Abstract: Delivery apparatus and methods for delivering a medical device into a patient's vasculature are disclosed. In some examples, a method includes inserting, into a patient, a distal end portion of a delivery apparatus including a radially compressed prosthetic valve mounted around a balloon, advancing the distal end through the patient's vasculature, and inflating the balloon to radially expand the prosthetic valve at a native heart valve. The delivery apparatus includes a handle, a first shaft and a second shaft extending from the handle, and a locking mechanism to prevent axial movement of the second shaft relative to first shaft. The second shaft extends coaxially through the first shaft and includes the balloon, the radially compressed prosthetic valve, and one or more radiopaque markers at a distal end portion. The first shaft includes an end piece covering a proximal portion of the balloon during the advancing of the delivery apparatus.

Abstract: A delivery apparatus for a prosthetic heart valve includes a shaft, an inner balloon, and an outer balloon. The shaft has a lumen extending from a proximal end portion to a distal end portion and a plurality of openings formed in the distal end portion. The shaft is configured such that a fluid can flow through the lumen and the openings. The inner balloon has end portions and a center portion disposed between the end portions. The inner balloon is mounted on the distal end portion of the shaft and is in fluid communication with the openings of the shaft. When the inner balloon is inflated with the fluid, the end portions expand farther radially outwardly than the center portion. The outer balloon is mounted to the shaft and disposed over the inner balloon. The outer balloon is configured to fully expand after the inner balloon at least partially expands.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are low dielectric constant (low-k) two-dimensional covalent organic framework materials that have a dielectric constant k less than 2.4, optionally less than 1.9, and are comprised of regularly porous, covalently linked, layer structures.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to methods of detecting small fragments of known nucleic acid biomarkers.

Abstract: In flow cytometry, particles (2) can be distinguished between populations (8) by combining n-dimensional parameter data, which may be derived from signal data from a particle, to mathematically achieve numerical results representative of an alteration (48). An alteration may include a rotational alteration, a scaled alteration, or perhaps even a translational alteration. Alterations may enhance separation of data points which may provide real-time classification (49) of signal data corresponding to individual particles into one of at least two populations.

Abstract: The various embodiments described herein relate to systems, methods, and devices associated with distributed ledger systems (e.g., distributed ledger technology implemented on a decentralized network) that can be used to handle and manage the distribution and access of data in a manner that preserves the benefits of distributed ledger technology while enabling the private sharing of data. More specifically, the distributed ledger systems contemplated herein involve distributed ledger technology (DLT)-based data management platforms that can be implemented on nodes of a data management network.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are described that are directed to specific and sensitive methods of target nucleic acid detection and more specifically detecting target nucleic acids directly from biological samples. The compositions and methods were developed to be easy to use involving a minimum number of steps and giving rapid and consistent results either at point of care or in high throughput situations. The compositions and methods are directed to labelled probes and their uses in Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) diagnostic tests to detect target DNA from the environment or from an individual and also to detect specific variants of the target DNA, both with similar sensitivity.

Abstract: Communications over short-range connections are used to facilitate whether access to resources is to be granted. For example, upon device discovery of one of an electronic user device and an electronic client device by the other device over a Bluetooth Low Energy connection, an access-enabling code associated with a user device or account can be evaluated for validity and applicability with respect to one or more particular resource specifications. User identity can be verified by comparing the user against previously obtained biometric information.

Abstract: Provided herein, among other things, is a method for deaminating a double-stranded nucleic acid. In some embodiments, the method may comprise contacting a double-stranded DNA substrate that comprises cytosines and a double-stranded DNA deaminase having an amino acid sequence that is at least 80% identical to any of SEQ ID NOS: 21, 40, 47, 49, 50, 55, 58, 59, 62, 63, 65, 67, 70, 71, 76, 106, 107, 110, 112, 114, 117, 163 and/or 164 to produce a deamination product that comprises deaminated cytosines. Enzymes and kits for performing the method are also provided.

