Abstract: Photovoltaic devices with very high breakdown voltages are described herein. Typical commercial silicon photovoltaic devices have breakdown voltages below 50-100 volts (V). Even though such devices have bypass diodes to prevent photovoltaic cells from going into breakdown, the bypass diodes have high failure rates, leading to unreliable devices. A high-efficiency silicon photovoltaic cell is provided with very high breakdown voltages. By combining a device architecture with very low surface recombination and silicon wafers with high bulk resistivity (above 10 ohms centimeter (?-cm)), embodiments described herein achieve breakdown voltages close to 1000 V. These photovoltaic cells with high breakdown voltages improve the reliability of photovoltaic devices, while reducing their design complexity and cost.

Abstract: Provided herein are systems for the label-free detection of target molecules in samples. The systems include a sensor probe positioned in a sensing region and configured to bind to receptors for the target molecules. The systems also include electrodes configured to expose the sensor probe to an alternating electric field, and a light source optically coupled to the sensor probe and configured to provide light along a length of the sensor probe. In addition, the systems also include a position sensitive photodetector configured to detect a position of light exiting the sensor probe, and a processor configured to assess, based at least in part on the position of the light exiting the sensor probe, an amplitude of oscillation of the sensor at a frequency of the alternating electric field and a direction of a displacement of the sensor. Additional systems and related methods are also provided.

Abstract: Described herein are means for generating source models for transfer learning to application specific models used in the processing of medical imaging.

Abstract: Compositions including a thermosetting polymer network and a mechanophore covalently bonded to the thermosetting polymer network are provided. Substrates including the compositions are provided. In addition, methods of making the compositions and methods of monitoring stress on a substrate comprising the compositions are provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to Betulastatin compounds, pharmaceutical compositions and kits comprising such compounds, and methods for using such compounds or pharmaceutical compositions.

Abstract: Disclosed are a dry calibration device for calibrating fluorescent detectors and methods of making and using such a device to obtain accurate calibration of single site and multiplexed fluorescent detectors. The device comprises slides that use phosphorescent material with neural density filters to replicate varying fluorophore concentrations.

Abstract: Disclosed herein, in certain embodiments, is a method of inhibiting or treating a cancer with use of a TNF expressing myxoma virus. Also disclosed herein are methods of inhibiting or treating a cancer with use of a mononuclear peripheral blood cells and/or a bone marrow cells treated with a TNF-expressing myxoma virus. Some aspects relate to engineered myxoma virus and pharmaceutical compositions for use with one or more of the methods described herein.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to vaccination compositions, for example, against human papillomavirus, Zika virus, and flu virus. The disclosure also relates to vectors for producing the virus-like particles and immune complex platforms of the vaccination compositions.

Abstract: A method of adaptively scanning a selected area that includes selecting an imaging mode, performing a scan of the selected area using the imaging mode, detecting an item of interest, automatically selecting a new imaging mode in response to detecting the item of interest, and performing a scan of the item of interest using the new imaging mode. The imaging mode may determine at least one of a scanning pattern, a scanning speed, and a scanning rate. Spectral data and image data may be gathered and used to detect the item of interest. The method may also include providing a scanning spectrometer system that has a gimbal system configured to provide at least two degrees of freedom to the scanning spectrometer system. The gimbal system may have a spectrometer and a camera each mounted on the gimbal system and configured to gather the spectral data and the image data, respectively.

Abstract: A temperature-corrected biochemical sensor includes an optical resonator disposed proximate a single-mode optical fiber, the optical resonator being optically coupled to the optical fiber to receive optical whispering-gallery output light; a sensor detection system arranged to receive and detect the optical whispering-gallery output light to provide sensor signals; a temperature-correcting optical system to provide a reference beam of light to be combined at least partially coherently with a return light from the resonator to provide an interference light and convert, the interference light to temperature-correction signals; a data storage device comprising temperature calibration data for at least the optical fiber and the optical resonator; and a data processing system to calculate at least one physical property of a particle in contact with the optical resonator using the sensor signals such that the calculated physical property is temperature corrected using the temperature calibration data and the temper

Abstract: A system implements a modeling (ClassGP) and an optimization (ClassBO) framework that models heterogeneous functions with knowledge of individual partitions within classes, i.e., heterogeneous functions including non-stationary functions which can be divided into locally stationary functions over partitions of input space with an active stationary function in each partition. The framework constructs a class likelihood for the class by combining log marginal likelihoods associated with each partition of the plurality of partitions within the class. The framework aims to improve analysis of systems that are characterized by a discrete and finite number of “classes” of behaviors.

