Abstract: Systems and methods for the automated culture of cells and apparatus and methods for dissociating one or more colonies in a culture of cells are described. The automated systems include at least an imaging module, a pipette module, a handling module, and optionally a stage module. Coordinated operation of the foregoing modules is effected by at least one processor based on one or more characteristics of the culture of cells calculated from one or more images captured at a first time point and at one or more subsequent time points. The apparatus includes a mounting surface, having one or more impact bumpers, connected to a rotatable drive, a platform rotatable dependently or independently of the drive, and one or more impact brackets connected to the platform and collidable with the one or more impact bumpers to transmit a dissociative force to a culture of cells in a cell culture vessel upon the platform.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a vaccine comprising at least one peptide antigen conjugate having the formula selected from PEG-[E1]-A-[E2]-[U]-H and H-[U]-[E1]-A-[E2]-PEG, wherein E1 is an N terminal extension, E2 is a C terminal extension, A is peptide antigen, H is hydrobhobic block, wherein one or more drug molecules (D) are optionally attached to each H directly or via a suitable linker X1; U is a linker, [ ] denotes the group is optional and - denotes that the two adjacent groups are directly attached to one another by a covalent bond or indirectly to one another via a suitable linker X. The vaccine is useful in treating or preventing a cancer, an autoimmune disease, an allergy, or an infectious disease.

Abstract: Methods, devices and system for designing and deploying one or more data processing pipelines on an embedded system. These data processing pipelines may be deployed without requiring the application running on the embedded system to be rebuilt, redeployed, or halted.

Abstract: A device comprises a superconducting quantum bit, and a tunable readout resonator coupled to the superconducting quantum bit. The tunable readout resonator comprises a fixed resonator and a tunable element which is coupled to the fixed resonator and which is configured for flux-tuning the tunable readout resonator into at least one of a first state and a second state. The tunable element comprises a superconducting loop which comprises at least two asymmetric Josephson junctions. In the first state, the tunable readout resonator comprises a first resonant frequency that differs from a transition frequency of the superconducting quantum bit by a first detuning value. In the second state, the tunable readout resonator comprises a second resonant frequency that differs from the transition frequency of the superconducting quantum bit by a second detuning value, which is less than the first detuning value.

Abstract: Systems and methods for the automated culture of cells and apparatus and methods for dissociating one or more colonies in a culture of cells are described. The automated systems include at least an imaging module, a pipette module, a handling module, and optionally a stage module. Coordinated operation of the foregoing modules is effected by at least one processor based on one or more characteristics of the culture of cells calculated from one or more images captured at a first time point and at one or more subsequent time points. The apparatus includes a mounting surface, having one or more impact bumpers, connected to a rotatable drive, a platform rotatable dependently or independently of the drive, and one or more impact brackets connected to the platform and collidable with the one or more impact bumpers to transmit a dissociative force to a culture of cells in a cell culture vessel upon the platform.

Abstract: A variable light transmittance sheet comprises a first transparent electrode and a second transparent electrode spaced apart from the first electrode, and between the electrodes an electrophoretic cell containing an electrophoretic ink and one or more non-planar solid polymer elements. In an embodiment, the electrophoretic ink includes charged particles in a suspending fluid, and 75% or more by mass of the suspending fluid is an organosilicone or an aliphatic hydrocarbon and the solid polymer is a fluorinated elastomeric polymer.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a vaccine comprising an amphiphile having the formula S-[B]-[U]-H and at least one peptide antigen conjugate having the formula selected from [S]-[E1]-A-[E2]-[U]-H and H-[U]-[E1]-A-[E2]-[S], wherein the amphiphile and/or the at least one peptide antigen conjugate comprises a dendron amplifier. The vaccine is useful in treating or preventing a cancer, an autoimmune disease, an allergy, an infectious disease, a cardiovascular disease, or a neurodegenerative disease.

