Abstract: Various embodiments of the present technology generally relate to reflection suppressors. More specifically, some embodiments use elastomeric materials doped with optical absorbers for temporary suppression of Fresnel reflections for multiple substrates spanning wide spectral and angular bandwidth. The refractive index of the elastomer can be tuned to match a substrate and thereby minimize reflection. Some embodiments can use the addition of different absorptive dopants to allow for either broadband or wavelength-selective reflection suppression. As performance is limited only by index mismatch, both spectral and angular performance significantly exceed that of anti-reflection coatings. After use, these light traps may be removed and reused without damaging the substrate. These films have uses in spectroscopic ellipsometry, holography, and lithography.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating melanoma, in a subject in need of such a treatment, a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the formula: I or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, a solvate thereof, or a combination thereof, wherein X1 and X2 are as defined herein. Methods of the invention can further include administering other oncolytic agents and/or immunotherapy in treating a patient with melanoma.

Abstract: A bidirectional mode-locked fiber laser includes first and second passive optical fibers, a doped optical fiber, first and second polarization controllers, and first and second polarized beamsplitters that are arranged as a ring cavity with clockwise (CW) and counter-clockwise (CCW) directions. The laser imparts different nonlinear phase shifts in the CW and CCW directions, corresponding to CW and CCW repetition rates that are slightly different. When the normalized difference in repetition rates is less than approximately 10?5, both directions can be mode-locked simultaneously, thereby preventing one direction from inhibiting mode-locking of the other direction. Optical-fiber nonlinearity implements an intra-cavity bidirectional artificial saturable absorber based on nonlinear polarization rotation. The laser uses only components with normal group-velocity dispersion (GVD), thereby achieving higher pulse energies than mode-locked lasers utilizing negative GVD.

Abstract: Systems and methods for azimuthal multiplexing using three-dimensional diffractive optics An azimuthal optical multiplexing system includes a light source. The system includes two or more at least partially transparent plates. Each plate of the two or more plates has a structured or patterned surface positioned in an optical path of the light source. The system includes means for rotating at least one plate of the two or more plates axially with respect to at least one other plate of the two or more plates. The means for rotating is operatively coupled to the at least one plate. The structured or patterned surface is configured to modulate light directed along the optical path and through the two or more plates.

Abstract: This invention is in the field of molecular biology, gene expression, functional genomics, and bioinformatics and relates to novel RNA and related structures and methods of use thereof that enables modulation of gene expression and preservation of particular transcriptome targets. The invention contemplates various applications of RNA sequences derived from the genomic RNA of flaviviruses (FVs) and the application of such features in combination with heterologous sequences.

Abstract: A method for direct measurement of gradients of patient compliance with a medication regimen by employing a stable non-radioactive isotope taggant compound as part of, bound to, or applied to an endogenous molecule. An assay to determine patient compliance with medication regimens for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis employing administering a taggant to a pharmacologically active compound, obtaining and collecting a patient tissue or fluid sample analyzing the collected tissue or fluid sample for the taggant concentration and interpreting data from the taggant concentration analysis as an indicator of gradients of patient compliance.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for forming an image of an object which involves focusing partially to fully spatially-coherent radiation onto a sample and collecting the resulting scattered radiation (the “standard data set”) on an array detector. In addition to the standard dataset, an additional measurement or plurality of measurements is made of a relatively-unscattered beam, using the array detector, which comprises the “modulus enforced probe (MEP) dataset”. This MEP dataset serves as an extra constraint, called the MEP constraint, in the phase retrieval algorithm used to reconstruct the image of the object.

Abstract: Described herein are methods and vectors for rational, multiplexed manipulation of chromosomes within open reading frames (e.g., in protein libraries) or any segment of a chromosome in a cell or population of cells, in which various CRISPR systems are used.

Abstract: Methods of using a phosphoinositide 3-kinase p110-delta inhibitor to treat, delay the onset, or slow the progression of an autoimmune disease or disorder in a subject, without suppressing the subject's B cell responses to exogenous antigens or rendering the subject immunocompromised, as well as pharmaceutical compositions containing phosphoinositide 3-kinase p110-delta inhibitors in amounts suitable for convenient and accurate administration within these therapeutic methods.

Abstract: A qubit array reparation system includes a reservoir of ultra-cold particle, a detector that determines whether or not qubit sites of a qubit array include respective qubit particles, and a transport system for transporting an ultra-cold particle to a first qubit array site that has been determined by the probe system to not include a qubit particle so that the ultra-cold particle can serve as a qubit particle for the first qubit array site. A qubit array reparation process includes maintaining a reservoir of ultra-cold particles, determining whether or not qubit-array sites contain respective qubit particles, each qubit particle having a respective superposition state, and, in response to a determination that a first qubit site does not contain a respective qubit particle, transporting an ultracold particle to the first qubit site to serve as a qubit particle contained by the first qubit site.

