President and Fellows of Harvard College Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20160139079 | Molecular Characterization Device - Provided is a solid state support structure including an aperture having a molecular entrance and a molecular exit. A first reservoir is in fluidic communication with the molecular entrance of the aperture and contains a molecule-bearing liquid solution. A second reservoir is in fluidic communication with the molecular exit of the aperture for containing a molecule-bearing liquid solution. A first liquid channel is connected to the first reservoir within less than about 300 microns of the aperture in the support structure and includes molecule-bearing liquid solution for delivery to the first reservoir. A second liquid channel is connected to the second reservoir for accepting molecule-bearing liquid solution from the second reservoir. An electrical connection between the first reservoir and the second reservoir imposes an electrical bias between the first reservoir and the second reservoir for driving the molecule-bearing liquid solution through the aperture in the solid state support structure. | 05-19-2016 |
20160139007 | METHODS, APPARATUS AND SYSTEMS FOR PRODUCTION, COLLECTION, HANDLING, AND IMAGING OF TISSUE SECTIONS - Methods, apparatus and systems for collecting thin tissue samples for imaging. Thin tissue sections may be cut from tissue samples using a microtome-quality knife. In one example, tissue samples are mounted to a substrate that is rotated such that thin tissue sections are acquired via lathing. Collection of thin tissue sections may be facilitated by a conveyor belt. Thin tissue sections may be mounted to a thin substrate (e.g., by adhering thin tissue sections to a thin substrate via a roller mechanism) that may be imaged, for example, by an electron beam (e.g., in an electron microscope). Thin tissue sections may be strengthened before cutting via a blockface thinfilm deposition technique and/or a blockface taping technique. An automated reel-to-reel imaging technique may be employed for collected/mounted tissue sections to facilitate random-access imaging of tissue sections and maintaining a comprehensive library including a large volume of samples. | 05-19-2016 |
20160129444 | COALESCENCE OF DROPLETS - The present invention generally relates to microfiuidics, and, in particular, to systems and methods for coalescing or fusing droplets. In certain aspects, two or more droplets within a microfluidic channel are brought together and caused to coalesce without using electric fields or charges. For example, in certain embodiments, droplets stabilized with a surfactant may be disrupted, e.g., by exposing the droplets to a solvent able to alter the surfactant, which may partially destabilize the droplets and allow them to coalesce. In some instances, the droplets may also be physically disrupted to facilitate coalesce. In addition, in some cases, the positions of one or more droplets may be controlled within a channel using a groove in a wall of the channel. For example, a droplet may at least partially enter the groove such that the position of the droplet is at least partially controlled by the groove. | 05-12-2016 |
20160129053 | METHODS OF ISOLATING MICROORGANISMS AND USES THEREOF - Provided herein are methods for preparing a microbiome sample for transplantation into a subject in need thereof. In particular, the methods and compositions relate to methods of repopulating the the microbiome of a subject in the treatment of gastrointestinal maladies e.g., diarrhea and/or constipation. | 05-12-2016 |
20160124250 | PIXELATED TUNABLE COLOR FILTER - Methods and apparatus using generating multiple color images in a single exposure. In one implementation, an imaging apparatus is provided that includes an image sensor array including a plurality of image sensor elements. The imaging apparatus also includes a dispersive element configured to rotate incident linearly polarized radiation by a rotation angle to produce rotated linearly polarized radiation having at least two polarization angles, wherein the rotation angle is determined based, at least in part, on a wavelength of the incident linearly polarized radiation. The imaging apparatus also includes a pixelated polarizing filter configured to receive the rotated linearly polarized radiation from the dispersive element and selectively pass the rotated linearly polarized radiation to the image sensor array, wherein the rotated linearly polarized radiation is selectively passed based on the polarization angle of the rotated linearly polarized radiation. | 05-05-2016 |
20160122803 | EARLY DEVELOPMENTAL GENOMIC ASSAY FOR CHARACTERIZING PLURIPOTENT STEM CELL UTILITY AND SAFETY - The present invention generally relates to a set of early developmental reference data or “lineage scorecard” for stem cells, and methods, systems and kits to generate a lineage scorecard for predicting the functionality and suitability of stem cell lines. In some aspects, methods for generating a scorecard comprises measuring the gene expression of a plurality of early developmental genes, such as pluripotent, early ectoderm, early mesoderm and early endoderm genes to predict the pluripotency and differentiation potential of the stem cell line and its functionality and/or suitability for a desired use. In some embodiments, a reference scorecard can be compared with the test stem cell line scorecard to accurately predict the utility and/or identify specific characteristics of the stem cell line, e.g., to determine its suitability for downstream applications, e.g., therapeutic use, drug screening, toxicity assays, differentiation into a desired cell lineage, etc. | 05-05-2016 |
20160122405 | HOMEODOMAIN FUSION PROTEINS AND USES THEREOF - Provided herein are fusion proteins comprising a homeodomain fusion protein domain and a transcription modulator domain for treatment of various diseases or disorders such as cancer. The homeodomain fusion protein domain binds to a target gene and the transcription modulator domain either activates or represses gene transcription. The present invention also relates to polynucleotides encoding the fusion proteins, vectors comprising the polynucleotides, cells comprising the polynucleotides, vectors, or fusion proteins. Also provided are methods of use and compositions for delivery of the fusion proteins. | 05-05-2016 |
20160120893 | METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS RELATING TO MODULATION OF THE PERMEABILITY OF THE BLOOD BRAIN BARRIER - Described herein are methods and compositions relating to modulating the permeability of the blood-brain barrier, e.g. increasing or decreasing the permeability of the blood-brain barrier for therapeutic purposes. | 05-05-2016 |
20160115145 | ROSEOBACTICIDES AND USES THEREOF - Embodiments of the invention relate to compounds and methods for controlling algal growth, for example, in bodies of water or surfaces exposed to algae. Provided are compounds having algicidal activities and methods of use of these compounds as well as formulations and compositions comprising the compound having algicidal activities. | 04-28-2016 |
20160113971 | Compositions of Microbiota and Methods Related Thereto - Methods and compositions are provided for treating weight related conditions and metabolic disorders by altering microbiota in a subject. One aspect provides methods and compositions to alter microbiota in a subject by administering to the subject a composition that includes a substantially purified microbiota from phyla such as Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes and Verrucomicrobia or orders such as Bacteroidales, Verrucomicrobiales, Clostridiales and Enterobacteriales or genera such as | 04-28-2016 |
20160091145 | RAPID PRODUCTION OF DROPLETS - The present invention generally relates to the production of fluidic droplets. Certain aspects of the invention are generally directed to systems and methods for creating droplets by flowing a fluid from a first channel to a second channel through a plurality of side channels. The fluid exiting the side channels into the second channel may form a plurality of droplets, and in some embodiments, at very high droplet production rates. In addition, in some aspects, double or higher-order multiple emulsions may also be formed. In some embodiments, this may be achieved by forming multiple emulsions through a direct, synchronized production method and/or through the formation of a single emulsion that is collected and re-injected into a second microfluidic device to form double emulsions. | 03-31-2016 |
20160090622 | METHODS FOR IDENTIFYING A TARGET SITE OF A CAS9 NUCLEASE - Some aspects of this disclosure provide strategies, methods, and reagents for determining nuclease target site preferences and specificity of site-specific endonucleases. Some methods provided herein utilize a novel “one-cut” strategy for screening a library of concatemers comprising repeat units of candidate nuclease target sites and constant insert regions to identify library members that can been cut by a nuclease of interest via sequencing of an intact target site adjacent and identical to a cut target site. | 03-31-2016 |
20160083786 | IN SITU INTERACTION DETERMINATION - Methods, reagents, compositions, and kits for in situ interaction determination (ISID) via interaction-dependent polymerase chain reaction (ID-PCR) are provided herein. ISID technology is useful for rapidly evaluating potential small molecule-target interactions from mixtures in a single solution. ISID is compatible with unpurified targets in biological samples and can be used to evaluate ligand-binding in DNA-encoded chemical libraries in cell lysates. ISID is also useful to screen ligand interactions of proteins or other molecules in their native state, including their native post-translational modifications and any interactions with accessory proteins and metabolites, in ways that better reflect their relevant biological environment. Because ISID is compatible with crude cell lysates, difficult-to-purify, poorly soluble, intrinsically unstable, and aggregation-prone targets may also be compatible with this method, without requiring truncation or other strategies used to promote heterologous expression. | 03-24-2016 |
20160082104 | Methods and Compositions for the Treatment of Proliferative and Pathogenic Diseases - The invention features peptide fragments containing domain 4 of the | 03-24-2016 |
20160076041 | Foreign DNA Surveillance Protein - A method for augmenting expression of a heterologous nucleic acid in a eukaryotic cell or increasing the efficiency of gene expression using any gene expression system is carried out by decreasing expression or activity of an endogenous Interferon-induced protein-16 (IFI16). | 03-17-2016 |
20160069876 | SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND WORKFLOWS FOR OPTOGENETICS ANALYSIS - The invention provides methods for characterizing cellular physiology by incorporating into an electrically excitable cell an optical reporter of, and an optical actuator of, electrical activity. A signal is obtained from the optical reporter in response to a stimulation of the cell. Either or both of the optical reporter and actuator may be based on genetically-encoded rhodopsins incorporated into the cell. The invention provides all optical methods that may be used instead of, or as a complement to, traditional patch clamp technologies and that can provide rapid, accurate, and flexible assays of cellular physiology. | 03-10-2016 |
20160052951 | MACROLIDES AND METHODS OF THEIR PREPARATION AND USE - Provided herein are methods of preparing macrolides by the coupling of an eastern and western half, followed by macrocyclization, to provide macrolides, including both known and novel macrolides. Intermediates in the synthesis of macrolides including the eastern and western halves are also provided. Pharmaceutical compositions and methods of treating infectious diseases and inflammatory conditions using the inventive macrolides are also provided. A general diastereoselective aldol methodology used in the synthesis of the western half is further provided. | 02-25-2016 |
20160046076 | STATISTICAL PREDICTIVE MODELING AND COMPENSATION OF GEOMETRIC DEVIATIONS OF 3D PRINTED PRODUCTS - A non-transitory, tangible, computer-readable storage media may contain a program of instructions that causes a computer system having a processor running the program of instructions to: receive design information indicative of the design of a three-dimensional object to be printed by a three-dimensional printer; receive test product deformation information indicative of deformation in the profiles of no more than five, three-dimensional test products that have a circular or polygonal cross section that were made by the three-dimensional printer; generate polygon product deformation information indicative of a predicted deformation of a polygon shape that the three-dimensional printer will print and that has a number of sides and a number of sizes that are both different from each of the number of sides and number of sizes that the no more than five, three-dimensional test products have; and generate adjustment information indicative of an adjustment needed to print a desired profile of the polygon shape that the three-dimensional printer will print to make the printed shape accurate | 02-18-2016 |
20160041241 | Creation of Nearly-Equivalent Nuclear Spin Singlet States Using Spin-Lock Induced Crossing - Methods and systems for Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectra of samples having unresolved peaks are described. The methods and systems allow for the creation nuclear spin singlet states in nearly-equivalent spin pairs, for example, using continuous spin-locking with a nutation frequency matched to the coupling strength between spins. The invention relates generally to the field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy can be used as a tool for determining the chemical structure and/or geometry of a molecule in a sample. In many samples, however, resonance frequencies of different nuclei fully or partially overlap, which makes chemical identification of molecule(s) in a sample difficult or impossible. | 02-11-2016 |
20160040657 | Self-Folding Machines - A self-folding machine comprises a laminate including a flexible layer with a first side and a second side; a first rigid layer including at least one gap laminated to the first side of the flexible layer; a second rigid layer including at least one gap laminated to the second side of the flexible layer, wherein the rigid layers are more rigid than the flexible layer; a first contractible layer laminated to the first rigid layer and extending across at least one gap in the first rigid layer; and a second contractible layer laminated to the second rigid layer and extending across at least one gap in the second rigid layer, wherein the first and second contractible layers retract to respectively create folds in the machine across gaps in the first and second rigid layers when activated. | 02-11-2016 |
20160038447 | MODULATION OF REGULATORY T CELLS VIA G-COUPLED PROTEIN RECEPTOR 43 - Disclosed herein are compositions and methods that are useful for inducing the development of regulatory T cells (T | 02-11-2016 |
20160033498 | NANOSENSORS AND RELATED TECHNOLOGIES - The present invention generally relates to nanotechnology and sub-microelectronic circuitry, as well as associated methods and devices, for example, nanoscale wire devices and methods for use in determining nucleic acids or other analytes suspected to be present in a sample (for example, their presence and/or dynamical information), e.g., at the single molecule level. For example, a nanoscale wire device can be used in some cases to detect single base mismatches within a nucleic acid (e.g., by determining association and/or dissociation rates). In one aspect, dynamical information such as a binding constant, an association rate, and/or a dissociation rate, can be determined between a nucleic acid or other analyte, and a binding partner immobilized relative to a nanoscale wire. In some cases, the nanoscale wire includes a first portion comprising a metal-semiconductor compound, and a second portion that does not include a metal-semiconductor compound. The binding partner, in some embodiments, is immobilized relative to at least the second portion of the nanoscale wire, and the size of the second portion of the nanoscale wire may be minimized and/or controlled in some instances. Articles and devices of size greater than the nanoscale are also included in certain embodiments. Still other aspects of the invention include assays, sensors, kits, and/or other devices that include such nanoscale wires, methods of making and/or using such nanoscale wires, or the like. | 02-04-2016 |
