Abstract: A method for controlling connectivity between two or more brain regions of a subject includes receiving signals corresponding to a connectivity between two or more regions of a subject's brain, measuring a connectivity level from the signals, and delivering at least one stimulation pulse to at least one target region of the subject's brain if the measured connectivity level is outside of a predetermined range.

Abstract: A surgical barrier material comprising a water-soluble polysaccharide, glycerol, and water, wherein the water-soluble polysaccharide by weight and glycerol by volume are present at a ratio of about 1:0.8 to 1:1.2, and wherein water is present at 8-20 wt %, wherein the water-soluble polysaccharide may be, for example, a cellulose, such as methyl cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose or a salt thereof (CMC), hyaluronic acid (HA) or a combination thereof and may have a molecular weight of 30,000 g/mol to 500,000 g/mol. The surgical barrier material is solid and flexible, typically possessing an elastic modulus of 0.5-2 MPa and penetration resistance of at least 1 Newton, and substantially dissolves within 72, 48, 24, 12, 6, 3, or 2 hours from the time it is placed at a surgical site. Also described herein is a method of preventing injury to tissue in a patient during a surgical procedure by using the described surgical barrier material as a protective barrier during the surgical procedure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an article fabrication system having a plurality of material deposition tools containing one or more materials useful in fabricating the article, and a material deposition device having a tool interface for receiving one of the material deposition tools. A system controller is operably connected to the material deposition device to control operation of the material deposition device. Also disclosed is a method of fabricating an article using the system of the invention and a method of fabricating a living three-dimensional structure.

Abstract: Described herein is a method of induced cell death via ferroptosis by nanoparticle ingestion. Moreover, the present disclosure describes the administration of high concentrations of ultrasmall nanoparticles at multiple times over the course of treatment in combination with a nutrient-depleted environment, thereby modulating cellular metabolic pathways to induce cell death by the mechanism ferroptosis. Ferroptosis involves iron, reactive oxygen species, and a synchronous mode of cell death execution.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for forming stable three-dimensional vascular structures, such as blood vessels and uses thereof. More specifically, the present disclosure provides methods for culturing differentiated endothelial cells that include an exogenous nucleic acid encoding ETV2 transcription factor on a matrix under conditions that express exogenous ETV2 protein in the endothelial cell to form stable three-dimensional artificial blood vessels without the use of a scaffold, pericytes or perfusion. The present disclosure also provides stable three-dimensional blood vessels that are capable of autonomously forming a functional three-dimensional vascular network, and uses thereof.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for treating eye diseases (e.g., retinopathies), and more particularly, eye diseases associated with cytotoxic lipofuscin-associated cytotoxicity in retinal cells.

Abstract: Disclosed is a compound of formula (I): wherein R1, R2, R3, and are as defined herein. Also disclosed are methods for increasing mammalian cell NAD+ production and improving mitochondrial cell densities comprising administering to a cell the compound or a salt thereof.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides collaborative radiofrequency identification (RFID) readers that employ code division multiple access (CDMA) encoding to simultaneously broadcast to and read responses from tags in an overlapping reading zone with improved data synchronization and read yield rates. In some embodiments, a harmonic backscattering scheme is used to enable the system to have a much higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and sensitivity, while the reader CDMA protocol can be integrated with an initial TDMA polling process or alternative tag CDMA scheme.

Abstract: Provided are three dimensional, stretchable, optical sensor networks that can localize deformations. The devices described herein are suitable for uses in soft robots to determine the position of external contact, such as touching, and possibly internal deformations that may be caused by actuation. Sensor networks of the present disclosure contain a substrate, such as a 3D lattice, and cores having a cladding, such as air. Light passes through the cores and upon deformation of the substrate, cores may come into contact, allowing light to couple between cores due to frustrated total internal reflection. The resulting changes in intensity in the cores can be used to determine the placement and magnitude of deformation.

Abstract: Disclosed are devices and techniques based on optical coherence tomography (OCT) technology in combination with optical actuation. A system for providing optical actuation and optical sensing can include an optical coherence tomography (OCT) device that performs optical imaging of a sample based on optical interferometry from an optical sampling beam interacting with an optical sample and an optical reference beam; an OCT light source to provide an OCT imaging beam into the OCT device which splits the OCT imaging beam into the optical sampling beam and the optical reference beam; and a light source that produces an optical actuation beam that is coupled along with the optical sampling beam to be directed to the sample to actuate particles or structures in the sample so that the optical imaging captures information of the sample under the optical actuation.