Abstract: A neurosurgical endoscopic training system and method for using the system to develop surgical skills and technical competency of an endoscopist. The system includes a portable part-task enclosure with a plurality of walls defining an internal chamber. One of the walls includes an access port coupling the internal chamber to an external environment and the access port can be configured to facilitate the passage of one or more endoscopic surgical tools. The system further includes a plurality of objects disposed within the internal chamber configured for manipulation by a surgical tool that extends through the access port.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microfluidic poration device having narrow channels slightly smaller than the width of a target cell, wherein the channels are lined with a plurality of nanospikes in a row extending down the middle of the channel, i.e. in a row parallel to the sides of the channel. In one embodiment, one channel may have 2 nanospikes (or 2 nanolancets). Thus, in particular embodiments, the invention provides microfluidic poration devices capable of simultaneously squeezing cells while piercing holes in their membranes for allowing foreign molecules into cells. The holes in porated cells spontaneously close after exiting the channels, thus entrapping the foreign molecules inside of the target cells. This porated cell population has approximately a 95% viability with greater than 50% containing at least one foreign molecule.

Abstract: An apical cuff axial compression assembly including a ring member for coupling an apical cuff of a Ventricular Assist Device pump, to left ventricular apical tissue. Tissue anchors are employed to engage with the ring member and the apical cuff to exert direct or axial compression of the ring member to the apical cuff and to the left ventricular apical tissue. A first variant includes an axial compression ring and a plurality of openings to accommodate the tissue anchors. A second variant includes a segmented axial compression ring composed of a plurality of arcuate members, which may be contiguous or joined to each other or not. Each of the plurality of arcuate members has at least one tissue anchor opening passing there through.

Abstract: Transducer systems disclosed herein include self-sensing capabilities. In particular, electrostatic transducers include a low voltage electrode and a high voltage electrode. A low voltage sensing unit is coupled with the low voltage electrode of the electrostatic transducer. The low voltage sensing unit is configured to measure a capacitance of the electrostatic transducer, from which displacement of the electrostatic transducer may be calculated. High voltage drive signals received by the high voltage electrode during actuation may be isolated from the low voltage sensing unit. The isolation may be provided by dielectric material of the electrostatic transducer, a voltage suppression component, and/or a voltage suppression module comprising a low impedance ground path. In the event of an electrical failure of the transducer, the low voltage sensing unit may be isolated from high voltages.

Abstract: A bioprinter for manufacturing an organomimetic device includes at least one extruder configured to extrude a material, a three-dimensional movement assembly, and a build-plate mounted to the three-dimensional movement assembly. The build-plate may be configured to support the organomimetic device being manufactured. The bioprinter may further include a controller operably coupled to and configured to control the at least one extruder, the three-dimensional movement assembly, and the build-plate. The at least one extruder may be non-movably fixed to the cabinet.

Abstract: The present invention relates in certain aspects to the discovery of novel 2-naphthimidamide compounds that are capable of binding Type II Transmembrane Serine Proteases (TTSPs). In certain embodiments, the compounds of the invention can be used to treat or prevent Influenza A viral infection in a mammal.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates optical imaging devices and methods useful in biological and medical imaging applications. In one embodiment, an optical imaging device includes a flexible lightguide having a first end and a second end, the output of the source of pulsed infrared radiation being optically coupled to the first end of the flexible lightguide; a lens assembly attached to and optically coupled to the second end of the flexible lightguide, the lens assembly comprising a variable-focus lens element, the a variable-focus lens element having a tunable focal length; and a photodetector coupled to the flexible lightguide to detect radiation propagating from the second end toward the first end of the flexible lightguide. The optical imaging devices and methods can be used in both confocal and multi-photon techniques.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an adjustable endoscopic surgical device for illuminating a tissue surface with diffuse and oblique light. In some embodiments, light emanates from the sides of an optical fiber, which is optionally formed at least in part into a loop shape.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to characterizing bioaerosols and, more particularly, to a system for recovering, quantifying, identifying, and assessing the metabolic activities of bioaerosols based on their major biopolymer profiles (lipids, carbohydrate and protein) and more specific their genetic materials (DNA/RNA), such as airborne viruses, bacteria, fungi and pollens.

Abstract: A system for improved localization of image forgery. The system generates a variational information bottleneck objective function and works with input image patches to implement an encoder-decoder architecture. The encoder-decoder architecture controls an information flow between the input image patches and a representation layer. The system utilizes information bottleneck to learn useful residual noise patterns and ignore semantic content present in each input image patch. The system trains a neural network to learn a representation indicative of a statistical fingerprint of a source camera model from each input image patch while excluding semantic content thereof. The system can determine a splicing manipulation localization by the trained neural network.