Abstract: A monitor for pulsed high energy radiation therapy using a radiation beam passing through a treatment zone, the radiation of 0.2 MEV or greater; has a camera for imaging Cherenkov light from the treatment zone; apparatus for preventing interference by room lighting, the camera synchronized to pulses of the radiation beam; and an image processor adapted to determine extent of the beam area on the patient skin from the images. Additionally an image processor determines cumulative skin dose in the treatment zone from the images. In embodiments, the processor uses a three-dimensional model of a subject to determine mapping of image intensity in images of Cherenkov light to radiation intensity in skin, applies the mapping to images of Cherenkov light to verify skin dose delivered, and accumulates skin dose by summing the maps of skin dose.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a peptide, multimer, conjugate, analog, derivative or mimetic thereof that inhibits the activity of VISTA. The invention further contemplates therapeutic use of the VISTA antagonist peptide, multimer, conjugate, derivative or mimetic thereof, including treating or preventing cancer, bacterial infections, viral infections, parasitic infections and fungal infections, as well as research uses of the antagonist.

Abstract: A self-powered module for gesture recognition is presented that utilizes small, low-cost photodiodes for both energy harvesting and gesture sensing. Operating in the photovoltaic mode, photodiodes harvest energy from ambient light. In the meantime, the instantaneously harvested power from individual photodiodes is monitored and exploited as a clue for sensing finger gestures in proximity. Harvested power from all photodiodes is aggregated to drive the whole gesture-recognition module including a micro-controller running the recognition algorithm. A robust, lightweight algorithm is provided to recognize finger gestures in the presence of ambient light fluctuations. Two prototypes are fabricated to facilitate user's interaction with smart glasses and smart watches.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are image apparatuses comprising a frontside surface, a backside surface, a storage region (e.g., a storage node or a floating diffusion node), the storage region being situated closer to the frontside surface than to the backside surface, a storage well situated between the backside surface and the storage region, and a doping region situated between the storage region and the storage well. An impurity type of the doping region is opposite an impurity type of the storage well. A lateral area of the storage well is greater than or equal to a lateral area of the storage region, and no portion of a lateral perimeter of the storage region extends outside of a lateral perimeter of the storage well.

Abstract: In an embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to a method of determining an angular motion in a subject. The method generally includes one or more of the following steps of: (1) applying a wearable system to a body region of the subject; (2) utilizing the wearable system to sense one or more parameters; and (3) correlating the one or more parameters to the angular motion in the subject. In an additional embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to a wearable system for determining angular motion in a subject. Generally, the wearable sensor includes one or more fabrics for sensing one or more parameters of a body region of a subject.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide an apparatus and method wherein the non-linearity of the response of a multi-bit QIS is controllable (e.g., selectively variable) by dynamically choosing the bit depth n during A/D conversion, and/or later (i.e., post-conversion) by firmware and/or software.

Abstract: Compositions and kits including an agent that inhibits the interaction between Disabled-2 and mutant CFTR proteins, optionally in combination with a CFTR corrector, CFTR potentiator, CAL inhibitor, mucolytic, anti-inflammatory agent or a combination thereof are provided as are methods for preventing or treating cystic fibrosis.

Abstract: Attenuated Toxoplasma gondii mutants and methods using the same as vaccines in the prevention or treatment pancreatic cancer are provided.

Abstract: Improved anti-CD154 antibodies are provided herein which have ablated FcR binding and/or complement binding/activation. The use of these antibodies for inducing tolerance and treating immune diseases including autoimmunity, inflammation and allergic disorders is disclosed herein.

Abstract: In an embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to a method of sensing an analyte in a sample by: (1) exposing the sample to an electrode that includes a covalent-organic framework with a plurality of metal-coordinated aromatic units that are linked to one another by aromatic linkers; (2) detecting a change in a property of the electrode; and (3) correlating the change in the property to the presence or absence of the analyte. In an additional embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to said covalent-organic frameworks. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of making the covalent-organic frameworks.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a color image sensor and color image sampling method that uses multiple-layer pixels and is capable of producing color images without using absorption color filters (e.g., such as employed in conventional CFAs). In accordance with some embodiments of the color image sensor device and color image sampling method, frequency-dependent reflectors are incorporated between the photodetection layers of multiple-layer (e.g., two layer) pixels.

Abstract: A haptic stimulator includes a multilayer sheet with a piezoelectric or electroactive polymer layer adapted to mechanically deform upon application of voltage, the multilayer sheet secured to a substrate, and a source of electrical stimulation coupled to drive electrodes on the polymer layer with an AC signal to vibrate the polymer layer. In particular embodiments, the polymer contains polyvinylidene fluoride, and electrodes are patterned to control local electric fields. Another haptic stimulator has first and second electrodes with an air gap and an insulating sheet between first and second electrodes, with an AC voltage driver connecting to the electrodes. In a method of providing haptic stimulation to skin an alternating current supply drives first and second electrodes, the electrodes disposed upon either a piezoelectric or electroactive polymer sheet, vibrating the polymer layer by driving the electrodes; and coupling vibrations of the polymer layer to the sensate skin.

