Abstract: The present disclosure provides assay containers, sets of containers, portable diagnostic devices, methods of detecting target nucleic acid molecules in a sample, and methods of diagnosing infections, such as COVID-19 infections, in a subject.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions and methods for the fermentative production of 2,3-butanediol (2,3-BDO), compositions and methods for making methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), and methods of inducing drought tolerance in plants.

Abstract: An embodiment may involve obtaining a three-dimensional image map of m surfaces within an environment, wherein the surfaces are associated with importance weights that represent how frequently the surfaces are expected to be touched; determining a set of n vantage points for a light source within the environment; calculating an m×n irradiance matrix for each of the surfaces when the light source is in each of the vantage points, wherein each entry in the m×n irradiance matrix is determined by: (i) rasterizing the three-dimensional image map, (ii) identifying a set of visible surfaces, and (iii) calculating an amount of light-based power that would reach each of the visible surfaces; determining a set of n dwell times for the vantage points; and providing instructions, to a disinfecting agent, to traverse at least a subset of the vantage points, pausing at and illuminating at least some.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for accurately predicting the dynamics of symptom response to drugs or other interventions for the treatment of major depressive disorder or other psychological conditions. These methods can allow for a shortening of the time period necessary for the evaluation of a drug or other therapeutic intervention. These predictive methods are based on measured and/or self-reported symptom severity measures at two or more points in time. These measures are then discretized into symptom classes (e.g., low, moderate, severe) and the symptom classes are then applied to the predictive model to predict the progression of symptoms and/or the effectiveness of a drug or other therapeutic intervention.

Abstract: A method for separating sound sources includes digitizing acoustic signals from a plurality of sources with a plurality of microphone arrays, wherein each of microphone arrays includes one or more microphones, wherein at least one of the microphone arrays may be asynchronous to another one of the microphone arrays or may be moving with respect to another one of the microphone arrays. Spatial parameters are estimated of the digitized acoustic signals. The method includes estimating time-varying source spectra for the sources from the digitized acoustic signals as a function of the digitized acoustic signals and data received from at least one other microphone array. Source signals are estimated for one or more of the sources by filtering the digitized acoustic data digitized at the respective microphone array using the spatial parameters of the digitized acoustic data and the time-varying source spectra from all or a subset of the microphone arrays.

Abstract: An energetic composition and a method of unzipping polymer binders are disclosed, which includes localizing a heat feedback just near the reaction front by unzipping polymer binders employed to a nanothermite. The energetic composition includes an unzipping polymer binder employed to high load fuel and oxidizer particles.

Abstract: Miscanthus x giganteus is a widely recognized bioenergy crop that finds potential applications in a biorefinery for the production of a wide range of biofuels and biochemicals. This disclosure focuses upon the quantification of the total anthocyanin concentration in miscanthus. Hydrothermal pretreatment was studied for recovering anthocyanins in the pretreatment liquor. The optimized pretreatment conditions (170° C., 10 min) led to a recovery of 94.3±1.5% w/w of the total anthocyanin concentration and also improved the enzymatic digestibility of the biomass, allowing recovery of 70.6±0.5% w/w of glucose at the end of 72 h of enzymatic saccharification. The sugar monomers obtained after the enzymatic hydrolysis of the pretreated biomass could be used for the production of biofuels or biochemicals in an integrated biorefinery.

Abstract: A method for nanoscale tomographic infrared absorption imaging is provided, the method including: generating a first plurality of sets of probe measurements for a plurality of sample locations located across a surface of a sample, and measuring a magnitude and phase of a variation in displacement of the surface of the sample at the particular sample location at the second frequency, wherein the first frequency and the second frequency differ; and generating, based on the first plurality of sets of probe measurements, a three-dimensional tomographic map of absorption of infrared light at the first wavelength by the sample. Generating measurements for a particular location includes generating a first probe measurement by illuminating the sample with infrared light that varies at a first frequency and measuring a variation in displacement of the surface of the sample at the particular sample location at the first frequency.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising: a membrane with a first side, a second side, and a pore that extends through the membrane; a processing system including a processor; and a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising: electronic sensing of an electrical characteristic associated with a translocation of a test DNA through the pore, resulting in a sensed electrical characteristic; comparing the sensed electrical characteristic with a plurality of reference electrical characteristics, wherein each of the plurality of reference electrical characteristics is associated with a respective one of a plurality of reference features, and wherein the comparing results in a comparison result; and determining, based upon the comparison result, with which of the plurality of reference features a feature of the test DNA corresponds. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel compounds that accumulate in Gram-negative bacteria. Also disclosed are method of antimicrobial treatment using the compounds.

