Abstract: Transrectal ultrasound probe for boiling histotripsy ablation of prostate are presented herein. In one embodiment, a method for a transrectal ultrasound treatment uses high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU). The method includes: generating a boiling histotripsy (BH) therapy ultrasound by a therapy transducer in a frequency range of 1 MHz to 2.8 MHz and a surface intensity range of 10 W/cm2 to 80 W/cm2. The therapy transducer may be about 50 mm long and about 35 mm wide. The method also includes applying the therapy ultrasound by directing ultrasound pulses having ultrasound shock waves to a target tissue at a focal depth of 2.5 cm to 5.5 cm; generating at least one ?m-scale vapor bubble at a target region; growing the at least one vapor bubble to at least one mm-scale bubble; and mechanically disintegrating a surrounding tissue by interactions between mm-scale bubbles and the ultrasound shock waves within a pulse.

Abstract: An ultrathin free-standing solid state membrane, including an etched well on a glass wafer, and a layer of SiX deposited on a backside of the etched well on the glass wafer.

Abstract: Methods of uniquely labeling or barcoding molecules within a cell, a plurality of cells, and/or a tissue are provided. Kits for uniquely labeling or barcoding molecules within a cell, a plurality of cells, and/or a tissue are also provided. The molecules to be labeled may include, but are not limited to, RNAs, cDNAs, DNAs, proteins, peptides, and/or antigens.

Abstract: The compositions described herein include an epitope of a peptide that may elicit an immune response in a subject following administration. The compositions may comprise nucleic acids. The compositions may comprise peptides. The methods described herein include administering a composition comprising an epitope of a peptide to a subject in need thereof.

Abstract: Methods of uniquely labeling or barcoding molecules within a nucleus, a plurality of nuclei, a cell, a plurality of cells, and/or a tissue are provided. Kits for uniquely labeling or barcoding molecules within a nucleus, a plurality of nuclei, a cell, a plurality of cells, and/or a tissue are also provided. The molecules to be labeled may include, but are not limited to, RNAs and/or cDNAs.

Abstract: Methods of uniquely labeling or barcoding molecules within a nucleus, a plurality of nuclei, a cell, a plurality of cells, and/or a tissue are provided. Kits for uniquely labeling or barcoding molecules within a nucleus, a plurality of nuclei, a cell, a plurality of cells, and/or a tissue are also provided. The molecules to be labeled may include, but are not limited to, RNAs and/or cDNAs.

Abstract: A protected fluid circuit can utilize osmotic membranes or other membrane types that are highly selective to urea transport. The membranes can achieve sufficient diffusional flux of urea in a forward osmosis geometry. When combined with a oxidation unit, this protected geometry can have a high selective flux of urea from the spent dialysate side to the urea removal side; balance of fluid (water) levels in patients by forward osmotic flow by controlling water evaporation rate through an vapor permeable membrane; protection of patient dialysate/blood loop from oxidation by-products; and an ability to optimize oxidation system performance (pH, ionic strength, other electrolytes, etc.) that would be otherwise incompatible with blood contact.

Abstract: A capacitive sensor including an electrically conductive material, and a single electrode applied with positive potential, wherein the distance between the single electrode and the electrically conductive material determines the spherical radius for a proximity sensing range.

Abstract: Antibodies that bind the tumor (T) antigen of the Merkel cell polyomavirus are disclosed. The antibodies can be use used in cell-based immunotherapies, antibody-based therapies, diagnostics, and detection assays, among other uses.

Abstract: A method of producing biochar from spent coffee grounds, biochar, such as biochar produced according to the methods of the present disclosure, an environmental remediation system including biochar according to embodiments of the present disclosure, and methods of removing contaminants from an aqueous solution using biochar according to embodiments of the present disclosure are described. In an embodiment, the method of producing biochar from spent coffee grounds comprises heating dried spent coffee grounds in an oven in a first pyrolysis temperature range to provide an intermediate biochar; and heating the intermediate biochar and a caustic in the oven in a second pyrolysis temperature range to provide the biochar.

