Abstract: Systems and methods are described for performing navigation-assisted medical procedures such as biopsies, surgeries and pathology procedures by obtaining location information of an item of interest located within at least a portion of a subject; sensing position information of a moveable device; determining a relative position of the moveable device to the item of interest using the location information of the item of interest and the position information of the moveable device; and providing feedback based on the relative position of the moveable device to the item of interest that can be used to change the relative position of the moveable device to the item of interest.

Abstract: A method for detecting lesion tissue using contrast agent MRI includes receiving scanner settings; receiving MR parameters for lesion tissue with or without contrast agent; and simulating relationships between an image quality metric and imaging parameters. The method includes selecting a first set of imaging parameters to optimize an image quality metric of a first image acquired before contrast agent administration; selecting a second set of imaging parameters to optimize a lesion enhancement metric of a second image acquired after contrast agent administration; and selecting an image acquisition time for the second image to maximize the lesion enhancement metric. The method includes acquiring the first and second images using the selected first and second sets of imaging parameters, respectively; and generating a combined image from the first and second images.

Abstract: Disclosed is a general, reversible bicyclization strategy to increase both the proteolytic stability and cell permeability of peptidyl drugs. A peptide drug is fused with a short cell-penetrating motif and converted into a conformationally constrained bicyclic structure through the formation of a pair of disulfide bonds. The resulting bicyclic peptide has greatly enhanced proteolytic stability as well as cell-permeability. Once inside the cell, the disulfide bonds are reduced to produce a linear, biologically active peptide. This strategy was applied to generate a cell-permeable bicyclic peptidyl inhibitor against the NEMO-IKK interaction.

Abstract: A method of adding a reinforcement to a metal blank prior to a forming process. The reinforcement is attached via ultrasonic additive manufacturing (UAM) to create a composite blank which is then subjected to a forming process to bend and deform the composite blank and form a reinforced vehicle component. The reinforcement is placed on the metal blank such that after being subjected to the forming process, there is reinforcement in key areas of the formed vehicle component. The reinforcement results in the final formed vehicle component having enhanced properties such as lower density, increased strength, stiffness, or energy absorption capabilities.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are photonic materials. The photonic materials can comprise: a first layer comprising InxGa1-xN, wherein x is from 0 to 0.5; a second layer comprising ZnSnN2; and a third layer comprising InyGa1-yN, wherein y is from 0 to 0.5; wherein the second layer is disposed between and in contact with the first layer and the third layer, such that the second layer is sandwiched between the first layer and the third layer. In some examples, the photonic materials can be sandwiched between two or more barrier layers to form a quantum well.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are peptides having activity as cell penetrating peptides. In some embodiments, the peptides can comprise a cell penetrating peptide moiety and beta-hairpin turn creating moiety. In other embodiments, the peptides also comprise a cargo moiety.

Abstract: A vehicle body assembly is described herein, including a first structural component and a second structural component. The first structural component may be a roof component or a side panel, and include a first part including a first metal and a second part including a second metal different than the first metal. The second part is formed on a peripheral edge portion of the first part and defines a mounting flange for the first structural component. The second part is joined to the first part via an ultrasonic additive manufacturing (UAM) interface. The second structural component is including the second metal and is joined to the second part at the mounting flange via a resistance spot weld (RSW) joint.

Abstract: Gallium nitride based devices and, more particularly to the generation of holes in gallium nitride based devices lacking p-type doping, and their use in light emitting diodes and lasers, both edge emitting and vertical emitting. By tailoring the intrinsic design, a wide range of wavelengths can be emitted from near-infrared to mid ultraviolet, depending upon the design of the adjacent cross-gap recombination zone. The innovation also provides for novel circuits and unique applications, particularly for water sterilization.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a large combinatorial library of cell-permeable bicyclic peptides. The bicyclic peptides described herein include the first ring consisted of randomized peptide sequences for potential binding to a target of interest while the second ring featured a family of different cell-penetrating motifs, for both cell penetration and target binding. The library was screened against the I?B kinase ?/? (IKK?/?)-binding domain of NF-?B essential modulator (NEMO), resulting in the discovery of several cell-permeable bicyclic peptides which inhibited the NEMO-IKK? interaction, thereby selectively inhibiting canonical NF-?B signaling in mammalian cells and the proliferation of cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer cells.

