Abstract: An advanced manufactured transwell (AM-transwell), the AM-transwell comprises: a lower chamber; an upper chamber; a membrane disposed between the lower chamber and the upper chamber; and one or more legs. The one or more legs form at least a portion of the lower chamber. One or more of the lower chambers, the upper chamber, the membrane and the one or more legs is printed using a synthetic bioink. Methods for making and using the AM-transwell are also disclosed.

Abstract: There is provided a vector for treating retinal degeneration associated with Bardet-Biedl Syndrome (BBS), wherein the vector comprises a promoter operably linked to a BBS1 gene, wherein the promoter is selected from a rhodopsin kinase (RK) promoter, a cytomegalovirus immediate-early (CMV) promoter and a CAG promoter, and wherein the vector is selected from an AAV2/8 vector, an AAV2/7m8 vector and an AAV9 vector. Also disclosed is a pharmaceutical composition comprising the vector, and use of the vector in a method of treating retinal degeneration associated with BBS comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of the vector to a patient suffering from BBS, wherein the vector is administered directly to the eye of the patient.

Abstract: Embodiments of this disclosure relate to bioinks and bioink compositions. These bioinks may be 3D printed into a hydrogel. The printed hydrogel may support primary cell and induced pluripotent stem cell attachment, proliferation, and spreading. Compounds in the bioink may be modified to incorporate chemical functionality, such as by chemical synthesis means. Incorporating chemical functionality may allow the incorporation of modified material as a component in the bioink. The modifications may allow chemical conjugation of a desired component. The desired component may maintain its cell interactive feature to aid in cell attachment and proliferation. Such incorporation may allow modulation of the bioprinted object's mechanical properties without interfering with cell adhesion.

Abstract: Synthetic hydrogels for organogenesis support organogenesis from mammalian cells, including human cells. The synthetic hydrogels typically include a network of crosslinked branched biodegradable polymers. A portion of the branches of the branched biodegradable polymers are linked to binders which are generally synthetic peptides for cell and extracellular matrix attachment. The hydrogels may include an inhibitor of apoptosis. The synthetic hydrogels with the synthetic binders typically do not interfere with cellular, proteomic, genetic, and/or transcriptome analyses of organoids formed in the hydrogel. The synthetic hydrogels may be subject to on-demand dissolution to provide intact organoids substantially free of hydrogel polymers. Also provided are methods of making the synthetic hydrogels and methods of using the synthetic hydrogels for organogenesis.

Abstract: Applicant presents an improved manner of modeling and calculating the tongue-and-groove effect in multi-leaf collimators in treatment planning systems and processes. The method is based on subtracting an individualized profile area that is determined for each individual model of MLC. The method also includes how to easily obtain the shape of this non-constant profile based on the tests. The method provides better accuracy, particularly for plans using small MLC gaps.

Abstract: There is described a vector for treating a ciliopathy such as Bardet-Biedl syndrome, wherein the vector comprises a promoter operably linked to a ciliopathy gene, wherein the vector can provide transduction of the ciliopathy gene into multiple organs, wherein the promoter is a ubiquitous promoter which can provide expression of the ciliopathy gene in the transduced organs, and wherein the ciliopathy gene encodes a functional protein corresponding to the protein that is mutated in the ciliopathy. Also described is the use of the above vector in a method of treating a ciliopathy, the method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of the vector to a patient suffering from a ciliopathy.

Abstract: Applicant presents an improved manner of modeling and calculating the tongue-and-groove effect in multi-leaf collimators in treatment planning systems and processes. The method is based on subtracting an individualized profile area that is determined for each individual model of MLC. The method also includes how to easily obtain the shape of this non-constant profile based on the tests. The method provides better accuracy, particularly for plans using small MLC gaps.

Abstract: Provided herein are non-steroidal 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 and type 2 (17?-HSD1 and 17?-HSD2) inhibitors, their production and use, especially for the treatment and for prophylaxis of hormone-related diseases.

Abstract: A process for producing substantially dry slag granules comprises adding a controlled amount of water to a molten stream of slag, and granulating the slag to produce solidified slag comprising substantially dry slag granules and slag wool. An apparatus for producing substantially dry slag granules comprises: (a) an inclined surface having an upper and lower ends for receiving and discharging the stream of slag; (b) a dispersion device at the lower end of the inclined surface for dispersion of the molten slag; (c) one or more water addition devices for adding a controlled amount of water to the molten slag; and (d) a collection area adjacent to the dispersion device for deposition of solidified slag produced by the dispersion. The quantity of slag wool produced by the process and apparatus is less than that which would be produced without the addition of water.

