Abstract: The disclosure provides compositions and methods for characterizing the genome and transcriptome at a single cell level. In some embodiments, the method provides for the characterization of CRISPR editing outcomes and phenotypes, as well as other alterations in polynucleotide sequences, particularly in primary cells.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides diagnostic methods for evaluating a urinary bladder and methods of enhancing the visibility of the bladder from outside of a patient. The method includes introducing urinary catheter having a proximal end and a distal end into a patient's urinary bladder by way of the urethra, the urinary catheter including an outer tubular member including an inflatable balloon disposed thereon, and a visualization stylet that is slidably disposable within a passage defined in the outer tubular member. The method further includes inflating the inflatable member inside of the bladder, inflating the bladder with a liquid to enhance visualization of an inner surface of the bladder, illuminating a light source through the inflatable member to illuminate the inner surface of the bladder, and visualizing an inner portion of the bladder using the visualization stylet.

Abstract: Described herein are methods for treating fibrosis, e.g., kidney fibrosis, using agents that target Secreted Modular Calcium-binding protein 2 (SMOC2).

Abstract: This invention relates generally to compositions and methods for modulating complement component 3 (C3) activity or expression to treat, control or otherwise influence tumors and tissues, including cells and cell types of the tumors and tissues, and malignant, microenvironmental, or immunologic states of the tumor cells and tissues. The invention also relates to methods of diagnosing, prognosing and/or staging of tumors, tissues and cells.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a means to prevent and/or ameliorate age, disease and obesity associated metabolic diseases, such as diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance. Also disclosed are compositions and methods that relate to the findings that GDF11 prevents weight gain, improves glucose tolerance and reduces hepatosteatosis in aged mice administered a high fat diet. In particular, the methods and compositions described herein relate to increasing the level of GDF11 in a subject, thereby treating or preventing the development of obesity in the subject, reducing the metabolic consequences of obesity and improving the subject's metabolic health.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to the use of microvesicle biomarkers such as nucleic acids, including nucleic acid signatures, and/or proteins for assessing a kidney transplant rejection in a patient. The invention further relates to assessing, and/or to monitoring kidney transplant rejection in patients who have received a renal transplant.

Abstract: Systems and methods for creating images of an environment includes controlling at least one camera to acquire imaging data from the environment and selecting, from the imaging data, a three-dimensional-two-dimensional correspondence as a control point for use in a perspective-n-point problem to determine a position and orientation of the at least one camera from n known correspondences between three-dimensional object points and their two-dimensional image projections in the environment. The method also includes reprojecting at least a selected number of the projections, determining a reprojection error for each of the projections, and performing a weight assignment of reprojection errors to distinguish the inliers form outliers. These steps of the method are repeated to apply the weight assignment to outliers in a decreased fashion during iterations to reduce an impact of outliers in the real-time display of the environment.

Abstract: Described herein are methods for suppressing an immune response in a subject, e.g., a subject with an autoimmune disease, by administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of recombinant CD5L, CD5L homodimers and/or CD5L:p40 heterodimers, or nucleic acids encoding any of these. Also described are methods for enhancing an immune response in a subject, e.g., a subject with cancer, infection, or an immune deficiency, by administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of an antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof that binds specifically to CD5L, D5L homodimers and/or CD5L:p40 heterodimers, and inhibits their binding to the IL-23 receptor, or inhibits formation of the CD5L homodimer and/or CD5L:p40 heterodimer, or inhibitory nucleic acids that target CD5L and/or p40.

Abstract: Self-actuating articles including, for example, self-actuating needles and/or self-actuating biopsy punches, are generally provided. Advantageously, the self-actuating articles described herein may be useful as a general platform for delivery of a wide variety of pharmaceutical drugs that are typically delivered via injection directly into tissue due to degradation in the GI tract. The self-actuating articles described herein may also be used to deliver sensors and/or take biopsies without the need for an endoscopy. In some embodiments, the article comprises a spring (e.g., a coil spring, a beam, a material having particular mechanical recovery characteristics).

Abstract: An apparatus for correction of a direction to which a tool channel or a camera moves or is bent in a case where a displayed image is rotated. The apparatus includes at least one memory and at least one processor that executes instructions stored in the memory to receive a directional command of a capturing direction of a camera, move the capturing direction of the camera according to the received directional command, detect a rotation amount of a captured image displayed on a monitor, wherein the captured image is captured by the camera, and correct, based on the detected rotation amount, directional information corresponding to a particular directional command or directional coordinate for moving the camera, wherein the directional information is used for moving the capturing direction of the camera.

