Abstract: In some embodiments, a method of ameliorating diastolic dysfunction may include positioning at least a distal end of a system for cutting a trabeculae carneae in a left ventricle of a human heart. The system may include an elongated member, a grip, an engaging portion, and a cutting device. A second end of the engaging portion may turn in upon the engaging portion towards a first end of the engaging portion while still allowing trabeculae carneae to enter through an opening between the first and second ends. The cutting device may be positioned within an inner diameter of the engaging portion. The method may include positioning at least one trabeculae carneae in the inner diameter of the engaging portion. The method may include severing the at least one trabeculae carneae. The method may include increasing left ventricular compliance of the human heart.

Abstract: Time-varying hyperglycemic stresses are derived from actual ICU patients and applied to non-critically ill virtual patients, using any model of normal glucose-insulin physiology that fulfills certain requirements, in order to model and simulate stress hyperglycemia. Other aspects provide: 1) a methodology to perform sensitivity analyses of the parameters of ICU insulin infusion therapy protocols and to improve the protocols; and 2) a training system for clinicians about the course and management of stress hyperglycemia in the ICU or other facility.

Abstract: Insecticidal toxins derived from Bacillus thuringiensis, polynucleotides encoding such toxins, use of such toxins to control Coleopteran plant pests, and transgenic plants that produce, and are protected, by these toxins are described.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring a patient post operation having electrically conducting leads which are adapted to extend from inside the patient. The leads having electrodes adapted to communicate with a heart of the patient and apply electrical signals to the heart. The electrodes providing cardiac signals to the computer in response to the electrical signals so the computer can determine in real time at least one of heart volume, end diastolic heart volume, end systolic heart volume, stroke volume, change in heart volume, change in stroke volume, contractility, respiration rate or tidal volume regarding the patient.

Abstract: Discrete magnetic nanoparticles synthesized using a layer-by-layer technique are disclosed. The nanoparticles contain a magnetic core having a large magnetic moment, a plurality of layers and an exterior coating. The nanoparticles have utility in a wide range of biological and bioanalytical applications.

Abstract: A method, system and related computer program product for tracking the probability of hypoglycemia from routine self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) data in patients with diabetes. A specific bivariate probability distribution of low BG events based jointly on the Low BG Index (LBGI) and the Average Daily Risk Range (ADRR) is used to predict hypoglycemia probability of occurrence from inputted SMBG data. The SMBG data is retrieved from a series of SMBG data of a patient available from the patient's glucose meter and allows tracking of the probability for future hypoglycemia over a predetermined duration, e.g., a 24 or 48 hour period. The tracking includes presentation of visual and/or numerical output, as we construction of hypoglycemia risk trajectories that would enable warning messages for crossing of predefined thresholds, such as 50% likelihood for upcoming hypoglycemia below 50 mg/dl.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating a patient's heart includes a sensor for measuring hemodynamics of the heart. The apparatus includes a processing unit which receives the hemodynamics from the sensor and uses the hemodynamics to determine whether to shock the heart. A method for treating a patient's heart. The method includes the steps of measuring hemodynamics of the heart with a sensor. There is the step of receiving the hemodynamics from the sensor at a processing unit which uses the hemodynamics to determine whether to shock the heart.

Abstract: A structure, method, and computer program product for a diabetes control system provides, but is not limited thereto, the following: open-loop or closed-loop control of diabetes that adapts to individual physiologic characteristics and to the behavioral profile of each person. An exemplary aspect to this adaptation is biosystem (patient or subject) observation and modular control. Consequently, established is the fundamental architecture and the principal components for a modular system, which may include algorithmic observers of patients' behavior and metabolic state, as well as interacting control modules responsible for basal rate, insulin boluses, and hypoglycemia prevention.

Abstract: An example tool includes a housing; an inclined handle coupled to, and extending obliquely from, a top portion of the housing, where the inclined handle has a first trigger button and a second trigger button; and an interlocking mechanism disposed in the inclined handle. The interlocking mechanism is configured to disable one of the first trigger button or the second trigger button while the other of the first trigger button or the second trigger button is triggered.

Abstract: A Dynamic Triggering and Sample Engine (DTSE) that detects a first trigger received on a trigger input terminal that triggers a series of analog-to-digital conversions to be completed by an analog-to-digital converter circuit. The DTSE then determines a first sequence configuration stored in a sequence configuration table that is associated with the first trigger, causes a first analog-to-digital conversion to be performed using the first sequence configuration; causes a first analog-to-digital conversion result value to be stored in a sequence result table; and outputs an interrupt to a processor indicating that the first analog-to-digital conversion result value is available in the sequence result table. The interrupt is output from the DTSE before all remaining analog-to-digital conversions in the series are completed. In response to receiving the interrupt, the processor reads the analog-to-digital result value from the sequence result table via a bus.

Abstract: An insulin monitoring system includes one or more processors, one or more computer-readable storage devices, and program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors. The program instructions include: first program instructions to track, in real time, the amount of insulin active in a patient; second program instructions to calculate the amount of insulin need of the patient by tracking the patient's metabolic states; third program instructions to compare the insulin active in the patient with the insulin need of the patient; and fourth program instructions to determine an insulin fault level based on the comparison.

