Abstract: A high through-put screening method for identifying agents effective for inhibiting biofilm formation and/or killing established biofilm are disclosed. The method includes three tiers, and each tier includes three specific biological process assays. The tier levels are a primary screen, a confirmation screen, and a dose-response screen, and the biological process assays include assays for total bacterial growth, bacterial metabolic activity, and biofilm formation. The series of assays may be run once or more than once at each tier. A library of compounds is subject to tier A and only compounds meeting a primary parameter advance to tier B, and only tier B compounds meeting a confirmation parameter advance to tier C, and only tier C compounds meeting a dose-response parameter are identified as putative agents effective for inhibiting and/or eradicating a biofilm, further wherein the assays are conducted for each compound subject to the respective tier.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer storage mediums accurately measure wall thickness in a region of interest included in complex curved structures. Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to generating a wall thickness loss distribution map of a region of interest that provides an accurate representation of wall thickness for the region of interest included in a complex curved structure. The wall thickness loss distribution map is generated from a two-dimensional model of the wall thickness loss distribution of the region of interest. The two-dimensional model is converted from a three-dimensional representation of the wall thickness loss distribution of the region of interest. The three-dimensional representation of the wall thickness is generated by ultrasonic waves generated by a transducer system that propagated through the region of interest.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for treating a patient for a condition characterized by an excess blood concentration of dissolved gas in at least one targeted region of the patient are provided. The method comprises administering a composition comprising a perfluorocarbon droplet emulsion into the blood of the patient; insonifying the at least one target region sufficient to achieve formation of microbubbles by droplet vaporization of at least a portion of the perfluorocarbon droplets present in the blood; whereby a concentration gradient favoring movement of gas molecules from the blood into the microbubbles is established for a time frame.

Abstract: Devices and methods for capturing biological materials using a potential well. An electrical signal is applied across a nanopipette having one end in a back-fill chamber and another end in a collection chamber containing a suspending medium including one or more types of particles. The collection end of the nanopipette includes a tip having an opening. The electrical signal applied across the nanopipette is configured to generate the potential well proximate to the tip in which the electrokinetic forces acting on the particles are balanced. The potential well may be configured to selectively trap one or the other types of particles suspended in the suspending medium. The particles may be transferred to a sample collection medium by immersing the tip in the sample collection medium and reversing the polarity of the electrical signal.

Abstract: Methods and model equations are provided for predicting a risk of a subject who experiences adverse medical events associated with the weather, of experiencing a new-onset event. Methods include a) identifying a climate region of interest; b) collecting daily mean barometric pressure (BP) data for a time frame and dividing the days of the time frame into at least upper, middle and lower quantile BP days to identify the upper quantile BP days.

Abstract: A laminate which can serve as either a smart window or a smart mirror is formed using first and second substrates coated with transparent first and second electrodes which are separated by foraminous layer and a third grid-like linear electrode insulated from the first and second electrodes The foraminous layer includes spacers defining a cell space which is filled with a colloidal ink having first and second particles. The first particles have a positive charge and a first color and second particles having a negative charge and a second color different from the first color. By altering the voltages of the first, second and third electrodes, one can achieve different light transmission characteristics which, for example, can alter the color temperature of the light transmitted through the laminate or enhance reflective colors.

Abstract: Systems and methods of use and fabrication are described for a non-volatile resistive random access memory (RRAM) multi-terminal device including a first electrode, a second electrode, a metal oxide disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, and an at least first gate configured to apply a voltage bias to change a resistive state in the metal oxide.

Abstract: The disclosed invention provides a fluid sensing device capable of collecting a biofluid sample, such as interstitial fluid, blood, sweat, or saliva, concentrating the sample with respect to a target analyte, and measuring the target analyte in the concentrated sample. Embodiments of the invention can also determine the change in molarity of the fluid sample with respect to the target analyte, as the sample is concentrated by the device. Some embodiments of the disclosed invention provide a fluid sensing device comprising minimally invasive, microneedle-enabled extraction of interstitial fluid or other biofluid for continuous or prolonged on-body monitoring of biomarkers. Some embodiments allow the collection and measurement of analytes in of non-biological fluids, such as fuels, or bodies of water.

Abstract: A sweat sensor device (400c) for sensing sweat on the skin (12) includes one or more sweat sensors (420) and a volume-reducing component that provides a volume-reduced pathway (480) for sweat between the one or more sweat sensors (420) and sweat glands in said skin (12) when the device (400c) is positioned on said skin (12). The volume-reducing component may include a volume-reducing material (470) and a pressure-permeated component (460), a sweat dissolvable material (490), a mechanically compliant material (570) for conforming to the skin (12), an adhesive with a vertically anisotropic sweat pathway, and microcapsules (1385) including a barrier material. The presence of a volume-reducing component reduces the sweat volume and decreases the sampling interval.

Abstract: Various aspects of the invention relate to aptamers that specifically bind Müllerian inhibitory substance II receptor (MISIIR).

