Abstract: Techniques for delivering medical care include receiving normal data that indicates normal conditions in a patient. Abnormality data is received and indicates an abnormal condition, if any, in a patient. An instance of a virtual patient is generated based on the normal data and the abnormality data. The instance includes a physiological component that describes a sufficiently comprehensive physical state of a patient having the abnormal condition to simulate clinical measurements of the patient's condition. The instance also includes a cognitive component that describes a patient's awareness of symptoms, history of behavior and ability to convey information in response to queries. Action data is received from a trainee. Response data is generated based on the action data and the instance. Display data is presented based on the response data, and indicates information about the instance available as a result of the requested action.

Abstract: The invention is directed to binary oligonucleotide probes for nucleic analysis, which probes can be made of DNA or RNA that recognize nucleic acid analytes (both DNA and RNA) with unprecedented high selectivity under mild conditions and are highly sensitive to single nucleotide mismatches (SNP single nucleotide polymorphisms) without PCR amplification. In one group, the binary probes indicate that they have hybridized to a particular nucleic analyte by binding to a molecular beacon that gives off a fluorescent signal. A second group of binary probes bind to a dye such as malachite green, where upon hybridization to analyte the fluorescence of the dye increases dramatically and is easily detected and measured. The new binary probes require only about five minutes at room temperature to generate a detectable signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the discovery that two pore K+ channel (2PK) gene expression is increased in tumors and tumor cell lines, especially prostate tumor cells. The present invention encompasses methods for disease diagnosis, drug screening and the treatment of cancer.

Abstract: A rehabilitation device is presented that is inexpensive to produce and is easy to use. The device uses a predictable method to estimate the activity of muscle and therefore provide many ways to train and rehabilitate a person having a prosthetic limb or other neuromuscular disorder.

Abstract: An ion deflector, for deflecting a beam of charged particles along an arc in a deflection plane, includes a pair of non-spherical deflection electrodes adapted for being charged with different voltages. The pair of deflection electrodes are configured to control, in both the deflection plane and in a direction perpendicular to the deflection plane, a cross sectional spread of charged particles in a deflected beam that exits the ion deflector. In some embodiments, a first electrode has a first height perpendicular to the deflection plane and a second electrode has a different second height.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for inhibiting the rejection of transplanted islet cells, comprising administering to the subject a polypeptide comprising all or a portion of the extracellular domain of ILT3, wherein the polypeptide is water soluble. This invention further provides a method of treating diabetes, by inhibiting the rejection of transplanted islet cells through the administration of the polypeptide to the subject.

Abstract: The internalization sequence at the C-terminal end of the ROMK protein has been identified and sequenced. It has been discovered determined that endocytosis is triggered by binding of the ROMK internalization sequence to ARH protein, which is co-localized and expressed with ROMK. New methods of treating or preventing hyperkalemia have been discovered that include administering to a patient who is at risk of developing hyperkalemia or who has hyperkalemia, a therapeutically effective amount of an agent that blocks the interaction of the ROMK internalization sequence with ARH protein, thereby preventing or reducing ARH-induced endocytosis of ROMK.

Abstract: Stop flow interference lithography system for high throughput synthesis of 3-dimensionally patterned polymer particles. The system includes a microfluidic channel containing a stationary oligomer film and a phase mask located adjacent to the microfluidic channel. A source of collimated light is provided for passing the collimated light through the phase mask and into the microfluidic channel for interaction with the oligomer. The passage of the collimated light through the phase mask generates a 3-dimensional distribution of light intensity to induce crosslinking of the oligomer in high intensity regions thereby forming 3-dimensional structures.

Abstract: This invention provides a bypass bridge comprising a tract of gap junction-coupled cells having a first end and a second end, both ends capable of being attached to two selected sites in a heart so as to allow the conduction of a pacemaker and/or electrical signal/current across the tract between the two sites, wherein the cells functionally express a sodium channel. The invention also provides related methods of making the bypass bridge, methods of implanting same in a heart, and methods of treating a disorder associated with an impaired conduction in a subject's heart.

Abstract: Techniques for medical infusions include determining a first infusion rate for administering a first medication to a patient. A fluid load is determined based at least in part on the first infusion rate. It is determined whether the fluid load exceeds a predetermined threshold based on a fluid maintenance rate. If it is determined that the fluid load exceeds the predetermined threshold, then an action is caused to inhibit administering the first medication to the patient at the first infusion rate.

Abstract: Medical imaging often involves the collective use of information presented in multiple images of an individual, such as images generated through different imaging modalities (X-ray, CT, PET, etc.) The use of a composite of these images may involve image registration to adjust for the variable position and orientation discrepancies of the individual during imaging. However, registration may be complicated by soft tissue deformation between images, and implementations (particularly pure software implementations) of the mathematical models used in image registration may be computationally complex and may require up to several hours. Hardware architectures are presented that apply the mathematical techniques in an accelerated manner, thereby providing near-realtime image registration that may be of particular use for the short timeframe requirements of surgical environments.

