Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for utilizing a therapeutic ultrasound device to perform mitral valve decalcification are disclosed. One method includes acquiring, via an ultrasound imaging component, imaging data of a mitral valve in real-time, defining a therapeutic region of interest corresponding to the mitral valve, and utilizing, by a system controller engine, imaging data from the ultrasound imaging component to determine an interval period of minimal mitral annular movement.

Abstract: Sulfonyl-triazole compounds and related sulfonyl-heterocycle compounds are described. The compounds can be used to identify reactive nucleophilic amino acid residues, such as reactive tyrosines and reactive lysines, in proteins and to modify the activity of proteins with reactive nucleophilic amino acid residues via the formation of protein adducts comprising a fragment of the compounds. Methods are also described for screening the compounds to identify ligands of proteins comprising a reactive lysine or a reactive tyrosine.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions and methods for treating a disease or disorder such as cancer in a subject in need thereof. In some embodiments, the methods include administering to the subject a vector that has a first nucleic acid sequence encoding a promoter operably linked to each of a second nucleic acid sequence encoding a therapeutic polypeptide, and a third nucleic acid sequence encoding a peptide domain that is stabilized when phosphorylated by kinase activity in a target cell and/or tissue. In some embodiments, the target cell and/or tissue can be a cell and/or tissue undergoing a stress response. In some embodiments, the target cell and/or tissue can be a cell and/or tissue in which a CK2 kinase is active. The kinase activity can be elevated extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) activity, p38 MAP kinase activity, and/or CK2 activity.

Abstract: In some embodiments herein, methods, compositions, and uses for countering the effects of aberrant meningeal lymphatic drainage and/or modulating lymphatic vessels of the central nervous system are described. In some embodiments, methods, compositions, or uses for treating, preventing, or ameliorating symptoms of a neurodegenerative disease associated with aberrant meningeal lymphatic drainage are described. Modulating lymphatic vessels, or countering the effects of aberrant meningeal lymphatic drainage, in accordance with some embodiments, are used to diagnose, treat, prevent, or ameliorate symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and dementia. Methods of diagnosing and monitoring the progression of neurological diseases are also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to compositions and methods related to tissue-specific promoters and their uses in plants, including tobacco and cannabis. The provided trichome-specific promoters enable the expression of heterologous polynucleotides in trichome tissues.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for genetically modifying the production levels of nicotine and other alkaloids in plants are provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel antibodies and antigen binding fragments thereof that bind to human CD30. Also presented are single chain variable antibodies, chimeric antigen receptors and uses thereof. Methods of treating cancer are also disclosed.

Abstract: An article may include a substrate and a coating system on the substrate. The coating system may include a thermal and/or environmental barrier coating (T/EBC) layer, wherein the T/EBC layer includes a silicate phase including more than one metal cation.

Abstract: Provided are methods for treating cancers and/or tumors in subjects. In some embodiments, the methods include administering to a subject an effective amount of a ceramide nanoliposome (CNL), wherein the CNL has a lipid bilayer that includes one or more C2-C24 ceramides and encapsulates one or more anti-cancer and/or anti-tumor agents. Also provided are methods for treating cancers and/or tumors associated with receptor tyrosine kinase or nuclear receptor activities, methods for treating Prostate Cancer, methods for inhibiting growth of EGFR-dependent cancers and/or tumors, methods for inhibiting growth of androgen receptor negative cells, method for reducing or eliminating androgen receptor negative cells from subject, CNLs that encapsulate one or more anti-cancer and/or anti-tumor agents, wherein the CNLs include a lipid bilayer that has one or more C2-C24 ceramides, and pharmaceutical compositions that include the disclosed CNLs.

Abstract: An automated and quantitative facial weakness screening framework that utilizes a Bi-LSTM network to model the temporal dynamics among the shape and appearance features. The technique is beneficial to assist the paramedics or other users to identify the facial weakness in the field or, more importantly, whenever expertise in neurology is not available either for emergency patient triage (e.g., pre-hospital stroke care) or chronic disease management (e.g., Bell's palsy rehabilitation screen), leading to increased coverage and earlier treatment. The technique provides visualizable and interpretable results to increase its transparency and interpretability. The technique provides for inexpensive solutions that can be used in areas underserved by non-neurologists to more readily identify neurological deficits such as facial weakness in the field or other environment.

Abstract: A device and related method that provides, but is not limited thereto, a two-phase heat transfer device with unique combination of enhanced evaporation and increased cooling capacity. An advantage associated with the device and method includes, but is not limited thereto, increased cooling capacity per unit area, controlled and optimized evaporation, prevention of boiling, and prevention of drying of the evaporator. An aspect associated with an approach may include, but is not limited thereto, using anon-wetting coating or structure to keep working fluid away from the spaces between elongated members of an evaporator and using a wetting coating or structure to form thin films of working fluid around the distal region of the elongated members. For example it can be used to cool a computer chip, a skin of a hypersonic flying object, parabolic solar collector, turbine or engine blade, or any other heat source that requires high heat flux.

