Characterizing stutter in single cells and the impact on multi-cell analysis.

Short tandem repeat analysis is a robust and reliable DNA analysis technique that aids in source identification of a biological sample. However, the interpretation, particularly when DNA mixtures are present at low levels, can be complicated by the presence of PCR artifacts most commonly referred to as stutter. The presence of stutter products can increase the difficulty of interpretation in DNA mixtures as well as low-level DNA samples down to a single cell.

In-vessel design of a two-color heterodyne laser interferometer system for SPARC.

This article covers the in-vessel design of the SPARC interferometry diagnostic system, highlighting unique aspects of the systems design and port plug integration in preparation for "day-1" plasma operations as a critical diagnostic for density feedback control. An early decision for the diagnostic was to deploy two lasers in the infrared wavelength spectrum, allowing the system to have a higher optical throughput. The optimization of the in-vessel geometry for the diagnostic follows a similar approach, focusing on de-risking possible damage to the plasma facing optical components by moving them further from the plasma with an orientation that provides a greater possibility for protective features to be added.

Search for CP-Violating Neutrino Nonstandard Interactions with the NOvA Experiment.

This Letter reports a search for charge-parity (CP) symmetry violating nonstandard interactions (NSI) of neutrinos with matter using the NOvA Experiment, and examines their effects on the determination of the standard oscillation parameters. Data from ν_{μ}(ν[over ¯]_{μ})→ν_{μ}(ν[over ¯]_{μ}) and ν_{μ}(ν[over ¯]_{μ})→ν_{e}(ν[over ¯]_{e}) oscillation channels are used to measure the effect of the NSI parameters ϵ_{eμ} and ϵ_{eτ}. With 90% CL the magnitudes of the NSI couplings are constrained to be |ϵ_{eμ}|≲0.

Autoantibodies immuno-mechanically modulate platelet contractile force and bleeding risk.

Altered mechanotransduction has been proposed as a putative mechanism for disease pathophysiology, yet evidence remains scarce. Here we introduce a concept we call single cell immuno-mechanical modulation, which links immunology, integrin biology, cellular mechanics, and disease pathophysiology and symptomology. Using a micropatterned hydrogel-laden coverslip compatible with standard fluorescence microscopy, we conduct a clinical mechanobiology study, specifically focusing on immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), an autoantibody-mediated platelet disorder that currently lacks a reliable biomarker for bleeding risk.