Abstract: A sensor includes a bio-recognition module and a transducer module having a dock sized and shaped to receive the bio-recognition module. The bio-recognition modules comprise a hydrogel matrix having bio-recognition elements embedded therein. The bio-recognition elements cause a particular biochemical input to engage in an interaction that generates a perturbation in an electric field within the bio-recognition module. The transducer module transduces this perturbation into an electrical signal that is provided at an output of the transducer module. This electrical signal indicates occurrence of the interaction.

Abstract: A self-calibrating hybrid spectrophotometer comprises a receptacle for receiving the cuvette, first and second optodes that are configured to permit light to enter the cuvette, third and fourth optodes that are configured to permit light to leave the cuvette, and a controller that is configured to control delivery of light to one of the first and second optodes. Light entering one of the first and second optodes is received at the third and fourth optodes after having interacted with the turbid sample along different paths having different lengths. Measurements made at the third and fourth optodes in response to having illuminated both the first and second source optodes provide two slopes of optical transmittance as a function of path length. The spectrophotometer uses these slopes to identify a slope that is indicative of the absorption coefficient and the reduced scattering coefficient of the sample.

Abstract: Articles and methods involving fluidic devices are generally provided. In some embodiments, a fluidic device comprises a first layer comprising a central region in fluidic communication with an environment external to the fluidic device. The first layer may also comprise a first channel and a second channel in fluidic communication with the central region and extending radially outwards therefrom. The first and second channels may comprises first and second sample regions from which first and second samples can be removed from the fluidic device. In some embodiments, a fluidic device comprises a first layer and a second, filtration layer configured to separate blood cells from plasma positioned between the environment external to the fluidic device and the first layer.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for sharing components among intelligent agents, such as robot agents that perform tasks autonomously. The intelligent agents may include functional components implemented in a middleware layer that provides an interface among the functional components. The functional components may include components for sensory information processing, managing goals and tasks, planning tasks, knowledge bases, and effector information processing. The middleware layer of the intelligent agents may include a component sharing layer. The component sharing layer may search for and identify components running on agents of an agent group that satisfy one or more constraints specified by a requesting component. The component sharing layer may establish a connection between the requesting component and the identified component. The requesting component may utilize services of the identified component to complete a goal or task.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are kits, articles, and methods for blood separation, comprising: a support structure comprising an inlet, an outlet, and a channel between the inlet and the outlet; a separation device; and an absorbent layer; wherein the absorbent layer and support structure are configured such that the absorbent layer can be positioned in the support structure and be in fluidic connection with the inlet and the outlet of the support structure; wherein the separation device is removable from the support structure; wherein the outlet is a vessel and/or is configured to be in fluidic connection with a vessel.

Abstract: A method for user association, i.e., user equipment-base station, UE-BS, association, in a cellular network is specifically designed for user association, for instance in 5G mmWave cellular networks. The method is based on the rational that network throughput may be low because of the weakest UE suffering from a weak direct link or high interference from other BSs in the network. Thus, swapping the worst UE-BS connection is likely to provide the UE a stronger link, i.e. a better connection to another BS, and/or reduce the interference, which consequently improves the throughput. An optional approach is based on matching theory, which uses preference lists maintained at the BSs and UEs.

Abstract: Articles and methods to separate blood cells from plasma are generally provided. In some embodiments, an article comprises an absorbent layer comprising a sample collection region laterally spaced from and fluidically connected with filters. The sample collection region may be removable, in some embodiments. In some embodiments, an article comprises a first filter and a second, filter configured to separate blood cells from plasma positioned between the environment external to the article and the first filter. In the context of the present disclosure, it has been recognized that the articles and methods described herein can be used to passively separate plasma with a high purity from whole blood.

Abstract: An intelligent system, such as an autonomous robot agent, includes systems and methods to learn various aspects about a task in response to instructions received from a human instructor, to apply the instructed knowledge immediately during task performance following the instruction, and to instruct other intelligent systems about the knowledge for performing the task. The learning is accomplished free of training the intelligent system. The instructions from the human instructor may be provided in a natural language format and may include deictic references. The instructions may be received while the intelligent system is online, and may be provided to the intelligent system in one shot, e.g., in a single encounter or transaction with the human instructor.

Abstract: Methods for improved imaging of internal tissue structures, such as lesions in the peritoneum, are disclosed employing color-weighted Polarization Enhanced Light (mPEL) imaging. A target tissue can be Illuminated with light of defined polarization at a plurality of wavelengths or wavelength bands. Scattered light from the tissue is collected and its polarization states analyzed and detected either via a polarization sensitive camera or a combination or polarizing filters and a standard camera. Light detected at distinct polarization states and colors is weighted by a factor and combined to yield an image that results in optimized visualization of lesions and/or discrimination of malignant from benign lesions. The factors may be identified based on a combination of Monte Carlo simulations and regression analysis to yield enhanced sensitivity to the tissue scattering power. Alternatively, the factors may be identified through machine learning based optimization algorithms to optimize tissue classification.