20160033411 | METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS RELATING TO STORM-BASED PATTERNING - This disclosure provides methods for generating super-resolution patterns of molecules on substrates. | 02-04-2016 |
20160026754 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR IDENTIFYING A PHYSIOLOGICAL STATE OF A TARGET CELL - Embodiments of various aspects described herein are directed to methods, systems, and kits for identifying a functional or physiological state of a target cell. The inventions described herein are based on a novel approach that combines biochemical expression measurements of a sample (e.g., gene expression data) with mapping of the measurements onto a graphical representation of a plurality of reference points (loci). Each reference point corresponds to a reference sample with a known phenotype and reflects interrelationships between multi-dimensional biochemical expression measurements of the reference samples. By locating the sample relative to reference points on the graphical representation, the physiological or functional state of the sample can be identified. The methods, systems and kits described herein can be used for various applications, including, e.g., but not limited to, determining an effect of a perturbagen on a target cell, molecule screening, and diagnosis and/or treatment of a subject. | 01-28-2016 |
20160024588 | OSTEOSARCOMA-ASSOCIATED RISK MARKERS AND USES THEREOF - Provided herein are methods and compositions for identifying subjects, including canine subjects, as having an elevated risk of developing cancer or having an undiagnosed osteosarcoma. These subjects are identified based on the presence of germ-line risk markers. | 01-28-2016 |
20160024153 | STAPLED AND STITCHED POLYPEPTIDES AND USES THEREOF - The present invention provides stapled polypeptides of the Formulae (I) and (VI): (I) (VI) and salts thereof; wherein the groups =====; R | 01-28-2016 |
20160023239 | Fabrication of Nanopores in Atomically-Thin Membranes By Ultra-Short Electrical Pulsing - In a method for forming nanopores, two opposing surfaces of a membrane are exposed to an electrically conducting liquid environment. A nanopore nucleation voltage pulse, having a first nucleation pulse amplitude and duration, is applied between the two membrane surfaces, through the liquid environment. After applying the nanopore nucleation voltage pulse, the electrical conductance of the membrane is measured and compared to a first prespecified electrical conductance. Then at least one additional nanopore nucleation voltage pulse is applied between the two membrane surfaces, through the liquid environment, if the measured electrical conductance is no greater than the first prespecified electrical conductance. | 01-28-2016 |
20160023126 | SPRAY DRYING TECHNIQUES - The present invention generally relates to microfluidics, and to spray drying and other drying techniques. In some aspects, an article containing one or more channels or microfluidic channels is used to mix one or more fluids prior to spray drying. The mixing may occur immediately before the fluids are expelled through a nozzle or other opening into a drying region of the spray dryer. In one set of embodiments, for example, a first fluid is exposed to a second fluid, then the fluids are exposed to air or other gases before being expelled through a nozzle. In certain instances, the first fluid may contain a dissolved species that may precipitate upon exposure to the second fluid; such precipitation may occur immediately before expulsion through a nozzle or other opening, thereby resulting in controlled precipitation as part of the spray drying process. | 01-28-2016 |
20160020083 | ADJUSTING PRECURSOR ION POPULATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY USING DYNAMIC ISOLATION WAVEFORMS - A mass spectrometry technique for isolating a plurality of isolated ions from a plurality of injected ions using a dynamic isolation waveform to create at least one isolation notch. Isolating the plurality of isolated ions may include collecting at least a first target ion, but not a second target ion, using the at least one isolation notch for a first period of time; changing at least one property of the at least one isolation notch; and collecting at least the first target ion and the second target ion using the at least one isolation notch for a second period of time. | 01-21-2016 |
20160018269 | Nanometer Scale Quantum Thermometer - An approach to nanoscale thermometry that utilizes coherent manipulation of the electronic spin associated with nitrogen-vacancy (NV) color centers in diamond is disclosed. The methods and apparatus allow for detection of temperature variations down to milli-Kelvin resolution, at nanometer length scales. This biologically compatible approach to thermometry offers superior temperature sensitivity and reproducibility with a reduced measurement time. The disclosed apparatus can be used to study heat-generating intracellular processes. | 01-21-2016 |
20160002183 | SYNTHESIS OF TETRACYCLINES AND INTERMEDIATES THERETO - The tetracycline class of antibiotics has played a major role in the treatment of infectious diseases for the past 50 years. However, the increased use of the tetracyclines in human and veterinary medicine has led to resistance among many organisms previously susceptible to tetracycline antibiotics. The recent development of a modular synthesis of tetracycline analogs through a chiral enone intermediate has allowed for the efficient synthesis of novel tetracycline analogs never prepared before. The present invention provides more efficient routes for preparing the enone intermediate and allows for substituents at positions 4a, 5, 5a, and 12a of the tetracycline ring system. | 01-07-2016 |
20150376227 | LIGATION OF STAPLED POLYPEPTIDES - The present invention provides technology for making large (e.g., greater than 50 amino acids), semi-synthetic, stapled or stitched proteins. The method essentially involves ligating a synthetically produced stapled or stitched peptide to a larger protein. Modified version of IL-13 and MYC are provided as illustrative examples. | 12-31-2015 |
20150376201 | CORTISTATIN ANALOGUES AND SYNTHESES THEREOF - The present invention relates to analogs of cortistatin A, J, K, and L, having the general formula: | 12-31-2015 |
20150369740 | OPTOGENETIC PROBES FOR MEASURING MEMBRANE POTENTIAL - Provided herein are variants of an archaerhodopsin useful for application such as optical measurement of membrane potential. The present invention also relates to polynucleotides encoding the variants; nucleic acid constructs, vectors, cells comprising the polynucleotides, and cells comprising the polypeptides; and methods of using the variants. | 12-24-2015 |
20150340607 | PHASE TRANSITION DEVICES AND SMART CAPACITIVE DEVICES - Phase transition devices may include a functional layer made of functional material that can undergo a change in conductance in response to an external stimulus such as an electric or magnetic or optical field, or heat. The functional material transitions between a conducting state and a non-conducting state, upon application of the external stimulus. A capacitive device may include a functional layer between a top electrode and a bottom electrode, and a dielectric layer between the functional layer and the top electrode. A three terminal phase transition switch may include a functional layer, for example a conductive oxide channel, deposited between a source and a drain, and a gate dielectric layer and a gate electrode deposited on the functional layer. An array of phase transition switches and/or capacitive devices may be formed on a substrate, which may be made of inexpensive flexible material. | 11-26-2015 |
20150329584 | COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS RELATING TO COMPLEX NUCLEIC ACID NANOSTRUCTURES - The invention provides SST motifs of controlled size and shape, comprised of a plurality of oligonucleotides, and methods for their synthesis. The motifs are formed, at least in part, by the self-assembly of single stranded oligonucleotides into curved, corrugated or twisted structures. The location of each oligonucleotide in the resultant motif is known. Accordingly, the motifs may be modified with specificity. | 11-19-2015 |
20150322427 | Cancer Treatment and Immune System Regulation Through FAT10 Pathway Inhibition - Described herein are methods of inhibiting mitosis, treating cancer and/or treating immune disorders through the use of agents that inhibit FAT 10 and/or the FAT 10 pathway. | 11-12-2015 |
20150307444 | CLASS- AND ISOFORM-SPECIFIC HDAC INHIBITORS AND USES THEREOF - HDAC inhibitors of the general formula (I) and (II) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, as described herein, are useful as inhibitors of histone deacetylases or other deacetylases, and thus are useful for the treatment of various diseases and disorders associated with acetylase/deacetylase activity as described herein (e.g., cancer). In certain embodiments, the compounds of the invention selectively target either a class or isoform of the HDAC family. Another aspect of the invention provides an assay for determining the inhibitory effect of a test compound on an HDAC protein comprising: incubating the HDAC protein with a substrate of general formula (IIIc) in the presence of a test compound; and determining the activity of the HDAC protein. | 10-29-2015 |
20150306596 | MEMBRANE-BASED FLUID-FLOW CONTROL DEVICES - Described herein are fluid-flow control devices for transferring a fluid from a place to another and/or controlling a fluid flow. In some embodiments, fluid-flow control devices described herein can be used as pumping devices to transfer a fluid by peristaltic motion and/or as valve devices to control fluid flow for various applications, e.g., in a microfluidic platform. | 10-29-2015 |
20150299322 | Agents That Modulate Immune Cell Activation and Methods of Use Thereof - The present invention relates to compositions and methods for the immunomodulation mediated by the interaction of PD-L2 and RGMb. | 10-22-2015 |
20150298157 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DROPLET PRODUCTION AND MANIPULATION USING ACOUSTIC WAVES - Acoustic waves, including surface acoustic waves, are useful to control fluids. In one aspect, acoustic waves may be applied to a fluid flowing in a channel to control or alter its flow characteristics, e.g., its flow rate or direction. Acoustic waves are typically applied using electrically-controlled acoustic wave generators, and thus, the flow of fluid can be controlled to a surprisingly high degree. If the fluid is caused to form a series of droplets, then acoustic waves may be used to control the volume of fluid in each droplet, to alter the rate droplets are formed, or the like. Acoustic waves may be used to deflect the flow of fluid in a channel, and in some cases, to cause fluid to flow to different locations. | 10-22-2015 |
20150297747 | TRIOXACARCINS, TRIOXACARCIN-ANTIBODY CONJUGATES, AND USES THEREOF - Provided herein are trioxacarcin-antibody drug conjugates of Formula (A): and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, comprising at least one instance of the group -L | 10-22-2015 |
20150293058 | ACCURATE AND INTERFERENCE-FREE MULTIPLEXED QUANTITATIVE PROTEOMICS USING MASS SPECTROMETRY - Embodiments are directed to a method, a computer readable medium encoded with instructions that, when executed, perform a method, and a system for performing mass spectrometry analysis. Molecules of different samples may be labeled with a chemical tag, allowing a multiplexed analysis of multiple samples. The labeled molecules may be fragmented, each fragmented molecule creating at least two separate ions. The relative abundance of each of the heavier ions, which may comprise the original molecule from the sample, may be measured. A relative abundance of the labeled molecules in each of the samples may be determined from the measured relative abundances of the heavier ions. | 10-15-2015 |
20150291991 | METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS RELATING TO AMYLOIDOGENIC POLYPEPTIDES - The technology described herein relates to the expression of polypeptides, e.g. heterologous polypeptides using a bipartite curli signal sequence. | 10-15-2015 |
20150285820 | OPTOGENETIC PROBES FOR MEMBRANE POTENTIAL - The invention provides methods, cells and constructs for optical measurement of membrane potential. These methods can be used in cells that are not accessible to presently available methods using electrodes. The methods can be directed to, for example, high-throughput drug screening assays to determine agents that can affect membrane potential of a target cell. | 10-08-2015 |
20150285282 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING MULTIPLE EMULSIONS - The present invention generally relates to multiple emulsions, and to methods and apparatuses for making multiple emulsions. A multiple emulsion generally describes larger droplets that contain one or more smaller droplets therein. The larger droplets may be suspended in a third fluid in some cases. These can be useful for encapsulating species such as pharmaceutical agents, cells, chemicals, or the like. In some cases, one or more of the droplets can change form, for instance, to become solidified to form a microcapsule, a liposome, a polymerosome, or a colloidosome. Multiple emulsions can be formed in one step in certain embodiments, with generally precise repeatability, and can be tailored to include one, two, three, or more inner droplets within a single outer droplet (which droplets may all be nested in some cases). | 10-08-2015 |
20150284437 | BETA-CATENIN TARGETING PEPTIDES AND USES THEREOF - The invention relates to β-catenin targeting peptides comprising an α-helical segment that are optionally stapled or stitched, and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. Uses of the inventive β-catenin targeting polypeptides including methods for treatment of disease, such as diseases associated with aberrant Wnt signaling, including cancer, are also provided. | 10-08-2015 |
20150275207 | COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR MODULATING POLYPEPTIDE LOCALIZATION IN PLANTS - Described herein are engineered multiple localization tags which, when translated and processed into peptides, will direct operably linked polypeptides to multiple subcellular locations. | 10-01-2015 |
20150275203 | RIBOREGULATOR COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS OF USE - The invention provides novel and versatile classes of riboregulators, including inter alia activating and repressing riboregulators, switches, and trigger and sink RNA, and methods of their use for detecting RNAs in a sample such as a well and in modulating protein synthesis and expression. | 10-01-2015 |
20150275202 | CONTINUOUS DIRECTED EVOLUTION OF PROTEINS AND NUCLEIC ACIDS - The present invention discloses generalizable methods of evolving nucleic acids and proteins utilizing continuous directed evolution. The invention discloses methods of passing a nucleic acid from cell to cell in a desired function-dependent manner. The linkage of the desired function and passage of the nucleic acid from cell to cell allows for continuous selection and mutation of the nucleic acid. | 10-01-2015 |
20150269313 | Methods of Storing Information Using Nucleic Acids - The present invention relates to methods of storing data using one or more nucleic acids. | 09-24-2015 |
20150253355 | NANOSCALE SCANNING SENSORS - A sensing probe may be formed of a diamond material comprising one or more spin defects that are configured to emit fluorescent light and are located no more than 50 nm from a sensing surface of the sensing probe. The sensing probe may include an optical outcoupling structure formed by the diamond material and configured to optically guide the fluorescent light toward an output end of the optical outcoupling structure. An optical detector may detect the fluorescent light that is emitted from the spin defects and that exits through the output end of the optical outcoupling structure after being optically guided therethrough. A mounting system may hold the sensing probe and control a distance between the sensing surface of the sensing probe and a surface of a sample while permitting relative motion between the sensing surface and the sample surface. | 09-10-2015 |
20150253307 | POLYMERIC FIBER-SCAFFOLDED ENGINEERED TISSUES AND USES THEREOF - The present invention provides devices, constructs, and methods of use of polymeric fiber-scaffolded engineered tissues and assays for identifying compounds that modulate a contractile function, using such devices and constructs. | 09-10-2015 |
