Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide methods of obtaining continuous cardiac information from a mammal. First, attach a self-contained, wearable, portable continuous cardiac monitor to he mammal to create a chamber containing electrodes used to detect cardiac signals from the mammal. Next, continuously detect without analyzing the cardiac signals from the mammal for at least 24 hours. Next, store information related to substantially all detected cardiac signals in the cardiac monitor.

Abstract: In an embodiment of the present invention, an interactive system employs sets of interior design guidelines. In an embodiment, the user begins by specifying the shape of a room and the set of furniture that must be arranged within it. The user then interactively moves furniture pieces. In response, the system suggests a set of furniture layouts that follow the interior design guidelines. The user can interactively select a suggestion and move any piece of furniture to modify the layout.

Abstract: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is enhanced by contrast agents such as superparamagnetic iron-oxide (SPIO) particles that resemble magnetite particles produced by magnetotactic bacteria. Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB-1 produces positive MRI contrast when generating ultrasmall magnetite particles (10-40 nm diameter). Positive MRI contrast permits clearer distinction from image voids compared to negative contrast. T1-weighted MRI showed that such bacteria increased positive contrast 2.2-fold (p<0.02) in vitro and 2.0-fold (p<0.02) following intratumoral injection in mouse tumor xenografts. Upon intravenous delivery, Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB-1 targeted tumors and generated increased positive MRI contrast in them (1.4-fold; p<0.01). AMB-1 tumor targeting was shown by viable counts, microPET imaging of radio-labeled AMB-1, and Prussian blue staining of tumor sections. Thus, magnetotactic bacteria provide a tool for improving cancer diagnosis and monitoring treatment response by MRI.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides DDAH modulators. Thus, the present disclosure provides a method of treating a patient suffering from a disorder characterized by excessive NO production and/or elevated DDAH activity, the method comprising administering to said patient an effective amount of a compound of one of formulae I-X. The present disclosure also provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of one of formulae I-X.

Abstract: Described herein are methods of making and using and apparatus for wirelessly communicating data and providing power, particularly from a location exterior to a body and to an implantable device disposed within a body with tissue. The described embodiments provide apparatus and methods for efficiently transfer data and power between an external transceiver and an (implanted) biomedical device. The method is to modulate power carrier, which wirelessly powers the device, using an asynchronous modulation scheme, such as amplitude shift keying (ASK) modulation, with minimal modulation depth in order to not disrupt the power flow. The digital data is encoded in the pulse width, eliminating the need for synchronization to the power carrier signal and further minimizing the power consumption necessary for data transfer. Additionally, a reverse backscatter method for obtaining data from the implant is described that has flexible, low power operation.

Abstract: The current subject matter relates to a system and a method for processing signals. The system can include a transmitting antenna for transmitting a signal over a plurality of wireless spectrum fragments, a receiving antenna for receiving a signal from the plurality of wireless spectrum fragments, and a signal processing layer in communication with the transmitting and receiving antennas for simultaneously causing reception of the received signal and transmission of the transmitted signal. The signal processing layer can include an interference cancellation component for removing a first portion of interference from the received signal and a filtering component for removing a second portion of the interference from the received signal.

Abstract: A method for increasing the imaging rate for an optical coherence tomography system is disclosed. The method comprises generating an interferometric signal by interrogating each of M object points on a sample with a unique set of wavelength components that are collectively spectrally interleaved within a spectral range, forming the interferometric signal based on the wavelength components reflected from the interrogated object points, dispersing the interferometric signal across a two-dimensional array of detectors, and forming an image based on the dispersed spectral components.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for achieving persistent, high level expression of transgenes in vitro and in vivo. Aspects of the invention include vectors comprising an intronic cassette that comprises plasmid elements, and methods that rely on the use of vectors comprising an intronic cassette that comprises plasmid elements. These compositions and methods find use in many applications, including therapeutic applications such as in gene therapy; synthesis applications such as in the synthesis of peptides, proteins, and RNAs, e.g. for research or therapeutic purposes; and research applications, such as in the production of transgenic cells and animals. In addition, reagents, devices and kits thereof that find use in making the subject compositions and practicing the subject methods are provided.

Abstract: Methods are described for slowing or inhibiting the progression of heart failure in a mammalian subject suffering from chronic hypertension. The methods involve administering an ?PKC, ?1PKC, or ?IIPKC peptide inhibitor, examples of which are provided.

Abstract: Techniques for subsurface thermal energy storage of heat generated by concentrating solar power enable smoothing of available energy with respect to daily and/or seasonal variation. Solar thermal collectors produce saturated steam that is injected into a producing or wholly/partially depleted oil reservoir that operates as a heat storage reservoir. Some of the saturated steam generated by the collectors is optionally used to generate electricity. Heat is withdrawn from the reservoir as saturated steam and is used to operate an active thermal recovery project (such as a producing thermally enhanced oil reservoir) and/or to generate electricity. Withdrawn heat is optionally augmented by heat produced by firing natural gas. The reservoir is optionally one that has been used for thermally enhanced oil recovery and thus is already warm, minimizing heat losses.

