Abstract: Systems and methods for diagnosing prostate cancer. Image sets (e.g., MRI collected at one or more b-values) and biological values (e.g., prostate specific antigen (PSA)) have features extracted and integrated to produce a diagnosis of prostate cancer. The image sets are analyzed primarily in three steps: (1) segmentation, (2) feature extraction, smoothing, and normalization, and (3) classification. The biological values are analyzed primarily in two steps: (1) feature extraction and (2) classification. Each analysis results in diagnostic probabilities, which are then combined to pass through an additional classification stage. The end result is a more accurate diagnosis of prostate cancer.

Abstract: A method for the rapid and controlled synthesis of mixed metal oxide nanoparticles using relatively low temperature plasma oxidation of liquid droplets of predetermined mixed metal precursors is disclosed. The resulting nanoparticles reflect the metal precursor stoichiometries and the mixed metal oxide's metastable phase can be controlled. The synthesis of mixed transition metal oxide comprising binary metal oxides, ternary mixed metal oxides, quaternary mixed metal oxides and pentanary mixed metal oxides are demonstrated herein.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention include methods of using a compound (e.g., Formula (I)) for the reduction of carbon dioxide to formate by contacting the carbon dioxide with a composition comprising a compound. In certain embodiments, the source of the carbon dioxide is air or is flue gas. Additional embodiments of the invention are also discussed herein.

Abstract: Protein complex variants, compositions, and methods of use thereof are provided. The protein complex variant includes a cholera toxin B subunit variant having one or more modifications thereto. The method of use thereof includes treating a disease by administering an effective amount of a composition including a cholera toxin B subunit variant to a subject in need thereof.

Abstract: A method and system of automated segmentation of an anatomical object through learned examples include: receiving, by a processing device, an image of the anatomical object; determining a sparse representation of a shape of the anatomical object by iteratively evolving a segmenting surface as a combination of a level set segmentation and a linear combination of training shapes; and outputting, to an output device, the sparse representation of the shape of the anatomical object as the segmentation of the anatomical object.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a dental restoration is provided that includes the initial step of providing a powder of a dental material. An amount of a binder is then selectively deposited onto the powder of the dental material to produce an unfinished layer of the dental material. Multiple layers of the dental material are then produced by continually providing a powder of dental material and selectively depositing an amount of a binder until a three-dimensional unfinished model is produced. The unfinished model is then separated from an amount of unaffected powder, and is sintered to produce a three-dimensional dental restoration having a functionally-graded structure.

Abstract: A laryngoscope with integrated and controllable suction includes a handle and a blade. A suction port is at the proximal end of the handle and is configured for connection to an air source. The suction port defines an opening into one or more air flow paths defined through the laryngoscope, which each terminate at one or more intake ports. In some embodiments, a valve is interposed into each air flow path to regulate air flow along each air flow path. Such a valve is operably connected to a switch mounted on an exterior surface of the laryngoscope, such that manipulation of the switch causes the valve to open or close, thus allowing the physician or other medical professional to control the air flow and selectively apply constant or intermittent suction.

Abstract: A perovskite thin film and method of forming a perovskite thin film are provided. The perovskite thin film includes a substrate, a hole blocking/electron transport layer, and a sintered perovskite layer. The method of forming the perovskite solar cell includes depositing a perovskite layer onto a substrate and processing (for example, by sintering) the perovskite layer with intense pulsed light to initiate a radiative thermal response that is enabled by an alkyl halide additive.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention include inventive catalysts (e.g., compounds of Formula (I) or (Ia)). Other embodiments include compositions comprising the inventive catalysts. Some embodiments include methods of using the inventive catalysts (e.g., in hydrofluorination of an organic compound). Further embodiments include methods for making the inventive catalysts. Additional embodiments of the invention are also discussed herein.

Abstract: Methods for treating alcohol induced liver injury include administering to a subject an effective amount of a ginger-derived nanoparticle. Methods for decreasing nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor (Nrf2) activation in a hepatocyte are also provided and include contacting the hepatocyte with an effective amount of a ginger-derived nanoparticle. Pharmaceutical preparations including ginger-derived nanoparticles are further provided.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods for applying epidural electrical stimulation to improve motor function or physiological responses in paralyzed individuals. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods for creating and applying specific configurations of epidural stimulation to assist or cause a patient to perform a complex motor function or to mitigate one or more secondary consequences of paralysis including, but not limited to, cardiovascular, respiratory, bladder, temperature and sexual dysfunction.

