Abstract: This invention relates to optimized heterologous production of properly folded and functional proteins. The present invention provides systems and methods involving determination of the optimal mRNA sequence, based on the underlying rates at which codons are translated and folding kinetic of nascent-protein, that maximizes co-translational protein folding of domains in order to maximize the proper folding and quality of the protein produced. The codon translation rates can be determined in a number of ways, including theoretical estimation and, preferably, through experimental data, such as ribosome profiling. The determination of an optimal mRNA sequence through the utilization of codon translation rates under a particular set of conditions allows for application of the method irrespective of the organism from which the protein in question was originally derived.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods for selecting milk-producing livestock with a preferred phenotype. In one embodiment, the method includes detecting methylation status of one or more genes and gene regulatory regions in a sample to identify the preferred phenotype.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a method of forming highly ordered membrane protein crystals. The forming process is done in the presence of a magnetic field to exploit the diamagnetic anisotropy of the membrane protein. Further described is a method of magnetic alignment and crystallization of membrane proteins in two-dimensional (2D) sheets for protein structural characterization and applications in functional devices. Block co-copolymers are used in alternative embodiments to assist with the crystallization process.

Abstract: Unnatural, mutated thioesterases having an amino acid sequence that is at least 80% identical to SEQ ID NO:1 and having substitutions at one or more of amino acid positions I107, R108, L109, S122, M141, E142, Y145, and L146, gene constructs encoding and configured to express the mutated thioesterases in a transformed host cell, and host cells transformed to contain the gene constructs.

Abstract: The present invention relates in part to novel drug delivery particles comprising an anionic polymer matrix and a cationic polymer, wherein the anionic polymer matrix and cationic polymer together form drug delivery particles bound by electrostatic interactions and wherein the drug delivery particles comprise at least one biologically active agent. The invention also relates in part to a method of treating a mycobacterial infection using said drug delivery particles, and a method of making said drug delivery particles.

Abstract: A method of assessing the legitimacy of a subject pharmacy website includes the steps of, from a network-enabled computing device, generating a prediction model comprising a list of pharmacy websites of known legitimacy and a first set of websites which contain at least one referring link to at least one of the list of pharmacy websites of known legitimacy, from the network-enabled computing device, collecting a second set of websites which contain at least one referring link to a subject pharmacy website whose legitimacy is unknown, isolating a subset of websites from the second set of websites based on the prediction model, comparing the subset of websites to the first set of websites linked to the list of pharmacy websites whose legitimacy is known, and determining the legitimacy of the subject pharmacy website based on the comparison to the first set of known legitimate pharmacy websites.

Abstract: Embodiments include nonvolatile a memory (NVM) device that can be configured for logic switching and/or digital computing. For example, embodiments of the NVM device can be configured as any one or combination of a memory cell, a D flip flop (DFF), a Backup and Restore circuit (B&R circuit), and/or a latch for a DFF. Any of the NVM devices can have a Fe field effect transistors (FeFET) configured to exploit the IDS?VG hysteresis of the steep switch at low voltage for logic memory synergy. The FeFET-based devices can be configured to include a wide hysteresis, a steep hysteresis edge, and high ratio between the two IDS states at VG=0.

Abstract: A global registration system and method identifies bronchoscope position without the need for significant bronchoscope maneuvers, technician intervention, or electromagnetic sensors. Virtual bronchoscopy (VB) renderings of a 3D airway tree are obtained including VB views of branch positions within the airway tree. At least one real bronchoscopic (RB) video frame is received from a bronchoscope inserted into the airway tree. An algorithm according to the invention is executed on a computer to identify the several most likely branch positions having a VB view closest to the received RB view, and the 3D position of the bronchoscope within the airway tree is determined in accordance with the branch position identified in the VB view. The preferred embodiment involves a fast local registration search over all the branches in a global airway-bifurcation search space, with the weighted normalized sum of squares distance metric used for finding the best match.

Abstract: A free standing liquid membrane is disclosed that can selectively separate objects based on the kinetic energy value of the objects such that either an object having a first kinetic energy value can pass through the free standing liquid membrane while retaining the membrane and/or an object having a second kinetic energy value is prevented from passing through the membrane while retaining the membrane. Advantageously, the free standing liquid membrane can remain intact for seconds to hours with multiple objects passing through the membrane.

Abstract: This application provides methods to differentiate between subjects with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and typically developing (TD) or developmentally delayed (DD) subjects using miRNA and/or microbiome levels detected in saliva samples and patient information. The method can be used to monitor the progress of ASD and guide its treatment. RNA-seq, qPCR, or other methods determine counts and abundance of miRNA or microbiomes. MicroRNA and/or microbiome sequencing data are refined by normalization to expression levels or abundance of time-invariant miRNAs and/or microbial RN As to control for time of sample collection or to compensate for circadian fluctuations in these levels. Multivariate logistic regression and nonlinear classification techniques are further used to select a panel of miRNAs and microbiomes that accurately differentiate between subjects with ASD, DD, and TD in subjects with an unknown ASD status. These panels of miRNAs and microbiomes may be developed into a RNA assay kit.