Abstract: Systems and method to measure pressure are described herein. The system can include a force sensor can that be implanted into a patient to measure, for example, cardiac pressure. The force sensor can include first and second film layers that can define a plurality of pressure cells. An external pressure can deform the pressure cells and change their resonant frequency. When exposed to an acoustic signal, the pressure cells can resonant at a pressure-dependent resonant frequency. The system can detect reflected acoustic waves generated by the resonance of the pressure cells. The system can convert the frequency readings into pressure values.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a composition comprising a modified cellulosic surface having aliphatic fatty acid molecules and amine-silica particles that are covalently bonded to cellulose fibers of the cellulosic surface. Also disclosed is a composition comprising a modified cellulosic surface including low surface energy molecules and amine functionalized nanotubes decorated with silica nanoparticles that are covalently bonded to cellulose fibers of the cellulosic surface. Also disclosed is a process for increasing hydrophobicity of a cellulosic surface. Also disclosed is a process for increasing hydrophobicity and surface roughness of a cellulosic surface. Also disclosed are products comprising the compositions and modified cellulosic surfaces of the present invention.

Abstract: Provided in certain embodiments herein are alternating current electrospray systems and processes for manufacturing depositions, such as thin layer depositions. In some embodiments, processes and systems provided herein are suitable for and configured to manufacture uniform depositions, such as having uniform thickness.

Abstract: A radio-frequency method for range finding includes modulating a reference signal having an intermediate frequency to a downlink signal having a carrier frequency using a clock signal. The downlink signal is transmitted to a tag using a transceiver. An uplink signal backscattered front the tag is received and demodulated using the clock signal. The uplink signal has a frequency that is a harmonic of the carrier frequency. A distance between the tag and the transceiver is calculated based on a phase of the demodulated uplink signal. A system for range finding includes a transceiver and a processor. The transceiver modulates a reference signal to downlink signal and transmits the downlink signal. The transceiver receives and demodulates an uplink signal. The processor is configured to receive the demodulated uplink signal and calculate a distance between the tag and the transceiver using a phase of the demodulated uplink signal.

Abstract: The present application discloses a method of forming a hydrogel-coated substrate, wherein the hydrogel has antifouling and antimicrobial properties. The method comprises applying an aqueous pre-hydrogel solution to a substrate, polymerizing the aqueous pre-hydrogel solution, thereby forming a coated substrate having a conformal hydrogel coating and a non-conformal hydrogel coating, contacting the coated substrate with a swelling agent, and removing the non-conformal hydrogel coating from the coated substrate, thereby leaving the conformal hydrogel coating on the substrate to form the hydrogel-coated substrate. The aqueous pre-hydrogel solution comprises a monomer with antimicrobial activity, a monomer with antifouling activity, and either a polymer, oligomer, or macromer which, when polymerized together, form a hydrogel. Also disclosed is a coated substrate and a hydrogel coating.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes an intervertebral disk replacement system. The system can include a tissue-engineered intervertebral disc that is combined with a bioresorbable stabilization system for structural guidance. The system can prevent or reduce intervertebral disk implant displacement and can increase the stiffness when compared to the implantation of the intervertebral disk implant without the stabilization system.

Abstract: Disclosed are an implantable therapeutic delivery system and methods of treatment utilizing the implantable therapeutic delivery system. The implantable therapeutic delivery system includes a nanofibrous core substrate including one or more internal spaces wherein one or more therapeutic agents is positioned in the one or more internal spaces; and an outer biocompatible polymeric coating surrounding said nanofibrous core substrate.

Abstract: The present technology provides compounds, as well as compositions including such compounds, useful for imaging and/or treatment of a glioma, a breast cancer, an adrenal cortical cancer, a cervical carcinoma, a vulvar carcinoma, an endometrial carcinoma, a primary ovarian carcinoma, a metastatic ovarian carcinoma, a non-small cell lung cancer, a small cell lung cancer, a bladder cancer, a colon cancer, a primary, gastric adenocarcinoma, a primary colorectal adenocarcinoma, a renal cell carcinoma, and/or a prostate cancer.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes a method of producing solid inorganic carbonate compounds by capturing, converting, and storing carbon dioxide comprising providing one or more precursor compound; providing one or more carbon dioxide capture solvent or capture additive; and reacting said one or more precursor compound with said one or more carbon dioxide capture solvent or capture additive under conditions effective to produce one or more solid inorganic carbonate compound. Also disclosed is a method of producing solid inorganic bicarbonate compounds by capturing, converting, and storing carbon dioxide comprising providing one or more precursor compound; providing one or more carbon dioxide capture solvent or capture additive; and reacting said one or more precursor compound with said one or more carbon dioxide capture solvent or capture additive under conditions effective to produce one or more solid inorganic bicarbonate compound.