Abstract: Spinal stenosis is a common debilitating illness that produces symptoms of neurogenic claudication, radiculopathy and weakness. Present therapies include administration of analgesics, epidural injections of local anesthetic with corticosteroids and decompression laminectomy. In vitro, citrate ion can resorb vertebral cortical bone by chelating calcium without destruction of the ligamentum flavum or dura mater. This non-enzymatic spontaneous chemical reaction occurs at neutral pH, 37° C. and in an isotonic solution and in vitro produces an average cortical bone weight loss of 17% after 168 hours. In this invention epidural infusion of citrate in the form of an isotonic solution of sodium citrate/citric acid buffer at neutral pH will resorb a significant amount of vertebral bone such that the symptoms of spinal stenosis are ameliorated.

Abstract: World peace and resolution of conflicts depends upon methods to deter use of weapons of mass destruction. Negotiations are the primary method to resolve conflicts. Pain, especially non-tissue sources of pain, is ubiquitous in the minds of humans and is an impediment to successful conflict resolution. It is proposed that leaders who are at peace with themselves are more likely to negotiate win-win resolutions of conflicts. When negotiations fail and deployment of weapons of mass destruction by a country is imminent, targeting the brain of its leaders to change their intentions may be reasonable and necessary. Concentrated extremely low frequency (ELF) electromagnetic waves can penetrate the cranium in the most conductive portion of the skull, the pterion-temporal lobe intersection, and produce effects in the anterior temporal lobe that contains the amygdala. Remote stimulation of the temporal lobe may cause lethal or incapacitating seizures.

Abstract: Reconciliation of past events is beneficial for resolution of conflict but not essential to resolve geographic, political and economic conflicts that can cease violence. Past events are immutable in spacetime and interpretation of past events may be different for different observers. These events that differ among observers may lead to very different outcomes associated with the event because the activity of the brain is chaotic. Although humans have an innate desire to reconcile past events, resolution of conflicts should be initially concerned with the present and future. Reconciliation is a long and arduous process. In this invention electromagnetic waves that are coherent with natural waves generated by the brain of those in conflict are broadcast through air or wire into areas of conflict to aid reconciliation. Peace may be more easily obtainable with this invention, but this invention will not in itself solve the problem of reconciliation.

Abstract: Worldwide food shortages are predicted by the year 2050. The most seriously affected populations will be those who live in sub Saharan Africa and South Asia. Obtaining food and fuel from perennial grasses is advantageous. Unlike common grain crops the perennial pasture grasses are natural flora and do not need to be planted yearly. Until now, economic processing of perennial grasses for food and fuel was not considered possible. In this invention it was discovered that brief treatment of grasses with citrate softens the grasses presumable because the citrate chelates the calcium bound to pectin. With the integrity of the pectin disrupted, the cellulose is destabilized and the citrated treated grass can be manually extracted. The extract contains all essential amino acids required for humans and quantitative calculations show that the process can provide enough protein to meet adult male minimum daily requirements.

Abstract: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating disease that leads initially to death of motor nerves with some progression to death of sensory and autonomic nerves. Experimental work shows that more electrical energy is required to successfully stimulate motor vs. sensory nerve components of a nerve and longer vs. shorter components of a nerve. This discovery explains sparing of the nerves of ocular motion and nerves of rectal and urethral sphincters in patients suffering from ALS and supports the energy hypothesis of ALS. Neurons and peripheral nerves are dependent upon glial cells and oligodendrocytes respectively to support their high energy demands. These supporting cells shuttle lactate to neurons and nerves. Lactate is required to sustain contraction of skeletal muscle. Administration of racemic or L-lactate in an amount greater than the capacity of the liver to oxidize will increase the available lactate to nerves and neurons and improve the symptoms of ALS.

Abstract: A method to immediately treat cerebral ischemia caused by hemorrhage, thrombosis or spasm is described. The method requires an apparatus comprising a tight fitting non-rebreathing mask with one way expiratory valves and a pressure regulated source of compressed oxygen. The mask may have an optional port for the administration of nitric oxide. Use of this apparatus can oxygenate and denitrogenate ischemic brain tissue and decrease infarct size. Little training is required for proper use of the apparatus which can be purchased for less than 75 USD in the United States. Similar to a fire extinguisher, this apparatus can be stored in the home and at work available for emergency use especially for those at high risk for stroke. A clinical trial should be conducted to assure that this therapy does no harm regardless of the etiology of cerebral ischemia.

