individually threaded onto two polymers to form double-threaded macrocyclic rings with a plurality of different segments, where each of the plurality of different segments includes a plurality of double-threaded macrocyclic rings, and where the plurality of different segments associate with one another to form a crystalline network. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to sensors that include such compositions, methods of manufacturing a three-dimensional structure by applying such compositions onto a surface, and methods of forming such compositions.

Abstract: The avirulent strain A257 of the bacterial rice pathogen Burkholderia glumae is an effective priming material to reduce or suppress major diseases in rice and other plants. Protection includes that against bacterial panicle blight, sheath blight, and narrow brown leaf spot. A mutant derivative of A257, A257?qsmR, significantly reduces the risk that the priming agent might potentially revert to wild-type pathogenicity.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to spatially modulating the light source used in microscopy. In some cases, a light source projects a sequence of two-dimensional spatial patterns onto a sample using a spatial light modulator. In some cases, the spatial patterns are based on Hadamard matrices. In some cases, an imaging device captures frames of image data in response to light emitted by the sample and orthogonal components of the image data are analyzed by cross-correlating the image data with the spatial pattern associated with each frame. A microscope may be calibrated by illuminating a sample with the sequence of spatial patterns, capturing image data, and storing calibration that maps each pixel of the spatial light modulator to at least one pixel of the imaging device.

Abstract: The invention provides for systems, methods, and compositions for targeting RNA. In particular, the invention provides a non-naturally occurring or engineered RNA-targeting system comprising an RNA-targeting Cas protein and at least one RNA-targeting guide RNA, wherein said RNA-targeting guide RNA is capable of hybridizing with a target RNA in a cell.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure concern the use of expression constructs in which at least one polyA signal is embedded upstream of an expressible transcript, such as within a 5? UTR for the transcript, for example. In certain embodiments, the polyA signal is comprised within a ligand-binding aptamer, and the binding of the ligand to the aptamer, or lack thereof, dictates the outcome for the expressible transcript. In specific embodiments, absence of the ligand causes the expressed transcript having a polyA in its 5? UTR to be expressed but then degraded, whereas presence of the ligand causes inhibition of degradation upon expression of the expressible transcript. More than one ligand-binding aptamer may be present on the same expression construct.

Abstract: A vaccine platform using a Yersinia pestis mutant synthesizing an adjuvant form lipid A (monophosphoryl lipid A, MPLA) for the increased biogenesis of bacterial outer membrane vesicles (OMVs). To enhance the immunogenicity of the OMVs, an Asd-based balanced-lethal host-vector system was constructed to oversynthesize the LcrV antigen of Y. pestis, raise the amounts of LcrV enclosed in OMVs by Type II secretion system, and eliminate harmful factors like plasminogen activator (Pla) and murine toxin from the OMVs. Vaccination with OMVs containing MPLA and increased amounts of LcrV with diminished toxicity afforded complete protection in mice against subcutaneous challenge and intranasal challenge and was significantly superior to that resulting from vaccination with LcrV/alhydrogel. Additionally, the Yersinia OMV can be used as a platform to deliver the heterologous antigens of Bacillus anthraces.

Abstract: Some aspects of this disclosure provide strategies, systems, reagents, methods, and kits that are useful for the targeted editing of nucleic acids, including editing a single site within the genome of a cell or subject, e.g., within the human genome. In some embodiments, fusion proteins of Cas9 and nucleic acid editing enzymes or enzyme domains, e.g., deaminase domains, are provided. In some embodiments, methods for targeted nucleic acid editing are provided. In some embodiments, reagents and kits for the generation of targeted nucleic acid editing proteins, e.g., fusion proteins of Cas9 and nucleic acid editing enzymes or domains, are provided.

Abstract: A system for noise-resistant quantum communication using hyperentanglement includes a quantum system that includes a plurality of qubits, a processor, and a memory. The memory includes instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by the processor, cause the quantum system to access a signal of a quantum system that includes a plurality of qubits and obtain hyperentanglement of the plurality of qubits via an entanglement source. The hyperentanglement of the plurality of qubits is in at least two dimensions, including a first dimension and a second dimension. The instructions, when executed, further cause the quantum system to transmit the hyperentangled plurality of qubits via a communication channel; perform a communication of the signal with the first dimension of the at least two dimensions; and filter results of the communicated signal based on the second dimension of the at least two dimensions.

Abstract: Disclosed are proteasome inhibitors, fibroblast activation protein (FAP)-activated prodrugs of proteasome inhibitors, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the inhibitors and prodrugs. Also disclosed are related pharmaceutical compositions, and methods of using the inhibitors and prodrugs and compositions thereof, for example, in treating cancer or other cell proliferative diseases. In vitro and in vivo methods of quantifying the expression of FAP in a biopsy sample and a mammal, respectively, are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are engineered multicellular organisms. The disclosed organisms comprise an aggregate of ciliated cells, and the organisms move when the ciliated cells are actuated. The engineered multicellular organisms also are capable of kinematic self-replication. The engineered multicellular organisms are capable of moving a plurality of dissociated ciliated cells into piles of ciliated cells which form a multicellular organism comprising an aggregate of ciliated cells which moves when the ciliated cells are actuated. Also disclosed are systems and methods for designing, preparing, and utilizing the engineered multicellular organisms.

Abstract: An optical device useful for spatial light modulation.

Abstract: Parallel uses of microfluidic methods and devices for focusing and/or forming discontinuous sections of similar or dissimilar size in a fluid are described. In some aspects, the present invention relates generally to flow-focusing-type technology, and also to microfluidics, and more particularly parallel use of microfluidic systems arranged to control a dispersed phase within a dispersant, and the size, and size distribution, of a dispersed phase in a multi-phase fluid system, and systems for delivery of fluid components to multiple such devices.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure include methods and compositions for producing T cell receptor (TCR) polypeptides specific for hematological neoantigens. In specific embodiments. T cells directed to one or more hematological neoantigens are produced following exposure of PBMCs to peptides that encompass one or more neoantigens, and the TCRs in the produced T cells are tested for efficacy and identified. The neoantigen-specific TCRs are utilized in a variety of immunotherapies.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions, methods, kits, and systems relating to efficient delivery of cargos (e.g., therapeutic cargos) into cells, for instance, for in vivo delivery. The present disclosure provides lipid-containing particles (e.g., virus-like particles) for delivering therapeutic cargos. The present disclosure also provides polynucleotides encoding the lipid-containing particles provided herein, which may be useful for producing said lipid-containing particles. Also provided are methods for editing nucleic acid molecules in cells using the lipid-containing particles provided herein, as well as cells and kits comprising the lipid-containing particles.

Abstract: There is provided apparatuses and methods for measuring at least one thermal property of a body. The methods involve causing a symmetrical thermal boundary condition across the body such that measurements taken are not affected by the structure of the body being measured.