Abstract: Provided herein are reagents and methods for comprehensively enriching potential variants within targeted regions, named Amplicon Comprehensive Enrichment (ACE). The sequence variants enriched can include single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), single nucleotide variants, or small insertions and deletions. Embodiments include procedures for integration with real-time polymerase chain reaction, next generation sequencing (NGS), and long-read sequencing.

Abstract: A therapeutic method for catalytically forming persulfide and/or polysulfide from hydrogen sulfide in vitro and in vivo using endogenously or exogenously released hydrogen sulfide is disclosed. That method comprises contacting cells in need including those under oxidative stress, traumatic brain injury (TBI) and hypoxia, or have an excess of hydrogen sulfide or deficiency of protein persulfidation with oxidized carbon nanoparticulate material in which the particles contain a plurality of carbonyl, hydroxyl and carboxyl substituents. Oxidized carbon nanoparticulate (OCN) material can be prepared from any of a variety of sources of which activated charcoal is preferred. A water-dispersible OCN material is described that does not need added hydrophilic polymers to provide dispersibility for at least 7 days at a concentration of about 1-5 mg/mL. These OCN materials also have a UV absorbance maximum in water of about 220 nm and pass through a 0.22 µm pore PES membrane.

Abstract: Wireless treatment of arrhythmias. At least some of the example embodiments are methods including: charging a capacitor of a first microchip device abutting heart tissue, the charging by harvesting ambient energy; charging a capacitor of a second microchip device abutting the heart tissue, the charging of the capacitor of the second microchip device by harvesting ambient energy; sending a command wirelessly from a communication device outside the rib cage to the microchip devices; applying electrical energy to the heart tissue by the first microchip device responsive to the command, the electrical energy applied from the capacitor of the first microchip device; and applying electrical energy to the heart tissue by the second microchip device responsive to the command to the second microchip device, the electrical energy applied from the capacitor of the second microchip device.

Abstract: A system for imaging a target embedded in a scattering media includes: one or more light sources that are pulsed lights at one or more wavelengths in a range of visible to near-infrared; a detector, including a photodetector array with a time-gating function, configured to collect a scattered light after a gate start time; and a processor configured to determine an image of the target based on the scattered light.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for creating a patient-specific orthopedic implant. The method includes creating a numerical representation of an orthopedic implant design based on patient data describing an anatomical, physiological and pathological condition of a patient and simulating a characteristic of the orthopedic implant design based on the numerical representation. The method further includes selecting a patient-specific orthopedic implant design based on the simulated characteristic of the orthopedic implant design and the patient data and constructing at least one patient-specific orthopedic implant based on the selected patient-specific orthopedic implant design.

Abstract: A high-resolution microendoscope system includes a light source, a fiber optic bundle configured to transmit light from the light source to a sample, a disc configured to receive light returned from the sample, the disc having spaced apart segments, the spaced-apart segments being at least one of openings and transparent portions, a first camera configured to capture a first image based at least in part on light passing through the disc, and a second camera configured to capture a second image based at least in part on light reflected from the disc.

Abstract: A composition useful in forming a structure in the form of a substantially interconnected vascular network. The composition includes a powder including a carbohydrate powder and an anti-caking agent, where the powder: has a granular form, and has a specific energy of less than 6 millijoules per milliliter (mJ/mL).

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for labeling input DNA with oligonucleotide barcode sequences, and selective PCR amplification of DNA sequence variants across the targeted regions for variant quantitation.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides expression constructs designed to provide for expression of therapeutic proteins from engineered cells. The engineered cells may be encapsulated into implantable elements that allow for the therapeutic protein to be released into from the capsule while protecting the cell from the immune system of a patient into which the capsule is implanted.

Abstract: Compositions and methods to 3D print high quality inorganic nanostructures from a nanocomposite ink using two-photon polymerization are provided. Methods provide capability for 3D printing inorganic silica structures with sub-200 nm resolution with controlled crystallinity and doping. The final 3D printed inorganic product is shown to be pure SiO2, which can be in either glass or crystalline polymorph depending on the sintering process. The 3D printed fabricated products also show remarkable optical performance with the 3D printed micro-toroid optical resonators having quality factors (Q) over 104. For optical applications, doping and co-doping of rare earth salts such as Er3+, Tm3+, Yb3+, Eu3+ and Nd3+ can be directly implemented in the printed SiO2 structures.