Abstract: A robust fabrication process for selective area growth of semiconductors in growth windows is provided. Sidewall growth is eliminated by the presence of a spacer layer which covers the sidewalls. Undesirable exposure of the top corners of the growth windows is prevented by undercutting the growth window prior to deposition of the dielectric spacer layer. The effectiveness of this process has been demonstrated by selective-area growth of Ge and Ge/SiGe quantum wells on a silicon substrate. Integration of active optoelectronic devices with waveguide layers via end-coupling through the dielectric spacer layer can be reliably accomplished in this manner.

Abstract: The nuclear reprogramming of somatic cells with non-integrating factors is shown to be greatly accelerated by activation of innate immune responses in the somatic cell. Methods of activating innate immunity include activation of toll-like receptors, e.g. TLR3. Somatic cells with activated innate immune responses can be reprogrammed to induced pluripotent cells or to transdifferentiated cells.

Abstract: A method is described for decreasing activity of at least one sympathetic nerve, nerve fiber or neuron innervating at least one blood vessel in the pulmonary vasculature of a patient to ameliorate pulmonary hypertension. In one embodiment, the method may involve advancing an intravascular treatment device to a target location in a target blood vessel within the pulmonary vasculature of the patient and using the treatment device to decrease activity of at least one sympathetic nerve, nerve fiber or neuron innervating the target blood vessel at or near the target location to ameliorate pulmonary hypertension.

Abstract: Various methods are described for improving the compression of location information during a visual search. One example method may comprise identifying one or more features of a source query image for a visual search. The method may further comprise generating a histogram map comprising one or more histogram bins, wherein the histogram map represents the location of the one or more features of the source query image. Additionally, the method may comprise generating a context for at least one of the one or more histogram bins, wherein the context comprises a first context value based on information related to one or more neighboring bins located a first distance from the respective histogram bin and a second context value based on information related to one or more neighboring bins located a second distance from the respective histogram bin. Similar and related methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are also provided.

Abstract: A method for producing highly uniform cell colonies in a cell culture dish with the use of stencils made from an elastomeric sheet sized to fit within the cell culture dish, having a singular opening or a plurality of openings of a number, pitch and diameter configured to optimally control the geometric growth parameters of a cell colony. The uniform cell colonies are produced by placing the stencil in a cell culture dish and hydropilizing the stencil. The stencil is overlayed with cell culture media and seeded with seed cells that are preferably grown for at least a day before the stencil is removed to produce a pattern of seeded cells with controlled pitch, colony diameter and density within the culture dish that grow to become highly uniform cell colonies. A kit with culture dish, stencil, culture media and growth media is also provided.

Abstract: An optical device, a method of configuring an optical device, and a method of using a fiber Bragg grating is provided. The optical device includes a fiber Bragg grating, a narrowband optical source, and at least one optical detector. The fiber Bragg grating has a power transmission spectrum as a function of wavelength with one or more resonance peaks, each comprising a local maximum and two non-zero-slope regions with the local maximum therebetween. The light generated by the narrowband optical source has a wavelength at a non-zero-slope region of a resonance peak that is selected such that one or more of the following quantities, evaluated at the resonance peak, is at a maximum value: (a) the product of the group delay spectrum and the power transmission spectrum and (b) the product of the group delay spectrum and one minus the power reflection spectrum.

Abstract: Nanocarbon-based materials are provided in connection with various devices and methods of manufacturing. As consistent with one or more embodiments, an apparatus includes a nanocarbon structure having inorganic particles covalently bonded thereto. The resulting hybrid structure functions as a circuit node such as an electrode terminal. In various embodiments, the hybrid structure includes two or more electrodes, at least one of which including the nanocarbon structure with inorganic particles covalently bonded thereto.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for alleviating endometriosis, kidney disease, inflammatory disease and/or transplant rejection in a mammal by administering a therapeutic dose of a pharmaceutical composition that inhibits AXL, MER or Tyro3 protein activity, for example by competitive or non-competitive inhibition of the binding interaction between AXL, MER or Tyro3 and its ligand GAS6.

Abstract: Devices, bandages, kits and methods are described that can control or regulate the mechanical environment of a wound to ameliorate scar and/or keloid formation. The mechanical environment of a wound includes stress, strain, and any combination of stress and strain. The control of a wound's mechanical environment can be active, passive, dynamic, or static. The devices are configured to be removably secured to a skin surface in proximity to the wound site and shield the wound from endogenous and/or exogenous stress.

Abstract: Provided are methods for the determination of the viability of a mammalian embryo or a potential embryo generated from a mammalian oocyte, comprising applying a mechanical stimulus to the embryo or oocyte, detecting a temporal response of the embryo or oocyte to the mechanical stimulus, and deriving measurements for one or more parameters from the temporal response, the measurements being indicative of viability. Also provided are methods for selecting an embryo for transfer and methods for enhancing the viability of an embryo or oocyte.