Abstract: A damper seal for a gas turbine engine includes a damper body extending in a first direction between a leading edge portion and a trailing edge portion, extending in a second direction between first and second sidewalls, and extending in a third direction between a convex outer damper face and a concave inner damper face. The inner damper face establishes a damper pocket. The leading and trailing edge portions slope inwardly from opposite ends of the damper body to bound the damper pocket in the first direction. The first and second sidewalls extend from the leading edge portion to the trailing edge portion and slope inwardly from opposite sides of the damper body to bound the damper pocket in the second direction. The outer damper face is pre-formed according to a first predetermined geometry that substantially corresponds to a second predetermined geometry of a platform undersurface bounding a neck pocket of an airfoil. A method of damping for a gas turbine engine is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a chair that includes a backrest portion, a seat portion coupled with the backrest portion, a column portion coupled with the seat portion, a linkage coupled with the backrest portion, a leaf spring in direct contact with the linkage, an arc-shaped toothed structure fixed translationally relative to the column portion, and a different toothed structure in contact with the arc-shaped toothed structure. The chair is also configured such that when a weight is applied to the seat portion, a fulcrum point of the leaf spring moves as the different toothed structure moves along the arc-shaped toothed structure to thereby shorten a working length of the leaf spring and provide an increased resistance to tilting of the backrest portion relative to the column portion. A process for assembling the chair and a weight-based tilt-resistance assembly for use with the chair are also described herein.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are described that are directed to specific and sensitive methods of target nucleic acid detection and more specifically detecting target nucleic acids directly from biological samples. The compositions and methods were developed to be easy to use involving a minimum number of steps and giving rapid and consistent results either at point of care or in high throughput situations. The compositions and methods are directed to labelled probes and their uses in Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) diagnostic tests to detect target DNA from the environment or from an individual and also to detect specific variants of the target DNA, both with similar sensitivity.

Abstract: Provided herein, among other things, is a method for deaminating a double-stranded nucleic acid. In some embodiments, the method may comprise contacting a double-stranded DNA substrate that comprises cytosines and a double-stranded DNA deaminase having an amino acid sequence that is at least 80% identical to any of SEQ ID NOS: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 19, 24, 26, 27, 28, 33, 40, 49, 50, 63, 95, 96, 97, and/or 99 to produce a deamination product that comprises deaminated cytosines. Enzymes and kits for performing the method are also provided.

Abstract: Providing herein, among other things, is a method comprising incubating a double-stranded nucleic acid having a nick with a nick translating activity, a ligase, and a nucleotide mix comprising at least one modified nucleotide, to generate a product comprising a patch of a newly synthesized strand of a duplex nucleic acid containing a plurality of modified nucleoside monophosphates that are at or adjacent to the site of the nick. In some embodiments, the method may be used to map damaged nucleoside monophosphates in a nucleic acid. Compositions and kits for use in performing the method are also provided.

Abstract: A damper seal for a gas turbine engine includes a damper body extending in a first direction between a leading edge portion and a trailing edge portion, extending in a second direction between first and second sidewalls, and extending in a third direction between a convex outer damper face and a concave inner damper face. The inner damper face establishes a damper pocket. The leading and trailing edge portions slope inwardly from opposite ends of the damper body to bound the damper pocket in the first direction. The first and second sidewalls extend from the leading edge portion to the trailing edge portion and slope inwardly from opposite sides of the damper body to bound the damper pocket in the second direction. The outer damper face is pre-formed according to a first predetermined geometry that substantially corresponds to a second predetermined geometry of a platform undersurface bounding a neck pocket of an airfoil. A method of damping for a gas turbine engine is also disclosed.

Abstract: An endoscope for removing tissue at a surgical site includes an elongated tubular body insertable within a mammalian cavity of a patient. An instrument channel extends between a first opening at a distal end and a second opening at a proximal end of the tubular body and is sized and configured to receive a surgical cutting assembly that includes an aspiration channel configured to remove material entering the endoscope via a distal end of the surgical cutting assembly. A torque generation component configured to generate torque is positioned within the distal end and configured to provide the generated torque to a coupling component. The coupling component is positioned at the distal end of the elongated tubular member and configured to actuate a cutting component of the surgical cutting assembly responsive to actuation of the torque generation component.

Abstract: This disclosure provides, among other things, a composition comprising: comprising a fusion protein comprising: (a) a DNA polymerase; and (b) a heterologous sequence-specific DNA binding domain. A method for copying a DNA template, as well as a kit for performing the same, are also described.

Abstract: An improved flexible endoscopic instrument to precisely and efficiently obtains samples of flat polyps and multiple polyps from a patient by debriding one or more polyps and retrieving the debrided polyps without having to alternate between using a separate cutting tool and a separate sample retrieving tool and may be used with an endoscope. In one aspect, the cutting tool is coupled to a flexible torque coil or torque rope that is configured to transfer rotational energy from a powered actuator through the length of the endoscope onto the cutting tool.