Abstract: The invention is directed to modified T cells, methods of making and using isolated, modified T cells, and methods of using these isolated, modified T cells to address diseases and disorders. In one embodiment, this invention broadly relates to TCR-deficient T cells, isolated populations thereof, and compositions comprising the same. In another embodiment of the invention, these TCR-deficient T cells are designed to express a functional non-TCR receptor. The invention also pertains to methods of making said TCR-deficient T cells, and methods of reducing or ameliorating, or preventing or treating, diseases and disorders using said TCR-deficient T cells, populations thereof, or compositions comprising the same.

Abstract: A system and method for creating a cavity with a drill assembly provides a powered drill shaft assembly having an articulating tip and a position sensor along the drill shaft; a drill motor assembly with a rotational motor, linear actuator, torque sensor, rotation sensor, electrical resistance sensor and a controller unit having a plurality of programs providing user interface and controlling the operation of the powered drill arrangement; a shroud for the drill shaft with a water port; and a computer software package that combines user specifications with sensor data to control activation and displacement of the drill with a user interface, controls the motor for rotational speed and drilling depth, and gives sensor status, and a display displaying status of a drilling procedure and an image from an imaging device, and that is programmable for a set of parameters for a drilling procedure.

Abstract: An ORIF implant has an electronics module with a stimulus light and optical sensors for sensing fluorescent emissions coupled to a near-field digital radio. The implant is used with a near-field radio to receive a sequence of fluorescent emissions readings from the implant into a processor that fits the sequence of readings to a bone-specific kinetic model that is a superposition of a plug flow model of periosteal perfusion and a two-compartment model of endosteal perfusion of perfusion of bone. A system for use during ORIF surgery has an injector for fluorescent dye, a camera to send a sequence of images of fluorescent emissions from fluorescent dye in a bone of a subject to an image processor when the bone is illuminated with a stimulus light, the processor configured to fit the sequence of images to a model of perfusion of bone.

Abstract: A secure, integrated data system and method users both blockchain and Trusted Execution Environment (TEE) technologies to achieve information provenance for data, particularly, mobile health device data. Using a blockchain to record and enforce data access policies removes the need to trust a single entity with gatekeeping the health data. Instead, participants form a consortium and collectively partake in verifying and enforcing access policies for data stored in private data silos. Data access and computation takes place inside of TEEs, which preserves data confidentiality and provides a verifiable attestation that can be stored on the blockchain for the purpose of information provenance.

Abstract: This invention provides a hand-held stereovision (HHS) system that is an efficient, accurate, and radiation-free imaging device to acquire intraoperative profiles of the exposed spine in prone position. The reconstructed intraoperative stereovision surfaces (iSV) are registered with preoperative CT (pCT; supine position) in a nonrigid fashion to generate updated CT images (uCT) and correct for vertebral posture and alignment changes. Updated CT images are uploaded to a commercial navigation system for surgical navigation.

Abstract: In an embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to a method of making a composite. In some embodiments, the method includes applying an external magnetic field to a mixture composed of a plurality of magnetic materials in a container, in which the external magnetic field produces a homogenous and uniform magnetic flux in the container. In some embodiments, the method further includes solidifying the mixture to result in the growth of solvent crystals in the mixture, and subliming a solvent phase of the mixture in the container to thereby form a composite having uniformly aligned magnetic materials. In an additional embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to a composite having uniformly aligned magnetic materials. In some embodiments, a majority of the magnetic materials in the composite are aligned in the same direction.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of altering intestinal microbiome in a patient having cystic fibrosis comprising administering at least one of Bifidobacterium and/or Bacteroides to a patient and allowing the Bifidobacterium and/or Bacteroides to alter the intestinal microbiome.

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: Filamentous fungal host cells expressing hypoxia responsive morphology factor A (hrmA) and biofilm architecture factor (baf) proteins are provided. Methods of producing filamentous fungal host cells expressing hrmA and baf proteins are also provided.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to an ethylene sensor with an ethylene recognition component and a detecting component. The ethylene recognition component includes at least one ethylene binding domain. The detecting component is operational to generate a detectable signal that correlates to the binding of ethylene to the ethylene binding domain. The ethylene binding domain includes: an Asn residue; at least one variant region that reduces the binding affinity of ethylene to the ethylene receptor when compared to the ethylene binding domain without the variant region; at least one mutation that reduces the binding affinity of ethylene to the ethylene binding domain when compared to the ethylene binding domain without the mutation; or combinations thereof. Additional embodiments pertain to methods of sensing an ethylene from an environment by utilizing the ethylene sensors. Further embodiments pertain to modified cells that include the ethylene binding domains.

Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to a bimetallic metal-organic framework. The bimetallic metal-organic framework includes a plurality of first metals and a plurality of metal-containing ligands, where each metal-containing ligand includes a second metal and a ligand. The ligand is coordinated with the second metal and at least one first metal. The present disclosure also pertains to a method of detecting an analyte in a sample by associating the sample with a bimetallic metal-organic framework, detecting a change in a property of the bimetallic metal-organic framework, and correlating the change in the property of the bimetallic metal-organic framework to the presence or absence of the analyte in the sample.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to solid-phase and molten metal phosphorothioates useful as electrolytes, batteries comprising solid-phase and molten metal phosphorothioates, and methods of making solid-phase and molten metal phosphorothioates.

Abstract: A test device for indole concentrations in headspace gasses of bacterial cultures has a porous substrate imprinted with a wax barrier surrounding a test spot impregnated with p-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde (DMACA). In embodiments, the test spot lies within a printed bar code and is configured to alter a reading of the bar code when the test spot darkens. The test device may optionally include a second test spot impregnated with Bromthymol Blue, Cobinamide, p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde, or Chromotropic acid. The device is used by inoculating a sample into a culture; incubating the culture; inserting the test device into airspace of the culture, and observing the test spot for a color change indicative of indole presence.

Abstract: The invention is directed to modified T cells, methods of making and using isolated, modified T cells, and methods of using these isolated, modified T cells to address diseases and disorders. In one embodiment, this invention broadly relates to TCR-deficient T cells, isolated populations thereof, and compositions comprising the same. In another embodiment of the invention, these TCR-deficient T cells are designed to express a functional non-TCR receptor. The invention also pertains to methods of making said TCR-deficient T cells, and methods of reducing or ameliorating, or preventing or treating, diseases and disorders using said TCR-deficient T cells, populations thereof, or compositions comprising the same.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fusion proteins comprising regulatory T cell protein, VISTA (V-domain Immunoglobulin Suppressor of T cell Activation (PD-L3) and an immunoglobulin protein (Ig), preferably also containing a flexible linker intervening the VISTA and Ig Fc polypeptide. The invention also provides the use of VISTA polypeptides, multimeric VISTA polypeptides, VISTA-conjugates (e.g., VISTA-Ig), and VISTA antagonists for the treatment of autoimmune disease, allergy, and inflammatory conditions, especially lupus, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Crohn's disease, inflammatory bowel disease and type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

Abstract: The invention is directed to modified T cells, methods of making and using isolated, modified T cells, and methods of using these isolated, modified T cells to address diseases and disorders. In one embodiment, this invention broadly relates to TCR-deficient T cells, isolated populations thereof, and compositions comprising the same. In another embodiment of the invention, these TCR-deficient T cells are designed to express a functional non-TCR receptor. The invention also pertains to methods of making said TCR-deficient T cells, and methods of reducing or ameliorating, or preventing or treating, diseases and disorders using said TCR-deficient T cells, populations thereof, or compositions comprising the same.

Abstract: A fully integrated small size implantable sensing device is described, which can include a sensor and an electronic circuit to interface with the sensor and communicate with an external device. Various fabrication methods for the sensing device are described, including provision of wells, created using same fabrication technology as the electronic circuit, to contain electrodes of the sensor and corresponding functionalization chemicals. Such implantable sensing device can be used for a variety of electrochemical measuring applications within a living body as well as actuation by injecting a current into the living body.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for medical imaging uses a first and second contrast agent, the second agent targeted to a particular tissue type. First images are obtained using the first agent, and second images using the second agent using medical imaging systems. An image processing system is adapted to process the first and second medical images by fitting parameters of a pharmacokinetic model to the first medical images, identifying a nontargeted tissue type, scaling the fitted parameters to best match the nontargeted tissue in the second medical images, executing the pharmacokinetic model to prepare a correction image, and generating corrected medical images by subtracting the correction image from the second medical images.

Abstract: The invention provides agonistic anti-human VISTA antibodies and antibody fragments. These agonist antibodies and antibody fragments may be used to potentiate or enhance or mimic VISTA's suppressive effects on T cell immunity and thereby suppress T cell immunity. These agonist antibodies and antibody fragments are especially useful in the treatment of autoimmunity, allergy, inflammatory conditions, GVHD, sepsis and transplant recipients. Screening assays for identifying these agonists are also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for increasing susceptibility of cancer cells to ionizing radiation by delivering to the cells a radiosensitizing agent that has one of the following properties: (a) it perturbs the process of chromosome segregation thereby increasing chromosome missegregation; or (b) it is an inhibitor of an agent that promotes faithful chromosome segregation induces numeric chromosome instability in said cells and this instability is induced substantially simultaneously with or closely prior to or closely after irradiating the cells. Examples of such radiosensitizing agent include inhibitors of one or more of the following: Kif2b, MCAK, MPS1, Eg5/Kinesin-5 5, Polo-like kinase 4, MCAK, Bub1 and Hec1. Such agents specifically target proteins involved in maintaining or promoting faithful chromosome segregation.