Abstract: Provided herein are peptides selective for combinations of Mcl-1/Bfl-1/Bcl-xL. Also provided are compositions containing these polypeptides and methods of using such peptides in the treatment of cancer that include administering to a subject one of the polypeptides.

Abstract: An optomechanical pressure-measurement system measures pressure in the range of 10?6 Pa-10?2 Pa by measuring various properties of a vibrational mode of an ultra-thin membrane member. With independent measurements of the thickness and density of the membrane, in addition to the measured vibration mode properties, the system can operate as a primary pressure sensor. The membrane member is mounted on a vibration-isolated mount and is excited by a drive force. A laser beam impinges on the excited membrane, and an optical phase detector detects the amplitude of the oscillations, as well as parameters of the laser beam affected by the membrane vibration. In one embodiment, a mechanical damping is computed based on the amplitude or frequency shift (depending on the pressure range), and the pressure based on the ring-down time of the membrane vibration mode.

Abstract: Methods of making mutant Cas9 proteins are described.

Abstract: Gene editing can be performed by introducing gene-editing components into a cell by mechanical cell disruption. Related apparatus, systems, techniques, and articles are also described.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a stable ceramic anode for a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) and a method for producing and using the same. In particular, anodes for solid oxide fuel cells disclosed herein can be operated at a significantly lower temperature than conventional SOFCs, and allow thermal and anode gas cycling under transient conditions. More significantly, anodes described in the present disclosure have a significantly higher long-term operability compared to a similar anode having a higher amount of electrocatalyst. In one particular embodiment, the stable ceramic anodes comprise (i) strontium-iron-cobalt-molybdenum oxide (SFCM) material; (ii) a first ion-conductor composition comprising an oxide of cerium or cerium that is doped with a rare-earth metal; and (iii) nanoparticles of an electrocatalyst comprising (a) a second ion-conductor and (b) nickel, a nickel alloy, or a combination thereof. The amount of electrocatalyst in said stable ceramic anode is less than 10 wt %.

Abstract: This invention is in the area of improved anti-aP2 antibodies and antigen binding agents, and compositions thereof, which target the lipid chaperone aP2/FABP4 (referred to as “aP2”) for use in treating disorders such as diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, fatty liver disease, and/or cancer, among others. In one aspect, improved treatments for aP2 mediated disorders are disclosed in which serum aP2 is targeted and the biological activity of aP2 is neutralized or modulated using low-binding affinity aP2 monoclonal antibodies, providing lower fasting blood glucose levels, improved systemic glucose metabolism, increased systemic insulin sensitivity, reduced fat mass, reduced liver steatosis, reduced cardiovascular disease and/or a reduced risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

Abstract: A composition comprising mesoporous silica rods comprising an immune cell recruitment compound and an immune cell activation compound, and optionally comprising an antigen such as a tumor lysate. The composition is used to elicit an immune response to a vaccine antigen.

Abstract: Compounds and methods for treating viral infections and reducing viral multiplication, including flaviviruses. Provided is a derivative of a compound or a pharmaceutical salt thereof, wherein the compound comprises a 3?,4-didehydroribose.

Abstract: A tape for collecting tissue samples in a manner compatible with imaging in a transmission electron microscopy (TEM) system, includes a tape substrate having two side walls forming a trough. The trough is defined by a bottom surface of the tape substrate and internal surfaces of the side walls, with an open side therebetween. A support film is attached to a top surface of the tape substrate, and a plurality of apertures is spaced at predetermined locations along the length of the tape substrate, each aperture being covered by the support film. The tape includes a stacked configuration in which the tape substrate is wound in layers, the bottom surfaces of the side walls in one layer being in contact with the support film in an immediately adjacent layer. The apertures in the second layer are aligned within the trough of the first layer, between the side walls.

Abstract: Engineered bacteria that secrete therapeutic polypeptides, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the bacteria, methods for producing recombinant polypeptides, and methods for using the bacteria for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes are provided.

Abstract: Bacterial hyperswarmers are disclosed for treatment, prevention and diagnosis of conditions such as intestinal inflammation.

