Abstract: The present invention provides novel markers of treatment response in a subject infected with Mycobacterium, which allow for quantifying treatment impact on the physiologic state of the Mycobacterium.

Abstract: The invention provides an immunoconjugate comprising an antibody construct which includes an antigen binding domain and an Fc domain, an adjuvant moiety, and a linker, wherein each adjuvant moiety is covalently bonded to the antibody via the linker. Methods for treating cancer with the immunoconjugates of the invention are also described.

Abstract: A backscatter tag device includes, in part, a receiver configured to receive a packet conforming to a communication protocol defining a multitude of codewords, a codeword translator configured to translate at least a first subset of the multitude of codewords disposed in the packet to a second multitude of codewords defined by the protocol in response to a data the backscatter tag is invoked to transmit, and a transmitter configured to transmit the packet supplied by the codeword translator at a frequency different than the first frequency at which the packer is received. The communication protocol may optionally be the 802.11 g/n, ZigBee or the Bluetooth communication protocol.

Abstract: Methods for quantitatively determining a binding kinetic parameter of a molecular binding interaction are provided. Aspects of embodiments of the methods include: producing a magnetic sensor device including a magnetic sensor in contact with an assay mixture including a magnetically labeled molecule to produce a detectable molecular binding interaction; obtaining a real-time signal from the magnetic sensor; and quantitatively determining a binding kinetics parameter of the molecular binding interaction from the real-time signal. Also provided are systems and kits configured for use in the methods.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a battery electrode includes: (1) mixing Li2S particles with a binder to form a slurry, the binder including at least one of: (a) an ester moiety, (b) an amide moiety, (c) a ketone moiety, (d) an imine moiety, (e) an ether moiety, and (f) a nitrile moiety; and (2) disposing the slurry on a current collector.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods for laparoscopic abdominal surgery are disclosed. For example, a system or kit is provided for performing a procedure within a surgical space within a patient's body that includes a plurality of tool heads, and a tool head carrier including features for removably receiving one or more tool heads, the tool head carrier sized for introduction through a trocar or other port into a surgical space. The system or kit may also include a surgical tool including a tool shaft introduceable into the surgical space and including features for securing a tool head to the tool. Optionally, the tool head carrier may include a clip for securing the tool head carrier to an endoscope.

Abstract: The invention provide isolated arrestin domain-containing protein 1 (ARRDC1)-mediated micro vesicles (ARMMs). Methods for generating and for isolating ARMMs are also provided herein. ARMMs can be used to deliver agents, for example, nucleic acids (e.g., siRNAs, microRNAs, lincRNAs), proteins (e.g., transcription factors, chromatin modulators, kinases, phosphorylases, or recombinases), or small molecules to target cells in vitro and in vivo, and methods for such ARMM-mediated delivery are provided herein. Diagnostic and therapeutic methods using ARMMs are also described herein.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compounds and compositions thereof which find use in increasing stability of proteins particularly proteins that tend to misfold and form aggregates. Also provided herein are methods for using these compounds and compositions for increasing stability of proteins and thereby decreasing aggregate formation by these proteins. Also disclosed herein are heterobifunctional compounds that include a TTR binding compound connected to a targeting moiety via a linker, for use in disrupting PPIs of a target protein.

Abstract: Polypeptides comprising variant vascular endothelial growth factor sequences are provided. The polypeptides are useful in cancer imaging, cancer diagnosis, monitoring and treatment as well as treatment of diseases characterized by excessive neovascularization.

Abstract: The present invention relates to droplet-based pyrosequencing including a method of identifying a base at a target position in a sample nucleic acid. The method includes: (a) providing a droplet microactuator including a first droplet including a sample nucleic acid immobilized on a bead; and (b) on the droplet microactuator: (i) contacting the first droplet with one or more reagent droplets to yield a second droplet, wherein the one or more reagent droplets include reagents for extending a double stranded portion of the sample nucleic acid by incorporating a nucleotide at the target position; (ii) splitting the second droplet to yield a third droplet including the bead and a fourth droplet lacking the bead; and (iii) assaying the third droplet to determine whether the nucleotide was incorporated at the target position.

