Abstract: The present disclosure relates optical imaging devices and methods useful in biological and medical imaging applications. In one embodiment, an optical imaging device includes a flexible lightguide having a first end and a second end, the output of the source of pulsed infrared radiation being optically coupled to the first end of the flexible lightguide; a lens assembly attached to and optically coupled to the second end of the flexible lightguide, the lens assembly comprising a variable-focus lens element, the a variable-focus lens element having a tunable focal length; and a photodetector coupled to the flexible lightguide to detect radiation propagating from the second end toward the first end of the flexible lightguide. The optical imaging devices and methods can be used in both confocal and multi-photon techniques.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an adjustable endoscopic surgical device for illuminating a tissue surface with diffuse and oblique light. In some embodiments, light emanates from the sides of an optical fiber, which is optionally formed at least in part into a loop shape.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to characterizing bioaerosols and, more particularly, to a system for recovering, quantifying, identifying, and assessing the metabolic activities of bioaerosols based on their major biopolymer profiles (lipids, carbohydrate and protein) and more specific their genetic materials (DNA/RNA), such as airborne viruses, bacteria, fungi and pollens.

Abstract: A system for improved localization of image forgery. The system generates a variational information bottleneck objective function and works with input image patches to implement an encoder-decoder architecture. The encoder-decoder architecture controls an information flow between the input image patches and a representation layer. The system utilizes information bottleneck to learn useful residual noise patterns and ignore semantic content present in each input image patch. The system trains a neural network to learn a representation indicative of a statistical fingerprint of a source camera model from each input image patch while excluding semantic content thereof. The system can determine a splicing manipulation localization by the trained neural network.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for treating a disease or disorder, and preferably cancer, comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a CDK2 inhibitor, and a therapeutically effective amount of a CDK4/6 inhibitor, wherein the CDK4/6 inhibitor prevents rebound phosphorylation mediated by CDK4 and/or CDK6 in response to the inhibition of CDK2.

Abstract: This invention provides compositions and methods for preventing inflammatory diseases of the joints, including rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, tendonitis, bursitis, inflammation of the ligament, synovitis, gout, and systemic lupus erythematosus, wherein the methods include injecting into the inflamed joint a therapeutic anti-inflammatory composition comprising a bacterial or viral IL-10 expression construct, wherein the IL-10 expression construct comprises a bacterial or viral backbone and a nucleic acid sequence encoding interleukin-10.

Abstract: An ophthalmic implant including an IOL with haptics, and drug delivery devices secured to the haptics. The posterior-most extent of the drug delivery device is located anterior to the posterior edge or PCE barrier edge, of the IOL. In other configurations, the drug delivery devices are provided with PCO barrier edges.

Abstract: A method of analyzing instructor discourse includes recording an audio signal representing speech of the instructor during a class session, converting the audio signal to a session transcript comprising speech data for the session using an automatic speech recognition tool and segmenting the transcript into utterances, extracting a set of features from the session transcript, filtering student talk out from the utterances, analyzing a first subset of the features to produce a number of local context predictions for each utterance of the session transcript, analyzing a second subset of the features to produce a number of global context predictions for the session transcript, and combining a subset of the number of local context predictions and the number of global context predictions into a classification that attends to differential reliability.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for cardiac and vascular access configured to allow for intracardiac access to conduct medical procedures. The devices, systems and methods are particularly useful in trans-cardiac extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) procedures, ventricular assist procedures, cardiopulmonary bypass, or other medical procedures where intracardiac access may be required.

Abstract: Methods for intravesical administration of a therapeutic agent including application of a photoactive nanogel to the mucosal surfaces of the bladder and/or intravesical application of cell-penetrating peptides. Photoactive nanogels may be aggregated by exposure to ultraviolet light, either in vitro or in vivo, to provide controlled or extended release of a therapeutic agent, such as an antibiotic.

Abstract: A method of sequestering gas-phase materials, hempcrete formed using the method, and methods of using hempcrete are disclosed. An exemplary method includes providing a mixture of hempcrete compound material within a chamber and exposing the mixture within the chamber to a gas for a period of time to form hempcrete, wherein the hempcrete exhibits net-negative life cycle carbon emissions. A model to predict net life cycle carbon emission of hempcrete is also disclosed.

