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: Provided are compositions, optionally pharmaceutical compositions, that include a plurality of exosomes generated from stem cells, optionally ESCs and/or iPSCs, that have been modified to express a granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) polypeptide, optionally a human GM-CSF polypeptide. Also provided are methods for employing the presently disclosed compositions for preventing and/or inhibiting tumor growth in subjects in need thereof, for preventing and/or inhibiting metastases in subject in need thereof, for inducing anti-tumor immune responses in subjects, and uses of the presently disclosed compositions for prevention and/or treatment of tumors and/or cancers and for the preparation of medicaments for treatment of tumors and/or cancers.

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 sintering the perovskite layer with intense pulsed light.

Abstract: A biopsy sampling device comprises a handle with a flexible cannula extending from the handle. The flexible cannula includes: an inner catheter, which defines an opening in a lateral wall surface thereof, and further defines a central lumen in fluid communication with the opening; an outer catheter positioned around and moveable relative to the inner catheter; and a cutting element positioned at a distal end of the outer catheter. The flexible cannula is configured such that a vacuum can be applied through the central lumen of the inner catheter to create a suction that draws a piece of tissue into the opening defined in the lateral wall surface of the inner catheter. The handle is configured to move the inner catheter relative to the outer catheter, such that the cutting element shears and severs the piece of tissue that has been drawn into the opening.

Abstract: A device and method detect cellular targets in a bodily source by utilizing a biofunctional pad comprised of a thin film of carbon nanotubes (CNT's). When antibodies are absorbed by the CNT's, cellular targets having markers matching the antibodies may be detected in a bodily source placed upon the biofunctional pad by measuring the conductivity of the thin film using conductive contacts electrically coupled to the thin film, as the binding of the receptors in the cellular targets to the antibodies changes the free energy in the thin film. In many respects, the device functions as a Field Effect Transistor (FET) with the bodily source, e.g., blood, acting as a polyelectrolyte liquid gate electrode to create a varying electrostatic charge or capacitance in the thin film based upon the binding of cellular targets in the source to the antibodies present on the biofunctional pad.

Abstract: Provided are methods for treating tumors and/or cancers. In some embodiments, the methods relate to administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a nanoparticle derived from an edible plant and an effective amount of an autologous exosome. Also provided are methods for enhancing accumulation of nanoparticles in the lungs of subjects, methods for delivering agents to the liver, brain, and/or bones of subjects, and methods for delivering agents across the blood-brain barrier of subjects.

Abstract: An atrial appendage closure device is provided that includes an occluding portion having a distal surface and a proximal surface opposite the distal surface, the occluding portion being moveable between a retracted position and a deployed position such that, in the deployed position, the occluding portion is configured to provide a seal between a left atrial appendage and a left atrium of a heart. An anchoring portion is operably connected to the occluding member with the anchoring portion being moveable between a retracted position and a deployed position. Methods for occluding a left atrial appendage that make use of the closure devices are also provided.

Abstract: A system and method for personalized dosing of a pharmacologic agent include: executing, using a processing device, a plurality of dosing regimen program modules to determine a respective plurality of dose sets in response to receiving, from an input device, a target response value for a patient; and executing, using the processing device, a dosing selection algorithm module, following executing the plurality of dosing regimen program modules and in response to receiving from the input device a response profile and a monitoring frequency of the patient, to determine a recommended dose set computed as a combination of the plurality of dose sets weighted by degrees of matching computed using fuzzy sets and the response profile.

Abstract: A method of characterizing melanoma in a subject involves determining the presence or level of one or more biomarkers in a sample obtained from a sentenal lymph node (SLN) of a subject.

Abstract: Methods of making a spheroid are provided whereby a suspension is first produced including one or more biologically-relevant materials dispersed within a biocompatible medium. A droplet of the suspension is then bioprinted into a salt solution by bringing the droplet into contact with a surface of the salt solution in a controlled manner to reproducibly yield a spheroid containing a desired size and a desired amount of biologically-relevant materials.