Abstract: Provided herein are non-steroidal 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 and type 2 (17?-HSD1 and 17?-HSD2) inhibitors, their production and use, especially for the treatment and for prophylaxis of hormone-related diseases.

Abstract: Equipment and a process for separating bitumen from oil sand in a process stream are described. The equipment includes several processing vessels and one or more local area radio frequency applicators to selectively heat the process stream in local areas of the equipment. The local area can be adjacent to an input or output of a component of the equipment. Also described is equipment for processing an oil sand—water slurry, including a slurrying vessel, a slurry pipe, and a local area radio frequency applicator. The local area radio frequency applicator is located outside of the slurry pipe, and heats the local area without significantly heating the contents of the slurrying vessel or of the downstream portion of the slurry pipe.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for enhancing in situ upgrading of hydrocarbon by implementing an array of radio frequency antennas that can uniformly heat the hydrocarbons within a producer well pipe, so that the optimal temperatures for different hydroprocessing reactions can be achieved.

Abstract: A method of producing heavy oil by first injecting water and sulfur hexafluoride molecules into a region. The method then introduces electromagnetic waves such as microwaves and/or radio frequencies into the region at a frequency sufficient to excite the water and the sulfur hexafluoride molecules and increase the temperature of at least a portion of the water and sulfur hexafluoride molecules within the region to produce heated water and sulfur hexafluoride molecules. At least a portion of the heavy oil is heated in the region by contact with the heated water and sulfur hexafluoride molecules to produce heated heavy oil. The heated heavy oil is then produced.

Abstract: High power RF energy supplied to a reaction chamber at a resonant frequency is used to break the covalent bonds of a hydrocarbon material without heat. An RF signal generator may be used to supply RF energy to a resonant ring through a four port coupler. The phase of the RF energy passing through the resonant ring may be adjusted to achieve an integral multiple of a resonant wavelength. Wavelength and intensity may be adjusted to sublimate or pyrolyze the hydrocarbon material to yield a useful gaseous product.

Abstract: A device for processing a hydrocarbon resource may include a radio frequency (RF) source, a first RF conductor, a second RF conductor, and a hybrid coupler assembly coupled to the RF source and the first and second RF conductors. The first and second RF conductors may each having distal ends configured to receive the hydrocarbon resource therebetween and apply RF power from the RF source to the hydrocarbon resource.

Abstract: A device for processing a hydrocarbon resource may include a radio frequency (RF) source, a first RF conductor, a second RF conductor, and a hybrid coupler assembly coupled to the RF source and the first and second RF conductors. The first and second RF conductors may each having distal ends configured to receive the hydrocarbon resource therebetween and apply RF power from the RF source to the hydrocarbon resource.

Abstract: High power RF energy supplied to a reaction chamber at a resonant frequency is used to break the covalent bonds of a hydrocarbon material without heat. An RF signal generator may be used to supply RF energy to a resonant ring through a four port coupler. The phase of the RF energy passing through the resonant ring may be adjusted to achieve an integral multiple of a resonant wavelength. Wavelength and intensity may be adjusted to sublimate or pyrolyze the hydrocarbon material to yield a useful gaseous product.

Abstract: A waveguide matching unit is disclosed. The waveguide matching unit includes gyrator having first and second waveguides. The first waveguide includes first and second ports that are connected by a first waveguide channel. An RF signal propagating through the first waveguide channel is phase shifted by about 90° when propagating from the first to the second port, and is phase shifted by about 0° when propagating from the second port to the first port. The second waveguide includes third and fourth ports that are connected by a second waveguide channel. An RF signal propagating through the second waveguide channel is phase shifted by about 0° when propagating from the third to the fourth port, and is phase shifted by about 90° when propagating from the fourth port to the third port.

Abstract: High power RF energy supplied to a reaction chamber at a resonant frequency is used to break the covalent bonds of a hydrocarbon material without heat. An RF signal generator may be used to supply RF energy to a resonant ring through a four port coupler. The phase of the RF energy passing through the resonant ring may be adjusted to achieve an integral multiple of a resonant wavelength. Wavelength and intensity may be adjusted to sublimate or pyrolyze the hydrocarbon material to yield a useful gaseous product.