Abstract: A sensor apparatus is provided. Multiple opposite and self-powered sensors are provided in another aspect of the present apparatus. A further aspect employs a sensor apparatus including a first pair of flexible piezoelectric sensors attached to opposite sides of an exterior surface of a workpiece and at least a second pair of flexible piezoelectric sensors attached to opposite sides of the exterior surface of the workpiece. Another aspect of the present apparatus uses pairs of thin film piezoelectric sensors which are configured to detect bending curvature of a workpiece in at least two dimensions by sending voltage output signals from both of the sensors of a first pair and/or both of the sensors of at least a second pair to a controller and/or electrical circuit.

Abstract: The current invention provides compositions, methods, and kits for detecting the exposure to and infection by certain viruses. Specifically, the current invention allows for the rapid differential serological detection of exposure to, and infection by viruses. In particular, the current invention allows for the rapid serological detection of exposure to, and infection by Zika virus (ZIKV).

Abstract: Nanostraws and to methods of utilizing them in order to deliver biologically relevant molecules such as DNA, RNA, proteins etc., into non-adherent cells such as immune cells, embryos, plant cells, bacteria, yeast etc. The methods described herein are repeatedly capable of delivering biologically relevant cargo into non-adherent cells, with high cell viability, dosage control, unaffected proliferation or cellular development, and with high efficiency. Among other uses, these new delivery methods will allow to scale pre-clinical cell reprogramming techniques to clinical applications.

Abstract: Described herein are methods for lengthening tubular organs using expandable implants. The expandable implants may be secured along a length of a tubular organ by forming a plication at each end of the implant. Securing the expandable implants in this manner may be used to treat short bowel syndrome. Methods for selecting and implanting an expandable implant suitable for lengthening a tubular organ according to predetermined patient parameters are further described herein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the discovery that the expression levels of some microRNAs (miRNAs) can use a diagnostic signature to predict transplant outcomes in a transplant recipient. Thus, in various embodiments described herein, the methods of the invention relate to methods of diagnosing a transplant subject for acute rejection such as acute cellular rejection (ACR), methods of predicting a subject's risk of having or developing ACR and methods of assessing in a subject the likelihood of a successful or failure minimization of immunosuppression therapy (IST) dosage from standard ranges.

Abstract: A passive thermal management system and methods of using a thermoresponsive hydrogel coating configured to autonomously switch between a heating state and a cooling state based on ambient temperature. At temperature greater than a lower critical solution temperature of the thermoresponsive hydrogel, the thermoresponsive hydrogel coating becomes solar reflective and has enhanced radiative cooling ability to achieve daytime radiative cooling. At temperatures less than the lower critical solution temperature, the thermoresponsive hydrogel coating becomes transparent to facilitate absorption of solar radiation by sun absorber.

Abstract: In an embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to a method of making magnetic nanoparticles through the utilization of a microfluidic reactor. In some embodiments, the microfluidic reactor includes a first inlet, a second inlet, and an outlet. In some embodiments, the method includes applying a magnetic nanoparticle precursor solution into the first inlet of the microfluidic reactor through a first flow rate and applying a reducing agent into the second inlet of the microfluidic reactor through a second flow rate. In some embodiments, the magnetic nanoparticles are produced in the microfluidic reactor and collected from the outlet of the microfluidic reactor. In an additional embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to a composition including a plurality of magnetic nanoparticles. In a further embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to a microfluidic reactor.

Abstract: Compositions, methods, and kits are provided for treating bacterial infections with nanoparticles comprising a thiol-binding metallic core conjugated to a fluoroquinolone antibiotic. Recalcitrant infections are often difficult to treat because of the presence of persister cells, a subpopulation of bacterial cells that is highly tolerant of traditional antibiotics. Persister cells are dormant, which makes them less susceptible to many antibiotics, which are designed to kill growing cells. Administration of nanoparticles comprising a thiol-binding metallic core conjugated to fluoroquinolone antibiotics was found to be highly efficacious in eradicating persister cells and for treating infections for a broad range of bacterial species, including Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Such treatment was effective not only in eradicating planktonic bacteria but also bacteria in biofilms.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally pertains to systems and methods for processing optical signals. In some embodiments, an optical system has an optical device for receiving a plurality of optical signals and processing such signals in a desired way. The optical device has one or more functional layers that are separated by buffer layers. The index of refraction of at various points in each functional layer is controlled during manufacturing so that the functional layer performs one or more optical functions or, in other words, manipulates one or more incoming optical signals in a desired way, such as switching, filtering, splitting, focusing, collimating, etc. As an example, the index of refraction profile within a region of a functional layer may be controlled so that an incoming signal from a first optical fiber is redirected for reception by a second optical fiber that is not aligned with the first optical fiber.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides “all-in-one” cartridges which contain necessary reagents and materials to isolate/preconcentrate targeted proteins from blood plasma and ionize them for mass spectrometry detection. In another configuration, the cartridges include proteolytic enzymes to digest the proteins into smaller peptides in addition to preconcentration and ionization for mass spectrometry detection.

