Abstract: A method of enhancing efficacy of mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitor (MAPKi) therapy or immune checkpoint therapy (ICT), as well as a method of suppressing melanoma brain metastasis in a subject, and a method of inhibiting intratumoral M2-like tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) or regulatory T cells (TREG) in a subject comprises (a) pretreating a subject appropriate for and in need of MAPKi therapy by administering one or more doses of ICT to the subject; and (b) subsequent to the pretreating of (a), administering to the subject a combination of MAPKi and ICT. The ICT typically comprises an anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1 agent. Optionally, the ICT further comprises additional agents (such as anti-CTLA4 and/or anti-LAG3) to enhance the efficacy of MAPKi therapy.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions and methods of making high density nucleic acid polymers.

Abstract: Direct protein delivery to plant cells is a useful tool for both fundamental and applied research in plant science. In certain embodiments, the present invention provides a method of delivering a substance to plant tissue comprising biolistically delivering microparticles coated with the substance to the plant tissue to generate bombarded plant tissue.

Abstract: Membranes for electrochemical technologies that operate at non-extreme acidic or basic conditions are described herein. The membrane can be a bipolar membrane having an anion-exchange layer, a cation-exchange layer, and a polymer layer containing a catalyst juxtaposed between the two layers. The catalyst can improve the rate for water dissociation and water formation at low applied bias thereby decreasing the overpotential and resistance for overall ion transport, especially when unequal pH values are used between the catholyte and anolyte.

Abstract: A Hepatitis E virus (HEV)-based virus like nanoparticle (HEVNP) made with a modified capsid protein containing at least a portion of open reading frame 2 (ORF2) protein conjugated with gold nanocluster is provided. Also provided are methods of targeted delivery of a nucleic acid using the HEVNP.

Abstract: Described herein are methods of monitoring and treating a subject with ALS based on biomarkers.

Abstract: Sub-millimeter scale three-dimensional (3D) structures are disclosed with customizable chemical properties and/or functionality. The 3D structures are referred to as drop-carrier particles. The drop-carrier particles allow the selective association of one solution (i.e., a dispersed phased) with an interior portion of each of the drop-carrier particles, while a second non-miscible solution (i.e., a continuous phase) associates with an exterior portion of each of the drop-carrier particles due to the specific chemical and/or physical properties of the interior and exterior regions of the drop-carrier particles. The combined drop-carrier particle with the dispersed phase contained therein is referred to as a particle-drop. The selective association results in compartmentalization of the dispersed phase solution into sub-microliter-sized volumes contained in the drop-carrier particles. The compartmentalized volumes can be used for single-molecule assays as well as single-cell, and other single-entity assays.

Abstract: Systems and methods of providing X-ray optics are described. The optics are formed from CVD thin film diamond. The optics lave three sections that include a tip on which X-rays impinge, a base, and an intermediate section connecting the base and the tip. The intermediate section tapers from the base to the tip. The base has a substantially larger thickness than the tip. The base is disposed within a holder that securely retains the optics to provide vibration control, while the tip is thin enough to provide thermal management and reduce crystal strain.

Abstract: Various examples are provided related to switching methods for regulating resonant switched-capacitor converters (RSCCs). In one example, a method includes operating switches of the RSCC in a repeated asymmetric sequence of switching states per switching cycle. The repeated asymmetric sequence can include at least three switching states selected from five defined switching states including an idle state. For example, repeated asymmetric sequence can consist of four switching states selected from the five defined switching states. In another example, a method includes operating switches of the RSCC in a repeated sequence of switching states per switching cycle. The repeated sequence can include six switching states selected from five defined switching states with at least one of the five defined switching states occurs twice in the six switching states. For example, the repeated sequence can consist of each of the five defined switching states with the idle state occurring twice.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein provides methods and materials useful in gene therapy regimens designed to inhibit myelination abnormalities that occur in the urea cycle disorder arginase deficiency. The underlying cause of the progressive neurological dysfunction that occurs in this disorder has been previously unknown and conventional therapies, at best, only slow the onset of neurological dysfunction. This neurological dysfunction results at least in part from the dysmyelination that occurs in the central nervous system due to the lack of adequate hepatic expression of arginase 1. We have discovered an origin of this neurological dysfunction and, using this information, designed materials and associated methods of gene therapy. The methods and materials disclosed herein can inhibit and essentially prevent neurological dysfunction in a murine model of arginase deficiency.

