Abstract: A method of rapid functional analysis of cells is provided. A body fluid sample is introduced into a reservoir of a measurement instrument. A living cell is loaded directly from the body fluid sample into a channel of the measurement instrument in the absence of long-term cell culturing, cell passaging, and application of long-term drug pressure to cells. A functional biomarker of the living cells is measured while the living cell flows through the channel. The functional biomarker measured may be mass accumulation rate (MAR) or mass change. The measurement instrument may be a suspended microchannel resonator (SMR).

Abstract: In a draw tower for producing a length of optical fiber, a preform feed accepts a preform into the draw tower and a furnace downstream of the preform feed heats the preform. Fiber shaping hardware downstream of the thermal furnace is controlled by fiber shaping control electronics to produce along the fiber at least one low-absorption fiber section having a first cross-sectional geometry of the inner cladding layer corresponding to a first level of absorption of input pump light from the inner cladding layer to the core and at least one high-absorption fiber section having a second cross-sectional geometry of the inner cladding layer corresponding to a second level of absorption of input pump light from the inner cladding layer to the core that is greater than the first level of absorption. A tractor downstream of shaping hardware pulls the preform through the furnace and shaping hardware.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides (block co-polymer)-(metal organic framework) conjugates (BCPMOFs), such as (block co-polymer)-(metal organic nanostructure) conjugates (BCPMONs), and thermoplastic elastomers, gels, and compositions thereof. Exemplary BCPMONs include (block co-polymer)-(metal organic cage) conjugates (BCPMOCs), (block co-polymer)-(metal organic paddlewheel) conjugates, and (block co-polymer)-(metal organic square) conjugates, such as BCPMONs of Formula (A), (B), or (C). Also described herein are macromonomers for preparing the BCPMONs; thermoplastic elastomers, gels, and compositions involving the BCPMONs; methods of preparing the BCPMONs, thermoplastic elastomers, gels, and compositions; and methods of using the BCPMONs, thermoplastic elastomers, gels, and compositions.

Abstract: Provided herein are synthetic pathways from Escherichia coli and Vibrio cholerae genes for the production of new, synthetic nonribosomal peptides, and methods and compositions comprising the same. Some aspects of the present disclosure are directed to modified bacterial cells comprising a compressed biosynthetic pathway that comprises (a) biosynthetic genes obtained from one species encoding enzymes active in the bioassembly of a nonribosomal molecule, (b) biosynthetic genes obtained from another species encoding enzymes active in the bioassembly of a nonribosomal molecule that is different from the nonribosomal molecule of (a). In some embodiments, the biosynthetic genes of (a) are Escherichia coli biosynthetic genes and may include entD gene, an entC gene, an entE gene, an entB gene and an entA gene. In some embodiments, the biosynthetic genes of (b) are Vibrio cholera biosynthetic genes and may include a vibH gene and a vibF gene.

Abstract: Described herein are platinum-based brush-arm star polymers (Pt-BASPs), or a pharmaceutical composition thereof, for delivery of platinum-based agents, such as oxaliplatin. Also provided are methods and kits involving the Pt-BASPs, or a pharmaceutical composition thereof, for treating proliferative diseases such as cancers (e.g., lung cancer, head-and-neck cancer, esophagus cancer, stomach cancer, breast cancer, pancreas cancer, colorectal cancer, liver cancer, kidney cancer, or prostate cancer) in a subject.

Abstract: A method and apparatus used for detecting gaseous chemicals. The method and apparatus use an interferometer to filter received light by wavelength, creating an image only using light with wavelengths that are affected by the presence of a gaseous chemical. A reference image composed of light with wavelengths unaffected by the presence of a gaseous chemical is also created and used as a reference. A gaseous chemical is detected where the ratio of the intensity of the two images changes. Despite the high spectral resolution of the filter, the system can operate with a very wide field of view.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to composition and methods for downconverting light. In some embodiments, the composition and methods comprise an organic material, a nanocrystal, and a ligand capable of facilitating energy transfer between the organic material and the nanocrystal. In certain embodiments, the nanocrystal has a first excited energy state with an energy less than a triplet energy state of the organic material. The organic material, in some embodiments, may be aromatic and/or include one or more pi-conjugated carbon-carbon double bonds. In some cases, incident light may be absorbed by the organic material to produce two triplet excitons. The triplet excitons may then transfer to the nanocrystal via the ligand, where they can undergo recombination, resulting in the formation low energy photons.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to reconfigurable chemical synthesis systems and related components and methods. In one aspect, a fluidic system comprises a plurality of fluid outlets, a plurality of fluid inlets, a plurality of tensioners, and a plurality of flexible conduits associated with the plurality of tensioners, wherein at least one flexible conduit of the plurality of flexible conduits is configured to fluidically connect a fluid outlet of the plurality of fluid outlets and a fluid inlet of the plurality of fluid inlets. Another aspect relates to a method in which ends of a plurality of flexible conduits are physically moved along paths, one after the other, prior to flowing material through the flexible conduits, after which the ends of the flexible conduits are again physically moved.

