Abstract: A solar energy conversion niobium oxynitride microcone and a method of the synthesis and use of niobium oxynitride microcones are provided. The material is useful for solar energy conversion, optics, photocatalysis, electrochromics, sensors and biomedical applications. According to one embodiment, Nb205 microcones are formed by anodization of (1M NaF and 1 wt. % HF electrolyte ?40 V ?20 min), they were annealed in ammonia gas to allow their doping with nitrogen. Nitridation of the micro cones shifts the absorption edge from 450 nm for the oxide form to 777 nm for the oxynitride form.

Abstract: A voltage regulator provides a regulated output voltage [108] from an input voltage [100] using control unit [106] to control a switched capacitor circuit [102] to periodically produce different output voltage levels Vx followed by a low pass filter [104] to give a regulated output voltage. Phase interleaving is used where the phases of different voltage levels are interleaved allowing for increased effective switching frequency and reduced switching losses. By controlling the average voltage on the flying capacitors, output voltage is regulated by modulating the resistance of the switches using a duty cycle. A control unit [106] is used to determine the operation region of the voltage regulator device and configure the switched capacitor circuit in each operation region. The controller contains a state machine that determines the switches configuration in each phase of a complete switching cycle.

Abstract: EstATII is an esterase that a halotolerant, thermophilic and resistant to a spectrum of heavy metals including toxic concentration of metals. It was isolated from the lowest convective layer of the Atlantis II Red Sea brine pool. The Atlantis II brine pool is an extreme environment that possesses multiple harsh conditions such as; high temperature, salinity, pH and high concentration of metals, including toxic heavy metals. A fosmid metagenomic library using DNA isolated from the lowest convective layer this pool was used to identify EstATII. Polynucleotides encoding EstATII and similar esterases are disclosed and can be used to make EstATII. EstATII or compositions or apparatuses that contain it may be used in various processes employing lipases/esterases especially when these processes are performed under harsh conditions that inactivate other kinds of lipases or esterases.

Abstract: A gold nanoparticle-based colorimetric assay kit for nucleic acids from viral, bacterial and other microorganisms that detects unamplified or amplified polynucleotides in clinical specimens using unmodified AuNPs and oligotargeter polynucleotides that bind to a pathogen's nucleic acids. A method for detecting a pathogen comprising contacting a sample suspected of containing microbes with a polynucleotide that binds to pathogen nucleic acid and with gold nanoparticles, detecting the aggregation of nanoparticles, and detecting pathogen polynucleotides in the sample when the nanoparticles aggregate (solution color becomes blue) in comparison with a control or a negative sample not containing the virus when nanoparticles do not aggregate (solution color remains red).

Abstract: Embodiments of a MEMS antenna are presented. Additionally, systems incorporating embodiments of a MEMS antenna are presented. Methods of manufacturing a MEMS antenna are also presented. In one embodiment, the MEMS antenna includes a substrate, a metallic layer disposed over the substrate, the metallic layer forming a ground plane, the ground plane having a region defining a gap disposed therein, a protrusion disposed over the substrate within the region defining the gap, the protrusion extending outwardly from the ground plane, the protrusion having a length and a width, the length being greater than the width, and a first electromagnetic radiator element disposed over the protrusion, the first electromagnetic element having a length and a width, the length being greater than the width.

Abstract: The invention pertains to ligands that bind to CD81 and that inhibit or block Plasmodium attachment to CD81, compositions and methods for preventing, inhibiting or treating infection by Plasmodium and ligands that target a Plasmodium binding site on CD81 and methods of making and using them. A series of ligand binding sites on the large extracellular loop of the open conformation of CD81 have been identified. Several important sites were located in regions identified by mutational studies to be the site of Plasmodium binding. Ligands that recognize these sites were identified. Linking together two or three ligands that bind with low or moderate affinities to different structurally unique sites on a target protein were used to generate small molecule ligand conjugates that exhibit very high affinities to their CD81 targets. Hybrid ligand molecules were also designed using fragment-based drug design methods to generate analogs of the ligands that bind more tightly to the protein than the parent compounds.

