Abstract: Extracellular matrix material is disclosed which is created by subjecting a target area to non-thermal irreversible electroporation (NTIRE) with a pulsed electrical field to kill cells in the absence of thermal damage. The dead cellular material may be removed and the remaining non-cellular matrix material may be implanted into a repair site to be treated medically or cosmetically.

Abstract: According to embodiments, a method and system for artifact detection in signals is disclosed. The artifacts may take the form of movement artifacts in physiological (e.g., pulse oximetry) signals. Artifacts in the wavelet space of the physiological signal may be removed, replaced, ignored, filtered, or otherwise modified by determining the energy within a predefined moving area of the wavelet scalogram, comparing the determined energy within the predefined moving area of the wavelet scalogram to a threshold value, and masking at least one area of artifact in the wavelet scalogram based, at least in part, on the comparison. From the enhanced signal, physiological parameters, for example, respiration, respiratory effort, pulse, and oxygen saturation, may be more reliably and accurately derived or computed.

Abstract: A system of using carbonates, especially water-insoluble or sparing soluble mineral carbonates, for maintaining or increasing dissolved inorganic carbon concentrations in aqueous media. In particular, the system generates concentrated dissolve inorganic carbon substrates for photosynthetic, chemosynthetic, or abiotic chemical production of carbonaceous or other compounds in solution. In some embodiments, the invention can also enhance the dissolution and retention of carbon dioxide in aqueous media, and can produce pH buffering capacity, metal ions, and heat, which can be beneficial to the preceding syntheses.

Abstract: Provided is an open diatom cultivation method where continuous production of one or more selected diatom species achieve dominancy in the production system and that dominancy is maintained. The algae culture solution containing diatoms is first introduced to an open microalgae culture system. Then, carbon dioxide and nutrient salts are added to form a culture solution for diatom cultivation. The method enables industrial scale cultivation of diatoms at economically competitive production cost, with a high cultivation density and for a high production volume. The method also enables continuous stable production of selected diatoms and solves the difficult problem of controlling invading algae by always using the most competitive of local diatoms without imposing a selected algae which may be superior in some localities and under some climate conditions.

Abstract: Methods and systems for the analysis of genotyping data are presented. According to various embodiments of methods and systems, an angle configuration search may be performed. In various embodiments, an exhaustive search over the entirety of an angle configuration space may be performed to provide a fit to a plurality of angles determined for a plurality of points in a data set generated from a plurality of biological samples. For various embodiments, the angle configuration space may be defined to ensure that a global fit may be determined. According to various methods and systems, a data base of possible angle configurations may be searched, in which each angle configuration may include three angles. According to various methods and systems, a data base of possible angle configurations may include for each angle configuration a probability that the angle configuration may occur.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new method for the preservation of blood platelets. In particular, the present invention provides a method which includes submitting the platelets to zeodration carried out at temperatures between 18° C. and 24° C. The dried platelets thus obtained can be preserved at room temperature for long period of time. The invention also provides kits and compositions for using the preserved platelets.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method of and system for detecting a consensus motif in a data sequence. The method comprises the steps of obtaining the data sequence, identifying potential signal (PS) segments of interest in the data sequence, and carrying out comparison and alignment processes amongst the PS segments to extract the consensus motif. Preferably, an unsupervised motif discovery process is used to identify the PS segments. More specifically, this may be done by extracting all common motifs across the sequence using the unsupervised motif discovery process; and for each of at least selected positions in the sequence, computing the weighted sum of the common motifs that cover said position. The PS segments that cover the positions where said number is above a given threshold may then be identified as the PS segments.

Abstract: A method employing pattern recognition techniques for identifying the functional status of patients with Pulmonary Hypertension is described. This method describes a process by which sets of cardiopulmonary exercise gas exchange variables are measured during rest, exercise and recovery and stored as unique data sets. The data sets are then analyzed by a series of feature extraction steps, yielding a multi-parametric index (MPIPH) which reflects the current functional status of a patient. The method also employs a description scheme that provides a graphical image that juxtaposes the measured value of MPI to a reference classification system. An additional description scheme provides a trend plot of MPI values measured on a patient over time to provide feedback to the physician on the efficacy of therapy provided to the patient.

Abstract: The present invention relates to generation (e.g., synthesis) of proteins. In particular, the present invention provides methods to predict miRNA targets using sequence similarity and thermodynamic stability of miRNA-bridges across both 3? and 5? UTR. Such methods find use in research, diagnostic and therapeutic settings (e.g., to discover targets, drugs, diagnostic products, etc.).