Abstract: A method for a passive single-viewpoint 3D imaging system comprises capturing an image from a camera having one or more phase masks. The method further includes using a reconstruction algorithm, for estimation of a 3D or depth image.

Abstract: Virus and microbe-killing, self-sterilizing resistive heated air filters and methods of making and using same methods. The air filter is includes laser-induced graphene (LIG), a porous conductive graphene foam formed through photothermal conversion of a polyimide film (or another source or source of polymer or other LIG precursor material) by a laser source. The LIG in the air filter can capture particulates and bacteria. The bacteria cannot proliferate even when submerged in culture medium. Through a periodic Joule-heating mechanism, the filter easily reaches greater than 300° C.

Abstract: A method for minimally invasive deep brain simulation (DBS) involves obtaining a target location for the DBS, obtaining an anatomical model, and simulatively determining, for a set of antennas endocranially implanted at first positions and emitting electromagnetic waves differing by a frequency offset, a first envelope signal at the target location, using the anatomical model. The first envelope signal resulting from interference of the electromagnetic waves at the target location has an envelope signal frequency corresponding to the frequency offset.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of opening a lipid bilayer by associating the lipid bilayer with a molecule that includes a moving component capable of moving (e.g., rotating) in response to an external stimulus; and exposing the molecule to an external stimulus before, during or after associating the molecule with the lipid bilayer. The exposing causes the moving component of the molecule to move and thereby open the lipid bilayer (e.g., by pore formation). The external stimuli may include an energy source, such as ultraviolet light. The opened lipid bilayer may be a component of cell membranes in vitro or in vivo. The opening of the lipid bilayer may allow for the passage of various materials (e.g., active agents, such as peptide-based drugs) through the lipid bilayer and into cells. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to the aforementioned molecules for opening lipid bilayers.

Abstract: An infrared photodetector includes: a p-type and highly-doped silicon substrate; a metal structure disposed on the silicon substrate; a first electric contact to the silicon substrate; and a second electric contact to the metal structure.

Abstract: This disclosure describes enantiomerically enriched chiral molecular sieves and methods of making and using the same. In some embodiments, the molecular sieves are silicates or germanosilicates of STW topology.

Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to methods for serially expanding an artificial heart valve within a pediatric patient. For example, the artificial heart valve can be implanted into the pediatric patient during a first procedure, and then expanded during a second procedure to accommodate for the pediatric patient’s growth. Some embodiments include introducing an expander into the implanted valve when the frame is expanded to a first working diameter, and then actuating the expander to expand the frame to a second working diameter greater than the first working diameter, to accommodate for the pediatric patient’s growth.

Abstract: Methods of making hexagonal boron nitride coatings upon stainless steel and other ferrous metal/alloy materials, compositions thereof, and methods of using same, such as in electrothermal membrane distillation systems using hexagonal boron nitride coated metal mesh.

Abstract: Provided herein are hybrid capture-based methods to extract single-stranded DNA or RNA directly from non-treated biospecimens. The methods allow for the detection and analysis of unexplored short single-stranded DNA (sssDNA, mean length 50 nt) and ultrashort single-stranded DNA (ussDNA, mean length 15 nt) of human origin present in the biospecimen. The methods allow the discovery of unexplored short single-stranded DNA (sssDNA) in isolated red blood cells, which were believed to be deprived of nucleic acids because of the lack of a nucleus in mature red blood cells. The DNA or RNA extracted using the disclosed methods can be used as disease prognostic biomarkers and treatment predictive biomarkers.

Abstract: Alkali metal-sulfur cells and batteries with cathode layers that store alkali metal charge carriers (e.g., lithium ions) in agglomerates of sulfurized carbon. The cathode layers lack costly and environmentally unfriendly nickel and cobalt. The cathode layers are composites that include agglomerates of sulfurized-carbon particles in a conductive binder and interconnected by sp2-bonded carbon materials, such as carbon nanotubes or nanoribbons, that extend within the agglomerates and between the sulfurized-carbon particles.