Abstract: A method of increasing sugar yield in a bioproduct production process is provided comprising pretreating one or more size-adjusted lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) particles with a pretreatment, such as an ammonia pretreatment, wherein the one or more size-adjusted LCB particles form a substrate, with the one or more particles having an average particle size in at least one dimension greater than 5 mm.

Abstract: A floating buoy includes a buoy hull having a tower that extends outwardly from the hull. A plurality of sensors are mounted either on the buoy hull, within the buoy hull, and/or on the tower. The plurality of sensors includes at least one met-ocean sensor, at least one ecological sensor, and at least one wind speed measurement sensor. The floating buoy further includes an autonomous power system that is configured to provide electrical power to each of the plurality of sensors. The wind speed measurement sensor may be a Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) wind speed measurement sensor, a surface level wind speed sensor, an ultrasonic wind speed sensor, or SODAR.

Abstract: The present invention provides stretchable, and optionally printable, semiconductors and electronic circuits capable of providing good performance when stretched, compressed, flexed or otherwise deformed. Stretchable semiconductors and electronic circuits of the present invention preferred for some applications are flexible, in addition to being stretchable, and thus are capable of significant elongation, flexing, bending or other deformation along one or more axes. Further, stretchable semiconductors and electronic circuits of the present invention may be adapted to a wide range of device configurations to provide fully flexible electronic and optoelectronic devices.

Abstract: Compositions comprising a nucleic acid molecule that encodes TB esat-6 proteins are disclosed. Methods of inducing an immune response against TB an individual are disclosed. Method of treating an individual who has been diagnosed with TB are disclosed. Method of preventing TB infection in an individual are disclosed.

Abstract: Provided herein are novel compositions comprising anti-DEspR antibodies and fragments thereof derived from 6G8G7 and 7C5B2 anti-DEspR variant antibodies, including fully human, composite engineered human, humanized, monoclonal, and polyclonal anti-DEspR antibodies and fragments thereof, and methods of their use in a variety of therapeutic applications. The compositions comprising the anti-DEspR antibodies and fragments thereof described herein are useful in diagnostic and imaging methods, such as DEspR-targeted molecular imaging of angiogenesis, and for companion diagnostic and/or in vivo non-invasive imaging and/or assessments.

Abstract: The present invention describes methods and formulations for protecting plants against various pathogens, involving the use of Prunus maackii materials. In some embodiments the biopesticide formulation comprises of at least one flavonoid such as 3,5,7-trihydroxy-6-methoxyflavone, 3,5,7-trihydroxy-6-methoxyflavanone or 5,7-dihydroxy-8-methoxyflavanone. The invention further provides a method of making the biopesticide by extracting a Prunus species with a solvent and formulating the composition using adjuvants, and kits for application of the biopesticide.

Abstract: Congenital abnormalities of the kidney or the urinary tract (CAKUT) are the most common cause of pediatric kidney failure. These disorders are highly heterogenous, and their etiology is poorly understood. Dual serine/threonine and tyrosine protein kinase (DSTYK) mutations were detected in 2.2% of patients with congenital abnormalities of the kidney and urinary tract, suggesting that DSTYK is a major determinant of human urinary development, downstream of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling. Methods and kits are provided for identifying and treating subjects at greater risk of developing CAKUT based on the presence of DSTYK mutations. Techniques include obtaining a biological sample from a subject and determining if the biological sample indicates a mutation of a gene for DSTYK. If it is determined that the biological sample indicates the mutation of the gene for DSTYK, then it is determined that the subject has or is at risk of developing CAKUT.

Abstract: Host cells that are engineered to produce benzylisoquinoline alkaloid (BIAs) precursors, such as norcoclaurine (NC) and norlaudanosoline (NL), are provided. The host cells may have one or more engineered modifications selected from: a feedback inhibition alleviating mutation in a enzyme gene; a transcriptional modulation modification of a biosynthetic enzyme gene; an inactivating mutation in an enzyme; and a heterologous coding sequence. Also provided are methods of producing a BIA of interest or a precursor thereof using the host cells and compositions, e.g., kits, systems etc., that find use in methods of the invention.

Abstract: Provided are astexin-1, astexin-2 and astexin-3 lasso peptides, which are based on sequences identified in Asticcacaulis excentricus, and methods of making and using same. Astexin-1 is highly polar, in contrast to many lasso peptides that are primarily hydrophobic, and has modest antimicrobial activity against Caulobacter crescentus, a bacterium related to Asticcacaulis excentricus. The solution structure of astexin-1 was determined, revealing a unique topology that is stabilized by hydrogen bonding between segments of the peptide. Astexins-2 and -3 are intracellular lasso peptides.

Abstract: A personal electronic device (PED)—endoscope image and diagnosis capture system is provided. The system includes a PED adapter having a magnification lens connection side and a PED connection side. A magnification lens is connectable with the lens connection side of the PED adapter. An eyepiece lens coupler is also provided and connects the magnification lens to the endoscope eyepiece. A PED is connected to the PED adapter and includes a processor, a memory and an image capture system with a PED lens. The PED adapter aligns the magnification lens with the PED lens. The processor is configured to activate the image capture system using a remote or voice-activated trigger signal and store captured images in the PED memory. Patient data and examination data can be associated with the images, and the images and data can be transferred from the PED to an electronic medical records system.