Abstract: A process for purifying laccase from an ectomycorrhizal fruiting body is disclosed. The process includes steps of homogenization, sonication, centrifugation, filtration, affinity chromatography, ion exchange chromatography, and gel filtration. Purified laccase can also be separated into isomers.

Abstract: A method of enriching stem or progenitor cells that includes growing a heterogeneous cell sample comprising stem and/or progenitor cells on a first substrate that is hydrophobic and has an elastic modulus less than about 100 MPa; recovering the heterogeneous cell sample from the first substrate; growing the recovered heterogeneous cell sample on a second substrate that is hydrophilic and has an elastic modulus higher than the elastic modulus of the first substrate to produce a subpopulation of nonadherent cells and a subpopulation of adherent cells; and recovering the nonadherent cell subpopulation, which is enriched for stem and/or progenitor cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to assembly of sequence reads. The invention provides a method for identifying a mutation in a nucleic acid involving sequencing nucleic acid to generate a plurality of sequence reads. Reads are assembled to form a contig, which is aligned to a reference. Individual reads are aligned to the contig. Mutations are identified based on the alignments to the reference and to the contig.

Abstract: A technique is disclosed for performing sequencing of polymers such as DNA and RNA. A sample containing multiple sites to be sequenced is cyclically subjected to attachment of nucleotides, and imaging. A digital mask corresponding to sites of interest in the sample array is generated and image data for the sites is processed differently from image data not corresponding to sites of interest. The latter may be discarded during the sequencing operation. The use of the mask improves computational efficiency and reduces memory allocated for the image data during sequencing.

Abstract: The present invention provides algorithm-based molecular assays that involve measurement of expression levels of genes, or their co-expressed genes, from a biological sample obtained from a prostate cancer patient. The genes may be grouped into functional gene subsets for calculating a quantitative score useful to predict a likelihood of a clinical outcome for a prostate cancer patient.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a non-transitory processor-readable medium includes code to cause a processor to receive a set of variants identified by a comparison of a test DNA sequence with a reference DNA sequence and associate at least one of the set of variants with at least one of a set of annotations each indicative of at least one criterion. The code includes code to cause the processor to filter, based on the set of annotations, the set of variants to identify a subset of variants from the set of variants. Each variant from the subset of variants is associated with at least one common annotation from the set of annotations. The code further includes code to cause the processor to present the subset of variants such that the subset of variants can be used to render a clinical diagnosis.

Abstract: Organic acid-tolerant microorganisms and methods of using same. The organic acid-tolerant microorganisms comprise modifications that reduce or ablate AcsA activity or AcsA homolog activity. The modifications increase tolerance of the microorganisms to such organic acids as 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3HP), acrylic acid, and propionic acid. Further modifications to the microorganisms such as increasing expression of malonyl-CoA reductase and/or acetyl-CoA carboxylase provide or increase the ability of the microorganisms to produce 3HP. Methods of generating an organic acid with the modified microorganisms are provided. Methods of using acsA or homologs thereof as counter-selectable markers include replacing acsA or homologs thereof in cells with genes of interest and selecting for the cells comprising the genes of interest with amounts of organic acids effective to inhibit growth of cells harboring acsA or the homologs.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides superabsorbent materials comprising wheat gluten chemically modified with citric acid, methods of producing superabsorbent materials and methods of use.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for the computation and display of an individual's personalized health risk based on the genome sequence of the individual, known etiological interactions between diseases for which the individual is determined to have genetic risk factors, and environmental etiological factors associated with the same diseases that represent potentially modifiable disease risk modifiers.

Abstract: The invention provides a sequence calibration method, including: (a) obtaining a first reading sequence and a second reading sequence from an identical source by a receiving unit; (b) setting a comparison condition by a determining unit; and (c) comparing the first reading sequence with the second reading sequence according to the comparison condition to generate a sequence comparison result by the determining unit; and (d) outputting a calibrated sequence according to the sequence comparison result by the determining unit, wherein the comparison condition is set according to a first seed table of the first reading sequence and a second seed table of the second reading sequence.

Abstract: For the biotechnological production of isomaltulose and compositions containing isomaltulose from saccharose the invention provides improved means, particularly a sucrose mutase with improved product specificity as well as microbial cells containing the improved sucrose mutase.