Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of generating a live attenuated vaccine. The present invention also relates to a live attenuated vaccine produced according to the method of the invention.

Abstract: An ion microscope, a method of constructing an ion microscope, and a method of aligning an ion beam in an ion microscope. The microscope comprises a nano-aperture ion source; and a focusing system; wherein the focusing system is configured for selectively coaxially focusing an ion beam generated from an electron beam ionizing an ionizing gas in the nano-aperture ion source and the electron beam.

Abstract: A monolithic carbon foam formed of fused onion-like carbon (OLC) nanoparticles, in which the monolithic carbon foam contains interconnected pores, has a volumetric micropore surface area of 200 m2/cc-600 m2/cc, and has an electrical conductivity of 20 s/cm-140 s/cm. Also disclosed are electrodes and energy storage devices constructed therefrom.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a digital CRISPR-based method for detecting and quantitating target nucleic acids in a sample comprising: forming a mixture comprising sample nucleic acids; isothermal amplification reaction reagents for amplifying one or more target nucleic acid sequences; partitioning the mixture into a plurality of compartments; incubating the partitioned mixture at a temperature for isothermal amplification and Cas effector cleavage of an amplified DNA strand, detecting a signal from cleavage of the non-target sequence, thereby detecting the one or more target sequences in the sample, and determining the copy number of the target nucleic acid based on a Poisson distribution of the proportion of positive-to-negative compartments. The invention also relates to a method for detecting presence and/or of a disease in a subject, and a kit to quantitate nucleic acids in a sample.

Abstract: The present disclosure teaches a method of predicting the responsiveness of a subject towards a Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) inhibiting therapy. In one embodiment, there is provided a method for predicting the responsiveness of a subject towards a Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) inhibiting therapy, the method comprising determining the level and/or activity of AT-rich interacting domain 1A (ARID1A) in a sample obtained from the subject.

Abstract: A system to provide a human-machine interface to enable a user in a real space to act/sense in a virtual space. The system includes: a ring wearable by a finger of the user; a plurality of sensors, and a plurality of feedback units. The plurality of sensors being multimodal, including: a tactile sensor disposed on an inner surface of the ring; and a temperature sensor disposed on an outer surface of the ring. The plurality of feedback units being multimodal, including: a vibrator disposed on the ring, the vibrator being disposed on the outer surface of the ring; and a heater disposed on the inner surface of the ring. The system includes a controller configured to drive the plurality of sensors and the plurality of feedback devices to enable concurrent multimodal sensing and multimodal feedback.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a spatially decoupled redox flow water electrolyzer, that has a hydrogen-producing catholyte section formed from a catholyte tank, having a cathode, and a hydrogen generation compartment, where the catholyte tank and the hydrogen generation compartment are fluidly connected to one another by a fluid pathway, so as to facilitate the circulation of a liquid catholyte from the catholyte tank to the hydrogen generation compartment and back to the catholyte tank and an oxygen-producing anolyte section formed from an anolyte tank, having an anode, and an oxygen producing compartment, where the anolyte tank and the oxygen producing compartment are fluidly connected to one another by a fluid pathway, so as to facilitate the circulation of a liquid anolyte from the anolyte tank to the oxygen producing compartment and back to the anolyte tank, an anion-exchange membrane is disposed between the catholyte and anolyte tanks and a current collector attached to the catholyte and anolyte tanks.

Abstract: A method of protecting a magnetic layer of a magnetic recording medium is provided to reduce the thickness of the magnetic spacing while improving corrosion resistance and tribological performance of the magnetic recording medium.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the diagnosis, treatment and prophylaxis of age-related diseases, and increasing healthspan. Provided are methods of treating or preventing an age-related disease/condition, and in particular of treating or preventing frailty, comprising administering a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of an agent capable of inhibiting interleukin 11 (IL-11)-mediated signalling to a subject. Also provided are agents capable of inhibiting interleukin 11 (IL-11)-mediated signalling for use in such a method. Further provided is the use of agents capable of inhibiting interleukin 11 (IL-11)-mediated signalling in the manufacture of a medicament for use in such a method.

Abstract: There is provided a multi-layered sheet mask comprising at least (a) a porous first layer having a first side and a second side, wherein the first side is opposite to the second side, and comprises a plurality of three-dimensional patterns extending therefrom; (b) a second layer attached to the second side of the porous first layer, the second layer comprising at least one pouch for receiving or containing at least one first active ingredient; a porous support structure; an air pouch that is sandwiched between the second side of the porous first layer and the porous support structure; and a plurality of microchannels that extend from the pouch and beyond the first side of the porous first layer when the air pouch is deflated; and (c) a third layer attached to the second layer for receiving or containing at least one second active ingredient.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition comprising or consisting of two or more bacteria strains, formulated for the prophylaxis or treatment of intestinal barrier dysfunction and/or heat stress in a subject. More particularly, the composition comprises two or more of Lactobacillus reuteri MM2-3, Lactobacillus plantarum WCSF1, Streptococcus thermophilus B of R and Escherichia coli Nissle 1917. The present invention also includes uses of the invention to treat conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and heat stress.

