Abstract: A manual wheelchair including a collapsible frame with at least one brace connected to at least one of the frame members. A drive wheel axel extends along a first axis of rotation and engages a drive wheel, the first brace, and a portion of a transmission. A push rim axel extends along a second axis of rotation and engages a push rim wheel, the second brace, and a portion of the transmission, which transmits rotation of the push rim to rotation of the drive wheel. The at least one brace is configured to release the at least one of the frame members to collapse the wheelchair.

Abstract: Described here are systems and methods for magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) using a sweeping frequency excitation applied during a time-varying magnetic field gradient. As an example, a gradient-modulated offset independent adiabaticity (“GOIA”) approach can be used to modify the pattern of the sweeping frequency excitation. Data are acquired as time domain signals and processed to generate images. As an example, the time domain signals are processed using a correlation between a Fourier transform of the gradient-modulated sweeping frequency excitation and a Fourier transform of the time domain signals.

Abstract: Systems and methods for treating hearing loss and/or tinnitus or enhancing hearing to sounds or sound features such as in a noisy environment are disclosed. An apparatus includes a hearing aid and associated electrodes for electrically stimulating a portion near, on or in the ear, where the electrical stimulation is synchronized with a sound input and/or sound output of the hearing aid.

Abstract: Techniques are described for carrier frequency offset (CFO) and channel estimation of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) transmissions over multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) frequency-selective fading channels. A wireless transmitter forms blocks of symbols by inserting training symbols within two or more blocks of information-bearing symbols. The transmitter applies a hopping code to each of the blocks of symbols to insert a null subcarrier at a different position within each of the blocks of symbols, and a modulator outputs a wireless signal in accordance with the blocks of symbols. A receiver receives the wireless signal and estimates the CFO, and outputs a stream of estimated symbols based on the estimated CFO.

Abstract: A bulk permanent magnetic material may include between about 5 volume percent and about 40 volume percent Fe16N2 phase domains, a plurality of nonmagnetic atoms or molecules forming domain wall pinning sites, and a balance soft magnetic material, wherein at least some of the soft magnetic material is magnetically coupled to the Fe16N2 phase domains via exchange spring coupling. In some examples, a bulk permanent magnetic material may be formed by implanting N+ ions in an iron workpiece using ion implantation to form an iron nitride workpiece, pre-annealing the iron nitride workpiece to attach the iron nitride workpiece to a substrate, and post-annealing the iron nitride workpiece to form Fe16N2 phase domains within the iron nitride workpiece.

Abstract: A method for designing one or more multichannel, multiband radio frequency (“RF”) pulses for use with a magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) system is provided. The method includes determining a number of RF amplitude modulations and a number of RF phase modulations for each channel in a multichannel RF coil by minimizing an objective function that includes a complex-valued vector. The objective function also contains a system matrix that accounts for both a spatial sensitivity profile of each channel in the multichannel RF coil and a magnetic field map for each excitation band in the multiband RF pulse.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the invention provide a formulation suitable for nasal administration comprising water, a prodrug of a therapeutic agent, and an enzyme that is suitable for intranasal conversion of the prodrug to the therapeutic agent, as well as methods of use thereof.

Abstract: An example technique for treating a skin cancer condition includes administering a therapeutically effective amount of a p53-related protein kinase (PRPK) inhibitor to a patient having skin cancer or having a high risk of developing skin cancer. An example composition includes a therapeutically effective amount of a PRPK inhibitor for treating a skin cancer condition. An example composition includes a pharmaceutically effective amount of at least one anti-solar ultraviolet (anti-sUV) combination for preventing a skin cancer condition. The at least one anti-sUV combination is chosen from the combinations: avobenzone and octinoxate; octocrylene and zinc oxide; avobenzone, octocrylene, and titanium dioxide; or avobenzone, octocrylene, and zinc oxide.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods, devices, kits and systems for enhancing the efficacy and longevity of denervation procedures.

Abstract: A method for treating a patient may include establishing an anastomosis between a pulmonary artery and an aorta; and pumping blood from the pulmonary artery to the aorta when the pulmonary artery has a pressure lower than or equal to a pressure of the aorta.

