Abstract: Implementations described and claimed herein provide systems and methods for sampling particles from air. In one implementation, an inlet opening is defined in a proximal end of a cassette top, and the inlet opening has an inlet diameter. An internal surface extends along an airflow curve from the inlet opening to an internal cavity. A sampling substrate is formed by at least one grid attached to a filter. The sampling substrate is disposed in the internal cavity at an internal distance from the inlet opening. The inlet opening and the airflow curve of the internal surface generate an airflow of the air to the sampling substrate. The sampling substrate collects a set of the particles from the air, and the inlet diameter, the airflow, and the internal distance dictate a cutoff diameter of the set of particles collected from the air by the sampling substrate.

Abstract: The present document generally relates to additive manufacturing techniques for forming an article having a desired shape and other properties. More particularly, but not exclusively, in one embodiment a method for additive manufacturing an article includes adding a dispersant to an article forming material in the absence of binder to prepare a slurry or suspension including the material and the dispersant. The pH of the slurry may be adjusted to control the viscosity and/or coagulation rate of the slurry. The slurry may then be passed through an extrusion-based three-dimensional printing apparatus to form or print the article in a desired form or shape, and the article may thereafter be sintered. In one aspect, through control of the pH of the slurry, the viscosity and/or coagulation rate properties of the slurry may be tailored for use with different operating parameters of the extrusion-based three-dimensional printing apparatus.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a biosignature that distinguishes Lyme disease, including early Lyme disease, from STARI. The present disclosure also provides methods for detecting Lyme disease and STARI, as well as methods for treating subjects diagnosed with Lyme disease or STARI.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a volatile memory, a non-volatile memory, a first processor coupled to the non-volatile memory and configured to receive a data set associated with an object and user information associated with a spatial position of a user in a multi-user virtual (IMVR) environment, and a second processor coupled to the volatile memory, the second processor configured to render an instance of the portion of the object in the IMVR environment from a perspective of the user based on the spatial position of the user. The first processor is configured to generate a look-up table (LUT) based on a set of inputs received from a user. The second processor is configured to render, based on the LUT and information related to a manipulation by a user, an updated instance of the portion of the object that manifests an effect of the manipulation in the IMVR environment.

Abstract: This invention relates to the design and function of a compressible valve replacement prosthesis which can be deployed into a beating heart without extracorporeal circulation using a transcatheter delivery system. The design as discussed focuses on the deployment of a device via a minimally invasive fashion and by way of example considers a minimally invasive surgical procedure preferably utilizing the intercostal or subxyphoid space for valve introduction. In order to accomplish this, the valve is formed in such a manner that it can be compressed to fit within a delivery system and secondarily ejected from the delivery system into the annulus of a target valve such as a mitral valve or tricuspid valve.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions containing an infusion ready population of activated, allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, diluents, or excipients. Also provided are methods of treating infected wounds in mammals by administering an effective amount of activated mesenchymal stem cells to the mammal.

Abstract: Simple ?-hairpin peptides in linear and cyclic form that specifically bind to HIV-1 Trans-Activation Response element (HIV-1 TAR), as well as compositions and use thereof are described.

Abstract: Implementations described and claimed herein provide systems and methods for palpation training. In one implementation, a system for medical procedure simulation includes an examination model, a sensor network, and a computing device. The examination model has a plurality of anatomical structure models, and the sensor network has a plurality of sensors. Each of the sensors is associated with one of the plurality of anatomical structure models and configured to capture examination data. The computing device is in communication with the sensor network and configured to generate feedback for an accuracy of a medical examination using the examination data.

Abstract: Polymer composite photonic crystal materials are disclosed as coatings which have high reflection (>30%) in a specific range of the electromagnetic spectrum, such as ultraviolet (<400 nm), visible (Vis, 400 nm-700 nm), or near-infrared radiation range (NIR, 700-2000 nm), and relatively low reflection (<20% reflection) in a second, different range of the electromagnetic spectrum. Surprisingly, it was found that through a formulation and additives approach, the optical properties of polymer composite photonic crystal films can be selectively modified from a variety of different coating methods, including spray deposition.

Abstract: This invention relates to the design and function of a compressible valve replacement prosthesis which can be deployed into a beating heart without extracorporeal circulation using a transcatheter delivery system. The design as discussed focuses on the deployment of a device via a minimally invasive fashion and by way of example considers a minimally invasive surgical procedure preferably utilizing the intercostal or subxyphoid space for valve introduction. In order to accomplish this, the valve is formed in such a manner that it can be compressed to fit within a delivery system and secondarily ejected from the delivery system into the annulus of a target valve such as a mitral valve or tricuspid valve.

Abstract: Polymer composite photonic crystal materials are disclosed as coatings with topcoats having high reflection (>30%) in a specific range of the electromagnetic spectrum, such as ultraviolet (<400 nm), visible (Vis, 400 nm-700 nm), or near-infrared radiation range (NIR, 700-2000 nm), and optionally a relatively low reflection (<20% reflection) in a second, different range of the electromagnetic spectrum. Surprisingly, it was found that through a multi-layer coating approach, the optical properties of polymer composite photonic crystal films can be selectively modified from a variety of different coating methods, including spray deposition.

Abstract: A method for electrodeposition of pure phase crystalline SnSb from deep eutectic ethaline is described. Thin films of SnSb were synthesized using a solution containing equimolar Sn(II) and Sb(III) chlorides as precursors, and ethaline (1:2 by weight of choline chloride and ethylene chloride) was used as the solvent for the electrodeposition solution. The purity of the product is important, as the impure phase is found to be detrimental to the material's lifetime as both a sodium-ion and a lithium-ion anode. For sodium-ions, the directly deposited electrode was able to retain 95% capacity after 300 cycles, and only fall below 80% capacity retention after 800 cycles when cycled versus sodium. The electrodeposited SnSb used as a Li-ion battery anode showed stability, only failing below 80% capacity retention after 400 cycles.

