Abstract: The invention relates to biomimetic, biodegradable composites including a magnesium (Mg) alloy mesh and a polymer/extracellular matrix (ECM). These hybrid composites, more particularly, are useful for the fabrication of medical implant devices, e.g., scaffolds, and are effective for bone regeneration. The fabrication process includes creating the Mg alloy mesh, and concurrently electrospinning the polymer and electrospraying the ECM onto the mesh.

Abstract: Devices and methods are used to modify a metabolic pathway of a digestive system by creating a pathway within the intestinal tract through an anastomosis between a proximal location within the intestinal tract and a distal location within the intestinal tract. In some examples, the small intestine has a first initial length and the created pathway defines a second length of the intestinal tract that is approximately ten to seventy percent of the first initial length of the small intestine.

Abstract: Acoustically responsive stabilized microbubbles formulated with a phospholipid monolayer shell, an encapsulated bioactive gas, and an encapsulated perfluorocarbon gas of the formula CxFy in a volume ratio of from about 10:1 to about 1:10, wherein X is greater than or equal to 3, are disclosed. Also provided are methods for promoting localized vasodilation in a patient in need thereof by delivering a microbubble comprising a phospholipid monolayer shell and an encapsulated bioactive gas locally to a target diseased section of the patient's vasculature; and releasing the bioactive gas at the target diseased section, wherein the microbubble comprises the bioactive gas in a ratio of from about 10:1 to about 1:10 by volume with a perfluorocarbon gas.

Abstract: A method for reducing N/2 ghost or Nyquist ghost in magnetic resonance (MR) images is provided The method includes acquiring k-space dataset for an object using an echo planar imaging (EPI) sequence, dividing the k-space dataset into first partial k-space subset data related to positive echoes and second partial k-space subset data related to negative echoes, obtaining third partial k-space subset data that is N/2 or Nyquist ghost-free subset data, respectively registering the first partial k-space subset data and the second partial k-space subset data to a first portion of the third partial k-space subset data corresponding to positive echoes and a second portion of the third partial k-space subset data corresponding to negative echoes, combining the registered first partial k-space subset data and the registered second partial k-space subset data to form full k-space dataset, and reconstructing an image for the object based on the full k-space dataset.

Abstract: A method and system for optimizing a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocols to improve MRI value are described herein. An example method includes selecting an imaging sequence, selecting at least one objective function from a plurality of objective functions, simulating a relationship between controllable acquisition variables and the objective functions, trade-offing the influence of the controllable acquisition variables for MRI value in whole k-space acquisition to determine optimal acquisition condition, acquiring at least one MR image using the optimal acquisition condition, receiving or estimating outcomes related to the at least one MR image, and evaluating an MR image value for the MR image based on the outcomes.

Abstract: A composite comprising electrospun inorganic fibers and nanoparticles. The composite may carry a reagent, for example an oxidant. The composite may be formed by electro spinning a composition of a precursor material and nanoparticles to form a precursor composite followed by conversion of precursor fibers of the precursor composite to the inorganic fibers. The composite carrying a reagent may be used to absorb ethylene gas.

Abstract: A tandem electrode for electrochemically reducing carbon dioxide is described. The electrode includes a first distinct catalyst layer and a second distinct catalyst layer. The first distinct catalyst layer is made of a C1 hydrocarbon or C2+ product selective catalyst and the second distinct catalyst layer is comprised of a CO selective catalyst. In one embodiment, the second distinct catalyst layer is concentrated at one end of the tandem electrode. In another embodiment, the tandem electrode also includes a microporous layer and a substrate layer.

Abstract: A method of treating cancer is disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to compositions and methods of killing biofilm using a surface plasmon coupled to a photosensitizer. A nanostructure (10) may include a silver nanoparticle core (12), a mesoporous silica shell (14), and a photosensitizer (16). A method of killing biofilm may include contacting biofilm with a nanostructure (10) including a silver nanoparticle core (12), a mesoporous silica shell (14), and a photosensitizer (16) to form a blend and exposing the blend to light.

Abstract: A device (10) for directing a medical fabric (28) into a portion of a body. An elongated housing (12) having a distal end (16) and an opening (22) at the distal end (16). A supply of medical fabric (28) in the housing (12). An actuator (24) spaced from said opening (22) and configured to advance a portion of the medical fabric (28) through said housing (12) and out of the opening (22).

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: Methods for the treatment of cardiac hypertrophy are described. Additionally, the presently disclosed subject matter relates to the use of small molecule compounds for the inhibition of Human antigen R (HuR)-mRNA interaction, and more particularly for the reduction of nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) transcriptional activity. Novel methods of screening for small molecule compounds for inhibition of RNA binding proteins interaction with their target RNA (such as HuR-mRNA interactions) or for inhibition of DNA binding proteins to their target DNA are also described.