Abstract: Described herein are molecules for editing a cell. The molecules described herein generally comprise the following covalently-linked components and a nucleic acid encoding a guide RNA (gRNA) sequence targeting a target region in a cell and a region homologous to the target region comprising a change in sequence relative to the target region.

Abstract: High strain hydraulically amplified self-healing electrostatic transducers having increased maximum theoretical and practical strains are disclosed. In particular, the actuators include electrode configurations having a zipping front created by the attraction of the electrodes that is configured orthogonally to a strain axis along which the actuators. This configuration produces increased strains. In turn, various form factors for the actuator configuration are presented including an artificial circular muscle and a strain amplifying pulley system. Other actuator configurations are contemplated that include independent and opposed electrode pairs to create cyclic activation, hybrid electrode configurations, and use of strain limiting layers for controlled deflection of the actuator.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for preparing and using a swellable polymer network for expansion microscopy (ExM) applications. The swellable polymer network can be prepared on demand using external stimuli for ExM applications. A variety of external stimuli can be employed, including light irradiation, pH, temperature, and magnetic fields. Network preparation using light irradiation is particularly advantageous, as it allows tuned control over the network properties through the variation of time and dose of light irradiation. In other words, light irradiation can be employed with a wavelength and intensity that enables a polymer network formation.

Abstract: A controller for displaying a puncture site of an intra-atrial septum for heart repairs includes a memory and a processor (710). The processor (710) executes instructions (784) to perform a process based on image data of a heart that includes a mitral valve and an intra-atrial septum. The process includes defining a mitral valve annulus plane along a mitral valve annulus of the mitral valve and a normal vector perpendicular to the mitral valve annulus plane. The process also includes defining an offset plane that intersects with the intra-atrial septum and that is parallel to the mitral valve annulus plane. A safe zone for the puncture site is identified and displayed on the intra-atrial septum. The safe zone is between a lower boundary plane (456) and an upper boundary plane (455) that are each parallel to the offset plane by specified distances.

Abstract: Through discrimination of the scattered signal polarization state, a lidar system measures a distance through semi-transparent media by the reception of single or multiple scattered signals from a scattered medium. Combined and overlapped single or multiple scattered light signals from the medium can be separated by exploiting varying polarization characteristics. This removes the traditional laser and detector pulse width limitations that determine the system's operational bandwidth, translating relative depth measurements into the conditions of two surface timing measurements and achieving sub-pulse width resolution.

Abstract: RF co-designed bandpass filters/isolators (BPFIs) are based on series-cascaded non-reciprocal resonant stages, microwave resonators and multi-resonant cells. The non-reciprocal stages are shaped by an in-parallel cascaded transistor-based path and a transmission line (TL) that result in a zero-phase resonance in the forward direction and high isolation in the reversed one. This includes coupling routing diagrams (CRDs) of BPFs that result in low- and high-order transfer functions with and without transmission zeros in their forward direction and high levels of isolation in the reverse one. BPFIs provide alternative-type of filtering responses (e.g., flat-passband, quasi-elliptic) with and without gain in the forward direction and high levels of isolation in the reversed one. BPFIs include five planar microstrip/lumped element (LE) prototypes using hybrid combinations of non-reciprocal resonant stages, microwave resonators and multi-resonant cells.

Abstract: An ophthalmic implant configured for peri-operative, intra-operative, or post-operative assembly and disassembly. Drug delivery devices may be implanted with an intraocular lens, and later removed and replaced with new drug delivery devices.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates in one aspect to methods of preparing non-homogeneous polymer materials wherein light is used to control structure and/or composition. In certain embodiments, the present disclosure provides methods for creating gradient index optical elements including holographic elements.

Abstract: Transformerless stacked active bridge (TSAB) direct current (DC)-to-DC power converters designed based on parent switched capacitor (SC) converter topologies. The TSAB DC-to-DC power converter includes the SC converter. The SC converter includes a plurality of switches and a plurality of capacitors. Each capacitor of the plurality of capacitors is electrically coupled to at least one of the plurality of switches. The plurality of capacitors includes tree capacitors, and link capacitors forming a loop with at least one of the tree capacitors. The TSAB DC-to-DC power converter includes at least one inductor electrically coupled in series to at least one of the link capacitors. The TSAB DC-to-DC power converters provide high efficiency bi-directional operation without requiring isolation transformers.