Abstract: The disclosure features compositions and methods for treating subjects 25 years of age or older having biallelic mutations in otoferlin (OTOF) by way of OTOF gene therapy. The disclosure provides a variety of compositions that include a first nucleic acid vector that contains a polynucleotide encoding an N-terminal portion of an OTOF protein and a second nucleic acid vector that contains a polynucleotide encoding a C-terminal portion of an OTOF protein. These vectors can be used to treat hearing loss or auditory neuropathy in a subject having biallelic OTOF mutations.

Abstract: The disclosure features compositions and methods for the treatment of inner ear dysfunction, such as hearing loss or vestibular dysfunction, that reduce inflammatory or cell-mediated immune toxicity in the inner ear, thereby improving transduction and therapeutic efficacy. The disclosure provides a variety of compositions that include a nucleic acid vector that contains a polynucleotide encoding a therapeutic agent operably linked to a ubiquitous promoter and inhibitor of inflammatory or immune cell signaling. The disclosed compositions and methods can be used to increase expression of the therapeutic agent in a subject, such as a human subject suffering from an inner ear dysfunction, while minimizing undesirable immune activation resulting from off-target expression of the target protein in immune cells of the inner ear.

Abstract: A method of forming a protective coating on an interconnect for an electrochemical device stack includes providing a powder on the interconnect and laser sintering the powder.

Abstract: A basketball shot counter includes a mounting shaped and sized to connect the basketball shot counter to a portion of a basketball goal having a basketball hoop; a vibration sensor; a processor in data communication with the vibration sensor, wherein the processor is configured to receive, from the vibration sensor, a datastream of vibration sensor readings; determine, from the datastream of vibration sensor readings, that a first basketball shot was attempted without successfully going through the basketball hoop; and determine, from the datastream of vibration sensor readings, that a second basketball shot was attempted and successfully went through the basketball hoop.

Abstract: For each X-ray path through a tissue, numerous trials are conducted. In each trial, X-ray photons are emitted along the path until a Geiger-mode avalanche photodiode “clicks”. A temporal average—i.e., the average amount of time elapsed before a “click” occurs—is calculated. This temporal average is, in turn, used to estimate a causal intensity of X-ray light that passes through the tissue along the path and reaches the diode. Based on the causal intensities for multiple paths, a computer generates computed tomography (CT) images or 2D digital radiographic images. The causal intensities used to create the images are estimated from temporal statistics, and not from conventional measurements of intensity at a pixel. X-ray dosage needed for imaging is dramatically reduced as follows: a “click” of the photodiode triggers negative feedback that causes the system to halt irradiation of the tissue along a path, until the next trial begins.

Abstract: For each X-ray path through a tissue, numerous trials are conducted. In each trial, X-ray photons are emitted along the path until a Geiger-mode avalanche photodiode “clicks”. A temporal average—i.e., the average amount of time elapsed before a “click” occurs—is calculated. This temporal average is, in turn, used to estimate a causal intensity of X-ray light that passes through the tissue along the path and reaches the diode. Based on the causal intensities for multiple paths, a computer generates computed tomography (CT) images or 2D digital radiographic images. The causal intensities used to create the images are estimated from temporal statistics, and not from conventional measurements of intensity at a pixel. X-ray dosage needed for imaging is dramatically reduced as follows: a “click” of the photodiode triggers negative feedback that causes the system to halt irradiation of the tissue along a path, until the next trial begins.