Abstract: It is provided novel anti-galactofuranose antibodies and their use for diagnosis of and/or treating aspergillosis, and for the design of chimeric antigen receptor T-cells, wherein single chain variable fragment of the antibodies, such as a heavy chain variable region or a light chain variable region, is fused via a spacer and a transmembrane domain to a signaling endodomain to generate an expression cassette that will be integrated into a T cell.

Abstract: The apparatus for making a nanopore in a membrane generally has an electrode configured to connect to one of two opposing surfaces of the membrane; a conductive tip configured to contact a location of the other one of the two opposing surfaces of the membrane; and a voltage source electrically connected between the electrode and the conductive tip and operable to generate an electric potential across the membrane, the electric potential locally removing material of the membrane at the location to make the nanopore.

Abstract: Systems and methods of communicating using asymmetric polar codes are provided which overcome the codeword length constraints of systems and methods of communicating that use traditional polar codes. Used herein, asymmetric polar codes refers to a polarizing linear block code of any arbitrary length that is constructed by connecting together constituent polar codes of unequal length. Asymmetric polar codes may be known by other names. In comparison to conventional solutions for variable codeword length, asymmetric polar codes may provide more flexibility, improved performance, and/or reduced complexity of decoding, encoding, or code design. The system and method provide a flexible, universal, and well-defined coding scheme and to provide sound bit-error correction performance and low decoding latency (compared with current length-compatible methods which can be used with current hardware designs).

Abstract: Methods and systems for generating synthetic point cloud data are described. Projected 2D data grid is generated by projecting a 3D point cloud into a 2D grid, with rotation equivariance. A generative model is learned using the projected 2D data grid, wherein the generative model is implemented using flex-convolution and transpose flex convolution operations, for example in a generative adversarial network. The learned generative model is used to generate synthetic point clouds.

Abstract: Active dichoptic perceptual-learning tasks or dichoptic game play have been shown to significantly improve visual acuity of amblyopic children and adults. However, these dichoptic perceptual learning tasks are intensive and repetitive such that non-compliance is high. In contrast, the invention provides dichoptic perceptual learning in a manner that the user maintains its use and compliance is increased. Further, compliance becomes automatic if the user performs tasks in a normal manner and “forgets” that they are actually undergoing treatment as it is integrated with minimal disruption to their life and activities. Accordingly, a methodology exploiting complementary dichoptic simulation is presented.

Abstract: Aberrant cross talk between Notch ligand (e.g. Jag1) and Notch receptor (e.g. Notch1) has been implicated in tumorigenesis in the colon. Inhibition of Notch pathway is therefore an attractive approach for treating diseases with upregulated Jag1 e.g. colorectal cancer (CRC). Pan-notch inhibitors like gamma secretase inhibitors (GSIs) have been developed to inhibit Notch and its downstream events. However, severe gastrointestinal toxicity profiles impede the clinical development of GSIs. The present invention develops novel oligopeptides that specifically inhibit Jag1-Notch1 pathway without interfering DLL1-Notch1 or DLL4-Notch1, which demonstrates a clear advantage over pan-notch inhibitors.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to sulfur-containing zerovalent iron nanoparticles and the use of same for transforming chlorinated solvent pollutants and which may therefore be useful as water treatment technology for restoration of groundwater resources contaminated with toxic, chlorinated solvent pollutants.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to reagents and method for performing trifluoromethylation, difluoromethylation or alkylation of aromatic or heteroaromatic rings in a redox-neutral manner without any catalyst which are enabled by light. In addition, there are methods for synthesizing the starting reagents used in the trifluoromethylation, difluoromethylation or alkylation reactions.

Abstract: Systems and methods of communicating using asymmetric polar codes are provided which overcome the codeword length constraints of systems and methods of communicating that use traditional polar codes. Used herein, asymmetric polar codes refers to a polarizing linear block code of any arbitrary length that is constructed by connecting together constituent polar codes of unequal length. Asymmetric polar codes may be known by other names. In comparison to conventional solutions for variable codeword length, asymmetric polar codes may provide more flexibility, improved performance, and/or reduced complexity of decoding, encoding, or code design. The system and method provide a flexible, universal, and well-defined coding scheme and to provide sound bit-error correction performance and low decoding latency (compared with current length-compatible methods which can be used with current hardware designs).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating adversarial scenarios and training an autonomous driving agent for an autonomous vehicle, using one or more sets of parameters, each set of parameters defining a respective driving scenario. A new set of parameters is generated by changing one or more parameters of one of the sets of parameters to define a new driving scenario, and performance of the autonomous driving agent is evaluated on the new driving scenario. The generating and evaluating is repeated until the autonomous driving agent fails to satisfy a predefined performance threshold for the new driving scenario. Each instance of changing the one or more parameters is based on a prior evaluated performance of the autonomous driving agent. The autonomous driving agent is trained to update a learned policy of the autonomous driving agent using at least one set of parameters, including the new set of parameters.

