Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions, reagents, and methods that can be used to observe multiple targets. The targets can be observed using a variety of methods, for example, by fluorescence, EM, and CLEM. The systems and methods involve the use of self-sorting coiled-coil heterodimers that label multiple proteins in a sample. These compositions, interchangeably termed “VIP tags” herein can be used to efficiently label cellular proteins with high specificity.

Abstract: Provided herein are optimized, recombinant influenza HA polypeptides that elicit immune responses. Also provided are compositions and kits comprising the optimized HA polypeptides as well as methods of making and using the optimized HA polypeptides.

Abstract: Impaired intraocular blood flow within vascular beds in the human eye is associated with certain ocular diseases including, for example, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. A reliable method to quantify blood flow in the various intraocular vascular beds could provide insight into the vascular component of ocular disease pathophysiology. Using ultrahigh-speed optical coherence tomography (OCT), a new 3D angiography algorithm called split-spectrum amplitude-decorrelation angiography (SSADA) was developed for imaging microcirculation within different intraocular regions. A method to quantify SSADA results was developed and used to detect perfusion changes in early stage ocular disease. Associated embodiments relating to methods for quantitatively measuring blood flow at various intraocular vasculature sites, systems for practicing such methods, and use of such methods and systems for diagnosing certain ocular diseases are herein described.

Abstract: Embodiments herein provide methods, apparatuses, and systems for detecting, monitoring, measuring, and/or characterizing the activity of phosphoproteins such as tyrosine kinases (TKs) and downstream proteins in TK signal transduction pathways (e.g., TK pathway proteins). In various embodiments, the methods, apparatuses, and systems may use nanoparticles, such as quantum dots (QD), to detect and/or characterize the abnormally overactive TK signaling pathways that underlie tumorgenesis and tumor progression. In various embodiments, the QD-based methods, apparatuses, and systems may have a sufficiently high degree of sensitivity to enable the identification of new TK signaling pathway markers, for example for use in diagnosing, staging, monitoring, and/or prognosing cancers, or in evaluating the efficacy of cancer therapeutics.

Abstract: Human cytomegalovirus vectors comprising heterologous antigens are disclosed. The vectors derived from the TR strain, are ganciclovir-sensitive, include active US2, US3, US6, US7 and UL131A genes, and have a deleterious or inactivating mutation in the UL82 gene preventing the expression of pp71.

Abstract: Methods are provided of generating functional human oocytes following nuclear transfer of first polar body (PB1) genomes from metaphase II (MII) oocytes into enucleated donor MII cytoplasm (PBNT) and using mitochondrial replacement techniques to circumvent mother-to-child mtDNA disease transmission.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are synthetic oligoribonucleotides that form hairpin loop structures. The oligoribonucleotides can be used in the treatment of viral infection including prophylactic treatments. The oligoribonucleotides can also be used as adjuvants.

Abstract: Enteric feeding tube housings configured to secure a feeding tube to the body are disclosed. The housing includes a disc having a hole configured to accommodate the feeding tube and two or more holes configured to accommodate fasteners. Also disclosed are enteric feeding tube housings that include a disc having a hole configured to accommodate the feeding tube and two or more holes configured to accommodate fasteners, and a plurality of fasteners. Also disclosed are surgical kits that include a housing, a plurality of fasteners, and a plurality of locking devices configured to adjustably secure the fasteners in the fastener receiving holes, and method of using the disclosed devices.

Abstract: Compositions including a therapeutically effective amount of an HIV immunogen in combination with an agent that stimulates the Ras pathway, wherein the agent is not an aluminum salt, are disclosed. Methods are also disclosed for inducing an immune response to HIV, and/or to inhibit or treat HIV infection, in a subject, using an HIV immunogen and an agent that stimulates the Ras pathway. Methods also are disclosed for determining if an immunogenic composition will induce a protective response, and/or to determine if an immunogenic composition is of use to prevent or treat an HIV infection. The methods including determining if the immunogenic composition increases the level of one or more components of the Ras signaling pathway.

Abstract: Ester derivatives of sobetirome with enhanced CNS distribution are disclosed.

