Provided herein are methods for inkjet printing objects, including objects which may be used as elements of microfluidic devices. The microfluidic devices incorporating the elements are also provided. Such microfluidic devices include those configured to quantify the expression and activity of exosomal matrix metalloprotease, MMP14. These microfluidic devices may be used in methods of monitoring breast cancer in patients having breast cancer.

A method to recover an extracellular vesicle at a high efficiency, including (a) and (b): wherein (a) is mixing (i) an extracellular vesicle-containing sample, (ii) particles on which a substance having an affinity to extracellular vesicle membrane is immobilized, and (iii) a polymer to give a mixture solution containing (i′) target particles bound to the extracellular vesicle via the substance and (ii′) the polymer; and (b) separating the target particles from the mixture solution. The method further includes reducing a viscosity of the mixture solution between (a) and (b). A method for analyzing an extracellular vesicle. A kit having (a) a polymer, (b) a substance having an affinity to the extracellular vesicle membrane, and (c) an enzyme capable of degrading a polymer.

This disclosure relates to the field of mass spectrometry analysis. In some embodiments, the disclosure relates to compositions and methods for detecting and quantifying proteins in the AKT-mTOR pathway by immunoprecipitation enrichment followed by mass spectrometry analysis.

The present invention is directed to modified CFTR proteins or fragments thereof that contain single or multiple amino acid mutations to improve the structural stability of such CFTR proteins and/or fragments. Specifically, the modified CFTR proteins or fragment thereof differ from the wild-type human CFTR protein or fragment thereof by the presence of four or more mutations selected from V150D, M470V, S492P, F494N, S495P, A534P, I539T, G550E, G551D, R553Q, R555K, Q637R, S1255L, K1334G, S1359A, E1371Q, H1402S, Q1411D, and any combination thereof, such that the stability of the polypeptide is increased relative to that of the wild-type human CFTR polypeptide or fragment thereof.

The invention relates to a method for judging risk of suffering kidney cancer. The method includes detecting a PSMB9 protein concentration value from a test sample. And a risk factor value is obtained after processing the PSMB9 protein concentration value with an age. When the score of the risk factor value is greater than a defined threshold value of the risk factor threshold value, then the test sample is classified as a high risk sample of a of potential kidney cancer patient.

The present invention provides self-contained systems for performing an assay for determining a chemical state, the system including a stationary cartridge for performing the assay therein, at least one reagent adapted to react with a sample; and at least one reporter functionality adapted to report a reaction of the at least one reagent with said sample to report a result of the assay, wherein the at least one reagent, the sample and the at least one reporter functionality are contained within the cartridge.

This disclosure relates to the field of mass spectrometry analysis. In some embodiments, the disclosure relates to compositions and methods for detecting and quantifying proteins in the AKT-mTOR pathway by immunoprecipitation enrichment followed by mass spectrometry analysis.

A method for screening an active ingredient of a saltiness enhancer, the screening method including the following steps: (i) a step for determining whether a test substance is a compound capable of promoting functional expression of the TMC4 gene or TMC4 protein; and (ii) a step for selecting, as an active ingredient of a saltiness enhancer, a test substance that has been determined in step (i) to be a compound capable of promoting functional expression of the TMC4 gene or TMC4 protein.

The present disclosure relates to biosensors, kits and methods for detecting and/or quantifying lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) in a liquid sample such as a serum sample from a subject. The present disclosure also relates to linker compounds that are useful, for example, in the biosensors, kits and methods of the present disclosure and to methods for preparing a biosensor for detecting and/or quantifying lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) in a liquid sample.

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