Abstract: Methods and devices for harvesting cancellous bone are disclosed. The bone-harvesting device may include a cannula and a bone receptacle in communication with the cannula, wherein the cannula including a cutting surface positioned at or adjacent the distal end, the cutting surface being oriented at an angle, the angle being greater than 90 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the cannula, and the harvested bone is adapted to move from a position adjacent to the cutting surface through the cannula into the bone receptacle. The cutting surface of the cannula may be positioned at or adjacent the distal end, and positioned at least in part radially outward of the outer face of the cannula. The cannula may include a cutting surface positioned at or adjacent the distal end and an occluding geometry that partially occludes the distal end of the cannula adjacent the cutting surface. In addition, a suction port may be provided in communication with the bone receptacle.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of detecting a disease, condition, or disorder in a subject. In some embodiments, the methods include obtaining a set of ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecules from a population of exosomes in a biological sample obtained from the subject and detecting a plurality of target RNA molecules corresponding to a selected set of cell-specific exosomal RNA molecules in the set of RNA molecules to generate a target RNA molecular profile for the sample. In some of these embodiments, the methods also include determining that the target RNA molecular profile substantially matches a reference RNA molecular profile that correlates with the disease, condition, or disorder in a subject and/or using at least one algorithm that predicts a likelihood that the target RNA molecular profile correlates with the disease, condition, or disorder in a subject. Related biosensor devices, kits, and systems are also provided.

Abstract: Methods for analyzing DNA-containing samples are provided. The methods can comprise isolating a single genomic equivalent of DNA from the DNA-containing sample to provide a single isolated DNA molecule. The single isolated DNA molecule can be subjected to amplification conditions in the presence of one or more sets of unique molecularly tagged primers to provide one or more amplicons. Any spurious allelic sequences generated during the amplification process are tagged with an identical molecular tag. The methods can also include a step of determining the sequence of the one or more amplicons, in which the majority sequence for each code is selected as the sequence of the single original encapsulated target. The DNA-containing sample can be a forensic sample (e.g., mixed contributor sample), a fetal genetic screening sample, or a biological cell.

Abstract: A clutch system is provided. The clutch system includes an outer unit having a surface defining an aperture in the outer unit; an inner unit disposed in the aperture, wherein a shape of the inner unit matches a shape of the aperture; a low melting point material disposed in the aperture between the inner unit and the surface of the outer unit; a heating element; a temperature sensor; and a processor in electronic communication with the heating element and the temperature sensor. The processor is configured to control the heating element thereby changing the low melting point material between a soft state and a rigid state.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides macrocyclic compounds inspired by the immunophilin ligand family of natural products FK506 and rapamycin. The generation of a Rapafucin library of macrocyles that contain FK506 and rapamycin binding domains should have great potential as new leads for developing drugs to be used for treating diseases.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel biomaterial compositions and methods having a technology to improve retention of hyaluronic acid (HA). The biomaterial compositions utilize small HA binding peptides and extracellular matrix binding (ECM) peptides that are tethered to synthetic biocompatible polymers. When tethered to the polymers, the peptide region allows the polymers to bind to HA and to tissues such as cartilage. The novel biomaterial compositions can be used to coat or chemically modify cartilage or tissues with a biologically compatible polymer having HA binding peptides, which allow HA to bind to the surface of the cartilage or tissues. Methods of using same are also provided.

Abstract: Techniques for radiomics standardization for patient scan data obtained by a particular imaging device are presented. The techniques include acquiring, using the particular imaging machine, the patient scan data; obtaining unstandardized radiomics for the patient scan data; recovering standardized radiomics for the patient scan data based on at least: the patient scan data, the unstandardized radiomics for the patient scan data, and calibration phantom data for the particular machine obtained using at least one calibration phantom; and outputting the standardized radiomics.

Abstract: Imaging and radiotherapeutics agents targeting fibroblast-activation protein-? (FAP-?) and their use in imaging and treating FAP-? related diseases and disorders are disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides, among other things, compositions (e.g., autoantibodies) that inhibit the growth, viability, or mobility of (invasion by) a cancer cell. Also provided are applications, such as therapeutic and diagnostic methods, in which the agents are useful, as well as screening methods for identifying autoantibodies useful in the applications.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for treating vascular Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and associated connective tissue disorders.

