Abstract: A fish tape case is configured to house a fish tape. The fish tape includes a shell having an upper base wall, a lower base wall, an inner side wall extending between inner perimeters of the base walls and forming a central aperture through the shell, an outer side wall extending between outer perimeters of the base walls and defining an outer diameter of the shell, the walls defining a cavity therein, the upper base wall having a first opening therethrough in communication with the cavity through which the fish tape can exit, and the outer side wall having a second opening therethrough in communication with the cavity through which the fish tape can exit. A storage reel is mounted in the cavity for holding the fish tape.

Abstract: The invention relates to constructs comprising a transmembrane protein pore subunit and a nucleic acid handling enzyme. The pore subunit is covalently attached to the enzyme such that both the subunit and enzyme retain their activity. The constructs can be used to generate transmembrane protein pores having a nucleic acid handling enzyme attached thereto. Such pores are particularly useful for sequencing nucleic acids. The enzyme handles the nucleic acid in such a way that the pore can detect its component nucleotides by stochastic sensing.

Abstract: Disclosed here are uses of autophagy inhibitors for treating a subject at risk of suffering from an aneurysm. The present disclosure demonstrates that autophagy plays a role in THSD1-mediated focal adhesion stability and aneurysm formation and characterizes molecular targets for therapeutic intervention.

Abstract: End launch termination devices are shown and disclosed. In one embodiment, the device includes a housing, a first clamp fixedly attached to the housing, and a second clamp opposed to the first clamp and movably attached to at least one of the first clamp or the housing, the first and second clamps defining a gap therebetween to receive a test substrate. The device additionally includes a conductor received in the cavity and fixedly attached to the housing, a center pin attached to the conductor and extending into the gap, and a rod resistor received in the cavity, attached to the conductor, and extending out of the housing.

Abstract: The disclosure describes global transcriptome profiling in human vascular endothelial cells upon THSD1 knockdown and identification from these studies of specific genes and pathways that are THSD1. The analysis highlights a role for THSD1 in regulating endothelial to mesenchymal transition and other pathways. The analysis also demonstrates that endothelial cell injury is the first event of an intracranial aneurysm. The disclosure provides novel cell lines and reagents used for better understanding the molecular mechanism of THSD1 biology.

Abstract: Disclosed here are uses of anti-podosome therapies for treating a subject at risk of suffering from an aneurysm. The present disclosure demonstrates that endothelial podosomes plays a role in THSD1-mediated focal adhesion stability and aneurysm formation and characterizes molecular targets for therapeutic intervention.

Abstract: Disclosed here are metal coils conjugated to TGF-beta ligand(s) or TGF-beta activator(s) to improve the outcome of existing surgical treatments on intracranial aneurysm patients and methods for using the same.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for producing a droplet assembly, which apparatus comprises: at least one droplet generator suitable for generating droplets of a viscous droplet medium; a droplet receiving region which is moveable relative to the at least one droplet generator; a temperature controller; and a control unit, which control unit is adapted to control the dispensing of droplets from the at least one droplet generator and the movement of the droplet receiving region relative to the at least one droplet generator, wherein the apparatus is adapted to produce a droplet assembly in the droplet receiving region, wherein the droplet assembly comprises a plurality of droplets, wherein each of said droplets comprises (i) a droplet medium, and (ii) an outer layer of amphipathic molecules around the surface of the droplet medium.

Abstract: A fish tape case is configured to house a fish tape in accordance with some example embodiments is provided. The fish tape includes a shell having a rotatable tray therein. A fish tape extends through openings in the shell and the tray. The fish tape case does not include a handle.

Abstract: A hand-held conduit bending tool includes an elongated handle and a bender head disposed on the handle. The bender head comprising a body portion having at least one curved channel therein. In an embodiment, the channel is elliptical in cross-section. A handle mount is at a rear end of the body portion and rearward of the hook portion and a foot pedal is formed. In some embodiments, two channels are provided to accommodate two differently sized conduits. Markings are provided to enable use of the tool in a head-down position and in a head-up position.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for producing a gel network, which gel network comprises a plurality of joined gel objects, which process comprises: forming a plurality of gel objects in one or more microfluidic channels; dispensing the gel objects from the one or more microfluidic channels into a region for producing the network; and contacting each gel object with at least one other gel object in said region to join each gel object to at least one other gel object at a region of contact between the gel objects. The invention also provides a network of joined gel objects, comprising a plurality of gel objects, wherein each gel object is joined to an adjacent gel object at a region of contact between the gel objects. Also provided are various possible uses of the gel network.

