Abstract: A membrane-spanning nanopore is provided, the nanopore comprising: a. one or more polynucleotide strands that provide a scaffold coma) ponent; and b. a plurality of polynucleotide strands that provide a plurality of staple components; wherein each of the plurality of staple components hybridise to the scaffold component; wherein the orientation of a major portion 7 nm of at least one polynucleotide strand comprised within the scaffold component is substantially parallel to a planar surface of a membrane as well as embedded within and substantially coplanar with the membrane; wherein the nanopore defines a channel that is suitable for perforating the membrane; the channel b) having a longitudinal axis extending along the centre thereof and a minimum internal dimension perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of at least about 3 nm.

Abstract: A method for making a housing that defines a cavity for a pressure sensor, the method comprising: providing a bulk of material that will form the housing; focusing a radiation beam on internal portions of the bulk of material so as to modify the internal portions, thereby defining the housing's shape, wherein upstream of the focus of the radiation beam other portions of the bulk material remain unmodified; and discarding either the modified portions or the unmodified portions of the bulk material so as to form the cavity.

Abstract: Masing at room temperature is achieved by an apparatus and method that utilize a microwave cavity which exhibits a resonance of sufficiently high Q-factor for maser oscillation, and a resonator structure comprising a masing medium located within a resonant element. The masing medium comprises spin-defect centres. The resonator structure is disposed within the microwave cavity. A magnetic field is applied across the masing medium. An input of microwave radiation to be amplified is coupled to the resonator structure. An optical pump pumps the masing medium, thereby causing stimulated emission of microwave photons. The microwave cavity has an effective magnetic mode volume matching the volume of the masing medium.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe comprises an optical light guide comprising a multi-mode optical waveguide for transmitting excitation light and a single-mode optical waveguide for transmitting interrogation light. The probe further comprises an ultrasound transmitter located at a distal end of the probe, the ultrasound transmitter comprising an optically absorbing material for absorbing the excitation light from the multi-mode optical waveguide to generate an ultrasound beam via the photoacoustic effect. The probe further comprises an ultrasound receiver including an optical cavity external to the single-mode optical waveguide. The interrogation light from the single-mode optical waveguide is provided to the ultrasound receiver. The optical cavity has a reflectivity that is modulated by impinging ultrasound waves. The interrogation light is reflected from the optical cavity to a proximal end of the single-mode optical waveguide where it can be received for generating a signal.

Abstract: There is described a new gene therapy approach for treating Wilson's disease in which a nucleic acid molecule is used which comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding for a functional ATP7B protein wherein the nucleotide sequence has at least 85% identity to the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1. Also described are vectors comprising the nucleotide sequence and methods and uses thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of diagnosing a CNS disorder comprising administering a fluorescent marker of retinal integrity to a subject and generating an image of the subject's eye, wherein the fluorescent marker is delivered by intranasal administration is also provided and fluorescent markers of retinal integrity for use in such methods. Also provided is a pharmaceutical composition comprising an annex in or a functional fragment or derivative thereof conjugated to a compound of 2 kDa or less, wherein the composition comprises annex in or a functional fragment or derivative thereof conjugated at a concentration of at least mg/ml.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the treatment of mixed lineage leukemia. In particular, the present invention relates to therapies involving the induction of proteolysis of the MLL fusion proteins that result from the chromosomal translocations affecting the MLL gene at 11q23.

Abstract: Methods of treating a head and neck cancer are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions for forming a hydrophobic or superhydrophobic material, the composition comprising a polyol component having at least two hydroxyl groups per molecule on average; an isocyanate component having at least two isocyanate groups per molecule on average; a single population of nanoparticles having a particle size less than 1 pm; and a solvent; wherein the population of nanoparticles represents at least 5 wt. % of the total of the polyol component, isocyanate component, and population of nanoparticles. The invention also provides hydrophobic or superhydrophobic materials formed from the compositions of the invention, and methods or kits for forming such materials.

Abstract: Methods for treating a human subject who has X-linked Retinitis Pigmentosa (XLRP) or another clinically-defined ophthalmological condition due to a loss-of-function mutation in the gene encoding the retinitis pigmentosa GTPase regulator (RPGR) protein, the method comprising administering to the subject a nucleic acid comprising an adeno-associated viral vector comprising an abbreviated human RPGR cDNA.