Abstract: A sweat sensor device (200) includes one or more sweat sensors (220) and a seal (280) covering the one or more sweat sensors (220). The seal (280) is adapted to protect the sweat sensors (220) from outside contaminants when the device (200) is placed on the skin (12). The sweat sensor device (200) may include an absorbing medium (230) to absorb sweat from the skin (12) that is covered by the seal (280). The seal (280) can be permeable to gas, permeable to water and impermeable to at least one aqueous solute, or selectively permeable to at least one aqueous solute. The sweat sensor device (200) may include an artificial sweat stimulation mechanism (345) for stimulating sweat when the device (200) is placed on the skin (12).

Abstract: Described are sensors and methods of detecting hydrogen gas. The sensor includes a polymer matrix and a dye molecule in an amount sufficient such that exposure of the polymer matrix to hydrogen gas causes a change in a spectroscopic property of the dye molecule wherein the spectroscopic property includes at least one of color, absorbance, or luminescence. The polymer matrix may further include a catalyst, such as a transition metal, sulfonated Wilkinson's catalyst, colloidal Pt, sulfonated iridium cyclooctadiene triphenylphosphine, sulfonated rhodium cyclooctadiene triphenylphosphine, sulfonated ruthenium triphenylphosphine, or combinations thereof. Embodiments of the sensor may further include a gas permeable, water impermeable membrane, an outer covering, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and kits that can be used to determine the grade or stage of a breast or other cancer, such as a ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). By determining the grade, stage, or aggressiveness of a cancer, appropriate therapeutic regiments can be selected and administered to the patient with the cancer. The method includes detecting osteopontin-c (OPN-c), wherein the presence of high amounts of OPN-c in the cancer sample indicates that the subject has a more aggressive form of cancer (e.g., grade 3).

Abstract: Disclosed are kits and methods for determining the presence or absence of an antibody of interest in a biological sample of a subject. In particular, the methods may detect either pathological or beneficial antibodies. The method may include the step of contacting a biological sample from a subject with a substrate conjugated to an antigen and an Fc receptor operatively linked to a detectable label. Detection of the label may indicate the presence or absence of an antibody of interest.

Abstract: Devices that sense sweat and are capable of providing chronological assurance are described. The device uses at least one sensor to measure sweat or its components and to determine a sweat sampling rate. The chronological assurance is determined, at least in part, using the sweat sampling rate. The sweat sampling rate may be determined, at least in part, using a sweat volume and/or a sweat generation rate, both of which may be measured or predetermined.

Abstract: A sensor for isolating, identifying, and quantifying one or more analytes in a sample is provided, the sensor having a metal substrate base and a polymer waveguide disposed on the metal substrate base, the polymer waveguide including an optical channel and a polymer disposed in the optical channel; wherein the polymer waveguide optically couples a first and a second fiber optic cable. Also provided herein are methods of using the sensor for isolating, identifying, and quantifying one or more analytes in a sample, the method including contacting the polymer waveguide with a sample, sequentially heating the sensor to a plurality of temperature thresholds, obtaining an optical output at each temperature threshold, and analyzing differences in sequentially-obtained optical outputs in order to identify and determine concentrations of individual analytes of interest in the sample.

Abstract: Methods of treating a psychiatric disorder in a subject are provided which include placing at least one anode on an area of the subject's back over the dorsal spinal cord at the level of one or more of: thoracic vertebra 7 (T7), 8 (T8), 9 (T9), 10 (T10), 11 (T11), and 12 (T12) and lumbar vertebra 1 (L1); placing at least one cathode on an area of the subject's back which is generally rostral with reference to the anode; connecting the anode and the cathode to at least one source of direct and/or alternating electrical current; delivering direct current to the anode for a treatment period of time, the treatment period of time defining a tsDCS and/or tsACS treatment session, thereby modulating spinal input to the brain of the subject, decreasing sympathetic activity and reducing one or more symptoms and/or comorbidities associated with the psychiatric disorder.

Abstract: Non-invasive electroencephalogram (EEG)-based methods for detecting a spreading depolarization secondary to a brain injury in a patient who exhibits high-amplitude delta activity in at least one channel of a scalp EEG of an injured brain hemisphere of the patient include (a) recording a baseline scalp EEG pattern in the patient at a channel exhibiting high amplitude delta activity; (b) recording a continuous scalp EEG pattern in the patient across a time frame at the at least one channel; and (c) detecting a spreading depolarization during the time frame by observing at least one feature indicative of a spreading depolarization in the continuous scalp EEG recording pattern relative to the baseline scalp EEG pattern at the at least one channel. Scalp EEG recordings are time-compressed prior to analysis. Methods of treating brain-injured patients and triaging brain-injured patients apply the non-invasive EEG methods.