Abstract: An embodiment of a system for treating sleep apnea includes a collar, a pump, a motor, a sensor, and a controller. The collar is configured to maintain an airway of a subject open while the subject is sleeping by applying, to a throat of the subject, a negative pressure having a magnitude, and the pump is configured to generate the negative pressure. The motor is configured to drive the pump, and the sensor is configured to generate a sense signal that is related to a degree to which the airway is open. And the controller is configured to vary the magnitude of the negative pressure in response to the sense signal. For example, one or more of the pump, motor, sensor, and controller can be secured to the collar such that the system is self-contained, i.e., the entire sleep-apnea system can be worn by the subject.

Abstract: Various methods for sensing and/or heating that utilize nanostructures or carbon structures, such as nanotubes, nanotube meshes, or graphene sheets, are disclosed. In some methods, at least a pair of contacts are electrically coupled with a given nanostructure or carbon structure to sense a change or to pass a current for heating.

Abstract: Breast monitoring systems are described including a breast sensor device having a substrate fabricated to substantially conform to one or more breasts of a subject, dynamically bendable optical fibers, and a connector; a light source configured to operably couple with the optical fibers through the connector; a photodetector configured to operably couple with the optical fibers through the connector and positioned to detect light transmission through the optical fibers; a reporting device; and a microcontroller including a microprocessor and circuitry, the circuitry including input circuitry configured to receive a first set of signals and at least one second set of signals from the photodetector; calculation circuitry configured to calculate a curvature delta value based on a comparison of the first and at least one second set of signals, and calculate a breast volume delta value from the calculated curvature delta value; and reporting circuitry.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods that may be used to controllably deliver alcohol to a subject using an inhaler, wherein the inhaler may include a housing having a flow channel coupled to an ethanol-containing inhalant reservoir, an actuator configured to facilitate release of the inhalant, a constituent sensor, and a control unit. The control unit may accept parameters associated with the subject, create an inhalant delivery regime, and control operation of the actuator based at least partially on a sensed constituent level to facilitate release of an ethanol-containing inhalant from the reservoir into the flow channel in accordance with the regimen.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to systems and methods of dispensing one or more medicaments to a subject. The systems and methods utilize at least one flexible compression garment having one or more medicament dispensers therein.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are disclosed herein for producing one or more immunoglobulins in an isolated cytotoxic B lymphocyte cell line. An isolated cell line includes an isolated B lymphocyte cell line capable of expressing at least one exogenously incorporated membrane immunoglobulin capable of binding to a first antigen and at least one endogenous secreted immunoglobulin capable of binding to a second antigen, and further capable of expressing at least one exogenously incorporated recombinant B cell receptor that signals for expression of cytotoxic effector molecules.

Abstract: Systems and related methods for enhancing learning of a motor task are described. The system controls delivery of an example or prompt to the subject via one or more of an audio, video, or other output device. A learning enhancing transcutaneous neural stimulus is delivered in association with the example or prompt. Electrical control circuitry controls timing of delivery of neural stimuli and prompts or examples. The system may be implemented in connection with a personal computing device, for example.

Abstract: Breast monitoring systems and methods are described including a flexible substrate fabricated to substantially conform to one or more breasts of a subject; dynamically bendable optical fibers associated with the flexible substrate; a light source operably coupled to the optical fibers; a photodetector positioned to detect light reception from the optical fibers; a reporting device; and a microcontroller including a microprocessor and circuitry, wherein the circuitry includes input circuitry configured to receive a first set of signals and at least one second set of signals from the photodetector; calculation circuitry configured to calculate a curvature delta value based on a comparison of the received first and at least one second set of signals, and calculate a breast volume delta value from the calculated curvature delta value; and reporting circuitry configured to transmit a signal to the reporting device based on the calculated breast volume delta value.

Abstract: According to various embodiments, a mobile device continuously and/or automatically scans a user environment for tags containing non-human-readable data. The mobile device may continuously and/or automatically scan the environment for tags without being specifically directed at a particular tag. The mobile device may be adapted to scan for audio tags, radio frequency tags, and/or image tags. The mobile device may be configured to scan for and identify tags within the user environment that satisfy a user preference. The mobile device may perform an action in response to identifying a tag that satisfies a user preference. The mobile device may be configured to scan for a wide variety of tags, including tags in the form of quick response codes, steganographic content, audio watermarks, audio outside of a human audible range, radio frequency identification tags, long wavelength identification tags, near field communication tags, and/or a Memory Spot device.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a garment system including at least one muscle or at least one joint activity sensor, and at least one actuator that operates responsive to sensing feedback from the at least one muscle or the at least one joint activity sensor to cause a flexible compression garment to selectively compress against or selectively relieve compression against at least one body part of a subject. Embodiments disclosed herein also relate to methods of using such garment systems.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for configuring and using displays, speakers, or other output devices positioned by an article of clothing or other such structure wearable by a healthcare recipient, for example, in a clinic or residential care facility.

