Abstract: Phantoms for use in calibrating a dual energy imaging system and methods for their use. The phantoms include a body having at least first and second portions arranged in a through-thickness direction of the body. The first portion defines an anterior surface of the body and contains a first material simulating soft tissue and a second material simulating bone. The second portion contains a third material simulating lung tissue and at least a first object embedded in the third material and formed of a fourth material simulating tumor tissue. The first and second portions of the body are configured such that the second material in the first portion superimposes the first object in the second portion in the through-thickness direction of the body relative to the anterior surface thereof.

Abstract: The present invention concerns methods and compositions for treating or preventing a bacterial infection, particularly infection by a Staphylococcus bacterium. The invention provides methods and compositions for stimulating an immune response against the bacteria. In certain embodiments, the methods and compositions involve coagulase Domains 1-2 and variants thereof.

Abstract: Provided are specific binding molecules, or fragments thereof, that bind to an epitope of IL13R?2, a receptor polypeptide preferentially found on the surface of cancer cells rather than healthy cells. Exemplary specific binding molecules are bispecific binding molecules that comprise a fragment of an IL13R?2 binding molecule and a peptide providing a second function providing a signaling function of the signaling domain of a T cell signaling protein, a peptide modulator of T cell activation, or an enzymatic component of a labeling system. Also provided are polynucleotides encoding such a specific binding molecule (e.g., bispecific binding molecule), vectors, host cells, pharmaceutical compositions and methods of preventing, treating or ameliorating a symptom associated with a cancer disease such as a solid tumor disease (e.g., glioblastoma multiforme).

Abstract: Methods of treating autoimmune diseases, such as vitiligo, by using compositions comprising DNA encoding a variant inducible heat shock protein 70 (HSP70i) having a mutation in the dendritic cell binding region thereof (HSP70i435-447) or an isolated variant gene product in the form of HSP70i with a modification in the dendritic cell activating region thereof (HSP70i435-447).

Abstract: Embodiments concern methods and composition related to anergic T-cells in patients, such as cancer patients.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to ?-substituted perylene diimide (PDI) derivatives as small molecular and polymerized electron acceptors in organic photovoltaic cells.

Abstract: A proximity dependent split T7 RNAP (RNA polymerase) sensor using continuous molecular evolution is described. The versatility of the platform is described by creating robust light and small molecule-responsive genetic sensors. The activity-responsive RNAP platform dramatically simplifies and expands genetic circuit creation, and opens new opportunities in protein engineering, synthetic biology, and bioengineering.

Abstract: Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) comprising photosensitizers are described. The MOFs can also include moieties capable of absorbing X-rays or other ionizing irradiation energy and/or scintillation. Optionally, the photosensitizer or a derivative thereof can form a bridging ligand of the MOF. Further optionally, the MOF can comprise inorganic nanoparticles in the cavities or channels of the MOF or can be used in combination with an inorganic nanoparticle. Also described are methods of using MOFs and/or inorganic nanoparticles in photodynamic therapy, X-ray induced photodynamic therapy, radiotherapy, radiodynamic therapy, or in radiotherapy-radiodynamic therapy, either with or without the co-administration of one or more immunotherapeutic agent and/or one or more chemotherapeutic agent.

Abstract: The invention is directed to one or more antisense polynucleotides and their use in pharmaceutical compositions in a strategy to induce exon skipping in the ?-sarcoglycan gene in patients suffering from Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy-2C (LGM-D2C) or in patients at risk of such a disease. The invention also provides methods of preventing or treating muscular dystrophy. e.g., LGMD2C, by exon skipping in the gamma sarcoglycan gene using antisense polynucleotides. Accordingly, in some aspects the invention provides an isolated antisense oligonucleotide, wherein the oligonucleotide specifically hybridizes to an exon target region of a ?-sarcoglycan RNA. In another aspect, the invention provides a method of inducing exon-skipping of a gamma sarcoglycan RNA, comprising delivering an antisense oligonucleotide or a composition to a cell.

