Abstract: Disclosed herein are cytomegalovirus vectors encoding fusion proteins comprising Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) antigens, nucleic acid molecules encoding the same, cytomegalovirus vectors comprising nucleic acid molecules, compositions comprising the same, and methods of eliciting an immune response against tuberculosis.

Abstract: Methods and systems for identifying levels of an ophthalmic disease are described. An example method includes generating, by a convolutional neural network (CNN) and using a 3D image of a retina, a vector. The method further includes generating, by a first model and using the vector, a first likelihood that the retina exhibits a first level of an disease and generating, by a second model and using the vector, a second likelihood that the retina exhibits a second level of the disease. The method further includes determining whether the retina exhibits an absence of the ophthalmic disease, the first level of the disease, or the second level of the disease based on the first likelihood and the second likelihood. Further, an indication of whether the retina exhibits the absence of the ophthalmic disease, the first level of the ophthalmic disease, or the second level of the ophthalmic disease is output.

Abstract: A system for measuring capillary refill time includes a wearable device and a control unit. The wearable device includes a force sensor to obtain a force signal and an optical sensor to obtain an optical signal. The system ensures that an applied force is acceptable in both magnitude and duration, and that a duration over which the applied force is released or removed is acceptable. These factors can establish that a capillary refill time determined or calculated therein is accurate. The system can also determine the capillary refill time based on the force and optical signals obtained by the force and optical sensors, respectively.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are therapeutic constructs including a delivery particle, at least one mitotic kinase inhibitor, and at least one immune checkpoint inhibitor. Also disclosed are therapeutic constructs including a mitotic kinase inhibitor, an immune checkpoint inhibitor, and a chemical linker. These therapeutic constructs cause cancer death by both therapeutic and immune effects and promote targeted delivery of more therapeutics to the surviving cancer cells in a positive feed-back loop. They enhance therapeutic index of free drugs and can be used intratumorally or systemically. This strategy can treat broad cancer types and is particular useful for cancer without obvious receptors for cancer-targeted delivery of otherwise toxic therapeutics.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for preparing a sequencing library that includes nucleic acids from a plurality of single cells. In one embodiment, the sequencing library includes whole genome nucleic acids from the plurality of single cells. In one embodiment, the method includes generating nucleosome-depleted nuclei by chemical treatment while maintaining integrity of the nuclei. Also provided herein are compositions, such as compositions that include chemically treated nucleosome-depleted isolated nuclei.

Abstract: Methods and systems for generating biomarker activation maps (BAMs) are described. An example method includes identifying a medical image depicting at least a portion of a subject; generating a BAM by inputting the medical image into a trained, U-shaped neural network (NN); and outputting the BAM overlaying the medical image, the BAM indicating at least one biomarker depicted in the medical image that is indicative of a disease.

Abstract: Disclosed are artificial intelligence (AI) based systems and methods for characterizing corneal shape abnormalities. The methods and systems of the present disclosure utilize AI models comprising neural networks for disease classification based on maps of corneal shape, thickness, and reflectance. These methods may be used to differentiate corneas having keratoconus from other conditions which may cause distortion of corneal shape, such as warpage of the cornea. The present system is amenable to automation and may be implemented in an integrated system or provided in the form of software encoded on a computer-readable medium.

Abstract: The ratio of arterial spin labeled (ASL) perfusion to diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) is generally homogeneous in the anoxic/hypoxic injury population. Conversely, the ratio is more heterogeneous in the non-anoxic/hypoxic population. By plotting these ratios in a graphical format in the form of an axial color map of the brain—referred to as a normalized diffusion to perfusion (NDP) ratio colormap—it may be determined whether a patient has suffered from an anoxic/hypoxic injury. Thus, the anoxic and non-anoxic injury patients will have, respectively, homogenous and heterogeneous color maps. Anoxic brain injury patients have a global homogeneously positive relationship between qualitative ASL perfusion and diffusion weighted signal such that areas of restricted diffusion show significantly increased ASL perfusion signal, which may be attributable to BBB integrity.

Abstract: Diagnostic methods for identifying cancer bearing subjects appropriate for treatment with CPX-351 include genetic and ex vivo testing of cells from a candidate subject. Combination treatment with CPX-351 and FLT-3 inhibitors improve CPX-351 uptake and toxicity.

