Abstract: We describe a high coupling-efficiency waveguide grating coupler for use in the optical interface between a planar multimode waveguide and a multimode optical fiber in mode division multiplexed optical communication systems. The multimode waveguide grating coupler can launch light from the different modes of the planar waveguide into the different modes of the multimode optical fiber and vice-versa. A silicon based multimode waveguide grating coupler was used to couple two polarizations of a multimode silicon waveguide into the LP01 mode and LP11 mode from a step index multi-mode fiber (MMF). Simulations of the preliminary design predicted the coupling efficiency to be ?4.3 dB for LP01 mode and ?5.0 dB for the LP11 mode. Experimental coupling efficiency of ?4.9 dB and ?6.1 dB were obtained for LP01 and LP11, respectively. The multiplexer can be passive.

Abstract: Techniques for fabrication of implant material for the reconstruction of fractured eye orbit may include using an image processing system to analyze a set of two-dimensional images representing a three-dimensional scan of a skull of a patient, automatically detect an orbital fracture in the skull based on the set of two-dimensional images, and identify which/both of the two eye orbits containing any orbital fracture. The techniques may further include, for each of the two-dimensional images in which the orbital fracture is detected, determining a region of interest, and extracting the region of interest. The techniques may further include generating a three-dimensional reconstruction model for the fractured eye orbit, and outputting model data for generating an implant mold for the fractured eye orbit.

Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying a de novo mutation in a genome of a fetus are provided. Methods may include identifying a location of each of a plurality of cell-free nucleic acid molecules using sequence reads. Methods may also include identifying a first sequence in the sequence reads at a first location that is not present in the maternal or paternal sequences. Methods may additionally include determining a first fractional concentration of the first sequence in the biological sample at the first location. Further, methods may include determining a second fractional concentration of a fetal-specific second sequence. The second sequence may be inherited by the fetus from the father at the second location. In addition, methods may include classifying the first sequence as a de novo mutation at the first location in a fetal genome of the fetus if the first and second fractional concentrations are about the same.

Abstract: Methods and systems described herein involve using long cell-free DNA fragments to analyze a biological sample from a pregnant subject. The status of methylated CpG sites and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) is often used to analyze DNA fragments of a biological sample. A CpG site and a SNP are typically separated from the nearest CpG site or SNP by hundreds or thousands of base pairs. Finding two or more consecutive CpG sites or SNPs on most cell-free DNA fragments is improbable or impossible. Cell-free DNA fragments longer than 600 bp may include multiple CpG sites and/or SNPs. The presence of multiple CpG sites and/or SNPs on long cell-free DNA fragments may allow for analysis than with short cell-free DNA fragments alone. The long cell-free DNA fragments can be used to identify a tissue of origin and/or to provide information on a fetus in a pregnant female.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for performing a prenatal diagnosis of a sequence imbalance are provided. A shift (e.g. to a smaller size distribution) can signify an imbalance in certain circumstances. For example, a size distribution of fragments of nucleic acids from an at-risk chromosome can be used to determine a fetal chromosomal aneuploidy. A size ranking of different chromosomes can be used to determine changes of a rank of an at-risk chromosome from an expected ranking. Also, a difference between a statistical size value for one chromosome can be compared to a statistical size value of another chromosome to identify a significant shift in size. A genotype and haplotype of the fetus may also be determined using a size distribution to determine whether a sequence imbalance occurs in a maternal sample relative to a genotypes or haplotype of the mother, thereby providing a genotype or haplotype of the fetus.

Abstract: The subject invention pertains to a device and methods for inducing tensile strain on a hydrogel and/or hydrogel-encapsulated cells and/or tissues. The device includes a hydrogel-based mold for cell culture and a magnet-combined rail slider for cyclic tensile stretch. The resulting hydrogel-based device provides controllable tensile strain to cells and/tissues, from which cells and/or tissues can be encapsulated in hydrogels and strain can be applied cyclically.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for providing a diagnosis or prognosis of a non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in a subject by detecting expression level of the Squalene Epoxidase (SQLE) gene. A kit and device useful for such methods are also provided. In addition, the present invention provides a method for treating NAFLD by suppressing SQLE gene expression or activity.

Abstract: The present invention resides in the discovery that abundance and diversity of viral species in the fecal matter from a donor used in fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) treatment can influence the outcome of the FMT treatment. Thus, novel methods are provided for identifying subjects as suitable donors for FMT, for assessing the likelihood of FMT treatment success, and for enhancing FMT treatment efficacy. Also provided are kits and compositions for FMT with enhanced efficacy.

Abstract: Embodiments may include a method of determining a nucleic acid sequence. The method may include receiving a plurality of DNA fragments. The method may also include concatemerizing a first set of the DNA fragments to obtain a concatemer. The method may include performing single-molecule sequencing of the concatemer to obtain a first sequence of the concatemer. In some embodiments, single-molecule sequencing may be performed using a nanopore, and the method may include passing the concatemer through a nanopore. A first electrical signal may then be detected as the concatemer passes through the nanopore. The first electrical signal may correspond to a first sequence of the concatemer. In addition, the method may include analyzing the first electrical signal to determine the first sequence. Subsequences of the first sequence may be aligned to identify sequences corresponding to each of the first set of the DNA fragments.

