Abstract: The disclosure provides synthetic peptides that selectively bind to the PD-L1 protein on the surface of cells expressing PD-L1. The PD-L1 binding peptide may comprises the amino acid sequence MX1X2X3X4DHX5LNKFX6IX7HX8X9X10X11X12X13 (SEQ ID NO: 177) or MXIF?XXIXXX?WXLXXA (SEQ ID NO: 1). Peptides of the disclosure may be functionalized using one or more diagnostic agents to aid in various detection modalities or with a cytotoxic agent to treat various disease states such as cancer. Also provided are compositions that include the PD-L1 binding peptides or functionalized PD-L1 binding peptides.

Abstract: Provided herein are antibodies and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) cells comprising the antigen binding domains of these antibodies. Also provided are compositions comprising the same, vector or plasmid encoding the antibodies and CARs, and methods for producing the same, or using the same for detecting or treating cancer and kits for carrying out said methods.

Abstract: Described herein is a new mitochondrial peptide. This small peptide is capable of modulating cancer, through a variety of mechanisms including autophagy/apoptosis, reduction of tumor cell viability, inducing inflammatory response in senescent cells and conversion of macrophage cell type. Administration of the peptide, its analogs and derivatives thereof, are likely to be effective treatments for cancer therapy, including generation of synthetic analogs that further enhance or abrogate activity relative to the peptide.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems of utilizing sequencing reads for detecting and quantifying the presence of a tissue type or a disease type in cell-free DNA prepared from blood samples.

Abstract: Systems and methods for multi-armed robotic capture devices are disclosed. The systems and methods for multi-armed robotic capture devices include a base that is configured to attach to a robotic arm or a servicer and having a tether. The systems and methods for multi-armed robotic capture devices include a body that is coupled to the base via the tether. Additionally, the systems and methods for multi-armed robotic capture devices include a plurality of tentacles coupled to the body and configured to grip a target object. The systems and methods for multi-armed robotic capture devices also include a plurality of tiles positioned on each tentacle of the plurality of tentacles and configured to apply a shear force on the target object to grip the target object using an adhesive force.

Abstract: A multi-armed robotic translation device includes a robotic body that includes a base section and a cover section attached to the base section. A plurality of tentacles is attached to the robotic body. The plurality of tentacles are configured to apply a shear force on the target object to grip the target object using an adhesive force, each tentacle including at least one shape memory alloy wire configured to move the tentacle. A control system is positioned in the robotic body and is configured to provide power and/or control signals to the tentacles.

Abstract: A method for all-optical reduction of inter-channel crosstalk for spectrally overlapped optical signals for maximizing utilization of an available spectrum includes receiving a plurality of spectrally overlapped optical signals modulated with data. The method further includes generating conjugate copies of each of the plurality of optical signals using non-linear optics. The method further includes selecting the conjugate copies and adjusting an amplitude, a phase, and a delay of the conjugate copies. The method further includes performing inter-channel interference (ICI) compensation on the spectrally overlapped optical signals in an optical domain by adding the adjusted conjugate copies to the spectrally overlapped optical signals.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods and apparatuses for forming the metal oxide nanostructure on surfaces are disclosed. In certain embodiments, the nanostructures can be formed on a substrate made of a nickel titanium alloy, resulting in a nanostructure that can include both titanium oxide and nickel oxide. The nanostructure can be formed on the surface(s) of an implantable medical device, such as a stent.

Abstract: An organic flow battery having a positive electrode electrolyte containing organic compounds with extended conjugation and/or cyclic side chains is provided. The flow battery includes a positive electrode and a positive electrode electrolyte including first solvent and a first redox couple. The positive electrode electrolyte flows over and contacting the positive electrode. The first redox couple includes a first organic compound and a reduction product of the first organic compound. The flow battery also includes a negative electrode and a negative electrode electrolyte including a second solvent and a second redox couple. The negative electrode electrolyte flows g over and contacts the positive electrode. Typically, an ion exchange membrane is interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode Characteristically, the first organic compound resists crossover through the ion exchange membrane.

Abstract: Herein is reported a class of chiral compounds with paradoxical effects on the androgen receptor (AR). The (R)-enantiomers behave like classical anti-androgens while the (S)-enantiomers activate AR signaling. In castration-resistant prostate cancer, the change during the course of therapy to growth in the presence of AR targeted therapeutics, a harbinger of progression to lethal disease, is commonly attributed to acquired mutations of the AR-ligand binding domain. This is the first report of an antagonist—agonist duality solely due to structural enantiomerism, without any modification to the AR binding site.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for increasing photon collection during imaging with a light-sheet fluorescence microscope. In one example, one or more adaptive optical elements may be positioned in a detection light path between a detection objective and an imaging sensor. A depth of field of the detection objective is adjusted as a function of a thickness of an excitation light-sheet used to illuminate a sample during imaging. As a result, the detection objective captures more fluorescence photons generated by light-sheet excitation.

