Abstract: An RF transceiver device, for use in an RF system, includes a chip package comprising one or more circuit components, a signal cable, and an antenna block. The signal cable is configured to carry signals sent to the chip package or received from the chip package. The signal cable has a first surface and a second surface. The chip package is directly coupled to the first surface of the signal cable. The antenna block comprises one or more antennas and is directly coupled to the second surface of the signal cable. By directly coupling the chip package and antenna block to the signal cable, bulky connectors are no longer needed thus reducing the total footprint of the transceiver device and increasing signal fidelity. The arrangement may be integrated with, for example, a PCB or a communication system.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of engineering a bi-specific T-cell expressing chimeric antigen receptors for promoting the in vivo expansion and activation of an effector cell and a second chimeric antigen receptor or TcR specific for a ligand on a tumor. Methods of administering to subjects in need, bi-specific chimeric antigen receptor bearing cells are also provided.

Abstract: The described embodiments transfer an activity from a source electronic device to a companion electronic device. The source electronic device receives activity information describing an activity performed in a first application at the source electronic device, determines an activity identifier for the activity information, and broadcasts an activity advertisement comprising the activity identifier. Upon receiving the activity advertisement, the companion electronic device determines whether a second application that is associated with the first application is available at the companion electronic device. If the second application is available, the companion electronic device requests extended activity data from the source electronic device. The source electronic device responds by sending extended activity data from the first application to the companion electronic device.

Abstract: Techniques for fabricating end-fire antennas are described. An example of an electronic device with an end-fire antenna includes a housing of the electronic device, and a circuit board comprising electronic components of the mobile electronic device. The circuit board is parallel with the major plane of the housing. The electronic device includes an antenna coupled to the circuit board. At least a portion of the antenna is oriented perpendicular to the first circuit board to generate a radiation pattern with an amplitude that is greater in the end-fire direction compared to the broadside direction.

Abstract: Provided herein is a system for inducible expression of a chimeric antigen receptor in cells, such as mammalian cells.

Abstract: Messaging between a companion device and an accessory device is controlled such that different modes of communication may be utilized. The different modes can implement different messaging strategies, each of which is intended for efficient power management, in view of the limited electrical power that is typically available at the accessory device. A received request message for sending from the companion device to the accessory device is sent if predetermined conditions apply, and similarly for messages from the accessory device to the companion device.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of making a genetically modified immune cell for modifying a tumor microenvironment (TME) and methods of modifying a tumor microenvironment (TME). In some embodiments, the method can include delivering a first vector to an immune cell, wherein the first vector comprises a nucleic acid encoding a protein that induces T-cell proliferation, promotes persistence and activation of endogenous or adoptively transferred NK or T cells and/or induces production of an interleukin, an interferon, a PD-1 checkpoint binding protein, HMGB1, MyD88, a cytokine or a chemokine. Methods of modulating the suppression of the immune response in a tumor microenvironment, minimizing the proliferation of tumor and suppressive cells, and increasing the efficiency of an anti-cancer therapy, anti-infection therapy, antibacterial therapy, anti-viral therapy, or anti-tumoral therapy are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides genetic tags operably linked to transgenes. The expression of the genetic tag allows identification, detection, selection, and ablation of cells expressing the transgene and the genetic tag. In some alternatives the genetically modified host cell comprises a transgene comprising a polynucleotide coding for a chimeric antigen receptor comprising a ligand binding domain, a polynucleotide comprising a spacer region, a polynucleotide comprising a transmembrane domain, and a polynucleotide comprising an intracellular signaling domain and a polynucleotide coding for a genetic tag.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention described herein relate to methods of making and using inducible promoters for transgene expression. The inducible promoters are derived from the NFAT-RE inducible system and are used to improve or enhance T cell survival and proliferation.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention described herein relate to synthetic compounds that are useful for targeting and labeling tumor cells so as to facilitate recognition by binding agents including Chimeric Antigen Receptor T cells (CAR T cells), which are administered to a subject by intravenous or locoregional administration. Several compositions and methods of making and using these compositions to treat or inhibit a disease in a subject are contemplated.

Abstract: The present invention provides nucleic acids, vectors, host cells, methods and compositions to confer and/or augment immune responses mediated by cellular immunotherapy, such as by adoptively transferring CD8+ central memory T cells or combinations of central memory T cells with CD4+ T cells that are genetically modified to express a chimeric receptor. In embodiments the genetically modified host cell comprises a nucleic acid comprising a polynucleotide coding for a ligand binding domain, a polynucleotide comprising a customized spacer region, a polynucleotide comprising a transmembrane domain, and a polynucleotide comprising an intracellular signaling domain. It has been surprisingly found that the length of the spacer region can affects the ability of chimeric receptor modified T cells to recognize target cells in vitro and affects in vivo efficacy of the chimeric receptor modified T cells. Pharmaceutical formulations produced by the method, and methods of using the same, are also described.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are nuclease-based systems for genome editing and methods of using the system for genome editing. Also, disclosed are approaches to enhance Cas9-mediated gene editing efficiency in primary human cells with minimal toxicity when using adeno-associated virus vectors (AAV) to express the guide RNAs necessary for CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing in the presence of helper proteins.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of carrying out adoptive immunotherapy in a primate subject in need thereof by administering the subject a cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) preparation in a treatment-effective amount. The method comprises administering as the CTL preparation a preparation consisting essentially of an in vitro expanded primate CTL population, the CTL population enriched prior to expansion for central memory T lymphocytes, and depleted prior to expansion of effector memory T lymphocytes. In some embodiments, the method may further comprise concurrently administering Interleukin-15 to the subject in an amount effective to increase the proliferation of the central memory T cells in the subject. Pharmaceutical formulations produced by the method, and methods of using the same, are also described.

