Abstract: A micro-bioelectrochemical cell (?-BEC) device is disclosed that includes from 4 to 96 microfluidically connected chambers, in which each chamber encloses a volume of about 1 ?L to 2 ?L. A working electrode, reference electrode, and counting electrode contacts each volume. The ?-BEC device includes a support layer coated with a working electrode layer, a microfluidics layer containing a plurality of wells, and an electrical layer containing the reference and counter electrodes. Methods of using the ?-BEC device to perform bioelectrochemical measurements of cells are also disclosed.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for enhancing MRI image quality and tracking accuracy in MR-guided treatment systems are described.

Abstract: Among the various aspects of the present disclosure are the provision of an image alignment and registration system and a breast cancer risk prediction system.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and compositions related to methods of treating, ameliorating, mitigating, slowing, arresting, preventing or reversing various diseases and conditions, including age-related obesity, age-related increases in blood lipid levels, age-related decreases in insulin sensitivity, age-related decreases in memory function, and age-related changes in eye function such as macular degeneration. The methods comprise administering nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) to a subject. In some embodiments, the administration can be oral administration. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions comprising NMN.

Abstract: A compact diffuse optical tomography system for generating a functional image of a lesion region is provided. The system includes a source subsystem, a probe, a detection subsystem, and a computing device. The source subsystem includes laser diodes and a laser diode driver board. The probe is configured to emit the optical waves generated by the source subsystem toward the lesion region and detect optical waves reflected by the lesion region. The detection subsystem includes a miniaturized detection board and a miniaturized data acquisition board. The miniaturized detection board includes a photomultiplier tube configured to convert the optical waves detected by the probe to electrical signals. The miniaturized data acquisition board is configured to convert electrical signals outputted by the miniaturized detection board to digital signals. The computing device is configured to receive the digital signals, reconstruct the functional image, and display the functional image.

Abstract: A wearable device for high-density-diffuse optical tomography includes a plurality of source modules that include source housings containing a light source. The device also includes a plurality of detector modules that include detector housings, a photodiodes, transimpedance amplifiers operatively coupled to the photodiodes, and analog to digital converters operatively coupled to the transimpedance amplifier. Each detector housing contains at least one of the photodiode, the analog to digital converter, and the transimpedance amplifier. Each source and detector housing is configurable to contact a subject's scalp and deliver or receive light from the scalp at one position. The wearable device also includes a control circuit operatively coupled to the plurality of source modules and to the plurality of detector modules to operate the source and detector modules in a coordinated manner to acquire a plurality of diffuse optical tomography measurements.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for classifying a cell as abnormal based on HD5 protein detection as well as methods for predicting prognosis of a subject with Crohn's disease based on HD5 protein detection.

Abstract: Methods and systems for preparing and preserving biological samples are disclosed herein. A method comprises contacting a preserving agent with a biological sample to form a mixture, wherein the preserving agent is selected from at least one of a metal-organic framework (MOF) encapsulant or a precursor forming a MOF encapsulant, and wherein the biological sample comprises at least one target analyte. A system comprises a preserving agent selected from at least one of a metal-organic framework (MOF) encapsulant or a precursor forming a MOF encapsulant; and a substrate configured to receive a drop cast mixture of the preserving agent and a biological sample, wherein the biological sample comprises at least one target analyte.

Abstract: A system and method for defense against cache timing channel attacks using cache management hardware is provided. Sensitive information leakage is a growing security concern exacerbated by shared hardware structures in computer processors. Recent studies have shown how adversaries can exploit cache timing channel attacks to exfiltrate secret information. To effectively guard computing systems against such attacks, embodiments disclosed herein provide practical defense techniques that are readily deployable and introduce only minimal performance overhead. In this regard, a new protection framework against cache timing channel attacks is provided herein by leveraging commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware support in processor caches, including last level caches (LLC), for cache monitoring and partitioning. This framework applies signal processing techniques on per-domain cache occupancy data to identify suspicious application contexts.

Abstract: A system and method for generating at least one optimized functional images of a lesion region of a subject is provided. The system includes a diffuse optical tomography (DOT) device, and a computing device. The DOT device is configured to acquire lesion functional data of an imaging volume including the lesion region of the breast and reference functional data from a corresponding imaging volume including healthy tissue within a contralateral breast. The computing device is programmed to generate at least one functional image of the breast by reconstructing the functional data at the plurality of regions including the lesion region and the surrounding adjacent background region. The functional images may be reconstructed by an optimization method regularized a preliminary estimate generated by applying a truncated pseudoinverse matrix of a weight matrix to the functional data. The optimized functional images relate to levels of hemoglobin at the voxels.

