Abstract: Described herein are compositions comprising at least one auxin transport inhibitor for pre-treating a plant or seed to increase saccharification, or saccharide release by hydrolysis, the at least one auxin transport inhibitor being in an amount effective to increase sugar release from a plant tissue by hydrolysis. Also described are plant mutations, and methods to screen for such plant mutations, having an improved sugar release phenotype. The described compositions, methods and plant mutations are particularly useful for producing biofuel crops, such as maize, to improve sugar extractability from lignocellulosic biomass and hence, the efficiency of bioethanol production overall.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods are provided for fabricating anisotropic polymer materials. According to various embodiments, a fluidic device is employed to distribute a polymer solution and a flow-confining solution in order to generate a layered flow, where the layered flow is formed such that a polymer liquid sheet is sheathed on opposing sides by flow-confining liquid sheets. The fluidic device includes first and second fluid conduits, where the first fluid conduit receives the layered flow. The second fluid conduit has a reduced height relative to the first fluid conduit, such that the layered flow is constricted as it flows through the second fluid conduit. The constriction formed by the second flow conduit causes hydrodynamic focusing, reducing the thickness of the polymer liquid sheet, and inducing molecular alignment and anisotropy within the polymer liquid sheet as it is hardened and as strain is applied during extrusion of the sheet.

Abstract: Modern FPGAs operate at a core voltage around 1V and therefore even small voltage fluctuations can lead to timing violations and logic errors. The Power Delivery Network (PDN) between a power supply and the FPGA core must be carefully designed to achieve a low output impedance over a broad range of frequencies. The present disclosure describes two techniques for characterization of the PDN: 1) to extract the DC resistance in the power delivery path, and 2) to identify the high impedance frequency band(s) in the PDN. An embedded impedance extraction tool is synthesized within the FPGA load, in coordination with a mixed-signal current-mode dc-dc converter. A self-calibrated Carry-Chain based ADC (CC-ADC) is used for high-speed sampling of the core voltage. By modifying the PDN based on the extracted results, the voltage operating range and reliability of a crossbar application may be greatly extended.

Abstract: Methods are provided for the preparation of a sample using a digital microfluidic platform and the optional subsequent mass analysis of an extracted analyte. A sample is dried, optionally on a solid phase support, and contacted with digital microfluidic array. An analyte present within the dried sample is extracted into an extraction solvent by electrically addressing the digital microfluidic array to transport a droplet of extraction solvent to the dried sample spot. The extracted sample may be dried and subsequently processed on the digital micro fluidic array for derivatization. The digital microfluidic device may further include an integrated microfluidic channel having an output aperture, and the method may further include contacting a droplet containing extracted analyte with the microfluidic channel and applying a suitable electric field for generating nano-electrospray, thereby enabling the device to be directly interacted with a mass analysis device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for assessing heart failure in vitro including the steps of measuring in a sample the concentration of the marker IGFBP-7, of optionally measuring in the sample the concentration of one or more other marker(s) of heart failure, and of assessing heart failure by comparing the concentration determined in for IGFBP-7 and the concentration(s) determined for the optionally one or more other marker to the concentration of this marker or these markers as established in a reference population. Also disclosed are the use of IGFBP-7 as a marker protein in the assessment of heart failure, a marker combination comprising IGFBP-7 and a kit for measuring IGFBP-7.

Abstract: The present application provides an inhibitory compound, such as a peptide, and methods for using the inhibitory compound in the treatment, diagnosis or monitoring of cognitive and mood disorders that are typically associated with memory loss and/or loss of executive function. In one example, the inhibitory compound is a peptide that mimics the N-terminal sequence of the intracellular loop of ?5 subunit of ?5GABAA receptors. Also provided are compositions and methods for treating a disorder associated with memory loss or loss of executive function. The therapeutic method comprises the step of inhibiting binding of radixin to ?5GABAA receptors, for example, by administration of the presently described inhibitory compound or peptide.

Abstract: Methods and devices for detecting metabolic activity of target cells in a sample. The target cells are concentrated in a nanoliter well having a microfilter. A reporter compound that exhibits a change in electrochemical state in response to metabolic activity of the target cells is introduced. Metabolic activity or viability of the target cells is detected based on a determined change in the electrochemical state of contents in the well.

