Abstract: There is provided herein, according to an embodiment, a plasma thread application of dielectric barrier discharge, which incorporates the effectiveness of plasma in sterilization and the flexibility of thread like structure and has the malleability to be formed into any apparel design. The design of one embodiment uses a dielectric coated/insulated wire in the range of 30 to 40 awg based on the application in question. It can be used as sutures or can be woven into a material for countless bandage-like applications. The ready availability of medically approved dielectric materials is conducive to the manufacture of the same.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for delivery of an active agent from the lens capsule to a posterior segment of the eye of a subject can include an intraocular active agent delivery device including an active agent dispersed within a biodegradable active agent matrix. The active agent includes dexamethasone and the delivery device is adapted to fit within a lens capsule or ciliary sulcus of an eye. The delivery device can be inserted into the lens capsule or ciliary sulcus of an eye during cataract surgery or for treatment of uveitis.

Abstract: The present invention comprises poly(vinyl benzoate) nanoparticle suspensions as molecular carriers. These nanoparticles can be formed by nanoprecipitation of poly(vinyl benzoate) in water using Pluronic F68 as surfactant, to create spherical nanostructures measuring about 200-250 nm in diameter which are stable in phosphate buffer and blood serum, and only slowly degrade in the presence of esterases. Kinetics experiments in phosphate buffer indicate that 78% of the coumarin-6 was encapsulated within the polymer matrix of the nanoparticle, and the residual 22% of coumarin-6 was surface-bound and quickly released. The nanoparticles are non-toxic in vitro towards human epithelial cells (IC50>1000 ?g/mL) and primary bovine primary aortic endothelial cells (IC50>500 ?g/mL), and exert non-observable bactericidal activity against a selection of representative test microbes (MIC>250 ?g/mL).

Abstract: Compounds and compositions for selectively inhibiting Akt3 are provided. Methods of using the compounds are also provided. Because Akt3 modulates the suppressive function of natural Tregs and the polarization of induced Tregs, the disclosed compounds are useful for modulating immune responses.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a lipid-based microbubble stably binding a plurality of nucleic acids, and a method of delivering the microbubble and nucleic acids to a specific target site using ultrasound. The delivered nucleic acids create transgenic cells (i.e., for example, a transgenic tumor cell), wherein the transgenic cell expresses the proteins encoded by the delivered nucleic acids. This technology provides a significant improvement for microbubble-drug delivery platforms as known microbubble do not efficiently bind nucleic acids. The improvements described herein include but are not limited to identifying proper lipid proportionality ratios and/or cationic surfactant layers that provide an optimum mechanical index compatible with ultrasonics. Microbubble perfusion and/or nucleic acid delivery may be performed by a combination of imaging and ultrasound/microbubble targeted delivery to simultaneously perform low power two-dimensional imaging and high power microbubble destruction.

Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of a method of using mustard meal or mustard meal extract. Certain embodiments concern controlling vegetable sprouting, such as potato sprouting. Vegetables, such as potatoes, may be exposed to products resulting from mustard meal, or an extract thereof, contacting water. Other embodiments concern a process for controlling plant pests, such as insects, nematodes, fungi, weeds, and combinations thereof, with specific embodiments being particularly useful for weed suppression. Certain embodiments comprise extracting glucosinolates from plant material, or processed plant material, selected from the family Brassicaceae, particularly from the genera Brassica and Sinapis. Extracted glucosinolates can be hydrolyzed to form active compounds, or alternatively, they can be hydrolyzed in situ, by simultaneously or sequentially applying myrosinase. The extract can be applied to plants, to the soil adjacent to the plant.

Abstract: A resetting semi-passive stiffness damper (RSPSD) triggering assembly and a RSPSD and method of use for damping movement of an object. Exemplary embodiments of a RSPSD triggering assembly include, for example, a rotatable disc and a spring-loaded lever arranged between the disc and a slotted channel. A sensor is provided and communicates with a bypass valve on the cylinder. A change in the direction of movement of the disc causes reciprocation of the lever in the channel, which causes the sensor to send open and close signals to the bypass valve. In some embodiments, a single disc may be replaced with two interacting discs. A RSPSD equipped with such a triggering assembly is usable to damp movement of an object of interest.

Abstract: A flexible waveguide structure including a waveguide on a flexible substrate, both having transparent windows in the mid-infrared range, may serve as a photonic chemical sensor for measuring characteristic absorptions of analytes brought in physical contact with the waveguide. Such a sensor may, in accordance with some embodiments, be formed by an aluminum-nitride waveguide on a borosilicate substrate.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides, in part, modulators of prostate-specific G-protein receptor (OR51E2/PSGR) and methods of treating, preventing, and diagnosing prostate cancer using the same.

Abstract: Acinetobacter lysin polypeptides and variants peptides with killing activity against gram negative bacteria. Methods for treating bacterial infections or bacterial colonization using Acinetobacter lysin polypeptides.

Abstract: Aspects of this disclosure relate to a biometric sensing device that combines sensing with an actuator for two way communication between a finger on a surface and the device. The sensor can also function as an actuator. A finger can be authenticated based on an image of the finger generated by the sensor and also based on a response to energy delivered to the finger by the actuator. Two way communication can provide more robust authentication than fingerprint sensing alone.

