Abstract: Novel lentivirus packaging systems engineered with a synthetic gene network having a positive feedback loop to amplify the expression of virus genes are provided. When co-transfected into a host cell with a transfer plasmid and envelope vector, extremely high viral titers are achieved when compared to transfection of a host cell with conventional third generation packaging systems. Methods for enhancing production of lentivirus, compositions comprising high titer lentivirus, and therapeutic methods based on delivery of lentiviral nucleic acid to target cells are also provided.

Abstract: A method or system for assessing a patient response to a cancer treatment is provided. The method or system includes acquiring at least one base-line radiological image related to a patient immediately before a treatment, acquiring at least one follow-up radiological image during or after the treatment at a predetermined time interval, estimating a first number of specific tumor cells in a region of interest of the patient based on image features of the base-line radiological image using an algorithm or a model, estimating a second number of specific tumor cells in the region of interest of the patient based on image features of the follow-up radiological image using the algorithm or the model, obtaining a difference between the first number of specific tumor cells and the second number of specific tumor cells, and classifying a treatment response to a cancer based on the difference.

Abstract: The present invention involves an engineered probiotic bacterium comprising a heterologous nucleic acid, where the heterologous nucleic acid comprises a nucleic acid sequence encoding an anti-spike glycoprotein nanobody of a coronavirus. In one embodiment, the bacterium is Escherichia coli Nissle 1917. In another embodiment, the anti-spike glycoprotein nanobody appears on the surface of the probiotic bacteria.

Abstract: A novel endonasal method for occipitocervical fusion is provided. This new method provides a minimally invasive advance in the ability of surgeons to treat pathology of the craniocervical junction. The method uses an implant system comprising a body having a spacer section that engages with the occipital condyle and a plate section that engages with the C1 lateral mass. Fasteners fix the plate section with the occipital condyle the plate section with the C1 lateral mass.

Abstract: Methods for applying a sphingolipid aggregate coating to a surface of a substrate for inhibition and prevention of biofilm growth, methods for inhibiting and preventing biofilms, biofilm-inhibiting coatings and coated devices are provided. Coating processes include suspending an amount of sphingolipid in a medium-to-fast-evaporating organic solvent; b) applying energy to the suspension sufficient to create a colloidal dispersion of sphingolipid in the solvent; c) heating the dispersion sufficient to create a solution; and d) coating the surface of the substrate with at least one application of solution, each application followed directly by a complete solvent evaporation period. The resulting coatings exhibit aggregate architectures particularly effective for inhibition and prevention of biofilms.

Abstract: Methods for simplified, rapid gel electrophoresis size-purification and downstream sequencing of an Oligo Library, for example an miRNA Library, based on co-purifying a DNA ladder molecular weight standard customized to co-migrate with Library to provide highly salient bands on the gel at the upper and lower ends of the Library size range, permitting precise cutting and avoiding the negative effects of gel distortion, variation of DNA migration rate in different lanes, and the difficulty of matching sample to ladder across a large distance. The methods may be applied to increase yield and purity in an Oligo Library of low-quality or low input Oligo, and in particular in small RNA samples.

Abstract: Provided herein is a device for rapid fixation and embedding of a biological specimen, the device including a barrel having a first end and a second end, the first end receiving a plunger and the second end opening to a compartment defining a block mold; and a plunger for inserting in the barrel, the plunger having a first end, a second end, and an interior conduit connecting the first and second ends, wherein the first end of the plunger connects to a vacuum source and the second end of the plunger includes a filter barrier between the interior conduit of the plunger and a receptacle for receiving, fixing, and embedding the specimen, the receptacle defined inside the barrel when the plunger is disposed in the barrel. Also provided are a system and method for rapid fixation and embedding of a biological specimen.

Abstract: Provided herein is an antisense oligonucleotide that specifically and selectively targets a mutant mRNA transcript of a cardiac myosin binding protein C (MYBPC3) allele having a 25 bp deletion (MYBPC3?25bp) within intron 32. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the antisense oligonucleotides and a method of treating a cardiac disorder associated with a 25 bp deletion of MYBPC3 via administration of an antisense oligonucleotide according to the present disclosure.

Abstract: A structural assembly and a structural bracing system including the structural assembly are presented. The structural assembly includes Belleville disks and shape memory alloy (SMA) rods with nonlinear elastic behavior (e.g., Nitinol rods) to resist lateral force. Stacked Belleville disks are placed between plates resulting in nonlinear elastic behavior in compression. Shape memory alloy rods are placed at the corners of the plates and held by nuts at the exterior faces of the plates. The rods are loose when a compression load is applied to the plates and will work in tension when a tensile load is applied to the plates. A shaft (e.g., steel tube) is placed at the center of the Belleville disks to stabilize the assembly. Addition of the assembly with nonlinear elastic behavior in both tension and compression loadings to a structural bracing system improves the structural behavior of the bracing system.

Abstract: Myopeptides are provided, which include a myosin S2 fragment having at least 90% sequence identity to an amino acid sequence consisting of VKEMTERLEDEEEMNAELTAKK (SEQ ID NO: 1); and, optionally, a cardiac-homing peptide tag. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions and methods of use of the myopeptides and pharmaceutical compositions in the treatment of heart failure.

