Abstract: Among other things, the present disclosure relates to designed oligonucleotides, compositions, and methods thereof. In some embodiments, provided oligonucleotide compositions provide altered splicing of a transcript. In some embodiments, provided oligonucleotide compositions have low toxicity. In some embodiments, provided oligonucleotide compositions provide improved protein binding profiles. In some embodiments, provided oligonucleotide compositions have improved delivery. In some embodiments, provided oligonucleotide compositions have improved uptake. In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides methods for treatment of diseases using provided oligonucleotide compositions.

Abstract: An implement attachment holder for a hand mixer includes a body defining opposed first and second surfaces and first and second mounting projections coupled with the body and extending away from the first surface of the body at respective first and second locations spaced apart at a first distance along a first direction. The attachment holder further includes a device retention projection extending away from the second surface of the body and partially along the first surface to at least partially overlie the first and second locations from which the first and second mounting projections extend. The device retention projection further defines a plurality of attachment channels extending in a second direction normal to the first direction at spaced-apart locations along the device retention projection.

Abstract: A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) actuator device includes a substrate; a shape memory alloy over the substrate; and a reflective coating on the shape memory alloy. The shape memory alloy and the reflective coating form a bi-layer cantilever beam having a first end anchored to the substrate, and a second end released from the substrate. The second end of the cantilever beam articulates between a deflection configuration away from the substrate and a non-deflection configuration towards the substrate based on a thermal phase change in the shape memory alloy.

Abstract: A method and system for managing graphics load balancing strategies are disclosed. The method comprises using a plurality of rendering servers to render a multitude of graphics frames for a display device, wherein each of the rendering servers has an associated workload; identifying a plurality of load balancing strategies for balancing the workloads on the rendering servers; selecting one of the load balancing strategies; and using the selected one of the load balancing strategies to balance the workloads on the rendering servers. One or more defined metrics are monitored; and in response to a defined changed in said one or more defined metrics, another one of the load balancing strategies is selected and used to balance the workloads on the rendering servers. In one embodiment, the load balancing policy can be changed in real-time during the course of an application session.

Abstract: A method and system for managing graphics load balancing strategies are disclosed. The method comprises using a plurality of rendering servers to render a multitude of graphics frames for a display device, wherein each of the rendering servers has an associated workload; identifying a plurality of load balancing strategies for balancing the workloads on the rendering servers; selecting one of the load balancing strategies; and using the selected one of the load balancing strategies to balance the workloads on the rendering servers. One or more defined metrics are monitored; and in response to a defined changed in said one or more defined metrics, another one of the load balancing strategies is selected and used to balance the workloads on the rendering servers. In one embodiment, the load balancing policy can be changed in real-time during the course of an application session.

Abstract: A reaction characteristic detector comprising a ladder assembly including a plurality of rungs, where each rung in the plurality of rungs comprises a reaction passage determiner spaced a distance from a point of an energetic material reaction initiation. Each reaction passage determiner has at least one characteristic that is configured to change in response to the reaction occurring proximate to the reaction passage determiner.

Abstract: According to embodiments, an optically-actuated mechanical device comprises at least one deformable section formed of: an element including an intrinsic stress differential or gradient, the stress tending to urge deformation of one portion relative to another portion; and an optically-sensitive material which is configured to (i) initially prevent deformation of the device, and (ii) upon sufficient heating by absorbing optical energy allows the element to deform. The devices may be incorporated into various devices and apparatuses for select, non-contact actuation using only optical energy, for example, via light, from one or more lasers. Methods for fabricating and actuating such devices are also disclosed.

Abstract: According to embodiments, an optically-actuated mechanical device comprises at least one deformable section formed of: an element including an intrinsic stress differential or gradient, the stress tending to urge deformation of one portion relative to another portion; and an optically-sensitive material which is configured to (i) initially prevent deformation of the device, and (ii) upon sufficient heating by absorbing optical energy allows the element to deform. The devices may be incorporated into various devices and apparatuses for select, non-contact actuation using only optical energy, for example, via light, from one or more lasers. Methods for fabricating and actuating such devices are also disclosed.

Abstract: Provided among other things are reactive energetic material systems used for conductors in detonators for increased efficiencies. According to an embodiment, a detonator may include: a conductor including at least two constituents including (i) an electrically conductive constituent, and (ii) an electrically non-conductive constituent, that when subjected to sufficient electrical energy, result in an exothermic reaction; and a flyer plate having a non-conductive surface in contact with said conductor. When the sufficient electrical energy is supplied to said conductor, rapid heating and vaporization of at least a portion of the conductor occurs so as to explosively drive at least a portion of the flyer plate away from said conductor. In an embodiment, a multilayer conductor may be formed of alternating layers of at least one electrically conductive layer, and at least one electrically non-conductive layer, that when subjected to sufficient electrical energy, result in an exothermic reaction.

Abstract: A reaction characteristic detector comprising a ladder assembly including a plurality of rungs, where each rung in the plurality of rungs comprises a reaction passage determiner spaced a distance from a point of an energetic material reaction initiation. Each reaction passage determiner has at least one characteristic that is configured to change in response to the reaction occurring proximate to the reaction passage determiner.

