Abstract: Provided are hybrid tRNA/pre-miRNA molecules, e.g., comprising a single tRNA and one, two or more pre-miRNA molecules, useful for the production and therapeutic delivery of an inserted RNA sequence, e.g., one or more miRNAs. Also provided are liposomes and nanoparticles that include the hybrid tRNA/pre-miRNA molecules. Methods of treating cancer by administration of the hybrid tRNA/pre-miRNA molecules are also provided.

Abstract: A method for in-vivo monitoring of a target internal volume of a mammal that includes: (a) placing the target internal volume proximal to a three-dimensional magnetic field generator; (b) generating first, second, and third magnetic field gradients along respective first, second, and third axes that are mutually orthogonal; (c) measuring first, second, and third magnetic fields with a three-dimensional magnetic sensor disposed in an ingestible capsule, the ingestible capsule disposed in the target internal volume; (d) with a controller in electrical communication with the three-dimensional magnetic sensor, generating a magnetic sensor output signal that encodes a measurement of the first, second, and third magnetic fields; (e) broadcasting the magnetic sensor output signal from an antenna disposed in the ingestible capsule, and (f) receiving the magnetic sensor output signal with a receiver. The received magnetic field data can be used to determine the three-dimensional position of the ingestible capsule.

Abstract: A protocol has been developed for genetically engineering an attenuated pathogen such as the influenza virus that can grow in cells without interferons but has suppressed growth in cells with the interferons. The protocol comprises systematically identifying immune evasion functions on the pathogen's genome, then eliminating the immune evasion functions while maintaining a certain replication fitness of the pathogen. The resulting attenuated pathogen causes a strong immunologic response and can be used in a live attenuated vaccine.

Abstract: A CD19-OR-CD20 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) protein construct is provided. Also provided are nucleic acids encoding the CD19-OR-CD20 CAR; and methods of use, e.g. in the treatment of B cell malignancies. The CD19-OR-CD20 CAR of the invention is a bispecific CAR that can trigger T-cell activation upon detection of either CD19 or CD20 (or both). It is a single molecule that confers two-input recognition capability upon human T cells engineered to stably express this CAR.

Abstract: Quinolines, polyquinolines, polybenzoquinolines, molecular segments of fullerenes and graphene nanoribbons, and graphene nanoribbons and processes for producing such materials are provided. The processes utilize a form of an aza-Diels-Alder (Povarov) reaction to first form quinolines and/or polyquinolines. In some such embodiments polyquinolines thus produced are used to form graphene nanoribbon precursors, and molecular segments and graphene nanoribbons. In many such embodiments the graphene nanoribbone precursors are formed from polybenzoquinolines.

Abstract: The system and process of therapeutic and effective cavitation by using ultrasound to collapse gas vesicles as well as cavitate the bubbles produced from the collapsed gas vesicles. Therapeutic effect includes, but is not limited to lysing cells by cavitation. The cells expressing the gas vesicles can optionally be used as delivery cells to preform tasks such as transporting the gas vesicles into deep tissue areas, releasing compounds at the cavitation site, and more. The gas vesicles can optionally be modified to facilitate getting the bubbles near the cavitation targets by functionalizing the gas vesicles.

Abstract: A catalyst composition includes a liquid metal alloy having a melting point from about 20° C. to about 25° C., the liquid metal alloy including a primary metal and a secondary metal, the primary metal being aluminum and the secondary metal is selected from the group consisting of gallium, indium, and bismuth.

Abstract: Devices, systems, methods, and techniques regarding a microfluidic-enabled multiwell device with closed-loop monitoring and control of various parameters of the microfluidic environment are provided. A microfluidic-enabled multiwell device may have a removable and disposable microfluidics module layer and a reusable sensor module layer. The sensor module layer may be configured to monitor and control parameters of the environment inside the microfluidics module layer, store data regarding the parameters, and wirelessly transmit the data. The device may be configured to individually address flow of fluid to any one of a plurality of wells, using one or more pneumatic micropumps. The device may be configured to automatically execute one or more live cell cultures, assays, and/or protocols. The device may be configured to be received in a docking station and/or portable manifold adapter, and to be fluidly, pneumatically, and/or electronically coupled to the station, adapter, or other laboratory equipment.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to assist in developing a precision medicine approach using a microfluidic cell having a releasable, aqueous interfacial film to separate tissue channels. The approach can include a personalized medicine treatment plan. The systems and methods emulate cellular communication in a disease state in a more accurate aqueous environment and provide data on the interaction between the cells that can be used to develop a treatment for a subject in need. The systems and methods also can be used to assess the effect of a particular treatment, such as a drug therapy, radiation therapy, or a combination thereof, for example. The systems and methods can show how a particular therapy is affected by any of several known factors including, but not limited to, the sex of the subject, the age of the subject, hereditary factors or other genetic predispositions, as well as perhaps other physiological states of the subject, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: An imaging flow cytometry apparatus and method which allows registering multiple locations across a cell, and/or across multiple flow channels, in parallel using radio-frequency-tagged emission (FIRE) coupled with a parallel optical detection scheme toward increasing analysis throughput. An optical source is modulated by multiple RF frequencies to produce an optical interrogation beam having a spatially distributed beat frequency. This beam is directed to one or more focused streams of cells whose responsive fluorescence, in different frequencies, is registered in parallel by an optical detector.

