Abstract: Methods for controlling brain activity in a subject are described herein. An example method can include delivering a stimulus to the subject, wherein the stimulus induces neural activity in the subjects brain and modulates expression of at least one soluble mediator of cellular activity (such as, for example, a cytokine, chemokine, and/or growth factor) within the subject, and the stimulus is delivered to the subject for less than one hour.

Abstract: Methods for treating non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and/or hepatocellular carcinoma include administering a polypeptide antagonist of a Na/K ATPase/Src receptor complex to a subject in need thereof. Methods and assays for diagnosis or prognosis of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and/or hepatocellular carcinoma in a subject are also provided and include the steps of providing a biological sample from the subject, determining an expression level or activity in the sample of at least one biomarker selected from Caveolin-1, Survivin, and SMAC; and comparing the expression level or activity of the at least one biomarker in the sample, if present, to a control expression level or activity of the at least one biomarker. Prophylaxis or treatment of the non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and/or hepatocellular carcinoma in a subject can then be initiated based on the expression level or activity of Caveolin-1, Survivin, and SMAC in the sample.

Abstract: As an IV infiltration occurs and fluid leaks into surrounding tissues, several physiological changes are expected locally. The systems and methods described herein provide a scalable automated IV infiltration detection device to provide medical staff an early warning of a possible infiltration such that they can respond accordingly. The systems and methods capture the physiological state of the user at or around a peripheral catheter insertion site by incorporating one or more modalities of wearable sensing, processing the data collected from these wearable sensors, detecting the presence of extravascular fluid, and providing an indication to a medical professional.

Abstract: Methods of treating obesity include administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a therapeutic agent capable of reversing an inhibition of a Na/K-ATPase in a small intestine of a subject, such as a basolateral membrane Na/K-ATPase. Administering the therapeutic agent can further decrease an amount of glucose transport and/or decrease an amount of salt absorption in the small intestine of the subject to thereby treat the obesity. Methods for screening for a compound useful for treating obesity include contacting a small intestine cell with an effective amount of a test compound, and detecting whether an activity level of a Na/K-ATPase in the small intestine cell is increased in the presence of the test compound. The test compound is then identified as a compound useful for the treatment of obesity if the activity level of the Na/K-ATPase is increased in the presence of the test compound.

Abstract: Methods and assays for diagnosis or prognosis of endometriosis include comparing an expression level or activity of miR-155 and JARID2 in a sample to detect a measurable difference. Therapeutic methods for treating endometriosis in a subject comprise identifying a subject as having a decreased expression level and/or activity of JARID2 in a sample obtained from the subject; and administering an agent that inhibits an activity of an miRNA that targets JARID2 or an agent that inhibits EZH2. Methods for screening for a compound useful for treating endometriosis are also provided and include contacting a cell with an effective amount of a test compound, and detecting whether the expression level or activity level of JARID2 or miR-155 in the cell is altered in the presence of the test compound.

Abstract: Bacterial cultures are provided that comprise a modified Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacterium missing or deficient in two or more virulence factors. The two or more virulence factors can be selected from exotoxin A, hemolytic phospholipase C, phenazine-specific methyltransferase, alpha-1,3-rhamnosyltransferase, and 3-phosphoshikimate 1-carboxyvinyltransferase. Certain of the modified Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria are also missing or deficient in one or more alginate acetylation enzymes including the alginate Oacetyltransferases AlgI, AlgJ, AlgF, AlgX, and/or the C5-mannuronan epimerase AlgG. Methods of producing alginate are also provided along with compositions comprising alginate produced by the modified Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria.

Abstract: Methods for treating uremic cardiomyopathy are provided and include the step of administering a polypeptide antagonist of a Na/K ATPase/Src receptor complex to a subject in need thereof. The polypeptide anatagonist can further include a cell penetrating polypeptide. Methods of treating anemia, including anemia-associated with chronic kidney disease, are also provided.

Abstract: Methods for diagnosis or prognosis of a cancer in a subject are provided and include the steps of: obtaining a biological sample from a subject; determining an amount of a phosphorylation at a Y260 residue in a Na/K ATPase present in the biological sample; and comparing the amount of the phosphorylation in the sample to a control level to thereby diagnose the cancer. Methods for detecting a metabolic switch from oxidative phosphorylation to aerobic glycolysis are also provided in which a biological sample including one or more cells is obtained and an amount of a phosphorylation at a Y260 residue in a Na/K ATPase is determined in the one or more cells.

Abstract: A practically implementable robust direction-of-arrival (DoA) estimation approach that is resistant to localization errors due to mobility, multipath reflections, impulsive noise, and multiple-access interference. As part of the disclosed invention the inventors consider infrastructure-less 3D localization of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) with no GPS assistance and no availability of global clock synchronization. The proposed method can be extended to challenging communication environments and applied for the localization of assets/objects in space, underground, intrabody, underwater and other complex, challenging, congested and sometimes contested environments. Each AUV leverages known-location beacon signals to self-localize and can simultaneously report its sensor data and measurement location.