Abstract: Methods for diagnosing or monitoring a condition, disorder or disease associated with circadian, diurnal or other temporal rhythms by detecting circa-miRNAs and circa-microbiomes associated with said condition, disorder or disease. Methods for correcting or normalizing sequence data to correct for diurnal or circadian fluctuations in quantities of circa-miRNAs and/or circa-microbiomes by adjusting or normalizing values based on the time of day when a saliva sample containing these RNAs was collected.

Abstract: Multi-surfactant systems where two or more surfactant molecules are coupled to control the spatial distribution of polar groups of the combined surfactant molecules are disclosed. The system can be implemented by an aqueous medium including an associate charge constant surfactant and charge variable surfactant. The charge variable surfactant has at least one neutral end group at one pH value of the medium and at least one either an anionic polar group or a cationic polar group at a different pH value of the medium. The charge constant surfactant has at least one, and preferably two or more groups that does not change charge at the one or different pH values of the aqueous medium. The multi-surfactant system can be coupled or connected to the surface of a substrate where the arrangement of the two or more coupled surfactant molecules control the polarity of the substrate surface.

Abstract: The device can include a first member connected to a second member via junctions. The members can be statically or pivotally connected at the junctions via arms extending from cross-beams of the members. The junctions can be configured to provide a biasing force. Methods of using the device may include collapsing the device and inserting it through an incision, allowing the biasing force to cause continuous traction and counter-traction adjacent to a leading dissection edge so that retraction of the skin from the tissue can be facilitated during a surgical procedure.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for electronically assessing a visual significance of pixels or regions in an electronic image are disclosed. A method includes receiving the electronic image, performing a composition analysis on the electronic image, the composition analysis includes partitioning the electronic image into a plurality of segments or a plurality of parts, constructing an attributed composition graph having a plurality of nodes, where each node corresponds to a segment or a part and where each node includes one or more attributes, modeling the visual significance of the electronic image based on the attributed composition graph using a statistical modeling process or a computational modeling process to obtain a plurality of values, and constructing a composition significance map having a significance score for each segment or each part according to the values obtained from the statistical modeling process or the computational modeling process.

Abstract: In one aspect, methods of sensing are described herein. In some embodiments, a method of sensing includes disposing a fluorophore in a biological environment, wherein the fluorophore includes a dioxo-pyridine ring (DPR) or a thiazolopyridine acid (TPA). The method further includes exposing the biological environment to electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength corresponding to an excitation wavelength of the fluorophore, detecting light emitted by the fluorophore, and correlating the light emitted by the fluorophore to a presence or absence of an analyte within the biological environment in an amount above a minimum detection threshold. The presence of the analyte can increase or decrease the amount of light emitted by the fluorophore. The presence of the analyte may also shift the peak emission wavelength or alter the fluorescence lifetime of the fluorophore. The analyte, in some embodiments, includes hydrogen ions, halide ions, and/or halogens.

Abstract: In one aspect, compositions are described herein, and in another aspect methods are described herein. In some embodiments, a polymerizable composition described herein comprises (i) one or more alkoxylated or alkenoxylated, or non-alkoxylated and non-alkenoxylated, citric acid, citrate, or ester/amide of citric acid; (ii) a polyol or polyamine such as a diol or diamine; and (iii) at least one of an associated or dissociated salt comprising a monovalent, divalent, or trivalent metal cation. In some cases, the polymerizable composition comprises additional monomers. In some cases, a composition described herein comprises a polymer or oligomer formed from a polymerizable compositions described herein. In other instances, a self-setting composite material comprising a mixture of a metal oxide crosslinker and a citrate based polymer, as well as methods of preparing same, are described herein.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods for ligating single stranded nucleic acids wherein the ligation is based on fast, efficient, and low-sequence bias hybridization of an acceptor molecule with a donor molecule. In one embodiment, the structure of the donor molecule comprises a stem-loop intramolecular nucleotide base pairing (i.e., hairpin) and a 3?-overhang region such that the overhang is able to hybridize to nucleotides present in the 3? end of the acceptor molecule.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure relate to solid electrolytes comprising nanowhiskers. More particularly, embodiments of the disclosure relate to solid electrolytes comprising PEO6LiX crystalline complex and nanowhiskers to stabilize the PEO6LiX crystalline complex.

Abstract: This invention relates to compositions and methods for promoting and/or accelerating bone regeneration, repair, and/or healing and, in particular, to compositions and methods of promoting bone regeneration, growth, repair, and/or healing using graft or scaffold materials. In exemplary embodiments, the disclosed compositions may be used to promote and/or accelerate bone regeneration by delivering a composition to a bone site, the composition comprising (a) a citrate component, (b) a phosphate component, and, optionally, (c) a particulate inorganic material. The citrate component and/or phosphate component is advantageously released from the composition at the bone site. The released citrate component may function to increase alkaline phosphatase activity and/or expression at the bone site, and the increased alkaline phosphatase activity and/or expression may release the phosphate component. The composition may be delivered in various forms, e.g., as a biodegradable scaffold.

Abstract: The invention provides enrichment platform devices for size-based capture of particles in solution. The enrichment platform device is useful for label-free capture of any particle. The invention relates to enrichment platform devices using nanowires and vertically aligned carbon nanotubes. The invention provides methods for making the enrichment platform devices. The invention provides methods for using the enrichment platform devices for filtering particles, capturing particles, concentrating particles, and releasing viable particles.