Abstract: Compositions including a surface or film comprising nanofibers, nanotubes or microwells comprising a bioactive agent for elution to the surrounding tissue upon placement of the composition in a subject are disclosed. The compositions are useful in medical implants and methods of treating a patient in need of an implant, including orthopedic implants, dental implants, cardiovascular implants, neurological implants, neurovascular implants, gastrointestinal implants, muscular implants, and ocular implants.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are porous asymmetric silicon membranes. The membranes are characterized by high structural stability, and as such are useful as anode components in lithium ion batteries.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for converting mesenchymal stem cells into endothelial cells by using specific transcription factors and, more specifically, a method for converting mesenchymal stem cells into endothelial cells by using Oct4, Nanog, Tal1, and LMO2, which are specific transcription factors. According to the present invention, the method for converting adult cells or mesenchymal stem cells, which are adult stem cells, into endothelial cells was developed by selecting two types of genes, which are less directly related to cancer induction, among cell reprogramming factors and two types of transcription factors, which are not expressed or expressed at a low level in mesenchymal stem cells, among transcription factors related to vascular development, and combining all four transcription factors. The method can be applied in the production of endothelial cells for forming regenerative tissue in tissue engineering and ischemic disease therapy.

Abstract: A polycaprolactone fumarate polymer useful as a matrix material for a biocompatible scaffold for tissue engineering applications is disclosed. The polycaprolactone fumarate polymer can be prepared by reacting caprolactone with an alkane polyol to prepare a polycaprolactone precursor, and then reacting the polycaprolactone precursor with fumaric acid or a salt thereof to prepare the polycaprolactone fumarate polymer. The use of an alkane diol, such as 1,2-propanediol, provides a linear polycaprolactone diol precursor. The use of an alkane triol, such as glycerol, provides a branched polycaprolactone triol precursor. The biocompatible polycaprolactone fumarate formulation releases no diethylene glycol or other undesirable byproducts during degradation.

Abstract: A hybrid structural apparatus is provided for a vehicle air braking system. The hybrid structural apparatus comprises a member including a non-pressure plate of a brake actuator and an arm portion that extends from the non-pressure plate. The member is made of a first material. The hybrid structural apparatus further comprises a first flange made of a second material fastened to the arm portion of the member. The second material is different from the first material. The hybrid structural apparatus also includes a second flange for fastening to a brake spider, and a camshaft support tube interconnecting the first and second flanges.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to a composition comprising at least one of iridium diboride and iridium monoboride, and methods of making such. The present disclosure also relates to a composition comprising iridium monoboride and at least one of (a) rows of single iridium atoms and/or (b) one or more clusters of iridium atoms, and methods of making such.

Abstract: A system and method for stabilizing a spine of an animal subject involving a transverse rod installation instrument assembly for inserting a transverse rod on the spine of a subject percutaneously comprising: a first rod clamp extender mounted on a ipsilateral rod clamp and a second rod clamp extender mounted on a contralateral rod clamp wherein the ipsilateral rod clamp and the contralateral rod clamp are secured to a vertebra at the ipsilateral and contralateral pedicle; and a pivoting installation instrument pivotably mounted to the first rod clamp extender and the second rod clamp extender to pass a transverse rod percutaneously through a head portion of the ipsilateral side rod clamp and to the head portion of the contralateral rod clamp after passing through a spinous process of the vertebra through pivot axis “A” such that the transverse rod is secured at the head portion of the ipsilateral rod clamp and the head portion of the contralateral rod clamp.

Abstract: Methods and reagents for esterification of biological molecules including proteins, polypeptides and peptides. Diazo compounds of formula I: where R is hydrogen, an alkyl, an alkenyl or an alkynyl, RA represents 1-5 substituents on the indicated phenyl ring and RM is an organic group, which includes a label, a cell penetrating group, a cell targeting group, or a reactive group or latent reactive group for reaction to bond to a label, a cell penetrating group, or a cell targeting group, among other organic groups are useful for esterification of biological molecules. Also provided are diazo compounds which are bifunctional and trifunctional coupling reagents as well as reagents for the synthesis of compounds of formula I.

Abstract: Certain compounds, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or prodrugs thereof, are provided herein. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions comprising at least one compound, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt or prodrug thereof, described herein and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle. Methods of treating patients suffering from certain diseases and disorders responsive to the inhibition of KMO activity are described, which comprise administering to such patients an amount of at least one compound, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt or prodrug thereof, described herein effective to reduce signs or symptoms of the disease or disorder are disclosed. These diseases include neurodegenerative disorders such as Huntington's disease.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electronic device configured to connect with at least one sensor device through a network. The electronic device includes a communicator comprising communication circuitry configured to communicate with the at least one sensor device and a user terminal, a storage configured to store information of data acquiring methods available for the sensor device and information of settings of a current data acquiring method and a processor configured to determine whether data is acquirable based on the stored information of the data acquiring methods in response to a request for acquiring the data from the user terminal with respect to the at least one sensor device, and to control the at least one sensor based on the determination.

Abstract: Disclosed are capsid-mutated rAAV vectors and methods for their use in gene therapy, and particularly for use in delivering therapeutic transgenes to treat a variety of mammalian diseases and disorders, including dysfunctions and abnormal conditions of the human eye. VP3 capsid proteins comprising a modification of one or more of the surface-exposed tyrosine residues are disclosed, and in particular, VP3 capsid protein comprising tyrosine-to-phenylalanine mutations at positions corresponding to Y444F, Y500F, and Y730F of the wild-type AAV2 sequence. Also provided are rAAV virions and viral particles that comprise such a mutated AAV capsid protein and a nucleic acid molecule that expresses one or more selected therapeutic or reporter transgenes in one or more mammalian cells of interest. Advantageously, the capsid-mutated rAAV vectors and virions disclosed herein afford improved transduction efficiency in a variety of cells, tissues and organs of interest, when compared to their unmodified (i.e.

