Abstract: Polymer composite photonic crystal materials are disclosed as coatings and topcoats which have high reflection (>30%) in a specific range of the electromagnetic spectrum, such as ultraviolet (<400 nm), visible (Vis, 400 nm-700 nm), or near-infrared radiation range (NIR, 700-2000 nm), and relatively low reflection (<20% reflection) in a second, different range of the electromagnetic spectrum. Surprisingly, it was found that through a formulation and additives approach, the optical properties of polymer composite photonic crystal films can be selectively modified from a variety of different coating methods, including spray deposition.

Abstract: Disclosed are various synthetic methods to prepare structural analogs of largazole and derivatives thereof. One structural analog is an amide isostere of largazole. Another structural analog replaces the thiazole ring of largazole with a pyridine moiety or an oxazole moiety.

Abstract: Phenothiazine compounds of Formula (I) are described herein. These compounds are useful as highly reducing organic photoredox catalysts. Suitable substrates for use with the compounds of Formula (I) include acrylates, styrene, acrylamides, acrylonitrile, vinyl chloride, methylacrylonitrile, vinyl acetate, and acrylic acid.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a metal-organic framework material includes tricarboxylate metal-organic frameworks. The tricarboxylate metal-organic frameworks include unmodified tricarboxylate ligands and modified tricarboxylate ligands. The modified tricarboxylate ligands are unmodified tricarboxylate ligand modified with aliphatic carbon chains. Methods of forming metal-organic framework materials and textiles containing modified metal-organic framework materials are also provided.

Abstract: A new set of bench-stable fluoroalkylphosphines that directly convert C—H bonds in pyridine building blocks, drug-like fragments, and pharmaceuticals, into fluoroalkyl derivatives. No pre-installed functional groups or directing motifs are required. The reaction tolerates a variety of sterically and electronically distinct pyridines and is exclusively selective for the 4-position in most cases. The reaction proceeds via initial phosphonium salt formation followed by sp2-sp3 phosphorus ligand-coupling, an underdeveloped manifold for C—C bond formation.

Abstract: A power plant system is disclosed. The power plant system includes a combustor configured, a turbine configured to generate electricity, a heat exchanger and a steam turbine, a carbon capture system configured to remove at least a portion of carbon-based gasses from the flue gas downstream from the heat recovery steam generator, and a thermal storage system including a hot storage unit configured to store thermal energy at a hot temperature, the hot temperature greater than ambient temperature. The power plant is configured to operate in at least a first mode for storing thermal energy in the thermal storage system and a second mode for releasing the stored thermal energy from the thermal storage system and during the second mode, heat stored in the hot storage unit is transferred to the carbon capture system.

Abstract: Methods and systems for the enhancement of bioproduct process yields. The present invention provides systems and methods for improvement of the carbon conversion efficiency by yeast of an organic substrate such as a fermentable sugar to a fermentation product such as ethanol. Exemplary yield-increasing/growth-inhibitory compounds include tyrosol (TyrOH), 2-phenylethanol (PheOH), and tryptophol (TrpOH). Immobilization of the yeast, such as in a porous bead or pellet, can further increase yield. Exemplary immobilization included immobilization in calcium alginate beads. The system and methods taught herein demonstrate that product yield such as ethanol yield can be improved by adding yeast yield-increasing/growth-inhibitory molecules to reduce cell growth of yeast species, such as S. cerevisiae, suggesting a strategy to improve the yield of ethanol and other yeast fermentation products by manipulating native biological control systems.

Abstract: Indirect ELISAs to detect exposure to Felis catus gammaherpesvirus 1 (FcaGHV1) in domestic cats. These ELISAs detect feline serum antibodies to ORF52 and ORF38 of FcaGHV1. The ELISA assays are sensitive, specific, and adaptable for scale up use in high throughput diagnostics.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed to downscale the resolution of a coarse-resolution soil moisture data. Coarse-resolution soil moisture data may include data cells that each represent a geographic region having at least one dimension greater than or equal to 1 km. A plurality of fine-resolution supplemental soil moisture data may be received that includes at least one of soil data, vegetation data, topography data, and climate data. The fine-resolution supplemental soil moisture data comprising data cells that each represent a geographic region having at least one dimension less than or equal to 100 meters. The coarse-resolution soil moisture data may be downscaled to fine-resolution soil moisture data using the plurality of fine-resolution supplemental soil moisture data, the fine-resolution soil moisture data comprising data cells that each represent a geographic region having at least one dimension less than 100 meters.