Abstract: The present application is directed to excimer forming compounds of Formula I: W—V—[Y]n wherein W is an excimer forming fluorophore, V is a linker moiety, Y is a metal ion coordinating moiety and n is 1, 2 or 3. In particular, the application is directed to excimer forming compounds for the detection of proximally phosphorylated sites including those found on polypeptides, proteins, pyrophosphate and RNA, for example in aqueous solution, polyacrylamide gels blotting membranes, solid-support assays and in cell culture samples.

Abstract: The present invention addresses a need for antibodies useful for filovirus infections.

Abstract: There is provided an iron-fortified tea preparation having dried tea; and a mixture of a chelator and iron adhered to the dried tea, optionally with an adhesive, the molar ratio of chelator:iron in the mixture being about 2:1 or greater. The iron-fortified tea preparation may be used to brew tea, may be mixed with unfortified tea prior to brewing, and may also be used as an additive to food or beverage products.

Abstract: Herein is described the design and synthesis of resorcylate aminopyrazole compounds. These compounds show broad, potent and fungal-selective Hsp90 inhibitory activity. These compounds also find use in treating Hsp90 related diseases.

Abstract: A compound of formula (I): as described herein and methods and uses thereof as for mass tagging a biosensor or biologically active material.

Abstract: 53BP1 inhibitors, compositions comprising the inhibitors and methods of using same are provided. The inhibitors can be used in combination with gene editing systems.

Abstract: A substrate for the detection of a biological target by Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy (SECM) is provided. The substrate includes: a conductive surface; a probe area provided on the conductive surface, the probe area comprising receptors responsive to the biological target; and a background area provided on the conductive surface, the background area being disposed around the probe area and comprising electroactive compounds providing imaging contrast between the background area and the probe area.

Abstract: Methods for treatment and diagnosis of neurological disorders such as autism and autism spectrum disorder are disclosed. Also disclosed are modulators of alternative splicing regulators SRRM4 and/or SRRM3 for treating neurological disorders. Further disclosed are agents that modulate the expression of at least one splice variant for treating neurological disorders. Mouse models of neurological disorders having increased or decreased expression of SRRM4 and/or SRRM3 are also disclosed.

Abstract: A soft tissue filler comprising a biodegradable amino-acid derived polycarbonate-urethanes and methods of repairing soft tissue defects are provided. The biodegradable soft tissue filler comprises a porous scaffold that is the reaction product of: a) a divinyl oligomer component that comprises a carbonate-derived divinyl oligomer that is the reaction product of a lysine-derived diisocyanate, a vinyl coupling agent, and a polycarbonate and, optionally, an ether-derived divinyl oligomer, wherein the ether-derived divinyl oligomer is the reaction product of a lysine-derived diisocyanate, a vinyl coupling agent, and an ether; b) at least one anionic monomer; and c) at least one hydrophobic monomer. The molar ratio of (a):(b+c) is between about 1:?21 and about 1:30, the soft tissue filler has a porosity of >75%; and a compressive moduli of between about 1 kPa and about 50 kPa.

Abstract: There is provided herein a method for identifying and/or recovering at least one genetically encoded affinity reagent specific for a target molecule by screening using molecular display in conjunction with the sequencing of positive and negative selection pools from the screen.

Abstract: The present invention relates to cyclic amino acid molecules, in particular 1,3,4-oxadiazole containing macrocyclic peptides, and a process to produce the same. The process involves the macrocyclization of amino acids or linear peptides. Specifically, the process comprises reacting an amino acid molecule with an isocyano-iminophosphorane and an aldehyde or a ketone.

Abstract: An antibody and/or binding fragment thereof, wherein the antibody and/or binding fragment thereof specifically binds to an epitope of a ?Klotho polypeptide, optionally a folded ?Klotho or optionally with a dissociation constant (KD) of about 2 nM or less, as measured by competitive ELISA assay, methods of making and using to diagnose kidney diseases.

Abstract: An antibody and/or binding fragment thereof, wherein the antibody and/or binding fragment thereof comprises a light chain variable region and a heavy chain variable region, the light chain variable region comprising complementarity determining region (CDR) CDR-L3 and the heavy chain variable region comprising CDR-H1, CDR-H2 and CDR-H3, with the amino acid sequences of said CDRs comprising one or more of the sequences set forth below: CDR-L3; selected from any one of SEQ ID NOs: 123, 126-130, 142, 148 or 149; CDR-H1: SEQ ID NOs: 121 or 124; CDR-H2; SEQ ID NOs: 122 or 125; and/or CDR-H3: selected from any one of SEQ ID NOs: 196-226.