Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a cell culturing system, and specifically to a three-dimensional cell culturing system for neuronal cells that promotes both structural and functional characteristics that mimic those of in vivo peripheral fibers, including cell myelination. Using a dual hydrogel construct and spheroids comprising neuronal cells, the present disclosure provides methods, devices, and systems for in vitro spatially-controlled, three-dimensional models that permit intra- and extra-cellular electro-physiological measurements and recordings. The three-dimensional hydrogel constructs allow for flexibility in incorporated cell types, geometric fabrication, and electrical manipulation, providing viable systems for culture, perturbation, and testing of biomimetic neural growth with physiologically-relevant results.

Abstract: Manual and automatic methods and devices using a ACOMP system for active control of polymerization reaction processes. An ideal desired trajectory of one or more reaction and polymer characteristics can be established to produce a desired final polymer product with specified characteristics from a polymerization reaction process. A current reaction trajectory of a polymerization reaction process can be driven to an ideal or desired reaction trajectory. In a manual embodiment an operator can use ACOMP data to adjust process variables in order to drive the current reaction trajectory toward the ideal or desired reaction trajectory. In an automated mode a control program can use ACOMP data to make adjustments to process variables to drive the polymerization reaction process toward the desired trajectory as closely as possible either empirically or by solving the governing equations for the polymerization reaction process.

Abstract: The disclosure provides drug delivery devices and methods of making and using the drug delivery devices. The devices include single and multi-layer polymer films made by a breath figure technique having therapeutic agents associated therewith. For example, the devices may be a dual layer polymer film wherein the first layer includes a therapeutic agent incorporated into it by spin coating the first agent with a polymer solution and the second agent is incorporated into the second layer by loading the agent into pores of the second layer after it is spin coated onto the first layer. In some cases one layer provides a burst release and the second layer provides a slow release drug delivery profile. The devices may take on the form of a surgical mesh with a slow release therapeutic drug.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for evaluating a fresh tissue sample, prepared as to fluoresce under illumination, during a medical procedure. A structured light source is configured to project a spatially patterned light beam onto the fresh tissue sample. An imaging system is configured to produce an image from fluorescence emitted from the illuminated fresh tissue sample. A system control is configured to provide a human-comprehensible clinically useful output associated with the medical procedure.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to surgical grafts for replacing nipples and areolas lost to disease or trauma with surgical grafts of decellularized donor nipples and areolas and to placing and recellularizing such grafts. The disclosure further provides methods for decellularizing epidermis. The decellularized epidermis can be used as a protective cover for skin wounds.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for preventing or ameliorating pulmonary infections with Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Abstract: Devices and methods for controlling the properties of chemical species during time-dependent processes. A device includes a reactor for containing one or more chemical species of a time-dependent process, an extraction pump for automatically and continuously extracting an amount of the one or more chemical species from the reactor, one or more detectors for measuring property changes of the one or more extracted chemical species and generating a continuous stream of data related to the one or more property changes to the one or more chemical species during a time interval, and a process controller configured to fit the continuous stream of data to a mathematical function to predict one or more properties of the one or more chemical species at a future time point and make one or more process decisions based on the prediction of one or more properties at the future time point.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hybrid, concentrating photovoltaic-solar thermal (CPV/T) system and components thereof, and methods for converting solar energy to electricity at high efficiencies while capturing and storing solar thermal energy for later deployment.

Abstract: A micellar compositions including oil-soluble surfactants delivered by water-soluble surfactants are disclosed. The micellar compositions demonstrate enhanced crude oil mobilization in porous media. When the porous media was imbued with crude oil, the presence of the surfactant in the oil phase improved the mobilization performance of crude oil. Solutions of SDS were used to solubilize the surfactant, and the formation of SDS/PIBSI micellar composition was confirmed by Cryo-SEM images. High cleaning effectiveness of the micellar compositions on crude oil entrapped in porous media was demonstrated by image binarization.

Abstract: Treatment of tumors, especially breast cancer or glioblastoma tumors, by silencing RAB27A and/or TRAF3IP2, compositions and methods for same.

