Abstract: The present disclosure provides a pupillary light reflex (PLR) system, wherein the PLR system includes a remote tracking and imaging system that is structured and operable to generate and acquire high resolution pupil stimulus and response data from a test subject while the test subject is moving and is disposed a distance from remote tracking and imaging system that is greater than or equal to one-third of a meter. The PLR system additionally includes a computer based system controller that is structure and operable to execute PLR software to control the operation of the remote tracking and imaging system and compute PLR information based on the pupil stimulus and response data acquired as the test subject is moving.

Abstract: Apparatus for generating thermal neutrons includes an electron accelerator for generating an electron beam and a converter for converting the electron beam into photons. A receiving device is provided for receiving the photons and includes a material which provides a photoneutron target for the photons, for producing high energy neutrons in a photonuclear reaction between the photons and the photoneutron target, and for moderating the high energy neutrons to generate the thermal neutrons. The electron beam has an energy level high enough to produce photons of sufficient energy to exceed the photodissociation threshold of the selected target material, but that is sufficiently low as to enable the material to moderate the high energy neutrons resulting from the photonuclear reaction.

Abstract: The invention provides stabilized, biocompatible gold nanoparticles that are stabilized with material from soy or lentil plant material or a reactive extract thereof of the plant material. The gold nanoparticles of the invention can be fabricated with an environmentally friendly method for making biocompatible stabilized gold nanoparticles. The nanoparticles can be introduced in vivo to conduct enhanced imaging. The nanoparticles can also be introduced in vivo to conduct therapy.

Abstract: A method for cryopreservation of animal cells with high level of intracellular lipid content, comprises the steps of conducting a delipation procedure using one or more lipolytic agent(s) and/or lipogenesis inhibitors during culture of the animal cells to stimulate the hydrolysis of intracellular lipids to reduce the lipid content, and vitrifying the treated animal cells using a modified vitrification solution and a modified warming solution.

Abstract: Cytochrome b5 (Cb5) is a haem-binding protein located in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the outer mitochondrial membranes of higher eukaryotes. In higher plants, animals, and fungi, the ER resident Cb5 has been shown to play a role in desaturation of acyl CoA fatty acids. Higher plants Cb5 isoforms from plants such as soybean or Arabidopsis are capable of modulating omega-3 desaturation. Co-expression of certain Cb5 isoforms with FAD3 in a host plant results in increased production of seed oil content as well as altered ratio between different fatty acids. It is also disclosed here that overexpression of Yarrowia ACL enzymes in the plastids of a host plant helps boost the synthesis of acetyl CoA, which in turn, may lead to increased synthesis of fatty acids and enhanced oil accumulation in the seeds.

Abstract: In various embodiments, the present disclosure provides a layered metal-air cathode for a metal-air battery. Generally, the layered metal-air cathode comprises an active catalyst layer, a transition layer bonded to the active catalyst layer, and a backing layer bonded to the transition layer such that the transition layer is disposed between the active catalyst layer and the backing layer.

Abstract: A method for determining the yield loss of a crop using remote sensor data is described. The yield loss is determined using the reflectivity of green light by the crop canopy measured from remote sensor data such as an aerial photograph that is digitized and spatially referenced to the field's longitude and latitude. Green pixel values from the aerial photograph, expressed relative to green pixel values from well-fertilized areas of the field, are transformed to yield losses using a linear transformation that was developed using empirical data. A similar method is described to determine recommended nitrogen fertilization rates for the crop fields. The yield loss data is useful for nitrogen fertilization management, as it allows a producer of crops to weigh the expense of fertilization against the loss of revenue due to yield loss.

Abstract: A three-dimensional scaffold with interconnected pores for repair of tissue comprising a scaffold body for structural support of the tissue scaffold, where the scaffold body comprises scaffold body components bonded to each other and made from component materials comprising about 40 to about 90 wt % B2O3, and two or more other oxides, wherein the scaffold body has a porosity between about 15 and about 90 vol %.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for the production of radioisotopes or for the treatment of nuclear waste. In methods of the invention, a solution of heavy water and target material including fissile material present in subcritical amounts is provided in a shielded irradiation vessel. Bremsstrahlung photons are introduced into the solution, and have an energy sufficient to generate photoneutrons by interacting with the nucleus of the deuterons present in the heavy water and the resulting photoneutrons in turn cause fission of the fissile material. The bremsstrahlung photons can be generated with an electron beam and an x-ray converter. Devices of the invention can be small and generate radioisotopes on site, such as at medical facilities and industrial facilities. Solution can be recycled for continued use after recovery of products.

