Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for delivering neurostimulation therapies to patients for treating chronic heart failure. A computer-implemented control system is operated to automatically identify a neural fulcrum zone based on a monitored patient physiological response. Ongoing neurostimulation therapy is delivered within the neural fulcrum zone.

Abstract: A capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) and methods of forming the same are disclosed herein. In one implementation, the CMUT comprises a glass substrate having a cavity; a patterned metal bottom electrode situated within the cavity of the glass substrate; and a vibrating plate comprising at least a conducting layer, wherein the vibrating plate is anodically bonded to the glass substrate to form an air-tight seal between the vibrating plate and the substrate and wherein a pressure inside the cavity is less than atmospheric pressure (i.e., a vacuum). In another implementation, the CMUT comprises a glass substrate with Through-Glass-Via (TGV) interconnects, wherein a metal electrode is electrically connected to a TGV and wherein said metal electrode can be in the bottom of a cavity of the glass substrate or on the vibrating plate.

Abstract: The compositions and methods described herein are designed to introduce functionalized microparticles into droplets that can be manipulated in microfluidic devices by fields, including electric (dielectrophoretic) or magnetic fields, and extracted by splitting a droplet to separate the portion of the droplet that contains the majority of the microparticles from the part that is largely devoid of the microparticles. Within the device, channels are variously configured at Y- or T junctions that facilitate continuous, serial isolation and dilution of analytes in solution. The devices can be limited in the sense that they can be designed to output purified analytes that are then further analyzed in separate machines or they can include additional channels through which purified analytes can be further processed and analyzed.

Abstract: The disclosure provides helix grafted proteins, methods of producing helix grafted proteins and methods of use of helix grafted proteins as inhibitors of protein-protein interactions involved in disease pathogenesis.

Abstract: Described herein are methods of transdifferentiating preadipocytes, populations of transdifferentiated preadipocytes, and methods of using the transdifferentiated preadipocytes.

Abstract: Provided herein is a block copolymer hydrogel, comprising a glass formed from a dry blend of polystyrene-poly(ethylene oxide) diblock copolymer (SO) and polystyrene-poly(ethylene oxide)-polystyrene triblock copolymer (SOS) in a molar ratio from between 95:5 and 1:99 SO/SOS and a liquid medium at a concentration between about 32:1 and about 2:1 liquid medium/SO—SOS by weight. The block copolymer hydrogel has a fatigue resistance to at least 500,000 compression cycles. Also provided are methods for forming the hydrogel.

Abstract: Provided are nucleic acid-based sensors, kits that include such sensors, and methods for making and using such sensors. The sensors permit detection of a broad array of target agents, such as nucleic acids (e.g., DNA and RNA), proteins, cells, and small molecules (e.g., toxins and metals). In some examples, the sensors determine the activity of a protein, such as an enzyme's activity. The assays provide easy-to-read signals for point-of-care diagnosis. The sensors control the conformational switch for recognizing targets and to trigger the subsequent assembly of enzyme/cofactor structures for producing and amplifying signals.

Abstract: A home medication management system and method are provided comprise a home medication management device, a computing device associated with a user of medication management system, and a server in communication with the home medication management device and the computing device. The server comprises memory storing an application program interface (API) that is configured to manage the home medication of a patient including the registration of prescriptions, transmission of the registered prescriptions to the home medication management device, association of medications of the registered prescriptions with recesses of the home medication management device, presentation of alerts to the patient at scheduled times to take the medications based on the prescriptions, monitoring the patient for compliance with the alerts, determining whether the patient has taken the medication as scheduled, and presenting the determination to the user via the computing device.

Abstract: This invention describes vaccine compositions and their methods of use utilizing inactivated fbp1? deletion mutant fungal cells.

Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to a high temperature superconducting (HTS) synchronous machine having a rotating armature and methods for fabricating the same. The HTS synchronous machines described herein solve the rotating seal system complications which plague conventional HTS synchronous machines by eliminating entirely the need for any such system. Instead, it is proposed here to rotate the AC armature windings, which are stationary (i.e., normally the “stator”) in conventional HTS synchronous machines, while allowing the superconducting field windings to remain stationary.

