Abstract: Catheters with deployable instruments (e.g., needles) can damage tissue if the instrument unintentionally deploys during use. Described herein are devices and methods for controlling the position of a deployable catheter instrument. In one embodiment, a catheter can include an instrument slidably disposed within an inner lumen of the catheter and coupled to at least one protrusion, as well as a retraction stop coupled to the catheter. The catheter can further include a biasing element coupled to the instrument that can urge the instrument proximally such that the at least one protrusion abuts against the retraction stop, as well as an advancing mechanism to selectively engage the instrument and urge it distally. In some embodiments, the biasing element can be omitted and a deployment stop can be included distal to the retraction stop. These configurations can prevent unintentional instrument deployment and provide greater positioning precision during instrument deployment.

Abstract: Devices and methods for delivering fluid to tissue during ablation therapy are described herein. An exemplary device can include an elongate body having an inner lumen, outlet ports, and an ablation element configured to heat tissue. A flow resistance of the elongate body can increase along a length of the elongate body containing the outlet ports in a proximal to distal direction. This can be accomplished by, for example, varying outlet port size or relative spacing, decreasing a cross-sectional area of the inner lumen through which fluid can flow using a flow diverter or tapered inner lumen sidewalls, or limiting a ratio between a total area of the outlet ports and a cross-sectional area of the inner lumen. Adjusting flow resistance of the elongate body can provide more uniform fluid distribution or a desired non-uniform distribution.

Abstract: Catheters with deployable instruments (e.g., needles) can damage tissue if the instrument unintentionally deploys during use. Described herein are devices and methods for controlling the position of a deployable catheter instrument. In one embodiment, a catheter can include an instrument slidably disposed within an inner lumen of the catheter and coupled to at least one protrusion, as well as a retraction stop coupled to the catheter. The catheter can further include a biasing element coupled to the instrument that can urge the instrument proximally such that the at least one protrusion abuts against the retraction stop, as well as an advancing mechanism to selectively engage the instrument and urge it distally. In some embodiments, the biasing element can be omitted and a deployment stop can be included distal to the retraction stop. These configurations can prevent unintentional instrument deployment and provide greater positioning precision during instrument deployment.

Abstract: Devices and methods for delivering fluid to tissue during ablation therapy are described herein. An exemplary device can include an elongate body having an inner lumen, outlet ports, and an ablation element configured to heat tissue. A flow resistance of the elongate body can increase along a length of the elongate body containing the outlet ports in a proximal to distal direction. This can be accomplished by, for example, varying outlet port size or relative spacing, decreasing a cross-sectional area of the inner lumen through which fluid can flow using a flow diverter or tapered inner lumen sidewalls, or limiting a ratio between a total area of the outlet ports and a cross-sectional area of the inner lumen. Adjusting flow resistance of the elongate body can provide more uniform fluid distribution or a desired non-uniform distribution.

Abstract: An analytical computing environment for large data sets comprises a software platform for data management. The platform provides various automation and self-service features to enable those users to rapidly provision and manage an agile analytics environment. The platform leverages a metadata repository, which tracks and manages all aspects of the data lifecycle. The repository maintains various types of platform metadata including, for example, status information (load dates, quality exceptions, access rights, etc.), definitions (business meaning, technical formats, etc.), lineage (data sources and processes creating a data set, etc.), and user data (user rights, access history, user comments, etc.). Within the platform, the metadata is integrated with all platform services, such as load processing, quality controls and system use. As the system is used, the metadata gets richer and more valuable, supporting additional automation and quality controls.

Abstract: Catheters with deployable instruments (e.g., needles) can damage tissue if the instrument unintentionally deploys during use. Described herein are devices and methods for controlling the position of a deployable catheter instrument. In one embodiment, a catheter can include an instrument slidably disposed within an inner lumen of the catheter and coupled to at least one protrusion, as well as a retraction stop coupled to the catheter. The catheter can further include a biasing element coupled to the instrument that can urge the instrument proximally such that the at least one protrusion abuts against the retraction stop, as well as an advancing mechanism to selectively engage the instrument and urge it distally. In some embodiments, the biasing element can be omitted and a deployment stop can be included distal to the retraction stop. These configurations can prevent unintentional instrument deployment and provide greater positioning precision during instrument deployment.

Abstract: An analytical computing environment for large data sets comprises a software platform for data management. The platform provides various automation and self-service features to enable those users to rapidly provision and manage an agile analytics environment. The platform leverages a metadata repository, which tracks and manages all aspects of the data lifecycle. The repository maintains various types of platform metadata including, for example, status information (load dates, quality exceptions, access rights, etc.), definitions (business meaning, technical formats, etc.), lineage (data sources and processes creating a data set, etc.), and user data (user rights, access history, user comments, etc.). Within the platform, the metadata is integrated with all platform services, such as load processing, quality controls and system use. As the system is used, the metadata gets richer and more valuable, supporting additional automation and quality controls.

Abstract: Devices and methods for delivering fluid to tissue during ablation therapy are described herein. An exemplary device can include an elongate body having an inner lumen, outlet ports, and an ablation element configured to heat tissue. A flow resistance of the elongate body can increase along a length of the elongate body containing the outlet ports in a proximal to distal direction. This can be accomplished by, for example, varying outlet port size or relative spacing, decreasing a cross-sectional area of the inner lumen through which fluid can flow using a flow diverter or tapered inner lumen sidewalls, or limiting a ratio between a total area of the outlet ports and a cross-sectional area of the inner lumen. Adjusting flow resistance of the elongate body can provide more uniform fluid distribution or a desired non-uniform distribution.

