Abstract: Heptamethine cyanines for use as fluorescent markers of the biliary system are disclosed. Certain heptamethine cyanines exhibit biliary system specificity and methods for in vivo visualization of a biliary system of a subject are provided. The methods may be for diagnostic purposes and/or for visualization of biliary systems during surgery.

Abstract: In an embodiment, the invention provides an isolated population of exosomes comprising interleukin-27 (IL-27) or interleukin-35 (IL-35). In an embodiment, the invention also provides a method of preparing a population of exosomes comprising interleukin-27 (IL-27), the method comprising: (a) isolating CD19+B2 cells or B1a cells; (b) activating the isolated cells with a LPS or a BCR agonist to provide activated cells; and (c) isolating exosomes secreted from the activated cells. In an embodiment, the invention also provides a method of preparing a population of exosomes comprising interleukin-35 (IL-35), the method comprising: (a) isolating CD138+plasma cells; (b) activating the isolated cells with a LPS or a BCR agonist to provide activated cells; and (c) isolating exosomes secreted from the activated cells. Additional embodiments of the invention are as described.

Abstract: Provided is an ammunition canister system that includes a can with an open interior and a mounting plate. A first and a second interior divider form three interior ammunition storage bays, while a three-to-one transition feed tray transitions belted ammunition contained in the bays to a single feed chute. The base of the can further includes loading pins, quick release locks, and lock pins, while the mounting plate includes mounting apertures, loading guides, quick release lock pin receiving apertures, and pin accepting apertures on the second side. The loading pins interface with the loading guides, the quick release locks interface with the quick release lock pin receiving apertures, and the lock pins interface with the pin accepting apertures to secure the ammunition canister to the mounting plate. The mounting plate enables the can to be mounted to the deck of helicopter or another vehicle.

Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring skin tone. A camera and computer may measure skin tone health of a face dataset and color quality of a single face image. The computer and camera may measure skin tone across wide sample of volunteers, express skin tone in CIELCH coordinates; and identify the range of observed lightness, chromaticity, and hue values in the population to determine a sample set. The computer and camera may be configured to match the image to a coordinate system of lightness, chromaticity, and hue in the sample set. If a match is not possible, the computer may be configured to select a coordinate closest to the measured lightness, chromaticity, and hue.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for automatic classification of information in an adversarial machine learning setting. For example, a learner that includes multiple classifiers may perform data classification automatically. Each classifier may be trained with adversarial data of a different strength. For a given query to be classified, the learner is configured to intelligently select a classifier that is commensurate with the adversarial strength of the data inside the query, without explicit knowledge of that data or its adversarial strength.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a compact, lightweight, cost-efficient ultraviolet-visible-far infrared (UV-VIS-IR) telescope system, covering the 300 nm to 2500 nm (0.3 ?m to 2.5 ?m) spectral range, based on a fast focal-ratio, reflective optics design, and an optical coupling interface appropriate for COTS spectrometers, commensurate with about 1U-2U CubeSat payload volume.

Abstract: Vaccines that elicit broadly protective anti-influenza antibodies. Some vaccines comprise nanoparticles that display HA trimers from influenza virus on their surface. The nanoparticles are fusion proteins comprising a monomeric subunit (e.g., ferritin) joined to the stem region of an influenza HA protein. The fusion proteins self-assemble to form the HA-displaying nanoparticles. The vaccines comprise only the stem region of an influenza HA protein joined to a trimerization domain. Also provided are fusion proteins, and nucleic acid molecules encoding such proteins, and assays using nanoparticles of the invention to detect anti-influenza antibodies.

Abstract: An air deployable buoyant device for transmitting data on its location and the conditions in the air as it descends to the surface of a body of water, and on conditions on a body of water on a real-time basis is disclosed. The device includes a buoy and a plurality of sensors and a transmitter associated with the buoy. The transmitter transmits data on the location of the device and the conditions in the air and on a body of water on a real-time basis to at least one receiver. The receiver may be located over the horizon or in line of sight with the device. The sensors are in communication with the transmitter, and each sensor measures at least one condition in the air and/or on a body of water to assist in locating a person in the water and provide information on the water conditions to a rescue team. Methods of deploying and using the buoyant device are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: Disclosed is a laser system including a first laser and a second laser. The first laser includes a laser cavity, and a gas phase molecular gain medium disposed in the laser cavity, the gain medium having an absorption band. The second laser is a solid state laser configured to be continuously tunable, with respect to an emission wavelength of the second laser, over the absorption band of the gain medium, and the second laser is tuned to pump rotational vibrational transitions in the gain medium to achieve a rotational population inversion.

Abstract: A water submersion detection system that may include a buoyant device having a conductive surface, and a housing enclosing the buoyant device and having conductive elements. The conductive elements may include a first set of one or more nonadjacent conductive elements that are electrically connected, and a second set of one or more nonadjacent conductive elements that are electrically connected. The system may include a submersion alert device that activates responsive to the buoyant device contacting the housing.

