Abstract: This discloses that compounds of Formula 1 may be used as antifibrotics because they inhibit type 1 collagen production. In particular, this discloses a pharmaceutical composition containing one or more compounds of Formula 1 and methods of using compounds of Formula 1 in fibrosis treatment and inhibiting type 1 collagen synthesis.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to vaccination compositions, for example, against human papillomavirus, Zika virus, and flu virus. The disclosure also relates to vectors for producing the virus-like particles and immune complex platforms of the vaccination compositions.

Abstract: Glucose-responsive zwitterionic polymer-insulin-saccharide compositions are provided according to aspects of the present disclosure which include a zwitterionic polymer, an insulin moiety, a saccharide moiety, and a saccharide binding molecule. Methods of use of glucose-responsive zwitterionic polymer-insulin-saccharide compositions according to aspects of the present disclosure include administration to human patients to alleviate conditions, such as diabetes, which are responsive to administration of insulin.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to methods for promoting bone formation or reducing bone destruction. This disclosure also relates to methods for promoting the recruitment of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) to a local site of injury or surgical intervention in bone to promote healing. In addition, this disclosure relates to methods for reducing or preventing mineral formation or bone growth, or reducing bone mass. The methods disclosed herein are useful for treating conditions such as osteoradionecrosis.

Abstract: Disclosed herein, in certain embodiments, is a method of inhibiting or treating a cancer with use of a TNF expressing myxoma virus. Also disclosed herein are methods of inhibiting or treating a cancer with use of a mononuclear peripheral blood cells and/or a bone marrow cells treated with a TNF-expressing myxoma virus. Some aspects relate to engineered myxoma virus and pharmaceutical compositions for use with one or more of the methods described herein.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to Betulastatin compounds, pharmaceutical compositions and kits comprising such compounds, and methods for using such compounds or pharmaceutical compositions.

Abstract: Provided are methods of forming graphene laminate compositions and architectures. The method comprises: (i) contacting a graphene structure comprising one or more planar graphene sheets with a first interlayer material; (ii) depositing of a conductive material, where in the conductive material is deposited along an edge of the graphene and one end of the first interlayer; and (iii) contacting the graphene structure with a second interlayer material. Also provided are graphene laminates structures comprising doped graphene films having improved mechanical strength, electrical mobility and optical transparency.

Abstract: Disclosed are a dry calibration device for calibrating fluorescent detectors and methods of making and using such a device to obtain accurate calibration of single site and multiplexed fluorescent detectors. The device comprises slides that use phosphorescent material with neural density filters to replicate varying fluorophore concentrations.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for selective delivery of a therapeutic or diagnostic agent to a targeted organ or tissue by implanting a biocompatible solid support in the patient being linked to a first binding agent, and administering a second binding agent to the patient linked to the therapeutic or diagnostic agent, such that the therapeutic or diagnostic agent accumulates at the targeted organ or tissue.

Abstract: Photovoltaic devices with very high breakdown voltages are described herein. Typical commercial silicon photovoltaic devices have breakdown voltages below 50-100 volts (V). Even though such devices have bypass diodes to prevent photovoltaic cells from going into breakdown, the bypass diodes have high failure rates, leading to unreliable devices. A high-efficiency silicon photovoltaic cell is provided with very high breakdown voltages. By combining a device architecture with very low surface recombination and silicon wafers with high bulk resistivity (above 10 ohms centimeter (?-cm)), embodiments described herein achieve breakdown voltages close to 1000 V. These photovoltaic cells with high breakdown voltages improve the reliability of photovoltaic devices, while reducing their design complexity and cost.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a resonator system for detecting perspiration. The system includes a resonator. The resonator includes an electronically conductive segment. The resonator further includes a polymeric component coating at least a portion of the electronically conductive segment. The resonator further includes a fluidic channel component positioned adjacent to the polymeric component and comprising a microfluidic channel.

Abstract: Quantum network devices, systems, and methods are provided to enable long-distance transmission of quantum bits (qubits) for applications such as Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), entanglement distribution, and other quantum communication applications. Such systems and methods provide for separately storing first, second, third, and fourth photons, wherein the first and second photons and the third and fourth photons are respective first and second entangled photon pairs, triggering a synchronized retrieval of the stored first, second, third, and fourth photons such that the first photon is propagated to a first node, the second and third photons are propagated to a second node, and the fourth photon is propagated to a third node, and creating a new entangled pair comprising the first and fourth photons at the first and third nodes to transmit quantum information.

