Abstract: A method for delivering therapeutic radiation to a target includes positioning a multi-aperture collimator on the skin within a trajectory of orthovoltage x-rays directed at the target, thus generating an array of minibeams, each of width between 0.1 mm to 0.6 mm. The skin is irradiated with the array. An effective beam of therapeutic radiation, which may be a solid beam, is delivered to the target at a predetermined tissue depth by merging adjacent orthovoltage x-ray minibeams sufficiently to form the effective beam. The effective beam may be formed proximal to the target. The depth at which the effective, preferably, solid, beam is formed is controlled by varying one or more of the spacing of the minibeams in the array, the minibeam width, the distance from the x-ray source to the collimator, and the x-ray source spot size. Planar minibeams can be arc-scanned while continuously modulating beam shape and intensity.

Abstract: Described are methods for pretreating lignocellulosic biomass that comprise thermally conditioning the biomass by flow processing an aqueous slurry of the biomass through an outer passage(s) of one or more heat exchange devices while circulating a heat exchange fluid through an inner passage(s) of the heat exchange device(s). Also described are methods for producing fermentation products, especially ethanol, from the pretreated biomass.

Abstract: This document provides materials and methods for treating pancreatitis (e.g., severe acute pancreatitis), a complication associated with pancreatitis (e.g., organ failure), and/or an acute inflammatory condition in a mammal (e.g., inflammation from a burn or trauma). For example, methods and materials for using one or more colipase inhibitors to treat a mammal having pancreatitis (e.g., acute pancreatitis) are provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a culture medium formulation comprising human serum that can enhance functions of primary human hepatocytes, improve morphology, promote bile canaliculi formation and extend hepatocyte functional lifetime in vitro for over 10 weeks as compared to ˜3-4 weeks when using a conventional culture medium containing serum from bovine sources. The provided long-term culture model can be used to screen drugs for their efficacious and/or toxic effects over several weeks, improve drug-transporter assays via the larger bile canaliculi network, and to model several chronic liver diseases such as hepatitis, type 2 diabetes, malaria, liver fibrosis, liver cancer, and fatty liver disease.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials involved in treating autoimmune conditions. For example, methods and materials for using either (a) one or more tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-?) inhibitors or (b) one or more Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors to treat autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis are provided.

Abstract: Provided is a hydrogen recovery method such that highly concentrated hydrogen gas can be obtained efficiently by adsorbing and removing hydrocarbon gas such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and methane, using a relatively low pressure, from pyrolysis gas obtained by heat treating biomass. The present invention is the method for recovering hydrogen from pyrolysis gas obtained by heat treating biomass, characterized by including: a first purifying step of adsorbing and removing gas that mainly includes carbon dioxide under pressure from the pyrolysis gas to purify the pyrolysis gas; and a second purifying step of further adsorbing and removing gas that includes carbon dioxide under pressure from purified gas obtained by the first purifying step at a pressure lower than the pressure in the first purifying step to purify the purified gas in order to recover hydrogen from the purified gas.

Abstract: Isolated non-naturally occurring, mutant-human islet amyloid polypeptides (hIAPP) are disclosed. These polypeptides can be formulated or co-formulated at physiological pH, which enable the polypeptides of the instant disclosure to be delivered to a subject having an amyloid-based disease in a single injection with an insulin agent. Methods and compositions for treating amyloid-based disease in a subject in need thereof, by administering an effective amount of an isolated, mutant-hIAPP polypeptide, including formulations or co-formulations thereof are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed here are peptides derived from a serpin reactive center loop that have anti¬inflammatory, anti-atherogenic and anti-sepsis activity. Compositions containing such serpin-derived peptides are therefore useful in the treatment of transplant vascular disease and also for the treatment of hemorrhagic viral infections as well as lethal viral, fungal or bacterial sepsis in patients.

Abstract: Series of 2-phenyl-4-methylthiazole analogues are disclosed as potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of bacterial infections, especially methicillin-resistant Straphylococcus aureus (MRSA) related infections. A method for the treatment of MRSA-related infections is also claimed.

