Abstract: Enantiomers of 1?,6?-isoneplanocin, including derivatives of the enantiomers of 1?,6?-isoneplanocin, are disclosed along with novel synthetic methods. In particular, a substituted cyclopentane epoxide is synthesized into the enantiomers of 1?,6?-isoneplanocin. Enantiomers of carbocyclic nucleoside analogs of 3-deazaneplanocin to provide D- and L-like 1?,6?-iso-3-deazaneplanocin are also disclosed. The small molecule chemotherapeutic compounds beneficially provide DNA and RNA antiviral activity, demonstrating activity towards, for example, human cytomegalovirus, measles, Ebola, norovirus, dengue, vaccinia and HBV. Compounds exhibiting reduced S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase inhibitory effects are disclosed and provide improved toxicity profiles in comparison to neplanocin. The invention provides improved prophylactic and/or therapeutic antiviral efficacy.

Abstract: Vapor wake detection is a highly advantageous method and system for detecting explosives and other illicit substances. With vapor wake detection, a canine and a handler are used; however, unlike other detection schemes, the canine leads the handler. After the handler positions the canine in a desired location, the canine detects scents in the air that come to the canine. When the canine detects a trained scent, the canine leads the handler to or follows behind the carrier of the item with the scent. Once the carrier is identified by the handler, the proper personnel are contacted. To implement vapor wake detection effectively, specific rigorous training is utilized.

Abstract: Disclosed are recombinant spike ectodomain proteins, compositions, vectors, kits, and methods for inducing an immune response against avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV). In particular, the recombinant proteins, compositions, vectors, kits, and methods relate to, include, and/or utilize a soluble, multimerized form of the (IBV) spike (S) protein ectodomain. The recombinant proteins, compositions, vectors, kits, and methods may be utilized to immunize poultry against disease associated with IBV infection or to protect poultry from IBV infection.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides fibrous composition comprising a soluble or a dispersible N-halamine, for example 1-chloro-2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-4-imidazolidinone (i.e., compound I). Additionally, the disclosure provides methods for producing the fibrous compositions comprising a soluble or a dispersible N-halamine as well as methods for protecting a person from an infection using the fibrous compositions comprising a soluble or a dispersible N-halamine. The compositions and methods according to the present disclosure provide several advantages, such as stability, less time to provide sufficient antimicrobial inactivation, and are inexpensive and require lower amount of active concentrations to be effective.

Abstract: Stable nanoparticle compositions comprising buprenorphine and at least one biodegradable polymer. The disclosure also provides methods of controlling pain in an animal and methods of treating addiction in a human utilizing the stable nanoparticle compositions, as well as pharmaceutical formulations comprising the stable nanoparticle compositions. The stable nanoparticle compositions are capable of releasing buprenorphine over several days, weeks, or months following administration. The stable nanoparticle compositions of buprenorphine utilize biodegradable polymers capable of degrading into non-toxic components in the body of an animal and may be excreted in the urine of the animal following their metabolism in the body. The stable nanoparticle compositions can advantageously provide sustained release of buprenorphine in the body after a single administration without the need for surgical removal of implanted matrices subsequent to depletion of the drug.

Abstract: Vapor wake detection is a highly advantageous method and system for detecting explosives and other illicit substances. With vapor wake detection, a canine and a handler are used; however, unlike other detection schemes, the canine leads the handler. After the handler positions the canine in a desired location, the canine detects scents in the air that come to the canine. When the canine detects a trained scent, the canine leads the handler to or follows behind the carrier of the item with the scent. Once the carrier is identified by the handler, the proper personnel are contacted. To implement vapor wake detection effectively, specific rigorous training is utilized.

Abstract: The present system for fall restraint includes a mounting frame connected to a trigger mechanism and firing blocks, with a trigger cable extending through apertures in the mounting frame and trigger mechanism. Sudden movement by a user, such as a fall, actuates the trigger mechanism to trigger the firing blocks. The firing blocks are loaded with anchors and firing cartridges. Triggering the firing blocks causes the cartridges to fire, propelling the anchors into an anchoring surface, such as a roof. Because the user is connected to the trigger cable, once the anchors deploy the user is anchored to the roof and their fall arrested.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions that include treated biodiesel glycerin. The disclosed compositions may be utilized as soil-amendments for controlling pests, weeds and for enhancing growth of plants. The biodiesel glycerin utilized in the disclosed compositions may be treated by one or more steps including neutralization, heating, refluxing, condensing, and distilling.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hinged, two-wheeled device for improving the safety of an individual or object descending along a rope from an elevated position. The device includes a two-piece hinged framed held open by a torsion spring. Each part of the frame contains a wheel with a cut out/channel with a knurled surface to increase the friction between the rope and the device and to prevent the device from disengaging during use. The rope is placed between the two wheels and the handle is pulled down, clamping the device around the rope. The two wheels are connected to viscous rotary dampers that slow the speed of the wheels during descent, preventing the user/object from accelerating in a free-fall and controlling the descent rate to a relatively constant, safer speed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are electrochemical cells comprising electrodes prepared from layered materials comprising a substantially two-dimensional ordered array of cells having an empirical formula of Mn+1Xn, where M comprises a transition metal selected from the group consisting of a Group IIIB metal, a Group IVB metal, a Group VB metal, a Group VIB metal, and any combination thereof, X is CxNy wherein x+y=n, and n is equal to 1, 2, or 3. Also disclosed herein are batteries comprising the electrochemical cells and methods for electrochemically preparing MXene compositions with the use of the electrochemical cells.

