Abstract: A method, system, apparatus, and/or device to determine a condition of a user using multiple sensors. The method, system, apparatus, and/or device may include: a band configured to extend at least partially around a body part of a user having a subdermal feature within body part; a light configured in the band to emit light into the body part; a miniaturized spectrometer positioned in the band to press against the body part to receive the light, where the miniaturized spectrometer comprises: an optical filter configured to isolate a relevant constituent wavelength of the light; a collimator configured to collimate the light; and an optical sensor configured to detect an intensity of the relevant constituent wavelength; and an impedance sensor integrated into the band and configured to be positioned against a same side of the body part as the miniaturized spectrometer.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to methods and systems for determining thermal properties of materials by using frequency modulated pump light intensity to cyclically heat a sample, and using probe light to induce fluorescent signals from fluorescent indicators on the surface of the material during the cyclic 5 heating. The methods and systems utilize the phase delay between the frequency modulated pump light and the corresponding fluorescent signals to determine the thermal properties of the material at one or more locations on the material sample.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein are directed towards noise reduction pipes, vacuum-assisted toilet systems including the same, and methods of using the same. An example noise reduction pipe includes a first end and a second end that is opposite the first end. The first end is configured to be coupled to an outlet of a toilet bowl and the second end is configured to be coupled to an inlet of a flush valve. The noise reduction pipe defines a fluid flow path that extends between the first end and the second end such that waste may flow from the first end to the second end. The noise reduction pipe also includes one or more bends. Each of the bends exhibits a radius of curvature that is greater than about 5 cm or a length that is greater than about 30 cm.

Abstract: A lamina emergent torsional (LET) joint that includes an integrated membrane to reduce, or eliminate, certain unwanted motions and/or displacements associated with the operation of the LET joint is disclosed. The membrane-integrated LET joint (i.e., M-LET) can be used as a hinge for a lamina emergent mechanism and/or as a surrogate fold for an origami application to ensure accurate and repeatable transitions from a planar (i.e., lamina) state to a non-planar (i.e., lamina-emergent) state, and vice versa.

Abstract: In a general aspect, an apparatus can include a first carbon nanotube array that is patterned to define a first electrode having a first plurality of electrode segments. The apparatus can also include a second carbon nanotube array that is patterned to define a second electrode having a second plurality of electrode segments. The second plurality of electrode segments can be interdigitated with the first plurality of electrode segments. The apparatus can further include a biorecognition agent disposed on a surface of the first electrode and disposed on a surface of the second electrode. The first plurality of electrode segments can each have a height-to-width aspect ratio of at least 1 to 1.

Abstract: An apparatus can include a central member comprising a first side, a second side, and a third side, a first interior panel rotatably attached to the first side, a second interior panel rotatably attached to the second side, a third interior panel rotatably attached to the third side, a first exterior panel rotatably attached to the first interior panel, a second exterior panel rotatably attached to the second interior panel, a third exterior panel rotatably attached to the third interior panel, a first interior biasing member attached to the central member and the first interior panel and biasing the first interior panel to extend away from the central member toward a plane parallel to the central member, and a first interior restraint cable attached to the central member and the first interior panel and restraining the first interior panel from extending along the plane parallel to the central member.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of treating, reducing, or preventing a disease such as oral mucositis, gastric mucositis, or inflammatory fibrosis, comprising identifying a patient in need of treatment and administering a therapeutically effective amount of at least one cationic steroid antimicrobial (CSA), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. Kits comprising such compositions and instructions on such methods are also contemplated herein.

Abstract: Hybrid suspension cultures supplementing soluble extracellular matrix (ECM) for growth of organoids is disclosed. Viable lung organoid from epithelial, endothelial, and fibroblast human stable cell lines in suspension culture are also disclosed.

Abstract: Miniaturized solid-phase extraction (SPE) systems and processes are disclosed. The systems and methods enable preconcentration methods for sample preparation that can be performed on a variety of specimens. The miniaturization of SPE system is accomplished with 3D-printed microfluidic device for fast and simple extraction of analytes.

Abstract: A method, system, apparatus, and/or device to determine a condition of a user using a wearable device with a miniaturized spectrometer. The method, system, apparatus, and/or device may include: a band configured to extend at least partially around a body part of a user, the body part comprising an internal feature within the body part; a light source embedded in the band, where the light source is configured to emit light into the body part as the user wears the band; a collimator; an optical filter; and an optical sensor, where the collimator, optical sensor, or the optical filter are arranged together to form a stack embedded in the band.

