Abstract: The present invention provides compositions comprising chimeric polypeptides that bind to free ubiquitin proteins or free ubiquitin-like proteins with high affinity, as well as chimeric polypeptides that bind to both free and conjugated ubiquitin proteins or free and conjugated ubiquitin-like proteins, and methods of using the chimeric polypeptides to determine the amount of free or total ubiquitin or free or total ubiquitin-like proteins in various types of samples.

Abstract: Disclosed are yeast-based immunotherapeutic compositions and fusion proteins for the treatment and/or prevention of TB infection and symptoms thereof, as well as methods of using the yeast-based immunotherapeutic compositions and fusion proteins for the prophylactic and/or therapeutic treatment of TB and/or symptoms thereof.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to compositions and methods for culturing a population of hepatocytes in vitro, comprising co-culturing the population of hepatocytes with at least one non-parenchymal cell population and incubating the co-culture in culture medium, wherein the co-culture is periodically incubated in culture medium that does not comprise serum (serum-free culture medium).

Abstract: A strain sensor device having a biological substrate composed of a standalone bone graft or an isolated piece of bone that can be incorporated directly into, or attached to another piece of bone that is then implantable, in a biological subject, and a method thereof. The strain sensor device can includes a strain sensing circuit, which is composed of at least a first dielectric layer and a first conductive layer, that functions as a strain gauge. The first dielectric layer can be composed of dielectric material disposed over the biological substrate. The first conductive layer, which has a pattern, can be disposed over the first dielectric material. A bonding interface is disposed between the biological substrate and the first dielectric layer. The bonding interface can be composed of an underlayer of polydimethylsiloxane and a first interface layer. The underlayer can be disposed on the bone graft substrate.

Abstract: Provided are methods of enhancing an immune response and methods for reducing the recruitment of monocytes to a lymph node by administering to an individual an angiotensin II receptor blocker or a compound of Formula (I) in conjunction with an antigen. The invention also provides relate methods for amplifying vaccine immunity by administering to an individual an angiotensin II receptor blocker or a compound of Formula (I) in conjunction with an vaccine. The invention also provides related methods of inhibiting tumor growth and metastasis by administering to an individual with cancer an angiotensin II receptor blocker or a compound of Formula (I) in conjunction with an anti-tumor preparation. In addition, related compositions comprising an ARB or a compound of Formula (I) and an antigen, vaccine, or anti-tumor preparation are provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides co-cultures of human pluripotent stem cell derived hepatocytes and at least one non-parenchymal cell population in vitro, methods of preparing the co-cultures and methods of using the co-cultures for high throughput screening and evaluation of drug candidates. The stem cell derived hepatocyte co-culture system provides an in vitro model in which cell viability and relatively mature hepatocyte phenotype of stem cell derived hepatocytes are maintained for extended periods relative to conventional monoculture.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed to downscale the resolution of a coarse-resolution soil moisture data. Coarse-resolution soil moisture data may include data cells that each represent a geographic region having at least one dimension greater than or equal to 1 km. A plurality of fine-resolution supplemental soil moisture data may be received that includes at least one of soil data, vegetation data, topography data, and climate data. The fine-resolution supplemental soil moisture data comprising data cells that each represent a geographic region having at least one dimension less than or equal to 100 meters. The coarse-resolution soil moisture data may be downscaled to fine-resolution soil moisture data using the plurality of fine-resolution supplemental soil moisture data, the fine-resolution soil moisture data comprising data cells that each represent a geographic region having at least one dimension less than 100 meters.

Abstract: Provided herein is a block copolymer hydrogel, comprising a glass formed from a dry blend of polystyrene-poly(ethylene oxide) diblock copolymer (SO) and polystyrene-poly(ethylene oxide)-polystyrene triblock copolymer (SOS) in a molar ratio from between 95:5 and 1:99 SO/SOS and a liquid medium at a concentration between about 32:1 and about 2:1 liquid medium/SO—SOS by weight. The block copolymer hydrogel has a fatigue resistance to at least 500,000 compression cycles. Also provided are methods for forming the hydrogel.

Abstract: Indirect ELISAs to detect exposure to Felis catus gammaherpesvirus 1 (FcaGHV1) in domestic cats. These ELISAs detect feline serum antibodies to ORF52 and ORF38 of FcaGHV1. The ELISA assays are sensitive, specific, and adaptable for scale up use in high throughput diagnostics.

Abstract: Devices and methods for measuring subsurface thermal fluxes and for estimating a rate of change in the amount of a reactive material within a subsurface formation using the measured thermal fluxes are described herein. The methods of measuring subsurface thermal fluxes may use at least one array of temperature sensors distributed along a vertical transect projecting from the surface and into the subsurface of a region of interest. Methods of estimating a rate of change in the amount of a reactive material within a portion of the region of interest based on perturbations of the thermal profile within the subsurface due to an endothermic or exothermic degradation of the reactive material within the portion of the region of interest are also described herein.

