Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for light-activated cation channel proteins and their uses within cell membranes and subcellular regions. The invention provides for proteins, nucleic acids, vectors and methods for genetically targeted expression of light-activated cation channels to specific cells or defined cell populations. In particular the invention provides millisecond-timescale temporal control of cation channels using moderate light intensities in cells, cell lines, transgenic animals, and humans. The invention provides for optically generating electrical spikes in nerve cells and other excitable cells useful for driving neuronal networks, drug screening, and therapy.

Abstract: The invention, in some aspects relates to compositions and methods for altering cell activity and function and the introduction and use of mutant light-activated ion channels and variants thereof.

Abstract: Systems, devices, methods, and compositions are described for providing an actively controllable implant configured to, for example, monitor, treat, or prevent microbial growth or adherence to the implant.

Abstract: A programmable modular protein architecture for RNA binding comprises a set of modules, derived from RNA-binding protein Pumilio, that can be concatenated into chains of varying composition and length. When bound into a chain, each module has a preferred affinity for a specific RNA base. The chains can bind arbitrary RNA sequences with high specificity and fidelity by varying the sequence of modules within the chains. Each module contains at least 6 amino acids, with the amino acids in positions 1 and 5 providing the preferred affinity for the specific base, and the amino acid at position 2 serving as a stacking unit between concatenated modules. The modules may have four canonic forms, each having a preferred affinity for a different base and characterized by the base with which it has affinity, the two amino acids that provide the affinity, and the amino acid that serves as a stacking unit.

Abstract: Systems, devices, methods, and compositions are described for providing an actively controllable implant configured to, for example, monitor, treat, or prevent microbial growth or adherence to the implant.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for light-activated cation channel proteins and their uses within cell membranes and subcellular regions. The invention provides for proteins, nucleic acids, vectors and methods for genetically targeted expression of light-activated cation channels to specific cells or defined cell populations. In particular the invention provides millisecond-timescale temporal control of cation channels using moderate light intensities in cells, cell lines, transgenic animals, and humans. The invention provides for optically generating electrical spikes in nerve cells and other excitable cells useful for driving neuronal networks, drug screening, and therapy.

Abstract: A programmable modular protein architecture for RNA binding comprises a set of modules, derived from RNA-binding protein Pumilio, that can be concatenated into chains of varying composition and length. When bound into a chain, each module has a preferred affinity for a specific RNA base. The chains can bind arbitrary RNA sequences with high specificity and fidelity by varying the sequence of modules within the chains. Each module contains at least 6 amino acids, with the amino acids in positions 1 and 5 providing the preferred affinity for the specific base, and the amino acid at position 2 serving as a stacking unit between concatenated modules. The modules may have four canonic forms, each having a preferred affinity for a different base and characterized by the base with which it has affinity, the two amino acids that provide the affinity, and the amino acid that serves as a stacking unit.

Abstract: A system for monitoring a building having one or more microphones coupled to a telephone includes a detector configured to detect a triggering event within the building and transmit an activating signal when the triggering event is detected, and a control module configured to receive the activating signal from the detector. The control module is programmed to activate at least one of the one or more microphones to monitor sound when the activating signal is received.

Abstract: The invention, in some aspects relates to light-activated ion channel molecules and methods for their use to alter cell activity and function. Light-activated ion channel molecules of the invention can be administered to subjects, expressed in cells, and activated with light, to alter membrane potential in the cells, and can be used in methods for assaying compounds, treating diseases and conditions, compound screening and more.

Abstract: Systems and methods for wearable injection guides are described, which include: acquiring one or more digital images of a body region of an individual with at least one image capture device; creating a digitally rendered model of a wearable injection guide from the one or more digital images of the body region of the individual; adding one or more digitally rendered fiducials indicative of at least one treatment parameter to the digitally rendered model of the wearable injection guide; and forming the wearable injection guide from the digitally rendered model of the wearable injection guide, the formed wearable injection guide including one or more fiducials corresponding to the one or more digitally rendered fiducials on the digitally rendered model of the wearable injection guide.