Abstract: A device for occlusion of a body lumen comprises an implantable occlusion apparatus (3) operably attached to an elongated catheter member (4) configured for transluminal delivery and deployment of the occlusion apparatus in the body lumen. The occlusion apparatus comprises a radially expansible element (5) detachably attached to the elongated catheter member, and adjustable between a contracted orientation suitable for 10 transluminal delivery and a deployed orientation configured to occlude the body lumen, an energy delivery element (6, 14, 21) configured to deliver energy to surrounding tissue to heat the tissue, and a sensor (7) configured to detect a parameter of the wall of the body lumen. The energy delivery element (6, 14, 21) and sensor (7) are axially movable independently of the radially expansible element whereby, in use, the energy delivery 15 element and sensor can be transluminally retracted leaving the radially expansible element in-situ occluding the body lumen.

Abstract: This invention relates to antibacterial compounds and compositions thereof. The invention also relates to the use of the compounds and compositions in methods of treating bacterial infections, particularly those bacterial infections including bacteria that exhibit antibiotic resistance. More specifically, the present invention provides a star shaped peptide polymer comprising a multifunctional core with a plurality of terminal arms extending therefrom, wherein the terminal arms are statistical or random peptide copolymers of at least a cationic amino acid residue and a hydrophobic amino acid residue.

Abstract: Devices, systems and/or methods facilitating two qubit readouts are provided. In an embodiment, a system can comprise a data qubit; a coupler coupling the data qubit to a measurement qubit; and a measurement resonator coupled to the measurement qubit, wherein the measurement resonator is capable of transmitting a tone through the resonator to the measurement qubit.

Abstract: A method of treating a vessel in a subject comprises the steps of advancing a device distally across a treatment zone in a vessel, wherein the device comprises an elongated catheter having a lumen and a distal end, and a radially expansive treatment element disposed in the lumen and configured for axial movement relative to the catheter; deploying the radially expansive treatment element proud of the distal end of the catheter to radially expand and circumferentially impress against the vessel lumen at a distal end of the treatment zone; and withdrawing the deployed radially expansive treatment element proximally along the treatment zone with the treatment element circumferentially impressed against the vessel lumen to mechanically and circumferentially denude the treatment zone of the vessel. The radially expansive treatment element is then recaptured into the lumen of the catheter, before the device is withdrawn from the treated vessel.

Abstract: A chimeric or fusion protein for inducing an immune response to P. gingivalis, the protein comprising a first polypeptide linked to a second polypeptide, wherein: A) the first polypeptide comprises or consists of an amino acid sequence of the active site of an Arg- or Lys-gingipain of P. gingivalis, or a sequence that is at least 80% identical thereto; and B) the second polypeptide comprises or consists of an amino acid sequence of an adhesin domain of an Arg- or Lys-gingipain of P. gingivalis; and wherein the second polypeptide: a) comprises an amino acid sequence corresponding substantially to the full length of the DUF2436 domain of an Arg- or Lys-gingipain, or a sequence at least 80% identical thereto; and/or b) comprises one or more cysteine amino acid substitutions in the adhesin domain, compared to the naturally occurring Arg- or Lys-gingipain sequences in corresponding regions; and optionally comprises one or more amino acid motif substitutions in the adhesin domain for reducing multimerisation.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods for the adaptive passage of a culture of cells and apparatus and methods for dissociating cell colonies are described. The systems may include an imaging module, a pipette module, a handling module, and/or a stage module. Coordinated operation of the modules, optionally in an automated manner, is effected by at least one processor based on one or more characteristics of the culture of cells calculated from one or more images captured at more than one time point. A first apparatus for adaptive passage of a culture cells includes an imaging module and at least one processor, which apparatus may be included in the systems or used in the methods. A second apparatus for dissociating cell colonies, may also be included in the systems or used in the methods, includes impact bumper(s) collidable with impact bracket(s) to transmit a dissociative force to a culture of cells.

