Abstract: Compositions that include nanoscale structured materials or precursors thereof (e.g., self: assembling peptides) are described. The compositions can include other substances (e.g., a vasoconstrictor). Also described are methods for using the compositions to promote hemostasis, to protect the skin or wounds from contamination, to decontaiminate a site upon removal of previously applied compositions that provided a protective coating, and to inhibit the movement of bodily substances other than blood. The compositions are also useful in isolating tissue, removing tissue, preserving tissue (for, e.g., subsequent transplantation or reattachment), and as bulking, stabilizing or hydrating agents. Medical devices that include the compositions (e.g., a stent or catheter), bandages or other wound dressings, sutures, and kits that include the compositions are also described.

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 cisplatin. 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, liver cancer, kidney cancer, or prostate cancer) in a subject.

Abstract: A method for automated opening of craniotomies includes, under the control of a computer processor, drilling into a skull for a predetermined distance and determining when there is a conductance drop near the drilling tip that indicates skull breakthrough. If the conductance is not below a predetermined threshold, drilling continues iteratively manner until conductance is below the threshold. A craniotomy pattern may be predetermined and automatically drilled under control of the processor. A cranial window may be created by drilling along a path that interpolates between holes to form the circumference of the window. An automated craniotomy opening apparatus includes a drilling apparatus with a drilling tip, at least one drilling apparatus positioning device, a detection device, and a computer processor that controls the drilling apparatus, the positioning device, and the detection device according to the method. Determining conductance may include use of an impedance detection circuit.

Abstract: The present invention provides, among other things, multilayer film coating compositions, coated substrates and methods thereof. In some embodiments, a structure includes a substrate; and a multilayer film coated on the substrate, wherein adjacent layers of the multilayer film are associated with one another via one or more non-covalent interactions, wherein the multilayer film comprises a first nucleic acid agent present at a loading density, and further wherein the multilayer film is characterized in that, when the structure is placed on a subject so that the multilayer film contacts cells, the first nucleic acid agent is released with a profile characterized by a feature selected from the group consisting of 1) being a burst-free release; 2) being a sustained release; and 3) exhibiting in vitro and/or in vivo biological effectiveness.

Abstract: The present invention features antibody-based constructs that include a combination of two or more of a tetrameric antibody, a single chain antibody, a diabody, a triabody, another immunoglobulin-based moiety, as described herein, or biologically active variants thereof.

Abstract: A rapidly dispersing dosage form is described. The dosage form releases its active ingredients within a period of less than about ninety seconds. These dosage forms exhibit a three-dimensional shape that is retained for adequate storage but is readily dispersed in the presence of excess moisture. Also disclosed are methods of administration of a medicament and a process for the preparation of rapidly dispersing dosage forms.

Abstract: Using fundamental electronic structure properties as an indicative of defect tolerance, a broad class of semiconductors containing partially oxidized cations can be identified, as well as several specific instances that can share these properties. These defect tolerant semiconductors can make a high-performance optoelectric device, for example, photovoltaic cells.

Abstract: Articles and methods comprising persistent carbenes are provided, as well as related compositions. In some embodiments, a persistent carbene may be associated with a portion of a substrate (e.g., at least a portion of a surface on the substrate). In certain embodiments, the association of persistent carbene with the substrate may be used to affect certain properties of substrate (e.g., surface chemistry, stability). In some cases, a persistent carbene may be functionalized after association with a portion of a substrate. In some embodiments, a persistent carbene and at least one secondary compound may be associated with a portion of a substrate. Articles and methods of the present invention may be useful for applications involving electronics, sensing, microfabrication, nanotechnology, biomimetic, and drug delivery, amongst others.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to devices and methods for crystallizing a compound. In certain industries, crystallization techniques require additional filtration steps in order to obtain products of relatively high yield and/or high purity. In some embodiments, the devices and methods described herein facilitate continuous production of high yield and/or high purity products without the need for additional filtration steps. In some embodiments, the devices and methods comprise flowing a fluid comprising a compound (e.g., a crystallizable compound, a solidifiable compound) over a substrate such that the compound crystallizes and/or precipitates on the substrate. In some embodiments, the crystallized compound can be recovered (e.g., at a high purity in solution). In certain embodiments, the substrate is orientated substantially vertically (e.g., such that flow of the fluid is driven by gravity). In some cases, the substrate comprises a plurality of crystallization promoting structures.

Abstract: A sensor can include a conductive region in electrical communication with at least two electrodes, the conductive region can include a complex, and the complex can include a carbon nanotube that is functionalized by a porphyrin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of treating or decreasing the likelihood of developing a disorder associated with immune misregulation, such as, an autoimmune disorder, or viral or virus-associated disorder in a subject including administering to the subject a composition comprising an activator of a CCCH zinc finger-containing PARP, such as, PARP13 or PARP12. The present invention also relates to methods of treating a TRAIL-resistant disorder, such as, TRAIL-resistant cancer including administering to the subject a composition comprising an activator of a CCCH zinc finger-containing PARP, such as, PARP13 or PARP12. The present invention further relates to methods of modulating a CCCH zinc finger-containing PARP-RNA interaction including contacting a CCCH zinc finger-containing PARP protein or a CCCH zinc finger-containing PARP fusion protein with a CCCH zinc finger-containing PARP activator.