Abstract: The invention provides a method to design and fabricate organically modified silica particles (Ormosils) and sustainable Ormosils-based omniphobic or superomniphobic surfaces using short chain fluorocarbon molecules. The disclosed Ormosils-based liquid-repellant surfaces possess superior liquid-repellency that is equivalent to long chain fluorocarbon-based surfaces, for both high surface tension liquids (e.g., water) and low surface tension liquids (e.g., oils and alcohols).

Abstract: A sensor for hydrocarbons uses a waveguide with a first cladding layer, a second cladding layer with a measurement region with hydrophobic measurement material, and a core between the first and second cladding layers. Light is coupled into the waveguide. The measurement material is exposed to the hydrocarbon allowing the hydrocarbon to diffuse into it and change refractive index of the material, which changes intensity of light evanescently coupled through the first cladding layer. Light coupled through the first cladding layer is measured to determine exposure of the sensor to the hydrocarbons.

Abstract: B/N Lewis pairs have been discovered to catalyze rapid epimerization of meso-lactide (LA) or LA diastereomers quantitatively into rac-LA. The obtained rac-LA can be kinetically polymerized into poly(L-lactide) and optically resolved D-LA, with a high stereoselectivity factor kL/kD of 53 and an ee value of 91% at 50.6% monomer conversion, by a bifunctional chiral catalyst. The epimerization and enantioselective polymerization can be coupled into a one-pot process for transforming meso-LA directly into poly(L-lactide) and D-LA.

Abstract: Provided herein is a polymeric material comprising a polymer host; and a guest molecule comprising a glycosaminoglycan; wherein the guest molecule is disposed within the polymer host, and wherein the guest molecule is covalently bonded to at least one other guest molecule. In some embodiments, the polymer host comprises a silicone-based polymer. In other embodiments, the glycosaminoglycan is chosen from hyaluronic acid and derivatives thereof.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure involve systems, methods, and computer program products for obtaining and displaying a large image file over a network. In one embodiment, a user utilizes a computing device to obtain a large image file over a network, such as the Internet. The large image file may be stored in and available from a network device, such as an application server or database. To obtain the image file, a user interface executed on the user's computing device determines which portions of the overall image file are to be displayed in the interface. The interface may utilize one or more image variables to create or generate one or more network addresses at which the image tiles are stored or otherwise available. To retrieve the image tiles, the computing device uses the generated network addresses of the identified image tiles to request and obtain the image tiles.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and compositions for determining the susceptibility of cattle to High Altitude Pulmonary Hypertension. Also provide are kits and reagents for performing such methods.

Abstract: Methods for diagnosing and characterizing lymphoma, as well as evaluating the disease-free interval following treatment, utilizing patient antibodies bound to peptide microarrays in comparison to an immunosignature characteristic of a lymphoma state or a non-lymphoma state. Characterization includes subtyping of lymphoma utilizing an immunosignature characteristic of a B-cell or T-cell lymphoma.

Abstract: The high thermal conduction resistances of a lithium-ion battery (LIB) severely limit the effectiveness of a conventional external thermal management system (TMS). A method for a new thermal management system for lithium-ion batteries that utilizes a multi-functional electrolyte (MFE) to remove heat locally inside the cell by evaporating a volatile component of the MFE is disclosed. These new electrolyte mixtures comprise a high vapor pressure co-solvent. The characteristics of a previously unstudied high vapor pressure co-solvent HFE-7000 (65 kPa at 25° C.) in an MFE (1 M LiTFSI in 1:1 HFE-7000/EMC), and other possible MFE compositions that can be utilized in a custom electrolyte boiling facility, are disclosed.

Abstract: Provided herein is a thermoplastic elastomer hydrogel and methods of making such. The hydrogel comprises a glass formed from poly(styrene)-b-poly(ethylene oxide) in which the coronal chain end has been functionalized with photodimerizable groups (AB-photo) and a liquid medium at a concentration between about 32:1 and about 2:1 liquid medium/AB-photo by weight. The hydrogel has a fatigue resistance to at least 500,000 compression cycles.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a culture medium formulation comprising human serum that can enhance functions of primary human hepatocytes, improve morphology, promote bile canaliculi formation and extend hepatocyte functional lifetime in vitro for over 10 weeks as compared to ˜3-4 weeks when using a conventional culture medium containing serum from bovine sources. The provided long-term culture model can be used to screen drugs for their efficacious and/or toxic effects over several weeks, improve drug-transporter assays via the larger bile canaliculi network, and to model several chronic liver diseases such as hepatitis, type 2 diabetes, malaria, liver fibrosis, liver cancer, and fatty liver disease.