Abstract: Provided are antisense oligomers targeted against bacterial mRNAs and other macromolecules associated with a biochemical pathway and/or cellular process, and related compositions and methods of using the oligomers and compositions to treat an infected mammalian subject, for example, as primary antimicrobials or as adjunctive therapies with classic antimicrobials.

Abstract: Embodiments of substrate-based devices disclosed herein comprise a polymeric substrate with a hydrophobic polymer coating that defines wells or openings on the polymeric substrate and/or serves as an adhesive agent between stacked substrates of the device. Also disclosed herein are embodiments of plate frames that can be used to align and hold well plate devices described herein. Methods of fabricating the disclosed devices also are described.

Abstract: mRNA polymer complexes and drug delivery systems are disclosed herein that include a cationic polymer electrostatically complexed to an mRNA molecule that encodes a desired protein. Also disclosed herein are methods of treating as well as methods of slowing the loss of, increasing, and/or maintaining lean muscle mass in a subject, such as using mRNA polymer complexes and drug delivery systems.

Abstract: Certain disclosed embodiments concern systems and methods of preparing dialysate for use in a home dialysis system that is compact and light-weight relative to existing systems and consumes relatively low amounts of energy. The method includes coupling a household water stream to a dialysis system; filtering the water stream; heating the water stream to at least about 138 degrees Celsius in a non-batch process to produce a heated water stream; maintaining the heated water stream at or above at least about 138 degrees Celsius for at least about two seconds; cooling the heated water stream to produce a cooled water stream; ultrafiltering the cooled water stream; and mixing dialysate components into the cooled water stream in a non-batch process.

Abstract: Disclosed microreactors operate in an electrical discharge mode, such as a pulse mode, an arc mode or a corona discharge mode, and most preferably in a corona discharge mode. A microreactor may comprise multiple, simultaneously operating corona discharges. The microreactor typically has at least one feature measured on a millimeter scale. Certain disclosed microreactors comprised multiple reactor plates in a stack. Each plate comprised plural corona discharge electrodes positioned in series along each of plural corresponding microchannels. A method for using disclosed microreactors and systems comprising disclosed microreactors, such as for chemical transformations, fluid purifications, or both, also is disclosed.

Abstract: Implantable passive engineered mechanisms and a method for implanting such devices in a subject are described. The implantable passive engineered mechanism may be made of or comprise a biocompatible material and is appropriately sized for implantation in a subject. Exemplary implantable passive engineered mechanisms may be selected from a strut, a pulley, a lever, a compliant mechanism, a scissor lift, a tendon network, springs, planetary gears, rigid or soft hydraulics, a linkage system, a cam/clutch system, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments the system comprises plural inserts, such as pulleys, levers, and/or tendon networks. Plural inserts may be arranged hierarchically to distribute force differentially from an input to one or more outputs.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for treating hypertension in a subject are provided, including administering an antisense oligomer effective to reduce expression of cytochrome P450 3A5 (CYP3A5) enzyme. The antisense oligomer includes phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligonucleotide (PMO), phosphorothioate 2?-O-methyl oligoribonucleotides (PSO), locked nucleic acid nucleotide, locked nucleic acid analog nucleotide, or another modified oligonucleotide backbone or nuclease-resistant backbone. The antisense oligomer is administered transdermally, subcutaneously, or orally, and optionally with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In one embodiment, the antisense oligomer is an oligomer that is antisense to mRNAs that encode CYP3A5, for instance targeted at the AUG start site of the mRNAs that encode CYP3A5 or at a G4 structure within CYP3A5.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of bio-lamina bioreactors and methods of making and using the same. The bio-lamina bioreactors disclosed herein can make fuels from organic reactants using fluid flow through the bio-lamina bioreactors in combination with microorganisms capable of reacting with the organic reactants. The microorganisms are embedded within biofilms present within the bio-lamina bioreactor. The bio-lamina bioreactor further comprises bio-lamina substrates comprising unique flow channels and structural projections that facilitate fluid flow and interactions with the microorganism cultures of the biofilm.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided which comprises: logic to privately compare one or more received Order Preserving Encrypted (OPE) signal strength (RSS) values, from a plurality of secondary users (SUs), with a OPE threshold value; a transmitter to send the comparison result to a fusion center (FC); and a receiver to receive the OPE threshold value from the FC.

Abstract: The present disclosure is drawn to electrocaloric devices, methods of making electrocaloric integrated circuits, and methods of thermally cycling integrated circuits. The electrocaloric device can include an electrocaloric material having a solid solution of two or more components of BNT, BKT, BZT, BMgT, or BNiT. The electrocaloric material can have an ergodic transition temperature within a range of 50 C to 300 C. The device can also include electrodes associated with the electrocaloric material, as well as an electrical source to add or reduce electrical field between the electrodes across the electrocaloric material to generate heating or cooling relative to the ergodic transition temperature of the electrocaloric material.