Abstract: Described herein is a method for eliminating or reducing ototoxicity in patients receiving a platinum based chemotherapeutic. In particular, are methods of reducing ototoxicity in a pediatric patient. The methods described herein include administering an effective amount of sodium thiosulfate to a patient in need thereof to reduce ototoxicity.

Abstract: Surgical clips and surgical applicators used in performing rapid tissue closure in either minimally invasive surgeries or traditional open procedures are provided. In one example approach, a surgical clip comprises opposing sides extending from a top portion and terminating at tips positioned below the top portion. The resting position of the clip is its closed position. Edges of the top portion and the opposing sides form opposing faces perpendicular to the opposing sides. The opposing faces are angled inwardly towards each other at a region of the faces adjacent to the top portion. Grooves are formed in each of the opposing sides. The grooves are configured to engage inwardly turned tracks of a clip applicator such that, when a force is applied to the clip, the opposing sides bend outwardly away from each other to place the clip in an intermediate open position.

Abstract: Methods, computer-readable storage media and systems are described for constructing a three-dimensional electronic library of simulated decays of the diffusion-weighted 1H2O MR signal in b-space. Methods, computer-readable media, and systems are described for preparing a parametric tissue map for tissue in a subject. Computer readable media, having an electronic library of simulated decays of the diffusion-weighted 1H2O signal in b-space and method of using such a library.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of determining a survival predictor score of a subject having mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). The present invention also provides methods of predicting the survival outcome of a subject having MCL and provides methods of selecting a treatment for a subject having MCL.

Abstract: Methods for automatically identifying retinal boundaries from a reflectance image are disclosed. An example of the method includes identifying a reflectance image of the retina of a subject; generating a gradient map of the reflectance image, the gradient map representing dark-to-light or light-to-dark reflectance differentials between adjacent pixel pairs in the reflectance image; generating a guidance point array corresponding to a retinal layer boundary depicted in the reflectance image using the gradient map; generating multiple candidate paths estimating the retinal layer boundary in the reflectance image by performing a guided bidirectional graph search on the reflectance image using the guidance point array; and identifying the retinal layer boundary by merging two or more of the multiple candidate paths.

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: Methods for treating a subject with cancer, including administering to the subject an effective amount of an inhibitor of DNAse1L3 and an effective amount of radiation therapy are provided. In some examples, the methods involve enhancing or inducing response of tumor-associated immune cells in the subject, including administering to the subject an effective amount of radiation therapy, and administering to the subject an effective amount of an inhibitor of DNAse1L3, thereby enhancing or inducing the response of tumor-associated immune cells in the subject. In some examples, the tumor-associated immune cells comprise dendritic cells or macrophages.

Abstract: Disclosed are immunogenic constructs including: a nanoparticle; a cationic polymer electrostatically bound to an exterior surface of the nanoparticle and a stabilizer bound to the cationic polymer or the exterior surface of the nanoparticle; and an antigen or antigen producing agent. Optionally, the constructs may include adjuvant and/or one or more functional oligonucleotide(s) (e.g., siRNA or pDNA). Also disclosed are methods of using the provided immunogenic constructs for co-delivering an adjuvant, antigen, and optionally siRNA to a cell, inducing immune response in a subject, and treating or preventing an infectious disease in a subject.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for filling a root canal in a tooth. The method includes positioning a fiber in the root canal of the tooth, filling at least a portion of the root canal with an unset hydrogel composition, such that the unset hydrogel composition contacts at least a portion of the fiber, setting the hydrogel composition, thereby forming a set hydrogel, and removing the fiber from the set hydrogel, thereby leaving a channel in the set hydrogel. Methods and kits for repairing teeth are also described.

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: Disclosed herein are therapeutic constructs including a delivery particle, at least one mitotic kinase inhibitor, and at least one immune checkpoint inhibitor. Also disclosed are therapeutic constructs including a mitotic kinase inhibitor, an immune checkpoint inhibitor, and a chemical linker. These therapeutic constructs cause cancer death by both therapeutic and immune effects and promote targeted delivery of more therapeutics to the surviving cancer cells in a positive feed-back loop. They enhance therapeutic index of free drugs and can be used intratumorally or systemically. This strategy can treat broad cancer types and is particular useful for cancer without obvious receptors for cancer-targeted delivery of otherwise toxic therapeutics.