Abstract: A sensor may measure light reflecting from a multi-layered object at different times. A digital time-domain signal may encode the measurements. Peaks in the signal may be identified. Each identified peak may correspond to a layer in the object. For each identified peak, a short time window may be selected, such that the time window includes a time at which the identified peak occurs. A discrete Fourier transform of that window of the signal may be computed. A frequency frame may be computed for each frequency in a set of frequencies in the transform. Kurtosis for each frequency frame may be computed. A set of high kurtosis frequency frames may be averaged, on a pixel-by-pixel basis, to produce a frequency image. Text characters that are printed on a layer of the object may be recognized in the frequency image, even though the layer is occluded.

Abstract: Self-righting articles, such as self-righting capsules for administration to a subject, are generally provided. In some embodiments, the self-righting article may be configured such that the article may orient itself relative to a surface (e.g., a surface of a tissue of a subject). The self-righting articles described herein may comprise one or more tissue engaging surfaces configured to engage (e.g., interface with, inject into, anchor) with a surface (e.g., a surface of a tissue of a subject). In some embodiments, the self-righting article may have a particular shape and/or distribution of density (or mass) which, for example, enables the self-righting behavior of the article. In some embodiments, the self-righting article may comprise a tissue interfacing component and/or a pharmaceutical agent (e.g., for delivery of the active pharmaceutical agent to a location internal of the subject).

Abstract: Electrolytes and polymers for a lithium battery can include a fluorinated aryl sulfonimide salt or fluorinated aryl sulfonimide polymer.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and compositions useful in targeting a payload to, or editing a target nucleic acid, where a governing gRNA molecule is used to target, optionally inactivate, a Cas9 molecule or a Cas9 molecule/gRNA complex.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel peptides (e.g., peptides, macrocyclic peptides, mini-proteins) that modulate protein-protein interactions or salts thereof, and methods of making and using the inventive peptides. In some embodiments, the peptides are high affinity inhibitors (e.g., KD of at most 100 nM, at most 10 nM, at most 1 nM) of a protein-protein interaction. In certain embodiments, these peptides interfere with p53-MDM2 binding interactions (e.g., by binding to MDM2 (GenBank® Gene ID: 4193)). In some embodiments, the peptides interfere with the dimerization of the C-terminal domain of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) capsid protein (C-CA), comprising residues 146-231 of the HIV capsid protein (e.g., by binding to the C-terminal domain of the HIV capsid protein (C-CA), thereby inhibiting the dimeric interface of HIV capsid protein, thereby inhibiting viral assembly).

Abstract: Disclosed herein are hydrogels comprising a polynucleotide-based structural component. Methods of altering a property of a hydrogel based on user-defined nucleic acid input sequences are also disclosed. In addition, various applications are described that utilize these hydrogels and methods.

Abstract: A structural electronics wireless sensor node is provided that includes layers of electronic components fabricated from patterned nanostructures embedded in an electrically conductive matrix. In some aspects, the structural electronics wireless sensor node includes a plurality of nanostructure layers that each form individual electronic components of the structural electronics wireless sensor node. In certain embodiments, the structural electronics wireless sensor node includes electronic components such as a resistor, a inductor, a capacitor, and/or an antenna.

Abstract: Metal-hydroxide-organic framework compositions, methods of making metal-hydroxide-organic framework compositions and methods of using metal-hydroxide-organic framework compositions are described.

Abstract: Eye prescriptions may be determined by providing a simple, easy to use, portable device with a specially configured targeting light source that aligns the eye, mitigates accommodation, and provides accurate results. Unlike stationary, closed view autorefractors, this device typically is portable, self-usable, relatively inexpensive, enabling more widespread use across the world.

Abstract: Expandable robotic arms are described. A robotic arm may include a series of expandable segments connected to each other. Further, each of the expandable segments may be individually controlled to expand and/or tilt with one or two tilt degrees of freedom. In operation, the robotic arm may expand sequentially segment by segment from a proximal most segment to a distal most segment to reach a target position and orientation from an initial position and orientation. A variety of methods and algorithms for pathfinding and otherwise operating such a robotic arm are also described.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and related compositions for enhancing cancer therapy and in particular glutaminase inhibitor therapy. The methods involve methods for identifying patients susceptible to glutaminase inhibitor therapy as well as sensitizing patients to glutaminase inhibitor therapy.

Abstract: A tag for detecting an analyte can include a radio frequency identification tag including a sensor portion, the sensor portion configured to change resistivity when the radio frequency identification tag contacts or interacts with an analyte, whereby the resistivity change alters an output of the radio frequency identification tag, wherein the sensor portion includes a circuit, and wherein the sensor portion is configured to activate the circuit or deactivate the circuit when contacted or having interacted with the analyte, where the sensor portion includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes associated with a chemically-degradable polymer. In certain embodiments, the chemically degradable polymer can be a metallo-supramolecular polymer.