Abstract: An atomic clock employs alkali metal atoms such as cesium normally used for microwave atomic clocks but with optical stimulation. While alkali metals provide light emissions having a spectral width being as much as 107 wider (and hence less precise) than alkali earth materials commonly targeted for optical atomic clocks, the present inventors have determined that this disadvantage is significantly reduced by improved signal-to-noise ratio in the obtained signal making practical an atomic clock with improved size, weight, and power consumption.

Abstract: Unnatural, mutated thioesterases having an amino acid sequence that is at least 80% identical to SEQ. ID. NO: 1 and having substitutions at one or more of amino acid positions I107, R108, L109, S122, M141, E142, Y145, and L146, gene constructs encoding and configured to express the mutated thioesterases in a transformed host cell and host cells transformed to contain the gene constructs.

Abstract: To address the need in the art, the inventors have comprehensively characterized the SARS-CoV-2-specific B cell repertoire in convalescent COVID-19 patients and generated mAbs against the spike, ORF8, and NP proteins. Together, the inventors' data reveal key insight into antigen specificity and B cell subset distribution upon SARS-CoV-2 infection in the context of age, sex, and disease severity. Aspects of the disclosure relate to novel antibody and antigen binding fragments. Further aspects relate to polypeptides comprising the antigen binding fragment(s) of the disclosure, and compositions comprising the polypeptides, antibodies, and/or antigen binding fragments of the disclosure. Also described are nucleic acids encoding an antibody or antigen binding fragment of the disclosure.

Abstract: Mycobacterial-specific biomarkers and methods of using such biomarkers for diagnosis of mycobacterial infection in a mammal are disclosed.

Abstract: Piezoelectrically actuated devices constructed from thin semiconductor membranes bonded directly to piezoelectric substrates are provided. Methods for fabricating these devices are also provided. The bonding of the semiconductor to the piezoelectric material does not require the use of any intermediate layers, such as bonding agents.

Abstract: A system and method for detection of x-rays is provided. An x-ray detector system may include an energy-integrating x-ray detector having an array of x-ray sensing elements that are configured to sense x-rays emitted from an x-ray source and generate energy-integrating x-ray data. The system may also include a photon-counting detector having another array of x-ray sensing elements configured to determine an interaction between individual x-ray photons with individual sensing elements of the another array of x-ray sensing elements to generate photon-counting x-ray data. The system may further include electronics configured to receive the energy-integrating x-ray data and the photon-counting x-ray data simultaneously.

Abstract: An improved alkaline pretreatment of biomass is provided that is a single-stage, two oxidant alkaline oxidative pretreatment process. The process uses a homogenous catalyst with at least two oxidants (Hydrogen peroxide and enhanced levels of oxygen) in an alkaline environment to catalytically pretreat lignocellulosic biomass in a single-stage oxidation reaction. The provided single-stage alkaline-oxidative pretreatment improves biomass pretreatment and increase enzymatic digestibility to improve the economic feasibility of production of lignocellulose derived sugars.

Abstract: A mammalian or avian cell line that expresses high levels of human influenza virus receptors is provided. In one embodiment, the cell line supports human influenza virus, e.g., human A/H3 influenza virus, isolation and growth much more effectively than corresponding conventional (unmodified) cells or in corresponding human virus receptor-overexpressing cells, and the propagated viruses may maintain higher genetic stability than in the corresponding cells.

Abstract: A reconfigurable hardware accelerator for computers combines a high-speed dataflow processor, having programmable functional units rapidly reconfigured in a network of programmable switches, with a stream processor that may autonomously access memory in predefined access patterns after receiving simple stream instructions. The result is a compact, high-speed processor that may exploit parallelism associated with many application-specific programs susceptible to acceleration.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for improving the security of trigger action platforms of a type providing interoperability between computer services send the trigger service additional information about an interoperability rule for the computer services so that the trigger service may implement a minimizer reducing the data communicated when the interoperability is implemented. Implementation of the minimizer may be done in a way that is transparent to the trigger action platform eliminating the need for disruption of existing interoperability services.

Abstract: A piezoelectric artificial artery can be 3D printed to provide the real-time precise sensing of blood pressure and vessel motion patterns enabling early detection of partial occlusions. An electric-field assisted 3D printing method allows for rapid printing and simultaneously poled complex ferroelectric structures with high fidelity and good piezoelectric performance. The print material consists of ferroelectric potassium sodium niobate (KNN) particles embedded within a ferroelectric polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) polymer matrix.