Abstract: Provided are multiply functional charged telodendrimers. The telodendrimers can be used for protein encapsulation and delivery. The charged telodendrimers may have one or more crosslinking groups (e.g., boronic acid/catechol reversible crosslinking groups). The telodendrimers can aggregate to form nanoparticles. Cargo such as combinations of proteins and other materials may be sequestered in the core of the nanoparticles via non-covalent or covalent interactions with the telodendrimers. Such nanoparticles may be used in protein delivery applications.

Abstract: Systems and apparatuses for a secure mobile cloud framework (referred to as MobiCloud) for mobile computing and communication are disclosed. Embodiments of MobiCloud transfer each mobile node from a traditional strictly layer-structured communication node into a service node (SN). Each SN may be used as a service provider or a service broker according its capability. Each SN may be incorporated as a virtualized component of the MobiCloud. In some embodiments, MobiCloud mirrors an SN to one or multiple virtual images in the Cloud for addressing communication and computation deficiencies of mobile devices. Virtual images can create a visualized MANET routing and communication layer that can maximally assist the mobile nodes to enable pervasive computing services for each mobile device owner. A secure data processing framework is disclosed for the MobiCloud.

Abstract: A single molecule sensing or detecting device includes a first electrode and a second electrode separated from the first electrode by a gap. The first electrode and the second electrode have an opening formed therethrough. At least one of the first electrode and the second electrode is functionalized with a recognition molecule. The recognition molecule has an effective length L1 and is configured to selectively bind to a target molecule having an effective length L2. The size of the gap is configured to be greater than 2L1, but less than or equal to the sum of 2L1 and L2.

Abstract: Single crystals of the new semiconducting oxychalcogenide phase were synthesized using a novel crystal growth method. The crystals had low defects and homogeneous composition as characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. Heat capacity and resistivity measurements were in agreement with the calculated band structure calculations indicating semiconductivity, with a band gap of about 3 eV.

Abstract: The application describes plants, plant cells, and seeds that express WRINKLED1 transcription factors and/or 14-3-3 proteins that are useful for increasing production of oils in plants and seeds. Also described are expression systems and cassettes that encode and express such WRINKLED1 transcription factors and/or 14-3-3 proteins.

Abstract: Provided herein are cyclodecynes, including chiral cyclodecynes, and methods of making cyclodecynes. The methods may include providing a 1,1?-biaryl compound substituted independently at the 2-position and the 2?-position with a hydroxyl or an amino group; and contacting the 1,1?-biaryl compound with a protected but-2-yne-1,4-diol to form the cyclodecyne.

Abstract: An ionic liquid catholyte includes an ionic liquid, such as 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (EMICl), at least one half of a redox couple, and a sodium salt. The ionic liquid catholyte is suitable for use as a liquid cathode in an electrochemical device including an anode current collector, an anode in contact with the anode current collector, a cathode current collector, a liquid cathode in contact with the cathode current collector, and a solid electrolyte separating the anode and cathode current collectors. The one half of the redox couple includes a metal in a first oxidation state that is oxidized or reduced to yield the metal in a second oxidation state, and the redox couple includes the metal in the first oxidation state and the metal in the second oxidation state. The solid electrolyte is permeable to sodium ions and is in contact with the liquid anode and the liquid cathode.

Abstract: Improved molluscan shellfish in diploid, tetraploid and triploid forms are provided. Also provided are methods for improving molluscan shellfish through progressive rotational crossbreeding and/or coalesced interploidy breeding.

Abstract: Synthetic disaccharide hydrocarbons (DSHs) that reactive bacterials swarming motility and inhibit bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation. A library of DSHs were tested in several experiment for the impact on various Pseudomonas aeruginosa populations and compared against existing compounds to determine efficacy and utility. Certain DSHs were also to determine the ability to clear bacteria in a mouse pneumonia model.

Abstract: The low temperature cracking and high temperature rutting of polymer-modified asphalt concrete pavement can be reduced. The composite includes asphalt and at least one polymer that expands at low temperature, triggered by cooling-induced tensile stress, to reduce thermal cracking. The composite includes at least one polymer that expands at high temperature, so that the composite recovers after compression induced by traffic loading at higher temperatures, thereby reducing rutting. The system reduces thermal stress, and reduces or even eliminates thermal cracking and rutting. Shape memory polymers (SMPs) are used to improve asphalt compositions so that they better resist both thermal cracking and rutting. The SMP(s) can be incorporated into the asphalt, or a portion of fine aggregates can be replaced with SMP particles or SMP fibers, or aggregate replacement and asphalt modification can be combined.