Abstract: The disclosure includes non-naturally occurring or engineered CRISPR systems and proteins, associated with a delivery system comprising a virus component and a lipid component. The disclosure includes CRISPR proteins associated with capsid proteins, e.g., AAV VP1VP2, and/or VP3, on the surface of or internal to the AAV, along with compositions, systems and complexes involving the AAV-CRISPR protein, nucleic acid molecules and vectors encoding the same, deliver}-systems, and uses therefor.

Abstract: A digital-to-analog converter that outputs an analog value representing a digital value includes a decoding stage and an interpolation stage. The decoding stage defines upper and lower bounds and the interpolation stage outputs an interpolated value that is between the upper and lower bounds. The upper and lower bounds are based on a most-significant portion of the digital value. The interpolation stage selects the interpolated value based on the least-significant portion of the digital value.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides methods including the steps of (i) providing silk fibroin material comprising substantially amorphous structure, and (ii) applying at least one of elevated temperature and elevated pressure to the silk fibroin material to form a silk fibroin article, wherein the applying induces fusion between at least a portion of the silk fibroin and structural change of fibroin in the silk fibroin material. In some embodiments, the present disclosure also provides silk fibroin articles made in accordance with the methods disclosed herein.

Abstract: Saccharide-substituted silk fibroin compositions as well as methods for making and using the same are provided. The compositions can include at least one saccharide coupled to silk fibroin. The coupling can be via various residues on the silk fibroin.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the disclosure are directed to methods for identifying a subject responsive to treatment of a psychiatric illness, diagnosing and treating a psychiatric illness in a subject, determining the efficacy of a medicament for treating a psychiatric illness in a subject, a panel of biomarkers for use in the methods thereof, and compositions for treating a psychiatric illness in a subject. The biomarkers and methods using such biomarkers described here can identify subsets or populations of patients having impaired endogenous neurosteroidogenesis, where the biomarkers serve as predictive biomarkers for identifying patients having a psychiatric illness who are responsive to neuroactive steroid (NAS)-based treatments.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure are directed toward fluidic devices that allow lateral and/or vertical transport of a fluid comprising cells, and possibly at least a portion of the cells disposed in the fluid, through one or more layers therein. For example, some fluidic devices comprise a layer comprising a channel that allows for lateral transport of a fluid comprising cells and/or cells disposed in such a fluid. As another example, some fluidic devices comprise a layer comprising a vertical transport region that allows for vertical transport of a fluid comprising cells and/or cells disposed in such a fluid. The fluidic devices described herein may also comprise one or more layers that filter cells and/or do not allow for transport of cells therethrough. The use of such layers in combination with layers allowing for lateral and/or vertical cell transport may advantageously allow cells to be transported through one or more portions of a device and retained at another portion of the device.

Abstract: Systems and methods may ethically evaluate intelligent systems operating in a real-world environment. The systems and methods may generate a clone of the intelligent system, and test the clone in a simulation environment. If the clone passes the testing, the systems and methods may permit the intelligent system to continue operating in the real-world environment. If the clone fails the testing, the systems and methods may override the intelligent system, such as disabling the intelligent system and assuming control in the real-world environment. The systems and methods may be implemented at a hardware level of a data processing device to prevent interference with the systems and methods by the intelligent system.

Abstract: A wearable sensor for monitoring an external bodily fluid includes a sensor thread, a wick, a substrate, and a communication interface all of which are disposed on a substrate. The wick wicks the external bodily fluid to a functionalized region of the thread. The communication interface transmits, to an external device, data indicative of what the sensor thread has measured in said external bodily fluid. The external device can then carry out real-time analysis or storage.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and compositions for stabilization of active agents. The active agents are distributed, mixed or embedded in a silk fibroin matrix, thereby retaining the bioactivity of the active agents upon storage and/or transportation. In some embodiments, the storage-stable vaccine-silk compositions are also provided herein.

Abstract: An apparatus for earning out near-infrared spectroscopy using intensity-modulated near-infrared radiation or pulsed near-infrared radiation includes sources and detectors. For each source, there exists first and second distances. The first distance is a distance between the source and a first detector. The second distance is a distance between the source and the second detector. For each source, the difference between these two distances is the same. Additionally, wherein, for each source, the detector at a shorter distance is the same detector that is at a longer distance for the other source. A processor derives, from signals received by the detectors, a parameter indicative of two matched slopes. Tins parameter is either phase of the intensity-modulated near-infrared radiation or mean time-of-flight data for the pulsed near-infrared radiation. The processor then provides output data based on an average of the matched slopes.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a metadevice including a substrate, a resonator loop coupled to the substrate. The resonator loop having a first gap in the resonator loop. The metadevice includes an organic electrochemical transistor positioned in the first gap, a gate electrode, and an electrolyte extending between the organic electrochemical transistor and the gate electrode.