Abstract: R-spondin (RSPO) surrogate compositions and methods for their use are provided. RSPO surrogates of the invention comprise (i) a specific binding domain for Ring Finger Protein 43 (RNF43) or Zinc and Ring Finger Protein 3 (ZNRF3) and (ii) a cell targeting domain More specifically, wherein the specific binding domain for RNF43 or ZNRF3 is an antibody fragment, and wherein the cell targeting domain is a cytokine.

Abstract: Silicon carbide on insulator is provided by bonding bulk silicon carbide to a substrate with an oxide-oxide fusion bond, followed by thinning the bulk silicon carbide as needed. A doping-selective etch for silicon carbide is used to improve thickness uniformity of the silicon carbide layer(s).

Abstract: Variant IL-13 polypeptides are provided, which are engineered to have one or more of the following properties: (a) altered affinity for IL-13R?2, relative to the native human IL-13 protein; (b) altered affinity for IL-13R?1 relative to the native human IL-13 protein; (c) a disruption in the binding site for IL-4R? relative to the native human IL-13 protein.

Abstract: Systems and methods for predicting and treating relapses for neurological conditions in accordance with embodiments of the invention are illustrated. One embodiment includes a method for predicting and treating a clinical neurological condition relapse. The method includes steps for selecting a threshold heart rate variability value for a patient suffering from a clinical neurological condition, monitoring, using a cardiac monitor, the heart rate variability of the patient over time, providing an indicator that a relapse is imminent when the heart rate variability of the patient falls below the threshold heart rate variability value, and treating the patient using a transcranial magnetic stimulation device by applying an accelerated theta burst stimulation protocol where the transcranial magnetic stimulation target is the left prefrontal dorsolateral cortex.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided to facilitate self-catheterization of a urethra. In an exemplary embodiment, the device includes an elongate anchor member comprising a proximal end and a rounded distal end to facilitate insertion into a user's vagina, a bridge extending laterally from an intermediate location of the anchor member, a guide on the bridge spaced apart from the anchor member such that the guide is aligned with the user's urethra, the guide including a passage therethrough sized to receive a urinary catheter therethrough, and a handle on the proximal end of the anchor member to facilitate manipulation by the user and consistent, accurate alignment of the guide.

Abstract: Improved stimulated Raman spectroscopy is provided by replacing the Stokes (or anti-Stokes) optical source with a localized electromagnetic emitter that is excited with a non-electromagnetic excitation. Such a localized emitter can be an efficient Stokes (or anti-Stokes) source for stimulated Raman spectroscopy, and can also provide deep sub-wavelength spatial resolution. In a preferred embodiment, an electron beam from an electron microscope is used to excite the localized emitter. This provides combined Raman imaging and electron microscopy that has the two imaging modalities inherently registered with each other.

Abstract: A brain machine interface (BMI) to control a device is provided. The BMI has a neural decoder, which is a neural to kinematic mapping function with neural signals as input to the neural decoder and kinematics to control the device as output of the neural decoder. The neural decoder is based on a continuous-time multiplicative recurrent neural network, which has been trained as a neural to kinematic mapping function. An advantage of the invention is the robustness of the decoder to perturbations in the neural data; its performance degrades less—or not at all in some circumstances—in comparison to the current state decoders. These perturbations make the current use of BMI in a clinical setting extremely challenging. This invention helps to ameliorate this problem. The robustness of the neural decoder does not come at the cost of some performance, in fact an improvement in performance is observed.

Abstract: A battery health monitoring system that utilizes adaptive cathode and adaptive anode observers to estimate the ion concentrations at the respective cathode and anode of a battery. Subsequently, the estimated ion concentrations can be used in a battery model to estimate the state of heath and state of charge of the battery. Additionally, the model and ion concentrations can be updated real time as aging components of the battery are evaluated in the output data from the battery.

Abstract: Systems, methods and devices are implemented for microscope imaging solutions. One embodiment of the present disclosure is directed toward an epifluorescence microscope. The microscope includes an image capture circuit including an array of optical sensor. An optical arrangement is configured to direct excitation light of less than about 1 mW to a target object in a field of view of that is at least 0.5 mm2 and to direct epi-fluorescence emission caused by the excitation light to the array of optical sensors. The optical arrangement and array of optical sensors are each sufficiently close to the target object to provide at least 2.5 ?m resolution for an image of the field of view.