Abstract: Described herein are compositions and methods related to the treatment of a cardiovascular disease or disorder. Also described herein are cells, stem cells (including embryonic and pluripotent stem cells), and in vitro-differentiated human cardiomyocytes in which HCN4 (HCN4), Cav3.2 (CACNA1H) and NCX1 (SLC8A1) activities are at least partially inhibited, and Kir2.1 (KCNJ2) activity is at least partially stimulated in such cells. Also described herein are formulations for the delivery of such cells and methods of transplanting cardiomyocytes, e.g., for the treatment or prevention of a disease or disorder.

Abstract: Systems, devices, materials, and methods including nanostructured gels are provided. A nanostructured gel includes a primary crystalline phase including cubic sodium yttrium fluoride, a secondary crystalline phase including cubic yttrium fluoride, and an amorphous phase including sodium ions and yttrium fluoride.

Abstract: The current disclosure provides provides boosting intracellular NAD+ with nicotinamide riboside chloride (NR) to protect from cardiac dysfunction, NR being a natural NAD+ precursor that bypasses nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) to stimulate intracellular NAD+ synthesis.

Abstract: A portable hemopurification system can remove one or more uremic toxins from blood of a patient. The hemopurification system includes a dialyzer with a dialyzing membrane. Blood from a patient is provided to the dialyzer on one side of the dialyzing membrane, and a negative-pressure pump applies negative pressure on the opposite side of the dialyzing membrane to provide ultrafiltration of uremic toxins from the blood. The system includes a replacement fluid line to deliver replacement fluid to the blood. The system includes load cells to measure the replacement fluid flow, effluent flow, and returned blood flow. The systems uses the fluid weights for the control of pumps to provide stable flow through the system.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided that enable activation of innate immune responses through RIG-I like receptor signaling. The compositions and methods incorporate synthetic nucleic acid pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) that comprise elements initially characterized in, and derived from, the hepatitis C virus genome.

Abstract: Next Generation DNA sequencing promises to revolutionize clinical medicine and basic research. However, while this technology has the capacity to generate hundreds of billions of nucleotides of DNA sequence in a single experiment, the error rate of approximately 1% results in hundreds of millions of sequencing mistakes. These scattered errors can be tolerated in some applications but become extremely problematic when “deep sequencing” genetically heterogeneous mixtures, such as tumors or mixed microbial populations. To overcome limitations in sequencing accuracy, a method Duplex Consensus Sequencing (DCS) is provided. This approach greatly reduces errors by independently tagging and sequencing each of the two strands of a DNA duplex. As the two strands are complementary, true mutations are found at the same position in both strands. In contrast, PCR or sequencing errors will result in errors in only one strand.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a computer-implemented method of automatically predicting progression of age-related macular degeneration is provided. An image analysis computing system receives optical coherence tomography data (OCT data). The image analysis computing system determines an optical attenuation coefficient for each pixel of the OCT data to create optical attenuation coefficient data (OAC data) corresponding to the OCT data. The image analysis computing system determines an area exhibiting geographic atrophy based on at least one of the OCT data and the OAC data. The image analysis computing system measures one or more attributes within an adjacent area that is adjacent to the area exhibiting geographic atrophy, and the image analysis computing system determines a predicted enlargement rate based on the one or more attributes within the adjacent area.

Abstract: Dielectric barrier discharge plasma actuators are described. In one embodiment, a fluid flow actuator includes: a dielectric sheet; and a first electrode of a dielectric barrier discharge-direct current augmented (DBD-DCA) actuator disposed on a first face of the dielectric sheet. The first electrode is exposed to a surrounding fluid. The fluid actuator also includes a second electrode of the DBD-DCA actuator disposed on a second face of the dielectric sheet. The second face of the dielectric sheet is opposite from the first face of the dielectric sheet. The first electrode and the second electrode are configured for receiving an alternating current (AC) voltage configured to locally ionize the fluid and to generate ions. A third electrode located downstream from the first electrode and the second electrode. The third electrode is configured for receiving a direct current (DC) voltage configured to accelerate the ions.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions of CD 180 targeting molecules coupled to heterologous antigens, and their use in treating and/or limiting disease.

Abstract: Methods and kits for uniquely labeling nucleic acid molecules within a plurality of microbial cells are described. In an embodiment, the method comprises fixing and permeabilizing the plurality of microbial cells; dissociating microbial cell aggregates within a suspension comprising the plurality of microbial cells; reverse transcribing mRNA within the plurality of microbial cells to provide cDNA; and combinatorially labelling the cDNA to provide labelled cDNA.