Abstract: Immunogenic influenza hemagglutinin-derived peptide compositions described herein induce a specific therapeutic antibody response against influenza virus. The immunogenic peptide compositions comprise a segment from the fusion initiation region (FIR) domain of an influenza hemagglutinin protein bound to an immunogenic carrier protein, such as an influenza hemagglutinin (HA) protein (i.e., full length HA), and the like. The immunogenic peptide compositions described herein can be utilized to treat or prevent influenza infection and to prepare influenza-specific therapeutic antibodies that interfere with influenza virus-host cell membrane fusion. The peptide conjugates can be formulated in pharmaceutical compositions useful for broad spectrum treatment or prevention of influenza infections.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are topical compositions comprising a quaternary ammonium salt and optionally ammonium chloride and/or stabilized chlorine dioxide. Also disclosed herein are methods of reducing the severity and/or duration of a dermal and or mucosal infection such as herpes or shingles. Also disclosed herein are methods of preventing the spread of a viral infection such as HIV. Also disclosed herein are methods of treating a viral infection such as keratoconjunctivitis.

Abstract: Episomally transfected primary mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) express a polypeptide consisting of an antigenic polypeptide (e.g., one or more polypeptides) relating to a pathogen (e.g., one or more virus, bacterium, or parasite). The antigenic polypeptide can have the amino acid sequence of a natural polypeptide from the pathogen or an amino acid sequence differing from the natural sequence by one or more conservative amino acid substitutions. Uses and method for treating or preventing infections with episomally transfected primary MSC also are described.

Abstract: This invention relates to a cell-surface marker for identifying MSC that are aging. This invention also relates to a method of screening MSCs of low proliferation potential and trilineage potential by removing CD264+ MSCs from the population.

Abstract: Otologic materials and methods are provided. For example, a cell-adhesive, biodegradable hydrogel scaffold loaded with time-released drugs for repairing chronic tympanic membrane perforations is disclosed, methods of making same and administering same are provided. This hydrogel may promote vascular in-growth and epithelial cell growth of the tympanic membrane with the purpose of closing the perforation and providing a barrier between the external and middle ear. The hydrogel is initially a liquid polymer that only gels upon exposure to specific conditions, such as exposure to light. This scaffold may simultaneously induce repair of the tympanic membrane while preventing or alleviating middle ear infection, thus filling a void in current tympanic membrane perforation therapies.

Abstract: Immunoprotective primary mesenchymal stems cells (IP-MSC) which episomally express immunoreactive polypeptides that specifically target a pathogen (e.g., an infectious species of virus, bacterium, or parasite) or toxin are described herein. The immunoreactive polypeptides can be, e.g., full antibodies, single-chain antibodies (ScFV), Fab or F(ab)2 antibody fragments, diabodies, tribodies, and the like). Optionally IP-MSC are transfected to express one or more other immunomodulating polypeptides, e.g., a cytokine such as an interleukin (e.g., IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-7, IL-9, and IL-12), an interferon (e.g., IFN?, IFN?, or IFN?), and the like, which can enhance the effectiveness of the immunoreactive polypeptides.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides compositions and methods of their use to impair angiogenesis in a patient to treat indications including, but not limited to, tumor growth, age-related macular degeneration, and metastasis. Also provided are compositions and methods for promoting angiogenesis in patients in need thereof.

Abstract: A three dimensional (3D) printing system includes computer-executable instructions for obtaining a volumetric object representation file, parsing the volumetric object representation file into multiple layers, and for each layer, decomposing the layer into a sequence of continuous paths, aggregating non-continuous sets of tool paths with a single outer path and zero or more open or closed inner paths into islands, and generating one or more motion segments according to each island. Once generated, the motion segments may be aggregated to form a toolpath, which is used by the three dimensional printer to print a 3D model. Other embodiments may employ.

Abstract: Immunoprotective primary mesenchymal stems cells (IP-MSC) which episomally express multiple immunoreactive polypeptides that specifically target a pathogen (e.g., an infectious species of virus, bacterium, or parasite) or toxin are described herein. The IP-MSC express two or more (e.g., 2 to about 100) immunoreactive polypeptides (e.g., full antibodies, single-chain antibodies (ScFV), Fab or F(ab)2 antibody fragments, diabodies, tribodies, and the like), and optionally one or more other immunomodulating polypeptides, e.g., a cytokine such as an interleukin (e.g., IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-7, IL-9, and IL-12), an interferon (e.g., IFN?, IFN?, or IFN?), and the like, which can enhance the effectiveness of the immunoreactive polypeptides.

Abstract: Provided are synthetic dendrimer calibrants for mass spectrometry. The calibrants are distinguished by their relative ease and rapidity of synthesis, comparatively low cost, long shelf life, high purity, and amenability to batch synthesis as mixtures. The latter characteristic enables parallel preparation of higher molecular weight compounds displaying useful distributions of discrete molecular weights, thereby providing multi-point mass spectrometry calibration standards. Methods of making, tuning and using said calibrants are provided.