Abstract: Compositions for and methods of improving tissue function are provided. Said compositions comprise MG53 or express MG53. Said compositions can be used for improving the function of non-diseased and uninjured tissue in subjects.

Abstract: An example 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 handle, a first segment, a second segment and an articulation driving mechanism. The first segment being coupled to the handle. The second segment being pivotally connected to the first segment. The articulation driving mechanism being configured to pivot the second segment about the first segment upon articulation.

Abstract: A transcatheter prosthetic heart valve includes a stent frame and a leaflet material. The stent frame includes a top portion and a bottom portion. The leaflet material includes a lower portion attached to the stent frame and an upper portion that includes leaflets capable of moving between an open configuration and a closed configuration. At least a portion of the leaflet material weaves through the stent frame. The transcatheter prosthetic heart valve also includes one or more reinforcement components coupled to the stent frame and/or to the leaflet material to enhance performance of the transcatheter heart valve.

Abstract: Auditory communication devices and related methods are described herein. An example auditory communication device can include a microphone configured to collect acoustic energy and convert the collected acoustic energy into an audio signal, a processor operably coupled to the microphone, and a memory operably coupled to the processor. The processor can be configured to receive the audio signal from the microphone, create a time-frequency (T-F) representation of the audio signal, classify each of a plurality of T-F units into one of N discrete categories, and attenuate the T-F representation of the audio signal. A respective level of attenuation for each of the T-F units is determined by its respective classification. The processor can be further configured to create a synthesized signal from the attenuated T-F representation of the audio signal.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and compositions related to STK1 inhibitors, such as Inh2-B1 (methyl 5-oxo-3-(phenyl carbamoyl)-1-thioxo-4,5dihydro[1,3]thiazolo[3,4-a]quinazoline-8-carboxylate). The STK1 inhibitors can act as an antibiotic resistance breakers against multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a soft contact lens comprising a lenticular in a superior portion of the contact lens wherein the contact lens attaches to an upper eyelid of a wearer by the lenticular interacting with an upper tarsal plate of the upper eyelid of a wearer, wherein the contact lens is configured to provide one or more of an enhanced tear exchange, a greater tear layer thickness, or increased oxygen uptake of a cornea of a wearer.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compounds, 3,4,6,8-substituted-2-([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: The present invention relates to Adeno-associated virus type 9 methods and materials useful for intrathecal delivery of polynucleotides. Use of the methods and materials is indicated, for example, for treatment of lower motor neuron diseases such as SMA and ALS as well as Pompe disease and lysosomal storage disorders. It is disclosed that administration of a non-ionic, low-osmolar contrast agent, together with a rAA9 vector for the expression of Survival Motor Neuron protein, improves the survival of SMN mutant mice as compared to the administration of the expression vector alone.

Abstract: The innovation disclosed and claimed herein, in aspects thereof, comprises systems and methods of identifying AUs and emotion categories in images. The systems and methods utilized a set of images that include facial images of people. The systems and methods analyze the facial images to determine AUs and facial color due to facial blood flow variations that are indicative of an emotion category. In aspects, the analysis can include Gabor transforms to determine the AUs, AU intensities and emotion categories. In other aspects, the systems and method can include color variance analysis to determine the AUs, AU intensities and emotion categories. In further aspects, the analysis can include deep neural networks that are trained to determine the AUs, emotion categories and their intensities.

Abstract: According to one aspect, the present disclosure provides a system for manufacturing transition structures including fiber threads embedded within a metal component. The system may include a supply of base sheet metal. The system may include a conveyor supported on a plurality of rollers and configured to move the base sheet metal in a production direction. The system may include a plurality of stages arranged in the production direction. Each stage may include a channel forming device configured to form a channel in the base sheet metal, a fiber inserting device configured to insert a portion of a fiber material into the channel, and one or more ultrasonic welders configured to consolidate a layer of metal foil over the fiber. The disclosure includes methods of using the system to produce transition structures and reinforced components.

Abstract: Compositions for and methods of treating liver injury are provided. Said compositions comprise MG53 or express MG53. Said compositions can be used for treating chronic or acute injured liver tissue and can be administered systemically, locally, or both.