Abstract: The present disclosure is concerned with 6-aza-nucleoside prodrugs that are capable of inhibiting a viral infection and methods of treating viral infections such as, for example, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), human papillomavirus (HPV), chicken pox, infectious mononucleosis, mumps, measles, rubella, shingles, ebola, viral gastroenteritis, viral hepatitis, viral meningitis, human metapneumovirus, human parainfluenza virus type 1, parainfluenza virus type 2, parainfluenza virus type 3, respiratory syncytial virus, viral pneumonia, yellow fever virus, tick-borne encephalitis virus, Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEEV), Eastern equine encephalitis (EEEV), Western equine encephalitis (WEEV), dengue (DENV), influenza, West Nile virus (WNV), zika (ZIKV), Middle East Respiratory Syndromes (MERS), Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), using these compounds.

Abstract: This disclosure provides methods of treating obesity, nonalcohol-related fatty liver disease, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, or hepatocellular cancer in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of at least one siRNA molecule targeting SPTBN1.

Abstract: Methods and systems for ultrahigh-speed multi-parametric photoacoustic microscopy that include an optical-acoustic combiner (OAC) configured to reflect the laser pulses into the sample and to transmit the photoacoustic signals to the transducer are disclosed.

Abstract: A growth transform neural network system is disclosed that includes a computing device with at least one processor and a memory storing a plurality of modules, including a growth transform neural network module, a growth transform module, and a network convergence module. The growth transform neural network module defines a plurality of mirrored neuron pairs that include a plurality of first components and a plurality of second components. Each first and second component is connected by a normalization link. The first components are interconnected according to an interconnection matrix, and the second components are interconnected according to the interconnection matrix. The growth transform module updates each first component of each mirrored neuron pair according to a growth transform neuron model. The network convergence module converges the plurality of mirrored neuron pairs to a steady state condition by solving a system objective function subject to at least one normalization constraint.

Abstract: Carbon-doped graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) compositions are synthesized from the chemical precursors melamine, cyanuric acid and barbituric acid. Phosphorus-doped g-C3N4 compositions are synthesized from the chemical precursors melamine, cyanuric acid and etidronic acid. Carbon- and phosphorus-doped g-C3N4 compositions, when in the presence of UV or visible light, can be used in water treatment systems to photocatalytically degrade persistent organic micropollutants such as pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs), pesticides, and herbicides. Carbon- and phosphorus-doped g-C3N4 compositions can also be applied to surfaces of household and public items to kill protozoa, eukaryotic parasites, algal pathogens, bacteria, fungi, prions, viruses, or other microorganisms, preventing the transfer thereof between users.

Abstract: A system includes a log receiving module, an authentication graph module, a sampling module, an embedding module, a training module, a link prediction module, and an anomaly detection module. The log receiving module is configured to receive a first plurality of network-level authentication logs. The authentication graph module is configured to generate an authentication graph. The sampling module is configured to generate a plurality of sequences. The embedding module is configured to tune a plurality of node embeddings according to the plurality of sequences. The training module is configured to train a link predictor according to the plurality of node embeddings and ground-truth edge information from the authentication graph. The link prediction module is configured to apply the link predictor to performs a link prediction. The anomaly detection module is configured to perform anomaly detection according to the link prediction.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)-activated macrophages, compositions comprising STAT-activated macrophages, methods of making STAT-activated macrophages, and methods of treating diseases, e.g., cancer, by administering a therapeutically effective amount of STAT-activated macrophages.

Abstract: Self-assembling compounds for the formation of ion channels in biological membranes include monoacylated benzo(crown-ether) (MAcBCE) compounds and monoalkylated benzo(crown-ether) (MAkBCE) compounds. Methods of preparing the MAcBCE and MAkBCE compounds and methods of forming an ion channel in a biological membrane are also disclosed.

Abstract: The use of long-chain alkenones to impart desired characteristics in personal care compositions for topical applications is described. The preparation of mixtures long-chain alkenones and synthetic derivatives thereof is presented. Examples of compositions include abrasive soaps, with alkenones serving as natural exfoliating agents. Alkenones and their derivatives can serve as emollients, occlusive agents, encapsulating agents, stabilizing agents, binding agents, thickening agents, surfactants, and antimicrobials.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to compositions and methods for treating pancreatic cancer. A method of treating pancreatic cancer includes administering a therapeutically effective amount of a composition including a neoantigen vaccine including at least one pancreatic cancer-associated neoantigen and at least one immune checkpoint inhibitor. The methods and compositions of the present disclosure are particularly useful for inducing a neoantigen-specific CD4 or CD8 T cell response against a tumor.