Abstract: Spinal stenosis is a common debilitating illness that produces symptoms of neurogenic claudication, radiculopathy and weakness. Present therapies include administration of analgesics, epidural injections of local anesthetic with corticosteroids and decompression laminectomy. In vitro, citrate ion can resorb vertebral cortical bone by chelating calcium without destruction of the ligamentum flavum or dura mater. This non-enzymatic spontaneous chemical reaction occurs at neutral pH, 37° C. and in an isotonic solution and in vitro produces an average cortical bone weight loss of 17% after 168 hours. In this invention epidural infusion of citrate in the form of an isotonic solution of sodium citrate/citric acid buffer at neutral pH will resorb a significant amount of vertebral bone such that the symptoms of spinal stenosis are ameliorated.

Abstract: A method for optimum preparation and placement of transcranial electrodes is described. The method consists of application of liquid silver paint to standard monitoring electrodes and placement of bilateral electrodes over the pterions, the thinnest areas of the skull. This method minimizes the impedance between electrodes facilitating low power stimulation of the brain as measured by the phosphene threshold that has been redefined in this invention. The locations of the pterions vary between racial groups, but in most cases the pterions overlie the anterior temporal lobes. The anterior temporal lobe is contiguous with the amydala and hippocampus and stimulation of these limbic system structures has been known to produce fear, along with other altered states of consciousness. Low power square wave stimulation via these electrodes produces phosphenes at frequencies closely approximating the Schumann resonance frequency and its harmonics and theta, alpha, beta and gamma EEG frequencies of the brain.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for normalizing an image of an eye among multiple optical coherence tomography (OCT) devices. The system can receive an OCT image and generate a normalized OCT image. The system is configured to normalize a sample density of the received image, normalize an amount of noise using a suitable noise reduction technique, normalize a distribution of signal amplitudes of the image, and then normalize a signal quality of the image. The resulting normalized image of the eye can then be used in the comparison among OCT images taken from multiple OCT devices.

Abstract: A thermodynamic model of the nervous system was designed consisting of a vessel, an insulated oscillating chemical reaction (Belouvsa-Zhabotinsky reaction), platinum and graphite electrodes, a solenoid surrounding the vessel, an on-off DC generator and an oscilloscope connected to the electrodes. This thermodynamic model is an open, autocatalytic, chaotic system not at equilibrium that reflects the nature of a nervous system. A changing electromagnetic field has been shown to influence the internal energy of the system by performing work on the system as demonstrated by changes in the oscillating waves of the system. This model can be incorporated into other models of a nervous system that do not address influences from the electromagnetic surroundings.

Abstract: Provided herein are isolated populations of multipotent stem cells capable of differentiating into trabecular meshwork (TM) cells, methods of obtaining an isolated population of TM cells, and isolated populations of TM cells obtained therefrom. Compositions, kits, and devices comprising the isolated populations of multipotent stem cells or TM cells are also provided herein. Further provided are methods of using the compositions, kits, and devices for decreasing intraocular pressure in an eye, increasing cell density in a trabecular meshwork of an eye, increasing outflow of aqueous humor from an eye, or treating or preventing a medical condition in a subject.

Abstract: Current technologies to treat end stage renal disease (ESRD) include peritoneal dialysis, hemodialysis and transplantation all of which are expensive. This invention is an inexpensive method to decrease body toxins that requires immersion of a body in a hot water bath with sorbents. In a hot water bath, secretory coils within activated sweat glands function as a semipermeable membrane that can dialyze toxins. Sorbents such charcoals and smectite clays located within the secretory coils of sweat glands in the vicinity of the zonula occludens can adsorb toxins. A subject who was immersed in a hot water bath with dissolved activated charcoal for a total time of approximately two hours presumably developed heparin deficiency from the adsorption of heparin onto activated charcoal.

Abstract: L-Lactate is required as a fuel for the continuous firing of nociceptors that produce many of the manifestations of chronic pain. Polymer D-lactic acid (PDLA) forms a spontaneous non-enzymatic, thermodynamically favored stereocomplex with sequestration of l-lactate or “trapping” of l-lactate. Injection or topical application of PDLA can reduce pain by decreasing the l-lactate available to activated nociceptors without sequestering lactate in non-disrupted nerves. C fibers and unmyelinated visceral afferents are most sensitive to the analgesia produced by PDLA. PDLA can be used to ameliorate pain from a wide variety of medical conditions including skin ulcers, wounds and burns; causalgia, radiculopathy, neuropathy; arthritis; and cancer. PDLA oligomers can be inexpensively produced from d-lactic acid in a home microwave. The predicted toxicity of PDLA is low and topical application or injection into perineural tissues for relief of pain may be very safe.

