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: An image processing method includes defining relations between entities of a target of which a motion is to be predicted from an image of a first time point based on a feature vector of the entities, estimating a dynamic interaction between the entities at the first time point based on the defined relations between the entities, predicting a motion of the entities changing at a second time point based on the estimated dynamic interaction, and outputting a result to which the motion predicted at the second time point is applied.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and devices for characterizing a biomolecule parameter by a nanopore-containing membrane, and also methods for making devices that can be used in the methods and devices provided herein. The nanopore membrane is a multilayer stack of conducting layers and dielectric layers, wherein an embedded conducting layer or conducting layer gates provides well-controlled and measurable electric fields in and around the nanopore through which the biomolecule translocates. In an aspect, the conducting layer is graphene.

Abstract: Systems and methods for quantifying the duration of S1 and/or S2 heart sounds, in order to identify markers of heart failure and/or lung failure, are provided. Cardiac cycles containing S1 and S2 sound can be identified in a phonocardiogram and normalized. In order to quantify S1 and S2 sound length, the envelope of the absolute value of the signal can be obtained for each cycle. The sound waves of two components can be separated using the identified single sound wave. These features can be correlated to measures of heart failure and/or lung failure.

Abstract: A method for non-invasive assessment of photoreceptor function in a mammalian subject comprises exposing a subject's eye to a visible light stimulus to initiate an intrinsic reflectance response in one or a population of photoreceptors and capturing multiple images of photoreceptor's intrinsic reflectance response to the stimulus. Patterns of variability in the intrinsic reflectance response of a single photoreceptor or population of photoreceptors are useful in diagnosis and treatment monitoring of an ocular condition, disease, disorder or a response to treatment for said ocular condition, disease or disorder.

Abstract: Compositions that increase the bioavailability of dihydromyricetin are presented. The bioavailability is increased by methods including formulating dihydromyricetin in nanoparticle form, delivering dihydromyricetin with permeabilizers, and encapsulating dihydromyricetin with an enteric coating.

Abstract: Compositions, methods, and kits are provided for diagnosing and treating prostate cancer. In particular, cell-free DNA biomarkers have been identified that can be used to aid in diagnosis, selection of treatment, and monitoring of treatment of prostate cancer.

Abstract: Systems and methods for predicting and treating relapses for neurological conditions in accordance with embodiments of the invention are illustrated. One embodiment includes a method for predicting and treating a clinical neurological condition relapse. The method includes steps for selecting a threshold heart rate variability value for a patient suffering from a clinical neurological condition, monitoring, using a cardiac monitor, the heart rate variability of the patient over time, providing an indicator that a relapse is imminent when the heart rate variability of the patient falls below the threshold heart rate variability value, and treating the patient using a transcranial magnetic stimulation device by applying an accelerated theta burst stimulation protocol where the transcranial magnetic stimulation target is the left prefrontal dorsolateral cortex.

Abstract: Methods for identifying biosynthetic gene clusters that include genes for producing compounds that interact with specific target proteins are disclosed. Some methods relate to bioinformatics methods for identifying and/or prioritizing biosynthetic gene clusters. Related systems, components, and tools for the identification and expression of such gene clusters are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides compositions and methods based on the use of 15-PGDH as a therapeutic target in rejuvenation of aging non-skeletal muscle tissues and/or organs. The 15-PGDH inhibitor SW033291 administered intraperitoneally for 4 weeks resulted in restoration of follicular structure and re-establishment of the marginal zone in spleens of 25 month old mice. Treatment of 25 month old mice with SW033291 also reduced the levels of IL10, IL6, BTC, GM-CSF, IL 13 back to levels similar 0 to 4 month old mice.

Abstract: A method for generating a heart organoid is provided. The method includes forming a cellular aggregate of pluripotent stem cells, activating Wnt signaling in the cellular aggregate to cause the cellular aggregate to differentiate into a three-dimensional cardiac mesoderm, and inhibiting the Wnt signaling in the cardiac mesoderm to form the heart organoid. The heart organoid includes myocardial tissue, endocardial tissue defining at least one chamber, and epicardial tissue disposed on at least an outer surface of the myocardial tissue. The heart organoid beats. Heart organoids prepared in accordance with the method are also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods, devices, systems and kits for producing polymeric microbeads, including lanthanide-encoded microbeads. Among others, the present disclosure provides methods, systems and kits for producing functionalized microbeads that include on their surfaces amphipathic moieties with free reactive groups that remain free and can be used for covalently coupling molecules or moieties of inters to the microbeads.