Abstract: Autonomously operating analog to digital converters are formed into a two dimensional array. The array may incorporate digital signal processing functionality. Such an array is particularly well-suited for operation as a readout integrated circuit and in combination with a sensor array, forms a digital focal plane array.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are transparent color displays with nanoparticles made with nonlinear materials and/or designed to exhibit optical resonances. These nanoparticles are embedded in or hosted on a transparent substrate, such as a flexible piece of clear plastic or acrylic. Illuminating the nanoparticles with invisible light (e.g., infrared or ultraviolet light) causes them to emit visible light. For example, a rare-earth doped nanoparticle may emit visible light when illuminated simultaneoulsy with a first infrared beam at a first wavelength ?1 and a second infrared beam at a second wavelength ?2. And a frequency-doubling nanoparticle may emit visible light when illuminated with a single infrared beam at the nanoparticle's resonant frequency. Selectively addressing these nanoparticles with appropiately selected pump beams yields visible light emitted from the nanoparticles hosted by the transparent substrate in a desired pattern.

Abstract: A method of detecting one or more diseased blood cells in a blood sample includes introducing a blood sample into at least one inlet of a microfluidic device comprising one or more linear channels wherein each channel has a length and a cross-section of a height and a width defining an aspect ratio adapted to isolate diseased blood cells along at least one portion of the cross-section of the channel based on reduced deformability of diseased blood cells as compared to non-diseased blood cells, wherein diseased blood cells flow along a first portion of the channel to a first outlet and non-diseased blood cells flow along a second portion of the channel to a second outlet. The one or more channels can be adapted to isolate cells along portions of the cross-section of the channel based on cell size. In some embodiments, the one or more channels can be spiral channels.

Abstract: In its various embodiments, the invention provides, first, a composition comprising a vector for transfecting a cell. The vector comprises a first nucleic acid encoding an antisense agent having thereon an RNA interference target for a transcript of a gene endogenous to the cell. The vector further comprises a second nucleic acid that encodes a cell-killing agent. The second nucleic acid further comprises a sequence of nucleotides transcribable into a non-coding region of a transcript of the second nucleic acid, such that the non-coding region becomes an RNA interference target for the antisense agent. In the transfected cell, the vector operates to interfere with the expression of the cell-killing agent unless and until the vector senses certain endogenous gene signals, whereupon it releases the cell-killing agent.

Abstract: A force-controlled ultrasound imaging device uses a linear drive system to maintain a suitable contact force with a subject. A combination of hardware and software limits on travel for the linear drive system provide intuitive user feedback while helping to ensure that the linear drive system remains active throughout the scan, while responding appropriately to initiation and termination of scans.

Abstract: This invention is directed to ?-1-6-glucans, compositions and devices comprising the same, and methods of use thereof in modulating immune responses. The ?-1-6-glucans of certain embodiments of the invention are enriched for O-acetylated groups and/or conjugated to a solid support or linked to a targeting moiety.

Abstract: Methods for microfabricating composite materials and composite materials prepared there from are described herein. The sacrificial material can be etched or patterned to create a two-dimensional and/or three-dimensional sacrificial material structure. The resulting sacrificial material structure can be embedded in one or more embedding materials. The sacrificial material(s) are materials whose solubility can be altered by application of a stimulus typically pH, and/or temperature, light, pH, pressure, presence of absence of ions, and combinations thereof. The embedding materials can contain one or more additives that modify one or more properties of the embedding materials, such as degradation properties, porosity, mechanical properties, viscosity, conductive properties, and combinations thereof. The composite materials can be used in tissue engineering, drug screening, toxin detection, drug delivery, filtrations, bioseparations, and as microfluidic devices for fluid mixing and structural repair.

Abstract: A localized heating structure, and method of forming same, for use in solar systems includes a thermally insulating layer having interconnected pores, a density of less than about 3000 kg/m3, and a hydrophilic surface, and an expanded carbon structure adjacent to the thermally insulating layer. The expanded carbon structure has a porosity of greater than about 80% and a hydrophilic surface.

Abstract: Provided herein are high-input detector modules and multi-input biological classifier circuits and systems that integrate sophisticated sensing, information processing, and actuation in living cells and permit new directions in basic biology, biotechnology and medicine. The multi-input biological classifier circuits described herein comprise synthetic, scaleable transcriptional/post-transcriptional regulatory circuits that are designed to interrogate the status of a cell by simultaneously sensing expression levels of multiple endogenous inputs, such as microRNAs. The classifier circuits then compute whether to trigger a desired output or response if the expression levels match a pre-determined profile of interest.