Abstract: The exemplary system and method facilitate excitation of RF magnetic fields in ultra-high field (UHF) magnetic resonance (MRI) systems (e.g., MRI/NMR system) using a slotted waveguide array (SWGA) as an exciter coil. The exemplary exciter coil, in some embodiments, is configurable to provide RF magnetic field B1+ with high field-uniformity, with high efficiency, with excellent circular polarization, with negligible axial z-component, with arbitrary large field of view, and with exceptional possibilities for field-optimizations via RF shimming.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein improve fuel economy by controlling a vehicle powertrain based on a predicted vehicle velocity. The vehicle velocity is predicted based on vehicle-to-vehicle data when a prediction horizon is a longer prediction horizon and the vehicle velocity is predicted based on historical drive cycle data when the prediction horizon is a shorter prediction horizon. A time duration of the shorter prediction horizon is shorter than the time duration of the longer prediction horizon. A plurality of drive cycles are established for both the longer and the shorter prediction horizons using a neural network. A shorter prediction horizon drive cycle uses nonlinear autoregressive exogenous model neural networks and the longer prediction horizon drive cycle uses two layer feedforward neural networks. The predicted vehicle velocity is determined from a similar drive cycle of the plurality of drive cycles of either the shorter and/or the longer prediction horizon drive cycles.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating and tracking molecular digital signatures to ensure authenticity and integrity of NA molecules are disclosed. In some embodiments, a NA authentication system includes a NA authentication device coupled to one or more user devices. Methods for generating a signed NA sequence, validating a signed NA sequence, and detecting/correcting potential errors within a user allowable limit using a NA authentication system are disclosed. Methods for associating a signed NA sequence with a digital representation of the NA sequence, using a NA authentication system, are disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for sensing a target substance of interest in the environment and inducing gene expression in response thereto, useful for detection of biological and chemical agents and environmental pollutants.

Abstract: A new set of bench-stable fluoroalkylphosphines that directly convert C—H bonds in pyridine building blocks, drug-like fragments, and pharmaceuticals, into fluoroalkyl derivatives. No pre-installed functional groups or directing motifs are required. The reaction tolerates a variety of sterically and electronically distinct pyridines and is exclusively selective for the 4-position in most cases. The reaction proceeds via initial phosphonium salt formation followed by sp2-sp3 phosphorus ligand-coupling, an underdeveloped manifold for C—C bond formation.

Abstract: A microfluidic device includes a device body defining a microfluidic pathway including a first channel, a second channel downstream of the first channel, and a junction including a transition between the first channel and the second channel. The transition is configured to inhibit fluid entering the transition from the first channel from forming a meniscus across the second channel, thereby inhibiting capillary-driven flow into the second channel. The microfluidic device further includes a valve that, when activated while capillary-driven flow of the fluid is inhibited at the transition, induces capillary-driven flow through the second channel by facilitating formation of the meniscus.

Abstract: Biodegradable polymers with advantageous physical and chemical properties are described, as well as methods for making such polymers. In one embodiment, a new chemical synthesis route to technologically important biodegradable poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (P3HB) with high isotacticity and molecular weight required for a practical use is described. The new route can utilize racemic eight-membered cyclic diolide (rac-DL), meso-DL, or a rac-DL and meso-DL mixture, derived from bio-sourced dimethyl succinate, and enantiomeric (R,R)-DL and (S,S)-DL, optically resolved by metal-based catalysts. With a stereoselective racemic molecular catalyst, the ROP of rac-DL under ambient conditions produces rapidly P3HB with essentially perfect isotacticity ([mm]>99%), high crystallinity and melting temperature (Tm=171° C.), as well as high molecular weight and low dispersity (Mn=1.54×105 g/mol, Ð=1.01).

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to consortia of bacteria strains and composition comprising one or more bacterial strains disclosed herein. These consortia of isolated bacteria cultures and compositions comprising said cultures, having greater activity than would be observed for the individual bacteria cultures and compositions. A composition of the disclosure may advantageously be used for enhancing the availability of soil phosphorus and other macronutrients and/or micronutrients to plants, and thereby enhancing their growth and yield.

Abstract: An assay device includes an electrochemical testing assembly having a test channel including a capture reagent selected to capture a target analyte and an electrode having a surface in communication with the test channel. The assay device further includes a microfluidic network in communication with the test channel, a buffer fluid inlet in communication with the microfluidic network, and a detection reagent disposed within the microfluidic network. When a buffer fluid is provided to the buffer fluid inlet, the buffer fluid transports the detection reagent to the test channel by capillary-driven flow, and wherein the electrode is configured to measure an electrical response indicating capture of the target analyte by the capture reagent after transportation of the detection reagent to the test channel.

Abstract: An exemplary radio fingerprint-based indoor localization method and system is disclosed that is resistant to spoofing or jamming attacks (e.g., at nearby radios, e.g., access points), among other types of interference. The exemplary method and system may be applied in the configuring of a secured convolutional neural network (S-CNNLOC) or secured deep neural network configured for attack-resistant fingerprint-based indoor localization.

Abstract: A snooping invalidation module is implemented at the network interface for a given core, or processing element, of a multicore or manycore device, e.g., NoC device, to discard packets with invalid header flits (e.g., duplicate packets) from being injected into the device, e.g., by a malicious hardware trojan implemented in the network interface. In some embodiments, a data-snooping detection circuit is implemented to detect a source of an on-going attack.