Abstract: A method is provided for producing renal organoids comprising nephrons, ureteric bud and vasculature and/or progenitors of these. In one embodiment, the methods includes contacting intermediate mesoderm cells with: fibroblast growth factor 9 and/or fibroblast growth factor 20 and/or fibroblast growth factor 2 and optionally, one or more selected from the group consisting of: bone morphogenic protein 7; heparin; a Wnt agonist; retinoic acid; and an RA antagonist under conditions that promote formation of vascularized renal organoids. Another embodiment includes producing mesoderm cells by sequentially contacting pluripotent stem cells with a Wnt agonist and fibroblast growth factor 9 and/or fibroblast growth factor 20 and/or fibroblast growth factor 2, followed by a relatively short re-exposure to the Wnt agonist.

Abstract: Disclosed are chimeric polypeptides based on viral membrane fusion proteins. More particularly, the present invention discloses chimeric polypeptides that comprise a virion surface exposed portion of a viral fusion protein and a heterologous structure-stabilizing moiety, and to complexes of those chimeric polypeptides. The present invention also discloses the use of these complexes in compositions and methods for eliciting an immune response to a fusion protein of an enveloped virus, or complex of the fusion protein, and/or for treating or preventing an enveloped virus infection. The present invention further discloses the use of the heterologous structure-stabilizing moiety for oligomerizing heterologous molecules of interest.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method of capturing a fluorinated carbon compound located within a liquid, the method comprising contacting the fluorinated carbon compound with a block copolymer having a backbone comprising a hydrophilic block and a fluoropolyether block, wherein the fluorinated carbon compound binds to and is captured by the block copolymer.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for diagnosing functional gastrointestinal disorders such as functional dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome, comprising detecting IgG antibodies in a sample obtained from a subject, wherein the IgG antibodies recognise one or more antigens from Streptococcus salivarius. Also provided are kits for detecting IgG antibodies for use in the diagnosis of functional gastrointestinal disorders, and methods for selecting subjects for treatment for functional gastrointestinal disorders.

Abstract: A method is provided for simultaneously producing both nephron progenitor cells and ureteric epithelial progenitor cells including the step of contacting intermediate mesoderm cells with: fibroblast growth factor 9 and/or fibroblast growth factor 20 and optionally, one or more selected from the group consisting of: bone morphogenic protein 7; heparin; a Wnt agonist; retinoic acid; and an RA antagonist. The concentrations of Wnt agonist, retinoic acid and/or RA antagonist may be manipulated to favour the relative production of nephron progenitor cells and ureteric epithelial progenitor cells. The intermediate mesoderm cells are ultimately derived from human pluripotent stem cells via a posterior primitive streak stage. The nephron progenitor cells and ureteric epithelial progenitor cells may have end uses such as for kidney repair and regeneration, bioprinting of kidneys and screening compounds for nephrotoxicity.

Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a solder joint part, at least one of a first metal base material and a second metal base material is an alloy containing Ni in an amount of more than 0 wt % and less than 44 wt % and Cu in an amount of more than 56 wt %, and solder is a solder alloy containing Ga and inevitable impurities or a solder alloy containing Ga as a main component and having a melting point of 30° C. or lower. The method includes applying the solder to a surface of the first metal base material and placing the second metal base material on the applied solder, and heating the first and second metal base materials to a temperature of 90° C. or lower in a specified atmosphere or in a liquid to generate CuGa2 or (Cu, Ni)Ga2 between the first and second metal base materials, thereby joining the first and second metal material.

Abstract: Disclosed are processes for preparing hybrid perovskite quantum dots and the resulting hybrid perovskite quantum dots and uses thereof. Such quantum dots are useful as semiconductors in devices such as solar cells and light-emitting diodes.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to compositions and methods for inhibiting bacterial aggregation, and in particular, to compositions and methods that inhibit autotransporter-mediated bacterial aggregation or attachment. Described herein are autotransporter binding molecules such as antibodies and antigen binding fragments thereof. The autotransporter binding molecules block self-association between autotransporters and autotransporter-mediated surface attachment.

Abstract: A method of forming a core-shell polymer nanoparticle encapsulating an active agent is disclosed, including the use of a multi-solvent system in which to dissolve the active agent and a polymer prior to their precipitation using an antisolvent. The preferred use of an organic solvent system comprising two or more organic solvents allows for a high degree of control, as compared with the use of a single solvent, and enables the active agent to be precipitated more or less simultaneously with, or just prior to, the polymer.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method and apparatus to perform an electrochemical process by manipulating the charge on an electrode involved in the primary circuit of the electrochemical reaction. The amount of charge on the electrode can be manipulated independent of the bias voltage of the primary circuit and is accomplished by coupling the electrode with various different configurations.