Abstract: Provided herein are Stimulator of Interferon Genes (STING) and Stimulated 3 Prime Antisense Retroviral Coding Sequences (SPARCS) genes as biomarkers for determining an effective therapy for treating cancer. Further provided are methods for treating cancer using said biomarkers.

Abstract: The invention relates to antibodies, or antigen-binding fragments thereof, that specifically binds to interferon beta (IFN?). Such antibodies, or antigen-binding fragments thereof, are are useful for various therapeutic or diagnostic purposes.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for harvesting target biological substances. The system includes a substrate and a first and second channel formed in the substrate. The channels longitudinally extending substantially parallel to each other. A series of gaps extend from the first channel to the second channel to create a fluid communication path passing between a series of columns with the columns being longitudinally separated by a predetermined separation distance. The system also includes a first source configured to selectively introduce into the first channel a first biological composition at a first channel flow rate and a second source configured to selectively introduce into the second channel a second biological composition at a second channel flow rate. The sources are configured to create a differential between the first and second channel flow rates to generate physiological shear rates along the second channel that are bounded within a predetermined range.

Abstract: Cationic polymers are provided for delivering anionic active agents, preferably in the form or nanoparticles and other nanostructures. The polymer can be a polycation homopolymer or a copolymer containing a polycation block. The polycations and polycation containing polymers can contain dicarboxylic acid ester units and units of (?-amino acid)-?,?-alkylene diester units. The nanoparticles can contain high loadings of anionic active agents, with sustained release of the active agents. Methods of making the polycations and polycation containing polymers are provided. Methods of making the nanoparticles and formulating them for administration to an individual in need thereof are also provided.

Abstract: Drug delivery articles, resident articles, and retrieval systems e.g., for gram-level dosing, are generally provided. In some embodiments, the residence articles are configured for transesophageal administration, transesophageal retrieval, and/or gastric retention to/in a subject. In certain embodiments, the residence article includes dimensions configured for transesophageal administration with a gastric resident system. In some cases, the residence article may be configured to control drug release e.g., with zero-order drug kinetics with no potential for burst release for weeks to months. In some embodiments, the residence articles described herein comprise biocompatible materials and/or are safe for gastric retention. In certain embodiments, the residence article includes dimensions configured for transesophageal retrieval. In some cases, the residence articles described herein may comprise relatively large doses of drug (e.g., greater than or equal to 1 gram).

Abstract: Articles and methods related to the administration of biomolecules to subjects using metal-organic frameworks are generally described. In some embodiments, an article is described, the article comprising a substrate comprising an adhesive layer, a support layer disposed on at least a portion of the substrate, and an active material disposed on and/or in at least a portion of the support layer, wherein the active material comprises a composite comprising a metal-organic framework and a biomolecule. In certain embodiments, a method of treating a subject with a biomolecule is described, the method comprising administering an article to a subject.

Abstract: Disclosed are compounds and methods to enhance the resolution of inflammation and inflammatory diseases comprising novel compounds derived from conjugated specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators (SPMs). These compounds are useful in preventing and treating granuloma formation and subsequent loss of tissue regeneration and organ function. The compounds are 5 amino conjugates of Resolvin D3 and Resolvin D4 with glutathione. Further identified are novel glutathione-conjugated specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators. These newly identified cysteinyl-SPM significantly increased the amount of tissue regenerated (p<0.05) and accelerated the speed of regeneration by ˜24 h in Planarian regeneration.

Abstract: A system and method for sorting sperm is provided. The system includes a housing and a microfluidic system supported by the housing. The system also includes an inlet providing access to the microfluidic system to deliver sperm to the microfluidic system and an outlet providing access to the microfluidic system to harvest sorted sperm from the microfluidic system. The microfluidic system provides a flow path for sperm from the inlet to the outlet and includes at least one channel extending from the inlet to the outlet to allow sperm delivered to the microfluidic system through the inlet to progress along the flow path toward the outlet. The microfluidic system also includes a filter including a first plurality of micropores arranged in the flow path between the inlet and the outlet to cause sperm traveling along the flow path to move against through the filter and gravity to reach the outlet.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to compositions and methods related to bicyclo[2.2.1] heptanamine-containing compounds and salts.

Abstract: Described herein, in one aspect, are antigen presenting cells (APCs) comprising an exogenous nucleic acid encoding one or more candidate antigens, wherein the one or more candidate antigens are expressed and presented with MHC class I or MC class II molecules; a molecular reporter of Granzyme B (GzB) activity; and c) an exogenous inhibitor of caspase-activated deoxyribonuclease (CAD)-mediated DNA degradation, a CAD knockout, or a caspase knockout (e.g., caspase 3 knockout). Described herein, in another aspect, is a system for detection of recognized antigen presentation by an antigen presenting cell to a cytotoxic lymphocyte or NK cell.