20150252067 | NICKEL FLUORINATING COMPLEXES AND USES THEREOF - The present invention provides novel nickel complexes. These complexes are in providing fluorinating organic compounds. The invention is particularly useful for fluorinating compounds with | 09-10-2015 |
20150243991 | SMALL ORGANIC MOLECULE BASED FLOW BATTERY - The invention provides an electrochemical cell based on a new chemistry for a flow battery for large scale, e.g., grid-scale, electrical energy storage. Electrical energy is stored chemically at an electrochemical electrode by the protonation of small organic molecules called quinones to hydroquinones. The proton is provided by a complementary electrochemical reaction at the other electrode. These reactions are reversed to deliver electrical energy. A flow battery based on this concept can operate as a closed system. The flow battery architecture has scaling advantages over solid electrode batteries for large scale energy storage. | 08-27-2015 |
20150241608 | ADAPTIVE OPTIC AND ACOUSTIC DEVICES - According to some aspects, an adaptive lens is provided. One such adaptive lens comprises at least one fluid-filled chamber located within an optical and/or acoustic path of the lens, and at least one elastomeric and substantially optically and/or acoustically transparent membrane, located within an optical and/or acoustic path of the lens and at least partially bounding one or more of the at least one fluid-filled chambers, wherein one or more of the at least one membranes is configured such that a shape of the membrane is altered upon receipt of an electric field. Some aspects provide a method of producing a lens comprising providing at least one chamber bounded at least in part by first and second membranes, and providing a fluid into the at least one chamber such that the fluid is located within an optical and/or acoustic path of the lens. | 08-27-2015 |
20150240958 | APPARATUS, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR ACTUATING PRESSURIZABLE CHAMBERS - A pneumatic controller for controllably providing pressurized gas to a target location is disclosed. The pneumatic controller can include an elastomeric manifold comprising a body and a first membrane coupled to a lower portion of the body. The body and the first membrane can form a first integrated channel having a first inlet, a first outlet, and an exhaust, and the first integrated channel is configured to receive pressurized gas at a first pressure at the first inlet and provide the pressurized gas to the first outlet. The body also has a sufficient stiffness to withstand an elevated pressure of the pressurized gas. The pneumatic controller can also include an actuator configured to change the first membrane from a first configuration to a second configuration to control a flow of the pressurized gas in the first integrated channel. | 08-27-2015 |
20150239937 | PROLINE-LOCKED STAPLED PEPTIDES AND USES THEREOF - The present invention provides a new type of alpha-helix nucleating cross-link (“staple”) formed by olefin metathesis of a proline derivative with an alkenyl side chain and another amino acid derivative with an alkenyl side chain. The proline derivatives as described herein have been found to be strong nucleators of alpha-helix formation. The invention also provides moieties for shielding the free amide N—H's at the N-terminus of an alpha-helix, thereby further stabilizing the helix. The proline derivatives, precursors prior to cross-linking, and the cross-linked peptides are provided as well as methods of using and preparing these compounds and peptides. | 08-27-2015 |
20150234908 | TECHNIQUES FOR DATA SYNCHRONIZATION USING COMPRESSIVE SENSING - Techniques for data synchronization between a first computing device coupled to at least one memory storing current data and a second computing device coupled to at least a second memory storing first encoded data and a copy of prior data. The first device may perform a method comprising: encoding the current data using a compressive sensing encoding technique to obtain second encoded data; and transmitting the second encoded data to the second computing device. The second device may perform a method comprising receiving second encoded data from the first computing device; decoding the second encoded data using a compressive sensing decoding technique to obtain decoded data; and obtaining a copy of the current data by using the decoded data and the copy of prior data. | 08-20-2015 |
20150233901 | FLUID DELIVERY SYSTEM AND METHOD - A method and apparatus for delivering one or more fluids. Fluids may be delivered from a common vessel to a chemical, biological or biochemical process. | 08-20-2015 |
20150225471 | STABILIZED POLYPEPTIDE INSULIN RECEPTOR MODULATORS - Provided herein are stapled or stitched polypeptides comprising an alpha-helical segment, wherein the polypeptide binds to the insulin receptor, and wherein the polypeptide comprises at least two cross-linked amino acids as shown in Formula (iii), or at least three cross-linked amino acids as shown in Formula (iv). Further provided are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the stapled or stitched polypeptides, methods of use, e.g., methods of treating a diabetic condition or complications thereof. Precursor “unstapled” polypeptides useful in the preparation of stapled and stitched polypeptides are also described. | 08-13-2015 |
20150223679 | BLUE LIGHT-ACTIVATED ION CHANNEL MOLECULES AND USES THEREOF - The invention, in some aspects relates to light-activated ion channel polypeptides and encoding nucleic acids and also relates in part to compositions comprising light-activated ion channel polypeptides and methods using light-activated ion channel polypeptides to alter cell activity and function. | 08-13-2015 |
20150218204 | SELF-ASSEMBLY OF NUCLEIC ACID NANOSTRUCTURES - The invention involves the synthesis of nucleic acid structures of controlled size and shape and comprised of a plurality of oligonucleotides. The structures are formed, at least in part, by the self-assembly of single-stranded oligonucleotides. The location of each oligonucleotide in the resultant structure is known. Accordingly, the structures may be modified with specificity. | 08-06-2015 |
20150214261 | MULTISPECTRAL IMAGING USING SILICON NANOWIRES - An optical apparatus, including an optical filter comprising an array of nanowires oriented perpendicular to a light incidence surface of the filter, wherein the optical filter transmits light at a first wavelength that is incident on the incidence surface, wherein the first wavelength is based on a cross-sectional shape of the nanowires. The nanowires are created using a single lithography step. An imaging device and a method of fabricating the same, the device including an array of nanowires formed on a substrate, wherein at least one nanowire in the array of nanowires includes a photoelectric element to produce a photocurrent based, at least in part, on incident photons absorbed by the at least one nanowire. | 07-30-2015 |
20150212169 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SAMPLE TEMPERATURE CONTROL IN NMR SPECTROMETERS - Described are methods and apparatus, referred to as “temperature-lock,” which can control and stabilize the sample temperature in an NMR spectrometer, in some instances with a precision and an accuracy of below about 0.1 K. In conventional setups, sample heating caused by experiments with high-power radio frequency pulses is not readily detected and is corrected by a cumbersome manual procedure. In contrast, the temperature-lock disclosed herein automatically maintains the sample at the same reference temperature over the course of different NMR experiments. The temperature-lock can work by continuous or non-continuous measurement of the resonance frequency of a suitable temperature-lock nucleus and simultaneous adaptation of a temperature control signal to stabilize the sample at a reference temperature value. Inter-scan periods with variable length can be used to maintain the sample at thermal equilibrium over the full length of an experiment. | 07-30-2015 |
20150212039 | NANOSCALE FIELD-EFFECT TRANSISTORS FOR BIOMOLECULAR SENSORS AND OTHER APPLICATIONS - The present invention generally relates to nanoscale wires, including to nanoscale wires used as sensors. In some cases, the nanoscale wires may be used to directly determine analytes, even within relatively complicated environments such as blood, unlike many prior art techniques. In some aspects, the nanoscale wire form at least a portion of the gate of a field-effect transistor, and in certain aspects, different periodically-varying voltages or other electrical signals may be applied to the field-effect transistor. For example, in one set of embodiments, sinusoidally—varying voltages of different frequencies may be applied to the nanoscale wire and the source electrode of the field-effect transistor. The electrical conductance or other properties of the nanoscale wire in response to the periodically-varying voltages may then be determined and used to determine binding of the species. | 07-30-2015 |
20150209783 | REMOVING BUBBLES IN MICROFLUIDIC SYSTEMS - A microfluidic system includes a microfluidic device connected to a bubble trap device whereby fluid flowing to the microfluidic device passes through the bubble trap device to remove gas bubbles prior to entering the microfluidic device. The bubble trap can include a separation chamber and an exhaust chamber separated by a hydrophobic porous membrane and gas bubbles in the fluid entering the separation chamber pass through the hydrophobic porous membrane into the exhaust chamber while the fluid remains in the separation chamber. The bubble trap can be formed by bonding a first body portion to a first side of the hydrophobic porous membrane and bonding a second body portion to a second side of the hydrophobic porous membrane. The exhaust chamber can be connected to an elongated exhaust channel that limits the evaporation losses of the fluid through the hydrophobic porous membrane. | 07-30-2015 |
20150197571 | Single Agent Anti-PD-L1 and PD-L2 Dual Binding Antibodies and Methods of Use - The present invention is based, in part, on the identification of novel antibodies that have binding affinity for both PD-L1 and PD-L2 and methods of using same. In one aspect, an isolated monoclonal antibody, or antigen-binding fragment thereof, which specifically binds both PD-L1 and PD-L2, is provided. In one embodiment, both PD-L1 and PD-L2 are human PD-L1 and human PD-L2. | 07-16-2015 |
20150188176 | Solid Oxide Fuel Cell With Reinforced Electrolyte Membrane - A solid oxide fuel cell has a reinforced membrane-electrode assembly. The solid oxide fuel cell includes a first electrode layer, a second electrode layer, and an electrolyte membrane disposed between the first and second electrode layers. The solid oxide fuel cell further includes a gas-permeable structure adjacent to one or both of the electrode layers, for mechanical stabilization. | 07-02-2015 |
20150187134 | ARTICULATED CHARACTER FABRICATION - Fabrication of a posable physical embodiment from an articulated deformable model is made possible by first transforming a deformable surface volumetric model to a segmented, rigid volume model including identifying a plurality of rigid, linked segments. The rigid volume model approximates the deformable surface volumetric model. Linkage structures (i.e., hinges, ball joints) coupling pairs of the rigid, linked segments are then automatically determined. | 07-02-2015 |
20150182679 | TISSUE-ENGINEERED PUMPS AND VALVES AND USES THEREOF - The present invention provides tissue-engineered pumps and valves, methods of fabricating such pumps and valves, and methods of use of such pumps and valves. | 07-02-2015 |
20150173883 | MODIFICATION OF SURFACES FOR SIMULTANEOUS REPELLENCY AND TARGETED BINDING OF DESIRED MOIETIES - Articles, methods of making, and uses for modifying surfaces for simultaneously providing repellency and selective binding of desired moieties are disclosed. The repellant surfaces comprise a substrate and a lubricating layer immobilized over the substrate surface having a lubricating liquid having an affinity with the substrate. The substrate and the lubricating liquid are attracted to each other together by non-covalent attractive forces. The repellent surface further includes a binding group extending over the surface of the lubricating layer and the binding group has an affinity with a target moiety. The lubricating layer and the substrate form a slippery or repellent surface configured and arranged for contact with a material that is immiscible with the lubricating liquid and the immiscible material contains the target moiety. | 06-25-2015 |
20150161516 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING MODE OF MOTION WITH PRINCIPAL COMPONENT ANALYSIS AND HIDDEN MARKOV MODEL - A method, computer-readable storage device and apparatus for determining a mode of motion are disclosed. For example, a method receives training data comprising gait information associated with a plurality of different modes of motion. The method performs principal component analysis on the training data to extract principal components from the training data and generates a hidden markov model for each of a plurality of different modes of motion based upon the training data. The method receives testing data comprising gait information, transforms the testing data based upon the principal components and calculates a likelihood of the testing data based upon each hidden markov model for each of the plurality of different modes of motion. The method determines the mode of motion of the testing data, where the mode of motion is one of the plurality of different modes of motion for which a highest likelihood is calculated. | 06-11-2015 |
20150161511 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USING GAIT ANALYSIS TO DETERMINE A HEALTH QUALITY MEASURE - A method, computer-readable storage device and apparatus for calculating a health quality measure are disclosed. For example, a method receives characteristics of motion information, wherein the characteristics of motion information is based upon gait information, monitors the characteristics of motion information over a time period to determine a plurality of different modes of motion within the time period, and calculates the health quality measure based upon the plurality of different modes of motion. | 06-11-2015 |
20150158911 | PIGMENT STRUCTURES, PIGMENT GRANULES, PIGMENT PROTEINS, AND USES THEREOF - The present invention is based, at least in part, on the isolation of intact pigment granules from the brown chromatophores in the skin of the cuttlefish, | 06-11-2015 |
20150157279 | METHOD, COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE DEVICE AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING AMBIENT AUGMENTED REMOTE MONITORING - A method, computer-readable storage device, and an apparatus for processing an alert are disclosed. For example, the method receives the alert reporting a physiological condition for a individual, analyzes the physiological condition of the individual in view of ambient information in a vicinity of the individual, generates a report in accordance with the analyzing, and sends the report to a recipient. | 06-11-2015 |
20150157274 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING DISEASE REGRESSION THROUGH NETWORK-BASED GAIT ANALYSIS - A method, computer-readable storage device and apparatus for determining a regression of a medical condition are disclosed. For example, a method receives characteristics of motion information, wherein the characteristics of motion information is based upon gait information, compares the characteristics of motion information over a time period to a profile of the medical condition, wherein the profile of the medical condition comprises a plurality of signatures associated with different stages of the medical condition, determines a potential presence of the regression of the medical condition when the characteristics of motion information matches one of the plurality of signatures, and transmits a notification of the potential presence of the regression of the medical condition. | 06-11-2015 |
20150152491 | COMPOSITIONS OF TOEHOLD PRIMER DUPLEXES AND METHODS OF USE - Provided herein are primers and primer systems having improved specificity and kinetics over existing primers, and methods of use thereof. | 06-04-2015 |
20150147276 | NANOTHERAPEUTICS FOR DRUG TARGETING - The invention provides compositions and methods for targeted controlled drug release. The compositions and methods can be used for treating or imaging vascular stenosis, stenotic lesions, occluded lumens, embolic phenomena, thrombotic disorders and internal hemorrhage. | 05-28-2015 |