Abstract: The subject matter described herein includes a method for simplified computation of metrics of cross-correlations of binary codes and for using the metrics for signal processing applications. The method includes computing an outer product matrix based on a first code vector. The method further includes computing an outer product matrix based on at least one second code vector. The method further includes computing a metric of cross-correlations between the first code and the at least one second code vector using the outer product matrices. The method further includes using the metric to perform a signal processing operation.

Abstract: Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infects 200 million individuals worldwide. Although several FDA approved drugs targeting the HCV serine protease and polymerase have shown promising results, there is a need for better drugs that are effective in treating a broader range of HCV genotypes and subtypes without being used in combination with interferon and/or ribavirin. Recently, the crystal structure of the core of the HCV E2 protein (E2c) has been determined, providing structural information that can now be used to target the E2 protein and develop drugs that disrupt the early stages of HCV infection by blocking E2's interaction with different host factors. By targeting sites containing conserved E2 amino acids in the CD81 binding site on HCV E2, one might also be able to develop drugs that block HCV infection in a genotype-independent manner.

Abstract: A gold nanoparticle-based colorimetric assay kit for hepatitis C virus RNA that detects unamplified HCV RNA in clinical specimens using unmodified AuNPs and oligotargeter polynucleotides that bind to HCV RNA. A method for detecting hepatitis C virus comprising contacting a sample suspected of containing hepatitis C virus with a polynucleotide that binds to hepatitis C virus RNA and with gold nanoparticles, detecting the aggregation of nanoparticles, and detecting hepatitis C virus in the sample when the nanoparticles aggregate (solution color becomes blue) in comparison with a control or a negative sample not containing the virus when nanoparticles do not aggregate (solution color remains red).

Abstract: EstATII is an esterase that a halotolerant, thermophilic and resistant to a spectrum of heavy metals including toxic concentration of metals. It was isolated from the lowest convective layer of the Atlantis II Red Sea brine pool. The Atlantis II brine pool is an extreme environment that possesses multiple harsh conditions such as; high temperature, salinity, pH and high concentration of metals, including toxic heavy metals. A fosmid metagenomic library using DNA isolated from the lowest convective layer this pool was used to identify EstATII. Polynucleotides encoding EstATII and similar esterases are disclosed and can be used to make EstATII. EstATII or compositions or apparatuses that contain it may be used in various processes employing lipases/esterases especially when these processes are performed under harsh conditions that inactivate other kinds of lipases or esterases.

Abstract: Ligands that target the HCV-E2 binding site and methods of making and using them. A series of ligand binding sites on the large extracellular loop of the open conformation of CD81 have been identified. Several important sites were located in regions identified by mutational studies to be the site of E2 binding. Ligands that recognize these sites were identified. Linking together two or three ligands that bind with low or moderate affinities to different structurally unique sites on a target protein were used to generate small molecule ligand conjugates that exhibit very high affinities to their CD81 targets. Hybrid ligand molecules were also designed using fragment-based drug design methods to generate analogs of the ligands that bind more tightly to the protein than the parent compounds. Identification and design of groups of compounds that bind to CD81 for use as therapeutics for treating patients infected by Hepatitis C virus and other viruses that interact with CD81.

Abstract: Single-domain antibodies and graphene coated magnetic metal nanoparticles conjugate and methods for using the same. In certain aspects, graphene coated nanoparticles comprise a targeting moiety, such as a nanobody, and may be used for various targeted therapies (e.g., diseased tissues and cancer). Methods for using magnetic nanoparticles for treatment of parasitic infections are also provided.

Abstract: A gold nanoparticle-based assay for the detection of a target molecule, such as Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) RNA in serum samples, that uses positively charged gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in solution based format. The assay has been tested on 74 serum clinical samples suspected of containing HCV RNA, with 48 and 38 positive and negative samples respectively. The developed assay has a specificity and sensitivity of 96.5% and 92.6% respectively. The results obtained were confirmed by Real-Time PCR, and a concordance of 100% for the negative samples and 89% for the positive samples has been obtained between the Real-Time PCR and the developed AuNPs based assay. Also, a purification method for the HCV RNA has been developed using HCV RNA specific probe conjugated to homemade silica nanoparticles. These silica nanoparticles have been synthesized by modified Stober method. This purification method enhanced the specificity of the developed AuNPs assay.

