Abstract: The present disclosure relates to degradable polymers which contain a hydrophobic and hydrophilic segment which is sensitive to pH. In some aspects, the polymers form a micelle which is sensitive to pH and have backbones which are capable of undergoing degradation in vivo. In some aspects, the disclosure also provides methods of using these degradable polymers for the delivery of a drug.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides compositions which shown preferential targeting or delivery of a nucleic acid composition to a particular organ. In some embodiments, the composition comprises a steroid or sterol, an ionizable cationic lipid, a phospholipid, a PEG lipid, and a permanently cationic lipid which may be used to deliver a nucleic acid.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method and kit for single-primer tiled sequencing comprising: reverse transcribing a target nucleic acid with multiple tiled primers spaced along the genome, each only targeting one annealing site to form amplicons in the presence of terminating 3? azido nucleotides to incorporate the terminating 3? azido nucleotides into the cDNA; click-ligating a downstream primer onto tire 3? azido terminated cDNA such that a second template-specific primer is not required; amplifying the click-ligated cDNA; and sequencing the amplicons.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to the development of immunogenic compositions comprising a DNA copy of at least one live attenuated plus-sense single-stranded RNA virus genome, such as the genome of a live-attenuated Zika vims (ZIKV), Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) or yellow fever vims (YFV). The immunogenic compositions can be used for treating or conferring protective immunity against diseases related to plus-sense single-stranded RNA viruses, e.g. for affording prolonged immunoprotection against such viruses and protective immunity is conferred at low diseases, e.g., as low as 300 or 500 ng after administration of a single pLAV dosage.

Abstract: Disclosed are techniques for initiating and sustaining a transport barrier within a magnetically confined plasma in a plasma fusion device. For a toroidal magnetic configuration, a characteristic region of the magnetic field can be established by generating a current within the plasma or by other means. The location of the characteristic region can be controlled to be suitably close to the interior walls of the plasma fusion device to allow a quantity of particles to be injected into the plasma at or inside the characteristic region. The quantity of particles can augment the density of the plasma and create a density gradient within the characteristic region, resulting in the formation of a transport barrier at or inside the characteristic region.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of synthesizing compounds of the formula wherein the variables are defined herein. Also provided are compounds produced using these methods. In some aspects, the methods provided herein may be used to create di- and tri-substituted BCPs.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of treating a tumor or cancer in a subject whose tumor or cancer cells express low levels of asparagine synthetase (ASNS), and compounds and compositions useful in such treatment. Also disclosed herein are methods of evaluating whether to administer a compound that inhibits glutathione production or a glutaminase inhibitor to a subject with a tumor or cancer.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present technology provide a novel deep learning-based error correction coding scheme for AWGN channels under the constraint of moderate to low bit quantization (e.g., one-bit quantization) in the receiver. Some embodiments of the error correction code minimize the probability of bit error can be obtained by perfectly training a special autoencoder, in which “perfectly” refers to finding the global minima of its cost function. However, perfect training is not possible in most cases. To approach the performance of a perfectly trained autoencoder with a suboptimum training, some embodiments utilize turbo codes as an implicit regularization, i.e., using a concatenation of a turbo code and an autoencoder.

Abstract: Modified hydrophilic carbon clusters (HCCs), poly(ethylene glycol)-hydrophilic carbon clusters (PEG-HCCs) and similarly structured materials like graphene quantum dots (GQDs), PEGylated GQDs, small molecule antioxidants, and PEGylated small molecule antioxidants. These materials have been modified with an iron chelating moiety, deferoxamine, or a similar chelating moiety. By exploiting common binding sites, the carbon nanostructure facilitates intracellular transport including in mitochondria, reduces oxidative breakdown of the chelator moiety prior to treatment, and reduces both the cause and consequences of metal induced oxidative stress within the body thus providing a novel form of therapy for a range of oxidative and metal-related toxicities. Graphenic materials can be used for the treatment of acute and chronic mitochondrial electron transport chain dysfunction.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to antibodies binding to PD-L1 and methods of using such antibodies to treat cancers, such as those that express or overexpress PD-L1.

Abstract: Processes that determine transcriptional regulation from genetic sequence data are described. Generally, computational models are trained to predict transcriptional regulatory effects, which can be used in several downstream applications. Various methods further develop research tools, develop and perform diagnostics, and treat individuals based on identified variants.

Abstract: Leaf-branch compost cutinase (LCC) and other cutinase mutants with activity over ranges of temperature and pH are provided.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method for adhering a metal layer to a polymer substrate and device manufacture therefrom. The metal layer is deposited on a sacrificial substrate of a mold to form part of an interior surface of the mold, and a solution of monomers is deposited on the metal layer. The monomers are then polymerized together to form the polymer substrate on the metal layer. Then the polymer substrate is removed from the mold such that the metal layer is removed from the mold and adhered to the polymer substrate.

Abstract: An antibody, preferably a blocking antibody, and most preferably a monoclonal antibody (mAb), specific for human endothelial cell protein C receptor (EPCR) such as mAbs JRK 1494 or JRK 1535 is used to reduce or attenuate joint swelling, macrophage infiltration, iron deposition and/or blood vessel formation and to treat arthropathy in a hemophilic subject.

Abstract: The present application provides BCMA targeting chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) comprising a BCMA binding region and an intracellular costimulatory domain derived from DAP10. Further provided are engineered immune effector cells (such as NK cells) comprising the chimeric antigen receptors. Pharmaceutical compositions, kits and methods of treating cancer are also provided.

Abstract: In one aspect, a neuromodulation device is described herein. In some embodiments, a neuromodulation device comprises a chamber operable to receive a nerve, at least one electrode disposed in the chamber, and a channel defined by two walls. In some embodiments, the channel of the device is in fluid communication with an interior of the chamber and an external surface of the device. In another aspect, methods of neuromodulation are described herein. In some embodiments, methods described herein can use one or more neuromodulation devices described herein.

Abstract: A twisted and coiled polymer fishing line (TCPFL) actuator, method, and computer program product for using the TCPFL actuator. A TCPFL actuator may be received, wherein the TCPFL actuator is fabricated from a plurality of TCPFL muscles. The TCPFL actuator may be used to adjust a vehicle component.

Abstract: A system for generating objective assessment criteria of social skills, comprising a speech to text system receiving audio data and converting the audio data into text data for a first speaker and a second speaker, a dialog management system processing text data for the first speaker and text data for the second speaker generating a strategic attention score for the first speaker based on responsiveness of the text data of the first speaker to text data of the second speaker, and a response verification system generating a user control for the strategic attention score and receiving feedback data from the second speaker to accept or modify the strategic attention score.

Abstract: A mandrel-coiled twisted and coiled polymer fishing line (TCPFL) actuator, method, and computer program product for using the mandrel-coiled TCPFL actuator. A mandrel-coiled TCPFL actuator may be received, wherein the mandrel-coiled TCPFL actuator is fabricated from a plurality of mandrel-coiled TCPFL muscles coated with a synthesized PVA solution. The mandrel-coiled TCPFL actuator may be used to adjust a vehicle component.

Abstract: Solid-state radiation detectors utilizing a film as an alpha detection layer are provided. The detector can include a neutron conversion layer disposed thereon to enable neutron detection. The film can detect alpha particles from the ambient environment or emitted by the neutron conversion layer (if present) so the device can detect alpha particles and/or neutrons. The film can generate electron-hole pairs and can be disposed near a semiconductor material. The film can have a thickness of, for example, at least 100 nanometers.