Abstract: This document relates to methods and materials for using 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) and/or one or more derivatives of 4-AP. For example, a composition containing 4-AP and/or one or more derivatives of 4-AP can be administered (e.g., orally administered) to a mammal to increase a level of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) polypeptides within the mammal. For example, a composition containing 4-AP and/or one or more derivatives of 4-AP can be administered (e.g., orally administered) to a mammal having bone loss to increase the level of BMP-2 within the mammal, thereby treating the mammal's bone loss.

Abstract: A modular cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drain system for treating hydrocephalus without penetration of the gray matter of the brain is disclosed. Modular components of the CSF drain system may include a subarachnoid space (SAS) inlet drain implant, a SAS implant plug, a connector implant, a dural venous sinus (DVS) implant plug, and a DVS outlet drain implant. When implanted, the modular components may be fluidly coupled such that cerebrospinal fluid may flow from a subjects subarachnoid space through the modular components and into the subjects cerebral venous sinuses. A kit including a guide device and the CSF drain system, as well as a method for installing the CSF drain system are also disclosed.

Abstract: Provided are modified virus-like particles (VLPs) of paramyxoviruses, compositions containing them, methods of using the VLPs for delivery of any particular protein of interest to any of a variety of cells, kits that contain expression vectors for making, using and detecting VLPs, and methods for screening for anti-viral compounds using the VLPs. The modified VLPs contain a contiguous recombinant polypeptide that contains i) all or a segment of a C-terminal domain of a paramyxovirus nucleocapsid protein and ii) a polypeptide sequence of a distinct protein. Non-covalent complexes of paramyxovirus M protein and fusion proteins that contain a C-terminal domain of a paramyxovirus nucleocapsid protein and a polypeptide sequence of a distinct protein are provided, as are non-covalent complexes of cells, and cell receptors, with modified VLPs.

Abstract: A composite material is formed by combining an expandable polymer having a charge with another polymer having an opposite charge to produce.

Abstract: Disclosed is a reactive polymer composite comprising a reactive functionalized polymer having a main polymer chain with functionalization along the main polymer chain, wherein the functionalization comprises one or more functional groups that are configured to react with a metal electrode to form a polymeric metal salt and one, or more functional groups configured to electrochemically decompose. Also disclosed are electrodes and batteries comprising the same. Also disclosed are methods of making the same.

Abstract: A method for planning a tour visiting a set of target diagnostic sites via endoscopy passing through a hollow organ system includes computing a 3D virtual space of the hollow organ system based on the 3D imaging scan depicting the diagnostic sites and hollow organ system, computing a series of preliminary endoscopic routes leading to each diagnostic site including a set of contiguous device poses through the hollow organ system that connect each target diagnostic site to all of the other target diagnostic sites, and computing an optimal tour having a minimum cost corresponding to the smallest set of contiguous poses that visit all of the target diagnostic sites once and only once, where the cost between each pair of diagnostic sites is defined as the distance accumulated by the smallest set of contiguous poses connecting the pair of diagnostic sites together within the hollow organ system.

Abstract: A compound with the following general formula (I) and a general method for making this compound are provided, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10, R11, R12, R13, R14, R15 and R16 are each independently selected from the group that includes H, halogen, nitro, cyano, alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, cycloalkyl, heteroalkyl, heterocyclyl, aralkyl, heteroaryl and heteroaralkyl.

Abstract: Provided are devices and methods for detecting the presence, absence, and/or characteristics of bacteria. A microfluidic device for characterizing bacteria is provided. The device contains one or more bacteria trapping channels, and one or more pneumatic channels in contact with the bacteria trapping channels, wherein the one or more pneumatic channels are configured to reduce the height of the one or more bacteria trapping channels to thereby trap bacteria in the one or more bacteria trapping channels if said bacteria are present in a liquid biological sample that is introduced into the microfluidic device. Also provided is a method for identifying bacteria that may be used with the microfluidic device.

Abstract: A Computer Vision enabled Smart Tray (CVST) is designed for use in medical training, such as for Central Venous Catheterization (CVC). The tray is configured to hold a plurality of medical instruments. A support surface supports the tray with areas that are selectively illuminable, and a sensing system is operable to sense the presence of instruments or supplies in at least some areas of the tray. Background color is used by the computer vision algorithm to distinguish between tools and the tray. In addition, the computer vision algorithm is evaluated for accuracy in tool detection.

Abstract: An active noise isolation apparatus and method for cancelling vibration noise from the probe signal of a scanning tunneling microscope by generating a correction signal by convolution based on the probe signal and the sensor signal, which is based on the ambient vibration that adds noise to the probe signal.

Abstract: Methods of controlling bacteria cells are disclosed. These methods comprise upregulating expression of a DVU2956 sigma 54-dependent enhancer-binding protein (EBP) in bacteria cells, resulting in (i) dispersing a biofilm of the cells or reducing biofilm formation by the cells, and/or (ii) reducing hydrogen sulfide formation by the cells. Further disclosed are methods of identifying compounds for controlling bacteria cells as in (i) and/or (ii) above. Polynucleotides and cells are disclosed that can optionally be used to practice compound identification methods.