Abstract: As described herein, a hybrid voltage sensor genetically-encoded voltage indicator (GEVI) for mitochondria or endoplasmic reticulum includes a transmembrane domain, and a fluorescent protein, wherein a terminus of the transmembrane domain and a terminus of the fluorescent protein are covalently linked directly or by a linker comprising 1 to 20 amino acids, and wherein the transmembrane domain comprises SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4 or a peptide with greater than 85%, 90%, 95% or 98% identity to SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 4. Also described are expression vectors, expression cassettes, and organelle membranes, as well as methods of determining the voltage across an organelle using the GEVIs.

Abstract: Genetically modified CCNT1 and XPO1 genes encoding proteins that inhibit virus infection in cells. The genetically modified CCNT1 gene encodes a protein with a C261Y substitution with respect to the human CCNT1 protein. The genetically modified XPO1 gene encodes a protein with P411T, M412V, and/or F414S substitutions with respect to the human XPO1 protein. The genetically modified CCNT1 and XPO1 genes can be introduced in cells. The cells comprising the genetically modified CCNT1 and XPO1 genes can be introduced in a subject with a virus infection to treat the infection.

Abstract: Self-assembling compounds for the formation of ion channels in biological membranes include monoacylated benzo(crown-ether) (MAcBCE) compounds and monoalkylated benzo(crown-ether) (MAkBCE) compounds. Methods of preparing the MAcBCE and MAkBCE compounds and methods of forming an ion channel in a biological membrane are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of creating an isogenic multicellular blood-brain barrier model from iPSCs is disclosed.

Abstract: A “localizable” systemic gene therapy system is provided substantially increasing the transfection efficiency of the gene vectors into targeted tissue cells and substantially reducing the escape of the gene vectors from the targeted tissue volume, such as would waste the vectors, promote undesired immune reactions, and/or incur prohibitive costs for the required dose of gene-containing virus vectors. In this regard, the invention provides a means to simultaneously achieve local electroporation and gene-containing vector injection in a portion of a vascularized organ. It includes two double-balloon catheters that create contained volumes in parallel blood vessels for the introduction of vectors with reduced loss along with electrodes providing electroporation of the cells in the same location where the vectors are injected.

Abstract: Multi-omic analysis (analysis of proteins, lipids, and metabolites) is a powerful and increasingly utilized approach to gain insight into complex biological systems. One major hindrance with multi-omics, however, is the lengthy sample preparation process. Preparing samples for mass spectrometry (MS)-based multi-omics broadly involves extraction of metabolites and lipids with organic solvents, precipitation of proteins, and overnight digestion of proteins. The existing workflows are disparate and laborious, requiring multiple complex operation steps typically taking 1-2 days to perform. The present invention provides methods for preparing multi-omic samples that are faster and simpler than conventional methods, making it easier for a single lab or researcher to collect quality multi-omic data.

Abstract: Methods of generating phenocopy signatures and uses thereof. The methods of generating phenocopy signatures can include determining gene expression signatures that predict the presence of mutations in training cells. Uses of the phenocopy signatures include identifying cells exhibiting the phenocopy signatures, identifying subjects comprising cells that exhibit the phenocopy signatures, methods of using the phenocopy signatures to predict cells sensitive to treatment with drugs, methods of treating cells with phenocopy signatures predicted to be sensitive to treatment with drugs, methods of using phenocopy signatures to predict subjects sensitive to treatment with drugs, and methods of treating subjects with phenocopy signatures predicted to be sensitive to treatment with drugs.

Abstract: Recombinant microorganisms and methods of using same. The recombinant microorganisms include one or more modifications that reduce the expression and/or activity of a sortase, a sortase-dependent protein, a fibronectin-binding protein, an autolysin, a surface-layer protein, an aggregation-promoting factor, and/or a collagen-binding protein. The modifications can reduce the adhesion characteristics with respect to the non-modified microbes. The recombinant microorganisms can further include a recombinant gene configured to express a biologic. The recombinant microorganisms can be used as delivery vehicles to deliver the biologics to sites such as the gastrointestinal tract.

Abstract: A system and method for generating reports on perfusion blood volume from computed tomography (CT) data acquired from a subject. The method includes receiving multi-faceted CT data acquired from the subject using one of a multi-energy or polychromatic CT acquisition and deriving an iodine concentration in an artery feeding a volume of interest (VOI) in the multi-faceted CT data. The method further includes determining an effective atomic number of a spatial distribution in the VOL calculating a perfused blood volume of the VOI using the iodine concentration and the effective atomic number, and generating a report of the perfused blood volume of the VOI.