Abstract: Briefly described, embodiments of this disclosure include compounds (e.g., such as Formula II, Formula II-a, and specific compounds shown in Table 1), pharmaceutical compositions, methods of treating a host infected with a virus from the Flaviviridae family of viruses, methods of inhibiting HCV replication in a host, methods of inhibiting the binding of NS4B polypeptide to the 3?UTR of HCV negative strand RNA in a host, methods of treating liver fibrosis in a host, and the like.

Abstract: Methods and oligonucleotide reagents for diagnosing dengue virus infection are described. In particular, the invention relates to methods for detection, quantitation, and serotyping dengue virus, including serotypes 1-4. The dengue virus can be specifically detected by these methods even in samples containing other viruses, such as West Nile virus, Japanese encephalitis virus, tick-born encephalitis virus, HIV, or HCV.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for preparing a biological specimen for microscopic analysis. These methods find many uses, for example in medicine and research, e.g., to diagnose or monitor disease or graft transplantation, to study healthy or diseased tissue, to screen candidate agents for toxicity and efficacy in disease modification. Also provided are reagents, devices, kits and systems thereof that find use in practicing the subject methods.

Abstract: This invention provides a germanium electroluminescence device and a fabricating method of the same for using germanium of an indirect bandgap semiconductor without modifying a bandgap as a light-emitting layer which emits a 1550 nm-wavelength light and enabling to use not only as infrared LEDs itself but also as light sources for optical communication systems.

Abstract: This invention provides a germanium electroluminescence device and a fabricating method of the same for using germanium of an indirect bandgap semiconductor without modifying a bandgap as a light-emitting layer which emits a 1550 nm-wavelength light and enabling to use not only as infrared LEDs itself but also as light sources for optical communication systems.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for treating or preventing pulmonary fibrosis in subjects suffering from diffuse parenchymal lung diseases using selective active-site mTOR inhibitors.

Abstract: Block copolymers include hydrophobic and hydrophilic blocks having repeating units derived from ring opening polymerization of one or more cyclic carbonate monomers. The carbonate monomers are independently selected from compounds of formula (II): wherein each Q? and Qa group independently represents a hydrogen, an alkyl group, a halide, a carboxy group, an ester group, an amide group, an aryl group, an alkoxy group, or a foregoing Q? or Qa group substituted with a carboxy group or an ester group, at least one Q? and Qa group includes an ester group; each Y independently represents O, S, NH, or NQ?; n is an integer from 0 to 6, wherein when n is 0, carbons labeled 4 and 6 are linked together by a single bond; each Q? group independently represents an alkyl group, an aryl group, or a foregoing Q? group substituted with a carboxy group, or an ester group.

Abstract: Improved 4D imaging reconstruction is provided for a freely breathing patient. 3D patient images from an imaging dataset are binned according to respiratory displacement or phase. The bins are defined by ranges, so every image in the raw 3D data set is included in a bin. Since binning in this manner often results in two or more images per bin, the 4D reconstruction is determined by selecting one 3D image from each bin at each patient position. This selection is performed so as to maximize the anatomical similarity of 3D images at adjacent patient positions. In cases where the 3D images include multiple slices, a 2D comparison of the closest slices can be used to determine anatomical similarity of the 3D images.

Abstract: Methods of inducing proximity of chimeric molecules in a cell are provided. Aspects of the methods include contacting a cell with an amount of alkenyl substituted cycloaliphatic (ASC) inducer compound, e.g., abscisic acid, effective to induce proximity of first and second chimeric molecules. Also provided are compositions and kits for practicing various embodiments of the methods. Methods of the invention find use in a variety of different applications, including transcription induction applications.

Abstract: Low temperature wafer bonding (temperature of 450° C. or less) is employed to fabricate CMUTs on a wafer that already includes active electrical devices. The resulting structures are CMUT arrays integrated with active electronics by a low-temperature wafer bonding process. The use of a low-temperature process preserves the electronics during CMUT fabrication. With this approach, it is not necessary to make compromises in the CMUT or electronics designs, as is typical of the sacrificial release fabrication approach. Various disadvantages of sacrificial release, such as low process control, poor design flexibility, low reproducibility, and reduced performance are avoided with the present approach. With this approach, a CMUT array can be provided with per-cell electrodes connected to the substrate integrated circuitry. This enables complete flexibility in electronically assigning the CMUT cells to CMUT array elements.