20150137502 | Anti-Counterfeiting Methods - A document and an Anti-counterfeiting method for use in such documents are described. Said document and Anti-counterfeiting method include introducing a plurality of raised nanoscopic to microscopic structures, here referred to as reconfigurable structures, formed over a polymer substrate to induce optical changes, such as structural color and/or optical fuzziness. Dynamic changes using liquids provide the anti-counterfeiting measures. | 05-21-2015 |
20150133396 | COMPOSITIONS FOR TREATING OR PREVENTING OBESITY AND INSULIN RESISTANCE DISORDERS - Provided herein are methods and compositions for modulating the activity or level of a sirtuin, thereby treating or preventing obesity or an insulin resistance disorder, such as diabetes in a subject. Exemplary methods comprise contacting a cell with a sirtuin activating compound or an inhibitory compound to thereby increase or decrease fat accumulation, respectively. | 05-14-2015 |
20150126377 | SELECTION OF NUCLEIC ACIDS BY SOLUTION HYBRIDIZATION TO OLIGONUCLEOTIDE BAITS - Methods of selection of nucleic acids using solution hybridization, methods of sequencing nucleic acids including such selection methods, and products for use in the methods are disclosed. | 05-07-2015 |
20150119551 | STABILIZED P53 PEPTIDES AND USES THEREOF - Cross-linked peptides related to human p53 and bind to HMD2 or a family member of HDM2 useful for promoting apoptosis, e.g., in the treatment of and identifying therapeutic agents that binding to HMD2 or a family member of HDM2. | 04-30-2015 |
20150118216 | DELIVERY OF NEGATIVELY CHARGED PROTEINS USING CATIONIC LIPIDS - Compositions, methods, strategies, kits, and systems for the delivery of negatively charged proteins, protein complexes, and fusion proteins, using cationic polymers or lipids are provided. Delivery of proteins into cells can be effected in vivo, ex vivo, or in vitro. Proteins that can be delivered using the compositions, methods, strategies, kits, and systems provided herein include, without limitation, enzymes, transcription factors, genome editing proteins, Cas9 proteins, TALEs, TALENs, nucleases, binding proteins (e.g., ligands, receptors, antibodies, antibody fragments; nucleic acid binding proteins, etc.), structural proteins, and therapeutic proteins (e.g., tumor suppressor proteins, therapeutic enzymes, growth factors, growth factor receptors, transcription factors, proteases, etc.), as well as variants and fusions of such proteins. | 04-30-2015 |
20150111921 | CORTISTATIN ANALOGUES AND SYNTHESES THEROF - The present invention relates to analogs of cortistatin A, J, K, and L, having the general formula: I and salts thereof, wherein R | 04-23-2015 |
20150093823 | Environmentally Responsive Microstructured Hybrid Actuator Assemblies For Use in Mechanical Stimulation of Cells - A method for mechanical stimulation of cells includes providing a substrate comprising a plurality of microactuators embedded in an environmentally responsive hydrogel polymer layer disposed on a region of the surface; adhering at least one cell to the substrate; and exposing the environmentally responsive hydrogel polymer layer to a stimulus, the stimulus changing a volume of the environmentally responsive hydrogel polymer layer from a first volume to a second volume and thereby moving the microactuators from a first position to a second position, wherein the movement of the microactuators provides localized mechanical force directly to cells on the substrate. | 04-02-2015 |
20150088043 | ACTIVELY CONTROLLED WEARABLE ORTHOTIC DEVICES AND ACTIVE MODULAR ELASTOMER SLEEVE FOR WEARABLE ORTHOTIC DEVICES - A flexible orthotic device includes two or more active components embedded in a sheet material. Each active component can include a controller and one or more actuation elements controlled by the controller. The two or more active components can communicate with each other and cause the active components to contract and dynamically change the structural characteristics of the orthotic device. By coordinating the motion of two or more active components, the flexible orthotic device can be programmed to assist or resist the motion of a subject wearing the device. The orthotic device can be effectively employed to provide locomotion assistance, gait rehabilitation, and gait training. Similarly, the orthotic device may be applied to the wrist, elbow, torso, or any other body part. The active components may be actuated to effectively transmit force to a body part, such as a limb, to assist with movement when desired. Additionally or alternatively, the active components may also be actuated to provide support of varying rigidity for the corresponding body part. The active components can be actuated to provide specialized learning tasks to enhance exploratory learning. | 03-26-2015 |
20150079618 | METHODS AND COMPOUNDS FOR IDENTIFYING GLYCOSYLTRANSFERASE INHIBITORS - The present invention provides moenomycin-based probe compounds of Formula (I) for use in screening inhibitors of bacterial glycosyltransferases. The present invention also provides bacterial glycosyltransferase screening assays using compounds of Formula (I). | 03-19-2015 |
20150071906 | DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR FUNCTIONAL NUCLEASES - Compositions, methods, strategies, kits, and systems for the supercharged protein-mediated delivery of functional effector proteins into cells in vivo, ex vivo, or in vitro are provided. Compositions, methods, strategies, kits, and systems for delivery of funcational effector proteins using cationic lipids and cationic polymers are also provided. Functional effector proteins include, without limitation, transcriptional modulators (e.g., repressors or activators), recombinases, nucleases (e.g., RNA-programmable nucleases, such as Cas9 proteins; TALE nuclease, and zinc finger nucleases), deaminases, and other gene modifying/editing enzymes. Functional effector proteins include TALE effector proteins, e.g., TALE transcriptional activators and repressors, as well as TALE nucleases. Compositions, methods, strategies, and systems for the delivery of functional effector proteins into cells is useful for therapeutic and research purposes, including, but not limited to, the targeted manipulation of a gene associated with disease, the modulation of the expression level of a gene associated with disease, and the programming of cell fate. | 03-12-2015 |
20150071903 | USE OF CATIONIC LIPIDS TO DELIVER CAS9 - Compositions, methods, strategies, kits, and systems for the supercharged protein-mediated delivery of functional effector proteins into cells in vivo, ex vivo, or in vitro are provided. Compositions, methods, strategies, kits, and systems for delivery of functional effector proteins using cationic lipids and cationic polymers are also provided. Functional effector proteins include, without limitation, transcriptional modulators (e.g., repressors or activators), recombinases, nucleases (e.g., RNA-programmable nucleases, such as Cas9 proteins; TALE nuclease, and zinc finger nucleases), deaminases, and other gene modifying/editing enzymes. Functional effector proteins include TALE effector proteins, e.g., TALE transcriptional activators and repressors, as well as TALE nucleases. Compositions, methods, strategies, and systems for the delivery of functional effector proteins into cells is useful for therapeutic and research purposes, including, but not limited to, the targeted manipulation of a gene associated with disease, the modulation of the expression level of a gene associated with disease, and the programming of cell fate. | 03-12-2015 |
20150071902 | Extended DNA-Sensing GRNAS - Some aspects of this disclosure provide compositions, methods, systems, and kits for controlling the activity and/or improving the specificity of RNA-programmable endonucleases, such as Cas9. For example, provided are guide RNAs (gRNAs) that are engineered to exist in an “on” or “off” state, which control the binding and hence cleavage activity of RNA-programmable endonucleases. Some aspects of this disclosure provide gRNAs that modulate the activity of an RNA-programmable endonuclease based on the presence or absence of an extended DNA (xDNA). | 03-12-2015 |
20150071901 | mRNA-Sensing Switchable gRNAs - Some aspects of this disclosure provide compositions, methods, systems, and kits for controlling the activity and/or improving the specificity of RNA-programmable endonucleases, such as Cas9. For example, provided are guide RNAs (gRNAs) that are engineered to exist in an “on” or “off” state, which control the binding and hence cleavage activity of RNA-programmable endonucleases. Some aspects of this disclosure provide mRNA-sensing gRNAs that modulate the activity of RNA-programmable endonucleases based on the presence or absence of a target mRNA. | 03-12-2015 |
20150071900 | SWITCHABLE GRNAS COMPRISING APTAMERS - Some aspects of this disclosure provide compositions, methods, systems, and kits for controlling the activity and/or improving the specificity of RNA-programmable endonucleases, such as Cas9. For example, provided are guide RNAs (gRNAs) that are engineered to exist in an “on” or “off” state, which control the binding and hence cleavage activity of RNA-programmable endonucleases. | 03-12-2015 |
20150071899 | CAS9-FOKI FUSION PROTEINS AND USES THEREOF - Some aspects of this disclosure provide compositions, methods, and kits for improving the specificity of RNA-programmable endonucleases, such as Cas9. Also provided are variants of Cas9, e.g., Cas9 dimers and fusion proteins, engineered to have improved specificity for cleaving nucleic acid targets. Also provided are compositions, methods, and kits for site-specific nucleic acid modification using Cas9 fusion proteins (e.g., nuclease-inactivated Cas9 fused to a nuclease catalytic domain). Such Cas9 variants are useful in clinical and research settings involving site-specific modification of DNA, for example, genomic modifications. | 03-12-2015 |
20150071898 | CAS9-RECOMBINASE FUSION PROTEINS AND USES THEREOF - Some aspects of this disclosure provide compositions, methods, and kits for improving the specificity of RNA-programmable endonucleases, such as Cas9. Also provided are variants of Cas9, e.g., Cas9 dimers and fusion proteins, engineered to have improved specificity for cleaving nucleic acid targets. Also provided are compositions, methods, and kits for site-specific recombination, using Cas9 fusion proteins (e.g., nuclease-inactivated Cas9 fused to a recombinase catalytic domain). Such Cas9 variants are useful in clinical and research settings involving site-specific modification of DNA, for example, genomic modifications. | 03-12-2015 |
20150064233 | LIPID-COATED NUCLEIC ACID NANOSTRUCTURES OF DEFINED SHAPE - The invention provides nanoparticles containing a nucleic acid nanostructure, of defined shape and size, linked to a hydrophobic moiety and coated by lipids, compositions comprising the nanoparticles, and methods of producing and methods of using the nanoparticles. | 03-05-2015 |
20150060277 | Nanopore Control With Pressure and Voltage - There is provided a nanopore system including a nanopore in a support structure. A first reservoir is in fluidic connection with the nanopore and a second reservoir is in fluidic connection with the nanopore. The support structure separates the first and second reservoirs. A pressure source is connected to one of the first and second reservoirs to apply an external pressure to one of the first and second reservoirs. A voltage source is connected between the first and second reservoirs to apply a voltage bias between the first and second reservoirs, across the nanopore. This system enables a method for analysis of species in solution, wherein there is provided to the nanopore a fluidic solution that includes a species for translocation through the nanopore, with an external pressure applied to the species in fluidic solution and a voltage bias applied across the nanopore. | 03-05-2015 |
20150060276 | Nanopore Control With Pressure and Voltage - There is provided a nanopore system including a nanopore in a solid state membrane. A first reservoir is in fluidic connection with the nanopore, the first reservoir being configured to provide, to the nanopore, nucleic acid molecules in an electrolytic solution. A second reservoir is in fluidic connection with the nanopore, with the nanopore membrane separating the first and second reservoirs. A pressure source is connected to the first reservoir to apply an external pressure to the first reservoir to cause nanopore translocation of nucleic acid molecules in the solution in the first reservoir. A voltage source is connected between the second and first reservoirs, across the nanopore, with a voltage bias polarity that applies an electric field counter to the externally applied pressure. Force of the externally applied pressure is greater than force of the electric field during nanopore translocation by the nucleic acid molecules. | 03-05-2015 |
20150060190 | REDUCING NOISE AND TEMPERATURE DURING MEASUREMENTS IN CRYOSTATS - A device is disclosed to reduce noise and temperature during measurements in cryostats comprising, the device comprising any of, or a combination of, the following PC boards, each conditioning a different frequency range: a RC-PC board having a two-stage RC filter in series with a surface-mounted pi-filter; a RF-PC board having a plurality of surface-mounted pi-filters in series, each configured with different low-frequency cutoff frequencies; and a Sapphire-PC board having a sapphire substrate having high heat conductivity at low temperature with thin metal films routed in a meandering fashion. | 03-05-2015 |
20150057297 | HALOFUGINOL DERIVATIVES AND THEIR USE IN COSMETIC AND PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOSITIONS - The present invention provides halofuginol, and derivatives and salts thereof, including diasteromerically enriched compositions thereof. The invention also provides pharmaceutical and cosmetic compositions thereof as well as methods for using halofuginol and derivatives thereof in treating chronic inflammatory diseases, autoimmune diseases, dry eye syndrome, fibrosis, scar formation, angiogenesis, viral infections, malaria, ischemic damage, transplant rejection, neurodegenerative diseases, T-cell neoplasms, and cosmetic conditions. | 02-26-2015 |
20150056177 | ENGINEERED TRANSCRIPTION ACTIVATOR-LIKE EFFECTOR (TALE) DOMAINS AND USES THEREOF - Engineered transcriptional activator-like effectors (TALEs) are versatile tools for genome manipulation with applications in research and clinical contexts. One current drawback of TALEs is their tendency to bind and cleave off-target sequence, which hampers their clinical application and renders applications requiring high-fidelity binding unfeasible. This disclosure provides engineered TALE domains and TALEs comprising such engineered domains, e.g., TALE nucleases (TALENs), TALE transcriptional activators, TALE transcriptional repressors, and TALE epigenetic modification enzymes, with improved specificity and methods for generating and using such TALEs. | 02-26-2015 |
20150048822 | Dynamic Decoupling In Solid State Spin Ensembles - Long spin coherence lifetimes are realized for ensembles of electronic spin impurities in solid state spin systems, for example NV color centers in diamond, by using spin-control RF pulse sequences to provide dynamic decoupling of the ensembles of spin impurities from environmental sources of decoherence such as dipolar and hyperfine interactions with proximal spin and other paramagnetic impurities in diamond. In this way, the measurement sensitivity of the coherent evolution of ensembles of solid state spin impurities are increased. Using the Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG) pulse sequence, the spin coherence lifetimes of NV ensembles can be extended to more than 2 ms in room temperature diamond, and sensitivity of magnetometry that uses NV ensembles can be increased. | 02-19-2015 |
20150044750 | MICROFLUIDIC VORTEX-ASSISTED ELECTROPORATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system and method include delivering cells of interest to multiple traps via a channel connecting the traps, maintaining a vortex flow in the traps to trap the cells of interest in the traps, providing first molecules of interest to the traps, and providing an electric field across the traps to perform electroporation of the first molecules of interest into the cells of interest in the traps. | 02-12-2015 |
20150044192 | METHODS FOR IDENTIFYING A TARGET SITE OF A CAS9 NUCLEASE - Some aspects of this disclosure provide strategies, methods, and reagents for selecting a site-specific endonuclease based on determining its target site preferences and specificity. Methods and reagents for determining target site preference and specificity are also provided. | 02-12-2015 |