Abstract: A network security system that employs space-time separated and jointly-evolving relationships to provide fast network access control, efficient real-time forensics capabilities, and enhanced protection for at-rest data in the event of a network breach. The network security system allows, in part, functionality by which the system accepts a request by a user to access the data stored in the database, identifies a sequence of security agents to participate in authenticating and protecting the access of the data by the user, generates a sequence of pseudorandom IDs and space-time varying credentials, checks at each one of the security agents a corresponding one of the credentials, determines that the user is permitted to access the data using access control logs if all the security agents accept the corresponding credentials, and varies the credentials based on a space-time relationship.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for preparing a vaccine against infection by infectious bronchitis virus (IBV). The methods typically include passing a heterogeneous attenuated population of IBV in chicken embryonic kidney cells, and optionally may include further passaging the heterogeneous attenuated population of IBV in embryonated chicken eggs (ECE) in order to obtain passaged attenuated population of IBV. Also disclosed are passaged attenuated populations of IBV in which the populations display a desired degree of homogeneity. Also disclosed are vaccines comprising the passaged attenuated populations of IBV and methods of vaccination comprising administering the disclosed vaccines.

Abstract: The invention relates to an HVAC apparatus, method, and system. Aspects of the invention include a supplemental heat source with an air handler unit for a conventional forced air heating and cooling system. The supplemental heat source in one example is a hydronic subsystem. It can be used alone or to supplement the forced air subsystem. Another aspect of the invention includes an air handling subsystem that has a housing that can be highly flexible in configuration and installation. The housing can support internal components, including a hydronic or other supplemental heat source with the forced air components. At least two sides of the housing can be configured for access for maintenance and repair. A control system can be designed to eliminate need for defrost cycle for forced air refrigeration-type subsystem and/or for better maintenance for comfort in the air conditioned space.

Abstract: A system for delivering a therapeutic dose of a drug is disclosed. The system includes a delivery medium with therapeutic units attached thereto. The delivery medium is preferably a polymeric hydrogel matrix that has therapeutic units incorporated therein or metal nanoparticles with therapeutic units complexed thereto. The therapeutic units include nucleic acid moieties. The nucleic acid moieties preferably include strands of nucleic acid and drug moieties complexed with the strands of nucleic acid. Where the system includes a polymeric hydrogel matrix, an active drug is controllably released from the polymer hydrogel matrix to provide a therapeutic dose to a biological system or biological tissue. The active drug is controllably released from the hydrogel matrix by altering the environment the hydrogel matrix, or by enzymatic cleavage of the nucleic acid moieties or by a combination thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions that include treated biodiesel glycerin. The disclosed compositions may be utilized as soil-amendments for controlling pests, weeds and for enhancing growth of plants. The biodiesel glycerin utilized in the disclosed compositions may be treated by one or more steps including neutralization, heating, refluxing, condensing, and distilling.

Abstract: A superconducting logic cell includes at least one quantum phase-slip junction (QPSJ) for receiving at least one input and responsively providing at least one output, each QPSJ being configured such that when an input voltage of an input voltage pulse exceeds a critical value, a quantized charge of a Cooper electron pair tunnels across said QPSJ as an output, when the input voltage is less than the critical value, no quantized charge of the Cooper electron pair tunnels across said QPSJ as the output, where the presence and absence of the quantized charge in the form of a constant area current pulse in the output form two logic states, and the at least one QPSJ is biased with a bias voltage. The superconducting logic cell further includes at least one Josephson junction (JJ) coupled with the at least one QPSJ to perform one or more logic operations.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions and methods including the step of thermally scanning a sample that can be used and implemented to detect the presence of and/or concentration of a molecule in a sample.

Abstract: Methods of forming a semiconductor structure include providing an insulation layer on a semiconductor layer and diffusing cesium ions into the insulation layer from a cesium ion source outside the insulation layer. A MOSFET including an insulation layer treated with cesium ions may exhibit increased inversion layer mobility.

Abstract: A method and system for evaluating physiological properties of a segment of blood vessel is provided. The method includes: acquiring a first measurement and a second measurement respectively at the first point and the second point; obtaining a transfer function configured to produce an output given an input, using the first measurement and the second measurement as the input and the output respectively; and determining the physiological properties of the section of the blood vessel based on the transfer function. The transfer function can be a velocity transfer function based on the blood velocity waveforms, or can be a pressure transfer function based on the blood pressure waveforms. The method and system can be used to non-invasively diagnose PH, COPD, and PA impedance in a pulmonary artery, and to detect a stenosis in a coronary artery.

Abstract: ‘AU Gulf Coast Gold’ is a new golden-fleshed cultivar of Actinidia chinensis Planch with a low chilling requirement. ‘AU Gulf Coast Gold’ fruit is large, cylindrical and uniform in shape with yellow flesh that has a thick sweet flavor and delicious taste. ‘AU Gulf Coast Gold’ fruit has a high percent soluble solids and dry matter content. Vegetative bud burst begins in late March to early April and flowering begins on average April 18-20 in central Alabama. Fruit typically reaches maturity September 21-25 in central Alabama with an internal color hue of less than 103°.