Abstract: A planar modular microfluidic module, system and method for manufacturing such module is provided. The module includes a base layer, and a fluidic layer configured to be attached to and on top of the base layer, whereby the base layer and said fluidic layer configured to create a single basic module, a jacket configured to cover the base module around its lateral sides, in order to provide sturdiness to the basic module and create a jacket covered module. The jacket includes a physical connector configured to enable lateral connection between adjacent modules, the physical connector positioned on at least one lateral side of the jacket covered module, and a fluidic connection port located within said physical connector and configured to enable fluid flow connection between adjacent modules.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of diagnosing and/or monitoring of virus infection and/or response to vaccination by generating a profile of a virus-specific T cell response that can (i) discriminate between virus infected and uninfected individuals, (ii) determine the effect of vaccination on T cell response, and (iii) determine the effect of viral variants on T cell response. More particularly, the described virus-specific T cell profiling is based on the detection of activated antigen-specific T lymphocytes responding to pools of selected short peptides from virus proteins. These peptide sequences have been selected for their immunogenicity. The profiling is typically performed using ELISPOT, but may also be performed using other techniques such as qPCR, more particularly direct qPCR. The present invention also includes kits for use in the methods of the invention.

Abstract: The invention is a method for treating a heart disease, in particular acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in a subject comprising the step of administering to the subject a Tjp1 inhibitor, wherein administration of said Tjp1 inhibitor promotes cardiomyocyte proliferation. The invention further includes use of Tjp1 inhibitor in the manufacture of a medicament for a heart disease, a patch, and a nucleic acid encoding a Tjp1 inhibitor. In a particular embodiment, the Tjp1 inhibitor is a nucleic acid, i.e. an siRNA or shRNA of Tjp1. The invention also includes administration of said Tjp1 inhibitor in combination with Neuregulin-1 (NRG1), Fibroblast growth factor (FGF), Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or Follistatin-like 1 (Fst1) and wherein said inhibitor is delivered in an adeno-associated virus of serotype 9 (AAV 9).

Abstract: Methods of treating and preventing metabolic disease through inhibiting interleukin 11 (IL-11)-mediated signalling are disclosed, as well as agents for use in such methods.

Abstract: The present invention relates to catalytic, nucleic acid nanostmctures that enable versatile detection of RNAs, their use, and devices comprising same. The nanostructure comprises a DNA polymerase enzyme, a DNA aptamer and an inverter oligonucleotide, wherein the DNA aptamer comprising (i) a conserved sequence region for binding to the DNA polymerase enzyme, wherein the binding inactivates the polymerase activity, (ii) a variable sequence region for binding to the inverter oligonucleotide, and (iii) a duplex stabilizer region that lies between the conserved sequence region and the variable sequence region. The present invention also relates to the use of the nanostructure in a method of detection of nucleic acid for diagnosing a disease in a subject.

Abstract: A continuous thin film comprises a metal chalcogenide, wherein the metal is selected from the periodic groups 13 or 14 and the chalcogen is: sulphur (S), selenide (Se), or tellurium (Te), and wherein the thin film has a thickness of less than 20 mm. Methods of forming the continuous thin film involve thermally evaporating precursors to form a thin film on the surface of a substrate. In a particular embodiment, molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) is used to grow indium selenide (In2Se3) thin film from two precursors (In2Se3 and Se) and the thin film is used to fabricate a ferroelectric resistive memory device.

Abstract: There is provided a microneedle device comprising a substrate and a plurality of microneedles projecting from the substrate, the substrate being substantially spherical and wherein in use, the microneedle device has three-dimensional movement. There is also provided a method of forming the microneedle device of the present invention.

Abstract: This application describes liver stem cells (LSC), and differentiated hepatocytes, cholangiocytes, and 3D cellular structures derived therefrom. Methods for producing LSC and mature, differentiated hepatocytes and cholangiocytes in culture are provided. Also provided are cell culture systems and cell culture media for producing a homogenous population of liver stem cells that remain in an undifferentiated state over multiple passages in culture. The LSC and methods are useful for producing homogenous populations of hepatocytes and cholangiocytes for downstream applications. The LSC can be transplanted into subjects to treat liver diseases.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a material that may be useful as a coating for optical slides and medical implants. The material may aid or restrict grown of cells on a coating of the composite material. As such, there is provided a composite material having a substrate on the surface of which a coating layer of an amorphous metal oxide is formed. The metal oxide may be one or more of Ag2O, ZnO, ZrO2, TiO2, CuO, and Y2O3 and the coating layer may be from 5 to 100 nm thick and have a root mean square roughness of the coating surface is from 0.1 to 0.7 nm.