Abstract: Improved anti-CD154 antibodies are provided herein which have ablated FcR binding and/or complement binding/activation. The use of these antibodies for inducing tolerance and treating immune diseases including autoimmunity, inflammation and allergic disorders is disclosed herein.

Abstract: Wireless electrochemical measurements methods using minimally invasive micro-sensors that monitor response of cells to specific analytes are described. Micro-actuators integrated on a same chip as the micro-sensors are used to provide closed loop in-vivo local therapy on demand. An in-vivo bio-electronic system that can monitor the health of cell colonies and accordingly dispense corresponding therapeutic drugs is also described.

Abstract: In an embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to a method of making a composite. In some embodiments, the method includes applying an external magnetic field to a mixture composed of a plurality of magnetic materials in a container, in which the external magnetic field produces a homogenous and uniform magnetic flux in the container. In some embodiments, the method further includes solidifying the mixture to result in the growth of solvent crystals in the mixture, and subliming a solvent phase of the mixture in the container to thereby form a composite having uniformly aligned magnetic materials. In an additional embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to a composite having uniformly aligned magnetic materials. In some embodiments, a majority of the magnetic materials in the composite are aligned in the same direction.

Abstract: A molecularly imprinted polymer sensor for sensing a target molecule includes (a) a porous polymer film that is molecularly imprinted with a homolog of the target molecule and includes a conductive polymer having resistance sensitive to binding with the target molecule and a structural polymer providing porosity to the polymer film, and (b) interdigitated electrodes, located on a surface of the polymer film, for measuring a change in the resistance to sense said binding.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel regulatory T cell protein. This protein, designated PD-L3 OR VISTA resembles members of the PD-L1 family, identified a novel and structurally-distinct, Ig-superfamily inhibitory ligand, whose extracellular domain bears homology to the B7 family ligand PD-L1. This molecule is designated as PD-L3 OR VISTA or V-domain Immunoglobulin Suppressor of T cell Activation (VISTA). Expression of VISTA is primarily within the hematopoietic compartment and is highly regulated on myeloid APCs and T cells. Therapeutic intervention of the VISTA inhibitory pathway represents a novel approach to modulate T cell-mediated immunity for the treatment of a wide variety of cancers, e.g., ovarian, bladder cancer and melanomas. Also, VISTA proteins, especially multimeric VISTA proteins and antibodies may be used to suppress T cell immunity in autoimmune disease, allergy, infection and inflammatory conditions, e.g. multiple sclerosis and artritic conditions such as RA.

Abstract: A modulated electromagnetic musical instrument and sound reproduction system includes an acoustic carrier signal source, a modulation signal source, a linkage element, and an acoustic output. The acoustic carrier signal source is produced electromagnetically or mechanically via human instrument playing. An electromagnetic modulation source mixes with the acoustic carrier signal within a linkage element to produce a nonlinear behavior. This nonlinear behavior's coupled interaction with a physical medium or acoustic body produces sideband frequency components to form unique musical sound outputs and audio effects.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for increasing susceptibility of cancer cells to ionizing radiation by delivering to the cells a radiosensitizing agent that has one of the following properties: it perturbs the process of chromosome segregation thereby increasing chromosome missegregation; or (b) it is an inhibitor of an agent that promotes faithful chromosome segregation induces numeric chromosome instability in said cells and this instability is induced substantially simultaneously with or closely prior to or closely after irradiating the cells. Examples of such radiosensitizing agent include inhibitors of one or more of the following: Kif2b, MCAK, MPS1, Eg5/Kinesin-5 5, Polo-like kinase 4, MCAK, Bub1 and Hec1. Such agents specifically target proteins involved in maintaining or promoting faithful chromosome segregation.

Abstract: We disclose transconductor-capacitor classical dynamical systems that emulate quantum dynamical systems and quantum-inspired systems by composing them with 1) a real capacitor, whose value exactly emulates the value of the quantum constant ? termed a Planck capacitor; 2) a ‘quantum admittance’ element, which has no classical equivalent, but which can be emulated by approximately 18 transistors of a coupled transconductor system; 3) an emulated ‘quantum transadmittance element’ that can couple emulated quantum admittances to each other; and 4) an emulated ‘quantum transadmittance mixer element’ that can couple quantum admittances to each other under the control of an input. These four parts can be composed together to create arbitrary discrete-state, traveling-wave, spectral, or other quantum systems.