Abstract: A medical device for retrieval of kidney stone fragments from a urinary tract is provided. The medical device has a plurality of magnets arranged within a flexible sheath forming a flexible wire. The magnets are magnetically attached end-to-end and arranged with their magnetic polarities alternating in direction. The magnetization direction of each of the magnets is orthogonal to the length axis of the flexible wire. A removable inner stylet is situated within the flexible sheath allowing for modifiable flexibility of the wire. The medical device is dimensioned to be introduced into the urinary tract and standard endoscopic devices. The medical device is further dimensioned to allow for the wire with magnetically attached stone fragments to be retrieved from the urinary tract. The magnetic field along the length axis is sufficient to attract to the surface of the flexible wire superparamagnetic nanoparticles which have bound themselves to kidney stone fragments.

Abstract: Square symmetric composite laminate structures, and sub-modules thereof, are provided, along with methods of forming the same. The square symmetric laminate structures include two or more sub-laminate modules, each comprising: a first ply set consisting of a first ply layer oriented at a first angle and a second ply layer oriented at a second angle, a first sum of the first and second angles being ninety degrees; and a second ply set consisting of a third ply layer oriented at a third angle and a fourth ply layer oriented at a fourth angle, a second sum of the third and fourth angles being ninety degrees; wherein the second ply layer is positioned adjacent the third ply layer and the second and third ply layers are both positioned intermediate the first and fourth ply layers, thereby defining a double-double helix arrangement of the respective ply layers. Associated methods are also provided.

Abstract: In certain examples, methods and semiconductor structures are directed to multilayered structures including TMD (transition metal dichalcogenide material or TMD-like material and a polymer-based layer which is characterized as exhibiting flexibility. A first layer including a TMD-based material (e.g., an atomic-thick layer including TMD) or TMD-like material is provided or grown on a surface which in certain instances may be a rigid platform or substrate. A plurality of electrodes are provided on or as part of the first layer, and another layer or film including polymer is applied to cover the first layer and the electrodes. The other layer is integrated with the TMD material or TMD-like material and the first layer, and the other layer provides a flexible substrate such as when released from the exemplary rigid platform or substrate.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and kits for enhancing mRNA translation are disclosed. Some embodiments describe expression constructs for producing a peptide and include a translational enhancer. Additional embodiments describe methods for producing a peptide using a construct including a translational enhancer. Certain embodiments further enhance mRNA stability.

Abstract: A coated cathode material includes a cathode active material and an interfacial layer coating the cathode active material. The interfacial layer includes a lithium-containing fluoride which includes at least one additional metal different from lithium.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and compositions for rapidly and reversibly destabilizing a target protein in vitro or in vivo, in the presence or absence of a cell-permeable, synthetic molecule or ligand.

Abstract: Methods of detecting ZNT8 antibodies in serum are described. The methods include proteoliposomes comprising a transmembrane domain (TMD) and a cytosolic domain (CTD) of ZnT8 proteins exposed on the exterior of the proteoliposome; serum comprising antibodies targeting the ZnT8 proteins; and labelled captured autoantibodies that bind to ZnT8 antibodies.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions, methods, kits and systems for treating cells, tissues and subjects to alter age-related biology (e.g., to study or to treat age-related diseases and conditions). In particular, provided herein are compositions, methods, and uses for inhibition or modification of sialic acid or its cognate receptor to restore phagocytosis in aged cells.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to novel boronic acid receptor compounds and their use in methods of quantifying a saccharide appearing in a sample. Provided are methods of measuring the concentration of a saccharide in a sample as well as methods of measuring the concentration of a halogenated saccharide in a sample. In certain aspects the sample is abiological sample and the methods further include correlating the measured concentration of saccharide in the biological sample to the gastrointestinal permeability in the individual. Disclosed are also kits for performing the above methods.

Abstract: Processes and materials to detect cancer from a biopsy are described. In some cases, cell-free nucleic acids can be sequenced, and the sequencing result can be utilized to detect sequences derived from a neoplasm. Detection of somatic variants occurring in phase can indicate the presence of cancer in a diagnostic scan and a clinical intervention can be performed.

Abstract: The nuclear reprogramming of somatic cells with mRNA encoding reprogramming factors is shown to be greatly accelerated by activation of innate immune responses in the somatic cell. Methods of activating innate immunity include activation of PKR, of toll-like receptors, e.g. TLR3, etc. In some embodiments the mRNA provides the activator of innate immunity.

