Abstract: Disclosed are methods of, and assay and kits for, detecting and diagnosing methods of detecting, diagnosing, vulnerable carotid artery disease capable of becoming acutely symptomatic using the levels of Resolvin D1 (RvD1), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and arachidonic acid (AA). Also disclosed are methods of treating carotid artery disease and methods of identifying agents for use in the treatment of carotid artery disease.

Abstract: Error-transparent quantum gates may be implemented with one or two logical qubits, each having a plurality of coupled physical qubits. Error-transparent quantum gates implement Hamiltonians that commute with the Hamiltonian for single errors in the logical qubits, and thus can operate successfully even in the presence of single errors. As a result, error-transparent quantum gates may operate with higher fidelity than their error-opaque counterparts. Each of the logical qubits may be, for example, a very small logical qubit (VSLQ) formed from a cluster of transmons or other superconducting qubits.

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.

Abstract: Variations in the differentiation and lineage potential of stem cells, including mesenchymal stem cells, currently limit their therapeutic use. The ability to identify, isolate, and specifically amplify stem cell populations with desired differentiation potential would contribute the use of stem cells in research and therapy. The present invention discloses a method of assessing differentiation potential of stem cells by measuring the differential expression of antigens CD 146 and NG2 on the stem cells. The correlation between CD 146 and NG2 expression and differentiation and trilineage potential is explored. The invention also discloses methods to specifically amplify or enrich stem cells with desired differentiation potential, monitor the differentiation potential of a heterogeneous stem cell population, quantify the heterogeneity in differentiation potential of a stem cell culture, and remove stem cells with specific differentiation potentials from a heterogeneous cell culture.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are amphiphilic surfactants which comprise a polymer chain having a hydrophobic unit and hydrophilic unit wherein the polymer is tethered to an inorganic nanoparticle. Further disclosed are methods for preparing the disclosed amphiphilic surfactants.

Abstract: A method of curing (or at least treating) HIV, by obtaining small tissue mesenchymal stem cells (stMSC) from adipose tissue of a patient with HIV or from a syngeneic donor or an immuno-compatible donor, wherein said stMSC are i) 4-6 ?m in diameter, ii) pluripotent, and iii) have CD11b?, CD34?, CD45?, CD 29, CD 49, Oct 4 and SSEA 4 surface markers when harvested. Preferred sources are autologous adipose tissue. Next those stMSCs are gene edited to provide CCR5? stMSCs and optionally amplified by growth in culture and/or by cell selection for gene edited stMSCs and then re-introducing into the patient. Preferably, the CCR5? stMSCs will re-populate the patient with stem cells that can no longer act as latent HIV reservoirs and can differentiate into immune cells that are HIV resistant. If desired, the patient can be first treated, e.g., by radiation, to destroy the bone marrow cells before the re-introduction.

Abstract: The invention relates to cyclic peptide agonists that bind to the mu (morphine) opioid receptor and their use in the treatment of acute and/or chronic pain. Embodiments of the invention are directed to cyclic analogs of endomorphin. These peptide analogs exhibit decreased tolerance relative to morphine, increased solubility compared to similar tetrapeptide analogs, while maintaining favorable or improved therapeutic ratios of analgesia to side effects.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention include inventive compounds (e.g., compounds of Formula (I)) including but not limited to conjugates comprising FK-506 and ascomycin. Other embodiments include compositions (e.g., pharmaceutical compositions) comprising the inventive compound. Still other embodiments of the invention include compositions for treating, for example, certain diseases using the inventive compounds. Some embodiments include methods of using the inventive compound (e.g., in compositions or in pharmaceutical compositions) for administering and treating. Further embodiments include methods for making the inventive compound. Additional embodiments of the invention are also discussed herein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to simple, low-cost, rapid paper-based diagnostic devices and their methods of use.

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 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.