Abstract: Antibody-drug conjugates, compositions thereof, and methods use. The antibody-drug conjugates include a fusion protein comprising an antibody covalently linked to an ADP-ribosyl cyclase protein via a peptide linker moiety at one or more of a C-terminus or N-terminus of a heavy or light chain of the antibody, a NAD or NMN analogue, and a payload such that the NAD or NMN analogue is conjugated to both the payload and the ADP-ribosyl cyclase protein.

Abstract: Zebrafish are a powerful model for investigating cardiac repair due to their unique regenerative abilities, scalability, and compatibility with many genetic tools. However, characterizing the regeneration process in live adult zebrafish hearts has proved challenging because adult fish are opaque and explanted hearts in conventional culture conditions experience rapid declines in morphology and physiology. To overcome these limitations, we fabricated a fluidic device for culturing explanted adult zebrafish hearts with constant media perfusion that is also compatible with live imaging. Unlike hearts cultured in dishes for one week, the morphology and calcium activity of hearts cultured in the device for one week were largely similar to freshly explanted hearts.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and robots for multi-layer prepreg composite sheet layup. The method includes obtaining a dataset including start and end point pairs of a mold of the 3D part. The method includes generating a layup sequence based on the dataset and generating multiple trajectories for one or more movements of the first robot or the first robot arm based on the layup sequence. The method includes causing a second robot or a second robot art to hold or grasp the prepreg layer or sheet a threshold distance above the mold or the 3D part. The method includes causing the first robot or the first robot arm to place or conform the prepreg layer or sheet to the mold of the 3D part.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention are directed to electrochemical fabrication methods for forming structures or devices (e.g. microprobes for use in die level testing of semiconductor devices) from a core material and a shell or coating material that partially coats the surface of the structure. Other embodiments are directed to electrochemical fabrication methods for producing structures or devices (e.g. microprobes) from a core material and a shell or coating material that completely coats the surface of each layer from which the probe is formed including interlayer regions. Additional embodiments of the invention are directed to electrochemical fabrication methods for forming structures or devices (e.g. microprobes) from a core material and a shell or coating material wherein the coating material is located around each layer of the structure without locating the coating material in inter-layer regions.

Abstract: The first selective SuFEx antagonists to ?-opioid receptors (MOR) were developed by functionalizing an opioid scaffold with an SO2—F warhead. Our model, based on a MOR structure with antagonist ?-FNA, indicates the naloxone carbonyl as an advantageous point for derivatization as it is chemically accessible and is not involved in interaction with receptors. Of the three accessible Tyr residues in MOR pocket, Tyr77, Tyr130 and Tyr150, Tyr150 in proximity to the carbonyl of the docked naloxone was selected as a target, which resulted in the development of highly potent antagonists.

Abstract: Described herein are optical phased array receivers. In various embodiments, an optical phased array receiver includes a set of antennas, each antenna configured to receive an optical signal; a local oscillator configured to generate one or more optical carrier signals; one or more optical signal combiners coupled to the set of antennas and the local oscillator, the one or more optical signal combiners configured to combine (i) the optical signals received by the antennas and (ii) the optical carrier signal; and one or more photodetectors configured to extract information carried by one or more of the received optical signals into an electrical signal, wherein the extracted information is indicative of a phase and an amplitude of the one or more of the received optical signals.

Abstract: A focused ultrasonic transducer includes a piezoelectric substrate having a first face and a second face, a back metal layer disposed over the first face, and a patterned metal layer disposed over the second face. The patterned metal layer includes a first plurality of concentric ring electrodes wherein each of the first plurality of concentric ring electrodes are wired to be individually accessible. A controller actuates a subset of the concentric ring electrodes such that electrical control of focal length is achieved by selecting a group of electrodes to actuate so that acoustic waves generated from selected electrodes arrive at a desired focal length in-phase and interfere constructively to create a focal spot of high acoustic intensity. The patterned metal layer optionally includes a first central electrode that is surrounded by the first plurality of concentric ring electrodes.

Abstract: Examples are described for dynamically encrypting and/or decrypting a file formed of multiple blocks of ordered data. In one example, a method of dynamically encrypting a file to enable partial decryption of the file includes generating, using a secret key and one or more initialization vectors, a keystream for the multiple blocks of ordered data, encrypting the multiple blocks of ordered data of the file by performing a logical operation of the keystream with the multiple blocks of ordered data in a one-to-one correspondence, and building a file index of the file to identify location information of the multiple blocks of ordered data. The method may further include dynamically decrypting at least a portion of the file by decrypting at least one selected block of encrypted data of the file using a portion of the keystream, the portion of the keystream corresponding to the at least one selected block.

Abstract: In some aspects, the present disclosure provides compounds of the formula: wherein the variables are as defined herein. In some embodiments, these compounds may be used to reduce the pain of a patient. These compounds may be used in pain relief and show an improved pharmaceutical profile relative to other commonly used opiates and opioid derivatives.