Abstract: Provided herein are kits, compositions, and methods for diagnosing and treating interstitial cystitis (IC) and/or interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) based on finding lower levels of certain bacteria in a subject's stool sample (e.g., O. splanchnicus, F. prausnitzii, C. aerofaciens, E. sinensis, L. longoviformis, and R. intestinalis). In certain embodiments, then present invention provides probiotic formulations containing live bacteria (e.g., from O. splanchnicus, F. prausnitzii, C. aerofaciens, E. sinensis, L. longoviformis, and R. intestinalis).

Abstract: A wafer-level manufacturing method for embedding a passive element in a glass substrate is disclosed.

Abstract: A method and a pharmaceutical composition for treating an atherosclerotic lesion are provided, including administering a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising hypoxia-cultured MSCs obtained by culturing auto- or allo-MSCs under low oxygen conditions.

Abstract: A system and method for treatment of biomass originating from wastewater treatment biosolids to obtain valuable adhesives and composite materials is described herein. Some embodiments do not require purification of a biomass product or residue to produce an adhesive. Some embodiments comprise a treatment of post extraction biomass residue configured to produce an adhesive. Use of post extraction biomass residue adds value to alternative energy produced by extracting oil from biomass.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for predicting early onset glaucoma via structural parameters obtained via time and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) are disclosed. SD-OCT technology measures the thicknesses of the layers of the retina that contain the cells that die in glaucoma before there is any functional loss. A multivariable predictive model may be used for the diagnosis of early glaucoma using a combination of optic nerve head (ONH), peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), and macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) parameters measured via SD-OCT. The model generates a glaucoma probability score for individual patient, which is valuable information in assisting clinicians in glaucoma diagnosis and treatment.

Abstract: Emerging evidence indicates that diminished activity of the vasoprotective axis of the renin-angiotensin system, constituting angiotensin converting enzyme2 (ACE2) and its enzymatic product, angiotensin-(1-7) [Ang-(1-7)] contribute to pulmonary hypertension (PH). However, clinical success for long-term delivery of ACE2 or Ang-(1-7) would require stability and ease of administration to increase patient compliance. Chloroplast expression of therapeutic proteins enables their bioencapsulation within plant cells to protect from acids and gastric enzymes; fusion to a transmucosal carrier facilitates effective systemic absorption. Oral feeding of rats with bioencapsulated ACE2 or Ang-(1-7) attenuated monocrotaline (MCT)-induced increase in right ventricular systolic pressure, decreased pulmonary vessel wall thickness and improved right heart function in both prevention and reversal protocols.

Abstract: A testing device for integrated irrigation and disinfection includes a centrifugal pump, pressure sensors, flow sensors, an ion concentration sensor, and a control system. The testing device has comprehensive functions of fertilization, spray and drip irrigation load simulation, water and fertilizer parameter detection, fertilizer absorbing channel parameter detection and backflow channel parameter detection. The detection of nutrient ion concentration in a nutrient solution is combined with the aspects of irrigation, dynamic preparation of a nutrient solution and disinfection of a nutrient solution, to realize a high-precision dynamic preparation of a nutrient solution and irrigation area load simulation, and satisfy the requirements on a test system during a research and development process of an irrigation and fertilization system.

Abstract: A system and a method of producing sub-millimeter scale particles are provided herein. The method includes providing a substrate that has a layer of photosensitive material thereon; exposing a portion of the layer to a structured beam of light that has a cross-sectional shape, and a cross-sectional size. The cross-sectional size of the structured beam of light at the layer of photosensitive material is smaller than a sub-millimeter scale particle. The method also includes moving the substrate or the beam of light relative to each other to follow a path for making additional exposures or continuous exposure to result in a discrete exposed pattern in the layer that corresponds to the particle being produced, and exposing the layer to the light; and processing the layer to remove unexposed material around the discrete exposed pattern and to separate the discrete exposed pattern from the layer to provide the sub-millimeter scale particle.

Abstract: A dephlegmator is provided comprising two stages connected in series wherein a first stage includes an air-cooled reflux condenser and a second stage includes a generally horizontal tube bundle of smooth or finned tubes that can be operated selectively in either an air-cooled (dry) mode under selected ambient conditions or in a wet evaporatively cooled mode under other selected ambient conditions including that of elevated ambient temperature. Spray nozzles may be installed above the tube bundle whereby water can be sprayed onto the tube bundle. One or more collection troughs are preferably provided beneath the tube bundle for collecting run-off water and enabling recycling of excess deluge water. Preferably, the tube bundle comprises at least two, and preferably three groups of tubes communicating with each other wherein the second group of tubes has appreciably fewer tubes in it than the first group of tubes and any third group of tubes has appreciably fewer tubes in it than the second group of tubes.