Abstract: A method for adjusting a resonance frequency of a qubit in a quantum mechanical device includes providing a substrate having a frontside and a backside, the frontside having at least one qubit formed thereon, the at least one qubit comprising capacitor pads; and removing substrate material from the backside of the substrate at an area opposite the at least one qubit to alter a capacitance around the at least one qubit so as to adjust a resonance frequency of the at least one qubit.

Abstract: A switchable light modulator device (201, 202, 203, 204, 205) comprises a first substrate (101, 102, 103) and a second substrate (141, 142, 143, 144) with opposite major surfaces spaced apart by one or more polymer structures that each comprise two or more parts and define wall features (21b, 22b, 23b) for a plurality of cavities (111, 112, 113, 114), the cavities sealing a fluid (71, 72, 73, 74) or gel in discrete volumes. Each of the one or more polymer structures comprises a mould part (21, 22, 23) bonded to the first substrate and defining a recess (31, 32, 33), and a cast part (81, 82, 83, 84) filling the recess and bonded to the second substrate and a surface of the recess, the cast part being defined by the surface of the recess and the second substrate replicating the surfaces of both.

Abstract: A light attenuator that provides transparent light states and absorbing dark states for use in selectively controlling light, especially for smart glass applications. The light attenuator includes abutting areas of attenuation and transparency that form a repeat pattern or a quasi-repeat pattern. The attenuating areas are visible when the light attenuator is in the light state, but the repeat pattern is sufficiently large that a viewer looks through the attenuator and sees no haze.

Abstract: A method of treating a vessel in a subject comprises the steps of advancing a device distally across a treatment zone in a vessel, wherein the device comprises an elongated catheter having a lumen and a distal end, and a radially expansive treatment element disposed in the lumen and configured for axial movement relative to the catheter; deploying the radially expansive treatment element proud of the distal end of the catheter to radially expand and circumferentially impress against the vessel lumen at a distal end of the treatment zone; and withdrawing the deployed radially expansive treatment element proximally along the treatment zone with the treatment element circumferentially impressed against the vessel lumen to mechanically and circumferentially denude the treatment zone of the vessel. The radially expansive treatment element is then recaptured into the lumen of the catheter, before the device is withdrawn from the treated vessel.

Abstract: One or more systems, devices, methods of use and/or methods of fabrication provided herein relate to a superconducting device that can be operated with minimal electric field energy coupling at surface layers of the superconducting device and/or that can have a small footprint. According to one embodiment, a device can comprise a Josephson junction located between a first capacitor portion and a second capacitor portion of a capacitor, wherein at least a trenched section of the first capacitor portion is located beneath a surface of a substrate, and wherein at least a trenched section of the second capacitor portion is located beneath the surface of the substrate. According to another embodiment, a device can comprise a capacitor disposed within a substrate layer and the capacitor comprising a pair of material-filled trenches in the substrate layer, and a Josephson junction coupled to the capacitor.

Abstract: A light attenuator that provides transparent light states and absorbing dark states for use in selectively controlling light, especially for smart glass applications. The light attenuator includes abutting areas of attenuation and transparency that form a repeat pattern or a quasi-repeat pattern. The attenuating areas are visible when the light attenuator is in the light state, but the repeat pattern is sufficiently large that a viewer looks through the attenuator and sees no haze.

Abstract: A grease filter assembly traps more than 90% of grease from cooking activities entrained in air, and may be used in commercial range hoods. An exemplary grease filter assembly comprises a housing, an intake baffle assembly, and an exhaust trap baffle assembly. The housing is configured to house and support the intake baffle assembly and exhaust trap baffle assembly to form a single grease filter assembly. The intake baffle assembly includes air-splitting and air-redirecting baffles configured to work in tandem as a first stage. The exhaust trap baffle assembly includes a diverter array and a spacer array that forms a second stage. Exhaust air is thus directed through a tightly-defined serpentine-shaped region in the first stage and around the air-diverting baffle array in the second stage to cause increases in air stream speeds, turbulence and/or resulting pressure drops that greatly increase removal of grease from exhaust air.