Abstract: This invention relates to the treatment of fatty liver disease. More specifically, embodiments of the invention provide a pharmaceutical carrier and a compound that reduces adipsin activity in liver cells.

Abstract: The subject invention provides a method for treating a non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) disease in a subject afflicted therewith comprising administering to the subject a pharmaceutical composition comprising an amount of a compound which is a non-retinoid retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) antagonist effective to treat the subject, thereby treating the subject. The subject invention provides a method for treating gout in a subject afflicted therewith comprising administering to the subject a pharmaceutical composition comprising an amount of a compound which is a retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) antagonist effective to treat the subject, thereby treating the subject.

Abstract: Water-responsive actuators and methods for creating water responsive actuators are disclosed. In some embodiments, the disclosed subject matter includes a first layer, for example a plastic tape, and a second layer, for example bacterial spores and cured adhesive. The second layer can be created in a pattern. The pattern can include joints, which can contract when exposed to dry air and can thereby bend the actuator, and can expand when exposed to humid air and thereby return the actuator its original position.

Abstract: Systems and methods of performing temperature swing solvent extraction (TSSE) descaling of produced water and desalination of high-salinity brines, e.g., those having a total dissolved solids (TDS) greater than about 250,000 ppm are capable of producing descaled water products including less than about 5% weight percent TDS. The brine/produced water feedstreams and combined with a solvent having temperature-dependent water solubility at a temperature TL. Water is extracted from the feedstream into the solvent to form a water-in-solvent extract component and a raffinate component, from which a solid phase can be precipitated as more water is portioned in the solvent and basicity increases. Heating of the water-in-solvent extract component reduces the solubility of the water therein, producing a biphasic mixture of dewatered solvent and descaled water that can be separated.

Abstract: Mechanisms for recovering data symbols in multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) receivers, the mechanisms comprising receiving, at Na antennas that each have an output: first signals corresponding to Np pilot symbols transmitted from each of K transmitters for a total of Np*K transmitted pilot symbols; and second signals corresponding to a plurality of transmitted data symbols transmitted from the K transmitters, wherein Np is less than Na, and wherein K is less than Na; receiving, at a hardware processor, first digital signals representing the Np*K transmitted pilot symbols; receiving, at the hardware processor, second digital signals representing the plurality of transmitted data symbols; and recovering the plurality of transmitted data symbols using the second digital signals and no more pilot symbols than the Np*K transmitted pilot symbols represented by the first digital signals using the hardware processor.

Abstract: Methods for prophylactically treating a stress-induced affective disorder or stress-induced psychopathology in a subject are provided. Also provided are methods for inducing and/or enhancing stress resilience in a subject. In certain embodiments, an effective amount of (R,S)-ketamine or (2R,6R)-hydroxynorketamine ((2R,6R)-HNK) is administered to a female or male subject prior to a stressor.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems, devices, and other implementations, including a voltage converter device that includes one or more inductive elements to deliver inductor current to an output section of the voltage converter device, at least one switching device to control current flow at the output section of the voltage converter device, and a controller to controllably vary, according to a predictive model, a subsequently applied switching frequency to the at least one switching device to maintain zero-voltage switching based, at least in part, on the inductor current of the one or more inductive elements.

Abstract: Engineered skin substitutes comprising an outer-facing portion and an inner-facing portion and methods of making the same are provided. The skin substitutes are configured to conform to a shape and a dimension of a body part of a subject, and have at least one surface that circles back on itself so as to enclose at least a portion of the body part. In some instances, dermis and epidermal layers can be formed in an air liquid interface. The exemplary skin substitutes are wearable and can be made to conform to a generic body part or a specific body part from a three-dimensional representation of the body part.

Abstract: Circuits for a receiver, comprising: M first mixers that each receive an input signal, that are each clocked by a different phase of a first common clock frequency, and that each provide an output, wherein M is a count of the first mixers; and M sets of N second mixers, wherein N is a count of the second mixers in each of the M sets, wherein each second mixer in each set of N second mixers receives as an input the output of a corresponding one of the M first mixers, wherein each of the N second mixers in each of the M sets are clocked by a different phase of a second common clock frequency, and wherein each of the second mixers has an output.

Abstract: Devices for radiative cooling and optical waveguiding are provided, wherein the devices comprise a fabric including one or more fibers extending for a length in a longitudinal direction and a plurality of void structures positioned within each of the one or more fibers and extended over the length of each of the one or more fibers. Each of the plurality of void structures is configured to scatter at least a portion of an electromagnetic radiation received thereon to thereby radiatively cool the object.