Abstract: The invention relates to a new method of determining the presence, absence, number or position(s) of one or more post-translational modifications in a peptide, polypeptide or protein. The invention uses transmembrane pores.

Abstract: The invention provides a droplet encapsulate comprising: a drop of a hydrophobic medium; a peripheral layer of non-polymeric amphipathic molecules around the surface of the drop; and an aqueous droplet within the peripheral layer, the aqueous droplet comprising: (a) an aqueous medium and (b) an outer layer of non-polymeric amphipathic molecules around the surface of the aqueous medium. The invention also provides processes for preparing the droplet encapsulates. Various uses of the droplet encapsulates are also described, including their use as drug delivery vehicles, in synthetic biology, and in the study of membrane proteins.

Abstract: A fish tape case is configured to house a fish tape. The fish tape includes a shell having an upper base wall, a lower base wall, an inner side wall extending between inner perimeters of the base walls and forming a central aperture through the shell, an outer side wall extending between outer perimeters of the base walls and defining an outer diameter of the shell, the walls defining a cavity therein, the upper base wall having a first opening therethrough in communication with the cavity through which the fish tape can exit, and the outer side wall having a second opening therethrough in communication with the cavity through which the fish tape can exit. A storage reel is mounted in the cavity for holding the fish tape.

Abstract: A fish tape case is configured to house a fish tape in accordance with some example embodiments is provided. The fish tape includes a shell having a rotatable tray therein. A fish tape extends through openings in the shell and the tray. The fish tape case does not include a handle.

Abstract: The invention provides a droplet encapsulate comprising: a drop of a hydrophobic medium; a peripheral layer of non-polymeric amphipathic molecules around the surface of the drop; and an aqueous droplet within the peripheral layer, the aqueous droplet comprising: (a) an aqueous medium and (b) an outer layer of non-polymeric amphipathic molecules around the surface of the aqueous medium. The invention also provides processes for preparing the droplet encapsulates. Various uses of the droplet encapsulates are also described, including their use as drug delivery vehicles, in synthetic biology, and in the study of membrane proteins.

Abstract: An ergonomic fish tape configured to house a fish tape in accordance with some example embodiments is provided. The fish tape includes a shell having an upper base wall, a lower base wall, an inner side wall extending between inner perimeters of the base walls and forming a central aperture through the shell, an outer side wall extending between outer perimeters of the base walls and defining an outer diameter of the shell, the walls defining a cavity therein, and a storage tray within the cavity. An opening through which the fish tape can pass is provided through the outer side wall. The fish tape case does not include a handle, and the walls of the shell are devoid of surfaces which would indicate or suggest to a user as to how to grip the fish tape case.

Abstract: The invention provides a compartmentalised gel matrix comprising one or more compartments, wherein each compartment comprises a volume of hydrophobic medium and one or more aqueous droplets therein. The invention further provides a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a compartmentalised gel matrix according to the invention, a synthetic cell comprising a compartmentalised gel matrix according to the invention and a synthetic tissue comprising a compartmentalised gel matrix according to the invention.

Abstract: An ergonomic fish tape configured to house a fish tape in accordance with some example embodiments is provided. The fish tape includes a shell having an upper base wall, a lower base wall, an inner side wall extending between inner perimeters of the base walls and forming a central aperture through the shell, an outer side wall extending between outer perimeters of the base walls and defining an outer diameter of the shell, the walls defining a cavity therein, and a storage tray within the cavity. An opening through which the fish tape can pass is provided through the outer side wall. The fish tape case does not include a handle, and the walls of the shell are devoid of surfaces which would indicate or suggest to a user as to how to grip the fish tape case.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for producing a droplet assembly, which apparatus comprises a droplet generator. A process for producing a droplet assembly, using an apparatus comprising a droplet generator is also described. The invention also relates to droplet assemblies comprising a plurality of droplets. Various uses of the droplet assemblies are also described.