Abstract: Systems and methods for low-cost point-of-care immunoassay are provided. The system comprises an emitter, two optical interference filters, a microscope slide, a photodiode detector, a circuit, and a measuring unit. The detector is placed upon the second filter, the slide, the first filter, and then the emitter. The emitter comprises non-organic light emitting diodes (LEDs) or organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) that emits light of a first color. The slide is spotted with biofluid from a patient. Biomarkers in the biofluid is bound with immobilized fluorophores that emit light of a second color when stimulated by the light of the first color. The first and second filters band-pass the light of the first and second colors, respectively. The detector detects light of the second color. The current outputted from the detector is converted into a relatively-large output voltage by a circuit. A measuring unit measures the ramp time of the output voltage.

Abstract: An accessory device introduction system works in conjunction with an endoscope and enables more than one accessory device to be used at the same time. The system has a plurality of channels which only expand to accommodate said accessory device(s) when introduced. The system further includes an attachment assembly which connects securely to the endoscope by means of a compression friction fit between the endoscope and itself. The attachment assembly also provides at least one accessory port to be presented to an end user to enable the end user to pass an accessory device within said accessory port and channel. The system further includes a multi-channeled endoscope shaft sheath which is connected to the attachment assembly at one end and the distal end of the endoscope shaft at the other end, thereby covering an entire outer shaft diameter length. The shaft sheath has a plurality of channels which correspond to those of the attachment assembly.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of treating a vascular condition within a subject comprising administering a therapeutic agent to said subject that is capable of modulating the expression levels of a long non-coding RNA (IncRNA) selected from the group consisting of lncRNA2, lncRNA4, lncRNA5, lncRNA6, ncRNA7 and ncRNA8 as defined in FIG. 39.

Abstract: A temperature sensor circuit may include a ring oscillator being enabled according to an enable signal and outputting a square wave signal with a first frequency, a divider dividing the first frequency of the square wave signal from the ring oscillator to generate a pulse signal with a second frequency, a counter counting a time interval of the pulse signal outputted from the divider according to an external clock to generate a count signal, a latch temporarily storing a value of the counter signal according to the pulse signal and outputting a digital code, and a supply voltage monitor being enabled according to the pulse signal, comparing a reference voltage to one or more comparison voltages and generating a switching logic signal. The reference voltage is kept at a substantially constant level when a level of a supply voltage changes.

Abstract: Nanoparticles are provided comprising an inner core comprising a non-cellular material, and an outer surface comprising a bacterial membrane, e.g., a bacterial membrane derived from a bacteria outer membrane vesicle. Also provided are compositions, e.g., medicament delivery systems and pharmaceutical compositions, comprising the present nanoparticles. Also provided are uses of the present nanoparticles, pharmaceutical compositions and medicament delivery systems for treating and/or preventing a disease or condition, e.g., bacterial infection, in a subject.

Abstract: A method of preparing metal nanoparticles using a fungal extract includes providing an aqueous solution including a metal salt; and combining the fungal extract with the aqueous metal salt solution to produce the metal nanoparticles. The fungal extract can be an aqueous extract of the manglicolous fungi The metal salt can be copper sulfate (CuSO4) and the metal nanoparticles can be copper nanoparticles. The metal nanoparticles can have a mean diameter in the range of from about 5 nm to about 100 nm. The copper nanoparticles can be used as an antimicrobial agent.

Abstract: Wastewater sludge is treated by combining the sludge with a carbon-based dielectric additive that includes carbon to yield a modified sludge, irradiating the modified sludge with microwave radiation to yield a treated sludge, and providing the treated sludge to an anaerobic digester.

Abstract: A regenerative electroless etching process produces nanostructured semiconductors in which an oxidant (Ox1) is used as a catalytic agent to facilitate reaction between a semiconductor and a second oxidant (Ox2) that would be unreactive (or slowly reactive compared to Ox1) in the primary reaction. Ox2 is used to regenerate Ox1, which can initiate etching by injecting holes into the semiconductor valence band. The extent of reaction is controlled by the amount of Ox2 added; the reaction rate, by the injection rate of Ox2. This general strategy is demonstrated specifically to produce highly luminescent nanocrystalline porous, amorphous pillared, and hierarchical porous silicon from the reaction of V2O5 in HF(aq) as Ox1 and H2O2(aq) as Ox2 with a silicon-comprising substrate. The process can be performed on silicon-comprising substrates of arbitrary size and shape including powders, reclaimed shards, wafers, pillared silicon, porous silicon, and silicon nanowires.

Abstract: The present invention provides an endodermal cell production method that can induce differentiation of pluripotent cells into endodermal cells even when the pluripotent cells are dispersed and can achieve improved endodermal cell production efficiency. The endodermal cell production method according to the present invention is a method for producing endodermal cells by inducing differentiation of pluripotent cells into the endodermal cells, including the step of: inducing differentiation of the pluripotent cells into the endodermal cells in the presence of an endodermal cell inducing factor. In the induction step, the cell density of the pluripotent cells at the start of the induction preferably is from 0.5×104 to 2×104 cells/cm2.