Abstract: Provided is a method for mapping a neural area involved in speech processing, including applying a plurality of recording electrodes to a surface of a cortex of a human subject, presenting a plurality of auditory stimuli to the subject wherein some of the plurality of stimuli are speech sounds and others of the plurality of auditory stimuli are non-speech sounds, recording brain activity during the presenting of the plurality of auditory stimuli, and identifying one or more brain areas wherein activity changes more after presentation of speech sounds than it does after presentation of non-speech sounds, wherein the human subject does not speak during the presenting and the recording. Also provided is a method for mapping a neural area involved in speech production wherein the human subject does not speak during presenting speech stimuli and recording neural activity.

Abstract: An approach for modifying multiple types of bacteria to produce surface modifications that enhance the immunologic response when used as a vaccine. A series of plasmids (pYF, pYFC, pYFP, pSF, pSPF, and pSCF) may be used to transform bacteria which then produce surface-exposed ligands that bind to complement receptors on antigen presenting cells. When modified bacteria are used as a vaccine, the vaccine recipients produce significantly higher titers of specific antibodies and are better protected against challenges from the disease-causing bacteria.

Abstract: Methods of detecting, predicting severity of, and/or predicting treatment response to respiratory virus infection in a sample obtained from a subject. The methods include assaying a methylation state of a marker in a sample obtained from a subject and identifying the subject as having respiratory virus infection, a likelihood of severe outcomes of respiratory infection, and/or a likelihood of treatment response depending on the methylation state of the marker. The markers can include bases (DMP) in differentially methylated regions (DMR) as provided herein.

Abstract: A vaccine platform using a Yersinia pestis mutant synthesizing an adjuvant form lipid A (monophosphoryl lipid A, MPLA) for the increased biogenesis of bacterial outer membrane vesicles (OMVs). To enhance the immunogenicity of the OMVs, an Asd-based balanced-lethal host-vector system was constructed to oversynthesize the LcrV antigen of Y. pestis, raise the amounts of LcrV enclosed in OMVs by Type II secretion system, and eliminate harmful factors like plasminogen activator (Pla) and murine toxin from the OMVs. Vaccination with OMVs containing MPLA and increased amounts of LcrV with diminished toxicity afforded complete protection in mice against subcutaneous challenge and intranasal challenge and was significantly superior to that resulting from vaccination with LcrV/alhydrogel. Additionally, the Yersinia OMV can be used as a platform to deliver the heterologous antigens of Bacillus anthraces.

Abstract: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) can be used in place of DCs when pulsing with antigens, or antigen and adjuvant combination, and then administered to a subject as a vaccine to induce a protective immune response. The PBMC-based vaccine strategy provides a more marked and enduring protective immune response and is also capable of serving as a multi-organism prophylactic vaccine platform. The vaccine platform may be used to screen vaccine and adjuvant combinations and may also be used to allow for adjuvants that are otherwise unsafe for use in humans as the adjuvant may be removed prior to prophylactic administration of the pulsed PBMCs.

Abstract: An approach for modifying multiple types of bacteria to produce surface modifications that enhance the immunologic response when used as a vaccine. A series of plasmids (pYF, pYFC, pYFP, pSF, pSPF, and pSCF) may be used to transform bacteria which then produce surface-exposed ligands that bind to complement receptors on antigen presenting cells. When modified bacteria are used as a vaccine, the vaccine recipients produce significantly higher titers of specific antibodies and are better protected against challenges from the disease-causing bacteria.

Abstract: A system and method for optimizing parameters of a DBS pulse signal for treatment of a patient is provided. In predicting optimal DBS parameters, functional brain data is input into a predictor system, the functional brain data acquired responsive to a sweeping across a multi-dimensional parameter space of one or more DBS parameters. Statistical metrics of brain response are extracted from the functional brain data for one or more ROIs or voxels of the brain via the predictor system, and a DBS functional atlas is accessed, via the predictor system, that comprises disease-specific brain response maps derived from DBS treatment at optimal DBS parameter settings for a plurality of diseases or neurological conditions. One or more optimal DBS parameters are predicted for the patient based on the statistical metrics of brain response and the DBS functional atlas via the predictor system.