Abstract: The reaction of L-lactate and polymer D-lactic acid (PDLA) spontaneously and rapidly forms a stereocomplex. This versatile chemical reaction can disrupt glycolysis, the predominate form of ATP production in many disease states, and may have many uses including the treatment of malaria. PDLA can sequester lactate in the vicinity of hypermetabolic activity such as that associated with Plasmodium replication and phagocytosis. PDLA can inhibit Plasmodium activity or decrease Plasmodium survival. The reaction mechanism of L-lactate with PDLA may not be unique and other chiral polymers may sequester corresponding single unit enantiomers. If such reactions are found to occur, these chiral polymers may have the capacity to interrupt metabolic pathways as drugs.

Abstract: Control of blood glucose is a fundamental goal in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Glycation of l-lysine can lower blood glucose and advanced glycation end product (AGE) free adducts can be excreted in the urine. Lysine, an inexpensive amino acid, can be administered orally or parentally, and can be incorporated into a stereocomplex matrix as a time released preparation. In patients who suffer from diabetes and concomitant renal insufficiency who cannot clear sufficient quantities of AGE free adducts enantiomeric mixtures of lysine will lower blood glucose and AGEs since d-lysine has been shown to decrease protein glycation and lower hemoglobin Alc. This invention is not intended to replace insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents but is does offer patients a low cost and probably safe complementary therapy for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. In addition to the treatment of diabetes and its complications, this invention could lower AGE burden and slow or ameliorate some of the consequences of aging.

Abstract: This invention is a metal fuel cell that consumes zinc, oxygen and water. The chemistry of this fuel cell fundamental differs from other previously described metal air fuel cells because water is consumed and zinc and hydroxide anions are adsorbed by the natural carbon compounds of coal, charcoal and biochar. The adsorption of these ions is possible because of the accessible micropore structure of the natural carbon substances. The absorption limits the rate of fuel cell waste thereby decreasing the rate of increase of the cells internal resistance and this chemistry accounts for the fuel cell's longevity. The cell is inexpensive to make and renewable and rechargeable. Development of this cell could have profound effects on environmental, economic and social problems related to global energy.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure are directed towards safely projecting a diffracted light pattern, such as in an infrared laser-based projection/illumination system. Non-diffracted (zero-order) light is refracted once to diffuse (defocus) the non-diffracted light to an eye safe level. Diffracted (non-zero-order) light is aberrated twice, e.g., once as part of diffraction by a diffracting optical element encoded with a Fresnel lens (which does not aberrate the non-diffracted light), and another time to cancel out the other aberration; the two aberrations may occur in either order. Various alternatives include upstream and downstream positioning of the diffracting optical element relative to a refractive optical element, and/or refraction via positive and negative lenses.

Abstract: Provided herein are isolated populations of multipotent stem cells capable of differentiating into trabecular meshwork (TM) cells, methods of obtaining an isolated population of TM cells, and isolated populations of TM cells obtained therefrom. Compositions, kits, and devices comprising the isolated populations of multipotent stem cells or TM cells are also provided herein. Further provided are methods of using the compositions, kits, and devices for decreasing intraocular pressure in an eye, increasing cell density in a trabecular meshwork of an eye, increasing outflow of aqueous humor from an eye, or treating or preventing a medical condition in a subject.

Abstract: A motorized apparatus to simultaneously excise, retrieve, temporarily store and transport a sample of material has a hollow clamshell casing with a blended contoured grip for the fingers, a horizontal extension to eliminate slippage when held in a user's hand, and a flange bottom portion from which a removable cutting tool threaded to a drive shaft extends downwards. Within the clamshell casing an electric motor is mounted which drives, via gears, a drive shaft which rotates a cutting tool threaded to the distal end of the drive shaft. The end of the cutting tool, distal from the clamshell casing, forms a cutting edge circumscribing a circular region. An ejection rod slides reciprocally within the cutting tool between a stowed position and an expulsion position.

Abstract: A fully automated optic nerve head assessment system, based on spectral domain optical coherence tomography, provides essential disc parameters for clinical analysis, early detection, and monitoring of progression.