Abstract: A LIDAR system architecture which transmits light via an optical phased array and receives the reflected signal with a spherically shift invariant sensor. Phased arrays offer the ability to quickly scan a desired area by manipulating the electrical, or in this case-thermal, properties of an array of sensors. Similarly spherically shift invariant systems offer the ability to bring light into focus at the same location regardless of its angle of arrival.

Abstract: A wound dressing includes: a structural material formed into a dressing; at least one immunomodulatory agent associated with the dressing; and a growth factor associated with the dressing. A wound dressing kit includes: a structural material formed into a wound dressing; an immunomodulatory agent; and a growth factor composition, wherein the structural material contains the immunomodulatory agent and/or the immunomodulatory agent in a separate composition. A method of treating a wound in a tissue includes: applying an immunomodulatory agent to the wound; applying a wound dressing to the wound; and allowing the wound to heal with the immunomodulatory agent and wound dressing. The application of a growth factor can be before, during and/or after applying the wound dressing to the wound.

Abstract: Provided are automated cell culture systems and related in vitro cell culture methods, including for a co-culture of different cell populations having different cell culture conditions. For example, the system may comprise a bioreactor having a plurality of cell culture compartments, the bioreactor having a fluid port fluidly connected to the plurality of cell culture compartments. A pump fluidly connected to the fluid port can provide a cell culture medium to the plurality of culture compartments. A sensor is operably connected to at least one of the plurality of cell culture compartments for measuring at least one cell culture parameter. In this manner, a controller electronically connected the pump and sensor, is configured to automatically adjust a pump flow rate and/or a cell culture gas content to provide a desired steady-state cell culture parameter for facilitating cells interactions and collection of products representative of said interactions.

Abstract: Processing algae includes liquefying algae to yield a mixture including biocrude oil, biochar, and an aqueous component, and treating the biochar to yield a nutrient composition including ammoniacal nitrogen and phosphate.

Abstract: A system infers continuous potential energy landscapes, including barrier heights and friction coefficients, from smFRET data without the need to discretely approximate a state-space. The system operates within a Bayesian nonparametric paradigm by placing priors on the family of all possible potential curves, and leverages a Structured-Kernel-Interpolation Gaussian Process prior to help curtail computational cost. The system enables decoding information about continuous energy potential landscapes along a continuous coordinate for biological interactions (e.g., protein folding and binding) using a single dataset, including rarely visited barriers between putative potential minima. As such, the system allows resolution enhancement for probing biophysical systems to obtain deeper insight into protein folding, protein binding, and the physics of molecular motors.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes a multiplexed peptide assay to generate an epitope-resolved view of antibody reactivity across all human coronaviruses (CoVs). PepSeq accurately classifies SARS-CoV-2 exposure status and reveals epitopes across the Spike and Nucleocapsid proteins. Two of these represent recurrent reactivities to conserved, functionally-important sites in the S2 subunit of Spike, regions that we show are also targeted for the endemic CoVs in pre-pandemic controls. At one of these sites, we demonstrate that the SARS-CoV-2 response strongly and recurrently cross-reacts with the endemic virus hCoV-OC43. The disclosed epitope-resolved analysis reveals new CoV targets for the development of diagnostics, vaccines and therapeutics, including a site that may have broad neutralizing potential.

Abstract: The present invention provides autoradiography methods and systems for imaging via the detection of alpha particles, beta particles, or other charged particles. Embodiments of the methods and systems provide high-resolution 3D imaging of the distribution of a radioactive probe, such as a radiopharmaceutical, on a tissue sample. Embodiments of the present methods and systems provide imaging of tissue samples by reconstruction of a 3D distribution of a source of particles, such as a radiopharmaceutical. Embodiments of the methods and systems provide tomographic methods including microtomography, macrotomography, cryomicrotomography and cryomacrotomography.

Abstract: An example system may implement automated data modeling and scaling of a soil health data fabric. For example, the example system may be configured to compile data measurements from disparate soil health data sources and integrate the data measurements with baseline soil samples, satellite imagery, or both. According to such an example, the system may train a machine learning algorithm using the integrated data measurements to determine most accurate local soil quality estimates and execute the machine learning algorithm to output soil quality estimate data models based on the data measurements. The example system may also train and refine local soil quality estimate data models to generate a regional soil quality estimate data model. In such an example, the system may scale the local and regional soil quality estimate data models and output soil quality estimates for a target region based on extended satellite imagery.

Abstract: A transformable Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), can operate as a coplanar hexacopter or as an omnidirectional multirotor based on different operation modes. The UAV has 100% force efficiency for launching or landing tasks in the coplanar mode. In the omnidirectional mode, the UAV is fully actuated in the air for agile mobility in six degrees of freedom (DOFs). Models and control design are developed to characterize the motion of the transformable UAV. Simulation results are presented to validate the transformable UAV design and the enhanced UAV performance, compared with a fixed structure.