Abstract: Localization and navigation systems and techniques are described. An electronic device comprises a processor configured to apply an extended Kalman filter (EKF) as the electronic device traverses the trajectory. The extended Kalman filter is configured to maintain a state vector storing estimates for a position of the electronic device at poses along a trajectory within an environment along with estimates for positions for one or more features within the environment. The EKF computes constraints based on features observed from multiple poses along the trajectory, and updates, in accordance with motion data and the one or more computed constraints, the estimates within the state vector of the extended Kalman filter while excluding, from the state vector, state estimates for positions within the environment for the features that were observed from the multiple poses and for which the constraints were computed.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes an apparatus including a waste compartment, a membrane compartment on the waste compartment, and a wash buffer reservoir on the membrane compartment. The membrane compartment includes a membrane compartment outlet aperture and is configured to hold at least one membrane, and the membrane compartment outlet aperture fluidly connects the membrane compartment and the waste compartment. The wash buffer reservoir comprises a wash buffer reservoir outlet aperture, and the wash buffer reservoir outlet aperture fluidly connects the wash buffer reservoir and the membrane compartment. The apparatus may be used to wash membranes used in analytic techniques, such as membranes for gel electrophoresis.

Abstract: A method for tailoring a bespoke processor includes generating first gate-level activity information of a general purpose processor design for all possible executions of a first target application for any possible inputs to the first target application. The method includes gate cutting and stitching based on the first gate-level activity information to remove unusable gates from the general purpose processor design and reconnect cut connections between the remaining gates of the general purpose processor design to generate a bespoke processor design for the first target application.

Abstract: Methods of preparing naive human pluripotent stem cells are described. The methods include the use of xeno-free media and do not include the use of feeder cells.

Abstract: The various examples presented herein are directed to compounds of the Formula: wherein R1-R5 are defined herein, and uses of such compounds to, among other things, inhibit an immune response in a subject.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the invention provide a method of quantifying ubiquitin-like modification in a test protein sample comprising: a) contacting the test protein sample with a compound of formula (I) to provide a first labeled test protein sample; b) contacting the first labeled test protein sample with a first enzyme, wherein the first enzyme cleaves the ubiquitin-like modification from all modified amino acid residues, to provide a second labeled test protein sample; c) contacting the second labeled test protein sample with a compound of formula (II) to provide a third labeled test protein sample; and d) measuring the molecular weight of the protein(s) in the third labeled test protein sample to quantify the ubiquitin-like modification in the test protein sample, wherein the compound of formula I is isotopically labeled; the compound of formula II is isotopically labeled; or the compound of formula I and the compound of formula II are differentially isotopically labeled.

Abstract: A formaldehyde electrochemical sensor employing a formaldehyde sensitive assembly of formaldehyde dehydrogenase attached to graphene in fluid communication with a source of NAD+, and a method of measuring formaldehyde utilizing the sensor.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the invention provide a method of preparing a modified distilled alcoholic spirit, comprising contacting a corresponding starting distilled alcoholic spirit with a base under conditions that cause at least one free carbonyl compound in the starting distilled alcoholic spirit to be reduced, to provide the modified distilled alcoholic spirit that has at an alcohol by volume (ABV) of at least 15%. Certain embodiments also provide a modified distilled alcoholic spirit prepared by the methods described herein.

Abstract: Lactose-derived hydrogels include at least lactose and methacrylic anhydride. A method of preparing lactose-derived hydrogels includes copolymerizing lactose methacrylate, methacrylic acid, and sodium methacrylate using light-induced photopolymerization. Polymerization proceeds in the absence of a photoinitiator. No volatile organic compounds or waste are produced by the method. The lactose may be provided by a milk permeate waste stream from the dairy or food processing industry.

Abstract: Methods of gene correction, methods of generating induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and methods of deriving multi-lineage cell types with therapeutic value. In some embodiments, the gene correction affects the expression and/or function of the functional type VII collagen protein (C7).