Abstract: Self-assembling microscale electrical and mechanical connections includes a part binding site and a part electrical binding site; and a template binding site comprising a template electrical conductor layer; a metallization layer on the template electrical conductor layer; a bump structure comprising a solder alloy positioned on the metallization layer, wherein the solder alloy is liquefied to allow the bump structure to self-assemble and align with the part electrical binding site using capillary forces, and wherein the solder alloy only liquefies at a temperature above that at which the self-assembly and alignment is performed; and a fluid on the template electrical conductor layer, wherein the fluid comprises a melting point lower than that of the solder alloy, wherein the fluid binds with the part binding site.

Abstract: A method and system for managing graphics load balancing strategies are disclosed. The method comprises using a plurality of rendering servers to render a multitude of graphics frames for a display device, wherein each of the rendering servers has an associated workload; identifying a plurality of load balancing strategies for balancing the workloads on the rendering servers; selecting one of the load balancing strategies; and using the selected one of the load balancing strategies to balance the workloads on the rendering servers. One or more defined metrics are monitored; and in response to a defined changed in said one or more defined metrics, another one of the load balancing strategies is selected and used to balance the workloads on the rendering servers. In one embodiment, the load balancing policy can be changed in real-time during the course of an application session.

Abstract: A system and method for providing an Application Programming Interface (API) that allows users to write complex graphics and visualization applications with little knowledge of how to parallelize or distribute the application across a graphics cluster. The interface enables users to develop an application program using a common programming paradigm (e.g., scene graph) in a manner that accommodates handling parallel rendering tasks and rendering environments. The visualization applications written by developers take better advantage of the aggregate resources of a cluster. The programming model provided by APT function calls handles scene-graph(s) data in a manner such that the scene and data management are decoupled from the rendering, compositing, and display. As a result, the system and method is not beholden to one particular graphics rendering API (e.g. OpenGL, Direct X, etc.) and provides the ability to switch between these APIs even during runtime.

Abstract: Self-assembling microscale electrical and mechanical connections includes a part binding site and a part electrical binding site; and a template binding site comprising a template electrical conductor layer; a metallization layer on the template electrical conductor layer; a bump structure comprising a solder alloy positioned on the metallization layer, wherein the solder alloy is liquefied to allow the bump structure to self-assemble and align with the part electrical binding site using capillary forces, and wherein the solder alloy only liquefies at a temperature above that at which the self-assembly and alignment is performed; and a fluid on the template electrical conductor layer, wherein the fluid comprises a melting point lower than that of the solder alloy, wherein the fluid binds with the part binding site.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus solving problems of polygonal approximations of isosurfaces extracted from uniformly sampled volumes increasing in size due to the availability of higher resolution imaging techniques. The large number of primitives represented hinders the interactive exploration of the dataset. Examples of methods are provided for adaptive isosurface extraction that are generally easy to implement and allows the user to decide the degree of adaptivity as well as the choice of isosurface extraction algorithm. The extraction of the isosurface is optimized by warping the volume. In a warped volume, areas of importance (e.g. containing significant details) are inflated while unimportant ones are contracted. Once the volume is warped, any extraction algorithm can be applied. The extracted mesh is subsequently unwarped such that the warped areas are rescaled to their initial proportions. The resulting isosurface is represented by a mesh that is more densely sampled in regions decided as important.

Abstract: Described herein is microfluidic device for joining fluids and a related method for doing the same. The device according to the present invention includes a microfluidic junction, an outlet channel, and a plurality of circuit units. A microfluidic junction is an area for converging multiple fluids. An outlet channel is capable of receiving fluid from the microfluidic junction. An outlet channel includes a first end connected with the microfluidic junction, a second end connected with a waste reservoir, and an analysis region positioned between the first end and the second end of the outlet channel. The device also includes a plurality of circuit units.

Abstract: Microfluidic devices and methods for performing a microfluidic process are presented. A microfluidic device conforms with a standard well plate format. The device includes a well plate comprising a plate and an array of wells formed on or in the plate, and a microfluidic structure connecting at least two of the wells. The device can rely exclusively on gravitational and capillary forces that exist in channels within the microfluidic structure when receiving fluid streams. Also disclosed is a microfluidic device having an array of microfluidic structures, each connecting at least two wells of a well plate, and connecting three or more wells in alternative embodiments. With the present invention, a large number of microfluidic processes or reactions can be performed simultaneously.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus solving problems of polygonal approximations of isosurfaces extracted from uniformly sampled volumes increasing in size due to the availability of higher resolution imaging techniques. The large number of primitives represented hinders the interactive exploration of the dataset. Examples of methods are provided for adaptive isosurface extraction that are generally easy to implement and allows the user to decide the degree of adaptivity as well as the choice of isosurface extraction algorithm. The extraction of the isosurface is optimized by warping the volume. In a warped volume, areas of importance (e.g. containing significant details) are inflated while unimportant ones are contracted. Once the volume is warped, any extraction algorithm can be applied. The extracted mesh is subsequently unwarped such that the warped areas are rescaled to their initial proportions. The resulting isosurface is represented by a mesh that is more densely sampled in regions decided as important.

Abstract: Described herein is microfluidic device for joining fluids and a related method for doing the same. The device according to the present invention includes a microfluidic junction, an outlet channel, and a plurality of circuit units. A microfluidic junction is an area for converging multiple fluids. An outlet channel is capable of receiving fluid from the microfluidic junction. An outlet channel includes a first end connected with the microfluidic junction, a second end connected with a waste reservoir, and an analysis region positioned between the first end and the second end of the outlet channel. The device also includes a plurality of circuit units.