Abstract: In certain embodiments, enhancement of a field of view of a user may be facilitated via one or more dynamic display portions. In some embodiments, one or more changes related to one or more eyes of a user may be monitored. Based on the monitoring, one or more positions of one or more transparent display portions of a screen of wearable device may be adjusted, where the transparent display portions enable the user to see through the screen of the wearable device. A live video stream representing an environment of the user may be obtained via the wearable device. An enhanced video stream derived from the live video stream may be displayed on one or more other display portions of the screen of the wearable device.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, enhancement of a vision of a user may be facilitated. In some embodiments, a visual test presentation including a set of stimuli may be provided to a user. Feedback related to the set of stimuli may be obtained during the visual test presentation. The feedback may be provided to a prediction model, and the prediction model may be configured based on the feedback. Subsequent to the configuring of the prediction model, live video stream data, eye characteristic information, or other information may be provided to the prediction model to obtain a set of modification parameters. An enhanced image may be generated and displayed to the user based on the live video stream and the set of modification parameters.

Abstract: In some embodiments, images of a cornea may be obtained, and the images of the cornea may be segmented to detect a tear film layer of the cornea and an epithelium layer of the cornea. Thickness of the tear film layer and thickness of the epithelium layer may be determined based on the segmentation of the images of the cornea. A thickness map may be generated based on the thickness of the tear film layer and the thickness of the epithelium layer. As an example, the thickness map may comprise visual differences in thickness across the tear film layer and the epithelium layer. In some embodiments, the foregoing may be performed with respect to one or more other microlayers of the cornea in addition to or alternatively to the tear film layer or the epithelium layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for purifying a layer of carbon nanotubes comprising providing a precursor layer of substantially aligned carbon nanotubes supported by a substrate, wherein the precursor layer comprises a mixture of first carbon nanotubes and second carbon nanotubes; selectively heating the first carbon nanotubes; and separating the first carbon nanotubes from the second carbon nanotubes, thereby generating a purified layer of carbon nanotubes. Devices benefiting from enhanced electrical properties enabled by the purified layer of carbon nanotubes are also described.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions, cells, kits, and methods for inducing an immune response in a subject. The compositions can be used as vaccines or vaccine adjuvants against cancer (e.g., melanoma, glioma, prostate, breast) and infectious diseases (e.g., therapeutic and preventative vaccination for viruses), and can be used in cell-based therapies for preventing and treating disorders such as cancer and infection. The compositions, cells, kits and methods involve one or more nucleic acids that encode one or more LMPI fusion proteins (chimeric proteins), and in a typical embodiment, synergistic activation of immune responses by a combination of two or more LMPI fusion proteins.

Abstract: A transapical removal device that can be deployed in a catheter procedure to capture for removal or alteration a mitral valve clip or heart tissue, such as the anterior leaflet of the mitral valve, and methods of use are disclosed. The removal device includes a delivery catheter configured to be deployed near a mitral valve using a guide catheter. The delivery catheter has a snare head at the distal end, which assumes a collapsed state during movement of the delivery catheter through the guide catheter and deployed state for capturing a mitral valve clip or anterior leaflet. The snare head has one or more ablation delivery catheters configured to ablate tissue surrounding the pre-positioned mitral valve clip or anterior leaflet. In some arrangements within the scope of the present disclosure, the removal device includes a deployment mechanism for deploying a new transcatheter valve into the mitral valve.

Abstract: The invention relates to the fields of medicine, immunology, and oncology. More specifically, the invention relates to methods and compositions for inducing an immune response against a tumor in an animal subject. The invention provides that a lung cancer cell or other tumor cells, genetically modified to express a nucleic acid encoding CD80 (B7.1) and a nucleic acid encoding an HLA antigen, and method for stimulating an immune response to a tumor with the tumor cell so genetically modified. The invention additionally provides a method of inhibiting a tumor, including a cancer such as lung cancer, by administering an allogeneic tumor cell, for example a cancer tumor cell such as a lung cancer tumor cell, genetically modified to express a nucleic acid encoding CD80 (B7.1) and a nucleic acid encoding an HLA antigen.

Abstract: Therapeutic application of mild to moderate hypothermia in a medical procedure has been found to provide benefits to patients. For example, application of mild hypothermia in the auditory pathway can prevent functional hearing loss post cochlear implant surgery. Devices have been conceived and reduced to practice that apply localized cooling to a small area such as the basal or middle turn of the cochlea. The devices include a cooling tip with at least one thermo-conductive surface. A heat-transporting fluid is circulated through the cooling tip. After absorbing heat, the heat-transporting fluid may be controllably cooled with a thermoelectric cooling device.