Abstract: A method for the enzymatic conversion of a phenol substrate into a corresponding catechol product comprises the step of incubating the phenol substrate with a Ralstonia solanacearum tyrosinase enzyme, or a functional derivative thereof, in a reaction mixture, for a period of time sufficient to allow the enzyme convert at least some of the phenol substrate into the catechol product.

Abstract: The present invention provides mito-metformin compounds, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and methods of using the mito-metformin compounds in the treatment of cancer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and compositions for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), in particular dry-AMD, specifically geographic atrophy (GA) or advanced dry-AMD. Specifically, the invention relates to an inner-blood-retinal-barrier (iBRB) or blood-brain-barrier (BBB) tight junction protein and/or a circadian clock protein for use in the prevention and/or treatment of age-related macular degeneration.

Abstract: There is provided system and a separation substrate device for use with an NLM separator in separating and/or detecting at least one target analyte in a sample, the substrate comprising a micromagnet array of a plurality of micromagnets, the micromagnet array comprising a first capture region, a second focusing region, and, a third detection region, the focusing region comprising a converging and/or diverging micromagnet array region. Also provided is a method for separating and detecting at least one target analyte in a sample.

Abstract: A system and method for optimizing parameters of a DBS pulse signal for treatment of a patient is provided. In predicting optimal DBS parameters, functional brain data is input into a predictor system, the functional brain data acquired responsive to a sweeping across a multi-dimensional parameter space of one or more DBS parameters. Statistical metrics of brain response are extracted from the functional brain data for one or more ROIs or voxels of the brain via the predictor system, and a DBS functional atlas is accessed, via the predictor system, that comprises disease-specific brain response maps derived from DBS treatment at optimal DBS parameter settings for a plurality of diseases or neurological conditions. One or more optimal DBS parameters are predicted for the patient based on the statistical metrics of brain response and the DBS functional atlas via the predictor system.

Abstract: The presently disclosed invention relates to devices and methods for conducting bone surgery on an animal using a bone surgery tool comprising a base, a fixed arm fixed to the base, the fixed arm including a shoulder and a jaw, a sliding arm releasably fixable to the base, the sliding arm including a head that receives an implant and a cartridge in a slot, the method comprising hooking the bone with the jaw, moving the head toward the jaw capturing the bone, accessing the bone with a drill through cartridge bores in the cartridge, and drilling holes, accessing the bone with a self-shearing screw attached to a screw driver through cartridge bores in the cartridge, and attaching the implant to the bone, and moving the head away from the jaw releasing the bone.

Abstract: Some aspects of the present disclosure provide methods for evolving recombinases to recognize target sequences that differ from the canonical recognition sequences. Some aspects of this disclosure provide evolved recombinases, e.g., recombinases that bind and recombine naturally-occurring target sequences, such as, e.g., target sequences within the human Rosa26 locus. Methods for using such recombinases for genetically engineering nucleic acid molecules in vitro and in vivo are also provided. Some aspects of this disclosure also provide libraries and screening methods for assessing the target site preferences of recombinases, as well as methods for selecting recombinases that bind and recombine a non-canonical target sequence with high specificity.

Abstract: A device, system and method for creating pulsed electric fields with good uniformity are provided. The electric fields occupy a large volume, suitable for placing a human or animal patient. A device for generating the electric fields is provided, which comprises one or more toroidally or cylindrically shaped magnetic core(s) wound with electrical wires, which, when pulsed with electrical currents, generate an electric field of high uniformity in the interior region of the toroidal or cylindrical cores. These electric field pulses, when used in conjunction with pharmacological agent, destroy cancer cells through a process called Targeted Osmotic Lysis.

Abstract: A self-contained soil stabilization system may include a chassis, at least one motor coupled to the chassis configured to actuate a locomotor configured to move the chassis, and a hopper disposed on the chassis and configured to contain a payload configured to stabilize soil. The payload may be deployed from the hopper to stabilize soil in a target soil stabilization area. In some embodiments, the payload may be a chemical soil stabilization agent, a pile, or a sheet pile.