Abstract: Provided are SpdE polypeptides and variants and nucleic acids encoding the SpdE polypeptides and variants. Also provided are vectors including one or more nucleic acids encoding a SpdE polypeptide or variant and cells including a nucleic acid encoding the SpdE polypeptide or variant, as well as cells expressing a SpdE polypeptide or variant and compositions including such cells and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Finally, methods of detecting presence and/or amount of one or more amino acids in a sample are provided. The methods include contacting the sample with a SpdE protein, measuring diguanylate cyclase activity of the SpdE protein; and comparing the diguanylate cyclase activity of the SpdE protein to a control. The methods can utilize isolated SpdE protein or a cell expressing a SpdE protein.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a donor compound that releases COS and/or CS2, which can be converted to H2S. The donor compound embodiments described herein can be used to deliver H2S to a subject or a sample and further can be used to administer therapeutic agents. Methods of making and using the donor compound embodiments also are disclosed.

Abstract: Compositions including an antibiotic factor from Malassezia are provided. In some examples, the compositions include a Malassezia exoproduct, a Malassezia cell-free supernatant, or a Malassezia cell and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Methods of treating an infection in a subject, such as a Staphylococcus infection are also provided.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition includes a Helicobacteraceae enzyme inhibitor and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The enzyme inhibitor may inhibit peroxiredoxin, such as alkyl hydroperoxide reductase C, thiol-specific peroxidase, bacterioferritin comigratory protein, or any combination thereof. A method for ameliorating a Helicobacteraceae infection includes administering to a subject a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition including a Helicobacteraceae enzyme inhibitor and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Abstract: Provided are unique affibodies specific for bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), inteleukin-4 (IL-4), and glial derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), and well as hydrogels that include the affibodies and the corresponding protein. Also provided are methods of using the hydrogels, for example to treat bone injury, wounds, and neuron injury. In some examples, the hydrogel includes at least two different affibodies specific for the same protein, but have different disassociation constants (KD).

Abstract: A method of tuning a resonant frequency of a nano-electromechanical systems (NEMS) drum device is performed by applying a gate voltage between the drum membrane [100] and a back gate [104] to alter the resonant frequency of the membrane to a desired frequency; photoionizing the drum membrane with a laser to detune the membrane resonant frequency to a ground state frequency; and releasing the gate voltage to set the membrane to the desired resonant frequency. The method provides the basis for various applications including NEMS memory and photodetection techniques. The NEMS device may be implemented as a graphene/hBN membrane [100] suspended on a SiO2 layer [102] deposited on a Si substrate [104].

Abstract: An electrochemical cell for producing metal and chlorine from metal ore and a metal chloride includes a cathode, an anode, and a separator. A catholyte includes (i) water, (ii) a metal hydroxide comprising Q, where Q is an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, or a combination thereof, and (iii) suspended metal ore particles comprising MxOy where M is a metal and x and y are integers. An anolyte includes (i) water and (ii) a metal chloride comprising Q. An electrowinning process for producing metal and chlorine includes applying a voltage across the electrochemical cell to effect reduction of the MxOy in the cathode compartment to provide the metal M and oxidation of chloride ions in the anode compartment to form Cl2 gas.

Abstract: Compositions including an antibiotic factor from Malassezia are provided. In some examples, the compositions include a Malassezia exoproduct, a Malassezia cell-free supernatant, or a Malassezia cell and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Methods of treating an infection in a subject, such as a Staphylococcus infection are also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a nanohoop-functionalized polymer and methods of making and using the same. In particular embodiments, polymer comprises one or more nanohoops that extend from the polymer backbone. Also disclosed herein are polymerizable nanohoop monomer embodiments that can be used to make the polymer embodiments disclosed herein.

Abstract: A shoe can include a sock liner assembly configured to receive a reflectant panel and a midsole assembly configured to receive an optical sensor. The optical sensor can include an optical source configured to emit a beam directed to the reflectant panel and an optical detector configured to detect a portion of the beam reflected by the reflectant panel. The optical sensor can be configured to measure a relative displacement between the sock liner assembly and the midsole assembly based on a change of the detected portion of the beam caused by the relative displacement.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a nanohoop-functionalized polymer and methods of making and using the same. In particular embodiments, polymer comprises one or more nanohoops that extend from the polymer backbone. Also disclosed herein are polymerizable nanohoop monomer embodiments that can be used to make the polymer embodiments disclosed herein.

Abstract: A bipolar membrane comprising a first member comprising at least one anion exchange material; a second member comprising at least one cation exchange material, wherein the first member and the second member together form an interface junction; and disposed within the interface junction a solitary layer comprising a composite water dissociation catalyst or a composite water recombination catalyst.

Abstract: Provided are SpdE polypeptides and variants and nucleic acids encoding the SpdE polypeptides and variants. Also provided are vectors including one or more nucleic acids encoding a SpdE polypeptide or variant and cells including a nucleic acid encoding the SpdE polypeptide or variant, as well as cells expressing a SpdE polypeptide or variant and compositions including such cells and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Finally, methods of detecting presence and/or amount of one or more amino acids in a sample are provided. The methods include contacting the sample with a SpdE protein, measuring diguanylate cyclase activity of the SpdE protein; and comparing the diguanylate cyclase activity of the SpdE protein to a control. The methods can utilize isolated SpdE protein or a cell expressing a SpdE protein.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for testing hearing in infants based on pupil dilation response. It does not require sedation or depend on subjective judgments of human testers. Pupil dilation response to sound is measured by presenting on a display a visually engaging video containing periodic changes; presenting sounds synchronized with the periodic changes of the video; recording images from a camera directed in front of the display, where the camera is sensitive to infrared wavelengths; processing the images to measure pupil sizes; and processing the measured pupil sizes to determine, statistically, the presence of a pupil dilation response to the sounds.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are microinjection chips, devices, and systems for injection of unicellular or multicellular organisms. The microinjection chip and device disclosed herein include the microfluidic features, inlet port, pre-injection reservoir, injection channel and post injection channel in fluid communication with each other. The inlet port is adapted to sequentially move individual organisms into the injection channel, which is adapted to immobilize the individual organism in fluid. The injection channel features a side wall adapted to receive a microinjection pipette without a microinjection port and to reseal when the microinjection pipette is removed.

Abstract: Biocompatible materials including a biodegradable hydrogel and an active agent including a divalent metal salt are provided. Methods of making the biocompatible materials and methods of use, for example for treating an eye disease or disorder, such as keratoconus, are also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of products comprising 1,2,3-triazolate metal-organic frameworks, including particle, composition, thin film, and device embodiments. Particles made of the 1,2,3-triazolate metal-organic frameworks exhibit unique properties compared to bulk materials, such as reduced polydispersity, increased conductivity, and other properties. Also disclosed herein are embodiments of a method for making particles comprising the 1,2,3-triazolate metal-organic framework and other products comprising the same.

Abstract: Swept polarization optical beams are directed to a sample to produce fluorescence. typical as a plurality of single photon detection events. Based on frequencies associated with the polarization sweeps, orientation of a sample can be determined. Using polarization sweeps at first and second frequencies and wavelength, donor fluorophore orientation can be established based on the first frequency and wavelength and acceptor orientation can be established based on a sum or difference of the first and second frequencies and the second wavelength.