20150044191 | METHODS FOR IDENTIFYING A TARGET SITE OF A CAS9 NUCLEASE - Some aspects of this disclosure provide strategies, methods, and reagents for determining nuclease target site preferences and specificity of site-specific endonucleases. Some methods provided herein utilize a novel “one-cut” strategy for screening a library of concatemers comprising repeat units of candidate nuclease target sites and constant insert regions to identify library members that can been cut by a nuclease of interest via sequencing of an intact target site adjacent and identical to a cut target site. | 02-12-2015 |
20150042331 | Nuclear Singlet States as a Contrast Mechanism for NMR Spectroscopy - Methods and systems for Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectra of complex chemical mixtures are described. The methods and systems allow undesired NMR spectral background to be removed or suppressed and target spectral peaks to be uncovered, for example, when strong background signals overlap weaker peaks. In some embodiments, the methods and systems employ a quantum filter utilizing nuclear spin singlet states. | 02-12-2015 |
20150037421 | ARRDC1-MEDIATED MICROVESICLES (ARMMS) AND USES THEREOF - The invention provide isolated arrestin domain-containing protein 1 (ARRDC1)-mediated micro vesicles (ARMMs). Methods for generating and for isolating ARMMs are also provided herein. ARMMs can be used to deliver agents, for example, nucleic acids (e.g., siRNAs, microRNAs, lincRNAs), proteins (e.g., transcription factors, chromatin modulators, kinases, phosphorylases, or recombinases), or small molecules to target cells in vitro and in vivo, and methods for such ARMM-mediated delivery are provided herein. Diagnostic and therapeutic methods using ARMMs are also described herein. | 02-05-2015 |
20150030560 | TREATMENT OF AUTOIMMUNE CONDITIONS WITH COPOLYMER 1 AND RELATED COPOLYMERS - The present invention is directed to polypeptides containing at least three amino acids randomly joined in a linear array; wherein at least one of the three amino acids is an aromatic amino acid, at least one of the three amino acids is a charged amino acid and at least one amino acid is an aliphatic amino acid. In a preferred embodiment the polypeptide contains three or four of the following amino acids: tyrosine, alanine, glutamic acid or lysine. According to the present invention, the present polypeptides bind to antigen presenting cells, purified human lymphocyte antigens (HLA) and/or Copolymer 1-specific T cells. Moreover, according to the present invention, these polypeptides can be formulated into pharmaceutical compositions for treating autoimmune disease. The present invention further contemplates methods of treating an autoimmune disease in a mammal by administering a pharmaceutically effective amount of any one of the present polypeptides to the mammal. | 01-29-2015 |
20150024972 | SELECTIVE NUCLEIC ACID AMPLIFICATION FROM NUCLEIC ACID POOLS - Provided herein are nucleic acids and methods for selectively amplifying in parallel tens of thousands of high quality oligonucleotides without common sequences. The resultant oligonucleotides can be used for a variety of purposes and applications including but not limited to DNA nano structure synthesis. | 01-22-2015 |
20150024026 | Scaffolds For Cell Transplantation - A device that includes a scaffold composition and a bioactive composition with the bioactive composition being incorporated into or coated onto the scaffold composition such that the scaffold composition and/or a bioactive composition controls egress of a resident cell or progeny thereof. The devices mediate active recruitment, modification, and release of host cells from the material. | 01-22-2015 |
20150023927 | CONVERSION OF SOMATIC CELLS INTO FUNCTIONAL SPINAL MOTOR NEURONS, AND METHODS AND USES THEREOF - The present invention provides methods of transdifferentiation of somatic cells, for example, directly converting a somatic cell of a first cell type, e.g., a fibroblast into a somatic cell of a second cell type, are described herein. In particular, the present invention generally relates to methods for converting a somatic cell, e.g., a fibroblast into a motor neuron, e.g., an induced motor neuron (iMN) with characteristics of a typical motor neuron. The present invention also relates to an isolated population comprising induced motor neurons (iMNs), compositions and their use in the treatment of motor neuron diseases such as ALS and SMA. In particular, the present invention relates to direct conversion of a somatic cell to an induced motor neuron (iMN) having motor neuron characteristics by increasing the protein expression of at least three motor-neuron inducing (MN-inducing) factors selected from Lhx3, Ascl1, Brn2, Myt1l, Isl1, Hb9, Ngn2 or NeuroD1 in a somatic cell, e.g., a fibroblast to convert the fibroblast to an induced motor neuron (iMN) which exhibits at least two characteristics of an endogenous motor neuron. | 01-22-2015 |
20150010526 | EVALUATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF NUCLEASE CLEAVAGE SPECIFICITY - Engineered nucleases (e.g., zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs), transcriptional activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs), and others) are promising tools for genome manipulation and determining off-target cleavage sites of these enzymes is of great interest. We developed an in vitro selection method that interrogates 10 | 01-08-2015 |
20150009746 | Solid-State Quantum Memory Based on a Nuclear Spin Coupled to an Electronic Spin - A system comprising a solid state lattice containing an electronic spin coupled to a nuclear spin; an optical excitation configuration which is arranged to generate first optical radiation to excite the electronic spin to emit output optical radiation without decoupling the electronic and nuclear spins; wherein the optical excitation configuration is further arranged to generate second optical radiation of higher power than the first optical radiation to decouple the electronic spin from the nuclear spin thereby increasing coherence time of the nuclear spin; a first pulse source configured to generate radio frequency (RF) excitation pulse sequences to manipulate the nuclear spin and to dynamically decouple the nuclear spin from one or more spin impurities in the solid state lattice so as to further increase the coherence time of the nuclear spin; a second pulse source configured to generate microwave excitation pulse sequences to manipulate the electronic spin causing a change in intensity of the output optical radiation correlated with the electronic spin and with the nuclear spin via the coupling between the electronic spin and the nuclear spin; and a detector configured to detect the output optical radiation correlated with the electronic spin and the nuclear spin so as to detect a nuclear spin state of the nuclear spin. | 01-08-2015 |
20140375417 | ELECTRICALLY-DRIVEN PHASE TRANSITIONS IN FUNCTIONAL OXIDE HETEROSTRUCTURES - A tunable resistance system includes a layer of a first functional material deposited on a component of the system. The first functional material undergoes a phase transition at a first critical voltage. An insulating layer is deposited upon the layer of first functional material. A layer of a second functional material deposited on the insulating layer. The second functional material undergoes a phase transition at a second critical voltage. The insulating layer is configured to induce a stress on the layer so as to change the first critical voltage. In this way, the resistance of the system is tunable, allowing the system to undergo multi-stage electrical switching of resistive states. | 12-25-2014 |
20140372342 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATED MARKET MAKING - Method and systems for design and operation of a prediction market. A plurality of security bundles and a plurality of payoff vectors may be defined, such that each payoff vector in the plurality of payoff vectors is associated with at least one outcome in a plurality of outcomes. A prediction market engine may be provided for determining a price for each security bundle in the plurality of security bundles by using at least one processor to minimize a convex function over a convex set comprising a convex hull of the plurality of payoff vectors. | 12-18-2014 |
20140369954 | D, L-CYCLIC PEPTIDE NANOTUBE REINFORCING AGENTS - The disclosed subject matter can provide a nanotube-reinforced polymer composite material comprising a plurality of nanotubes, each nanotube being formed of a plurality of cyclic peptide molecules, disposed within a polymer matrix, such as a biodegradable polymer matrix. A cyclic polymer, such as a cyclic 8-mer, composed of amino acid residues of alternating absolute configurations (D/L, R/S), can self-assemble into nanotubes useful for preparation of the composite polymer material of the invention. For example, the cyclic peptide (QL)4, wherein the glutamine and leucine residues are of opposite absolute configuration, self-assembles into nanotubes, which when formed into a reinforced polymer composite including poly(caprolactone), provides a biocompatible material of greater tensile strength and Young's modulus compared to the poly(caprolactone) material alone. The nanotubes can be prepared by a vapor equilibration technique or by a solvent-nonsolvent precipitation technique. The materials of the invention can be used for implants, stents and the like as well as for synthetic ligaments, tendons, cartilage, and bone for use in the living tissue of a patient in need thereof. For example, a spinal fusion cage comprising a PDLLA polymer matrix with a plurality of nanotubes of the invention can exhibit enhanced stiffness. | 12-18-2014 |
20140358831 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR BAYESIAN OPTIMIZATION USING NON-LINEAR MAPPING OF INPUT - Techniques for use in connection with performing optimization using an objective function that maps elements in a first domain to values in a range. The techniques include using at least one computer hardware processor to perform: identifying a first point at which to evaluate the objective function at least in part by using an acquisition utility function and a probabilistic model of the objective function, wherein the probabilistic model depends on a non-linear one-to-one mapping of elements in the first domain to elements in a second domain; evaluating the objective function at the identified first point to obtain a corresponding first value of the objective function; and updating the probabilistic model of the objective function using the first value to obtain an updated probabilistic model of the objective function. | 12-04-2014 |
20140358793 | Unforgeable Noise-Tolerant Quantum Tokens - A quantum ticket is defined by a unique serial number; and a set of qubits, each qubit encoding quantum information. The serial number and the set of qubits are distributed only among one or more trusted verifiers who require a tolerance fidelity F | 12-04-2014 |
20140355101 | PIXEL DEVICE AND DISPLAY USING LIQUID INK AND ELASTOMERS - A pixel device using optically active fluid contained within elastomeric materials and actuated through dielectric elastomer membrane is disclosed. The underlying mechanism of optical contrast in this display pixel is the spread and contraction of the fluid contained within a pre-stretched elastomer membrane and a substrate. The actuation mechanism for the fluid flow is a dielectric elastomer membrane coated with compliant electrodes on both sides. When both electrodes are connected to a voltage source, the oppositely charged electrodes attract each other, compressing the sandwiched elastomer membrane in the thickness direction but increasing its lateral dimension. Due to geometrical constraint, the change in the membrane lateral dimension results in the net volume change of the fluid reservoir, causing optically active fluid to move from the display cavity into the fluid reservoir or vice versa. The variation of the amount of fluid in the display cavity corresponds to the variation of optical properties, such as contrast and color, of the pixel device. | 12-04-2014 |
20140349938 | METHODS OF DIAGNOSING AND TREATING AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS - The invention features methods of diagnosing a subject as having, or at risk of developing ALS by determining the frequency of Gems in cells obtained from the subject. These methods include diagnosing the severity or monitoring the progression of ALS by determining the Gem frequency in a subject. Also, the invention features methods of identifying compounds useful for the treatment of ALS as well as methods for the treatment of ALS. | 11-27-2014 |
20140349870 | SELF-REGULATING CHEMO-MECHANO-CHEMICAL SYSTEMS - A chemo-mechano-chemical (C | 11-27-2014 |
20140349329 | DENSITY ANALYSIS OF ORGANISMS BY MAGNETIC LEVITATION - A device and methods for detecting the effect of compounds on an organism are provided. Furthermore, the device and methods disclosed herein allow for the fractionation of complex samples and the isolation of one or more organisms for the samples. The device and methods also allow for the study of development of the organism. | 11-27-2014 |
20140349294 | Sequencing by Structure Assembly - A method of sequencing nucleic acids is provided using sequencing by ligation and/or sequencing by hybridization. | 11-27-2014 |
20140342954 | MODIFICATION OF SURFACES FOR FLUID AND SOLID REPELLENCY - Articles, methods of making, and uses for modifying surfaces for liquid repellency are disclosed. The liquid repellant surfaces comprise a surface comprising an anchoring layer. The anchoring layer, which forms an immobilized molecular anchoring layer on the surface, has a head group that is covalently linked to, or adsorbed onto, the surface and a functional group. The functional group of the treated surface has an affinity for a lubricating layer, which is applied to the treated surface. The anchoring layer and replenishable lubricating layer are held together by non-covalent attractive forces. Together, these layers form an ultra-repellant slippery surface that repels certain immiscible liquids and prevents adsorption, coagulation, and surface fouling by components contained within. | 11-20-2014 |
20140342445 | ORGAN CHIPS AND USES THEREOF - Disclosed herein are organ chips that can be individually used or integrated together to form different microphysiological systems, e.g., for use in cell culturing, drug screening, toxicity assays, personalized therapeutic treatment, scaffolding in tissue repair and/or replacement, and/or pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamics studies. | 11-20-2014 |
20140342394 | MUSCLE CHIPS AND METHODS OF USE THEREOF - The present invention provides high throughput assays for identifying compounds that modulate a contractile function, as well as devices suitable for these assays. | 11-20-2014 |
20140335611 | COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR PROMOTING THE GENERATION OF PDX1+ PANCREATIC CELLS - Certain embodiments disclosed herein are directed to a method of producing pancreatic cells or pancreatic cell precursors by exposing human embryonic stem cells to an effective amount of at least one compound listed in Table I to differentiate the human embryonic stem cells into the pancreatic cells or the pancreatic cell precursors. Kits and pancreatic cell lines produced using the methods are also described. | 11-13-2014 |
20140335554 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR ALIQUOTTING FROZEN SAMPLES - A method of obtaining an aliquot of a frozen sample contained in a container includes moving a coring device into the sample and then withdrawing it to obtain a frozen sample core. The location from which the core is taken is selected to be at a radial position where the concentration of at least one substance of interest in the frozen sample core is representative of the overall concentration of that substance in the sample notwithstanding any concentration gradients that may exist in the frozen sample. Another method includes taking two different frozen sample cores from the same sample from radial positions selected such that the concentration of one or more substances of interest in the combined sample cores is representative of the overall concentration of said at least one substance in the sample notwithstanding any radial concentration gradients. A robotic system is programmed or hardwired to implement the methods. | 11-13-2014 |
