Abstract: The first selective SuFEx antagonists to ?-opioid receptors (MOR) were developed by functionalizing an opioid scaffold with an SO2—F warhead. Our model, based on a MOR structure with antagonist ?-FNA, indicates the naloxone carbonyl as an advantageous point for derivatization as it is chemically accessible and is not involved in interaction with receptors. Of the three accessible Tyr residues in MOR pocket, Tyr77, Tyr130 and Tyr150, Tyr150 in proximity to the carbonyl of the docked naloxone was selected as a target, which resulted in the development of highly potent antagonists.

Abstract: Described herein are optical phased array receivers. In various embodiments, an optical phased array receiver includes a set of antennas, each antenna configured to receive an optical signal; a local oscillator configured to generate one or more optical carrier signals; one or more optical signal combiners coupled to the set of antennas and the local oscillator, the one or more optical signal combiners configured to combine (i) the optical signals received by the antennas and (ii) the optical carrier signal; and one or more photodetectors configured to extract information carried by one or more of the received optical signals into an electrical signal, wherein the extracted information is indicative of a phase and an amplitude of the one or more of the received optical signals.

Abstract: A focused ultrasonic transducer includes a piezoelectric substrate having a first face and a second face, a back metal layer disposed over the first face, and a patterned metal layer disposed over the second face. The patterned metal layer includes a first plurality of concentric ring electrodes wherein each of the first plurality of concentric ring electrodes are wired to be individually accessible. A controller actuates a subset of the concentric ring electrodes such that electrical control of focal length is achieved by selecting a group of electrodes to actuate so that acoustic waves generated from selected electrodes arrive at a desired focal length in-phase and interfere constructively to create a focal spot of high acoustic intensity. The patterned metal layer optionally includes a first central electrode that is surrounded by the first plurality of concentric ring electrodes.

Abstract: Examples are described for dynamically encrypting and/or decrypting a file formed of multiple blocks of ordered data. In one example, a method of dynamically encrypting a file to enable partial decryption of the file includes generating, using a secret key and one or more initialization vectors, a keystream for the multiple blocks of ordered data, encrypting the multiple blocks of ordered data of the file by performing a logical operation of the keystream with the multiple blocks of ordered data in a one-to-one correspondence, and building a file index of the file to identify location information of the multiple blocks of ordered data. The method may further include dynamically decrypting at least a portion of the file by decrypting at least one selected block of encrypted data of the file using a portion of the keystream, the portion of the keystream corresponding to the at least one selected block.

Abstract: In some aspects, the present disclosure provides compounds of the formula: wherein the variables are as defined herein. In some embodiments, these compounds may be used to reduce the pain of a patient. These compounds may be used in pain relief and show an improved pharmaceutical profile relative to other commonly used opiates and opioid derivatives.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for multi-spectral or hyper-spectral fluorescence imaging. In one example, a spectral encoding device may be positioned in a detection light path between a detection objective and an imaging sensor of a microscope. In one example, the spectral encoding device includes a first dichroic mirror having a sine transmittance profile and a second dichroic mirror having a cosine transmittance profile. In addition to collecting transmitted light, reflected light from each dichroic mirror is collected and used for total intensity normalization and image analysis.

Abstract: Embodiments of nanostructures comprising metal oxide and methods for forming the nanostructure on surfaces are disclosed. In certain embodiments, the nanostructures can be formed on a substrate made of a nickel titanium alloy, resulting in a nanostructure containing both titanium oxide and nickel oxide. The nanostructure can include a lattice layer disposed on top of a nanotube layer. The distal surface of the lattice layer can have a titanium oxide to nickel oxide ratio of greater than 10:1, or about 17:1, resulting in a nanostructure that promotes human endothelial cell migration and proliferation at the interface between the lattice layer and human cells or tissue. The nanostructure may be formed on the outer surface of an implantable medical device, such a stent or an orthopedic implant (e.g. knee implant, bone screw, or bone staple).

Abstract: A filtering device for incorporation into an architectural façade panel includes a tubular channel having an inlet section, an outlet section, and a constricted section interposed between and in fluid communication with the inlet section and outlet section. A filtering component is attached to the tubular channel or integrated into a material forming the tubular channel. The filtering device also includes an attachment component for attachment of the filtering device to an architectural structure. The attachment component is adapted to orient the tubular channel with the inlet section positioned to face predetermined prevailing winds when the filtering device is attached to the architectural structure.

Abstract: A method for treating autoimmune and/or inflammatory disease includes a step of identifying a subject exhibiting symptoms of autoimmune and/or inflammatory disease administering a fasting mimicking diet. A probiotic composition for gastrointestinal autoimmune and/or inflammatory disease Bacteroides acidifaciens, Bifidobacterium choerinum, and combinations thereof is also provided.