Abstract: A composite material may be prepared from a solid polymeric binder and a solid filler by feeding into an extruder the solid polymeric binder at a first feed rate and the solid filler at a second feed rate. The extruder extrudes an extrudate of the solid polymeric binder and solid filler to form the composite material. The composite material has a binder to filler ratio determined by the first feed rate and second feed rate. The solid polymeric binder and solid filler have different densities. Feeding the solid polymeric binder at the first feed rate and the solid filler at the second feed rate distributes the solid filler substantially homogeneously throughout the composite material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a mechanochemical based synthesis of perfluoropyridine monomers, polymers made using such monomers and methods of making and using articles comprising such polymers. Such perfluoropyridine monomers are easily chemically tuned have the strength needed for high temperature applications and the flexibility needed for low temperature applications. In addition, to the aforementioned monomers, a mechanochemical based synthesis for such perfluoropyridine monomers is provided. All of the aforementioned performance application advantages are also found in polymers comprising Applicants' perfluoropyridine monomers.

Abstract: The emergency egress apparatus includes a protuberance mated to a first portion of the door barricade and a keeper mated to a second portion of the door barricade. A retainer is selectively disposed between one of two positions. A first position defines the placement of the retainer that establishes an interference fit between the protuberance and the keeper. A second position defines the placement of the retainer such that it is not in contact with the protuberance or the keeper. The first position secures the first portion of the door barricaded with respect to the second portion of the door barricade, and the second position decouples the first portion of the door barricade with respect to the second portion of the door barricade.

Abstract: Magnon excitation and detection systems, apparatus, and methods are provided. The systems and apparatus may include magnon exciters and magnon detectors. The systems and apparatus are used in accordance with methods for exciting and detecting magnons.

Abstract: Provided is a radar and communications enhanced sail for a sailboat, sail ship, or sail drone. The sail includes a first sail section comprising an active communication system, a second sail section comprising a passive communication system, or a combination thereof. The active communication system includes an antenna array (transceiver) and a software-defined radio (SDR), while the passive communication system comprises a reflective panel or sections and/or array of reflector panels or sections. The active system utilizes its SDR and transceiver to communicate back and forth with an onshore SDR and transceiver to provide information as necessary. The passive system receives a radar signal via the reflective material on the sail and reflects the signal back at the radar, which produces a radar cross section indicating that there is an object (in this case the sailboat) in the ocean.

Abstract: A tera-sample-per-second waveform generator comprising: a first transmission line having a terminated end and an output end; an anti-reflection load coupled to the terminated end of the first transmission line; a plurality of current sources, wherein each current source is configured to inject current into the first transmission line; and a second transmission line configured to feed the first transmission line with a seed signal through the plurality of current sources such that the second transmission line has a different time delay between current sources than the first transmission line, wherein the seed signal triggers the current sources to inject current into the first transmission line in order to generate an output waveform.

Abstract: An in-situ bollard tester. The in-situ bollard tester may comprise: a frame, cable, and tensioner. The frame is preferably adapted to mount onto a pier or wharf and around a bollard to provide structural support for the cable and tensioner. The frame may comprise a rectangular frame, pair of hanging columns, pair of jacks and pair of legs. The pair of jacks are coupled near proximal corners of the rectangular frame and are vertically disposed. The hanging columns are coupled near distal corners of the rectangular frame. The pair of legs are coupled at the lower ends of the hanging columns and are disposed in a horizontal manner. The tensioner may be coupled above the rectangular frame. The cable may fasten to the bollard, and the tensioner may apply tension to the cable at various load angles in order to test the integrity of the bollard.

Abstract: Disclosed is a molecule comprising: (a) a first domain, which comprises a targeting moiety; (b) a second domain, which comprises an albumin binding domain (ABD), (c) a third domain, which comprises a furin cleavage sequence (“FCS”), which FCS is cleavable by furin; and (d) a fourth domain, which comprises an optionally substituted Domain III from Pseudomonas exotoxin A (“PE”). Related nucleic acids, recombinant expression vectors, host cells, populations of cells, pharmaceutical compositions, methods of producing the molecule, methods of treating or preventing cancer in a mammal, and methods of inhibiting the growth of a target cell are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for growing nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) on Ga2O3 to provide thermal management in Ga2O3-based devices. A protective SiNx interlayer is deposited on the Ga2O3 before growth of the NCD layer to protect the Ga2O3 from damage caused during growth of the NCD layer. The presence of the NCD provides thermal management and enables improved performance of the Ga2O3-based device.

Abstract: A system for supplying hydrogen gas to a lighter-than-air (LTA) vehicle includes a manifold having multiple vessels. Each vessel has a first chamber that is separated from a second chamber by a barrier. A trigger assembly integrated with the barrier allows a liquid to be combined with a reactant and a catalyst in the second chamber to form a chemical reaction to generate hydrogen gas. A pressure relief valve located on each vessel opens to allow the hydrogen gas to exit when a predetermined pressure is reached, and the hydrogen gas is supplied to the LTA vehicle connected to the manifold.