Abstract: Methods and devices for positioning a nerve stimulation device on a subject are provided. Aspects are directed to methods of positioning a stimulation device on an anatomic target of a subject comprising positioning an alignment guide adjacent to at least a first alignment point associated with the anatomic target on the subject, wherein the alignment guide indicates a first target location on the anatomic target of the subject, and positioning the stimulation device at the first target location.

Abstract: Measurement devices can be used for identifying concentration of arsenic species in water samples. The measurement devices can take the form of test strips including a substrate with at least one testing region that includes an amount of a testing medium. The silver reagent includes a polymer framework and a silver component that is stabilized by the framework, yet remains reactive enough to function as a colorimetric sensor for arsenic, e.g., ((Ag(H2btc))(Ag2(Hbtc)))n. The initially substantially colorless testing medium exhibits a color change response when exposed to arsenic species, e.g., arsine, generated from samples including as little as 5 ppb arsenic, with an increasingly dark color as the concentration of arsenic is increased. Test strips fabricated with the silver coordination polymer display robust stability towards both light and water, allowing for an alternative to mercury-based field test kits in real-world field tests under direct sunlight and high humidity conditions.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for rapid and accurate detection of nucleic acid in a single reaction chamber are provided. In one aspect, a patient specimen suspected of comprising a first nucleic acid is used to form a crude lysate which is combined with an infrared absorbing material, a detecting nucleic acid, and at least one reporter molecule in the single reaction chamber and heated by irradiating the reaction mixture with infrared light. Another aspect is directed to an apparatus for detecting a presence or absence of a plurality of different molecules within a reaction container. The apparatus comprises an infrared light source aimed to illuminate contents of the reaction container; an excitation light source positioned to illuminate contents of the reaction container; and a spectrometer positioned to detect emission light emanating from the reaction container.

Abstract: The present invention relates to noninvasive microbiome analyses of Barrett's esophagus (BE) patients in which changes in the relative abundance of certain bacteria indicate a disease likelihood or pathogenic state. Additional aspects of the present invention relate to manipulating the microbiome to treat or prevent BE and related conditions. Embodiments also include monitoring for development of disease or monitoring treatment for prevention or elimination of disease states.

Abstract: The present subject matter relates to photomechanical compounds and methods for producing such photomechanical materials. The compound can include a solid-state compound having a formula including [Cluster1][Cluster2]. Cluster 1 can include copper and azobenzene, and Cluster 2 can include a counterion.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating an electromechanical map are disclosed herein. The methods includes obtaining ultrasound data comprising a series of consecutive image frames and radio frequency (RF) signals corresponding to the location in the heart; measuring displacements and strains based on the ultrasound data to determine an electromechanical activation in the location; converting the ultrasound data into a series of isochrone maps; and combining the series of isochrone maps to generate the electromechanical map. The electromechanical map illustrates the electromechanical activation and internal wall structures of the heart.

Abstract: The present subject matter relates to techniques for simultaneous blood-brain barrier opening and cavitation imaging. The disclosed system can include a transducer and a processor. The transducer can be configured to generate a plurality of focused transmits and simultaneously obtain a plurality of power cavitation images. The processor can be configured to control a parameter of the focused transmits, acquire the power cavitation images between each focused transmit, and generate a cavitation map based on the power cavitation images.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides, method, a system, and apparatus for identifying odorants. For example, the apparatus performs sensing an odorant using an olfactory sensor, encoding the sensed odorant to an electrical signal using an input processor, determining an identity representation of the odorant based on the encoded electrical signal, and determining odorant information using a time-dependent hash code based on the identity representation of the odorant.

Abstract: The disclosed subject matter provides systems and methods for spatial and spectral modulation of light. An example system for modulating light can include a substrate and a plurality of meta units, coupled to the substrate and configured to spatially and spectrally modulate the light, wherein the plurality of meta units includes a perturbation and forms a perturbed lattice supporting a quasi-bound state in the continuum.

Abstract: This disclosure provides chips, systems and methods for sequencing a nucleic acid sample. Tagged nucleotides are provided into a reaction chamber comprising a nanopore in a membrane. An individual tagged nucleotide of the tagged nucleotides can contain a tag coupled to a nucleotide, which tag is detectable with the aid of the nanopore. Next, an individual tagged nucleotide of the tagged nucleotides can be incorporated into a growing strand complementary to a single stranded nucleic acid molecule derived from the nucleic acid sample. With the aid of the nanopore, a tag associated with the individual tagged nucleotide can be detected upon incorporation of the individual tagged nucleotide. The tag can be detected with the aid of the nanopore when the tag is released from the nucleotide.