Abstract: A human motion energy harvesting apparatus embeddable in a wearable electronic device is provided. The apparatus may include a base; a first rotor disposed in a ring shape and connected to the base, the first rotor being rotatable circumferentially relative to the base, wherein a plurality of pairs of first permanent magnets may be disposed on a surface of the first rotor; an oscillating weight fixed coaxially with the first rotor; a second rotor disposed in a ring shape and coaxially connected to the base with the first rotor, the second rotor being rotatable circumferentially relative to the base, wherein a plurality of pairs of second permanent magnets may be disposed on a surface of the second rotor; a modulation ring fixed to the base coaxially with the first rotor between the first rotor and the second rotor; and a stator fixed to the base coaxially with the first rotor on a side of the second rotor opposite the first rotor, wherein a coil is arranged on the stator.

Abstract: Zwitterion ligand metal complexes and methods of aerobic oxidation using a zwitterion ligand metal complex are provided. The zwitterion ligand metal complexes can include a transition metal salt and a zwitterion ligand, which can comprise a non-conjugated amide anion-phosphonium cation, an amide anion-ammonium cation, or an iminium cation. The methods of aerobic oxidation can include combining the zwitterion ligand metal complex with an oxidizable compound and molecular oxygen to allow the isolation of an oxidized compound from the oxidizable compound.

Abstract: Systems and methods for fast and robust quantification of magnetization transfer (MT) using off-resonance spin-lock MRI. The techniques can be insensitive to variations of the inherent relaxation rates R1 (1/T1) and R2 (1/T2) of the free-water pool and to variations of the chemical exchange pool. The techniques can also be robust in the presence of inhomogeneity in the B1 RF and/or B0 magnetic fields.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses can determine and use methylation profiles of various tissues and samples. Examples are provided. A methylation profile can be deduced for fetal/tumor tissue based on a comparison of plasma methylation (or other sample with cell-free DNA) to a methylation profile of the mother/patient. A methylation profile can be determined for fetal/tumor tissue using tissue-specific alleles to identify DNA from the fetus/tumor when the sample has a mixture of DNA. A methylation profile can be used to determine copy number variations in genome of a fetus/tumor. Methylation markers for a fetus have been identified via various techniques. The methylation profile can be determined by determining a size parameter of a size distribution of DNA fragments, where reference values for the size parameter can be used to determine methylation levels. Additionally, a methylation level can be used to determine a level of cancer.

Abstract: A frequency of somatic mutations in a biological sample (e.g., plasma or serum) of a subject undergoing screening or monitoring for cancer, can be compared with that in the constitutional DNA of the same subject. A parameter can derived from these frequencies and used to determine a classification of a level of cancer. False positives can be filtered out by requiring any variant locus to have at least a specified number of variant sequence reads (tags), thereby providing a more accurate parameter. The relative frequencies for different variant loci can be analyzed to determine a level of heterogeneity of tumors in a patient.

Abstract: An amount of mitochondrial DNA molecules relative to an amount of nuclear DNA molecules is determined in a biological sample, and the relative amount is used for various purposes, e.g., screening, detection, prognostication or monitoring of various physiological and pathological conditions. As examples, an amount of mitochondrial DNA can be used to estimate a concentration of DNA of a tissue type, such as a fetal DNA concentration, tumor DNA concentration, or a concentration of DNA in the biological sample derived from a non-hematopoietic tissue source. Sequencing techniques can be used to determine a mitochondrial DNA concentration in a sample for an accurate detection of a level of cancer. A level of an auto-immune disease is also determined using a relative amount of mitochondrial DNA molecules compared nuclear DNA molecules.

Abstract: A fractional concentration of clinically-relevant DNA in a mixture of DNA from a biological sample is determined based on amounts of DNA fragments at multiple sizes. For example, the fractional concentration of fetal DNA in maternal plasma or tumor DNA in a patient's plasma can be determined. The size of DNA fragments in a sample is shown to be correlated with a proportion of fetal DNA and a proportion of tumor DNA, respectively. Calibration data points (e.g., as a calibration function) indicate a correspondence between values of a size parameter and the fractional concentration of the clinically-relevant DNA. For a given sample, a first value of a size parameter can be determined from the sizes of DNA fragments in a sample. A comparison of the first value to the calibration data points can provide the estimate of the fractional concentration of the clinically-relevant DNA.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for assessing the risk of cancer in a subject by detecting elevated methylation level in the genomic sequence of the TET1 gene, which leads to suppressed expression of this gene. A kit and device useful for practicing such a method are also provided.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for segmenting a cellular image are disclosed. A specific embodiment of the method includes: acquiring a cellular image; enhancing the cellular image using a generative adversarial network to obtain an enhanced cellular image; and segmenting the enhanced cellular image using a hierarchical fully convolutional network for image segmentation to obtain cytoplasm and zona pellucida areas in the cellular image.

Abstract: A liquid encapsulation device for embedding sensor is provided. The liquid encapsulation device comprises a substrate having an upper surface with a central concave portion; at least one protection layer sealed on the upper surface of the substrate; and at least one sensor fixed on the protection layer. Wherein, the central concave portion is filled with liquid and the sensor is arranged above the central concave portion.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a novel peptide inhibitor and method for treating neurological disorders related to a hexanucleotide (GGGGCC) repeat expansion in the non-coding region of the C9ORF72 gene. Also disclosed are related compositions and kits for therapeutic use in the treatment of the pertinent diseases.