Abstract: Provided are compositions and methods for treating diseases associated with expression of mesothelin. Also provided are a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) specific to mesothelin, vectors encoding the same, and recombinant T cells comprising the mesothelin CAR. Further provided are methods of administering a genetically modified T cell expressing a CAR that comprises a mesothelin binding domain.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and compositions for treating RAG2 deficiencies in subjects, comprising genetically modifying cells from the subjects ex vivo by integrating a functional, codon-optimized RAG 2 cDNA at the endogenous RAG2 locus.

Abstract: Provided herein are hydrogels that include a plurality of bacteriophages located within and covalently bonded to the hydrogel interior. The hydrogel is engineered to facilitate a controlled sustained release of the connected bacteriophages, e.g., to or within the body of a patient suffering from a bacterial infection. Also provided are methods for forming the provided hydrogels, and for using the hydrogels to treat a patient suffering from a bacterial infection.

Abstract: Processes and materials to detect cancer from a biopsy are described. In some cases, cell-free nucleic acids can be sequenced, and the sequencing result can be utilized to detect sequences derived from a neoplasm. Detection of somatic variants occurring in phase can indicate the presence of cancer in a diagnostic scan and a clinical intervention can be performed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for compact and low-cost vibrational spectroscopy platforms are described. Many embodiments implement deep learning processes to identify the relevant optical spectral features for the identification of an element from a set of elements. Several embodiments provide that resolution reduction and feature selection render efficient data analysis processes. By reducing the spectral data from the full wide-band high-resolution spectrum to a subset of spectral bands, a number of embodiments provide compact and low-cost hardware incorporation in spectroscopic platforms for element identification functions.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides modified immune cells (e.g., modified T cells) comprising a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) having affinity for a prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) (e.g., human PSMA). The present disclosure provides modified immune cells (e.g., modified T cells) comprising a CAR having affinity for PSMA and a dominant negative receptor and/or a switch receptor. The present disclosure provides modified immune cells (e.g., modified T cells) comprising a CAR having affinity for PSMA and a dominant negative receptor and/or a switch receptor, wherein the modified cell is capable of expressing and secreting a bispecific antibody.

Abstract: Disclosed are devices, methods, systems, media, and other implementations that include a method comprising accessing during execution of a process a memory element, determining whether data stored in the accessed memory element includes security data representative of locations that, if accessed, indicate a potential system violation condition, determining, in response to a determination that the accessed memory element includes the security data, whether execution of the process involves access of one or more memory locations in the accessed memory element containing the security data, and performing one or more remedial actions in response to a determination that the one or more memory locations in the memory element containing the security data are being accessed.

Abstract: Silicon carbide on insulator is provided by bonding bulk silicon carbide to a substrate with an oxide-oxide fusion bond, followed by thinning the bulk silicon carbide as needed. A doping-selective etch for silicon carbide is used to improve thickness uniformity of the silicon carbide layer(s).

Abstract: The present invention features nucleic acid trans-splicing molecules (e.g., pre-mRNA trans-splicing molecules (RTMs)) capable of correcting one or more mutations in the ABCA4 gene or the CEP290 gene. Such molecules are useful in the treatment of disorders associated with mutations in ABCA4, such as Stargardt Disease (e.g., Stargardt Disease 1) and disorders associated with a mutation in CEP290, such as Leber congenital amourosis 10 (LCA 10). Also provided by the invention described herein are methods of using the nucleic acid trans-splicing molecules for correcting mutations in ABCA4 and CEP290 and for treating disorders associated with mutations in ABCA4 and CEP290, such as Stargardt Disease and LCA 10.

Abstract: Provided are systems and methods for analyzing medical images to localize body regions using deep learning techniques. A combination of convolutional neural network (CNN) and a recurrent neural network (RNN) can be applied to medical images, identifying axial slices of a body region. In accordance with embodiments, boundaries, e.g., superior and inferior boundaries of various body regions in computed tomography images can be automatically demarcated.