Abstract: Methods of characterizing nanoparticles, nanoparticle complexes, and their biomolecular interactions are provided. Concurrent excitation and emission wavelength scans are performed and the optimal fluorescence intensity for the intersect of these wavelengths is determined. The intersect is dependent upon the physical characteristics of the particle and can be used to verify, for example, attachment of biomolecules, amount of biomolecules present, and structure of the attached biomolecule.

Abstract: Sensory information can be delivered to a subject mammal, for example, for restoring a sense of cutaneous touch and limb motion to the subject mammal. A biomimetic electrical signal is generated based on (a) a stimulation reference signal applied to a somatosensory region of a nervous system of a reference mammal, (b) a stimulated-response signal acquired from a sensory cortex of the reference mammal in response to application of the stimulation reference signal to the thalamic nucleus, and (c) a natural-response signal acquired from the sensory cortex in response to peripheral touch stimuli and/or peripheral nerve stimulation of the reference mammal. The biomimetic electrical signal is applied to a somatosensory region of a nervous system of the subject mammal to induce an activation response, in a sensory cortex of the subject mammal.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel methods for making cochleates and cochleate compositions that include introducing a cargo moiety to a liposome in the presence of a solvent. Also disclosed are cochleates and cochleate compositions that include an aggregation inhibitor, and optionally, a cargo moiety. Additionally, anhydrous cochleates that include a protonized cargo moiety, a divalent metal cation and a negatively charge lipid are disclosed. Methods of using the cochleate compositions of the invention, including methods of administration, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for quality assessment of optical colonoscopy images includes an input device configured to acquire a series of images during an optical colonoscopy. A computing device is coupled in communication with the input device and configured to acquire from the input device an input image from the series of images captured during the optical colonoscopy; form a cell grid including a plurality of cells on the input image; perform an image transformation onto the input image with each cell of the plurality of cells within the cell grid; reconstruct each cell to form a reconstructed image; compute a difference image of a sum of a plurality of differences between the input image and the reconstructed image; compute a histogram of the difference image; and apply a probabilistic classifier to the histogram to calculate an informativeness score for the input image.

Abstract: A method for collecting and processing remotely sensed imagery in order to achieve precise spatial co-registration (e.g., matched alignment) between multi-temporal image sets is presented. Such precise alignment or spatial co-registration of imagery can be used for change detection, image fusion, and temporal analysis/modeling. Further, images collected in this manner may be further processed in such a way that image frames or line arrays from corresponding photo stations are matched, co-aligned and if desired merged into a single image and/or subjected to the same processing sequence. A second methodology for automated detection of moving objects within a scene using a time series of remotely sensed imagery is also presented. Specialized image collection and preprocessing procedures are utilized to obtain precise spatial co-registration (image registration) between multitemporal image frame sets.

Abstract: Disclosed are peptides that exhibit good binding to the anticodon stem and loop of human lysine tRNA species, tRNALys3. The starting point was the 15-amino-acid sequence, RVTHHAFLGAHRTVG, found to bind selectively to hypermodified tRNALys3. The peptide backbone conformation was determined via atomistic simulation of the peptide-ASLLys3complex and then held fixed throughout the search. Analysis of the binding structure and the various contributions to the binding energy shows that: 1) two hydrophilic residues (asparagine (ASN) at site 11 and the cysteine (CYS) at site 12) “recognize” the ASLLys3 due to the VDW energy, and thereby contribute to its binding specificity, and 2) the positively-charged arginines (ARG) at sites 4 and 13 preferentially attract the negatively-charged sugar rings and the phosphate linkages, and thereby contribute to the binding affinity.

Abstract: The disclosure pertains to compositions to stabilize nutrient, food, pharmaceutical, and biological formulations by preventing the crystallization or precipitation of carbohydrates used in the formulations. The compositions contain (i) one or more carbohydrates, sugars, sugar alcohols, analogs thereof, and/or derivatives thereof and (ii) one or more antifreeze proteins (AFPs), mimetics thereof, and/or analogs thereof and methods of making and using the same. The AFP may be selected from antifreeze polypeptides and antifreeze peptides, analogs and mimetics of antifreeze proteins, active fragments of such antifreeze proteins, polypeptide and peptide mimetics, antifreeze peptoids and polymers, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for treating a lysosomal movement associated disease in an animal, in which the position of lysosomes can influence disease progression, comprising administering an effective amount of a first lysosome migration inhibitor or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, clathrate, stereoisomer, enantiomer or prodrug thereof.

