Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and method for drawing egel silk fibroin fibers. The resulting fibers can transmit light and hence can be used as optical fiber. Silk fibroin fiber is produced by a method comprising applying an electric field to a solubilized silk fibroin solution to create a silk fibroin gel; converting the silk fibroin gel to a viscous silk liquid; and drawing a silk fiber from the viscous silk liquid. The silk fiber of the invention can be used in materials such as textile, medical sutures, and tissue materials, as well as conferring optical properties into these materials.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to sub-diffraction limit image resolution and other imaging techniques, including imaging in three dimensions. In one aspect, the invention is directed to determining and/or imaging light from two or more entities separated by a distance less than the diffraction limit of the incident light. In some cases, the position of the entities can be determined in all three spatial dimensions (i.e., in the x, y, and z directions), and in certain cases, the positions in all three dimensions can be determined to an accuracy of less than about 1000 nm. In some cases, the z positions may be determined using one of a variety of techniques that uses intensity information or focal information (e.g., a lack of focus) to determine the z position. Non-limiting examples of such techniques include astigmatism imaging, off-focus imaging, or multi-focal-plane imaging.

Abstract: There is provided a method of producing microparticles using an emulsion based synthesis route including: Providing a first fluid phase and a second fluid phase, wherein the first fluid phase is a continuous phase and the second fluid phase is a dispersed phase comprising a dispersed material, wherein the continuous phase is immiscible with the dispersed phase; Mixing the first continuous phase and the second dispersed phase in the presence of a surfactant in a shear device to form an emulsion of droplets of controllable size and having a narrow drop size distribution; Drying the emulsion to form microparticles of controllable size and having narrow size distribution, and wherein the microparticles may comprise spherical, crumpled, dimpled, porous or hollow microparticles morphology. Also provided is a system including shear device and drying arrangement. Also provided are micro particles of controllable size and morphology formed by the method.

Abstract: The present invention provides tissue-engineered pumps and valves, methods of fabricating such pumps and valves, and methods of use of such pumps and valves.

Abstract: Microfluidic structures and methods for manipulating fluids, fluid components, and reactions are provided. In one aspect, such structures and methods can allow production of droplets of a precise volume, which can be stored/maintained at precise regions of the device. In another aspect, microfluidic structures and methods described herein are designed for containing and positioning components in an arrangement such that the components can be manipulated and then tracked even after manipulation. For example, cells may be constrained in an arrangement in microfluidic structures described herein to facilitate tracking during their growth and/or after they multiply.

Abstract: A user interface is disclosed that is configured to provide a multi-user, multi-application experience for users of a given computing device, where each user account of the device is configurable with applications suitable for that user and each application has a usage timer associated therewith. Thus, each user may have access to applications that are different from another user of that device, and each user can be allocated application usage time independent from other users. The usage timers can be configured to reset once a usage period has lapsed. In some cases, the size of icons displayed for a given user account are automatically sized based on the age range of that user. A reward program may automatically increase the time allotted for given applications/content upon successful usage/consumption of educational applications/content. In a classroom/group setting, multiple computing devices may be simultaneously set into Kid Mode by a master computing device.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to droplets and/or emulsions, such as multiple emulsions. In some cases, the droplets and/or emulsions may be used in assays, and in certain embodiments, the droplet or emulsion may be hardened to form a gel. In some aspects, a heterogeneous assay can be performed using a gel. For example, a droplet may be hardened to form a gel, where the droplet contains a cell, DNA, or other suitable species. The gel may be exposed to a reactant, and the reactant may interact with the gel and/or with the cell, DNA, etc., in some fashion. For example, the reactant may diffuse through the gel, or the hardened particle may liquefy to form a liquid state, allowing the reactant to interact with the cell. As a specific example, DNA contained within a gel particle may be subjected to PCR (polymerase chain reaction) amplification, e.g., by using PCR primers able to bind to the gel as it forms. As the DNA is amplified using PCR, some of the DNA will be bound to the gel via the PCR primer.

Abstract: The invention provides heteropolymer compositions and peptide compositions, and methods of making and using therapeutic compositions comprising amino acid heteropolymers for treatment of a subject for an autoimmune or an inflammatory disease, the heteropolymer compositions made by solid state synthesis. The invention also provides kits for assaying binding of a composition to a water-soluble MHC protein.

Abstract: The present invention provides glycated Amadori products of the CD59 peptide and fragments thereof to be used as tools and among methods for the diagnosis and prognosis of pre-diabetes and diabetes. Certain aspects of the invention include glycated Amadori products of CD59 and fragments thereof to be used for the generation of antibodies and antibody fragments. Still other aspects of the invention include methodologies for the preparation of glycated Amadori products of CD59, fragments thereof, the inventive antibodies, and antibody fragments.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the arrangement of one or more cells in a medium or on a substrate through the use of boundary conditions, which are changes in local environment compared to the medium or substrate alone or cause an alteration of cell response upon interaction of a cell with the boundary condition.

Abstract: Some aspects of this disclosure provide strategies, systems, reagents, methods, and kits that are useful for the targeted editing of nucleic acids, including editing a nucleic acid encoding a mutant Presenilin1 protein to correct a point mutation associated with a disease or disorder, e.g., with familial Alzheimer's disease. The methods provided are useful for correcting a PSEN1 point mutation within the genome of a cell or subject, e.g., within the human genome. In some embodiments, fusion proteins of Cas9 and nucleic acid editing enzymes or enzyme domains, e.g., deaminase domains, are provided. In some embodiments, reagents and kits for the generation of targeted nucleic acid editing proteins, e.g., fusion proteins of Cas9 and nucleic acid editing enzymes or domains, are provided.