Abstract: A method comprising reacting an aluminum mineral polymorph or a gallium mineral polymorph with an acid at an aluminum metal to acid molar ratio or gallium metal to acid molar ratio sufficient to produce M13 nanoscale clusters, M nano-agglomerates, or a M13 slurry, wherein M is Al or Ga.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting radiation energy includes a first comparator coupled to a first voltage source applying a first threshold voltage to the first comparator. The apparatus includes a second comparator, a radiation detector, Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC), and control circuitry. The second comparator is coupled to a second voltage source applying a second threshold voltage to the second comparator. The radiation detector is coupled to the first and second comparators. The ADC has a first input coupled to the detector, and is responsive to a second input for placing it in a low-power mode. The control circuitry is coupled to outputs of the comparators and the ADC, and the control circuitry temporarily switches the ADC from the low-power mode to a normal operating mode to perform a peak measurement of detected radiation energy, and determine the first and second threshold voltages based on the peak measurement.

Abstract: A method for making a pressure sensitive adhesive comprising: (a) making at least one epoxidized fatty acid from at least one plant oil, marine oil, other ester of unsaturated fatty acid, or a mixture thereof; and (b) polymerizing the at least one epoxidized fatty acid to produce a pressure sensitive adhesive. A method for making a pressure sensitive adhesive comprising: (a) making epoxidized oleic acid, an epoxidized linoleic acid (including fully and partially epoxidized linoleic acid), or an epoxidized linolenic acid (including fully and partially epoxidized linolenic acid) from at least one plant oil, marine oil, other ester of unsaturated fatty acid, or making mixture thereof; and (b) polymerizing the epoxidized oleic acid, the epoxidized linoleic acid, the epoxidized linolenic acid, or the mixture thereof to produce a pressure sensitive adhesive.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting radiation energy includes a first comparator coupled to a first voltage source applying a first threshold voltage to the first comparator. The apparatus includes a second comparator, a radiation detector, Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC), and control circuitry. The second comparator is coupled to a second voltage source applying a second threshold voltage to the second comparator. The radiation detector is coupled to the first and second comparators. The ADC has a first input coupled to the detector, and is responsive to a second input for placing it in a low-power mode. The control circuitry is coupled to outputs of the comparators and the ADC, and the control circuitry temporarily switches the ADC from the low-power mode to a normal operating mode to perform a peak measurement of detected radiation energy, and determine the first and second threshold voltages based on the peak measurement.

Abstract: A radiation detection system is disclosed comprising of number of detector elements arranged in a regular pattern that allows for directional information to be collected based on the number of radiation interaction events in each detection element. This system is mounted to an unmanned vehicle. In some embodiments, this information is used by the motion control unit of the unmanned vehicle to guide its movement toward a radiation source. A radiation spectrometer, also integrated in the detection system, is able to identify radiation sources.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a composition comprising a drug in a polymer nanoparticle. The nanoparticles may have a size and/or a surface potential selected to facilitate lymph node uptake and/or dissemination throughout the lymphatic system. The nanoparticle may be a polyethyleneglycol-block-poly(?-caprolactone) (PEG-PCL) nanoparticle. Also disclosed are embodiments of a method of using the composition. The composition may be administered subcutaneously. The drug-loaded nanoparticles are useful for treating certain cancers and/or decreasing the number of melanocytes in lymph nodes that are proximal to, distal to or both proximal and distal to a site of administration.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of sensor devices comprising a sensing component able to determine the presence of, detect, and/or quantify detectable species in a variety of environments and applications. The sensing components disclosed herein can comprise MOF materials, plasmonic nanomaterials, or combinations thereof. In an exemplary embodiment, light guides can be coupled with the sensing components described herein to provide sensor devices capable of increased NIR detection sensitivity in determining the presence of detectable species, such as gases and volatile organic compounds. In another exemplary embodiment, optical properties of the plasmonic nanomaterials combined with MOF materials can be monitored directly to detect analyte species through their impact on external conditions surrounding the particle or as a result of charge transfer to and from the plasmonic material as a result of interactions with the plasmonic material and/or the MOF material.

Abstract: A method for generating a polycube representation of an input object comprises: receiving an input volumetric representation of the input object; deforming the input volumetric representation to provide a deformed object representation; and extracting, by the processor, a polycube representation of the object from the deformed object representation. Deforming the input volumetric representation to provide the deformed object representation comprises effecting a tradeoff between competing objectives of: deforming the input volumetric representation in a manner which provides surfaces having normal vectors closely aligned with one of the six directions aligned with the set of global Cartesian axes; and deforming the input volumetric representation in a manner which provides low-distortion deformations. Deforming the input volumetric representation to provide the deformed object may be performed iteratively.

Abstract: A dialysis system includes a filtration system capable of filtering a water stream, a water purification system capable of purifying said water stream in a non-batch process, a mixing system capable of producing a stream of dialysate from mixing one or more dialysate components with the water stream in a non-batch process, and a dialyzer system. The dialyzer may be a microfluidic dialyzer capable of being fluidly coupled to the stream of dialysate and a blood stream.

Abstract: Composite molded pulp products prepared from fruit or vegetable-based pomace, fibrous paper-based materials, and cellulose nanofiber and methods for preparing the same are provided.