Abstract: The present invention provides A method of producing a decellularised extracellular matrix (ECM) scaffold of at least a portion of a lobular organ with no common artery, the method comprising: a) closing afferent blood vessels to substantially seal a target lobular organ or portion thereof with no common and/or major artery within a non-human donor or a dead/brain dead human donor; b) optionally: (i) cleaning coagulum and/or blood from at least a portion of the closed afferent blood vessels; and/or (ii) perfusing the organ or portion thereof to confirm closure of the afferent blood vessels; c) removing the sealed organ or portion thereof from the donor; and d) perfusing the sealed organ or portion thereof with detergent and enzymatic solutions to obtain the decellularised ECM scaffold. Methods for producing an artificial organ, and artificial organs produced by the methods are also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of preventing, treating, and delaying the onset or progression of diseases associated with hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), fibrosis, and liver cancer, using ammonia-lowering therapies.

Abstract: A switching resistor comprises a dielectric layer disposed between a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer, the switching resistor having a high resistance state and a low resistance state. The switching resistor is responsive to a voltage bias, applied between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer, wherein the voltage bias exceeds a threshold to switch from the high resistance state to the low resistance state. The switching resistor is sensitive to photo-illumination to reduce said threshold.

Abstract: A drainage device for use in an eye to drain aqueous humour so as to reduce intraocular pressure or for treating glaucoma. The device has a multi-lumen tube having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a plurality of lumen extending between the first end and the second end. At least one of the lumen is sealed at the first end. A flow through the multi-lumen tube is adjusted by forming at least one aperture open in one of the lumen through a wall of the tube and/or sealing at least one aperture open in one of the lumen. The tube has a longitudinal axis through the first end and the second end, and an outer surface extending between the first end and the second end. A cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis has a non-circular shape at the outer surface with an aspect ratio of at least 3:1.

Abstract: An apparatus is configured for performing a computer-implemented method comprising: receiving data comprising physical measurements of a biological organ across a three-dimensional (3D) volume, the organ having a hierarchical structure of elements with multiple levels; transforming the physical measurement data into a two-dimensional (2D) data representation having first and second axes, wherein the first axis corresponds to location of an element a spatial path through the three-dimensional volume based on the hierarchical structure of the organ, and the second axis corresponds to descending successive levels through said hierarchical structure; and outputting the two-dimensional data representation to an apparatus for display.

Abstract: A method of determining the perceptual load of a human brain. The perceptual load is induced by a predetermined task carried out by the human. The method includes the steps of: measuring with a functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) sensor device a metabolic activity of the human brain while the task is carried out and determining the perceptual load as a function of a measured change in metabolic activity. The invention further relates to a method of determining the level of stimulus perception corresponding systems.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of determining electrical properties in a peripheral nerve of a human or animal subject using a plurality of electrodes spaced around a perimeter of the nerve, by applying a probe electrical signal to each of a plurality of combinations of the electrodes, and using the resulting electrical responses to determine the electrical properties, for example by carrying out an electrical impedance tomography image reconstruction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for determining whether a patient will respond to treatment with a myostatin pathway inhibitor, the method comprising: (a) determining a level of myostatin and/or activin type II receptor (ActRII) and/or follistatin in at least one muscle biopsy obtained from a treatment target muscle in a subject having or suspected of having muscle atrophy or a muscle wasting condition; and (b) determining a level of myostatin and/or follistatin in a systemic sample obtained from the patient, wherein if: (i) the level of myostatin in the systemic sample is higher than a threshold and/or if the level of follistatin in the sample is lower than a threshold; and (ii) the level of myostatin and/or ActRII receptor in the at least one biopsy sample is higher than a threshold level and/or if the level of follistatin in the at least one biopsy sample is lower than a threshold level, the patient will respond to treatment.

Abstract: A device for providing an interface between a medical instrument and a part of a human or animal body, the device comprising: at least one connecting part configured to allow attachment of the medical instrument thereto; and an attachment device configured to detachably attach the connecting part to the part of the human or animal body.

Abstract: A switching resistor has a low resistance state and a high resistance state. The switching resistor comprises a dielectric layer disposed between a first electrode and a second electrode. The switching resistor further comprises a textured boundary surface between the first electrode and the dielectric layer. The textured boundary surface promotes the formation of a conductive pathway in the dielectric layer between the first electrode and the second electrode.