Abstract: This disclosure provides nano-scale Artificial Antigen Presenting Cells (aAPC), which deliver stimulatory signals to lymphocytes, including T-helper lymphocytes, for use as a powerful tool for immunotherapy.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a substrate comprising a micro- or nanostructured periodic array comprised of a plurality of anisotropic metallic micro- or nanostructures, wherein each of the plurality of nanostructures induce an average maximum and substantially uniform plasmonic field greater than 108 across the substrate; a plurality of Raman-active linker molecules directly bound to the metallic micro- or nanostructures; and a plurality of capture molecules directly bound to the Raman-active linker molecules. The disclosure also relates to systems, devices, and methods that use the substrates to determine the concentration of various analytes.

Abstract: A continuum device/manipulator includes a first flexible tube, a low melting point (LMP) alloy disposed within the first flexible tube, and a temperature adjustment element that applies heat or cooling to change a phase of the LMP alloy. Changing the phase of the LMP alloy controls a flexibility of the first flexible tube.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for the induction of cell death, for example, cancer cell death. Combinations of compounds and related methods of use are disclosed, including the use of compounds in therapy for the treatment of cancer and selective induction of apoptosis in cells. The disclosed drug combinations can have lower neurotoxicity effects than other cancer therapies that achieve the same or similar therapeutic effect.

Abstract: An extracellular matrix (ECM) mixture and ECM scaffolds made with same are disclosed. The ECM mixture can comprise from about 5% to about 85% by weight of ECM material and from about 15% to about 95% by weight of a polymer material, such as, but not limited to, a biodegradable polyester. The presently disclosed anatomically-shaped porous ECM scaffolds can be formed, for example, using a three-dimensional (3D) printing process, an injection molding process, or any other process.

Abstract: A hydropersulfide precursor compound having the formula (I): formula (I) as defined in the specification. A process for preparing the hydropersulfide precursor, and a method of using the precursor to generate hydropersulfide are also described.

Abstract: A calibration platform may obtain measurements for aligning a real-world coordinate system and a display coordinate system. For example, the calibration platform may display, via an optical see-through head-mounted display (OST-HMD), a three-dimensional virtual object and receive, from a positional tracking device, information that relates to a current pose of a three-dimensional real-world object to be aligned with the three-dimensional virtual object. The calibration platform may record a three-dimensional position of a plurality of points on the three-dimensional real-world object based on the current pose of the three-dimensional real-world object, based on an indication that the plurality of points on the three-dimensional real-world object respectively corresponds with a plurality of points on the three-dimensional virtual object.

Abstract: The disclosure provides compounds having formula (I): and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein R1, R2, R2?, and X are as defined as set forth in the specification. Compounds having formula (I) are prodrugs that release glutamine analogs, e.g., 6-diazo-5-oxo-L-norleucine (DON). The disclosure also provides compounds having formula (I) for use in treating cancer.

Abstract: Methods and systems for growing thin films via molecular-beam epitaxy (MBE) on substrates are provided. The methods and systems utilize a thermally conductive backing plate including an infrared-absorbing coating (IAC) formed, for example, on one side of the thermally conductive backing plate to provide an asymmetric emissivity that absorbs infrared radiation (IR) on the side having the IRC and does not on the non-coated side of the thermally conductive backing plate (e.g., refractive metal or alloy). The asymmetric emissivity shields the thin film being deposited on a substrate from the IR during formation.

Abstract: A process for autonomous mechanical property testing of specimens on a build plate includes fabricating a plurality of the specimens on a build plate, wherein each of the specimens comprises an upper portion and a lower portion integral to the build plate. Each of the upper portions of the specimens on the build plate are sequentially engaged with an end effector on a terminal end of a multi-linked robotic arm, wherein the end effector is configured to engage the upper portion and apply a uni- or multi-modal load, wherein intermediate the end effector and the multi-linked robotic arm comprises a multi-axis load cell for measuring an applied load. The process further includes autonomously calculating one or more mechanical properties from the applied load.