Abstract: Devices and methods can be used to treat heart conditions such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). For example, this document describes transcatheter myocardial volume reduction devices and methods for treating HCM. In some implementations described in this document, a transcatheter irreversible electroporation (IRE) technique is used to treat HCM. In some cases, such a technique is used to deliver non-thermal ablation to myocardial cellular components such as the ventricular septum. The bulk of the ventricular septum's myocardial tissue can be reduced in result.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a portable analyzer for detecting bisphenol A, which comprises an aptamer specifically binding to bisphenol A, and a method for detecting bisphenol A using the same. The analyzer of the present invention can analyze a small amount of a sample collected from a contaminated environment in a field at a level similar to a laboratory environment, thereby having an effect of enabling a more immediate and accurate detection and quantification of bisphenol A.

Abstract: A surgical device for retracting tissue of a subject while offering lighting and suction means integrated into the same device. This device is useful in many different surgical procedures, including those requiring precise tissue retraction in small openings of a subject, such as facial orbital fracture repair.

Abstract: In some aspects, the disclosure relates to methods and compositions for delivery of proteins into mammalian cells. In some embodiments, the disclosure provides a genetically engineered bacterium that may be useful for delivery of proteins into mammalian cells. In some aspects, the disclosure relates to improved methods of bacterially-mediated protein delivery.

Abstract: A method includes identifying a plurality of local tracklets from a plurality of targets, creating a plurality of global tracklets from the plurality of local tracklets, wherein each global tracklet comprises a set of local tracklet of the plurality of local tracklets, wherein the set of local tracklet corresponds to a target of the plurality of targets; extracting motion features of the target from the each global tracklet of the plurality of global tracklets, wherein the motion features of each target of the plurality of targets from each global tracklet of the plurality of global tracklets are distinguishable from the motion features of remaining targets of the plurality of targets from remaining global tracklets; transforming the motion features into an address code by using a hashing process; and transmitting a plurality of address codes and a transformation parameter of the hashing process to a communication device.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials related to induced pluripotent stem cells. For example, induced pluripotent stem cells, compositions containing induced pluripotent stem cells, methods for obtaining induced pluripotent stem cells, and methods for using induced pluripotent stem cells are provided. In addition, methods and materials for using induced pluripotent stem cells to repair tissue (e.g., cardiovascular tissue) in vivo as well as methods and materials for using induced pluripotent stem cells to assess their therapeutic potential in appropriate animal models are provided.

Abstract: Described herein are pharmaceutical compositions, medicaments and methods for providing effective immunomodulation with chimeric proteins including FasL moieties for selective and long-lasting regulation of the immune response.

Abstract: A novel electromagnetic actuator designed to operate at system resonance, used in the construction of a unique vehicle system, is presented herein. An exemplary embodiment of the vehicle system is based on an electromagnetic actuator coupled to a plurality of actuating members of a micro aerial vehicle. Attributes of this type of actuation offer several enhancements over traditional approaches. The unique use of an electromagnetic actuator lends itself to a near unlimited number of coil cross-sectional designs that can be optimized to meet performance requirements while maintaining minimal costs of fabrication.

Abstract: Various aspects of the present invention are directed to providing a perovskite solar cell, and has a technical feature in that excellent stability and high efficiency are simultaneously secured by using a solid solution having a specific composition as a light absorber.

Abstract: A system for providing interaction between a virtual human and a user, the system comprising: a tangible interface providing a physical interface between the user and the virtual human, an imaging system directed towards the physical interface to provide images of the user interacting with the tangible interface; a tracking system tracking at least one position or the user; a microphone capturing speech from the user; a simulation system receiving inputs from the tangible interface, the imaging system, the tracking system and the microphone, the simulation system generating output signals corresponding to the virtual human; and a display presenting the output signals to the user.

Abstract: A microfluidic intravital window includes an intravital imaging window adapted for implantation adjacent target tissue of a live animal, and a microfluidic fluid source and delivery system physically integrated into the window for controlled delivery of fluids to target tissue via the window. The microfluidic fluid source and delivery system is self-contained and completely located within the intravital imaging window, and includes at least one preloaded fluid reservoir, at least one fluid port in fluidic communication with both the at least one preloaded fluid reservoir and the target tissue, and at least one light activated fluid flow control device situated between the at least one preloaded fluid reservoir and at least one fluid port, to facilitate simultaneous in vivo viewing and remotely controlled fluid delivery to the target tissue.