Abstract: The invention features compositions and methods useful in treating inflammation of the gut, such as inflammation associated with inflammatory bowel disease, by modulating ?? T cells (e.g., V?4+ cells). Particular embodiments include V?4+ cells expressing heterologous protein; polynucleotides containing genes contributing to functional expression of BTNL3, BTNL8, and HNF4A; methods of treating a subject using V?4+ cells or gene therapy; and methods of identifying a subject having imitations associated with inflammation of the gut. Compositions and methods of the invention can be used in the treatment of inflammation and cancer of the gut.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance (MR) compatible transducer for magnetic resonance elastography applications has a cantilevered drive element a free end of which is arranged in use to move reciprocally, and a flexible non-conductive connection rod slidably disposed within a flexible non-conductive sleeve. The connection rod is affixed at a proximal end to the cantilevered drive element via a proximal flexible connection piece that in use accommodates the slight rotational movement of the cantilevered drive element as it reciprocates about its secured end, whilst translating the rotational reciprocation of the cantilevered drive element into a pure translational reciprocation of the connection rod within the sleeve. The distal end of the connection rod is affixed against a protrusion connected to another cantilevered driven element, upon which is mounted a piston element that in use contacts the subject.

Abstract: Aspects and embodiments relate to a plasmonic metamaterial structure, applications and devices including that plasmonic metamaterial structure, and a method of forming that plasmonic metamaterial structure. Aspects and embodiments provide a plasmonic metamaterial structure which comprises: a plurality of optical antenna elements. The plurality of optical antenna elements comprise: a first electrode, a second electrode and a plasmonic nanostructure element located between the first and second electrode to form an electron tunnelling junction between the first and second electrodes. The plurality of optical antenna elements are configured such that the electromagnetic field of one optical antenna element spatially overlaps that of adjacent optical antenna elements and adjacent optical antenna elements are electromagnetically coupled to allow the plurality of optical antenna elements to act as a plasmonic metamaterial.

Abstract: An ophthalmic imaging system comprises a first imaging subsystem, a sensor array and a second imaging subsystem. The first imaging subsystem forms a primary image of the interior of an eye through the diameter of the eye pupil. The second imaging subsystem comprises a lens array to form an array of secondary images on the sensor array. The lens array is composed of a plurality of types of lenses, each type having a different optical power.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for analysing a functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan representing a time-sequence, comprising t time points, of images comprising v voxels, where each scan can be represented by a data matrix X?t×v. The method comprises modelling the scan data X as the convolution of neural activation time courses N?+t×v and a haemodynamic filter ?, and performing an inverse operation to estimate N from X and ?. The method further compasses decomposing the neural activation time courses N into multiple brain network components by representing N as the product of a first matrix H defining, for each component, a spatial map of the voxels belonging to that component, and a second matrix W defining, for each component, the time sequence of activation of that component during the scan. In other implementations, the matrix decomposition may be performed before the deconvolution.

Abstract: Embodiments described provide an ultrasound method, and an ultrasound apparatus and computer program product operable to perform that method. In some embodiments, the method allows for provision of a multi-transducer ultrasound imaging system by providing a robust method to accurately localize the transducers in the system in order to beamform a final image. The method and apparatus described allow for improvements in imaging quality in terms of resolution, depth penetration, contrast and signal to noise ratio (SNR).

Abstract: Anatomical and functional assessment of coronary artery disease (CAD) using machine learning and computational modeling techniques deploying methodologies for non-invasive Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR) quantification based on angiographically derived anatomy and hemodynamics data, relying on machine learning algorithms for image segmentation and flow assessment, and relying on accurate physics-based computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation for computation of the FFR.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a motor for a magnetic resonance (MR) tomography room, to a patient table for the MR room, to a MR elastography device, and to a MR tomography device. A MR tomography device for a MR elastography imaging protocol is arranged within the MR tomography room, and includes a rotational drive for supplying rotational energy to power a MR elastography transducer usable during the MR elastography imaging protocol, and a support structure. The rotational drive comprises a terminal for connecting the MR elastography transducer to the rotational drive, and a bearing means configured such that the position of the terminal relative to the support structure is adaptable along a trajectory predetermined by the bearing means. The rotational drive is mounted to the support structure via the bearing means.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of optically detecting an analyte in a medium as the analyte moves with respect to a nanopore. The analyte may be, for example, a biological molecule such as a polynucleotide or polypeptide. Systems and apparatuses for carrying our such methods are also provided.

Abstract: There is described a nanoparticle comprising one or more peptides having a sequence comprising the motif GLLxLLxL-LLxAAG, wherein each x is independently selected from arginine (R), histidine (H), lysine (K), aspartic acid (D) or glutamic acid (E). Also described is a pharmaceutically acceptable composition comprising the nanoparticle and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients, for use in the treatment of cancer. In addition, there is described a method of treatment of cancer involving administering the pharmaceutically acceptable composition to a patient with cancer, and a kit for treating or preventing cancer comprising the pharmaceutically acceptable composition.