Abstract: A system and method for making a biomaterial device includes a support structure providing a shape for a biomaterial device. At least one applicator has a supply of biomaterial solution and is positioned along the support structure. The at least one applicator forms a biomaterial fiber by applying shear force to the biomaterial solution and delivering the biomaterial fiber to the support structure. A controller causes relative movement between the support structure and the at least one applicator, and the biomaterial fiber is arranged on the support structure according to the relative movement to form the biomaterial device. The biomaterial may be silk fibroin which may be wound onto a reciprocating and rotating mandrel. Control over the properties of the biomaterial device is achieved through appropriate selection of material processing, winding strategy, and post-winding processing.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel biomaterial which is a hybrid, self-assembling biopolymeric networked film that is functionalized through hydrophobic interactions with vesicles loaded with bioactive agents. The biomaterial compound is a polymeric network of hydrophobically modified chitosan scaffolds that is taken from solution and formed as a solid film. This solid state film is capable of hydrophobic interactions with the functionalized vesicles. The vesicles include one or more lamellar structures forming one or more nano-compartments that are capable of containing similar or alternative active moieties within. Use of the film results in a degradation of the chitosan scaffold thereby releasing the active moieties within the vesicles from the scaffold. Application of the current invention occurs through various delivery mechanisms and routes of administration as will be described herein.

Abstract: The present invention is a biomarker of chemotherapeutic drug-resistant cancer stem cells and a method of inhibiting the growth of drug-resistant cancer stem cells. In one embodiment the cancer stem cells are testicular cancer germ cells. In another embodiment the present invention is a method of overcoming drug resistance in cancer treatment where the combination of low dose decitabine and administration of a chemotherapeutic drug to which cancer cells were resistant results in successful cancer treatment.

Abstract: Articles, methods of making, and uses for modifying surfaces for simultaneously providing repellency and selective binding of desired moieties are disclosed. The repellant surfaces comprise a substrate and a lubricating layer immobilized over the substrate surface having a lubricating liquid having an affinity with the substrate. The substrate and the lubricating liquid are attracted to each other together by non-covalent attractive forces. The repellent surface further includes a binding group extending over the surface of the lubricating layer and the binding group has an affinity with a target moiety. The lubricating layer and the substrate form a slippery or repellent surface configured and arranged for contact with a material that is immiscible with the lubricating liquid and the immiscible material contains the target moiety.

Abstract: The invention includes, in part, methods and compounds for diagnosing diseases and conditions characterized by altered threonyl-tRNA synthetase (TARS) activity, which include, but are not limited to diseases and conditions in which angiogenesis is altered. In some embodiments of the invention, a level of a TARS molecule is determined and compared to a control level of TARS to assess onset, progression, and/or regression of a disease or condition associated with altered TARS activity.

Abstract: Some aspects of this disclosure provide strategies, systems, reagents, methods, and kits that are useful for the targeted editing of nucleic acids, including editing a nucleic acid encoding a mutant ?-antitrypsin protein to correct a point mutation associated with a disease or disorder, e.g., with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) disease. The methods provided are useful for correcting an ?-antitrypsin point mutation within the genome of a cell or subject, e.g., within the human genome. In some embodiments, fusion proteins of Cas9 and nucleic acid editing enzymes or enzyme domains, e.g., deaminase domains, are provided. In some embodiments, reagents and kits for the generation of targeted nucleic acid editing proteins, e.g., fusion proteins of Cas9 and nucleic acid editing enzymes or domains, are provided.

Abstract: Some aspects of this disclosure provide strategies, systems, reagents, methods, and kits that are useful for the targeted editing of nucleic acids, including editing a nucleic acid encoding a mutant PI3KCA protein to correct a point mutation associated with a disease or disorder, e.g., with a neoplastic disorder. The methods provided are useful for correcting a PI3KCA point mutation within the genome of a cell or subject, e.g., within the human genome. In some embodiments, fusion proteins of Cas9 and nucleic acid editing enzymes or enzyme domains, e.g., deaminase domains, are provided. In some embodiments, reagents and kits for the generation of targeted nucleic acid editing proteins, e.g., fusion proteins of Cas9 and nucleic acid editing enzymes or domains, are provided.

Abstract: The invention includes, in part, methods and compounds for treating diseases and conditions characterized by reduced threonyl-tRNA synthetase (TARS) activity, which include, but are not limited to diseases and conditions in which angiogenesis is reduced as compared to normal. In some embodiments of the invention, a level of a TARS molecule is determined and compared to a control level of TARS to assess a treatment for a disease or condition characterized by reduced TARS activity.

Abstract: A system for measuring oxygen consumption uses a chamber holding culture medium with a biological material. A resistively gas-permeable membrane has a first side contacting culture medium in the chamber and a first sensor for measuring oxygen in the culture medium. A second sensor measures oxygen in gas adjacent a second side of the membrane. The sensors provide data to a processor having a memory with machine readable instructions for determining oxygen consumption from the data. Alternatively, a method of measuring oxygen flux begins with placing biological material, with fluid, in the chamber; exposing the fluid to a resistively-permeable membrane with oxygen-containing gas on a second side of the membrane; measuring oxygen in the fluid; measuring oxygen in the gas, and calculating the oxygen flux of the biological material from an oxygen permeability constant of the membrane and a difference between the oxygen concentrations of the fluid and gas.