Abstract: An Ussing chamber assembly for assessing a tissue sample and for receiving a first fluid and a second fluid during such assessment is disclosed. The Ussing chamber assembly includes an Ussing chamber configured to be separated by the tissue sample into a first chamber portion and a second chamber portion. The assembly includes a first channel in fluidic communication with the first chamber portion, a second channel in fluidic communication with the second chamber portion, and at least three electrical conductors in fluidic communication with the first chamber portion.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions comprising chimeric polypeptides that bind to free ubiquitin proteins or free ubiquitin-like proteins with high affinity, as well as chimeric polypeptides that bind to both free and conjugated ubiquitin proteins or free and conjugated ubiquitin-like proteins, and methods of using the chimeric polypeptides to determine the amount of free or total ubiquitin or free or total ubiquitin-like proteins in various types of samples.

Abstract: Enzymes that reduce specific metal or metalloid ions to insoluble form are important to science. Peptides isolated from yeast- and phage-display libraries can affect the size and morphology of inorganic materials during their synthesis. Herein, an Se binding peptide was fused to an enzyme capable of reducing selenite (SeO32?) to a Se0 nanoparticle (SeNP). The fusion of the Se binding peptide to the metalloid reductase provided size control of the resulting SeNP. The SeNP product also remains associated to the enzyme fusion. The Se binding peptide fusion to the enzyme increases the enzyme's SeO32? reductase activity. Modification of enzyme activity was absent, and the size control of particles was diminished when the Se binding peptide was added exogenously to the reaction mixture. Binding of the peptide is attributed to His based ligation that results in a conformational change to the peptide.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for forming aryl carbon-nitrogen bonds and to photoreactors useful in these and other light-driven reactions. The method comprises contacting an aryl halide, such as 4-bromobenzotrifluoride, with an amine, such as morpholine, in the presence of a Ni salt catalyst solution and an optional base, thereby forming a reaction mixture; exposing the reaction mixture to light under reaction condition sufficient to produce the aryl carbon-nitrogen bonds, e.g., to give a product such as 4-(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)morpholine. In certain embodiments, the amine may be present in a molar excess to the aryl halide. In certain embodiments, the Ni salt catalyst solution includes a Ni(II) salt and a polar solvent, wherein the Ni(II) salt is dissolved in the polar solvent. In certain embodiments, the reactions conditions include holding the reaction mixture at between about room temperature and about 80° C.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure involve systems, methods, and the like, for a fabrication of a particulate matter (PM) sensor that utilizes a capacitance sensor to detect sub-micrometer and nanoparticles in the respirable range of an environment. In one implementation, the capacitance sensor may comprise interdigitated electrodes between which a capacitance may be measured. PM deposited on the sensor may cause the capacitance between the electrodes to be altered and such a change in capacitance may be measured by the PM sensor. This measurement of the change in capacitance of the interdigitated capacitance sensor may therefore be correlated to the presence of sub-micrometer and nanoparticles in an environment. In one particular implementation, the PM sensor may further include a micro-heater circuit, a readout circuit, and an interface connecting the readout circuit to the micro-heater/capacitance sensor of the PM sensor.

Abstract: Polymer composite photonic crystal materials are disclosed as coatings and topcoats which have high reflection (>30%) in a specific range of the electromagnetic spectrum, such as ultraviolet (<400 nm), visible (Vis, 400 nm-700 nm), or near-infrared radiation range (NIR, 700-2000 nm), and relatively low reflection (<20% reflection) in a second, different range of the electromagnetic spectrum. Surprisingly, it was found that through a formulation and additives approach, the optical properties of polymer composite photonic crystal films can be selectively modified from a variety of different coating methods, including spray deposition.

Abstract: Biodegradable polymers with advantageous physical and chemical properties are described, as well as methods for making such polymers. In one embodiment, a new chemical synthesis route to technologically important biodegradable poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (P3HB) with high isotacticity and molecular weight required for a practical use is described. The new route can utilize racemic eight-membered cyclic diolide (rac-DL), meso-DL, or a rac-DL and meso-DL mixture, derived from bio-sourced dimethyl succinate, and enantiomeric (R,R)-DL and (S,S)-DL, optically resolved by metal-based catalysts. With a stereoselective racemic molecular catalyst, the ROP of rac-DL under ambient conditions produces rapidly P3HB with essentially perfect isotacticity ([mm] >99%), high crystallinity and melting temperature (Tm=171° C.), as well as high molecular weight and low dispersity (Mn=1.54×105 g/mol, Ð=1.01).

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed to downscale the resolution of a coarse-resolution soil moisture data. Coarse-resolution soil moisture data may include data cells that each represent a geographic region having at least one dimension greater than or equal to 1 km. A plurality of fine-resolution supplemental soil moisture data may be received that includes at least one of soil data, vegetation data, topography data, and climate data. The fine-resolution supplemental soil moisture data comprising data cells that each represent a geographic region having at least one dimension less than or equal to 100 meters. The coarse-resolution soil moisture data may be downscaled to fine-resolution soil moisture data using the plurality of fine-resolution supplemental soil moisture data, the fine-resolution soil moisture data comprising data cells that each represent a geographic region having at least one dimension less than 100 meters.