20140330159 | QUANTITATIVE METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR NEUROLOGICAL ASSESSMENT - Typical neurological examinations focus on qualitative and subjective assessments, including obtaining a patient history, assessing the patient's cognitive status, motor and sensory skills, and cranial nerve functionality. A quantitative assessment of neurological condition includes recording a subject performing a visuomotor task and processing the performance data to determine a level of complexity in the task activity and determine a complexity index. For a sample healthy population, a baseline level of complexity and baseline complexity index can be determined. A patient's complexity index can be compared to this baseline complexity index as an indication of disease or disability. A baseline complexity index can be determined for a patient at part of a health maintenance examination and used as the baseline complexity to detect disease or disability in the future based on lower complexity index values in future examinations. | 11-06-2014 |
20140329834 | Small Molecule Inhibitors of Ebola and Lassa Fever Viruses - The present invention relates to compositions and methods for the treatment of infection by enveloped viruses, such as Ebola and Lassa fever viruses. | 11-06-2014 |
20140328999 | Dynamic and Switchable Slippery Surfaces - The present disclosure describes a strategy to create self-healing, slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces (SLIPS) that can be modified as desired. Roughened (e.g., porous) surfaces can be utilized to lock in place a lubricating fluid, referred to herein as Liquid B to repel a wide range of objects, referred to herein as Object A (Solid A or Liquid A). Use of an external stimuli or degradation of the Liquid B can be utilized to change the characteristics of SLIPS structures reversibly or irreversibly that may be desired in a number of different applications. Numerous characteristics, such as adhesion, optical, mechanical, and the like, can be dynamically changed. | 11-06-2014 |
20140326922 | SUB-DIFFRACTION LIMIT IMAGE RESOLUTION AND OTHER IMAGING TECHNIQUES - The present invention generally relates to sub-diffraction limit image resolution and other imaging techniques. In one aspect, the invention is directed to determining and/or imaging light from two or more entities separated by a distance less than the diffraction limit of the incident light. For example, the entities may be separated by a distance of less than about 1000 nm, or less than about 300 nm for visible light. In one set of embodiments, the entities may be selectively activatable, i.e., one entity can be activated to produce light, without activating other entities. A first entity may be activated and determined (e.g., by determining light emitted by the entity), then a second entity may be activated and determined. The entities may be immobilized relative to each other and/or to a common entity. The emitted light may be used to determine the positions of the first and second entities, for example, using Gaussian fitting or other mathematical techniques, and in some cases, with sub-diffraction limit resolution. The methods may thus be used, for example, to determine the locations of two or more entities immobilized relative to a common entity, for example, a surface, or a biological entity such as DNA, a protein, a cell, a tissue, etc. The entities may also be determined with respect to time, for example, to determine a time-varying reaction. Other aspects of the invention relate to systems for sub-diffraction limit image resolution, computer programs and techniques for sub-diffraction limit image resolution, methods for promoting sub-diffraction limit image resolution, methods for producing photoswitchable entities, and the like. | 11-06-2014 |
20140323489 | HYBRID NECROPTOSIS INHIBITORS - The present invention relates to heterocyclic compounds (e.g., compounds described by Formula (I)) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The invention also features pharmaceutical compositions that include these compounds and their use in therapy for treating conditions in which necroptosis is likely to play a substantial role. The heterocyclic compounds described herein can also achieve improved activity and selectivity towards RIP1 and/or RIP3. | 10-30-2014 |
20140323483 | TYPE III SECRETION INHIBITORS, ANALOGS AND USES THEREOF - The invention, in some aspects, relates to compounds and compositions useful for inhibiting Type III secretion systems in pathogenic bacteria, such as | 10-30-2014 |
20140322515 | SYSTEMS, DEVICES AND METHODS FOR FABRICATION OF POLYMERIC FIBERS - In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a method is provided for forming a micron, submicron and/or nanometer dimension polymeric fiber. The method includes providing a stationary deposit of a polymer. The method also includes contacting a surface of the polymer to impart sufficient force in order to decouple a portion of the polymer from the contact and to fling the portion of the polymer away from the contact and from the deposit of the polymer, thereby forming a micron, submicron and/or nano-meter dimension polymeric fiber. | 10-30-2014 |
20140322237 | NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASES AND METHODS OF MODELING - Disclosed are embryonic stem cells and motor neurons derived from mice carrying transgenic alleles of the normal or mutant human SOD1 gene. Also disclosed are in vitro systems employing such SOD1 transgenic motor neurons for the study of neural degenerative disease. | 10-30-2014 |
20140315781 | METHODS OF TREATING FATTY LIVER DISEASE WITH HELMINTH-DERIVED GLYCAN-CONTAINING COMPOUNDS - The present invention provides a compound comprising a helminth-derived glycan and/or glycoconjugate thereof (e.g., a compound comprising a Lewis | 10-23-2014 |
20140314865 | Vaccine Nanotechnology - The present invention provides compositions and systems for delivery of nanocarriers to cells of the immune system. The invention provides vaccine nanocarriers capable of stimulating an immune response in T cells and/or B cells, in some embodiments, comprising at least one immunomodulatory agent, and optionally comprising at last one targeting moiety and optionally at least one immunostimulatory agent. The invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising inventive vaccine nanocarriers. The present invention provides methods of designing, manufacturing, and using inventive vaccine nanocarriers and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. The invention provides methods of prophylaxis and/or treatment of diseases, disorders, and conditions comprising administering at least one inventive vaccine nanocarrier to a subject in need thereof. | 10-23-2014 |
20140306707 | Use of Nuclear Spin Impurities to Suppress Electronic Spin Fluctuations and Decoherence in Composite Solid-State Spin Systems - A solid state electronic spin system contains electronic spins disposed within a solid state lattice and coupled to an electronic spin bath and a nuclear spin bath, where the electronic spin bath composed of electronic spin impurities and the nuclear spin bath composed of nuclear spin impurities. The concentration of nuclear spin impurities in the nuclear spin bath is controlled to a value chosen so as to allow the nuclear spin impurities to effect a suppression of spin fluctuations and spin decoherence caused by the electronic spin bath. Sensing devices such as magnetic field detectors can exploit such a spin bath suppression effect, by applying optical radiation to the electronic spins for initialization and readout, and applying RF pulses to dynamically decouple the electronic spins from the electronic spin bath and the nuclear spin bath. | 10-16-2014 |
20140305799 | ELECTRONIC CONTROL OF FLUIDIC SPECIES - Various aspects of the present invention relate to the control and manipulation of fluidic species, for example, in microfluidic systems. In one aspect, the invention relates to systems and methods for making droplets of fluid surrounded by a liquid, using, for example, electric fields, mechanical alterations, the addition of an intervening fluid, etc. | 10-16-2014 |
20140304200 | ENHANCING DIAGNOSIS OF DISORDER THROUGH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND MOBILE HEALTH TECHNOLOGIES WITHOUT COMPROMISING ACCURACY - A computer system for generating a diagnostic tool by applying artificial intelligence to an instrument for diagnosis of a disorder, such as autism. For autism, the instrument can be a caregiver-directed set of questions designed for an autism classification tool or an observation of the subject in a video, video conference, or in person and associated set of questions about behavior that are designed for use in a separate autism classification tool. The computer system can have one or more processors and memory to store one or more computer programs having instructions for generating a highly statistically accurate set of diagnostic items selected from the instrument, which are tested against a first test using a technique using artificial intelligence and a second test against an independent source. Also, a computer implemented method and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium are disclosed. | 10-09-2014 |
20140303458 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INHIBITING APNEIC EVENTS - Systems and methods are disclosed to monitor physiological for the occurrence of life threatening events and to apply stimulation to prevent the occurrence of said life-threatening events. Systems and methods for applying the stimulation are also disclosed. These systems include applying the stimulation through via a mattress having a passive section and an active section, a plurality of focal stimulators, and/or an array to apply the stimulation are also disclosed. These devices include a mattress with an active region and a passive region, a stimulating array do deliver targeted stimulation, and a plurality of stimulators to apply focused stimulation. | 10-09-2014 |
20140303320 | COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR SELF-ASSEMBLY OF POLYMERS WITH COMPLEMENTARY MACROSCOPIC AND MICROSCOPIC SCALE UNITS - The invention provides compositions and methods relating to self-assembly of structures of various size and shape completxity. The composition include synthetic single-stranded polymers having a backbone and pre-determined linear arrangement of monomers. | 10-09-2014 |
20140303078 | MODULATION OF PANCREATIC BETA CELL PROLIFERATION - Work described herein provides, in one embodiment, a method for increasing proliferation or replication of pancreatic beta cells in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to said subject an effective amount of an agent that increases the level or activity of hepatocellular carcinoma-associated protein TD26 (TD26), thereby increasing proliferation or replication of pancreatic beta cells. Such an agent may function by, for example, increasing the level of active TD26 in the subject or by increasing the functional activity of TD26 in the subject. | 10-09-2014 |
20140303039 | PARTICLE-ASSISTED NUCLEIC ACID SEQUENCING - This invention generally relates to particle-assisted nucleic acid sequencing. In some embodiments, sequencing may be performed in a microfluidic device, which can offer desirable properties, for example, minimal use of reagents, facile scale-up, and/or high throughput. In one embodiment, a target nucleic acid may be exposed to particles having nucleic acid probes. By determining the binding of the particles to the target nucleic acid, the sequence of the target nucleic acid (or at least a portion of the target nucleic acid) can be determined. The target nucleic acid may be encapsulated within a fluidic droplet with the particles having nucleic acid probes, in certain instances. In some cases, the sequence of the target nucleic acid may be determined, based on binding of the particles, using sequencing by hybridization (SBH) algorithms or other known techniques. | 10-09-2014 |
20140302025 | VEGF-BINDING PROTEIN FOR BLOCKADE OF ANGIOGENESIS - Provided are chimeric VEGF-binding proteins and nucleic acids (e.g., a vector) encoding chimeric VEGF-binding proteins, methods and host cells for producing these proteins and nucleic acids, and pharmaceutical compositions containing these proteins and nucleic acids. Also provided are methods of treating an angiogenic disease or disorder that include administering at least one of the chimeric VEGF-binding proteins or at least one of the nucleic acids (e.g., a vector) encoding a chimeric VEGF-bind ing protein. | 10-09-2014 |
20140296160 | STABILIZED ALPHA HELICAL PEPTIDES AND USES THEREOF - Novel polypeptides and methods of making and using the same are described herein. The polypeptides include cross-linking (“hydrocarbon stapling”) moieties to provide a tether between two amino acid moieties, which constrains the secondary structure of the polypeptide. The polypeptides described herein can be used to treat diseases characterized by excessive or inadequate cellular death. | 10-02-2014 |
20140296087 | NUCLEIC ACID BINDING OLIGONUCLEOTIDES - The present application pertains to products and methods related to the ability of short nucleotide oligomers to bind the tertiary or globular structure of nucleic acids. This application discloses libraries of short oligomers and methods for using these libraries. | 10-02-2014 |
20140294855 | SMALL MOLECULE SCREENING FOR MOUSE SATELLITE CELL PROLIFERATION - The invention provides methods for inducing, enhancing or increasing satellite cell proliferation, and an assay for screening for a candidate compound for inducing, enhancing or increasing satellite cell proliferation. Also provided is a method for repairing or regenerating a damaged muscle tissue of a subject. | 10-02-2014 |
20140294729 | METHODS FOR IDENTIFICATION AND USE OF AGENTS TARGETING CANCER STEM CELLS - The invention relates to methods for identifying compounds and compositions that target cancer stem cells. In some aspects, the invention relates to treatment methods that use compounds and compositions that specifically target cancer stem cells for inhibiting the growth and/or survival of cancer stem cells in a subject in need thereof. Other aspects of the invention relate to the use of cancer stem cell biomarkers in the selection of a treatment for inhibiting the growth and/or survival of cancer stem cells in a subject in need thereof. | 10-02-2014 |
20140290732 | SLIPPERY SURFACES WITH HIGH PRESSURE STABILITY, OPTICAL TRANSPARENCY, AND SELF-HEALING CHARACTERISTICS - The present disclosure describes a strategy to create self-healing, slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces (SLIPS). Roughened (e.g., porous) surfaces can be utilized to lock in place a lubricating fluid, referred to herein as Liquid B to repel a wide range of materials, referred to herein as Object A (Solid A or Liquid A). SLIPS outperforms other conventional surfaces in its capability to repel various simple and complex liquids (water, hydrocarbons, crude oil and blood), maintain low-contact-angle hysteresis (<2.5°), quickly restore liquid-repellency after physical damage (within 0.1-1 s), resist ice, microorganisms and insects adhesion, and function at high pressures (up to at least 690 atm). Some exemplary application where SLIPS will be useful include energy-efficient fluid handling and transportation, optical sensing, medicine, and as self-cleaning, and anti-fouling materials operating in extreme environments. | 10-02-2014 |
20140290731 | SLIPPERY SURFACES WITH HIGH PRESSURE STABILITY, OPTICAL TRANSPARENCY, AND SELF-HEALING CHARACTERISTICS - The present disclosure describes a strategy to create self-healing, slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces (SLIPS). Roughened (e.g., porous) surfaces can be utilized to lock in place a lubricating fluid, referred to herein as Liquid B to repel a wide range of materials, referred to herein as Object A (Solid A or Liquid A). SLIPS outperforms other conventional surfaces in its capability to repel various simple and complex liquids (water, hydrocarbons, crude oil and blood), maintain low-contact-angle hysteresis (<2.5°), quickly restore liquid-repellency after physical damage (within 0.1-1 s), resist ice, microorganisms and insects adhesion, and function at high pressures (up to at least 690 atm). Some exemplary application where SLIPS will be useful include energy-efficient fluid handling and transportation, optical sensing, medicine, and as self-cleaning, and anti-fouling materials operating in extreme environments. | 10-02-2014 |
20140287944 | MARKERS FOR FUNCTIONALLY MATURE BETA-CELLS AND METHODS OF USING THE SAME - Markers for functionally mature β-cells and methods of using these markers are disclosed. | 09-25-2014 |
20140287150 | CONDENSATION ON SURFACES - A uniform external field can enhance condensation on a superhydrophobic surface. Jumping droplets on superhydrophobic surfaces accumulate a positive charge which promises the manipulation and control of jumping behavior using external electric fields. | 09-25-2014 |