Abstract: A system for monitoring a building having one or more microphones coupled to a telephone includes a detector configured to detect a triggering event within the building and transmit an activating signal when the triggering event is detected, and a control module configured to receive the activating signal from the detector. The control module is programmed to activate at least one of the one or more microphones to monitor sound when the activating signal is received.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for guided injection, which include: one or more controllable light-emitting elements configured to emit non-destructive light and a computing device operably connected to the one or more controllable light-emitting elements configured to emit non-destructive light, the computing device including a processor operable to receive at least one digital representation of a body region of an individual, the body region of the individual including one or more physical registration landmarks, the at least one digital representation including one or more digitally registered injection sites and one or more digital registration landmarks corresponding to the one or more physical registration landmarks on the body region; and control the one or more controllable light-emitting elements to illuminate a location of a surface of the body region of the individual corresponding in location to at least one of the one or more digitally registered injection sites.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for light-activated cation channel proteins and their uses within cell membranes and subcellular regions. The invention provides for proteins, nucleic acids, vectors and methods for genetically targeted expression of light-activated cation channels to specific cells or defined cell populations. In particular the invention provides millisecond-timescale temporal control of cation channels using moderate light intensities in cells, cell lines, transgenic animals, and humans. The invention provides for optically generating electrical spikes in nerve cells and other excitable cells useful for driving neuronal networks, drug screening, and therapy.

Abstract: Systems and methods for wearable injection guides are described, which include: acquiring one or more digital images of a body region of an individual with at least one image capture device; creating a digitally rendered model of a wearable injection guide from the one or more digital images of the body region of the individual; adding one or more digitally rendered fiducials indicative of at least one treatment parameter to the digitally rendered model of the wearable injection guide; and forming the wearable injection guide from the digitally rendered model of the wearable injection guide, the formed wearable injection guide including one or more fiducials corresponding to the one or more digitally rendered fiducials on the digitally rendered model of the wearable injection guide.

Abstract: A programmable modular protein architecture for RNA binding comprises a set of modules, derived from RNA-binding protein Pumilio, that can be concatenated into chains of varying composition and length. When bound into a chain, each module has a preferred affinity for a specific RNA base. The chains can bind arbitrary RNA sequences with high specificity and fidelity by varying the sequence of modules within the chains. Each module contains at least 6 amino acids, with the amino acids in positions 1 and 5 providing the preferred affinity for the specific base, and the amino acid at position 2 serving as a stacking unit between concatenated modules. The modules may have four canonic forms, each having a preferred affinity for a different base and characterized by the base with which it has affinity, the two amino acids that provide the affinity, and the amino acid that serves as a stacking unit.

Abstract: System and methods are described herein for generating an injection guide, which include receiving one or more digital images of a body region of an individual, the body region including one or more physical registration landmarks, generating at least one digital representation of the body region using the one or more digital images, the at least one digital representation including one or more digital registration landmarks corresponding to the one or more physical registration landmarks on the body region, adding one or more digitally registered injection sites to the at least one digital representation of the body region in an injection-treatment pattern, the one or more digitally registered injection sites registered relative to the one or more digital registration landmarks, and generating one or more output signals having information for controlling one or more controllable light-emitting elements to illuminate a location on a surface of the body region of the individual corresponding in location to at

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for light-activated cation channel proteins and their uses within cell membranes and subcellular regions. The invention provides for proteins, nucleic acids, vectors and methods for genetically targeted expression of light-activated cation channels to specific cells or defined cell populations. In particular the invention provides millisecond-timescale temporal control of cation channels using moderate light intensities in cells, cell lines, transgenic animals, and humans. The invention provides for optically generating electrical spikes in nerve cells and other excitable cells useful for driving neuronal networks, drug screening, and therapy.

Abstract: Breast implants including sensor modules and related methods are described herein. Breast implants include those with: a shell configured to be substantially filled with a viscous material; and a plurality of sensor modules attached to the shell and positioned at a distance from each other, each of the plurality of sensor modules oriented to detect one or more analytes in a fluid adjacent to the shell, wherein each of the plurality of sensor modules includes a unique identifier and is configured to utilize energy transmitted from an external source.

Abstract: Systems and methods described herein include those for the continual modification of intestinal microbes. Described herein are systems including sampling devices, analysis devices, computational devices and user interface devices as well as methods for the use of such devices in combination.

Abstract: In an automated methodology for in vivo image-guided cell patch clamping, a cell patch clamping device is moved into position and targeted to a specific cell using automated image-guided techniques. Cell contact is determined by analyzing the temporal series of measured resistance levels at the clamping device as it is moved. The difference between successive resistance levels is compared to a threshold, which must be exceeded before cell contact is assumed. Pneumatic control methods are used to achieve gigaseal formation and cell break-in, leading to whole-cell patch clamp formation. An automated robotic system capable of performing this methodology automatically performs patch clamping in vivo, automatically locating cells through image guidance and by analyzing the temporal sequence of electrode impedance changes.