Abstract: A series of carbohydrate-dye conjugates, as well as a method for detection of pathogenic or other organisms (e.g., bacteria) using the same are provided. The carbohydrate-dye conjugate can be enzymatically incorporated into live and active (viable) bacteria of interest for facile detection of said bacteria. The conjugate incorporation is achieved by utilizing one or more of the enzymes that are endogenous to the bacteria of interest, which can incorporate the conjugate via the conjugate's carbohydrate. A detectable signal is produced by the conjugate's dye only upon incorporation into the bacteria of interest, due to the changes in the dye's local environment upon incorporation. The conjugate may be metabolically incorporated into the fatty outer membrane of a bacterial cell wall, which provides a distinctly hydrophobic environment for the conjugate's dye, causing it to produce a detectable signal.

Abstract: Various aspects as described herein are directed to a radiative cooling device and method for cooling an object. As consistent with one or more embodiments, a radiative cooling device includes a solar spectrum reflecting structure configured and arranged to suppress light modes, and a thermally-emissive structure configured and arranged to facilitate thermally-generated electromagnetic emissions from the object and in mid-infrared (IR) wavelengths.

Abstract: A plurality of agent locations can be determined at a plurality of time steps by inputting a plurality of images to a perception algorithm that inputs the plurality of images and outputs agent labels and the agent locations. A plurality of first uncertainties corresponding to the agent locations can be determined at the plurality of time steps by inputting the plurality of agent locations to a filter algorithm that inputs the agent locations and outputs the plurality of first uncertainties corresponding to the plurality of agent locations. A plurality of predicted agent trajectories and potential trajectories corresponding to the predicted agent trajectories can be determined by inputting the plurality of agent locations at the plurality of time steps and the first uncertainties corresponding to the agent locations at the plurality of time steps to a variational autoencoder.

Abstract: Compounds and methods are provided for the treatment of pathogen infections. In some embodiments, the anti-infective compounds have broad spectrum activity against a variety of infective diseases, where the diseases are caused by pathogens containing a basic amino acid PIP-2 pincer (BAAPP) domain that interacts with phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP-2) to mediate pathogen replication. Also provided are methods of inhibiting a PI4-kinase and methods of inhibiting viral infection. In some embodiments, the compound is a PI4-kinase inhibiting compound that is a 5-aryl-thiazole or a 5-heteroaryl-thiazole. The subject compounds may be formulated or provided to a subject in combination with a second anti-infective agent, e.g. interferon, ribavirin, and the like.

Abstract: An x-ray apparatus includes an x-ray source capable of producing an x-ray beam with a focal spot having a spatial shape that is selected to pre-amplify predetermined spatial frequencies exceeding half a cutoff frequency as compared to spatial frequencies below half the cutoff frequency; an x-ray detector capable of detecting the x-ray beam; and a processor adapted to reconstruct an image from the detected x-ray beam using a filter that compensates the pre-amplified predetermined spatial frequencies. The spatial shape comprises two or more disconnected regions that preferably have widths less than that of a nominal focal spot, combined widths greater than or equal to that of a nominal focal spot, and are separated by less than three times a width of a nominal focal spot.

Abstract: Compounds useful as contrast agents in image-guided surgery are provided. The compounds comprise a latent cationic lysosomotropic fragment that is detectable upon cleavage by lysosomal proteases within treated tissues, particularly within tumors and other diseased tissues. Also provided are compositions comprising the compounds and methods for using the compounds, for example in dynamically monitoring protease activity in vivo during image-guided tumor resection surgery.

Abstract: A system and method for identifying and treating a disease in a patient collects one or more data streams from sensors configured to detect biological signals generated within a patient's tissue over time. Patient data elements including one or more of demographic, clinical, laboratory, pathology, chemical, image, historical, genetic, and activity data for the patient is collected and processed with the data streams to generate a personalized digital phenotype (PDP). The PDP is compared to a digital taxonomy comprising prior data to classify the patient into one or more quantitative disease classifications to guide personalized intervention for treating the patient.

Abstract: Processes and materials to detect cancer from a biopsy are described. In some cases, cell-free nucleic acids can be sequenced, and the sequencing result can be utilized to detect sequences derived from a neoplasm. Detection of somatic variants occurring in phase can indicate the presence of cancer in a diagnostic scan and a clinical intervention can be performed.

Abstract: Most nitrogen recovery techniques recover acidic ammonium fertilizers, and few enable alkaline ammonia recovery. Many embodiments provide multi-chamber electrochemical stripping reactors to recover alkaline ammonia and acidic ammonium from wastewater. The reactor combines electrodialysis and membrane stripping. The acidic and alkaline product portfolio for wastewater-derived ammonia expand implementation opportunities for nitrogen recovery.