Abstract: An immunogenic fusion protein for use as a mucosal vaccine is provided, which includes: i) one or more FcyR1-binding domains; ii) one or more antigens from one or more infectious disease organisms; and iii) one or more FcRn-binding domains.

Abstract: A vaccine platform using a Yersinia pestis mutant synthesizing an adjuvant form lipid A (monophosphoryl lipid A, MPLA) for the increased biogenesis of bacterial outer membrane vesicles (OMVs). To enhance the immunogenicity of the OMVs, an Asd-based balanced-lethal host-vector system was constructed to oversynthesize the LcrV antigen of Y. pestis, raise the amounts of LcrV enclosed in OMVs by Type II secretion system, and eliminate harmful factors like plasminogen activator (Pla) and murine toxin from the OMVs. Vaccination with OMVs containing MPLA and increased amounts of LcrV with diminished toxicity afforded complete protection in mice against subcutaneous challenge and intranasal challenge and was significantly superior to that resulting from vaccination with LcrV/alhydrogel. Additionally, the Yersinia OMV can be used as a platform to deliver the heterologous antigens of Bacillus anthraces.

Abstract: Provided is a method for mapping a neural area involved in speech processing, including applying a plurality of recording electrodes to a surface of a cortex of a human subject, presenting a plurality of auditory stimuli to the subject wherein some of the plurality of stimuli are speech sounds and others of the plurality of auditory stimuli are non-speech sounds, recording brain activity during the presenting of the plurality of auditory stimuli, and identifying one or more brain areas wherein activity changes more after presentation of speech sounds than it does after presentation of non-speech sounds, wherein the human subject does not speak during the presenting and the recording. Also provided is a method for mapping a neural area involved in speech production wherein the human subject does not speak during presenting speech stimuli and recording neural activity.

Abstract: A treatment for ocular rosacea using p38 and Erk kinase pathway inhibitors, which are believed to block the initial reaction to rosacea triggers and thus make it possible to prevent or minimize the skin reaction. The treatment is premised on a careful analysis of the alteration of cell-signaling pathways that facilitate the development of rosacea, which led to the identification of discrete targets for highly specific therapeutic intervention in the management of rosacea.

Abstract: Provided is a method for mapping a neural area involved in speech processing, including applying a plurality of recording electrodes to a surface of a cortex of a human subject, presenting a plurality of auditory stimuli to the subject wherein some of the plurality of stimuli are speech sounds and others of the plurality of auditory stimuli are non-speech sounds, recording brain activity during the presenting of the plurality of auditory stimuli, and identifying one or more brain areas wherein activity changes more after presentation of speech sounds than it does after presentation of non-speech sounds, wherein the human subject does not speak during the presenting and the recording. Also provided is a method for mapping a neural area involved in speech production wherein the human subject does not speak during presenting speech stimuli and recording neural activity.

Abstract: A vaccine platform using a Yersinia pestis mutant synthesizing an adjuvant form lipid A (monophosphoryl lipid A, MPLA) for the increased biogenesis of bacterial outer membrane vesicles (OMVs). To enhance the immunogenicity of the OMVs, an Asd-based balanced-lethal host-vector system was constructed to oversynthesize the LcrV antigen of Y. pestis, raise the amounts of LcrV enclosed in OMVs by Type II secretion system, and eliminate harmful factors like plasminogen activator (Pla) and murine toxin from the OMVs. Vaccination with OMVs containing MPLA and increased amounts of LcrV with diminished toxicity afforded complete protection in mice against subcutaneous challenge and intranasal challenge and was significantly superior to that resulting from vaccination with LcrV/alhydrogel. Additionally, the Yersinia OMV can be used as a platform to deliver the heterologous antigens of Bacillus anthraces.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides dynamic cranial fixation devices and related methods for attaching a resected bone portion(s), or a bone flap, to the skull in such a manner that allows for brain swelling to occur with minimal constraint following a craniotomy or craniectomy. The present disclosure provides dynamic cranial fixation devices and related methods that provide outward movement of the bone flap as the brain swells underneath the bone flap to prevent or reduce a rise in the intracranial pressure. Once the brain swelling resolves, the dynamic cranial fixation devices and related methods of the present disclosure allow the bone flap to return to its original position (before resection) without further surgery, implantation or the like. Once the bone flap return to its original position (or substantially similar position), the bone flap may fuse with the neighboring bone(s), potentially with the assistance of one or more fusion aid.