Abstract: The invention relates to a peptide. The peptide can be used in the therapy or prevention of Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), particularly in a patient with a DR3-DQ2 haplotype. The invention also relates to a method of diagnosing or determining treatment efficacy, the method utilising the peptide, as well as to a method of identifying T1D-relevant antigen drivers, methods of identifying subjects as being at high-risk of T1D and patients as being suitable for and/or responsive to T1D treatment.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector comprising (a) a variant AAV2 capsid protein, wherein the variant AAV2 capsid protein comprises at least four amino acid substitutions with respect to a wild type AAV2 capsid protein; wherein the at least four amino acid substitutions are present at the following positions in an AAV2 capsid protein sequence: 457, 492, 499 and 533; and (b) a heterologous nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a gene product.

Abstract: An immunoresponsive cell, such as a T-cell expressing (i) a second generation chimeric antigen receptor comprising: (a) a signalling region; (b) a co-stimulatory signalling region; (c) a transmembrane domain; and (d) a binding element that specifically interacts with a first epitope on a target antigen; and (ii) a chimeric costimulatory receptor comprising (e) a co-stimulatory signalling region which is different to that of (b); (f) a transmembrane domain; and g) a binding element that specifically interacts with a second epitope on a target antigen. This arrangement is referred to as parallel chimeric activating receptors (pCAR). Cells of this type are useful in therapy, and kits and methods for using them as well as methods for preparing them are described and claimed.

Abstract: The invention provides a (drug-containing) lipid nanoparticle with: (i) at least one phospholipid; (ii) at least one lysolipid; and (iii) at least one phospholipid comprising a hydrophilic polymer; and (iv) at least one structural lipid of formula (I) which has the following general structure: wherein R and R? are long hydrocarbyl hydrophobic chains, Y is a linker element, and PHG is a polar head group described as large according to its van der Waals radius, and which is different from the phospholipid (i). The lipid nanoparticle can release a drug (or API) from within the lipid nanoparticle as a result of focused ultrasound (FUS) applied continuously, at least twice, to a desired part of the body to induce hyperthermia (an increase in temperature). FUS is applied after the lipid nanoparticle containing the drug has been administered to the live subject, and causes controlled release of the drug at the desired site of the body.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a peptide, multimer, conjugate, analog, derivative or mimetic thereof that inhibits the activity of VISTA. The invention further contemplates therapeutic use of the VISTA antagonist peptide, multimer, conjugate, derivative or mimetic thereof, including treating or preventing cancer, bacterial infections, viral infections, parasitic infections and fungal infections, as well as research uses of the antagonist.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein is for an in vitro cell-based assay for predicting the conversion from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer's disease in a patient who has received a diagnosis of MCI. The method comprises the following steps: a) culturing human hippocampal progenitor cells in a culture medium comprising serum, obtained from said patient, during a period of proliferation of said progenitor cells; b) subsequently culturing said hippocampal progenitor cells in a culture medium comprising serum, obtained from said patient, during a period of differentiation of said progenitor cells; c) determining the level of proliferation of said cultured progenitor cells; d) determining the average cell count of said cultured progenitor cells; and e) monitoring apoptotic cell death after differentiation of the proliferated hippocampal progenitor cells, wherein the outcomes of each of (c) to (e) are applied to a statistical analysis, the result of which is predictive of conversion from MCI to AD in the patient.

Abstract: The invention relates to antibiotic compounds of formula (A1) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, tautomers and combinations thereof, wherein X and L are optional linkers and one of RA or R1 comprises Ar1, wherein Ar1 is an antibiotic resistance breaker moiety which comprises an optionally substituted C6-10 aryl, C7-13 aralkyl, C5-10 heteroaryl, C6-13 heteroaralkyl, C5-10 heterocyclyl, C6-13 heterocyclalkyl, C3-10 carbocyclyl, C4-13 carbocyclalkyl, —C(?NR?)—NR?R? or —CH2—CH?CH2 group; wherein after administration of the compound to a bacterial infection this moiety reduces or prevents efflux. The invention also discloses pharmaceutical compositions comprising compounds of formula (A1) and the use of such compounds as medicaments, in particular, to treat bacterial infections, such as drug-resistant bacterial infections.

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

Abstract: Examples of the present disclosure include a method and system for deriving a computer implemented trained artificial intelligence (AI) model that is capable of predicting arterial input function (AIF) from blood and myocardial signal intensity curves of a subject obtained using a magnetic resonance (MR) scanner during injection of a single high dosage bolus of contrast agent that would otherwise cause signal saturation. The method and system requires an input data set of a large number of prior obtained dual bolus or dual sequence sets of scan measurements to be used as training data for the AI model. Once the computer implemented trained AI model has been obtained, it is deployed in a further method and system which receives MR data for a particular subject for which myocardial perfusion parameters such as the AIF is to found, the MR data being obtained from an MR scan taken during injection of a single bolus of contrast agent at a concentration sufficient to give MR signal saturation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to chimeric receptors (e.g. CARs including both single chain and multichain CARs) that bind to TREM2 ligands and their use in therapy. In particular, the invention provides a chimeric receptor comprising: (a) an exodomain comprising the ligand binding domain of TREM2 or a functional variant thereof, optionally wherein said exodomain is resistant to cleavage by a sheddase; (b) a transmembrane domain; and (c) an endodomain comprising an intracellular signalling domain.