Abstract: An oral therapy tool is provided that comprises a mouthpiece including a first side and a second side, a pressure sensor operatively connected to the mouthpiece, and a microcontroller in communication with the pressure sensor. The microcontroller is configured to collect data relating to a usage of the oral therapy tool and to communicate the data to a central computer server. Systems and methods for monitoring oral therapy are further provided and collect, via a central computer server, data from the oral therapy device relating to a usage of the oral therapy device by a user. The central computer server then analyzes the data to determine the effectiveness of the oral therapy device, and transmits the analysis of the data to a remote device via a software application running on the remote device to assess and/or provide a recommended oral therapy regimen.

Abstract: Novel cyclic peptides, cyclic peptide conjugates and compositions containing them for treating neurological diseases in a subject include an Odorranalectin (OL) sequence or modified OL sequence as a scaffold and a biologically active peptide or protein and/or therapeutic agent conjugated thereto. Methods of treatment of neurological diseases are based on intranasal delivery of a cyclic peptide or cyclic peptide conjugate as described herein. Combinatorial libraries that include a plurality of cyclic peptides have also been developed and can be used to screen for a ligand(s) for a receptor of interest.

Abstract: Methods for treating obesity are provided and include administering a polypeptide antagonist of a Na/K ATPase/Src receptor complex to a subject in need thereof. Methods for reducing adiposity and adipogenesis are also provided and make use of a polypeptide antagonist of a Na/K ATPase/Src receptor complex to a subject.

Abstract: An apparatus containing at least one electrochemical cell with an electrode structure. The electrode structure contains at least one carbide chemical compound. The carbide chemical compound may be a salt-like carbide. The electrode may contain at least one electronically conductive element different from the carbide. Carbon compositions of various forms may be formed by the methods and apparatus using the electrode structure. Large pieces of pure carbon may be produced. Post-reaction processing of the carbon may be carried out such as exfoliation.

Abstract: Methods treating pulmonary hypertension, including pulmonary arterial hypertension, are provided, and include administering a polypeptide antagonist of a Na/K ATPase/Src receptor complex to a subject in need thereof. Administration of the polypeptide antagonist reduces pulmonary artery acceleration time, reduces an amount of right ventricular hypertrophy, reduces right ventricular wall thickness, reduces an amount of pulmonary vessel wall thickness, reduces an amount of plexiform lesions in a lung of the subject, reduces an amount of collagen deposition in a pulmonary blood vessel, reduces an amount of collagen deposition in a pulmonary blood vessel media or adventitia, and/or reduces an amount of right ventricular fibrosis. Methods of reducing pulmonary vessel wall thickness are also provided and include the administration of the polypeptide antagonist of a Na/K ATPase/Src receptor complex.

Abstract: The disclosure provides for methods of oxidizing carbide anions, or negative ions, from salt like carbides at temperatures from about 150° C. to about 750° C. In another aspect, the disclosure provides for reactions with intermediate transition metal carbides. In yet another aspect, the disclosure provides for a system of reactions where salt-like carbide anions and intermediate carbide anions are oxidized to produce pure carbon of various allotropes.

Abstract: Methods of treating a bacterial lung infection are provided and comprise administering an effective amount of rifaximin to a subject in need thereof. The rifaximin can be delivered by inhalation therapy, such as by delivering the rifaximin in aerosol form. The rifaximin is administered alone or in combination with tobramycin, including in multiple doses. Methods of reducing biofilm formation are also provided and comprise contacting a bacteria with an effective amount of rifaximin. Pharmaceutical composition are also included and comprise rifaximin and a pharmaceutically-acceptable vehicle suitable for administering the rifaximin in aerosol form.

Abstract: Methods for treating retinopathy are provided and include administering an effective amount of a polypeptide antagovist of a Na/K ATPase/Src receptor complex to a subject. The retinopathy can include diabetic retinopathy. Methods of decreasing angiogenesis in a retinal vasculature are also provided and include the step of administering, such as by intravitreous injection, a polypeptide antagonist of a Na/K ATPase/Src receptor complex to a subject in need thereof.

Abstract: A method for producing elemental carbon and hydrogen gas directly from a hydrocarbon (for example, natural gas or methane) using a chemical reaction or series of reactions. In an aspect, other materials involved such as, for example, elemental magnesium, remain unchanged and function as a catalyst.

Abstract: A wound covering is provided that comprises a substrate and vitamin D, or analogues or metabolites thereof, embedded in the substrate. Methods of making a wound covering are also provided and include the steps of providing a solution that includes a polymer; adding vitamin D, or analogues or metabolites thereof, to the solution to form a mixture; and forming one or more fibers from the mixture that are then embedded with the vitamin D, or analogues or metabolites thereof. Methods of treating a subject are further provided and include the step of applying a wound covering including one or more fibers embedded with vitamin D, or analogues or metabolites thereof, to a site on a subject.

Abstract: Non-naturally occurring peptides are provided that act as a Src SH2 domain antagonist of cardiotonic steroids. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising the peptides are also provided along with vectors encoding the peptides. Methods of treating a Src-associated disease and reducing Src activity in a cell are further provided and include administering or contacting a cell with an effective amount of the peptide.