Abstract: Methods and systems for producing a structure having selectable piezoelectric properties via additive manufacturing. Such methods can include coupling an ultrasound generating device to a print head of the additive manufacturing apparatus; transmitting acoustic energy from the ultrasound generating device to the print head to vibrate the print head in an oscillatory manner; extruding a feed material from the print head; moving the print head in at least one dimension relative to a substrate on which the structure is being manufactured; and dispensing layers sequentially on top of each other to form the structure. Such systems can include an additive manufacturing apparatus comprising a print head movable in at least one dimension relative to a base configured to support the structure being produced; and an ultrasound generating device that is connected to the print head.

Abstract: Compositions comprising a therapeutic agent encapsulated by an edible plant-derived microvesicle are provided. Methods of treating an inflammatory disorder and methods of treating a cancer are further provided and include administering an effective amount of a composition comprising a therapeutic agent encapsulated by an edible plant-derived microvesicle to a subject. Further provided are methods of diagnosing a colon cancer that include the steps of administering an edible plant-derived microvesicle incorporating a detectable label to a subject and then determining an amount of the detectable label in an intestine of the subject.

Abstract: Methods for automated segmentation system for retinal blood vessels from optical coherence tomography angiography images include a preprocessing stage, an initial segmentation stage, and a refining stage. Application of machine-learning techniques to segmented images allow for automated diagnosis of retinovascular diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy.

Abstract: A system and computation method is disclosed that identifies radiation-induced lung injury after radiation therapy using 4D computed tomography (CT) scans. After deformable image registration, the method segments lung fields, extracts functional and textural features, and classifies lung tissues. The deformable registration locally aligns consecutive phases of the respiratory cycle using gradient descent minimization of the conventional dissimilarity metric. Then an adaptive shape prior, a first-order intensity model, and a second-order lung tissues homogeneity descriptor are integrated to segment the lung fields. In addition to common lung functionality features, such as ventilation and elasticity, specific regional textural features are estimated by modeling the segmented images as samples of a novel 7th-order contrast-offset-invariant Markov-Gibbs random field (MGRF). Finally, a tissue classifier is applied to distinguish between the injured and normal lung tissues.

Abstract: A method for detecting head crashing in a linear compressor includes sampling a rolling average of a peak applied voltage and a desired peak current each time that a current controller adjusts the desired peak current. The method also includes calculating a linear regression for a predicted peak applied voltage as a function of the desired peak current, calculating the predicted peak voltage for the motor of the linear compressor with the linear regression and a current value for the desired peak current from the current controller, and establishing that a piston of the linear compressor is soft crashing when the predicted peak voltage is different than the current value for the rolling average of the peak applied voltage by more than a threshold value.

Abstract: Simulation systems, manufacturing systems, software products and controllers are provided with multi-scale modeling in which a coarse mesh and a fine mesh that models a stimulus are decoupled. The fine mesh can be moved within the coarse mesh with a cut and paste operation. The coarse mesh is updated by sparsely propagated effects through the coarse mesh. Simulations of the invention can be conducted in real-time, and be used as controllers in manufacturing systems, such as additive manufacturing systems. A number of efficient methods are provided for solving meshing determinations that arise from movement of a stimulus modeled within a fine mesh.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for controlling ventricular assist devices are disclosed. In some embodiments, the method includes receiving at least one reference pump speed differential associated with a pump of a ventricular assist device; determining a filtered pump speed differential associated with the pump of a ventricular assist device; and adjusting, using a feedback based controller algorithm, current to the pump based on the at least one reference pump speed differential and the filtered pump speed differential.

Abstract: A method for operating a linear compressor includes substituting a first observed velocity, a bounded integral of the first observed velocity, an estimated clearance, an estimated discharge pressure, and an estimated suction pressure into the mechanical dynamic model for the motor, calculating an observed acceleration for the piston with the mechanical dynamic model for the motor, calculating a second observed velocity for the piston by integrating the observed acceleration for the piston, calculating an observed position of the piston by integrating the second observed velocity for the piston, and updating an estimated clearance, an estimated discharge pressure, and an estimated suction pressure based upon an error between the first and second observed velocities and an error between the bounded integral of the first observed velocity and the observed position.

Abstract: A perovskite thin film and method of forming a perovskite thin film are provided. The perovskite thin film includes a substrate, a hole blocking/electron transport layer, and a sintered perovskite layer. The method of forming the perovskite solar cell includes depositing a perovskite layer onto a substrate and processing (for example, by sintering) the perovskite layer with intense pulsed light to initiate a radiative thermal response that is enabled by an alkyl halide additive.