Abstract: Methods and compositions that can be used to modulate the activity of furin in a subject are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the methods include administering a pharmaceutical composition including a protease inhibitor. In some embodiments, the protease inhibitor inhibits furin activity by binding to the catalytic site, the allosteric site, or both.

Abstract: An example barrier can be switchable between an at least partially collapsed state and at least partially expanded state (e.g., a deployed state). For example, the barrier can be formed from a sheet and a plurality of rigid sections (e.g., rigid panels) attached or incorporated into the sheet. The barrier can also include a plurality of hinges, such as hinge lines, between the panels that are formed from the sheet. The hinges enable the barrier to be rigid foldable (e.g., the hinges can fold and unfold while the rigid sections remain stiff and rigid) between the expanded and collapsed states.

Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for providing a charge detector that utilizes small feedback capacitors in a low-noise, high-gain, system that combines a differential topology in a solid-state amplifier implemented in a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) process with active reset, thereby achieving high dynamic range and robust operations. A custom optoelectronic system is used to measure gain, and while operating at a sampling frequency of 10 kHz, the active reset extends the dynamic range of the charge detector.

Abstract: A computer system and method for maintaining and using a domain ontology. The computer system includes a triple store comprising a domain ontology, a computer-readable tangible medium comprising software instructions, and a processor configured to access the computer-readable tangible medium to load and execute the software instructions. The software instructions provide a write service configured for receiving a request from a client interface of an authenticated user to edit the domain ontology of the triple store and an interface for updating the domain ontology based on the received request. The method includes steps of providing access to a domain ontology stored on a triple store, receiving a request from a client interface of a first client computer an authenticated user to edit the domain ontology of the triple store, and updating the domain ontology based on the received request by storing updates to the domain ontology in the triple store.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compounds having the following Formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt form thereof: B-L-C (I) wherein B is a bone-binding moiety; L is a linker; and C is a cationic steroid antimicrobial (CSA) moiety, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds, and methods of using the compounds or pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of an infection or osteomyelitis in a bone of a subject, promotion of bone formation in a subject, or treatment of bone cancer or metastatic bone cancer in a subject.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for using circular symmetry to eliminate the angle limitations of an optical axis in a scanned aperture holography system. A Room-sized Holography System may be a scanned aperture holographic video display and may comprise a rotating platform, a telescope comprising a first lens and a second lens, and scanners at the Fourier plane where the focal length of the first lens and the second lens meet. The platform may rotate around an axis aligned with a spatial light modulator. When the platform rotates, the scanners rotate, thereby de-rotating a SAW image. The second lens may be a spherical reflective surface for redirecting light from the spatial light modulator, having passed through the first lens and reflected off a mirror-scanner, toward a user's eyes. The user may be on a chair above the spatial light modulator, wherein the chair is configured to rotate with the spatial light modulator.

Abstract: A system includes: an acoustic exciter; a compliant material applied to the acoustic exciter to configure the acoustic exciter for triggering acoustic excitation of at least part of a substrate; a sensor configured to receive an acoustic response of the acoustic excitation; and circuitry configured to determine at least one characteristic of the substrate using the acoustic response.

Abstract: An example vacuum-assisted toilet includes a toilet bowl including an outlet. The outlet of the toilet bowl is fluidly coupled to a first flush valve, for example, using a first pipe. The first flush valve is fluidly coupled to a second flush valve that is positioned downstream from the first flush valve. For example, the first flush valve may be fluidly coupled to the second flush valve using a second pipe. The second flush valve is fluidly coupled to a vacuum source. The vacuum source may include, for example, a holding tank having a vacuum pressure therein, a vacuum pump, or any other suitable vacuum source.

Abstract: A flexible electric probe can include: a flexible substrate; and probe line conductors on the flexible substrate, the probe line conductors being essentially parallel to each other and having separations of about 5-50 microns. The flexible electric probe can further include connection conductors on the flexible substrate, the connection conductors and the probe line conductors electrically connected to each other, the probe line conductors positioned in first and second offset patterns with regard to the connection conductors.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are cationic steroidal antimicrobials (“CSA compounds” or “ceragenins”) and methods of making the same. Particularly advantageous methods are identified for the synthesis of CSA compounds. CSA compounds may be formulated for treating subjects with ailments responsive to CSA compounds, including but not limited to treating bacterial infections. Accordingly, some embodiments include formulations and methods of administering CSA compounds.