Abstract: Well-defined, xeno-free culture media which comprise a TGF-beta isoform or the chimera formed between IL6 and the soluble IL6 receptor (IL6RIL6), which are capable of maintaining stem cells, and particularly, human embryonic stem cells, in an undifferentiated state are provided. Also provided are cell cultures comprising the culture media and the stem cells and methods of expanding and deriving embryonic stem cells in such well-defined, xeno-free culture media. In addition, the present invention provides methods of differentiating ESCs or EBs formed therefrom for the generation of lineage specific cells.

Abstract: A channel distribution system has a channel carrying content, and an interactive receiver which receives content and provides to a user. The interactive receiver has an interface to allow the user to interact with the content. The channel also includes a broadcast label superimposed on the content which invites the user to interact with the content. The label includes an interactive link with a digital instruction containing handling information for the interactive receiver device. The handling information tells the interactive receiver how to handle a user interaction coinciding with the label.

Abstract: Provided are methods and kits for determining predisposition of a subject to develop a kidney disease, by identifying in a sample of the subject at least one APOL1 polypeptide variant which is characterized by a higher trypanolytic activity on Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense as compared to the trypanolytic activity of wild type APOL1 polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 on the Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense under identical assay conditions; or at least one APOL1 nucleotide mutation in the APLO1 genomic sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:3, wherein the at least one nucleotide mutation or polypeptide variant being in linkage disequlibrium (LD) with the S342G mutation in the APOL1 polypeptide set forth in SEQ ID NO:1, wherein presence of the APOL1 polypeptide variant indicates increased predisposition of the subject to develop the kidney disease.

Abstract: A microparticle for cell encapsulation is provided, having a core which comprises continuous fibers of decellularized extracellular matrix (ECM) and, optionally, an outer layer. Also provided are methods of encapsulating cells in the microparticle, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the microparticle, and methods of treating disease in animals employing the microparticles of the invention, for example, treating Diabetes.

Abstract: Provided are methods and systems for parallel analysis of a single cell's nucleic acid.

Abstract: A new class of pseudo-trisaccharide aminoglycosides having an alkyl group at the 5? position, exhibiting efficient stop codon mutation readthrough activity, low cytotoxicity and high selectivity towards eukaryotic translation systems are provided. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions containing the same, and uses thereof in the treatment of genetic disorders, as well as processes of preparing these aminoglycosides. The disclosed aminoglycosides can be represented by the general formula I: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R1 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl and aryl; and all other variables and features are as described in the specification.

Abstract: A method comprising, in a cloud computing system: receiving a new job at the cloud computing system; sampling VMs (Virtual Machines) of the cloud computing system for the load currently handled by each of the VMs; if the load currently handled by the VMs is within operational bounds, sending the new job to one of the VMs which currently handles the highest load compared to other ones of the VMs; and if the load currently handled by the VMs is beyond operational bounds, sending the new job to one of the VMs which currently handles the lowest load compared to other ones of the VMs.

Abstract: Well-defined, xeno-free culture media which comprise a TGF-beta isoform or the chimera formed between IL6 and the soluble IL6 receptor (IL6RIL6), which are capable of maintaining stem cells, and particularly, human embryonic stem cells, in an undifferentiated state are provided. Also provided are cell cultures comprising the culture media and the stem cells and methods of expanding and deriving embryonic stem cells in such well-defined, xeno-free culture media. In addition, the present invention provides methods of differentiating ESCs or EBs formed therefrom for the generation of lineage specific cells.

Abstract: A method for reducing disk read rate by managing dataset mapping of virtual machine (VM) guest memory, comprising: monitoring a plurality of disk read write operations of a VM guest; updating a dataset mapping between disk blocks allocated to the VM guest and corresponding physical addresses of memory pages of the VM guest containing replica of data stored in the disk blocks, based on the plurality of disk read write operations; when identifying writing to one of the memory pages, removing a mapping of corresponding disk block and corresponding physical address of memory page; when reclaiming a mapped memory page of the VM guest by a host of the VM guest, discarding data contained in the memory page; and when the data is requested by the VM guest after it was reclaimed by said host, retrieving the data from corresponding disk block according to the mapping.

Abstract: According to an aspect of some embodiments, an apparatus for isolation and cytometric analysis of cells from a liquid medium is provided. The apparatus comprises a cell reservoir, for receiving a liquid medium containing a suspension of cells. The apparatus further comprises a cell cage array between the cell reservoir and an enclosed reservoir, each cell cage comprising a large opening adjacent to the first cell reservoir, a cell cage, and one or more small opening adjacent to the enclosed reservoir. A connected liquid medium pump may move the suspended cells into cell cages by flowing the liquid medium from the cell reservoir to the enclosed reservoir. The apparatus further comprises a mechanical element which when actuated, pushes the cell cage array against a gel layer, forming a contiguous barrier to isolate each cell in a cell cage, and allowing cytometric analysis of isolated cells.