Abstract: The present embodiments relate to multi user detection in distributed antenna systems. A communication system may include a central processing circuitry and a plurality of access points connected to the central processing circuitry via a fronthaul interface. Each access point of the plurality of access points may include a plurality of antennas configured to receive signals from a plurality of UEs, and a local processing circuitry connected to the plurality of antennas. The local processing circuitry may be configured to estimate channel properties of a MIMO channel between the UEs and the antennas of the access point, and determine a subset of the UEs using the channel properties. The local processing circuitry may transmit data associated with the subset of wireless communication devices to the central processing circuitry for use to perform multiuser detection at the central processing circuitry.

Abstract: A microfluidic flow restrictor that uses micron-sized beads to impede flow is described. The flow rate can be adjusted by adding or removing the beads using injection needles through self-sealing ports, one injection needle injecting or aspirating beads and another injection needle pushing or pulling fluid from outside of a bead trap within the flow restrictor. In alternative embodiments, the beads or other filler material can be trapped in a manifold bead trap such that they block a subset of fluid channels of the flow restrictor, allowing fluid to flow freely through the rest of the fluid channels. The flow restrictor can be integrated with a contact lens or implantable medical device for use in dispensing liquid therapeutic agents at flow rates of microliters per minute or moving body fluids at a controlled rate from one part of the body to another.

Abstract: Various embodiments for systems and methods of evaluating perception systems for autonomous vehicles using a quality temporal logic are disclosed herein.

Abstract: Examples are described for dynamically applying a digital watermark to a file, such as a dataset of genomic sequencing data. In one example, a method of dynamically applying a watermark to at least a portion of a file includes generating, using a secret key, a first random seed, generating, using the first random seed, an ordered pseudorandom set of integers, generating, using entity information and timing information, a second random seed, selecting, using the second random seed, a subset of the ordered pseudorandom set of integers, and modifying data at data locations in the file corresponding to at least a portion of the identifiers included in the subset to generate a watermarked file. The method may further include performing a check to determine whether the watermark is present in a file using a sequence of watermark elements that are generated based on the secret key.

Abstract: A dietary composition and method for treating kidney damage and/or disease with a fasting-mimicking diet is provided. The method includes a step of identifying a subject having kidney damage. A low sodium fasting-mimicking diet with a specific dietary composition is administered to the subject for a first time period of 1 to 10 days.

Abstract: A method for reducing senescence-positive cells in a subject includes a step of identify a subject having increased expression of p16INK4a or at risk for increased of p16INK4a. A fasting-mimicking diet is administered to the subject for a first time period.

Abstract: A method, material, and kit for promoting neutrophils and monocytes to localize at a chronic ulcer site, promoting formation of a multi-layered cell structure in the ulcer site, promoting conversion of monocytes to macrophages, promoting secretion of the patient's own growth factors, promoting tissue proliferation and cell migration, promoting production and cross-linking of collagen at the chronic ulcer site, promoting growth of endothelial cells, promoting angiogenesis that was stalled at the chronic ulcer site, promoting formation of a vascular network and granulation, promoting oxygenation of the chronic ulcer site, and reducing one or more of purulent drainage, erythema, pain, warming, tenderness, induration, and bleeding at the chronic ulcer site.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for generating topologically consistent meshes across various subjects, objects, and/or various facial expressions using a volumetric representation. In one example, a progressive mesh generation network is configured to embed the topological structure of a subject or an object in a feature volume sampled from a geometry-aware local features. Further, a coarse-to-fine iterative architecture facilitates dense and accurate facial mesh predictions using a consistent mesh topology. In another example, one or more high-quality asset maps may be generated from a final base mesh.

Abstract: A method for the prediction, prognosis and/or diagnosis of bladder cancer or bladder cancer recurrence in a subject, the method includes: providing a test sample from the subject; measuring DNA methylation levels of at least a portion of two or more polynucleotides selected from the group consisting of HOXA9, SOX1, NPY, IRAK3, L1-MET, and ZO2 in the test sample; calculating a risk score based on the measured DNA methylation levels, comparing the calculated risk score to a cut-off value derived from a reference DNA methylation profile based on DNA methylation levels of the one or more biomarkers derived from a control group, members of which had bladder cancer; and based on the comparison calculated risk score to the cut-off value, determining at least one of: (1) whether bladder cancer has recurred; (2) whether there is likelihood that the bladder cancer will recur; and (3) whether the patient has bladder cancer.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for rendering photo-realistic images of a subject or an object using a differentiable neural network for predicting indirect light behavior. In one example, the differentiable neural network outputs a volumetric light map comprising a plurality of spherical harmonic representations. Further, using a reflectance neural network, roughness and scattering coefficients associated with the subject or the object is computed. The volumetric light map, as well as the roughness and scattering coefficients are the utilized for rendering a final image under one or more of a desired lighting condition, desired camera view angle, and/or with a desired visual effect (e.g., expression change).

Abstract: A camera system for collecting image data in a clinical environment includes a camera configured to acquire color (RGB), near-infrared, and depth image data and a plurality of LED modules held proximate to the camera such that the LED modules are configured to illuminate a subject while image data is collected by the camera. The camera system also includes a microcontroller in electrical communication with the camera and the plurality of LED modules. The microcontroller is configured to actuate the plurality of LED modules and the camera such that the camera acquires the image data. A computing device is in electrical communication with the camera and the microcontroller.