Abstract: Deep brain stimulation of the ventral pallidum (VP-DBS) prevents or potently attenuates epileptiform activity and behavioral seizures. VP-DBS prior to pilocarpine prevented behavioral partial and generalized forebrain seizures and generalized brainstem seizures in most animals. VP-DBS after brainstem seizures emerged prevented or reduced the appearance of subsequent behavioral and electrographic brainstem seizures. Even if VP-DBS was turned on after partial forebrain seizures started, this timed approach could still reduce partial forebrain seizures but also prevented secondarily generalized forebrain seizures. Epileptiform activity in brainstem areas, especially in the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) which controls cardiovascular function, was prevented by VP-DBS.

Abstract: A method for correcting a spinal deformity is provided. A spinal implant for correcting a spinal deformity includes a multipoint connector that connects to at least one vertebra of a spine at a plurality of locations and a force directing device that applies a force to the vertebra through the multipoint connector. The force directing device may include a rod which extends generally along an axis of the spine and a force directing member which is adjustably coupled to both the rod and the multipoint connector and which applies a corrective force to the at least one vertebra.

Abstract: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) can be used in place of DCs when pulsing with antigens, or antigen and adjuvant combination, and then administered to a subject as a vaccine to induce a protective immune response. The PBMC-based vaccine strategy provides a more marked and enduring protective immune response and is also capable of serving as a multi-organism prophylactic vaccine platform. The vaccine platform may be used to screen vaccine and adjuvant combinations and may also be used to allow for adjuvants that are otherwise unsafe for use in humans as the adjuvant may be removed prior to prophylactic administration of the pulsed PBMCs.

Abstract: A treatment for ocular rosacea using p38 and Erk kinase pathway inhibitors, which are believed to block the initial reaction to rosacea triggers and thus make it possible to prevent or minimize the skin reaction. The treatment is premised on a careful analysis of the alteration of cell-signaling pathways that facilitate the development of rosacea, which led to the identification of discrete targets for highly specific therapeutic intervention in the management of rosacea.

Abstract: Provided is a method for mapping a neural area involved in speech processing, including applying a plurality of recording electrodes to a surface of a cortex of a human subject, presenting a plurality of auditory stimuli to the subject wherein some of the plurality of stimuli are speech sounds and others of the plurality of auditory stimuli are non-speech sounds, recording brain activity during the presenting of the plurality of auditory stimuli, and identifying one or more brain areas wherein activity changes more after presentation of speech sounds than it does after presentation of non-speech sounds, wherein the human subject does not speak during the presenting and the recording. Also provided is a method for mapping a neural area involved in speech production wherein the human subject does not speak during presenting speech stimuli and recording neural activity.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical compound for the treatment of obesity related disorder that is a conjugate of myristic acid and a leptin-related peptide. Preferably, the leptin-related peptide is OB3 that has been D-substituted at Leu-4. The resulting conjugate significantly improved the pharmacokinetic profile of the leptin-related peptide by extending its half-life from less than one hour to as long as twenty-eight hours, depending on the route of delivery, increasing uptake, reducing the rate of plasma clearance, and enabling the minimal effective dose to be reduced several fold.