Abstract: A training method for training neural networks to determine a magnetic susceptibility distribution of a sample may include: storing a simulated magnetic susceptibility map of the sample, generating a modified magnetic susceptibility map by combining an influence of one or more external magnetic susceptibility sources with the simulated magnetic susceptibility map and storing the modified magnetic susceptibility maps. The method may include generating a first training image by applying a quantitative susceptibility mapping model the modified magnetic susceptibility map and storing the first training image, applying the first neural network to the first image and a second neural network to an output of the first neural network and changing network parameters of the first and the second neural network depending on a deviation of an output of the second artificial neural network from the simulated magnetic susceptibility map.

Abstract: Disclosed are chimeric polypeptides based on viral membrane fusion proteins. More particularly, the present invention discloses chimeric polypeptides that comprise a virion surface exposed portion of a viral fusion protein and a heterologous structure-stabilizing moiety, and to complexes of those chimeric polypeptides. The present invention also discloses the use of these complexes in compositions and methods for eliciting an immune response to a fusion protein of an enveloped virus, or complex of the fusion protein, and/or for treating or preventing an enveloped virus infection. The present invention further discloses the use of the heterologous structure-stabilizing moiety for oligomerizing heterologous molecules of interest.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to biofragment compositions that comprise bioparticle fragments and at least one heterologous antigen-binding molecule. In some embodiments, the biofragment is typically derived from a larger, intact bioparticle that express the at least one heterologous antigen-binding molecule at the surface, and the biofragment has increased solubility to facilitate assays for antigen detection. The disclosure also relates the related methods of using and making the biofragment compositions, as well as systems and devices implementing the biofragment compositions. In some embodiments, the related methods, systems and devices do not require additional detection reagents, such as animal derived detection antibodies.

Abstract: The present invention relates to emulsion-templated silica micro and nano-capsules- and methods for making them. In particular, the template emulsion is stabilized by a biosurfactant that also assists in nucleating the silica shell Mineralizing biosurfactants and stabilized micro- and nano-emulsions useful in forming the emulsion-templated micro- and nano-capsules, and methods for the use of the silica micro- and nano-capsules are also described.

Abstract: Disclosed are chimeric polypeptides based on viral membrane fusion proteins. More particularly, the present invention discloses chimeric polypeptides that comprise a virion surface exposed portion of a viral fusion protein and a heterologous structure-stabilizing moiety, and to complexes of those chimeric polypeptides. The present invention also discloses the use of these complexes in compositions and methods for eliciting an immune response to a fusion protein of an enveloped virus, or complex of the fusion protein, and/or for treating or preventing an enveloped virus infection. The present invention further discloses the use of the heterologous structure-stabilizing moiety for oligomerizing heterologous molecules of interest.

Abstract: The invention relates to alpha conotoxin (?-conotoxin) peptides and methods for their preparation. Also described are pharmaceutical compositions comprising alpha conotoxin (?-conotoxin) peptides and their use in the treatment or prevention of indications 5 associated with nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and/or voltage gated calcium channels.

Abstract: The present invention provides for certain sulfonyl ureas and related compounds which have advantageous properties and show useful activity in the inhibition of activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. Such compounds are useful in the treatment of a wide range of disorders in which the inflammation process, or more specifically the NLRP3 inflammasome, have been implicated as being a key factor.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to compositions and methods for inhibiting bacterial aggregation, and in particular, to compositions and methods that inhibit autotransporter-mediated bacterial aggregation or attachment. Described herein are autotransporter binding molecules such as antibodies and antigen binding fragments thereof. The autotransporter binding molecules block self-association between autotransporters and autotransporter-mediated surface attachment.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to biofragment compositions that comprise bioparticle fragments and at least one heterologous antigen-binding molecule. In some embodiments, the biofragment is typically derived from a larger, intact bioparticle that express the at least one heterologous antigen-binding molecule at the surface, and the biofragment has increased solubility to facilitate assays for antigen detection. The disclosure also relates the related methods of using and making the biofragment compositions, as well as systems and devices implementing the biofragment compositions. In some embodiments, the related methods, systems and devices do not require additional detection reagents, such as animal derived detection antibodies.

Abstract: A transmitter of a DFT-based communications system including an orthogonal precoder for transforming modulated data symbols using a unitary transform, wherein the data 5 symbols are mapped to subcarriers of the transmitter and the computational complexity of the transform is linear with respect to the number of the subcarriers.