Abstract: A medical testing apparatus and method of use for penetrating a patient's tissue with an agent, the apparatus comprises an arcuate rail having spaced first and second sides supported by upper and lower arcuate surfaces and an arcuate handle having first and second ends extending from the upper surface of the arcuate rail. A plurality of tips extend substantially from and normally outward as the lower arcuate surface. The plurality of tips comprises alternating blunt tips and reed tips.

Abstract: As disclosed herein, the assistance of a new generation of immunotoxins (split-immunotoxins) the range of cancers susceptible to elimination by oncolytic viruses and the specific toxicity of the latter can be expanded without compromising the selectivity of targeting. To accomplish this goal, a polypeptide chain of a potent bacterial toxin (including, but not limited to a catalytic subunit of a Diphtheria toxin, DTA) can be split into two benign parts, which can then be delivered to the cytoplasm of cancer cells via two independent cancer-specific pathways: (1) together with an oncolytic virus (encoded in its genome); (2) as a split-immunotoxin delivered via receptor-specific toxin entry pathways. The two parts are fused into a functional toxin only in the cytoplasm of dually targeted cancer cells by means of intein-catalyzed trans-splicing.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to biomimetic nanomaterials, compounds, compositions, and methods for delivery of therapeutic, diagnostic, or prophylactic agents (for example, a nucleic acid).

Abstract: Membranes, methods of making the membranes, and methods of using the membranes are described herein. The membranes can comprise a support layer, and a selective polymer layer disposed on the support layer. In some cases, the support layer can comprise a gas permeable polymer and hydrophilic additive dispersed within the gas permeable polymer. In some cases, the selective polymer layer can comprise a selective polymer matrix and carbon nanotubes dispersed within the selective polymer matrix. The membranes can exhibit selective permeability to gases. As such, the membranes can be for the selective removal of carbon dioxide and/or hydrogen sulfide from hydrogen and/or nitrogen.

Abstract: A hand-held sized imaging instrument identifies molecules with high selectivity and in complex mixtures. The instrument uses inelastic scattering and scattering intensities from with machine learning algorithms based on convolutional neural networks (CNN's) to identify the presence of a specified chemical or combination of chemicals. A laser is housed within the instrument to initiate a material response of a sample using laser light of a specified wavelength. The instrument uses an image sensor to capture visible images with inelastic scattering information. The CNN is able to classify the image to determine whether the specified chemical or combination of chemicals is present in the sample. The instrument is inexpensive, portable, easy to use by anyone (nonchemist, nonprofessional), and safe (laser is completely housed). The instrument can be used efficiently and easily for quality control, security, and other applications to reliably detect the presence of specified substances.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for performing dynamic nuclear polarization using the polarizing agents described herein. In general, the methods involve (a) providing a frozen sample in a magnetic field, wherein the frozen sample includes a polarizing agent described herein and an analyte with at least one spin half nucleus; (b) polarizing the at least one spin half nucleus of the analyte by irradiating the frozen sample with radiation having a frequency that excites electron spin transitions in the polarizing agent; (c) optionally melting the sample to produce a molten sample; and (d) detecting nuclear spin transitions in the at least one spin half nucleus of the analyte in the frozen or molten sample. In certain embodiments, the polarizing agents can be peptide-based. In these embodiments, the polarizing agents can be readily prepared by solid-phase peptide synthesis.

Abstract: A method for measuring levels of specific biomarkers in exhaled breath. Specific compounds such as nitric oxide and isoprene can be monitored from a subject's breath. The resultant measurements can provide indications of the subject's medical condition, or response to an applied stress.

Abstract: The present technology is directed to fluorinated alkylsulfonamide electrolyte salts with high solubility, conductivity, and electrochemical stability as well as batteries incorporating fluorinated alkylsulfonamide salts. In any aspect and/or embodiment herein of the present technology, the battery may include a separator disposed between the cathode and the anode. The separator may be a porous paper, porous ceramic, or porous polymer separator.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel compositions and methods for treating systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) as well as a model for measuring the efficacy of said treatments. Specifically, the disclosure provides a non-human animal model for SLE comprising a severe combined immunodeficient non-human animal comprising exogenous cells from a human subject with SLE, wherein the cells from the human subject are peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Further disclosed is a method of screening for a drug candidate that inhibits or reduces SLE using a severe combined immunodeficient non-human animal.

Abstract: Assembly for use with a vacuum system and an esophageal positioning device esophageal positioning device includes an introducer, in which the esophageal positioning device includes a first segment and a second segment. The second segment is pivotally connected to the first segment. A gap portion of an outer tube of the introducer is defined along a longitudinal axis between a tube tip of the introducer and the distal end of the second segment of the esophageal positioning device when the esophageal positioning device is disposed within the introducer. The gap portion defines one or more radial vacuum holes.