Abstract: A method of adaptively scanning a selected area that includes selecting an imaging mode, performing a scan of the selected area using the imaging mode, detecting an item of interest, automatically selecting a new imaging mode in response to detecting the item of interest, and performing a scan of the item of interest using the new imaging mode. The imaging mode may determine at least one of a scanning pattern, a scanning speed, and a scanning rate. Spectral data and image data may be gathered and used to detect the item of interest. The method may also include providing a scanning spectrometer system that has a gimbal system configured to provide at least two degrees of freedom to the scanning spectrometer system. The gimbal system may have a spectrometer and a camera each mounted on the gimbal system and configured to gather the spectral data and the image data, respectively.

Abstract: Described herein is a diagnostic catheter and a catheter system including the same. The diagnostic catheter of the disclosure is configured for advancing from a first blood vessel (such as a subclavian artery or descending aorta artery) into a second blood vessel (such as a patient head or neck artery) that forms a large angle with the first blood vessel at the bifurcation point of the two blood vessels. The diagnostic catheter of the disclosure includes an inflatable balloon coupled to or formed on an exterior surface of the distal region, which is able to anchor the distal portion of the diagnostic catheter near or just inside the second blood vessel, thereby simplifying the subsequent navigation steps. Also described herein are methods of using the diagnostic catheter and the catheter system to navigate in the blood vessel networks of patients.

Abstract: A system implements a modeling (ClassGP) and an optimization (ClassBO) framework that models heterogeneous functions with knowledge of individual partitions within classes, i.e., heterogeneous functions including non-stationary functions which can be divided into locally stationary functions over partitions of input space with an active stationary function in each partition. The framework constructs a class likelihood for the class by combining log marginal likelihoods associated with each partition of the plurality of partitions within the class. The framework aims to improve analysis of systems that are characterized by a discrete and finite number of “classes” of behaviors.

Abstract: An expanding dowel-pin comprises an upper-collet, inside-conical bore with one or more upper-collet slits. The expanding dowel pin further includes a double-tapered cylinder with tapered cones tapering more narrowly from its middle. The expanding dowel pin further includes a lower collet with a lower-collet, inside-conical bore which has one or more lower-collet slits. The lower collet further includes a lower-collet, inside-straight bore with lower-collet internal screw threads. The upper collet, the double-tapered cylinder, and the lower collet are, in that order, configured to have a bolt pass therethrough. The lower-collet internal screw threads are configured to engage the bolt, such that, when the bolt is rotated a first direction relative to the lower collet, the upper collet and the lower collet are configured to be compressed together by the bolt. The compression by the bolt results in the expansion of the upper-collet and the lower-collet.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method includes obtaining radiation emitted from a radiation source. The method includes modulating the radiation with a time-varying modulation to generate a time-varying illumination pattern with a known modulation. The illumination pattern includes a time-varying intensity for each of a plurality of spatial locations. The method includes illuminating a target volume with the illumination pattern. The method includes collecting a signal generated by one or more objects within the target volume in response to illumination by the illumination pattern. The method includes estimating a location of each of the one or more objects based on the collected signal and the known modulation.

Abstract: A dynamic capacitive sensor configuration is disclosed which imposes minimal force and resistance to motion on the moving electrode. Moving electrodes avoid adverse effects of large bias voltages such as pull-in instability, despite arbitrary levels of compliance. This configuration facilitates incorporation of highly compliant and thin electrode materials that present the least possible resistance to motion. This type of material is particularly useful for sensing sound. A large bias voltage can be applied without influencing its motion, e.g., 400 V. The electrical sensitivity to sound is high, e.g., approximately 0.5 volts/pascal, two orders of magnitude greater than typical acoustic sensors.

Abstract: A method of removing contaminants from a solution comprises passing a solution including one or more contaminants through a first cell comprising a first anode chamber and a first cathode chamber, passing a slurry comprising a flowing electrode material through the first anode chamber and the first cathode chamber while applying an electric potential between the first anode chamber and the first cathode chamber to transport anions from the solution to the first anode chamber and to transport cations from the solution to the first cathode chamber, the flowing electrode material comprising a MXene material, wherein M is a metal and X is one or both of carbon and nitrogen, and passing the slurry through a second cell to desorb the anions and cations from the flowing electrode material. Related systems for removing contaminants from a solution, and related methods are disclosed.

Abstract: Processing algae includes liquefying algae to yield a mixture including biocrude oil, biochar, and an aqueous component, and treating the biochar to yield a nutrient composition including ammoniacal nitrogen and phosphate.