Abstract: A polypeptide biosensor that detects free NAD+ is disclosed. The polypeptide comprises a first fragment from an NAD+ dependent DNA ligase acetylation domain, a second fragment from the NAD+ dependent DNA ligase acetylation domain, and a fluorescent protein, wherein the fluorescent protein is positioned between the two DNA ligase acetylation domain fragments. Also disclosed are expression vectors comprising the biosensor as well as methods of using the biosensor to detect NAD+.

Abstract: Systems and methods for spinal cord electrode placement and spinal cord stimulation their use for treatment of conditions such as obesity are disclosed. In one example approach, during placement of a spinal cord stimulating electrode in a target region of the brain of a patient, a temperature of brown adipose tissue may be monitored, e.g., via a supraclavicular temperature sensor implanted in the patient, and used to identify an optimal location of electrode stimulation which causes an increase in BAT temperature. Additionally, BAT temperature measurements may be used to provide regulated closed-loop control to increase efficiency of spinal cord stimulation while reducing energy consumption of the pulse generator. Further, core temperature measurements may be obtained from the electrode in the spinal cord and used to adjust spinal cord stimulation.

Abstract: Disclosed are halo substituted derivative compounds of sobetirome with improved pharmacological characteristics relative to sobetirome, pharmaceutical compositions that include those compounds and methods of treating diseases such as neurodegenerative disorders using those pharmaceutical compositions.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and apparatuses for determining a level of cellular metabolic activity for a region of interest in order to detect and map on-going gliovascular unit metabolic activity using high-resolution 1H2O MRI. In one example approach, a computer-implemented method includes receiving a first set of DCE-MRI time-course data for a region, wherein a contrast agent is administered prior to imaging, identifying a region of interest from the first set of DCE-MRI time-course data for further analysis, performing shutter-speed pharmacokinetic analysis of the time-course data associated with the region of interest using computer-implemented software to obtain a finite and non-zero mean water molecule capillary lifetime in the region of interest, and indicating a level of cellular metabolic activity in the brain based on the mean water molecule capillary lifetime.

Abstract: An anatomical sensing system-guided prostate procedure device that includes a housing having a proximal end and a distal end. The housing may be divided into a distal housing section, a mid housing section, and a proximal housing section, wherein the distal housing section is configured for insertion into the anus and retention in the rectum of a subject. The device further includes an instrument convergence point disposed between the proximal end and the distal end, the convergence point configured to allow an instrument pass though the instrument convergence point at a variable angle; and an instrument angle orienting system at the proximal end of the housing, the angle orienting system directing an orientation of the variable angle about the convergence point. Methods of the using an anatomical sensing system-guided prostate procedure device and system including the same.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method, device and system for determining total circulating blood volume (BV) using a minimally invasive technique.

Abstract: Methods and systems for improving quantification of OCT angiography data are disclosed. The disclosure specifically relates to methods for compensating for the effect of tissue reflectance to improve the accuracy and repeatability of OCT angiography measurements. These improvements are effected by deriving and then utilizing a dynamic thresholding approach to process decorrelation data to properly classify flow versus non-flow data in OCT angiograms. The disclosed methods overcome quantification errors associated with within-scan variations in reflectance as well as repeatability problems associated with differences in scan quality over successive imaging sessions.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for aligning swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) spectral interferograms to a reference spectral interferogram based on signal information (e.g., amplitude or phase) at a fixed-pattern noise location to reduce residual fixed-pattern noise and improve the phase stability of SS-OCT systems.

Abstract: Methods of treating a subject having or at risk of developing a neurodegenerative disease or condition associated with demyelination, insufficient myelination, or underdevelopment of myelin sheath are described. The methods include administration of a therapeutically effective amount of sobetirome, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Abstract: CMV vectors comprising a heterologous protein antigen, an active UL131 protein (or an ortholog thereof), and an active UL128 protein (or an ortholog thereof) but lacking an active UL130 protein (or an ortholog thereof) are provided. CMV vectors comprising a heterologous protein antigen, an active UL131 protein (or an ortholog thereof), and an active UL130 protein (or an ortholog thereof) but lacking an active UL128 protein are also provided. In addition, methods of using CMV vectors to generate an immune response characterized as having at least 10% of the CD8+ T cells directed against epitopes presented by MHC Class II are provided.