Abstract: A non-synthetic, hydrophilic, biodegradable, biocompatible polysaccharide based non-toxic anti-adhesion hydrogel barrier is disclosed herein. The barrier of the present invention is formed by constructing a unique interpenetrating, crosslinked network with a unique porosity. Furthermore, the barrier of the present invention is comprised of tunable biopolymers for controllable mechanical robustness and degradation. The barrier of the present invention effectively reduces unwanted adhesions using non-synthetic components.

Abstract: This invention is directed to pyrrole, pyrazole, imidazole, triazole, and morpholine based selective androgen receptor degrader (SARD) compounds including heterocyclic anilide rings and their synthetic precursors, R-isomers, and non-hydroxylated and/or non-chiral propanamides, and pharmaceutical compositions and uses thereof in treating prostate cancer, advanced prostate cancer, castration resistant prostate cancer, triple negative breast cancer, other cancers expressing the androgen receptor, androgenic alopecia or other hyperandrogenic dermal diseases, Kennedy's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), and uterine fibroids, and to methods for reducing the levels of androgen receptor-full length (AR-FL) including pathogenic or resistance mutations, AR-splice variants (AR-SV), and pathogenic polyglutamine (polyQ) polymorphisms of AR in a subject.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions, kits, and methods for treating cancer in a subject in need thereof. The compositions, kits, and methods may be used to treat a tumor in a subject in situ. The compositions, kits, and methods comprise or utilize cytotoxic particles, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and/or T-cell stimulatory agents.

Abstract: A photocatalyst includes a composite fiber having at least two crystalline semi-conductors that provide a heterojunction structure in the composite fiber.

Abstract: A pillar-nanoantenna array structure is fabricated with a substrate to which pairs of pillars are coupled, where the pillars are characterized either by a thermal conductance less than 0.1 ?W/deg or by transparency and a height exceeding thickness by at least a factor of two. Metallic caps atop a neighboring pair of pillars are separated by no more than 50 nm. An image-capture structure may be formed by modifying reflectance of a portion of the structure by heating of the portion by electromagnetic radiation. The array may be plastically deformed by raster scanning an electron beam across the array, exciting plasmon modes in the conducting particles thereby inducing a gradient force between neighboring conducting particles, and deforming neighboring pillars in such a manner as to vary the spacing separating neighboring conducting particles. A technique of plasmon-assisted etching provides for fabricating specified planar pattern of metal outside a cleanroom environment.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for concurrent multi-user computer-aided manufacturing may include (1) receiving a tool path descriptor resulting from a tool path request on a local copy of a part model, (2) submitting the tool path descriptor to a server for application to a shared copy of the part model, (3) receiving, from the server, shared model data corresponding to the tool path descriptor, and (4) applying the shared model data to the local part model. Various other methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of synthesizing soluble polyphosphides by conversion of red phosphorous using alkali metal compounds and organic solvents is presented. A reaction between an alkali metal alkoxy compound or alkali metal alkyl thiolate compound, such as potassium ethoxide, and shelf stable red phosphorus generated soluble polyphosphides in a variety of organic solvents with the 31P NMR spectrum being used to detect the species of polyphosphides produced.

Abstract: A resistance-based humidity sensor including a moisture sensitive composite comprising a cellulose acetate and copper(II) oxide and a first electrode and a second electrode each in direct contact with the composite. Each electrode is connected to a circuit which can correlate a resistance of the composite to a measurement of a relative humidity. The method by which the sensor may measure a relative humidity in an environment includes applying a frequency through the first electrode, across the moisture sensitive composite, and through a second electrode to measure a change in the frequency that correlates to a resistance of the moisture sensitive composite and correlates to the relative humidity of the environment. A method of producing a resistance-based humidity sensor in the form of a film or in the form of a cell.

Abstract: Memristor-based multipliers using memristors-as-drivers (MAD) gates. As a result of employing MAD gates in memristor-based multipliers, such as shift-and-add multipliers, Booth multipliers and array multipliers, the number of delay steps may be less than half than the number of delay steps required in traditional CMOS implementations of multipliers. Furthermore, by using MAD gates, memristor-based multipliers can be implemented with less complexity (e.g., fewer memristors and drivers). As a result, by the memristor-based multipliers using MAD gates, the speed and complexity of a wide variety of arithmetic operations is improved.

Abstract: Recombinant polypeptides comprising a DR?1 domain, an antigenic peptide, and a linker sequence are disclosed. The linker sequence comprises a first glycine-serine spacer, a thrombin cleavage site and a second glycine-serine spacer. Further disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the recombinant polypeptides, methods of treating inflammatory disease using said pharmaceutical compositions, and expression constructs comprising nucleic acids that encode the recombinant polypeptides.

Abstract: The retractor is a generally U-shaped device for protecting the cheek and tongue from instruments used during dental and prosthodontic procedures. The retractor has a planar base defined by two spaced arms, a pair of upright shields extending from the arms, and a posterior connector connecting the shields. The base is contoured to grip the tooth adjacent to the tooth to be treated, and thereby, secure the retractor within the patient's mouth.