Abstract: Methods and compositions relating to TIC10 are described according to aspects of the present invention. The compositions and methods have utility in treating disease, particularly cancer in a subject in need thereof, including a human subject as well as subjects of other species. The compositions have utility in treating brain cancer in a subject in need thereof.

Abstract: Tuning fracture hydraulic conductivity can be provided so that high hydraulic conductivity in high temperature zones and low hydraulic conductivity in low temperature zones can be defined in enhanced geothermal systems (EGS). Uniform thermal gradient along flow paths can be provided or defined to help provide such conductivity zones. Experimentation performed to evaluate embodiments showed that embodiments could prevent appearance of dominant flow paths between the wells and maintain high heat extraction rates. Embodiments can greatly increase cumulative heat extraction. Embodiments can also be provided for application solely to the injection wells. Other embodiments can position tuning agents between the wells and still help provide control of the fluid flow in the reservoir and enhance heat extraction.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to a flow loop system for estimating wellbore circulation density. The flow loop system includes an eccentric annulus structure having an inner eccentric pipe and an outer pipe. The inner eccentric pipe can be representative of a drill string in a wellbore. The outer pipe can be representative of the wellbore. The flow loop system includes a pressure sensor configured to measure pressure loss gradients of annular flows between the inner eccentric pipe and the outer pipe. The flow loop system includes a wellbore circulation density processing module configured to estimate the wellbore's bottomhole pressure based on the measured loss gradients of annular flows of fluid and solid particles, rotation of the inner eccentric pipe, and eccentricity of the inner eccentric pipe.

Abstract: A method of providing therapeutic treatment by delivering therapeutic aptamers locally to a target site using microneedles includes providing complementary sequence modified microneedles by reacting a complementary sequence (CS) with a polymer thereby forming a covalent bond between the polymer and the CS, forming microneedle patches using an initial casting solution consisting of the polymer, the therapeutic aptamer, and a covalent bond between a complementary sequence (CS) and the polymer, thereby loading the therapeutic aptamer into the microneedles, each microneedle having a base, shaft and tip, physically binding the therapeutic aptamer to the CS, inserting the microneedles into the tissue such that the tips and shafts are embedded into the target site and the bases are on a surface of the target site, and sustained release of the aptamer to the target site due to dissociation of the aptamer from the CS over time.

Abstract: A spectrally encoded fluorescence imaging system includes a multi-wavelength excitation light source emitting excitation light for illuminating a sample, optical components for introducing spectral encoding to focus different wavelengths of the excitation light at different positions in the sample to generate fluorescence at different, spatial positions, and band-shifting florescence imaging probes exhibiting excitation-dependent emission band, causing the fluorescence generated at different spatial positions to exhibit different band shifts, such that image information is encoded in the band-shifted fluorescence spectrums for parallel detection by a spectrometer or arrayed detectors operable to resolve different wavelengths.

Abstract: A system and method for performing nanoscale thermal property characterization of materials. The system combines the operating principles of thermoreflectance-based techniques and scanning probe microscopy techniques into a hybrid solution capable of deriving thermophysical properties of a sample. A pump laser beam heats a distal end of a cantilever, and a probe laser beam is reflected off of a specular surface at the distal end of the cantilever carrying with it thermoreflectance data that can be used to extract thermophysical properties of the sample region adjacent to a tip suspended at the distal end of the cantilever.

Abstract: A battery includes an electrolyte, a metal anode and a cathode. The metal anode includes a porous material disposed thereon to protect the metal anode. The porous material has a zeta potential with a magnitude of at least above 15 mV in the electrolyte. The porous material can include a cross-linked polymer having segments with polar functional groups. Examples of polar functional groups include, but are not limited to, those comprising one or more among O, N, P, S, and B.

Abstract: A heat exchanger with a monocoque structure transfers heat between a first fluid and a second fluid. The heat exchanger has a plurality of tubes through which the first fluid may flow in a direction, each of the plurality of tubes has a first mouth end, an opposing second mouth end and a waist region between the first mouth end and the second mouth end. The heat exchanger also has one or more intercom1ected fluid challllels through which the second fluid may flow. the one or more fluid chamlels lay generally in a plane, the plurality of tubes and the one or more fluid channels interleave such that heat may be transferred between the plurality of tubes and the one or more fluid challllels, and the direction of flow of the first fluid is generally perpendicular to the plane of the one or more fluid chamlels.

Abstract: An imaging system includes a scattering assembly with a scattering medium positioned a first distance from an object to be imaged. The scattering medium includes a plurality of particles suspended in a suspension medium and at least one field source generating an electromagnetic field to manipulate an orientation, concentration, spatial distribution, and/or other properties of the plurality of particles. The imaging system further includes a detector including a plurality of detector elements positioned a second distance from the scattering medium and an image processing system configured to reconstruct an image of the object from an object image signal detected by the detector using object light scattered by the scattering medium and incident on the detector.