Abstract: Electrochemical sensors have great promise for point-of-care and in vivo measurement of medically relevant molecules. However, the need for calibrating individual sensors limits the practical applicability of these sensing platforms. The invention provides a novel method of operating electrochemical sensors which obviates the need to calibrate individual sensors against a sample of known concentration. The invention exploits the frequency dependence of electrochemical output signals and the dependence of output signals on the inherent electron transfer kinetics of a selected sensor design. By use of signals generated at a nonresponsive frequency, a normalizing output value is generated that accounts for sensor-to-sensor variation and which enables an accurate calculation of target concentration. The scope of the invention also includes pre-calibrated sensors that may be utilized without calibration steps.

Abstract: Disclosed herein include methods, compositions, and systems suitable for use in delivering a polynucleotide to a target cell of a subject in need thereof. In some embodiments, a viral vector comprises a polynucleotide encoding nucleoprotein (N), phosphoprotein (P), matrix protein (M), RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (L), and one or more transgenes. The viral vector can comprise one or more of a conditionally stable fusion protein, a protease fusion protein, a degron fusion protein, and/or a glycoprotein derived of another species than the viral vector polynucleotide to enable control of viral vector transduction and/or replication.

Abstract: A fluorescence microscopy method includes a trained deep neural network. At least one 2D fluorescence microscopy image of a sample is input to the trained deep neural network, wherein the input image(s) is appended with a digital propagation matrix (DPM) that represents, pixel-by-pixel, an axial distance of a user-defined or automatically generated surface within the sample from a plane of the input image. The trained deep neural network outputs fluorescence output image(s) of the sample that is digitally propagated or refocused to the user-defined surface or automatically generated. The method and system cross-connects different imaging modalities, permitting 3D propagation of wide-field fluorescence image(s) to match confocal microscopy images at different sample planes. The method may be used to output a time sequence of images (e.g., time-lapse video) of a 2D or 3D surface within a sample.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for associating metabolites with genes. In some embodiments, after potential metabolites are identified based on spectroscopy data of the content of an organism, possible reactions capable of producing the potential metabolites are determined. The possible reactions are compared to gene sequences in a database, and an association score for the likelihood that a gene sequence is related to the potential metabolites is calculated.

Abstract: The invention provides a catalyst comprising 1) Ru0 and 2) Pd0, Pt0, Rh0, or Ir0, on a solid support. The catalyst is useful for water purification applications. In particular, the catalyst is useful for reducing ClO3? and ClO2? from water. The invention also provides catalysts that are useful for reducing nitrate in a water supply and methods for their use.

Abstract: A boat used in a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) furnace is configured to hold one or more complex three-dimensional (3D) structures when performing a coating. A platform wafer is placed horizontally in the boat to support the complex 3D structures and a mount is positioned to secure the complex 3D structures on the platform wafer during the CVD process. One or more “witness” wafers may also be placed in the boat for analyzing the thin-film coating. The platform wafer may be positioned between or bracketed by the vertical wafers. Parts with coatings manufactured using LPCVD are further disclosed.

Abstract: A method to upregulate CD46 cell surface expression and combination therapies for various cancers employing an anti-CD46 antibody and an immunomodulatory imide drug (IMiD) or a Signal Transducer And Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3) inhibitor or both are provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides bi-terminal PEGylated peptide conjugates that target an integrin such as ?v?6 integrin. In particular embodiments, the peptide conjugates of the present invention further comprise a biological agent such as an imaging agent or a therapeutic agent, e.g., covalently attached to one of the PEG moieties. The peptide conjugates of the present invention are particularly useful for imaging a tumor, organ, or tissue and for treating integrin-mediated diseases and disorders such as cancer, inflammatory diseases, autoimmune diseases, chronic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung emphysema, and chronic wounding skin disease. Compositions and kits containing the peptide conjugates of the present invention find utility in a wide range of applications including, e.g., in vivo imaging and immunotherapy.

Abstract: According to certain general aspects, the present embodiments relate generally to a device that mobilizes the lens material inside the capsular bag. Mobilized lens material is easier to visualize than lens material lingering at the lens equator of the eye, or other areas in the capsular bag that are difficult to visualize, making the mobilized lens material easier to retrieve from the capsular bag. Mobilizing the lens material reduces the possibility that the person receiving the cataract surgery will develop secondary cataracts or infections due to lens material left inside the capsular bag.

Abstract: A pulsed magnetic particle imaging system includes a magnetic field generating system that includes at least one magnet, the magnetic field generating system providing a spatially structured magnetic field within an observation region of the magnetic particle imaging system such that the spatially structured magnetic field will have a field-free region (FFR) for an object under observation having a magnetic nanoparticle tracer distribution therein. The pulsed magnetic particle imaging system also includes a pulsed excitation system arranged proximate the observation region, the pulsed excitation system includes an electromagnet and a pulse sequence generator electrically connected to the electromagnet to provide an excitation waveform to the electromagnet, wherein the electromagnet when provided with the excitation waveform generates an excitation magnetic field within the observation region to induce an excitation signal therefrom by at least one of shifting a location or condition of the FFR.