Abstract: A method of ammonia synthesis is described that includes contacting a nitrogen gas-containing plasma with an aqueous solution, thereby forming ammonia from the nitrogen gas and water. The nitrogen gas-containing plasma is present in an electrochemical cell. The electrochemical cell includes a container including an acidic liquid electrolyte. The electrochemical cell also includes a source of nitrogen gas, a metal electrode at least partially immersed in the electrolyte, a metal tube electrode spaced apart from a surface of the electrolyte by a predetermined spacing. The electrochemical cell is configured to provide a plasma spanning the predetermined space from the metal tube electrode to contact the surface of the electrolyte when power is applied to the metal tube electrode.

Abstract: An agent is described that includes a plant virus particle or VLP conjugate to TRAIL. Associating TRAIL with the plant virus particle or VLP serves to both target cancer cells and induce their apoptosis. The agent can therefore be used for a method of treating cancer in a subject.

Abstract: One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a system that can modulate the intensity of a neural stimulation signal over time. A pulse generator can be configured to generate a stimulation signal for application to neural tissue of an individual and modulate a parameter related to intensity of a pattern of pulses of the stimulation signal over time. An electrode can be coupled to the pulse generator and configured to apply the stimulation signal to the neural tissue. A population of axons in the neural tissue can be recruited with each pulse of the stimulation signal.

Abstract: Embodiments discussed herein facilitate building and/or employing model(s) for determining tumor prognoses based on a combination of radiomic features and pathomic features. One example embodiment can perform actions comprising: providing, to a first machine learning model, at least one of: one or more intra-tumoral radiomic features associated with a tumor or one or more peri-tumoral radiomic features associated with a peri-tumoral region around the tumor; receiving a first predicted prognosis associated with the tumor from the first machine learning model; providing, to a second machine learning model, one or more pathomic features associated with the tumor; receiving a second predicted prognosis associated with the tumor from the second machine learning model; and generating a combined prognosis associated with the tumor based on the first predicted prognosis and the second predicted prognosis.

Abstract: One aspect of the present disclosure can include a method for reducing or alleviating inflammation in the digestive tract of a subject in need thereof that consumes a disruptive dietary component. One step of the method can include assaying a previously obtained fecal sample from the subject for the presence of one or more Proteobacteria and an activity level of a peroxidase enzyme. The subject can decrease ingestion of the disruptive dietary component if the assayed presence of the one or more Proteobacteria and the activity level of the peroxidase enzyme are increased as compared to control levels.

Abstract: Embodiments discussed herein facilitate implementation of one or more DBS pulsing strategies that maximize synaptic suppression with the minimum number of stimuli. One example embodiment comprises a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to perform operations, comprising: applying deep brain stimulation (DBS) electrical stimulation according to a first mode to cause steady-state excitatory post-synaptic current (EPSC) suppression in a set of synapses; and applying DBS electrical stimulation according to a second mode that is different than the first mode to maintain EPSC suppression in the set of synapses.

Abstract: A rod-shaped plant virus having an interior surface and an exterior surface, and at least one imaging agent that is linked to the interior and/or exterior surface is described. The rod-shaped viruses can be combined into larger spherical nanoparticles. A rod-shaped plant virus or spherical nanoparticles including an imaging agent can be used in a method of generating an image of a tissue region of a subject such as a tumor or atherosclerotic tissue by administering the virus particle to the subject and generating an image of the tissue region of the subject to which the virus particle has been distributed.

Abstract: A melt processed viral nanoparticle construct for delivery of virus or virus-like particles to a site of interest includes a degradable polymer matrix and a plurality of virus or virus-like particles encapsulated within the degradable polymer matrix. The nanoparticle construct upon administration to the site of interest providing a sustained release of the virus or virus-like particles and/or nanoparticles upon degradation of the polymer matrix.

Abstract: A composition for use in diagnostic and therapeutic applications includes a heteromultivalent nanoparticle or microparticle having an outer surface and a plurality of targeting moieties conjugated to the surface of the nanoparticle or microparticle, the targeting moieties includes a first activated platelet targeting moiety and a second activated platelet targeting moiety.

Abstract: Embodiments discussed herein facilitate segmentation of histological primitives from stained histology of renal biopsies via deep learning and/or training deep learning model(s) to perform such segmentation. One example embodiment is configured to access a first histological image of a renal biopsy comprising a first type of histological primitives, wherein the first histological image is stained with a first type of stain; provide the first histological image to a first deep learning model trained based on the first type of histological primitive and the first type of stain; and receive a first output image from the first deep learning model, wherein the first type of histological primitives is segmented in the first output image.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to subcutaneous direct current (DC) nerve conduction block. A subcutaneous electrode can be implanted under a subject's skin between the subject's skin and a neural structure within the subject's body. The subcutaneous electrode can be coupled to a current generator. A DC can be configured by the current generator and delivered through the subcutaneous electrode to block conduction in the neural structure. The subcutaneous electrode eliminates an effect of an impedance of the subject's skin on the DC. The DC can be returned to the current generator by a return electrode.