Abstract: Provided herein is a block copolymer hydrogel, comprising a glass formed from a dry blend of polystyrene-poly(ethylene oxide) diblock copolymer (SO) and polystyrene-poly(ethylene oxide)-polystyrene triblock copolymer (SOS) in a molar ratio from between 95:5 and 1:99 SO/SOS and a liquid medium at a concentration between about 32:1 and about 2:1 liquid medium/SO—SOS by weight. The block copolymer hydrogel has a fatigue resistance to at least 500,000 compression cycles. Also provided are methods for forming the hydrogel.

Abstract: Various examples are provided for jamming avoidance response (JAR), and photonic implementations thereof. In one example, a method includes generating optical pulses that correspond to raising envelope of a beat signal associated with an interference signal and a reference signal; generating optical spikes that correspond to positive zero crossing points of the reference signal; and providing a phase output that indicates whether the beat signal is leading or lagging the reference signal, the phase output based at least in part upon the optical spikes. An adjustment to a reference frequency can be determined based at least in part upon the optical pulses and the phase output. In another example, a JAR system includes photonic circuitry to generate the optical pulses; photonic circuitry to generate the optical spikes; and photonic circuitry to provide the phase output. A logic unit can determine the adjustment to the reference frequency.

Abstract: A computer-implemented patient information provisioning method is disclosed. The method includes automatically extracting with a computer system, from records maintained for a patient under care in a healthcare facility, information from a electronic medical record; obtaining with the computer system information about a medical ventilator treating the patient; using the information from the electronic medical record and the information about the medical ventilator to determine whether a potentially dangerous condition exists with respect to the ventilator; and electronically alerting a caregiver if it is determined that a potentially dangerous condition exists.

Abstract: The compositions and methods described herein are designed to introduce functionalized microparticles into droplets that can be manipulated in microfluidic devices by fields, including electric (dielectrophoretic) or magnetic fields, and extracted by splitting a droplet to separate the portion of the droplet that contains the majority of the microparticles from the part that is largely devoid of the microparticles. Within the device, channels are variously configured at Y- or T junctions that facilitate continuous, serial isolation and dilution of analytes in solution. The devices can be limited in the sense that they can be designed to output purified analytes that are then further analyzed in separate machines or they can include additional channels through which purified analytes can be further processed and analyzed.

Abstract: Respiratory sinus arrhythmia, or another bodily function that indicates a patient's parasympathetic tone, is used to control the delivery of vagal nerve stimulation to the patient for treating disorders that can be reflected and influenced by the behavior of the autonomic nervous system.

Abstract: A method, system and related computer program product for tracking the probability of hypoglycemia from routine self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) data in patients with diabetes. A specific bivariate probability distribution of low BG events based jointly on the Low BG Index (LBGI) and the Average Daily Risk Range (ADRR) is used to predict hypoglycemia probability of occurrence from inputted SMBG data. The SMBG data is retrieved from a series of SMBG data of a patient available from the patient's glucose meter and allows tracking of the probability for future hypoglycemia over a predetermined duration, e.g., a 24 or 48 hour period. The tracking includes presentation of visual and/or numerical output, as we construction of hypoglycemia risk trajectories that would enable warning messages for crossing of predefined thresholds, such as 50% likelihood for upcoming hypoglycemia below 50 mg/dl.

Abstract: A drum brake assembly and method for designing the assembly are provided. The assembly includes a brake spider, a pair of brake shoes pivotally coupled to the brake spider at one end, and a pair of cam followers disposed at opposite ends of the brake shoes. The assembly further includes a camshaft having a shaft disposed along a rotational axis and a cam disposed at one end of the shaft. The cam has an inboard side proximate the shaft, an outboard side distant from the shaft and a cam surface extending between the inboard and outboard sides in engagement with the cam followers. The camshaft further includes a noise reducing mass disposed on the outboard side of the cam. The mass is configured to establish a natural frequency in the cam that differs from a natural frequency of the first and second brake shoes to reduce audible noise.

Abstract: A method and device for modulating the autonomic nervous system adjacent a pericardial space to treat cardiac arrhythmia includes a treatment source arranged to supply a treatment medium, a catheter having an end sized for insertion into the pericardial space, a medium delivery assembly having a distal end arranged to be positioned by the catheter into the pericardium, with the distal end of the delivery assembly comprising a delivery tip arranged to extend away from the distal end of the catheter into the pericardial space. A connector operatively couples the delivery tip of the medium delivery assembly to the treatment source, and the delivery tip of the medium delivery assembly including a plurality of delivery points for delivering the treatment medium at a plurality of treatment areas within the pericardial space. The device performs modulation or ablation of the autonomic nervous system at selected treatment areas within the pericardium.

Abstract: ‘UF16-23-2’ is a basil plant with vigorous upright growth habit, dark green leaf color, good lateral branching, late flowering and excellent resistance to Basil Downy Mildew (Peronospora belbahrii, BDM). It has a strong upright growth habit with excellent lateral branching which allows it to produce good quantities of high quality leaf tissue. Late flowering and BDM resistance in the greenhouse and field make this cultivar suitable for growers of fresh cut and potted basil for culinary use, and for home gardeners.