Abstract: A fiber-to-fiber system for multi-layer ferroelectric on insulator waveguide devices is described. The system comprises a fiber-to-chip coupler that couples light from a standard optical fiber to multi-layer ferroelectric on insulator waveguides. The multi-layer ferroelectric on insulator waveguides are integrated with electrodes to implement an optical device, an electro-optical device, or a non-linear optical device, such as an electro-optical modulator, with microwave and optical waveguide crossings compatible with packaging. A second fiber-to-chip coupler outputs the light from the multi-layer ferroelectric on insulator device to a standard optical fiber.

Abstract: A bending apparatus for a sample is disclosed. The bending apparatus includes a translation mechanism that translates a vertical displacement/force into a horizontal displacement/force for bending. Components of the bending apparatus are fabricated from a strong, radiolucent material. In these ways, the bending apparatus is compatible with micro-CT imaging, and as such, may be used to bend a sample during imaging. In a particular application, the bending apparatus may be used to measure biomechanical properties of a bone, such as bone strength, bone material properties, fracture toughness, and fracture propagation.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are doped perovskite oxides. The doped perovskite oxides may be used as a cathode material in an electrochemical cell to electrochemically generate ammonia from N2. The doped perovskite oxides may be combined with nitride compounds, for instance iron nitride, to further increase the efficiency of the ammonia production.

Abstract: Methods for the treatment of condition associated with bromodomain and extraterminal domain (BET) protein activity are disclosed. The methods include administering a therapeutically effective amount of a piperazine BET protein inhibitor or a piperidine BET protein inhibitor to a subject in need thereof. Piperazine BET protein inhibitors, piperidine BET protein inhibitors, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the BET proteins inhibitors are also described.

Abstract: Systems and methods for sequestering carbon, evolving hydrogen gas, producing iron oxide as magnetite, and producing magnesium carbonate as magnesite through sequential carbonation and serpentinization/hydration reactions involving processed olivine- and/or pyroxene-rich ores, as typically found in mafic and ultramafic igneous rock. Precious or scarce metals, such nickel, cobalt, chromium, rare earth elements, and others, may be concentrated in the remaining ore to facilitate their recovery from any gangue material.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compounds, 3,4,6,8-substituted-2-([1,1?-biphenyl]-4-yl)quinoline analogs, that are inhibitors of dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) with improved pharmacokinetic properties. The disclosed compounds can be used in the treatment of a variety of disorders and diseases in which inhibition of DHODH can be clinically useful, including cancer, such as a hematological cancer, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML); graft-versus-host-diseases; autoimmune disorders; and disorders associated with T-cell proliferation. The disclosed compounds can demonstrate flip-flop kinetics when administered orally, i.e., pharmacokinetics in which the rate of absorption, rather than the rate of elimination, dominates the pharmacokinetics. The disclosed compounds can demonstrate a sustained pharmacokinetic profile instead of an immediate release profile. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

Abstract: A low inductance power module with low power loop inductance and high-power density is provided. The power module may include a vertical power loop structure, a cooling layer, and a thermal dissipation structure. The vertical power loop structure may utilize a substrate bottom conduction layer for electrical conduction. The thermal dissipation structure may be disposed between the substrate bottom conduction layer and the cooling layer. The vertical power loop structure may include integrated decoupling capacitors. Alternatively, the structure may include no integrated decoupling capacitors. The vertical power loop structure may include one or more half-bridge structures connected in parallel, each with its own integrated decoupling capacitors. The vertical power loop structure reduces power loop inductance in the power module, and the thermal dissipation structure provides electrical insulation, mechanical support, and thermal conduction.

Abstract: A multiple spot vaporizing foil actuator weld (VFAW) system includes a target sheet layer secured relative to a stabilizing component, such that standoff components may be arranged sandwichably between the target and a flier sheet layer. An electrically insulating layer separates the flier from a vaporizing component sheet layer, which may comprise at least two vaporizing subsections configured to have less conductive material than at least three dividing subsections that separate the vaporizing subsections. The geometry and/or other features of the vaporizing subsections may be varied to optimize the vaporization. A second electrically insulated stabilizing component may sandwichably secure the above components between the first stabilizing component in order to control the forces generated in the VFAW process. The method involves loading the vaporizable component sheet layer with electrons via applied voltage such that the vaporizing subsections sublimate.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods to detect a wide range of eardrum conditions by using visually-descriptive words of a tympanic membrane of a subject.

Abstract: An example method for connectorizing a superconducting cable is described herein. The method can include depositing an oxide layer on a surface of a superconducting cable using a first electrolytic cell, electroplating a metal layer on the surface of the oxide layer of the superconducting cable using a second electrolytic cell, and soldering a connector to the metal layer coated on the surface of the superconducting cable. The oxide layer allows the metal layer to adhere to the surface of the superconducting cable.