Abstract: A method of determining the latent HIV reservoir level in a subject includes obtaining a blood sample from an HIV+ subject, isolating CD4+ T cells from the biological sample, administering one or more HIV transcription inducing agents to the isolated CD4+ T cells, isolating RNA from the CD4+ T-cells that includes HIV env mRNA, producing a plurality of first amplicons from the from the isolated RNA using a first primer set that corresponds to an HIV genomic region encoding the HIV env protein, producing a plurality of second amplicons from the plurality of first amplicons using a second primer set, the second primer set including one or more adapter sequences and/or uniquely identifiable barcode sequences, and determining the nucleic acid sequences of the second amplicons, wherein the determined nucleic acid sequences in the sample are indicative of the amount of inducible cell-associated HIV env RNA in the sample and indicative of the latent HIV reservoir in the subject.

Abstract: Devices suitable for the production of electrochemically aligned materials such as strands, threads or fibers. The device includes a substantially horizontally aligned electrochemical cell in one embodiment, with the arrangement producing highly compacted materials. Materials including electrochemically aligned and compacted compounds are also disclosed, along with methods for making and using the materials.

Abstract: Chronic pain management can be achieved by electrically anesthetizing a peripheral nerve with on-demand electrical nerve block (OD-ENB). OD-ENB can be provided by an implantable capsule. Externally, at least a portion of the capsule can be constructed of a conductive membrane and the rest of the capsule comprises a biocompatible material. A blocking electrode contact, a return electrode contact, and a powering/communication component can be within the capsule. The blocking electrode contact can deliver a direct current (DC) through a portion of the conductive membrane to block conduction in the neural tissue to provide the OD-ENB. The return electrode contact can receive a return current from the neural tissue through another portion of the conductive membrane. The powering/communication component can communicate with one or more external components located external to the patient's body to receive a power signal. Notably the capsule has no internal battery.

Abstract: Modified tRNAs can be used to express in a mammalian cell a functional gene product encoded by a gene containing a premature stop codon and/or to treat a disease mediated by a premature stop codon.

Abstract: A method of treating cancer in a subject that includes administering in situ to the cancer a therapeutically effective amount of a plant virus or virus-like particle to the subject.

Abstract: One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a system that can modulate the intensity of a neural stimulation signal over time. A pulse generator can be configured to generate a stimulation signal for application to neural tissue of an individual and modulate a parameter related to intensity of a pattern of pulses of the stimulation signal over time. An electrode can be coupled to the pulse generator and configured to apply the stimulation signal to the neural tissue. A population of axons in the neural tissue can be recruited with each pulse of the stimulation signal.

Abstract: Embodiments discussed herein facilitate building and/or employing a clinical-radiomics score for determining tumor prognoses based on a combination of a radiomics risk score generated by a machine learning model and clinico-pathological factors. One example embodiment can perform actions comprising: accessing a medical imaging scan of a tumor; segmenting a peri-tumoral region around the tumor; extracting one or more intra-tumoral radiomic features from the tumor and one or more peri-tumoral radiomic features from the peri-tumoral region; providing the one or more intra-tumoral radiomic features and the one or more peri-tumoral radiomic features to a trained machine learning model; receiving a radiomic risk score (RRS) associated with the tumor from the machine learning model; determining a clinical-radiomics score based on the RRS and one or more clinico-pathological factors; and generating a prognosis for the tumor based on the clinical-radiomics score.

Abstract: A user-specific model of muscular activity can be used to control an external device based on muscular activity within a limb of a user. The user-specific model of muscular activity can include single movements and corresponding one or more primary muscle patterns. New single movements can be added to the user-specific model of muscular activity can be by a system that includes a processor by receiving user-specific EMG signals (including one or more EMG patterns that indicate a single movement); decomposing the user-specific EMG signals into the one or more EMG patterns in EMG feature space that indicate the single movement; and updating the user-specific model of muscular activity to include the single movement and corresponding one or more primary muscle patterns based on the one or more EMG patterns in EMG feature space.

Abstract: A method of reducing a latent HIV-specific memory-CD4+ T cell pool in a subject includes administering to the subject at least one HIV-1 protein and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein the at least one HIV-1 protein is derived from an allogenic infecting HIV-1 virus, and wherein the HIV-1 protein stimulates latent HIV-specific memory CD4+ T cells to induce latent HIV-1 replication resulting in HIV-specific memory-CD4+ T cell death in the subject.