Abstract: Described herein are methods of decreasing the proliferation of prostate cancer cells in a mammalian subject by administering to a subject in need thereof a composition comprising an AVPR antagonist in amount effective to decrease proliferation of the cancer cells. Also provided are methods of inducing prostate cancer cell death (or decreasing invasion migration of the prostate cancer cells) in a mammalian subject by administering to a subject in need thereof a composition comprising an AVPR antagonist.

Abstract: Compositions, kits, cells and methods for treating cardiovascular (e.g., myocardial ischemia and heart failure), immunological, and inflammatory diseases or disorders involve the use of the mature and precursor sequences of microRNAs 142-5p, 142-3p, 17-5p, 17-3p, 374, and 20a, and of antisense molecules complementary to these sequences, to manipulate processes relevant to, for example, the cardiac response to stress, including survival signaling, angiogenesis, stem cell differentiation along muscle or vascular lineages, and repression or promotion of cardiac myocyte growth. Also described are methods to treat cardiovascular, immunological and inflammatory diseases by engineering cells containing specific micro-RNAs or antagomirs against specific mRNAs. The engineered cells can then be used to treat patients with such diseases by autologous stem cell therapy.

Abstract: Described herein are materials and methods for treating dyslipidemia in a mammalian subject in need thereof comprising administering a growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) antagonist or variant thereof to the subject.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of treating a retinal disorder comprising administering an effective amount of a neurotrophic factor to a subject having the retinal disorder. The neurotrophic factors useful in the invention include mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF) and conserved dopamine neurotrophic factor (CDNF). The present invention further comprises pharmaceutical compositions and kits containing MANF and CDNF.

Abstract: Methods and kits for diagnosing and determining prognosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma are described.

Abstract: Methods and kits for diagnosing and determining prognosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma are described.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are inhibitors of TNF superfamily costimulatory interactions, and methods for their use in modulating TNF superfamily costimulatory interactions and treating immune system related disorders. In particular, disclosed herein are compounds of Formula (I), and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof: wherein the substituents are described herein.

Abstract: Methods for treating and diagnosing psychiatric affective disorders, e.g., an affective disorder associated with aberrant Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) signaling, by administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of an antagonist to Smoothened (Smo), an antagonist to Patched-1 (Ptch-1) and/or an antagonist to Shh.

Abstract: A novel transcriptomic biomarker for prognosis in heart failure has a direct clinical application in prediction of prognosis in new onset heart failure, heart disease, heart disorders and associated heart conditions. This approach should improve individualization of cardiac care and help identify patients at highest risk for circulatory collapse within the first years of presentation with heart failure.

Abstract: Compositions and methods of activating dendritic cells with LMP1 and LMP1-activated dendritic cell based compositions and methods are effective for dendritic cell therapy and provide an adjuvant function for vaccine administration. LMP1 or LMP1-CD40 chimeric protein may be used to activate and mature dendritic cells. LMP1 and LMP1-activated dendritic cells act as an adjuvant to enhance the cellular immune response. Also disclosed herein are kits for activating dendritic cells and for preparing a vaccine formulation. Administration of the dendritic cells transfected with LMP1 can induce an immune response against cancer or infection. The mature dendritic cells may comprise an antigen and at least one cytokine in addition to LMP1. Use of LMP1 or LMP1-CD40 provides a way to activate and mature dendritic cells that retain functional and migratory abilities without the side effects that result from maturing the dendritic cells using PGE2.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of isolating a substantially homogeneous population of pluripotent stem cells from adult neural crest tissue (e.g., periodontal ligament) as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising such isolated pluripotent stem cells. Methods of inducing the isolated pluripotent stem cells into specific cell lineages, such as neurogenic and retinogenic lineages, are also described. The isolated pluripotent stem cells find use in various regenerative medicine applications and the treatment of degenerative diseases.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions, cells, kits, and methods for inducing an immune response in a subject. The compositions can be used as vaccines or vaccine adjuvants against cancer (e.g., melanoma, glioma, prostate, breast) and infectious diseases (e.g., therapeutic and preventative vaccination for viruses), and can be used in cell-based therapies for preventing and treating disorders such as cancer and infection. The compositions, cells, kits and methods involve one or more nucleic acids that encode one or more LMP1 fusion proteins (chimeric proteins), and in a typical embodiment, synergistic activation of immune responses by a combination of two or more LMP1 fusion proteins.