Abstract: A method of treating cancer is disclosed. The method involves applying one or more direct current electric fields (DC-EFs) to a subject and administering to the subject an additional treatment selected from the group consisting of radiation, an effective amount of one or more chemotherapy agents, SapC-DOPS, anti-phosphatidylserine targeted drugs, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A method of incorporating one or more linkers into a biomaterial with one or more ketone units is disclosed. The method involves reacting a linker-containing material selected from the group consisting of thiol-containing compositions, thioketal-containing compositions, selenol-terminated compositions and combinations thereof with the biomaterial in the presence of an acid catalyst.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for continuous sensing of at least one analyte in a test fluid that is resistant at least one of desorption of a first plurality of molecules, including a plurality of aptamers and a blocking layer, and fouling during use of the device when exposed to temperatures greater than or equal to 30° C. for at least 3 days. Another aspect of the invention is a method of providing fouling resistance to an aptamer sensor device wherein the blocking layer and aptamer are resistant to at least one of desorption from the electrode and fouling during use of the aptamer sensor when exposed to temperatures greater than or equal to 30° C. for at least 3 days.

Abstract: A method of measuring analytes in a subject in vivo for a period of time is provided. The method involves storing a device. The device includes at least one sensor comprising an aptamer material; at least one feature for coupling said sensor to an analyte in the subject in vivo; at least one sterilization state that imparts sterilization on at least one component of the device; at least one sterile packaging material enabling a storage state; and at least one aptamer storage material. The sensor is contained in the sterile packaging material and the storage material is anhydrous. Further, wherein the sensor and the feature are sterile. The method further involves removing the sterile packaging material from the device and using the feature to couple the sensor to an analyte in the subject.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products for monitoring a health condition of a tool. Operational data is collected from a machine while the machine is operating in a predetermined manner with the tool in each of at least two known health conditions. A plurality of features is extracted from the operational data, a training dataset is generated from the extracted features, and an analytic model is trained using the training dataset. The analytic model can then be used to determine the health condition of the tool by providing features extracted from operational data received from one or more field machines to the analytic model. The analytic model may then determine a health condition of the tool in the field machine based on like features extracted from the operational data from the one or more field machines.

Abstract: An apparatus may comprise a controller programmed to establish a connection with an integrated circuit, program a plurality of cross-coupled look up tables of the integrated circuit to generate a plurality of memory cells, each pair of cross-coupled look up tables comprising one memory cell, and associate a plurality of the memory cells with a digital fingerprint of the integrated circuit, a value of each memory cell after startup of the integrated circuit comprising one bit of the digital fingerprint.

Abstract: A computing device includes a controller to receive passenger data based on airport scans of boarding passes, determine time until takeoff data for passengers, determine passenger flow histograms based on the time until takeoff data, transform the passenger flow histograms into continuous passenger flow profile curves, determine input similarity matrices between a first flight and past flights having scheduled departures on the same day of the week based on input similarity scores, determine output similarity matrices between the first flight and the past flights based on passenger flow profile curves associated with the first flight and the past flights, determine past flights that are most similar to the first flight based on the input similarity matrices and the output similarity matrices, and determine a predicted passenger flow profile curve for the first flight based on the passenger flow profile curves associated with the most similar past flights.

Abstract: A novel method of making a 3D-shaped 3D graphene (3D2G) is disclosed. The method involves a) 3D printing a catalyst slurry via Direct Ink Writing (DIW); b) depositing the printed slurry using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) to produce a nickel-graphene composite; and c) etching the nickel-graphene composite. The resulting composite is a porous, binder-free structure of pure 3D2G. In one embodiment, the catalyst slurry comprises nickel particles mixed with an organic solvent, a polymer, and a plasticizer. In another embodiment, the organic solvent is dichloromethane, the polymer is poly lactic-co-glycolic acid and the plasticizer is dibutyl phthalate.

Abstract: A calibration phantom for radiometric characterization and/or radiotherapy dose calculation of a subject is provided, which includes an ellipsoid base having a primary volume defining a plurality of cylindrical voids, each of said cylindrical voids configured to receive a cylindrical insert having a diameter, wherein the ellipsoid base, the primary volume, and each of said inserts are formed from a tissue substitution material independently selected to approximate a radiological property of an anatomical feature of the subject to which the ellipsoid base, the primary volume, and each of said inserts corresponds, wherein the radiological property of the tissue substitution material, the diameter of each of said inserts, and a location of each of said inserts within the ellipsoid base are selected to mimic beam hardening upon exposure of the calibration phantom to a radiation beam. Optionally, one or more peripheral rings are disposed concentrically about the ellipsoid base.

Abstract: A composition including ionizable lipids is provided. Also provided is a composition forming lipid nanoparticle, wherein the composition includes the ionizable lipid, a helper lipid, a sterol, and a PEGylated lipid conjugate. Also provided are methods of making the ionizable lipids. The ionizable lipids can include 2AEOAP2, 2AEOAP4, 2AELAP2, 2AELAP4, Lipid 16A, Lipid 16B, Lipid 16C, Lipid 16B, and Lipid 20B.