Abstract: The invention relates to the chemical synthesis of oligonucleotides, e.g., oligoribonucleotides. In another aspect, the invention relates to compounds of formula (II): processes for making these compounds, and the use thereof in the chemical synthesis of oligonucleotides, e.g., oligoribonucleotides. The invention also relates to methods of synthesis of oligomers, including but not limited to oligopeptides, oligosaccharides and oligonucleotides, particularly oligoribonucleotides and also oligodeoxyribonucleotides, in solution systems, and ionic tag linkers for use in methods provided herein.

Abstract: A restraining device for an animal. A body having a base and two spaced-apart walls define a cavity to receive the animal. At least one pair of side restraining members is mounted to one of the walls of the body. Each restraining member is displaceable away from the wall and into the cavity to engage a side of the animal. An overhead restraining member is mounted to the body above the base. The overhead restraining member is displaceable toward and away from the base to engage the animal. A tightening mechanism is mounted to the body and has at least one rotatable rod. The first end of the rod has a rotatable handle to rotate the rod and the second end has a cam engaging one of the side restraining members. The handle rotates the cam and displaces the side restraining members into the cavity.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of treating a subject who has cancer or a non-malignant tumor, the method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a 18-20 member bi-polycyclic compound to the subject.

Abstract: A system and method for graph-based publication/subscription are provided. A graph comprising nodes and edges is created, each node representative of a point of interest in an information domain, each edge linking a first node and a second node and representative of a relationship between a first and a second point of interest. A request to publish content on at least one selected node and/or at least one selected edge is received. A request to subscribe to a subset of nodes and/or a subset of edges is received from a subscriber. The subscription request is correlated with the publication request to determine whether the subset of nodes comprises the selected node and whether the subset of edges comprises the selected edge. The content is notified to the subscriber if the subset of nodes comprises the selected node and the subset of edges comprises the selected edge.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods of treating or preventing a biofilm-related infection and methods of preventing and treating biofilm formation on indwelling medical devices, implants, and non-medical surfaces comprising administering at least one soluble microbial protein that is encoded by an exopolysaccharide biosynthetic operon or functional gene cluster, wherein the protein comprises a glycosyl hydrolase domain. The present disclosure further provides particular soluble glycosyl hydrolases and compositions thereof.

Abstract: GaN-based nanowire heterostructures have been intensively studied for applications in light emitting diodes (LEDs), lasers, solar cells and solar fuel devices. Surface charge properties play a dominant role on the device performance and have been addressed within the prior art by use of a relatively thick large bandgap AlGaN shell covering the surfaces of axial InGaN nanowire LED heterostructures has been explored and shown substantial promise in reducing surface recombination leading to improved carrier injection efficiency and output power. However, these lead to increased complexity in device design, growth and fabrication processes thereby reducing yield/performance and increasing costs for devices. Accordingly, there are taught self-organising InGaN/AlGaN core-shell quaternary nanowire heterostructures wherein the In-rich core and Al-rich shell spontaneously form during the growth process.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a novel method for treating pancreatic cancer and pancreatitis in which a combination of a dopamine receptor antagonist (pimozide, haloperidol, and/or L-741,626), 2-deoxy-D-glucose and atorvastatin are used, optionally in combination with gemcitabine.

Abstract: An implant comprising a porous microstructure is disclosed which has an external surface, where at least a region of the external surface is formed of the porous microstructure. The microstructure is defined by at least one lattice of cells. Each cell has a predetermined cell topology and a plurality of edges. One or more of the edges of each cell connect to an adjacent cell along a corresponding edge thereof. Collectively, the cells have a periodic or aperiodic arrangement within the at least one lattice.

Abstract: A methodology integrating muitiscale analysis and design optimization to design a novel bone replacement implant made of a functionally graded cellular material that meets fatigue requirements imposed by cyclic loadings. The pore microarchitecture, described by interconnectivity, porosity, pore size as well as pore topology, is optimally designed for tissue regeneration and mechanical strength. The method can contribute to the development of a new generation of bone replacement implants with a graded cellular microstructure.

Abstract: A method of immunizing a human against infection by parasitic worms, comprising orally administering a live attenuated recombinant bacterium, expressing at least one antigen corresponding to a parasitic worm antigen; and a sterile injectable vaccine comprising the at least one antigen corresponding to a parasitic worm antigen. The method is effective against worms, including schistosomes.