Abstract: A detection arrangement and method for directing the sensitivity of an optical knife-edge detection system to its optimal operating point. This is referred to as an increase in the detection dynamic range of the system with advantageous applications for detecting motion of a surface such as for Atomic Force Microscopy as well as detecting acoustic vibrations on unstable surfaces. A pair of parallel reflecting surfaces, such as an optical slab waveguide, serve to reflect the sensing beam back onto the knife-edge detector once it is shifted off its sensing range. Allowing multiple reflections, the sensing beam is maintained on the knife-edge detector even at large angular offsets from the optimal operating point of the basic knife-edge detector. Use of a modified arrangement, with two knife-edge detectors at quadrature ensures near-optimal sensitivity at a detection dynamic range up to forty-fold larger than that of the basic knife-edge system.

Abstract: A new class of pseudo-trisaccharide aminoglycosides having an alkyl group at the 5? position, exhibiting efficient stop codon mutation readthrough activity, low cytotoxicity and high selectivity towards eukaryotic translation systems are provided. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions containing the same, and uses thereof in the treatment of genetic disorders, as well as processes of preparing these aminoglycosides. The disclosed aminoglycosides can be represented by the general formula I: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R1 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl and aryl; and all other variables and features are as described in the specification.

Abstract: A system comprising: a dielectric configured to: a) create a bi-periodic interference pattern of two standing sinusoidal waves on illumination by two pairs of counter-propagating light beams at different incident angles, wherein the incident angles are selected in accordance with the index of refraction of the dielectric to i) to determine the spatial frequency of each counter-propagating light wave pair, and ii) cause total internal reflection, and b) generate, from the bi-periodic interference pattern, an evanescent bi-periodic standing sinusoidal wave; a light source configured to illuminate the dielectric with the two pairs of counter-propagating sinusoidal light waves at the selected incident angles and thereby illuminate a fluorescing object positioned at the surface of the dielectric with the generated bi-periodic evanescent standing sinusoidal wave; and one or more delay lines configured to independently modify the initial phase of each counter-propagating light wave pair.

Abstract: Compositions comprising liposomes composed of whole cell membrane fraction are provided. The liposomes may be attached to, or encapsulate a pharmaceutical agent. Also provided are methods of generating and using these liposomes.

Abstract: A method for dielectrophoresis includes applying an electric field across a micro-fluidic chamber with an alternating current (AC), trapping the target particles on the at least one carrier particle, transporting the target particles from a first location in the chamber to a second location in the chamber distanced from the first location with the at least one carrier particle and dynamically controlling the trapping and the transporting based on remotely applying forces on the at least one carrier particle. The trapping is based on localized gradients of the electric field induced by the carrier particle. The applied electric field is uniform absent a carrier particle present in the micro-fluidic chamber. The micro-fluidic chamber contains an electrolyte-solution with suspended target particles and at least one carrier particle freely floating on or in the electrolyte-solution.

Abstract: Provided are methods and kits for determining predisposition of a subject to develop a kidney disease, by identifying in a sample of the subject at least one APOL1 polypeptide variant which is characterized by a higher trypanolytic activity on Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense as compared to the trypanolytic activity of wild type APOL1 polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 on the Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense under identical assay conditions; or at least one APOL1 nucleotide mutation in the APLO1 genomic sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:3, wherein the at least one nucleotide mutation or polypeptide variant being in linkage disequlibrium (LD) with the S342G mutation in the APOL1 polypeptide set forth in SEQ ID NO:1, wherein presence of the APOL1 polypeptide variant indicates increased predisposition of the subject to develop the kidney disease.

Abstract: A system for wide-scale light field imaging comprising: a network of multiple terrestrial cameras positioned at multiple known locations, where each of the cameras comprises a wide-angle lens directed towards the sky and configured to capture one or more images of the sky, and a processor configured to operate a wired and/or wireless communications infrastructure for transmitting the captured images; and a server configured to receive the wirelessly transmitted images and jointly process the received images, thereby producing a wide-scale light field image of the sky.

Abstract: There is provided a method of representing a three dimensional (3D) object using univariate curves, comprising: receiving an initial definition of a 3D object representation, calculate a covering set of univariate curves, the covering set comprising at least one non-planar univariate curve, wherein the covering set of univariate curves represent the volume of the 3D object within a tolerance requirement, and generating a representation of the 3D object based on the set of univariate curves, wherein the set of univariate curves represent the volume of the 3D object.

Abstract: A polyHIPE-based substance-releasing system capable of releasably encapsulating a highly concentrated solution and/or a room temperature solid while minimizing or avoiding burst release from the closed-cell microstructure of an elastic polyHIPE.

Abstract: A method of applying proof of lottery to select block forgers in a blockchain, comprising performing the following at a certain one of a plurality of computing nodes connected to a blockchain network: (1) transmitting one or more of a plurality of participation transactions submitted by at least some of the plurality of computing nodes for participating in selection process conducted to select forgers from the plurality of computing nodes to forge blocks to be added to the blockchain; (2) determining a respective forger, during each selection process, by applying a selection function to an outcome of a hash function and a plurality of participation transactions extracted from a first subset of blocks preceding the respective block, the hash function is applied to a second subset of blocks preceding the respective block; and (3) forging the respective block in case the certain computing node is selected as the respective forger.