Abstract: This invention provides a first polypeptide comprising all or a portion of the extracellular domain of ILT3, wherein the polypeptide is water-soluble and does not comprise the Fc portion of an immunoglobulin. This invention also provides a second polypeptide comprising (i) all or a portion of the extracellular domain of ILT3 operable affixed to (ii) the Fc portion of an immunoglobulin, wherein the Fc portion of the immunoglobulin comprises a function-enhancing mutation, and wherein the polypeptide is water-soluble. This invention further provides a third polypeptide comprising (i) all or a portion of the extracellular domain of ILT3 operable affixed to (ii) a transmembrane domain. This invention further provides related nucleic acids, expression vectors, host vector systems, compositions, and articles of manufacture and therapeutic and prophylactic methods using the polypeptides of the invention.

Abstract: Techniques for discrimination of heart rhythms in cardiac rhythm management devices include determining a current covariance matrix of multiple electrograms measuring each current heart beat, determining a distance measure between the current covariance matrix and a predetermined covariance matrix of the multiple electrograms measuring at least one different heart beat; and determining whether the heart beat represents ventricular tachycardia based on the distance measure.

Abstract: This invention provides methods for determining the ability of a gene construct to alter the rhythm and contractility of a syncytial cell. Furthermore, this invention provides methods for constructing a gene construct capable of altering the rhythm or contractility of a syncytial cell. Finally, this invention provides a method for constructing a gene construct capable of coupling to a syncytial cell.

Abstract: A method of delivering an oligonucleotide or a plasmid expressing an oligonucleotide into a target cell comprises introducing an oligonucleotide into a donor cell, particularly a stem cell, and contacting the target cell with the donor cell under conditions permitting the donor cell to form a gap junction with the target cell, whereby the oligonucleotide or a product of the oligonucleotide is delivered into the target cell from the donor cell.

Abstract: Techniques for an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) using pipeline architecture includes a linearization technique for a spurious-free dynamic range (SFDR) over 80 deciBels. In some embodiments, sampling rates exceed a megahertz. According to a second approach, a switched-capacitor circuit is configured for correct operation in a high radiation environment. In one embodiment, the combination yields high fidelity ADC (>88 deciBel SFDR) while sampling at 5 megahertz sampling rates and consuming <60 milliWatts. Furthermore, even though it is manufactured in a commercial 0.25-?m CMOS technology (1 ?m=12?6 meters), it maintains this performance in harsh radiation environments. Specifically, the stated performance is sustained through a highest tested 2 megarad(Si) total dose, and the ADC displays no latchup up to a highest tested linear energy transfer of 63 million electron Volts square centimeters per milligram at elevated temperature (131 degrees C.) and supply (2.7 Volts, versus 2.5 Volts nominal).

Abstract: Techniques for registration of multiple measurement modes of a body include receiving first and second data from different modes. Each includes measured values with coordinate values. For two mechanically aligned modes, any non-rigid registration is performed. For some modes, the non-rigid registration includes a coarse transformation and multiple fine scale transformations. The coarse transformation maximizes a coarse similarity measure. The second data is sub-divided into contiguous sub-regions. Fine transformations are determined between the sub-regions and corresponding portions of the first data to maximize a fine similarity measure. Sub-dividing and determining fine transformations repeats until stop conditions are satisfied. Transformations between the last-divided sub-regions are interpolated.

Abstract: Techniques for determining effects on a biological system include determining rate constants for a particular time interval starting at an initial time. Each rate constant indicates a rate of transition from one of four states to a different one of the four states for a component of a biological system in presence of an external factor. A temporal change in a probability that the component is in a particular state after the initial time is determined without numerical iteration over multiple time steps. This includes determining three relaxation time constants that describe exponential changes based on the rate constants. The effect of the external factor on the biological system is determined based on the temporal change in the probability that the component is in the particular state. The probability at an arbitrary time is determined based on the rate constants and initial probabilities.

Abstract: Techniques for automatically detecting meniscus include receiving pixels from a scanning device directed to a knee of a subject. Also received is a region of interest that includes pixels that correspond to at least a portion of a meniscus of the knee. Without human intervention, a meniscus extraction threshold is determined based on pixel intensities in the region of interest. A meniscus object portion of the scan data is further determined without human intervention based on the meniscus extraction threshold and a geometrical constraint. Other techniques for automatically detecting meniscal tears includes receiving a meniscus object portion of scan data from a scanning device and receiving threshold data that indicates a meniscus extraction threshold. Without human intervention, a propensity for meniscal tears is determined based on the threshold data and the meniscus object portion of the scan data.

Abstract: Techniques for determining optimal duration for treatment of disease include receiving an untreated series of measurements and a treated series of measurements. The untreated series indicates temporal progression of a physical property related to a disease while the disease is untreated. The treated series of measurements indicates temporal progression of the physical property of the disease while a particular treatment is administered. A series of effectiveness values is determined based on the untreated and treated series. Each effectiveness value indicates a ratio between an untreated and a treated rate of change of the physical property at a corresponding time. An elapsed time is determined from start of treatment to an earliest time when an effectiveness value reaches an extreme compared to adjacent effectiveness values. Duration for treatment is based on the elapsed time, and is especially useful for each cycle of dose dense regimes for treatments with toxic side effects.