Abstract: An encoder artificial neural network (ANN) may be configured to receive an input image patch and produce a feature vector therefrom. The encoder ANN may have been trained with a first plurality of domain training images such that an output image patch visually resembling the input image patch can be generated from the feature vector. A generator ANN may be configured to receive the feature vector and produce a generated image patch from the first feature vector. The generator ANN may have been trained with feature vectors derived from a first plurality of domain training images and a second plurality of generative training images such that the generated image patch visually resembles the input image patch but is constructed of a newly-generated image elements visually resembling one or more image patches from the second plurality of generative training images.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention describes materials and methods of quantitatively measuring the density or percent occupancy of DNA binding proteins such as histones, histone variants, histone post translational modifications and transcription factors in chromatin at given DNA loci. One embodiment measures a factor's average quantity at specific gene loci, and controls for a number of pitfalls concerning antibody quality and handling issues. Other embodiments include calibrating and quantifying chromatin immunoprecipitation assays, assessing an affinity reagent specificity, as well as required reagents and their formulation in kits. Another embodiment allows for the diagnosis of a condition or disease by measuring the density of a histone modification at a genomic locus.

Abstract: Methods for identifying a compound that alters fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) of a protein. The methods include use of a genetically engineered cell that includes a target protein. The target protein includes one or more heterologous domains. In one embodiment, a target protein includes two heterologous domains, and in another embodiment, the target protein includes a heterologous domain and the cell further includes a second protein that includes a heterologous domain. A heterologous domain may include a chromophore or an amino acid to which a fluorescent dye attaches. The fluorescence lifetime of one or more chromophore, one or more fluorescent dye, or the combination thereof, is measured after contacting the cell with a compound A difference between the fluorescence lifetime in the presence of the test compound and the fluorescence lifetime in the absence of the test compound indicates that the test compound alters the FRET of the target protein.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for computed tomography (CT) imaging to reduce artifacts due to objects outside the field of view (FOV) of a reconstructed image. The artifacts are suppressed by using an iterative reconstruction method to minimize a cost function that includes a de-emphasis operator. The de-emphasis operator operates in the data domain, and minimizes the contributions of data inconsistencies arising from attenuation due to objects outside the FOV. This can be achieved by penalizing images that manifest indicia of artifacts due to outside objects especially those outside objects have high-attenuation densities and minimizing components of the data inconsistency likely attributable to the outside object.

Abstract: This disclosure generally relates to a word counting device. Specifically, this disclosure generally relates to a wearable word counter device. The word counter device includes a microphone to receive speech input. The word counter device further includes a light sensor to receive data representative of an amount of light in an environment of the word counter device. The word counter device also includes an accelerometer to receive data representative of an amount of movement of the word counter device or the wearer of the word counter device.

Abstract: Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) comprising photosensitizers are described. The MOFs can also include moieties capable of absorbing X-rays and/or scintillation. Optionally, the photosensitizer or a derivative thereof can form a bridging ligand of the MOF. Further optionally, the MOF can comprise inorganic nanoparticles in the cavities or channels of the MOF or can be used in combination with an inorganic nanoparticle. Also described are methods of using MOFs and/or inorganic nanoparticles in photodynamic therapy or in X-ray induced photodynamic therapy, either with or without the co-administration of one or more immunotherapeutic agent and/or one or more chemotherapeutic agent.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided concerning polypeptides with modifications that increase its binding affinity for the Fab region of an antibody. Methods include using the polypeptides for isolating, detecting, purifying, measuring and quantifying Fab polypeptides. Other embodiments concern kits, compositions, and solid supports containing the polypeptides and for using the polypeptides for isolating, detecting, purifying, measuring and quantifying Fab polypeptide.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for the fabrication of polymeric topcoat via initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD) or photoinitiated chemical vapor deposition (piCVD) in conjunction with directed self-assembly (DSA) of block copolymers to generate high resolution patterns. A topcoat deposited by iCVD or piCVD allows for conformal, ultra-thin, uniform, pinhole-free coatings. iCVD or piCVD topcoat enables the use of a diversity of block copolymer (BCP) materials for DSA and facilitates the direct and seamless integration of the topcoats for a pattern transfer process.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions and methods for the treatment of cancer by inhibition of ?-catenin or a ?-catenin pathway. In particular, inhibitors of ?-catenin and/or the Wnt/p-catenin signaling pathway are employed prevent or reverse evasion of immune response or immunotherapy by cancers.

Abstract: Compositions and treatments for inducing tumor regression by activating inflammasomes in tumor cells and tumor-associated cells. A tumor in a subject is treated by administering a composition to the subject that activates inflammasomes in cells of the tumor and thereby causes tumor cell pyroptosis and tumor regression.

Abstract: Provided herein is technology relating to treating and/or ameliorating TNF? cytotoxicity and particularly, but not exclusively, to compositions, methods, and kits for specifically modulating BCL-2-associated death promoter (BAD) activity, for example, by modulating the activity of Src and/or p190GAP.