Abstract: A gold nanoparticle-based colorimetric assay kit for nucleic acids from viral, bacterial and other microorganisms that detects unamplified or amplified polynucleotides in clinical specimens using unmodified AuNPs and oligotargeter polynucleotides that bind to a pathogen's nucleic acids. A method for detecting a pathogen comprising contacting a sample suspected of containing microbes with a polynucleotide that binds to pathogen nucleic acid and with gold nanoparticles, detecting the aggregation of nanoparticles, and detecting pathogen polynucleotides in the sample when the nanoparticles aggregate (solution color becomes blue) in comparison with a control or a negative sample not containing the virus when nanoparticles do not aggregate (solution color remains red).

Abstract: A method for interference-minimizing code assignment and system parameter selection for code division multiple access (CDMA) networks is disclosed. The method is performed at a base station or mobile station configured to operate in a CDMA radio network. The method includes receiving transmissions from user devices seeking to access the CDMA radio network. A spreading code is selected for a first user device seeking to access the network, using at least one cross-correlation parameter, to reduce multiple access interference between communications involving the first user device and other devices using the CDMA network. The method does not require knowledge of the active user codes or even the codebook from which these codes are assigned. Furthermore, it does not require knowledge of bit or chip epoch or the received powers of active users. However, the method can benefit from such knowledge in several ways, examples of which are disclosed.

Abstract: A gold nanoparticle-based colorimetric assay kit for hepatitis C virus RNA that detects unamplified HCV RNA in clinical specimens using unmodified AuNPs and oligotargeter polynucleotides that bind to HCV RNA. A method for detecting hepatitis C virus comprising contacting a sample suspected of containing hepatitis C virus with a polynucleotide that binds to hepatitis C virus RNA and with gold nanoparticles, detecting the aggregation of nanoparticles, and detecting hepatitis C virus in the sample when the nanoparticles aggregate (solution color becomes blue) in comparison with a control or a negative sample not containing the virus when nanoparticles do not aggregate (solution color remains red).

Abstract: Methods for manufacturing micromachined devices and the devices obtained are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises providing a structural layer comprising an amorphous semiconductor material, forming a shielding layer on a first portion of the structural layer and leaving exposed a second portion of the structural layer, and annealing the second portion using a first fluence. The method further comprises removing the shielding layer, and annealing the first portion and the second portion using a second fluence that is less than half the first fluence. In an embodiment, the device comprises a substrate layer, an underlying layer formed on the substrate layer, and a sacrificial layer formed on only a portion of the underlying layer. The device further comprises a structural layer that is in contact with the underlying layer and comprises a first region annealed using a first fluence and a second region annealed using a second fluence.

Abstract: Embodiments of a MEMS antenna are presented. Additionally, systems incorporating embodiments of a MEMS antenna are presented. Methods of manufacturing a MEMS antenna are also presented. In one embodiment, the MEMS antenna includes a substrate, a metallic layer disposed over the substrate, the metallic layer forming a ground plane, the ground plane having a region defining a gap disposed therein, a protrusion disposed over the substrate within the region defining the gap, the protrusion extending outwardly from the ground plane, the protrusion having a length and a width, the length being greater than the width, and a first electromagnetic radiator element disposed over the protrusion, the first electromagnetic element having a length and a width, the length being greater than the width.

Abstract: Polycrystalline silicon germanium (SiGe) can offer excellent etch selectivity to silicon during cryogenic deep reactive ion etching in an SF6/O2 plasma. Etch selectivity of over 800:1 (Si:SiGe) may be achieved at etch temperatures from ?80 degrees Celsius to ?140 degrees Celsius. High aspect ratio structures with high resolution may be patterned into Si substrates using SiGe as a hard mask layer for construction of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) devices and semiconductor devices.

Abstract: Methods and systems for demodulating a multiuser signal using channel decoders for a multiple-access communication system are disclosed. According to one method, a signal containing information for a plurality of users in a multiple-access communication system employing spreading sequences is received. The received signal is despread using a signature sequence for each user to produce individual user signals having multiple-access interference (MAI). Channel estimates associated with each of the individual user received signals are determined. Each of the individual user signals are decoded using a channel decoder with a log-likelihood ratio (LLR) that accounts for the time-varying variance of the MAI in the individual user signals based on a model of the MAI including the channel estimates of the received signals of other users.