Abstract: This disclosure provides methods of using BAF complex modulating compounds as inhibitors of BAF-mediated transcription in target cells. The BAF complex modulating compounds include 12-membered macrolactam compounds that can target a BAF-specific subunit (e.g., ARID1A) to prevent nucleosomal positioning, relieving transcriptional repression of HIV-1. The subject methods can provide for reversal of latency of HIV-1 in cells in vitro or in vivo. Use of the macrolactam BAF complex modulating compounds represent a method of HIV latency reversal with a unique mechanism of action, which can be optionally combined with other Latency Reversal Agents to improve reservoir targeting. The subject methods can be utilized in conjunction with any convenient methods of treating HIV or HIV latency, including methods related to immune system activation, antiretroviral therapies and/or anti-HIV agents.

Abstract: There are provided herein, inter alia, complexes, compositions and methods for a vaccine for COVID-19. The cell-penetrating complexes provided herein may include a nucleic acid non-covalently bound to a cationic amphipathic polymer, the cationic amphipathic polymer including a pH-sensitive immolation domain. The cell-penetrating complexes provided herein are, inter alia, useful in vaccines, wherein the vaccine includes a ribonucleic acid including a sequence encoding a viral protein, a nucleic acid adjuvant and a cationic amphipathic polymer provided herein including embodiments thereof.

Abstract: A method for scene synthesis from human motion is described. The method includes computing three-dimensional (3D) human pose trajectories of human motion in a scene. The method also includes generating contact labels of unseen objects in the scene based on the computing of the 3D human pose trajectories. The method further includes estimating contact points between human body vertices of the 3D human pose trajectories and the contact labels of the unseen objects that are in contact with the human body vertices. The method also includes predicting object placements of the unseen objects in the scene based on the estimated contact points.

Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with various embodiments of the invention are capable of rapid analysis and classification of cellular samples based on cytomorphological properties. In several embodiments, cells suspended in a fluid medium are passed through a microfluidic channel, where they are focused to a single stream line and imaged continuously. In a number of embodiments, the microfluidic channel establishes flow that enables individual cells to each be imaged at multiple angles in a short amount of time. A pattern recognition system can analyze the data captured from high-speed images of cells flowing through this system and classify target cells. In this way, the automated platform creates new possibilities for a wide range of research and clinical applications such as (but not limited to) point of care services.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing three-dimensional multi-object tracking are disclosed herein. In one example, a method includes the steps of determining a residual based on augmented current frame detection bounding boxes, augmented previous frame detection bounding boxes, augmented current frame shape descriptors, and augmented previous frame shape descriptors and predicting an affinity matrix using the residual. The residual indicates a spatiotemporal and shape similarity between current detections in a current frame point cloud data and previous detections in a previous frame point cloud data. The affinity matrix indicates associations between the previous detections and the current detections, as well as the augmented anchors.

Abstract: A method of preventing tissue adhesion includes forming an incision in tissue, applying a hydrogel to tissue through the incision, and closing the incision with the hydrogel therein. The hydrogel includes a polymer non-covalently cross-linked with a plurality of nanoparticles and prevents a formation of adhesions between tissues and/or organs.

Abstract: Provided is an optical modulator including a substrate, and a plurality of meta units provided on the substrate and spaced apart from each other, wherein at least one of the plurality of meta units includes a metal layer provided on the substrate, a dielectric layer provided an upper surface and side surfaces of the metal layer, and an antenna provided on an upper surface of the dielectric layer, the antenna including phase change material, wherein a refractive index of the phase change material changes based on a voltage applied to the metal layer to modulate incident light.

Abstract: Described is a locomotive implant for usage within a predetermined magnetic field. In one embodiment magnetohydrodynamics is used to generate thrust with a plurality of electrodes. In another embodiment, asymmetric drag forces are used to generate thrust.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for treating endometriosis in an individual, and the pain associated with endometriosis. Aspects of the methods include administering to the individual an agent that promotes ALDH activity.

Abstract: A method of training a neural network model to generate a three-dimensional (3D) model of a scene includes: generating the 3D model based on a latent code; based on the 3D model, sampling a camera view including a camera position and a camera angle corresponding to the 3D model of the scene; generating a two-dimensional (2D) image based on the 3D model and the sampled camera view; and training the neural network model to, using the 3D model, generate a scene corresponding to the sampled camera view based on the generated 2D image and a real 2D image.

Abstract: A system is disclosed that includes a computer that includes a processor and a memory, the memory including instructions executable by the processor to input an image acquired by a sensor to a neural network to output a prediction regarding an object included in the image. The neural network can be trained, based on (a) a distributed robust optimization that minimizes an expectation applied to probability distributions of loss functions to select training images that yield a solution with a selected uncertainty level and (b) generating additional input images based on adversarial images.