Abstract: Optical tactile sensors are provided that include a scaffolding structure, a transparent elastomer material covering at least an end portion of the scaffolding structure, and one or multiple cameras situated on the end portion of the scaffolding structure and embedded within the transparent elastomer material, wherein the one or multiple cameras are situated so as to provide an extended, e.g., up to 360°, field of view about the end portion of the scaffolding structure.

Abstract: A CD20-OR-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) protein construct is provided. Also provided are nucleic acids encoding the CD20-OR-CD19 CAR; and methods of use, e.g. in the treatment of B cell malignancies. The CD20-OR-CD19 CAR of the invention is a bispecific CAR that can trigger T-cell activation upon detection of either CD19 or CD20 (or both). It is a single molecule that confers two-input recognition capability upon human T cells engineered to stably express this CAR.

Abstract: A method for tracking occluded objects includes encoding locations of a plurality of objects in an environment, determining a target object, receiving a first end point corresponding to a position of the target object before occlusion behind an occlusion object, distributing a hypothesis between both sides of the occlusion object during occlusion from a subsequent frame of the sequence of frames, receiving a second end point corresponding to a position of the target object after emerging from occlusion from another subsequent frame of the sequence of frames, and determining a trajectory of the target object when occluded by the occlusion object by performing inferences using a spatio-temporal probabilistic graph based on the current frame and the subsequent frames of the sequence of frames. The trajectory of the target object when occluded is used as a learning model for future target objects that are occluded by the occlusion object.

Abstract: Methods and systems to validated physiologic waveform reliability and uses thereof are provided. A number of embodiments describe methods to validate waveform reliability, including blood pressure waveforms, electrocardiographic waveforms, and/or any other physiological measurement producing a continuous waveform. Certain embodiments output reliability measurements to closed loop systems that can control infusion rates of cardioactive drugs or other fluids in order to regulate blood pressure, cardiac rate, cardiac contractility, and/or vasomotor tone. Further embodiments allow for waveform evaluators to validate waveform reliability based on at least one waveform feature using data collected from clinical monitors using machine learning algorithms.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions related to vaccines, e.g., influenza vaccines, including, peptide based vaccines, nucleic acid based vaccines, recombinant virus based vaccines, antibody based vaccines, and virus based vaccines. Also provided herein are methods related to vaccines, e.g., influenza vaccines, including methods of identifying epitopes for the vaccines, producing, formulating, and administering the vaccines.

Abstract: An on-chip strain measurement device that uses precision frequency measurements to precisely extract sub-nm displacements, allowing residual strain measurements in a given structural film. Strain-induced gap changes to resonance frequencies use differential strategies to remove bias uncertainty, allowing measurement of sub-nm displacements. Gap-dependent electrical stiffness is used to shift resonance frequencies as structural elements stretch or shrink to relieve strain. An output based on differential frequencies between two proximal structures with unequal stress arm lengths removes uncertainty on the initial gap spacing. The ability to precisely measure the frequency of the high-Q structures allows lifetime stress correction of micromechanical circuits, such as oscillators and filters.

Abstract: A large-scale silicon-photonics-based optical switching system that occupies an area larger than the maximum area of a standard step-and-repeat lithography reticle is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of identical switch blocks, each of is formed in a different reticle field that no larger than the maximum reticle size. Bus waveguides of laterally adjacent switch blocks are stitched together at lateral interfaces that include a second arrangement of waveguide ports that is common to all lateral interfaces. Bus waveguides of vertically adjacent switch blocks are stitched together at vertical interfaces that include a first arrangement of waveguide ports that is common to all vertical interfaces. In some embodiments, the lateral and vertical interfaces include waveguide ports having waveguide coupling regions that are configured to mitigate optical loss due to stitching error.

Abstract: Methods for preparing a solid electrolyte membrane are described. More particularly, a small amount of binder may be fiberized through a dry calendering process to prepare a solid electrolyte membrane. Since the fiberized binder is included in an entangled state within the solid electrolyte membrane, it shows excellent characteristics in both ionic conductivity and strength.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems are disclosed for optimization techniques and a realistic 3D model to design optimal parameters for transcutaneous stimulation to achieve focalized stimulation of a target tissue such as the spinal cord, brain or other internal organ. The methods, apparatus, and systems include generation of a 3D model from a CT/MRI image, as well as an optimization algorithm that enables stimulation of any target location (e.g., on the dorsal root, or on the dorsal column) with any orientation at high precision.

Abstract: Provided, inter alia, are synthetic melanin nanoparticles (MelNPs) useful for protecting keratinocytes from UV-damage and for treating melanin-defective diseases.