Abstract: A microfluidics device includes an inlet, a plurality of parallelized microfluidic channels, a splitter and a plurality of detection electrodes. The inlet receives a fluidic sample including biological particles. The parallelized microfluidic channels include interaction zones for analysis of the biological particles. The splitter transmits the fluidic sample into the parallelized microfluidic channels. Detection electrodes can conduct the analysis. Each detection electrode is shared among the parallelized microfluidic channels. The detection electrodes are spatially encoded electrodes arranged on locations of each of the parallelized microfluidic channels.

Abstract: Provided herein are systems, methods and compositions for rendering cells or the expression of an effector protein sensitive to a predetermined condition. In one aspect, cells can be rendered dependent upon the presence of an environmental agent, e.g., an exogenous agent, without which the cell will default to expression of a death protein and be killed. In another aspect, cells can be rendered sensitive to the presence of a set of predetermined conditions such that cells will only grow when two or more necessary exogenous agents are supplied, and without either of which, the cells are killed. In this aspect, hybrid transcription factors provide a vast array of possible predetermined conditions.

Abstract: There are gluten-degrading enzymes found in Rothia species bacteria that are subtilisins that belonging to the S8A family of serine protease family. The Rothia sp. derived subtilisin-like enzymes have the conserved catalytic triad composed of a Ser, His, and Asp residues that is characteristic of the serine protease family. The Rothia subtilisin enzymes are potent at cleaving proline-containing proteins, cleaving the second peptide bond after proline in the XPX1 motif, where X is any amino acid, P is proline and X1 is a hydrophobic amino acid, e.g. the XPQ motif, where Q is glutamine. Embodiments herein provide isolated enzyme compositions and formulations comprising subtilisins gluten-degrading enzyme from a Rothia species bacteria. Also provided herein are methods of treatment of celiac disease or a related disorder, treatment of gluten-containing foodstuff, degrading and/or detoxifying gluten comprising the subtilisins gluten-degrading enzyme and/or compositions.

Abstract: A transgenic soybean resistant to soybean cyst nematode (SCN), or parts thereof, including an artificial DNA construct encoding a serine hydroxymethyltransferase protein (e.g., GmSHMT).

Abstract: A device for positioning an electrode in tissue includes: a lead body having a distal portion; an electrode array coupled to the lead distal portion; an anchoring element having an anchor tip and being operable in a first configuration in which the anchor tip is retracted within the lead and in a second configuration in which the anchor tip is extended outside the lead and configured to fixate within the tissue; and a displacement mechanism that is actuated to bias the electrode array or the anchoring element toward the tissue. A method for positioning an electrode in tissue includes: navigating, to the tissue, a lead with an electrode array, an anchoring element with a distal anchor tip, and a displacement mechanism; biasing the electrode array and anchoring element towards the tissue with the displacement mechanism; and deploying the anchoring element, and verifying fixation of the anchor tip within the tissue.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods for treating asthma in a subject in need thereof comprising administering chemically synthesized secoisolaricirecinol diglucoside (SDG), and in particular, a racemic mixture of the SDG (LGM2605), stereoisomers thereof, metabolites thereof, and analogs thereof. Also provided are methods for treating or preventing ozone-induced damage in a subject in need thereof.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for providing a k-nearest neighbor for location based services are provided. A method can include querying a database to detect a plurality of interest points within a predetermined distance of the user device using a kNN algorithm, organizing the interest points within a Voronoi tree, and continuously return a position specific result of relevant interest points.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions comprising light-activated chimeric proteins expressed on plasma membranes and methods of using the same to selectively depolarize excitatory or inhibitory neurons.

Abstract: Disclosed are certain heterocyclic organic compounds that inhibit mitochondrial respiration and also lead to the maintenance of pluripotency of human embryonic stem cells in culture, even in the presence of oxygen. Exemplified are compounds, such as substituted 5-aminotetrazoles, which are reversible mitochondrial inhibitors. The pluripotency of the stem cells after culture is verified by the overexpression of pluripotent stem cell markers, exemplified by at least one of the genes NANOG, OCT4, and SURVIVIN after periods of culture in ambient oxygen.

Abstract: Systems and methods for magnetic induction of a penile prosthesis are disclosed. The magnetic induction system includes a wand that has a coil arrangement covered with a thermal and electrical insulator sheath operable to generate an alternating magnetic field. The coil arrangement of the sheath is configured to receive the length of the penile prosthesis therein. The penile prosthesis may be made from a shape memory material such that application of alternating magnetic fields generated by the magnetic induction system induces eddy currents that raise the temperature of the penile prosthesis to a temperature above the austenitic transformation temperature that allows the penile prosthesis to achieve an erect state.