Abstract: A robotic surgical station is disclosed having a wheeled base, a partial-ring shaped structure slidably coupled to the based to be rotatable relative to the base about a horizontal roll axis passing through a center of the ring shape, a patient's bed restrained to a first arcuate segment of the partial-ring shaped structure at a first mount, a plurality of robotic arms restrained to a second arcuate segment of the partial-ring shaped structure at a second mount, and a remote control unit to command one or more of the plurality of robotic arms. The second arcuate segment is rotatable sideways with respect to the first arcuate segment to allow full access to the patient's bed by a surgeon.

Abstract: Provided herein are complexes comprising amphotericin B (AmB) or derivatives and sterols. Also provided herein are methods of treating cystic fibrosis using AmB or complexes comprising AmB or derivatives and sterols.

Abstract: Plasma-Activated liquids and methods of using the same are described. In one aspect, a method of manufacturing an integrated circuit includes activating a photolithography liquid with a plasma; and treating a device component with the activated photolithography liquid. In one example, the photolithography liquid is a photoresist. Activating the photoresist liquid may impart reactive species to the photoresist.

Abstract: Provided are methods and related devices for preparing a cell and tissue culture, including a hanging drop culture. Microwells are specially loaded with cell mixtures using a removable reservoir and forcing cells into the underlying microwells. The removable reservoir is removed and the cells partitioned into the individual microwells and covered by an immiscible layer of fluid. The microwells and immiscible layer is inverted and the cells in the microwells cultured. The microwells may have shape-controlling elements to control the three-dimensional shape of the culture.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods for the induction of cell death, for example, cancer cell death. Combinations of compounds and related methods of use are disclosed, including the use of compounds in therapy for the treatment of cancer and selective induction of apoptosis in cells. The disclosed drug combinations can have lower neurotoxicity effects than other compounds and combinations of compounds.

Abstract: The disclosure provides an example electrosurgical system and methods for use thereof. The electrosurgical system includes a high-frequency inverter (“HFI”) having a full bridge and a control system electrically coupled to the HFI. The control system controls output parameters including one or more of an output power Pout(t) and an output voltage or current by varying power reference Pref(t) or switch states of the HFI. The control system causes a power adaptation ?P(t) to a preset power set Pset based on receiving at least one of impedance feedback and thermal feedback according to the following relationship: Pref(t)=Pset+?P(t).

Abstract: Microfabricated PM sensors measure concentrations of particulate matter (PM) in air. Some sensors improve the accuracy of measurements by accounting for the effect of ambient conditions (e.g., temperature or humidity) on mass-sensitive elements employed to determine a mass of the PM in a stream of air. Some sensors improve the accuracy of measurements by controlling humidity in the stream of air measured by mass-sensitive elements. Some sensors employ a plurality of mass-sensitive elements to extend the useful life of the PM sensor. Some sensors employ one or more mass-sensitive elements and heating elements to cause deposition and allow measurement of different sizes of PM. Some sensors can measure mass concentration of coarse PM in addition to fine PM in a stream of air. Some sensors control the flow rate of a stream of air measured by mass-sensitive elements. Some sensors include features to mitigate electromagnetic interference or electromagnetic signal loss.

Abstract: Described herein are pyridinone-based compounds, derivatives thereof, and pharmaceutical formulations thereof. In some aspects, the pyridinone-based compounds, derivatives thereof, and/or pharmaceutical formulations thereof can be administered to a subject in need thereof. In some aspects, pyridinone-based compounds, derivatives thereof, and/or pharmaceutical formulations thereof can modulate an activity and/or a function of a BRD protein and/or BET protein.

Abstract: Small molecule ER? biomodulators that kill therapy-resistant ERa positive breast, ovarian, and endometrial cancer cells are disclosed. In one embodiment, the small molecule biomodulator has increased therapeutic utility because of an increased ability to kill therapy-resistant cancer cells compared to BHPI and other conventional therapies (endocrine therapies, tamoxifen, and fulvestrant/ICI). The small molecule biomodulators not only inhibit proliferation of the cancer cells but kills them, which prevents reactivation of tumors years later. Compounds of the invention, such as ErSO-DFP, are effective for treating ERa positive cancers such as breast cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, cervical carcinoma, endometrial cancer, and the like.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods for the induction of cell death, for example, cancer cell death. Combinations of compounds and related methods of use are disclosed, including the use of compounds in therapy for the treatment of cancer and selective induction of apoptosis in cells. The disclosed drug combinations can have lower neurotoxicity effects than other compounds and combinations of compounds.