Abstract: The embodiments set forth a technique for coordinating notifications across computing devices placed onto a wireless charging apparatus. According to some embodiments, the technique can involve the wireless charging apparatus (1) receiving, from a first computing device, first information that includes (i) a first unique identifier (ID) associated with the first computing device, and (ii) one or more unique IDs that are each associated with a respective auxiliary computing device known to the first computing device. Subsequently, the wireless charging apparatus can receive, from a second computing device, second information that at least includes a second unique ID associated with the second computing device. Finally, the wireless charging apparatus can, in response to determining that the second unique ID is included in the one or more unique IDs, and cause both the first and second computing devices to display respective notifications in a coordinated manner.

Abstract: A non-immunogenic selection epitope may be generated by removing certain amino acid sequences of the protein. For example, a gene encoding a truncated human epidermal growth factor receptor polypeptide (EGFRt) that lacks the membrane distal EGF-binding domain and the cytoplasmic signaling tail, but retains an extracellular epitope recognized by an anti-EGFR antibody is provided. Cells may be genetically modified to express EGFRt and then purified without the immunoactivity that would accompany the use of full-length EGFR immunoactivity. Through flow cytometric analysis, EGFRt was successfully utilized as an in vivo tracking marker for genetically modified human T cell engraftment in mice. Furthermore, EGFRt was demonstrated to have cellular depletion potential through cetuximab mediated antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) pathways.

Abstract: In response to a first condition in a first subsystem of a robot, a controller halts operation of the first subsystem; transmits a set command specifying a first notification to an interface system; obtains status information from the interface system; and, in response to the status information indicating that the first notification has a cleared status, resumes operation of the first subsystem. The interface system maintains a set of active notifications and tracks a set of devices configured to receive notifications. Each of the devices is associated with a respective operator. In response to receiving the set command, the interface system: adds the first notification to the set of active notifications; determines a subset of devices to receive the first notification; wirelessly transmits the first notification to the subset; and, in response to receiving a clear message specifying the first notification, sets the first notification to the cleared status.

Abstract: A self-cleaning floor assembly is configured to form or be positioned on a floor of an enclosed space. The self-cleaning floor assembly includes a moveable floor including a moveable floor panel, an actuation system that is operatively coupled to the floor panel, and a cleaning system proximate to at least a portion of the moveable floor. The actuation system is configured to move at least a portion of the floor panel into and through the cleaning system during a cleaning cycle. The cleaning system is configured to clean the portion(s) of the floor panel during the cleaning cycle.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of carrying out adoptive immunotherapy in a primate subject in need thereof by administering the subject a cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) preparation in a treatment-effective amount. The method comprises administering as the CTL preparation a preparation consisting essentially of an in vitro expanded primate CTL population, the CTL population enriched prior to expansion for central memory T lymphocytes, and depleted prior to expansion of effector memory T lymphocytes. In some embodiments, the method may further comprise concurrently administering Interleukin-15 to the subject in an amount effective to increase the proliferation of the central memory T cells in the subject. Pharmaceutical formulations produced by the method, and methods of using the same, are also described.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods of treating a patient with a cancer by administering to the patient a composition comprising CAR T cells wherein the CAR T cells comprise a CAR and the CAR comprises an E2 anti-fluorescein antibody fragment, and administering to the patient a small molecule linked to a targeting moiety by a linker. The disclosure also relates to compositions for use in such methods.

Abstract: The present invention provides nucleic acids, vectors, host cells, methods and compositions to confer and/or augment immune responses mediated by cellular immunotherapy, such as by adoptively transferring CD8+ central memory T cells or combinations of central memory T cells with CD4+ T cells that are genetically modified to express a chimeric receptor under the control of an inducible promoter. In some alternatives the genetically modified host cell comprises a nucleic acid comprising a polynucleotide coding for a chimeric antigen receptor comprising a ligand binding domain, a polynucleotide comprising a spacer region, a polynucleotide comprising a transmembrane domain, and a polynucleotide comprising an intracellular signaling domain under the control of a drug inducible promoter. Controlling the expression of the chimeric receptor provides for the ability to turn expression on and off depending on the status of the patient.