Abstract: The subject invention provides methods for fabricating electrochemical aptamer-based (E-AB) sensors with enhanced sensitivity, signal-to-noise ratios, LOD, and improved stability and reproducibility. The subject invention also provides methods for aptamer immobilization on the surface of the electrode, which favors sufficient spacing between aptamers at the microscale to achieve optimal target recognition, folding, and signal transduction. The E-AB sensors of the subject invention provide superior sensing regardless of the sequence or structure of the bound aptamers or the physiochemical properties of the target.

Abstract: Disclosed is a miniaturized plasma propulsion device with minimized surface area of the thruster walls exposed to the plasma and, as a result, reduced plasma-surface interactions including a set of segmented electrodes to facilitate the following improvements compared to relevant existing technologies: 1) control of the plasma flow including focusing of the plasma plume 2) increase of the thrust 2) reduction of inefficiencies associated with the electron cross field current, and 3) mitigation of low frequency oscillations. The electrodes affect all these actions when a DC or modulated voltage is applied to one or all of them with the same or different amplitudes, with the same or different frequencies or phases which are all optimized to realize the best performance through changes in the acceleration and/or ionization regions. In addition, the applied voltage to the main electrodes may also be modulated.

Abstract: Disclosed is a technique for constructing optogenetic amplifier and inverter circuits utilizing transcriptional activator/repressor pairs, in which expression of the transcriptional activator or repressor, respectively, is controlled by light-controlled transcription factors. This system is demonstrated utilizing the quinic acid regulon system from Neurospora crassa, or Q System, a transcriptional activator/repressor system. This is also demonstrated utilizing the galactose regulon from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, or GAL System. Such optogenetic amplifier circuits enable multi-phase microbial fermentations, in which different light schedules are applied in each phase to dynamically control different metabolic pathways for the production of proteins, fuels or chemicals.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a quantitative screen for the assessment of microbiome derived drug metabolism. The disclosed quantitative screen, named MDMQ-Screen, may be employed, inter alia, for assessing the impact of the human gut microbiome on drug metabolism. MDMQ-Screen is used to measure and explain inter-individual variability in drug metabolism. This information is crucial in explaining potential toxic effects of the administered drugs, as well variability in response to therapy between individuals. Inter alia, MDMQ-Screen can be used to assess unexplained variability in drug response and toxicity of already used medications; used in future drug development pipelines to aid in the design and interpretation of clinical trials; and used at bedside to assess the probability of drug response and toxicity and provide recommendations for therapeutic modifications in a personalized medicine manner.

Abstract: Disclosed is an assay for determining resistance in a target cell or tissue to a therapy associated with cellular stress using chemical microscopy and high-throughput single cell analysis to determine functional metabolic alteration, including determining metabolic reprogramming in a target cell or tissue to a therapy associated with cellular stress, and methods of using the assays.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are antibacterial compounds that accumulate in Gram-negative bacteria, methods of preparing the compounds, and methods of using the compounds to inhibit or kill microbes, and methods of treating microbial infections, such as Gram-negative bacterial infections. Compounds selected for conversion to potential Gram-negative antibacterial compounds were identified based on compounds having low globularity and low flexibility. Amine substituents were then strategically added to the selected compounds to provide compounds having antibacterial activity against Gram-negative bacteria.

Abstract: A method includes depositing a first metal layer on a semiconductor substrate; etching the first metal layer to form a first electrode having a first lead; depositing a piezoelectric layer on the semiconductor substrate and first electrode; etching the piezoelectric layer to a shape of the gyrator to be formed within the circulator; depositing a second metal layer on the piezoelectric layer; etching the second metal layer to form a second electrode having a second lead, the second electrode being positioned opposite the first electrode, wherein the first lead and the second lead form an electrical port; depositing a magnetostrictive layer on the second electrode; etching the magnetostrictive layer to approximately the shape of the piezoelectric layer; depositing a third metal layer on the magnetostrictive layer; and etching the third metal layer to form a metal coil that has a gap on one side to define a magnetic port.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems, methods, and devices for percutaneous retrieval of objects, such as endovascular devices, from an internal body space. The present inventions have vascular, non-vascular (gastrointestinal), and surgical (laproscopic) applications. The inventions include a retrieval end having one or more compressed states and an expanded state, the retrieval end adopting the expanded state when the retrieval end is deployed into a subject's internal body space, the retrieval end having a mouth through which an object can be passed into an interior space within the retrieval end when the retrieval end is in the expanded state, the mouth being adjustable between an opened state and a closed state; wherein when at least a portion of the retrieval end of the inner sheath is transitioned to a compressed state following capture of the object, the retrieval end exerts an inward force that at least partially collapses or compresses the object.