Abstract: An osteochondral composite including a hydrogel with implanted biological cells joined to a porous supportive base at a mechanically-interlocked interface is disclosed. A method of fabricating the osteochondral composite and a method of treating damaged or diseased articular cartilage by implanting an osteochondral composite are also disclosed.

Abstract: An improved system and method is provided for detecting viable bacteria in a suspension sample. A sample of a suspension in which bacterial presence is suspected is collected from a source and a portion of the sample transferred to a microfluidic unit. A series of analysis signals at different frequencies are applied to the sample portion. An impedance is measured via a signal analyzer for the sample portion for each of the analysis signals to define an impedance data set. An initial bulk capacitance value is determined for a model circuit based on the impedance dataset. After a predetermined time period, a new bulk capacitance value is determined for on another portion of the sample. The difference between the new bulk capacitance and the initial bulk capacitance value is compared to a threshold value to determine if viable bacterial is present in the sample.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds, compositions, and methods, for treating subjects suspected of needing treatment for a Nidovirales virus infection. In certain embodiments, the compounds comprise Nidovirales helicase inhibitors that do not significantly affect helicase ATPase enzymatic activity or nucleic acid binding activity of the helicase.

Abstract: The present invention identifies the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway, including the enzyme oxidosqualene cyclase, as new protein targets for anti-tumor therapeutics. The present invention further provides a class of oxidosqualene cyclase inhibitors containing a tertiary amine linked with aromatic ring structures, as a new class of anticancer agents. Compounds disclosed herein have been tested in 19 cell lines including breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer (including drug-resistant lung cancer H69AR), colon cancer, ovarian cancer (including drug-resistant OVCAR-3), and pancreatic cancer cells, as wells as in human breast and prostate xenograft tumor growth in nude mice, and have been shown to be active.

Abstract: The present invention provides transgenic, large non-human animal models of diseases and conditions, as well as methods of making and using such animal models in the identification and characterization of therapies for the diseases and conditions.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a direct metal deposition (DMD) structure having substantially fully forged structural qualities is provided. In various embodiments, the method includes depositing a layer of metallic material onto an existing metallic structure having a microstructure that provides the existing metallic structure with substantially fully forged structural qualities. The DMD layer has a microstructure that provides the DMD layer with non-forged structural qualities.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to compositions and methods related to delivering degradative enzymes to remove/remedy environmental pollutants. The inventive material comprises a series of amide-functionalized ordered mesoporous carbon (AFOMC), which utilizes chemical conjugation techniques for the tethering of enzymes to the surface of the synthesized AFOMC. The delivery mechanism may be utilized to express a wide variety of toxin-degrading enzymes for removal/remediation of organic pollutants.

Abstract: An electro-optically triggered power switch is disclosed utilizing a wide bandgap, high purity III-nitride semiconductor material such as BN, AN, GaN, InN and their compounds. The device is electro-optically triggered using a laser diode operating at a wavelength of 10 to 50 nanometers off the material's bandgap, and at a power level of 10 to 100 times less than that required in a conventionally triggered device. The disclosed device may be configured as a high power RF MOSFET, IGBT, FET, or HEMT that can be electro-optically controlled using photons rather than an electrical signal. Electro-optic control lowers the power losses in the semiconductor device, decreases the turn-on time, and simplifies the drive signal requirements. It also allows the power devices to be operated from the millisecond to the sub-picosecond timeframe, thus allowing the power device to be operated at RF frequencies (i.e., kilohertz to terahertz range) and at high temperatures where the bandgap changes with temperature.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to methods and compositions for treatment, prevention, suppression, and/or delaying the onset of type 1 diabetes. More specifically, the present invention relates to the administration of a fusion protein comprising at least one immunoglobulin having one or more diabetogenic epitopes inserted within the variable region, for suspending, preventing or delaying the onset of type 1 diabetes.

Abstract: Implants for resurfacing or repairing one or more articular cartilage bearing surfaces of a biological organism include an engineered tissue and a biocompatible porous substrate secured to the engineered tissue for attaching the implant to a native bone of the biological organism. The engineered tissue includes a scaffold containing a biocompatible material, and a plurality of living chondrocytes supported by the scaffold. Methods for culturing chondrocytes for incorporation into a biocompatible implant are provided. A bioreactor for producing functional cartilaginous tissue from a cell-seeded scaffold and a system for producing functional cartilaginous tissue are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to methods and compositions for treatment, prevention, suppression, and/or delaying the onset of type 1 diabetes. More specifically, the present invention relates to the administration of a fusion protein comprising at least one immunoglobulin having one or more diabetogenic epitopes inserted within the variable region, for suspending, preventing or delaying the onset of type 1 diabetes in a pre-diabetic subject.