Abstract: One or more techniques and/or products are disclosed using a process for preparing metallic nanoparticles. Resulting nanoparticles may comprise a gold-silver-gold core-shell-shell nanoparticles. Such nanoparticles can be formed by forming a gold core, providing certain materials to form a silver shell, and providing certain materials to form a gold shell. The metallic nanoparticles may be used in molecular sensing, catalysis, photothermal therapy, and other biologically-relevant technologies.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compound having the structure: wherein X is C1-C12 alkyl, C2-C12 alkenyl, C2-C12 alkynyl, cyano, aryl, heteroaryl, alkylaryl, alkylheteroaryl, alkenylaryl, alkenylheteroaryl, alkynylaryl, alkynylheteroaryl, alkoxy, alkenyloxy, alkynyloxy, aryloxy, heteroaryloxy, acyl, alkylhydroxy, alkylamino, alkenylamino, alkynylamino, amido, carboxyl, or carboxyl ester, or forms an unsubstituted or substituted cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, indane or tetralin with Y, Y is H or forms an unsubstituted or substituted cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, indane or tetralin with X, or forms an unsubstituted or substituted monocycle with Z; and Z is H or forms an unsubstituted or substituted monocycle with Y; wherein when X and Y are both H, then X is C2alkenyl or C2 alkynyl, and when Y is H forms a substituted cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl with X, the cyclohexyl is other than a trisubstituted cyclohexyl bearing CH3, i-Pr and (CH2)2CO2CH3 groups or CH3, i-Pr and (C

Abstract: Microbial type rhodopsins, such as the light-gated cation-selective membrane channel, channelrhodopsin-2 (Chop2/ChR2) or the ion pump halorhodopsin (HaloR) are expressed in retinal ganglion cells upon transduction using recombinant AAV vectors. Selective targeting of these transgenes for expression in discrete subcellular regions or sites is achieved by including a sorting motif in the vector that can target either the central area or surround (off-center) area of these cells. Nucleic acid molecules comprising nucleotide sequences encoding such rhodopsins and sorting motifs and their use in methods of differential expression of the transgene are disclosed. These compositions and methods provide significant improvements for restoring visual perception and various aspects of vision, particular in patients with retinal disease.

Abstract: A needle electrode is provided incorporating a protective flap and optionally a retraction chamber. By providing an impenetrable barrier covering the area of skin over the needle's tip, the protective flap protects against needle sticks that can occur when the tip of a needle electrode is pushed back out through the skin. An adhesive layer on the skin-side of the protective flap secures the needle in place without the use of a separate piece of adhesive tape. Other types of needles can incorporate flaps for protection or for securing the needle to the patient.

Abstract: A frequency controlled electro-optical device includes a substrate having transparent conductive control sections patterned thereon to selectively control the optical state of an electro-optical layer. Each of the control sections are partially electrically isolated from each other by crack lines, which allows for electrical communication between adjacent/proximate control sections to occur. As such, an electrical control signal applied directly to one control section forms an electric field in that control section, and also induces an electrical field in adjacent control sections that are not in direct receipt of the control signal. Therefore, the number of electrical connections required for coupling to a driving circuit to operate the device is minimized, thereby allowing the device to be fabricated with reduced complexity and cost.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a method for selecting lactic acid bacterial strains effective for preventing bone loss in humans and strains that have been selected according to the presented method. The selection method is based on the strain's capability of reestablishing an altered microbial community to normal and/or harboring at least one of four specific SNPs.

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: Disclosed is a system and method for using visible light communication (“VLC”) to perform indoor position location. Through use of a system and method configured as set forth herein, the position of any appropriately marked person or item may be found indoors using data interconnected modules that communicate with one another via RF and visible light. A mobile receiver in the form of a tag or badge attached to the person or item to be tracked receives a VLC signal from a plurality of lighting modules, and transmits back to a processor the data it received so that the processor is able determine the tag's or badge's physical position with respect to the individual network modules.

Abstract: Three-dimensional inductors may comprise a passivation layer disposed on a substrate, a three-dimensional pillar comprising a ferromagnetic material disposed on the substrate or the passivation layer, and a conductive trace wound at least partially around the pillar. Three-dimensional capacitors may comprise a passivation layer disposed on a substrate, at least two support pillars comprising a polymeric material disposed on the passivation layer or the substrate, at least two electrodes disposed between the support pillars, a dielectric disposed between the electrodes, and a metal trace. Methods of manufacturing the three-dimensional passives, such as inductors and capacitors, may comprise direct writing the components and curing them for on-chip applications.

Abstract: A wearable electronic device for proximity-based social and professional networking which features electronics and software for the passive automated local wireless exchange of personal and/or business information with other electronic devices is disclosed. In some embodiments, an electronic device includes a controller having an operations unit; a communication unit configured to receive and/or transmit data from a first external source; and a memory unit configured to communicate with the controller and receive and/or transmit data from the controller. The operations unit may be configured to determine if received data from the first external source meets a set threshold and wherein the operations unit may be configured to instruct communication unit to accept data that meets or exceeds said threshold. The communication unit may receive and transmit data from the first external source provided the external source is within a predetermined proximity.

Abstract: The present application provides arrays for use in immunosignaturing and quality control of such arrays. Also disclosed are peptide arrays and uses thereof for diagnostics, therapeutics and research.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are isotopically labeled calcofluor derivatives and uses of such to detect fungi, such as filamentous fungi, including Aspergillus species, such as by positron emission tomography (PET) scanning.