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.

Abstract: A loading device, a monitoring system, and a method thereof can measure stiffness of a structural member (SM) and monitor progress or property thereof over time. The loading device includes two types of displacement sensors, one type being an antenna. As the SM, which is in a magnetic or electromagnetic field and electromagnetically coupled to the antenna without contact, undergoes displacement under known loads, characteristics of the electromagnetic field coupling between the antenna and the SM change over time due to the displacement of the SM. The shift in the characteristics of the electromagnetic field coupling between the antenna and the SM can be used to determine the displacement of the SM. Based on the changes in the displacement over time, diagnosis of the SM being monitored over an evaluation period can be made. The loading device includes at least one movable frame to apply a preload to the SM.

Abstract: Methods, compositions, systems and devices are provided in which zeolite particles, preferably of silicon and aluminum, are used as desiccants. In embodiments a plurality of zeolite particles are provided that are less than 1 mm in size. The particles may be arrayed such that at least some of the plurality of particles are spaced apart from each other and may be arrayed in rows and columns. Embodiments provide the particles are useful or removing water under ambient conditions and in removing water from air or material and in an embodiment removing water from plant material, such as harvested crop material, or where the dried air is contacted with plant material. Microwave radiation may be used to efficiently and in a cost effective manner dehydrate the rehydrated particles.

Abstract: This invention comprises a device for measuring root pulling force (RPF) in a plant. The RPF device comprises a plant grasping mechanism, as well as a force measurement sensor. In certain embodiments, the device is automatic, so that the “hand of man” is not required to exert force on the plant while the root pulling force of the plant is being measured. Also disclosed is a root pulling force motion mechanism, which brings the RPF device into proximity of a plant to be measured. Further disclosed is a method for measuring root pulling force of a plant.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for generating plants that can grow in saline conditions, or remove a salt or other impurity from water, for example plants that can remove sodium chloride from salt or sea water, and plants that can produce purified water from salt or sea water.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides potentiometric ion selective electrodes, methods for preparing the potentiometric ion selective electrode, a microfluidic electrode array comprising the potentiometric ion selective electrodes, and methods of using the microfluidic electrode array to measure inorganic cations and inorganic anions in a solution.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods, kits, and compositions comprising ?-alethine and one or more immune modulators and methods to determine when they are advantageous. Particular applications include the use of ?-alethine and one or more immune modulators in the treatment of cancer.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a volatile memory, a non-volatile memory, a first processor coupled to the non-volatile memory and configured to receive a data set associated with an object and user information associated with a spatial position of a user in a multi-user virtual (IMVR) environment, and a second processor coupled to the volatile memory, the second processor configured to render an instance of the portion of the object in the IMVR environment from a perspective of the user based on the spatial position of the user. The first processor is configured to generate a look-up table (LUT) based on a set of inputs received from a user. The second processor is configured to render, based on the LUT and information related to a manipulation by a user, an updated instance of the portion of the object that manifests an effect of the manipulation in the IMVR environment.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure involve systems, methods, and the like, for a fabrication of a particulate matter (PM) sensor that utilizes a capacitance sensor to detect sub-micrometer and nanoparticles in the respirable range of an environment. In one implementation, the capacitance sensor may comprise interdigitated electrodes between which a capacitance may be measured. PM deposited on the sensor may cause the capacitance between the electrodes to be altered and such a change in capacitance may be measured by the PM sensor. This measurement of the change in capacitance of the interdigitated capacitance sensor may therefore be correlated to the presence of sub-micrometer and nanoparticles in an environment. In one particular implementation, the PM sensor may further include a micro-heater circuit, a readout circuit, and an interface connecting the readout circuit to the micro-heater/capacitance sensor of the PM sensor.

Abstract: The exemplified methods and systems provide hardware-circuit-level encryption for inter-core communication of photonic communication devices such as photonic network-on-chip devices. In some embodiments, the hardware-circuit level encryption uses authentication signatures that are based on process variation that inherently occur during the fabrication of the photonic communication device. The hardware level encryption can facilitate high bandwidth on-chip data transfers while preventing hardware-based trojans embedded in components of the photonic communication device such as PNoC devices or preventing external snooping devices from snooping data from the neighboring photonic signal transmission medium in a shared photonic signal transmission medium. In some embodiments, the hardware-circuit-level encryption is used for unicast/multicast traffic.

Abstract: A bio-barrier for reducing combustible gas emissions from the ground into the atmosphere is disclosed. The bio-barrier includes a geocomposite layer extending laterally beneath a top surface of the ground and a first geotextile layer extending laterally beneath the top surface of the ground and positioned above the geocomposite layer. The geocomposite layer and the geotextile layer configured to laterally disperse the combustible gas through at least the geotextile layer. In addition, at least one sensor may be positioned beneath the top surface of the ground and in or above the geocomposite layer, the at least one sensor measuring a parameter indicative of the concentration or oxidation of the combustible gas beneath the top surface of the ground.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions comprising chimeric polypeptides that bind to free ubiquitin proteins or free ubiquitin-like proteins with high affinity, as well as chimeric polypeptides that bind to both free and conjugated ubiquitin proteins or free and conjugated ubiquitin-like proteins, and methods of using the chimeric polypeptides to determine the amount of free or total ubiquitin or free or total ubiquitin-like proteins in various types of samples.

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: A subsurface monitoring system and method is provided for measuring a rate of change in an amount of a reactive material within a subsurface formation using measurements of thermal parameters at one or more positions within the subsurface without the need for background correction which may lead erroneous calculations and require additional monitoring equipment. The measured thermal parameters may be used to determine the heat generated by the degradation of the reactive material. The method may include measuring a first temperature near the surface of a subsurface region and a second temperature further from the surface. In some instances, an estimated location of a planar subsurface heat source/sink due to exothermic degradation reactions within the subsurface may be selected. With the derived thermal parameters and the estimated location of the subsurface heat source/sink, change rates for the reactive materials in the subsurface region may be determined or estimated.

Abstract: The present application provides detectable compounds useful for identifying compounds that bind (e.g., inhibit) MmpL3. Methods of identifying compounds that bind and/or inhibit MmpL3 are also provided.

Abstract: Implementations described and claimed herein provide systems and methods for managing animal patient during a veterinary procedure. In one implementation, a base has an interior surface, an exterior surface, and an opening. An electrode is disposed in the opening. The electrode is configured to communicate with medical device(s) for monitoring vital(s) of the patient during the procedure. A thermal insulator extends from the base. The thermal insulator forms a housing. An internal cavity is defined within the housing. The foot of the patient is receivable into the internal cavity. The thermal insulator regulates the body temperature of the animal patient during the veterinary procedure by retaining heat within the internal cavity.

Abstract: A method for the pre-amplification sample processing of a prion or other amyloid converting protein in a sample. A key feature of the assay is its ability to amplify and thus detect small quantities of the abnormally folded ‘seed’ forms of misfolded proteins. The assay also opens up the ability to quantify the amount of “seed” present. The methods facilitate the early detection of diseases associated with misfolded proteins, as well as assessment of therapies against these diseases. The method can detect amyloid seeding activity (prions) in blood samples, including the buffy coat cells harvested from pre-clinical and clinical subjects. These findings further enhance the ability to assess the longitudinal course of prion disease and the role hematogenous prions play in pathogenesis. We demonstrate the ability to detect prions in as few as 5×105 buffy coat cells by lipase-iron oxide bead-RT-QuIC performed at 42° C.