20140284001 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SPRAY DRYING IN MICROFLUIDIC AND OTHER SYSTEMS - The present invention generally relates to microfluidics, and to spray drying and other drying techniques. By at least partially drying fluids within a microfluidic channel, instead of or in addition to conventional spray drying techniques, better control of the drying process can be achieved in certain aspects of the invention. In addition, various embodiments of the invention are generally directed to systems and methods for drying fluids contained within a channel such as a microfluidic channel. For example, a fluid may be partially or completely dried within a microfluidic channel, prior to being sprayed into a collection region. In some embodiments, gases such as air may be directed into a channel containing a fluid, which may facilitate drying of the fluid. In some cases, the fluid may be accelerated due to the introduction of gases into the channel, and in certain embodiments, droplets of fluid may be disrupted to form smaller droplets as a result. In certain cases, the fluids may also be dried to form supersaturated droplets. | 09-25-2014 |
20140283536 | Systems, methods, and devices for frozen sample distribution - A drilling system including a motor that produces a sonic, linear oscillatory motion is provided for removing a frozen biological sample from a stored frozen specimen and methods of use thereof without thawing the remainder of the specimen. The stator and slider assembly is operated by a servo controller which can communicate and be programmed through a port of a PC equipped with software. | 09-25-2014 |
20140275169 | Combination Therapies for Enhancing Protein Degradation - Disclosed herein are combination therapies for enhancing protein degradation. One component is an inhibitor of USP14, while the second component is an inhibitor of Hsp70. In certain embodiments, the invention relates to methods of treating or preventing a tauopathy, such as Alzheimer's disease. | 09-18-2014 |
20140273232 | ENGINEERING OF SYSTEMS, METHODS AND OPTIMIZED GUIDE COMPOSITIONS FOR SEQUENCE MANIPULATION - The invention provides for systems, methods, and compositions for manipulation of sequences and/or activities of target sequences. Provided are vectors and vector systems, some of which encode one or more components of a CRISPR complex, as well as methods for the design and use of such vectors. Also provided are methods of directing CRISPR complex formation in eukaryotic cells and methods for selecting specific cells by introducing precise mutations utilizing the CRISPR-Cas system. | 09-18-2014 |
20140271602 | NUCLEOTIDE-SPECIFIC RECOGNITION SEQUENCES FOR DESIGNER TAL EFFECTORS - The invention relates to methods of altering expression of a genomic locus of interest or specifically targeting a genomic locus of interest in an animal cell, which may involve contacting the genomic locus with a non-naturally occurring or engineered composition that includes a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) binding polypeptide having a N-terminal capping region, a DNA binding domain comprising at least five or more Transcription activator-like effector (TALE) monomers and at least one or more half-monomers specifically ordered to target the genomic locus of interest, and a C-terminal capping region, wherein the polypeptide includes at least one or more effector domains, and wherein the polypeptide is encoded by and translated from a codon optimized nucleic acid molecule so that the polypeptide preferentially binds to the DNA of the genomic locus. | 09-18-2014 |
20140262820 | Fabrication of Nanopores In Atomically-Thin Membranes By Ultra-Short Electrical Pulsing - In a method for forming nanopores, two opposing surfaces of a membrane are exposed to an electrically conducting liquid environment. A nanopore nucleation voltage pulse, having a first nucleation pulse amplitude and duration, is applied between the two membrane surfaces, through the liquid environment. After applying the nanopore nucleation voltage pulse, the electrical conductance of the membrane is measured and compared to a first prespecified electrical conductance. Then at least one additional nanopore nucleation voltage pulse is applied between the two membrane surfaces, through the liquid environment, if the measured electrical conductance is no greater than the first prespecified electrical conductance. At least one nanopore diameter tuning voltage pulse, having a tuning pulse voltage amplitude and duration, is applied between the two membrane surfaces, through the liquid environment, if the measured electrical conductance is greater than the first prespecified electrical conductance and no greater than a second prespecified electrical conductance. | 09-18-2014 |
20140260678 | TACTILE SENSOR - A tactile sensor includes a pressure transducer encapsulated in an elastic material that defines a contact surface and provides a transmission path that transmits contact forces or pressure distributions applied to the contact surface to the pressure transducer. The pressure transducer can be enclosed in a protective housing that defines a chamber around the transducer. The housing can include one or more openings that expose the chamber to the exterior pressure. The tactile sensor can be made by applying the elastic material in liquid form and exposing the housing to a vacuum that removes air inside the chamber allowing the liquid elastic material to flow into the chamber. Once cured, the elastic material defines a contact surface of the tactile sensor and serves to transfer contact forces applied to the contact surface to the transducer. | 09-18-2014 |
20140256912 | Stabilized Variant MAML Peptides and Uses Thereof - Internally cross-linked peptides derived from human MAML and derivatives thereof which exhibit affinity for the ICN1-CSL complex are described and characterized. The peptides can interfere with NOTCH signaling and are thus useful for treating various disorders, including certain cancers. | 09-11-2014 |
20140255939 | NUCLEIC ACID-BASED LINKERS FOR DETECTING AND MEASURING INTERACTIONS - The invention provides compositions comprising nucleic acid complexes for use in monitoring binding interactions and in measuring association and/or dissociation kinetics with or without force, detecting analytes, screening aptamers, and encoding/encrypting information. In some instances, the nucleic acid complexes are double-stranded nicked nucleic acids comprising a scaffold nucleic acid hybridized to one or more oligonucleotides. In some instances, a first and/or a second oligonucleotide are linked to moieties that are known to interact with each other or which are suspected of interacting with each other. | 09-11-2014 |
20140254017 | PHOTONIC BALLS CONTAINING A MICROSTRUCTURE OF CORE-SHELL PARTICLES EXHIBITING ANGULARLY-INDEPENDENT STRUCTURAL COLOR - A photonic assembly for observing a preselected color includes an assembly of colloidal particles in a continuous liquid phase, the colloidal particles comprising a core scattering center and a shell layer surrounding the core, wherein the core scattering center is selected to scatter light having a predetermined wavelength, and wherein the shell has a thickness selected to provide an overall colloidal particle size that is about the same dimension as the wavelength of preselected color to be observed. | 09-11-2014 |
20140249211 | Systemic Gene Replacement Therapy for Treatment of X-Linked MyoTubular Myopathy (XLMTM) - The present invention provides compositions and methods for treating a myopathy. In certain embodiments, the invention provides compositions and methods for treating, improving muscle function, and prolonging survival in a subject with X-linked myotubular myopathy (XLMTM). The present invention provides a method comprising systemic administration of a composition that induces the increased expression of myotubularin in the muscle of a subject. The invention provides sustained regional and global increases in muscle function. | 09-04-2014 |
20140246098 | MANIPULATION OF FLUIDS, FLUID COMPONENTS AND REACTIONS IN MICROFLUIDIC SYSTEMS - Microfluidic structures and methods for manipulating fluids, fluid components, and reactions are provided. In one aspect, such structures and methods can allow production of droplets of a precise volume, which can be stored/maintained at precise regions of the device. In another aspect, microfluidic structures and methods described herein are designed for containing and positioning components in an arrangement such that the components can be manipulated and then tracked even after manipulation. For example, cells may be constrained in an arrangement in microfluidic structures described herein to facilitate tracking during their growth and/or after they multiply. | 09-04-2014 |
20140243348 | COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR TREATING HERPES VIRUSES - Compositions and methods that are useful for the treatment of herpesvirus infection (including herpes simplex virii) are disclosed. Methods for identifying compounds useful for the treatment of herpesvirus infection are also disclosed. | 08-28-2014 |
20140242070 | FRIZZLED 2 AS A TARGET FOR THERAPEUTIC ANTIBODIES IN THE TREATMENT OF CANCER - Disclosed herein are methods of treating cancer in a subject, and methods for inhibiting growth, migration and/or invasion of a cancer cell in the subject, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of an antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof that downmodulates Fzd2. The antibody may specifically bind Fzd2, and may promote internalization of the Fzd2 receptor by the cancer cells and/or prevent ligand binding to Fzd2. Specific antibodies, and also specific portions of the Fzd2 molecule for antibody binding are disclosed. In one embodiment the antibody specifically binds to the epitope HGAEQICVGQNHSEDGAPAL (SEQ ID NO: 1). Specific cancers (e.g. late stage hepatocellular carcinoma), intended for treatment are provided, and include cancers that exhibit overexpression of Fzd2, and/or Wnt5a. | 08-28-2014 |
20140239600 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR SAFELY PENETRATING MATERIALS - The present invention is directed to a bi-stable coupling for controlling the depth of a tool insertion, such as drilling, and similar processes. The bi-stable coupling can be used to penetrate (e.g., drill or push) through a material layer of unknown thickness without plunging the tool into the adjacent layer. In accordance with the invention, in a first state, force is applied to the tool to initiate penetration and a reactive force maintains the device in the first state during penetration and when tool penetrates the material, the reactive force is diminished enabling the device to transition to a second state in which the tool becomes retracted. In medical applications, the invention allows for drilling through bone of unknown thickness without plunging into the adjacent soft tissue. | 08-28-2014 |
20140238153 | ARTIFICIAL SKIN AND ELASTIC STRAIN SENSOR - An elastic strain sensor can be incorporated into an artificial skin that can sense flexing by the underlying support structure of the skin to detect and track motion of the support structure. The unidirectional elastic strain sensor can be formed by filling two or more channels in an elastic substrate material with a conductive liquid. At the ends of the channels, a loop port connects the channels to form a serpentine channel. The channels extend along the direction of strain and the loop portions have sufficiently large cross-sectional area in the direction transverse to the direction of strain that the sensor is unidirectional. The resistance is measured at the ends of the serpentine channel and can be used to determine the strain on the sensor. Additional channels can be added to increase the sensitivity of the sensor. The sensors can be stacked on top of each other to increase the sensitivity of the sensor. In other embodiments, two sensors oriented in different directions can be stacked on top of each other and bonded together to form a bidirectional sensor. A third sensor formed by in the shape of a spiral or concentric rings can be stacked on top and used to sense contact or pressure, forming a three dimensional sensor. The three dimensional sensor can be incorporated into an artificial skin to provide advanced sensing. | 08-28-2014 |
20140236267 | PHOTOSENSITIVE CARDIAC RHYTHM MODULATION SYSTEMS - Photosensitive cardiac rhythm modulation structures and systems are described. A genetically-engineered tissue comprising a population of pacing cells expressing a photosensitive membrane transport mechanism that is responsive to light of a particular wavelength(s) combined with one or more of a light source, a power generator, and a sensor provides pacemaker and/or defibrillator function to a subject. The systems further provide in vitro model systems for electrophysiological studies. | 08-21-2014 |
20140235549 | STABILIZED POLYPEPTIDES AS REGULATORS OF RAB GTPASE FUNCTION - The present invention provides inventive polypeptides comprising a C terminal RAB binding domain (RabBD) of RAB family interacting proteins (FIPs) stabilized by peptide stapling, and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. Also provided are methods for modulating RAB function comprising contacting an inventive stapled polypeptide with a RAB protein, and methods of treatment associated with modulation of RAB activity. The present invention also provides methods of making the inventive stapled polypeptides by ring closing metathesis of unstapled polypeptide precursors. | 08-21-2014 |
20140234881 | LATERAL FLOW AND FLOW-THROUGH BIOASSAY DEVICES BASED ON PATTERNED POROUS MEDIA, METHODS OF MAKING SAME, AND METHODS OF USING SAME - Embodiments of the invention provide lateral flow and flow-through bioassay devices based on patterned porous media, methods of making same, and methods of using same. Under one aspect, an assay device includes a porous, hydrophilic medium; a fluid impervious barrier comprising polymerized photoresist, the barrier substantially permeating the thickness of the porous, hydrophilic medium and defining a boundary of an assay region within the porous, hydrophilic medium; and an assay reagent in the assay region. | 08-21-2014 |
20140234423 | PROGRAMMING OF CELLS FOR TOLEROGENIC THERAPIES - Biomaterial systems, e.g., gel scaffolds, are used in vivo to recruit immune cells and promote their activation towards a non-inflammatory phenotype, thereby leading suppression of inflammation. The compositions and methods are useful to reduce the severity of autoimmunity, chronic inflammation, allergy, and periodontal disease. | 08-21-2014 |
20140234289 | EVALUATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF NUCLEASE CLEAVAGE SPECIFICITY - Engineered nucleases (e.g., zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs), transcriptional activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs), and others) are promising tools for genome manipulation and determining off-target cleavage sites of these enzymes is of great interest. We developed an in vitro selection method that interrogates 10 | 08-21-2014 |
20140221780 | COMPLEXITY BASED METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETECTING DEPRESSION - Major depression can affect multiple physiologic systems. Analysis of signals that reflect integrated function may be useful in probing dynamical changes in this syndrome. Complex variability can be used as a marker of healthy, adaptive control mechanisms and dynamical complexity decreases with aging and disease. The heart rate (HR) dynamics in non-medicated, young to middle-aged males during an acute major depressive episode exhibit lower complexity compared with healthy counterparts. By analyzing HR time series, a neuroautonomically regulated signal, during sleep, using the multiscale entropy method, a measure of complexity of HR dynamics can be determined. The complexity of the HR dynamics is significantly lower for depressed than for non-depressed subjects for the entire night and combined sleep stages 1 and 2, providing an indication of depression. These complexity signals, individually, or in combination with the complexity of other physiologic signals, can be used to define novel dynamical biomarkers of depression. | 08-07-2014 |
20140221679 | GOLD-CATALYZED SYNTHESIS OF CARBONATES AND CARBAMATES FROM CARBON MONOXIDE - The invention provides a method for producing organic carbonates via the reaction of alcohols and carbon monoxide with oxygen adsorbed on a metallic gold or gold alloy catalyst. | 08-07-2014 |
20140221499 | NOVEL RODENT CONTROL AGENTS AND USES THEREOF - Provided herein is method for controlling a rodent. The method comprises contacting the rodent with a compound which is a ligand for an olfactory trace amine associated receptor (TAAR) or a composition comprising such a molecule. The compound can be a biogenic amine. | 08-07-2014 |