Abstract: Automated and objective methods for quantifying a retinal characteristic include segmenting an optical coherence tomography image into a plurality of layered retinal regions, and quantifying the retinal characteristic for each region as normalized to a range defined by the characteristic value in the vitreous region and in the retinal pigment epithelium region. Such methods are useful for detecting occult ocular pathology, diagnosing ocular pathology, reducing age-bias in OCT image analysis, and monitoring efficacy ocular/retinal disease therapies.

Abstract: A respiratory training device providing both inspiratory and expiratory functional evaluation and training, as well as independent regulation of both the inspiratory and expiratory airway resistance levels used during training. The respiratory training device also includes data acquisition, recording, storage, retrieval and display functions for airway pressure monitoring data to provide functional evaluation, physiological monitoring, and diagnostic features. The respiratory training device allows the user to easily develop and follow precise and advanced training protocols, and utilize the respiratory device in both the clinical and home setting.

Abstract: Methods and pharmaceutical compositions for inhibiting 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-biphosphatase 4 (PFKFB4) and the treatment of cancer are described.

Abstract: A composition comprises an anti-nucleolin agent conjugated to nanoparticles, and optionally containing gadolinium. Furthermore, a pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer comprises a composition including an anti-nucleolin agent conjugated to nanoparticles, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The composition enhances the effectiveness of radiation therapy, enhancing contrast in X-ray imaging techniques, and when gadolinium is present, provide cancer selective MRI contrast agents.

Abstract: A strained bilayer film with reinforcing members is used to open and close gas flow outlets in a microvalve array. The bottom layer of the bilayer film is compressive and the top layer is tensile. Reinforcing members are made from compressive material that accomplishes the dual objectives of reducing potential defects at the interface between the anchor region and the free region of the actuator, and controlling the stresses along the edges of the strained bilayer to avoid curling as the actuator unrolls from its normal coiled configuration in response to an applied voltage. Because of the configuration, the strained bilayer film occupies a minimal amount of space compared to other systems when the valve is opened, and it permits a higher density of microvalves to be utilized. Optional supports are provided over gas flow channel openings to increase the area over which the voltage is applied, increasing electrostatic stability of the actuators in maintaining their unrolled state for a variety of uses.

Abstract: Some embodiments of this invention include methods for treating disease and methods for administering a compound of the invention. In some aspects of the invention, diseases can be treated by administration of compositions comprising a compound of the invention. Pharmaceutical compositions of some embodiments of the present invention comprise a compound of the invention.

Abstract: A method for operating a linear compressor includes establishing a set of predictors, and establishing a model for an estimated head clearance of the linear compressor with the set of predictors. Coefficients of the model for the estimated head clearance of the linear compressor may also be established. The model for the estimated head clearance of the linear compressor may be used to calculate an estimated head clearance during operation of the linear compressor.

Abstract: A method for utilizing a jamming-resistant receiver (JrRx) device includes receiving, by a BJM engine, a plurality of individual subcarrier signals that comprises separate signal portions of a combined signal stream, wherein the combined signal stream is a combination formed by a source signal stream from a sender device and one or more interfering jamming signals from a plurality of unknown jammer devices and computing, by the BJM engine, a respective plurality of BJM filters for the plurality of individual subcarrier signals in the absence of channel information corresponding to the interfering jamming signals.

Abstract: Methods for diagnosis or prognosis of a cancer in a subject include isolating one or more nanovesicles from a biological sample obtained from the subject, determining the amount in the biological sample of the one or more nanovesicles, and comparing the amount of the one or more nanovesicles to a control level to thereby diagnose the cancer. The one or more nanovesicles are obtained by depleting the biological sample of exosomes prior to the isolation of the nanovesicles. Methods for identifying a tumor metastasis in a subject are also provided and include fractionating a biological sample from a subject to obtain a fraction including one or more exosomes and one or more nanovesicles having a diameter of about 8-12 nm, and then isolating the one or more nanovesicles to diagnose the tumor metastasis.

Abstract: An exosomal composition is provided that comprises a therapeutic agent encapsulated by an exosome. The therapeutic agent can be a phytochemical agent, a chemotherapeutic agent, or a Stat3 inhibitor. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising the exosomal compositions are also provided. Methods for treating an inflammatory disease or a cancer are further provided and include administering an effective amount of an exosomal composition to a subject in need thereof to thereby treat the inflammatory disorder or the cancer.