Abstract: A method characterizes a scanning light source configured to emit illumination propagating in any one of a plurality of directions spanning an angular range. The method includes (i) detecting, with a camera, illumination propagating at each of the plurality of directions; (ii) storing image data corresponding to a response of the camera to the detected illumination. The method also includes (iii) processing the image data to characterize at least one of the angular range, pointing accuracy, pointing jitter, a divergence of the illumination, a uniformity of the illumination, and a fidelity of a scanning pattern, formed by the scanning light source, to a predetermined pattern.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for treating a patient suffering from T1D. The method can include quantifying physical activity (PA) of the patient; calculating an accumulated PA periodically based on the quantified PA, the accumulated PA indicating an aggregate of the PA; and generating an activity informed insulin bolus by adjusting a prevalent functional insulin therapy bolus with a previous activity component, wherein the previous activity component is based on the accumulated daily PA, an activity profile, and an activity factor of the patient. The method can include determining an additional glucose uptake within a time period, the additional glucose uptake being caused by a PA; translating the additional glucose uptake into a number of insulin units with a same BG lowering impact; and generating an activity informed insulin bolus by adjusting a prevalent functional insulin therapy bolus with the insulin units.

Abstract: A surface treatment robot includes a chassis having forward and rear ends and a drive system carried by the chassis. The drive system includes right and left driven wheels and is configured to maneuver the robot over a cleaning surface. The robot includes a vacuum assembly, a collection volume, a supply volume, an applicator, and a wetting element, each carried by the chassis. The wetting element engages the cleaning surface to distribute a cleaning liquid applied to the surface by the applicator. The wetting element distributes the cleaning liquid along at least a portion of the cleaning surface when the robot is driven in a forward direction. The wetting element is arranged substantially forward of a transverse axis defined by the right and left driven wheels, and the wetting element slidably supports at least about ten percent of the mass of the robot above the cleaning surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring complex electrical admittance and/or complex electrical impedance in animal or human patients includes a first electrode and at least a second electrode which are adapted to be disposed in the patient. The apparatus includes a housing adapted to be disposed in the patient. The housing has disposed in it a stimulator in electrical communication with at least the first electrode to stimulate the first electrode with either current or voltage, a sensor in electrical communication with at least the second electrode to sense a response from the second electrode based on the stimulation of the first electrode, and a signal processor in electrical communication with the sensor to determine the complex electrical admittance or impedance of the patient.

Abstract: An antimicrobial treatment system comprises a wearable photoactivation device. The wearable photoactivation device includes a body configured to be positioned on a head of a subject over one or more eyes of the subject. The body includes one or more windows or openings that allow the one or more eyes to see through the body. The body includes one or more photoactivating light sources coupled to the body and configured to direct photoactivating light to the one or more eyes according to illumination parameters. The illumination parameters determine a dose of the photoactivating light that activates, according to photochemical kinetic reactions, a photosensitizer applied to the one or more eyes and generates reactive oxygen species that provide an antimicrobial effect in the one or more eyes, without substantially inducing cross-linking activity that produces biomechanical changes in the one or more eyes.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining cardiac performance in the patient includes a plurality of electrodes adapted to be placed in the patient and in communication with a heart chamber of the patient for measuring conductance and blood volume in the heart chamber of the patient; and a processor for determining instantaneous volume of the ventricle based on measurement of complex admittance at a plurality of frequencies to identify mechanical strength of the chamber, the processor in communication with the electrodes. A method for determining cardiac performance in a patient.

Abstract: A wake generator for placement in a wind tunnel between a wind source and a test object includes a first frame member having a first track formed thereon, where the first track has a shape including a first side that is substantially rounded and a second side that is substantially flat. The wake generator may include a mounting plate disposed within a perimeter of the first track, where the mounting plate is rotatable relative to the first frame member about a first axis. The wake generator may also include a plurality of bars slidably engaged to the mounting plate and structurally configured to traverse along the first track when the mounting plate is rotated about the first axis, where each of the plurality of bars includes a pivotal connection allowing each of the plurality of bars to pivot about the pivotal connection when traversing along the first track.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a vibratory separator having a frame and a screen, a lift housing disposed proximate the vibratory separator, and a lift system disposed in the lift housing and configured to selectively engage a portion of the vibratory separator to lift the portion of the vibratory separator. A method includes actuating an actuator and vertically extending a lifting member, contacting an alignment device coupled to the lifting member with a corresponding alignment device coupled to a portion of a vibratory separator, and raising the portion of the vibratory separator to provide access to a screen of the vibratory separator.

Abstract: A system for corneal treatment includes a light source that activates cross-linking in at least one selected region of a cornea treated with a cross-linking agent. The light source delivers photoactivating light to the at least one selected region of the cornea according to a set of parameters. The system includes a controller that receives input relating to the cross-linking agent and the set of parameters. The controller includes computer-readable storage media storing: (A) program instructions for determining cross-linking resulting from reactions involving ROS including at least peroxides, superoxides, and hydroxyl radicals, and (B) program instructions for determining cross-linking from reactions not involving oxygen. The controller executes the program instructions to output a calculated amount of cross-linking in the at least one selected region of the cornea. In response to the calculated amount of cross-linking, the light source adjusts at least one value in the set of parameters.