20140221319 | Small Molecule CD38 Inhibitors and Methods of Using Same - The invention provides methods and compositions for inhibiting CD 38 activity, and methods of treating or preventing various disorders associated with CD38 activity. | 08-07-2014 |
20140220655 | METHOD FOR FORMING NANOPARTICLES HAVING PREDETERMINED SHAPES - Articles and methods for forming nanostructures having unique and/or predetermined shapes are provided. The methods and articles may involve the use of nucleic acid containers as structural molds. For instance, a pre-designed nucleic acid container including a cavity may be used to control the shape-specific growth of nanoparticles. Growth of the nanoparticles within the cavities may be confined by the specific shape of the nucleic acid container. In some embodiments, the resulting nucleic acid-nanoparticle structures can be used to control the orientation and numbers of surface ligands on the surface of nanoparticles. The addressability of the surface ligands can be used to form higher ordered assemblies of the structures. | 08-07-2014 |
20140220617 | DIALYSIS LIKE THERAPEUTIC (DLT) DEVICE - A dialysis like therapeutic (DLT) device is provided. The DLT device includes at least one source channel connected at least one collection channels by one or more transfer channels. Fluid contacting surface of the channels can be an anti-fouling surface such as slippery liquid-infused porous surface (SLIPS). Fluids can be flown at high flow rates through the channels. The target components of the source fluid can be magnetic or bound to magnetic particles using an affinity molecule. A source fluid containing magnetically bound target components can be pumped through the source channel of the microfluidic device. A magnetic field gradient can be applied to the source fluid in the source channel causing the magnetically bound target components to migrate through the transfer channel into the collection channel. The collection channel can include a collection fluid to flush the target components out of the collection channel. The target components can be subsequently analyzed for detection and diagnosis. The source channel and the collection channels of the microfluidic device are analogous to the splenic arterioles and venules, respectively; the transfer channels mimic the vascular sinusoids of the spleen where opsonized particles are retained. Thus, the device acts as a dialysis like therapeutic device by combining fluidics and magnetics. | 08-07-2014 |
20140220500 | MANIPULATION OF FLAMES AND RELATED METHODS AND APPARATUS - Manipulation of flames is described using electric fields. In those instances in which electric fields are used, the electric fields may be time-varying gradient electric fields, and in some instances may be oscillating electric fields. The manipulation may include extinction, suppression, control of mixing of the flame, concentration, and/or bending, among other types. | 08-07-2014 |
20140220350 | MULTIPLE EMULSIONS AND TECHNIQUES FOR THE FORMATION OF MULTIPLE EMULSIONS - Multiple emulsions and techniques for the formation of multiple emulsions are generally described. A multiple emulsion, as used herein, describes larger droplets that contain one or more smaller droplets therein. In some embodiments, the larger droplet or droplets may be suspended in a carrying fluid containing the larger droplets that, in turn, contain the smaller droplets. As described below, multiple emulsions can be formed in one step in certain embodiments, with generally precise repeatability, and can be tailored in some embodiments to include a relatively thin layer of fluid separating two other fluids. | 08-07-2014 |
20140213778 | COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS RELATING TO NUCLEIC ACID NANO- AND MICRO-TECHNOLOGY - The invention provides nucleic acid structures of controlled size and shape, comprised of a plurality of oligonucleotides, and methods for their synthesis. The structures are formed, at least in part, by the self-assembly of single stranded oligonucleotides. The location of each oligonucleotide in the resultant structure is known. Accordingly, the structures may be modified with specificity. | 07-31-2014 |
20140213515 | MACROCYCLIC INSULIN-DEGRADING ENZYME (IDE) INHIBITORS AND USES THEREOF - Macrocyclic compounds that specifically inhibit insulin degrading enzyme (IDE) are provided. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, hydrates, stereoisomers, polymorphs, tautomers, isotopically enriched forms, and prodrugs of the macrocyclic IDE inhibitors are also described. Pharmaceutical compositions are also provided. In vivo and in vitro methods of using the IDE inhibitor, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the IDE inhibitor, for example, for the inhibition of IDE in a subject exhibiting aberrant IDE activity, impaired insulin signaling, or insulin resistance, for example, a subject having diabetes, are also provided. | 07-31-2014 |
20140212909 | Monolayer Stress Microscopy - Disclosed are systems, apparatus, devices and methods, including a method that includes determining traction forces exerted by a cellular monolayer on a substrate on which the monolayer is placed, and determining internal forces within and between cells of the monolayer based on the determined traction forces. In some embodiments, determining the internal forces of the cellular monolayer may include determining internal stresses within the cellular monolayer that act to balance the determined traction forces over at least part of the cellular monolayer. In some embodiments, determining of the internal stresses may also include setting boundary conditions at a boundary determined based on an optical field of view of an observed section of the monolayer. | 07-31-2014 |
20140208731 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ACTUATING SOFT ROBOTIC ACTUATORS - Systems and methods for providing a soft robot is provided. In one system, a robotic device includes a flexible body having a fluid chamber, where a portion of the flexible body includes an elastically extensible material and a portion of the flexible body is strain limiting relative to the elastically extensible material. The robotic device can further include a pressurizing inlet in fluid communication with the fluid chamber, and a pressurizing device in fluid communication with the pressurizing inlet, the pressurizing device including a reaction chamber configured to accommodate a gas-producing chemical reaction for providing pressurized gas to the pressurizing inlet. | 07-31-2014 |
20140206559 | ASSAY FOR METASTATIC POTENTIAL OF TUMOR CELLS - The present invention relates to methods, compositions and kits related to a novel in vitro assay for a high-capacity and high-throughput method for measuring the ability of cancer cells to migrate in a three-dimensional cellular assay. The three-dimensional cellular invasion assay provides a method for determining and quantitating the metastatic potential and invasive capacity of a cancer cell. Other aspects of the invention further relate to the use of the in vitro assay to screen for agents and compounds capable of inhibiting intravasation, and thereby modulating the metastatic potential of cancer cells. The methods, compositions and three-dimensional assay provide a highly sensitive assay system capable of mimicking the in vivo cellular and molecular interactions required for successful completion of intravasation. | 07-24-2014 |
20140202628 | Monolithic Fabrication of Three-Dimensional Structures - A multi-layer, super-planar structure can be formed from distinctly patterned layers. The layers in the structure can include at least one rigid layer and at least one flexible layer; the rigid layer includes a plurality of rigid segments, and the flexible layer can extend between the rigid segments to serve as a joint. The layers are then stacked and bonded at selected locations to form a laminate structure with inter-layer bonds, and the laminate structure is flexed at the flexible layer between rigid segments to produce an expanded three-dimensional structure, wherein the layers are joined at the selected bonding locations and separated at other locations. | 07-24-2014 |
20140200146 | Methods of Amplifying Whole Genome of a Single Cell - Methods and compositions for amplifying the whole genome of a single cell are provided. | 07-17-2014 |
20140199764 | MICROFLUIDIC MODULE AND USES THEREOF - Described herein are microfluidic modules and methods for making the same, wherein the microfluidic modules include a substrate comprising at least one ether-based, aliphatic polyurethane, and at least one fluidic element disposed therein. The ether-based aliphatic polyurethane can be either the substrate of the microfluidic modules or a coating of another substrate material, such that at least a portion of the ether-based, aliphatic polyurethane is in fluid communication. In one embodiment, the ether-based, aliphatic polyurethane includes dicyclohexylmethane-4,4′-diisocyanate. As the ether-based aliphatic polyurethane can decrease absorption of molecules, e.g., hydrophobic molecules, in such microfluidic modules, the microfluidic modules described herein can be used in various applications such as drug screening and fluorescent microscopy. | 07-17-2014 |
20140199731 | ASSAY AND OTHER REACTIONS INVOLVING DROPLETS - The present invention generally relates to droplets and/or emulsions, such as multiple emulsions. In some cases, the droplets and/or emulsions may be used in assays, and in certain embodiments, the droplet or emulsion may be hardened to form a gel. In some aspects, a heterogeneous assay can be performed using a gel. For example, a droplet may be hardened to form a gel, where the droplet contains a cell, DNA, or other suitable species. The gel may be exposed to a reactant, and the reactant may interact with the gel and/or with the cell, DNA, etc., in some fashion. For example, the reactant may diffuse through the gel, or the hardened particle may liquefy to form a liquid state, allowing the reactant to interact with the cell. As a specific example, DNA contained within a gel particle may be subjected to PCR (polymerase chain reaction) amplification, e.g., by using PCR primers able to bind to the gel as it forms. As the DNA is amplified using PCR, some of the DNA will be bound to the gel via the PCR primer. After the PCR reaction, unbound DNA may be removed from the gel, e.g., via diffusion or washing. Thus, a gel particle having bound DNA may be formed in one embodiment of the invention. | 07-17-2014 |
20140199730 | ASSAYS AND OTHER REACTIONS INVOLVING DROPLETS - The present invention generally relates to droplets and/or emulsions, such as multiple emulsions. In some cases, the droplets and/or emulsions may be used in assays, and in certain embodiments, the droplet or emulsion may be hardened to form a gel. In some aspects, a heterogeneous assay can be performed using a gel. For example, a droplet may be hardened to form a gel, where the droplet contains a cell, DNA, or other suitable species. The gel may be exposed to a reactant, and the reactant may interact with the gel and/or with the cell, DNA, etc., in some fashion. For example, the reactant may diffuse through the gel, or the hardened particle may liquefy to form a liquid state, allowing the reactant to interact with the cell. As a specific example, DNA contained within a gel particle may be subjected to PCR (polymerase chain reaction) amplification, e.g., by using PCR primers able to bind to the gel as it forms. As the DNA is amplified using PCR, some of the DNA will be bound to the gel via the PCR primer. After the PCR reaction, unbound DNA may be removed from the gel, e.g., via diffusion or washing. Thus, a gel particle having bound DNA may be formed in one embodiment of the invention. | 07-17-2014 |
20140199706 | Methods and Compositions for Enhancing Proteasome Activity - This invention relates to methods and compositions for enhancing proteasome activity in a cell. The methods and compositions for enhancing the activity of the proteasome in cells modulate the activity of Ubp6 (yeast) or Usp14 (human), an endogenous inhibitor of the proteasome. The methods and compositions partially or completely reduce the inhibitory activity of Usp14 on a proteasome, thereby specifically enhancing the protein-degradation activity of the proteasome. The invention also provides methods of screening to identify inhibitors of Ubp6, Usp14, and/or both Ubp6 and Usp14. | 07-17-2014 |
20140199284 | STRUCTURAL MUTATIONS IN TITIN CAUSE DILATED CARDIOMYOPATHY - Provided herein are diagnostic markers and methods for identifying a subject having an increased susceptibility for developing or having dilated cardiomyopathy. The method comprises determining if the subject has a mutation in the TTN nucleic as acid or titin polypeptide. Further provided herein are methods of treating subjects having or at risk of having dilated cardiomyopathy. | 07-17-2014 |
20140197831 | Absorbtion-Based Detection Of Spin Impurities In Solid-State Spin Systems - Absorption based detection of spin states of spin impurities within a solid-state spin system, such as NV centers in diamond, is implemented by measuring the absorption intensity of an optical signal applied to the spin impurities, i.e. change in intensity of the optical signal after the signal has been transmitted through the solid-state spin system. During optical excitation of the spin impurities, microwave pulses are applied to the sample at a frequency tuned to the ESR frequency. The relative populations of the spin states of the impurities, which provides information regarding variables of interest such as an external magnetic field or a quantum information protocol, is determined from the ratio of the absorption intensity of the optical signal when the microwave pulses are turned on, to the absorption intensity of the optical signal when the microwave pulses turned off. | 07-17-2014 |
20140194314 | Multi-Color Nanoscale Imaging Based On Nanoparticle Cathodoluminescence - Multi-color CL images of nanoparticle samples may be generated, by irradiating with a scanning electron beam a nanoparticle sample that containing a plurality of spectrally distinct optical emitters configured to generate CL light at respective different color channels, then detecting the CL light from the nanoparticles to generate multi-color NP-CL images of the nanoparticle sample. In some embodiments, SE (secondary electron) images of the sample may be acquire, substantially simultaneously with the acquisition of the CL images, so as to generate correlative NP-CL and SE images of the nanoparticle sample. In some embodiments, the nanoparticles may be surface-functionalized so that the nanoparticles selectively bind only to particular structures of interest. | 07-10-2014 |
20140193488 | In Situ Antigen-Generating Cancer Vaccine - The invention provides compositions and methods for utilizing scaffolds in cancer vaccines. | 07-10-2014 |
20140191752 | Spectral Decomposition Of Composite Solid State Spin Environments Through Quantum Control of Spin Impurities - Methods and systems are described for spectral decomposition of composite solid-state spin environments through quantum control of electronic spin impurities. Δ sequence of spin-control modulation pulses are applied to the electronic spin impurities in the solid-state spin systems. The spectral content of the spin bath that surrounds the electronic spin impurities within the solid-state spin system is extracted, by measuring the coherent evolution and associated decoherence of the spin impurities as a function of number of the applied modulation pulses, and the time-spacing between the pulses. Using these methods, fundamental properties of the spin environment such as the correlation times and the coupling strengths for both electronic and nuclear spins in the spin bath, can be determined. | 07-10-2014 |
20140190833 | Nanopore Sensing By Local Electrical Potential Measurement - There is provided a nanopore disposed in a support structure, with a fluidic connection between a first fluidic reservoir and an inlet to the nanopore and a second fluidic connection between a second fluidic reservoir and an outlet from the nanopore first ionic solution of a first buffer concentration is disposed in the first reservoir and a second ionic solution of a second buffer concentration, different than the first concentration, is disposed in the second reservoir, with the nanopore providing the sole path of fluidic communication between the first and second reservoirs. An electrical connection is disposed at a location in the nanopore sensor that develops an electrical signal indicative of electrical potential local to at least one site in the nanopore sensor as an object translocates through the nanopore between the two reservoirs. | 07-10-2014 |