Abstract: Devices and methods for delivering fluid to tissue during ablation therapy are described herein. An exemplary device can include an elongate body having an inner lumen, outlet ports, and an ablation element configured to heat tissue. A flow resistance of the elongate body can increase along a length of the elongate body containing the outlet ports in a proximal to distal direction. This can be accomplished by, for example, varying outlet port size or relative spacing, decreasing a cross-sectional area of the inner lumen through which fluid can flow using a flow diverter or tapered inner lumen sidewalls, or limiting a ratio between a total area of the outlet ports and a cross-sectional area of the inner lumen. Adjusting flow resistance of the elongate body can provide more uniform fluid distribution or a desired non-uniform distribution.

Abstract: A multilayer stack for use in a touch sensor is provided, including a base substrate covering viewing and border areas of the multilayer stack and an optically opaque border layer that defines a step proximate to and extending along a perimeter of the viewing area. The multilayer stack also includes an optically transparent adhesive layer disposed on the base substrate and the border layer and covering the viewing and border areas of the multilayer stack. The multilayer stack further includes a number of discrete spaced apart optically transparent electrodes disposed on the adhesive layer, each electrode extending across the step, and a number of discrete spaced apart electrically conductive pads disposed in the border, but not the viewing, area of the multilayer stack, each pad being posed on and making physical contact with a different corresponding electrode over a contact region.

Abstract: An analytical computing environment for large data sets comprises a software platform for data management. The platform provides various automation and self-service features to enable those users to rapidly provision and manage an agile analytics environment. The platform leverages a metadata repository, which tracks and manages all aspects of the data lifecycle. The repository maintains various types of platform metadata including, for example, status information (load dates, quality exceptions, access rights, etc.), definitions (business meaning, technical formats, etc.), lineage (data sources and processes creating a data set, etc.), and user data (user rights, access history, user comments, etc.). Within the platform, the metadata is integrated with all platform services, such as load processing, quality controls and system use. As the system is used, the metadata gets richer and more valuable, supporting additional automation and quality controls.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for modulating translation of an mRNA using antisense oligonucleotides. The methods result in the stimulation or inhibition of a change in reading frame or stop codon readthrough during translation.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for dynamically binding a server to a remote disk in a data center is provided. In a data center, servers and storage devices that manage multiple remote disks communicate over a switched fabric by using a standard protocol suite. The servers, storage devices and the switched fabric constitute a Storage Area Network (SAN). The devices present on the SAN are assigned a virtual identity, independent of their physical identity. The virtual identity of the servers facilitates the dynamic instantiation of the server images located on multiple remote disks on the servers.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for dynamically binding a server to a remote disk in a data center is provided. In a data center, servers and storage devices that manage multiple remote disks communicate over a switched fabric by using a standard protocol suite. The servers, storage devices and the switched fabric constitute a Storage Area Network (SAN). The devices present on the SAN are assigned a virtual identity, independent of their physical identity. The virtual identity of the servers facilitates the dynamic instantiation of the server images located on multiple remote disks on the servers.

Abstract: Recoding of the genetic code, through +1 frameshifting, −1 frameshifting or stop codon readthrough, will alter the protein that is translated from that gene. Current systems that quantify recoding events have limited sensitivity, and can only be used in cell extracts or tissue culture. A novel method for detecting a recoding event is described that uses the sensitivity and specificity of CD8+ T-cells for measuring recoding, both in vivo and in vitro. This enhanced sensitivity allows for the identification of compounds that are used to regulate recoding, and therefore protein translation.

Abstract: A tissue culture assay for measuring drug-induced recoding in regulating cellular polyamine levels is described. A DNA construct containing the renilla luciferase gene separated by sort cloning site from the firefly luciferase gene, both under the control of a single upstream SV40 promoter is provided. The cloning site contains the portion of antizyme gene known to contain the mRNA signals for polyamine stimulated frameshifting with the downstream firefly gene in the +1 position relative to the upstream renilla gene. A control construct is also produced with the genes in the same reading frame. Frameshifting efficiencies can be determined by comparing the ratio or firefly to renilla luciferase activity in parallel cell cultures.

Abstract: Assays for screening small-molecule compounds for their ability to induce translational readthrough of stop codons are disclosed. The assays utilize a dual enzymatic reporter plasmid system, wherein one reporter acts as an internal standard and the second reporter measures the translational recoding event induced by the small-molecules. The genetic sequence mutations of interest are placed on the plasmid between the two reporter genes and the plasmids are transfected into tissue culture cells. The cells are then grown in the presence of varying amounts of small-molecule compounds and the induction of translational readthrough is measured.

Abstract: Recoding of the genetic code, through +1 frameshifting, −1 frameshifting or stop codon readthrough, will alter the protein that is translated from that gene. Current systems that quantify recoding events have limited sensitivity, and can only be used in cell extracts or tissue culture. A novel method for detecting a recoding event is described that uses the sensitivity and specificity of CD8+ T-cells for measuring recoding, both in vivo and in vitro. This enhanced sensitivity allows for the identification of compounds that are used to regulate recoding, and therefore protein translation.