Abstract: Devices, systems, or methods are disclosed herein for treatment of disease in a vertebrate subject. The device can include a quasi-planar substrate; and one or more laterally-mobile effector molecule types at least partially embedded within the quasi-planar substrate, wherein the one or more laterally-mobile effector molecule types is configured to interact with one or more cell types. The device can further include one or more sensors configured to detect at least one aspect of an interaction between the at least one of the one or more laterally-mobile effector molecule types and the one or more cell types; and a controller in communication with the one or more sensors, wherein the controller is configured to responsively initiate modification of at least one of the one or more laterally-mobile effector molecule types, the quasi-planar substrate, and the one or more cell types.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide automated nuclear fission reactors and methods for their operation. Exemplary embodiments and aspects include, without limitation, controlling a propagating nuclear deflagration wave within a burning wavefront heat generating region, moveable neutron modifying structures, variable burn-up, programmable nuclear thermostats, fast flux irradiation, temperature-driven surface area/volume ratio neutron absorption, low coolant temperature cores, refueling, and the like.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods associated with an antenna system comprising a tension member configured to be towed by an aerial platform. In some embodiments, a first end of the tension member may be secured to the aerial platform and the second end may extend unsecured from the aerial platform at a different elevation than the first end. A plurality of antenna assemblies, each comprising at least one antenna, may be secured to and spaced along the length of the tension member. Each of the plurality of antennas may be adapted for use with a particular frequency or frequency bandwidth. For example, each of the plurality of antennas may be adapted or tuned for one or more frequencies useful for synthetic aperture radar (SAR). In some embodiments, a receiving system, a communication link, and/or an antenna location system may be utilized.

Abstract: Systems and related methods for enhancing learning of an activity by a subject are described. A prompt for causing the subject to perform the activity is delivered repeatedly, in combination with a neural stimulus, with timing of delivery of prompts and neural stimuli controlled by electrical control circuitry. Neural stimuli are delivered with a transcutaneous neural stimulator located fitted in or on at least a portion of an ear of the subject. The system is implemented in connection with a personal computing device such as a smart phone or tablet computer.

Abstract: A patient medical support system is provided including at least one article of medical equipment and a two-way audio-visual system. Such equipment may be used, for example, for telemedicine applications by a patient discharged from a hospital, or other subject in need of remote health care monitoring. Electrical control circuitry is provided for monitoring and controlling usage of the medical support system, including determining operational mode and amount of usage of the medical equipment and/or telepresence system. Electrical control circuitry is provided for controlling a controllable lighting system of the patient medical support system to influence the amount or type of medically useful information in an image of the patient for remote visual monitoring.

Abstract: Devices, compositions, and methods are described which provide a tubular nanostructure or a composite tubular nanostructure targeted to a lipid bilayer membrane. The tubular nanostructure includes a hydrophobic surface region flanked by two hydrophilic surface regions. The tubular nanostructure is configured to interact with a lipid bilayer membrane and form a pore in the lipid bilayer membrane. The tubular nanostructure may be targeted by including at least one ligand configured to bind to one or more cognates on the lipid bilayer membrane of a target cell.

Abstract: Systems are described for monitoring extremities for injury or damage following a physical impact. A device embodiment includes, but is not limited to, a deformable substrate; a sensor assembly coupled to the deformable substrate, the sensor assembly configured to generate one or more sense signals based on detection of a physical impact to a body portion and based on detection of a physiological parameter; circuitry operably coupled to the sensor assembly and configured to receive the one or more sense signals based on detection of the physical impact and to determine whether the physical impact exceeds a threshold impact value, the circuitry configured to instruct the sensor assembly to detect one or more physiological parameters of the body portion when the physical impact exceeds the threshold impact value; and a reporting device operably coupled to the circuitry.

Abstract: Structures and protocols are presented for signaling a status or decision (processing or transmitting a medical record or other resource, e.g.) conditionally. Such signaling may be partly based on one or more symptoms, regimen attributes, performance indicia (compliance indications, e.g.), privacy considerations (patient consent, e.g.), contextual considerations (being in or admitted by a care facility, e.g.), sensor data, or other such determinants. In some contexts this may trigger an incentive being manifested (as a dispensation of an item, e.g.), an intercommunication (telephone call, e.g.) beginning, a device being configured (enabled or customized, e.g.), data distillations being presented or tracked, or other such results.

Abstract: A method of pollinating a plant includes receiving, with a processing circuit, plant data regarding a plant having flowers, and controlling, by the processing circuit, operation of an robotic device to selectively pollinate a portion of the plurality of flowers based on the plant data. The robotic device includes sensors configured to acquire plant data, a pollination device configured to pollinate flowers of a plant, a collection device configured to collect pollen, and a pollination prevention device configured prevent a flower from being pollinated.