Abstract: Provided are methods and compositions for treating and/or preventing C. difficile infections, particularly recurring C. difficile infections. The compositions for use in treating and/or preventing C. difficile infections include in some embodiments at least one agent that inhibits an alpha 2 adrenergic receptor, and the presently disclosed methods include administering at least one such composition to a subject in need thereof, optionally in combination with other therapeutically active agents including but not limited to an enhancer of an IL-13 biological activity, optionally an IL-13 peptide or a fragment or homolog thereof; an interleukin-13 receptor subunit alpha-2 (IL-13Ra2) inhibitor; an enhancer of an Interleukin-33 (IL-33) biological activity, optionally an IL-33 polypeptide or a biologically active fragment or homolog thereof; or any combination thereof.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for regenerating pancreatic islet viability and/or cell proliferation in vitro, ex vivo, and/or in vivo; and/or for regenerating glucose-stimulated insulin secretion; and/or for regenerating viability and/or cell proliferation of a transplanted pancreatic islets; and/or for preventing and/or inhibiting rejection of a transplanted islets; and/or for pancreatic islet transplantation; and/or for treating a symptom of a condition, disorder, or disease associated with abnormal insulin responsiveness to glucose are provided. In some embodiments, the compositions include a peptide and/or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and/or a biologically active fragment, analog, or derivative thereof, wherein the peptide, the pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and/or the biologically active fragment, analog, or derivative thereof has an amino acid sequence of any of SEQ ID NOs: 1-60, or any combination thereof.

Abstract: Provided are methods for treating viral infections in subject in need thereof. In some embodiments, the method include administering to the subject a composition that has an effective amount of an agent that selectively interferes with host protease function to inhibit fusion-ready viral fragment generation, optionally S2 in case of SARS-CoV2 or GP160 or GP120 in case of HIV, and/or to destabilize a full-length viral fusion protein, optionally SARS-CoV-2 spike. Also provided are compositions that include an effective amount of an agent that selectively interferes with host protease function to inhibit fusion-ready viral fragment generation, optionally S2 in case of SARS-CoV2 or GP160 or GP120 in case of HIV, and/or to destabilize a full-length viral fusion protein, optionally SARS-CoV-2 spike, which compositions can optionally be employed in the disclosed methods.

Abstract: Provided herein are PEGylated liposomes, and methods of making and using thereof. The PEGylated liposomes comprise at least a cholesterol, a non-PEGylated neutral lipid, and a PEGylated lipid, wherein the average molecular weight of the PEG component in the PEGylated lipid is about 5000 Daltons or less. The PEGylated liposomes are stable and capable of delivery of an agent for the generation of an immune response, for example an agent for vaccine, therapeutic, or diagnostic uses. Compositions and methods related to making the PEGylated liposomes and using the PEGylated liposomes for stimulating an immune response are also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to compositions and methods related to modification of trichome density and transport of metabolite and their uses in plants, including tobacco and cannabis. The provided transcription factors enable the increase in trichome density in plants.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are described herein for identifying, monitoring, isolating, or selecting a cell having a predefined characteristic in a mixed population of cells utilizing a combination of any one or more of iDEP, a region of localized field enhancement, a variable frequency electric field, a wide bandwidth amplifier, and/or an imaging apparatus.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a Dynamic Random Access Memory-Based Content-Addressable Memory (DRAM-CAM) architecture and methods relating thereto. The DRAM-CAM architecture can include a memory array, with the data organized into blocks including rows and columns. Input data can be converted into a format with first and second groups of columns. Each first group can correspond to one or more rows of the input data, and each second group can include one or more null columns. A query can be received and loaded into an available column of the second group, and pattern matching can be performed on the data to identify occurrences of elements defined by the query. The pattern matching can be performed concurrently on the first groups of columns and the available columns bit by bit. Results can include a count or location of each identified element.

Abstract: Provided are biomarkers for parenteral nutrition associated cholestasis (PNAC) in subjects, especially infants receiving parenteral nutrition (PN). Using such biomarkers provide methods of diagnosing and/or assessing risk of PNAC in a subject, including screening a sample from a subject believed to be at risk for PNAC for one or more biomarkers of PNAC. The biomarkers can include one or more fecal metabolites. Such biomarkers and associated methods provide neonatal intensive care unit clinicians with an additional tool for early identification of PNAC risk. Early identification of high-risk infants would enable clinicians to confidently optimize caloric nutrition with PN for infants at low risk of developing PNAC and enable proactive mitigation with alterations to the administered PN.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided that are useful for diagnosing, treating, and monitoring alcohol dependence and disorders, susceptibility to alcohol dependence disorders, as well as drug related dependence and disorders. The methods include treating patients with an antagonist of the serotonin receptor 5-HT3 for such disorders, wherein the patient's serotonin transporter gene SLC6A4 is known to have particular genotypes.