Abstract: The disclosed invention provides a sensing device capable of concentrating a fluid sample with respect to a target analyte and a reference analyte, and measuring the target analyte and reference analyte in the concentrated sample. The invention includes a concentrator that may include a selectively permeable membrane, or a gel having an increasing density gradient. In another embodiment, the invention includes an air or gas gap between a fluid transport channel and the concentrator. In another embodiment, the sensing device includes a driver for electronically moving a fluid sample through the channel and membrane to cause concentration. In some embodiments, the invention may also determine the change in molarity of the fluid sample with respect to the target analyte, as the sample is concentrated by the device.

Abstract: An in vitro method for diagnosing and treating sepsis in a patient is provided, the method including: contacting at least a portion of a biological sample from the patient consisting essentially of microparticles isolated via differential centrifugation with reagents for detection and/or quantification of neutrophil-derived microparticles; determining a level of neutrophil-derived microparticles based on the contacting step; diagnosing sepsis in the patient when the determined level of neutrophil-derived microparticles is elevated relative to a cutoff value of the neutrophil-derived microparticles; and treating the diagnosed patient for sepsis.

Abstract: Described herein are inventions directed to methods of treating a diastolic cardiac dysfunction and the symptoms thereof in a subject that includes administering an amount of a TRPV2 receptor agonist effective to treat the diastolic cardiac dysfunction. The TRPV2 receptor agonist may be administered in at least one of an injection, orally, or transdermally. The amount of TRPV2 receptor agonist is sufficient to result in an improved performance on quantitative diagnostic criteria. In an embodiment, the TRPV2 receptor agonist is administered over a period of about 8 hours to about 24 hours. The TRPV2 receptor agonist may be used for short term treatments, i.e., less than a week, or it may be administered in a long term manner, i.e., over a period of weeks, months, or even years. Exemplary TRPV2 receptor agonists include probenecid, 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate, cannabinol, cannabidiol, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition containing (1) a therapeutically effective amount of hepatocyte-derived exosomes; and (2) a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier is provided. Also provided herein is a method of inducing liver regeneration in a patient in need thereof, the method including administering to the patient a therapeutic amount of hepatocyte-derived exosomes, wherein liver regeneration is induced. Methods for up-regulating synthesis of synthesis of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) in a hepatocyte by contacting the hepatocyte with at least one vesicle containing sphingosine kinase 2, and, optionally, ceramide and neutral ceramidase, are also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods of use and fabrication are described for a non-volatile resistive random access memory (RRAM) multi-terminal device including a first electrode, a second electrode, a metal oxide disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, and an at least first gate configured to apply a voltage bias to change a resistive state in the metal oxide.

Abstract: A recombinant ribonuclease is disclosed. The recombinant ribonuclease is produced by introducing a recombinant DNA sequence into a host; activating expression of the recombinant DNA sequence within the host to produce the recombinant ribonuclease; and isolating the recombinant ribonuclease from the host. Additionally, a method of analyzing an RNA sequence includes digesting the RNA with a first recombinant ribonuclease to give digestion products comprising nucleotides of the RNA sequence; and analyzing the digestion products using an analytical method to provide the identity of at least some of the nucleotides. The recombinant ribonuclease includes at least one of a uridine-specific recombinant RNase MC1 and a cytidine-specific recombinant RNase Cusativin.

Abstract: Method for monitoring at least one point system of a railway network comprising the steps of placing several sensors in correspondence of said at least one point system; acquiring from said sensors current and voltage signals of a point machine during a maneuver; and segmenting the signals of the maneuver according to different predetermined phases of movement. Then extracting predetermined features from each segment; comparing the extracted features with a set of predetermined values which represent a “healthy” maneuver, thus obtaining a global indicator representative of the conditions of the maneuver at the point system; and comparing said global indicator with a failure threshold, and if it exceeds said failure threshold, detecting a failure in the point system.

Abstract: Methods of generating cardiomyocytes from induced pluripotent stem cells (IPSCs) are provided. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to methods of generating cardiomyocytes from iPSCs using electrical stimulation. In some aspects, uses of such cells for therapeutics and in methods of treatment are provided.

Abstract: A method of separating a plurality of particles (14) from a portion of fluid, comprising directing the plurality of particles (14) into a microchannel (12). A first portion (16) of particles (14) is focused into an equilibrium position in the microchannel (12). The focused first portion (16) is directed into a first outlet (18) aligned with the equilibrium position. A portion of the fluid is directed into one or more outlets (20, 22). A microfluidic device (10) for separating a plurality of particles (14) from a portion of fluid, comprising a microchannel (12) having a first aspect ratio and a length L, thereby focusing the particles (14) directed therein into an equilibrium position in the microchannel, wherein at least a first portion (16) of the particles (14) focuses at distance X from a beginning of the microchannel (12).

Abstract: The disclosed invention provides a fluid sensing device and method capable of collecting a fluid sample, concentrating the sample with respect to one or more target analytes, and measuring the target analyte(s) in the concentrated sample. The invention is also capable of determining the change in molarity of the fluid sample with respect to the target analyte(s), as the sample is concentrated by the device. The invention further includes a method for using a fluid sensing device to concentrate a fluid sample with respect to one or more target analytes. The disclosed method further includes the ability to correlate the measured target analyte concentration to a physiological condition of a device wearer, or of a fluid source.