Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and uses for screening anti-hepadnaviral substances, wherein the substances are screened for the capacity to inhibit covalently closed circular (ccc) DNA of a hepadnavirus, like hepatitis B virus. The methods and uses take advantage of cells comprising a nucleic sequence encoding a tagged hepadnavirus e antigen, like Hepatitis B virus e antigen (HBeAg). Furthermore, the present invention provides nucleic acid sequences encoding a tagged hepadnavirus e antigen and proteins encoded thereby. Also kits for use in the screening methods are provided.

Abstract: Provided herein are fluid compositions comprising at least one silane having one or more hydrophilic groups, at least one silane having one or more fluorinated moieties, and stringed silica nanoparticles. Additionally, superamphiphobic surfaces resulting from coating and curing a fluid composition on a substrate are disclosed. Also provided are methods of forming a superamphiphobic surface, comprising coating a substrate of interest with the fluid composition and curing the coated substrate.

Abstract: Errors in software may be detected via the use of design rule spaces and architecture root detection. Design rule spaces may reveal multiple overlapping modular structures of a software system, and reveal structural relations among error-prone files and structural problems contributing to error-proneness. Root detection may extract a few groups of architecturally connected files, which may be connected through problematic architecture relations that propagate errors among these files, and thus influence system error-proneness. The root detector may locate the core architecturally connected file groups that contribute to the error-proneness of a system. The root detection process may, beginning with a set of error-prone files, search and link other files that are architecturally related. The output of the root detection process may be a set of design rule spaces ordered by the number of error-prone contained therein.

Abstract: Battery electrolytes comprising: (a) a solvent suitable for use in a battery electrolyte such as an organic liquid solvent or an ionic liquid; (b) a lithium ion or sodium ion salt suitable for use in a battery electrolyte; and (c) a dispersion of nanoparticles of carbon, metal or metalloid oxides or hydroxides, carbides, nitrides, sulfides, graphene or MXene particles; or a combination thereof. The present invention is also directed to battery cells and batteries comprising these electrolytes and devices comprising these battery cells and batteries.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention provides a method of sequentially inducing macrophage conversion in a wound. The method includes: (a) administering IL-4 to induce conversion of a first population of wound macrophages in the wound to M2A macrophages; and then (b) administering IL-10, dexamethasone, or a dexamethasone analog to induce conversion of a second population of wound macrophages in the wound to M2C macrophages.

Abstract: Anhydrosugar-based monomers prepared from isosorbide, isomannide, and isoidide and resin systems containing these anhydrosugar-based monomers that are partially to fully bio-based, which may produce materials having properties that meet or exceed the properties of similar petroleum derived vinyl ester resins.

Abstract: Methods for diagnosing pathology of the liver in subject suspected of having such pathology by measuring the glycosylation of anti-gal IgG in various biological fluids of the subject.

Abstract: A cardioprotective patch with an integrated cutting guide includes a membrane having a top edge, a bottom edge distal from the top edge, a right side edge connecting the top edge and the bottom edge; and a left side edge, distal from the right side edge and connecting the top edge and the bottom edge. A fold extends parallel to the top edge about half way between the top edge and the bottom edge. The crease is slit from the right side edge, forming a right slit. An elongate frame is fixedly connected to the membrane. The frame includes a tubular member and a plurality of arms extending outwardly from the tubular member and connected to the membrane.

Abstract: The present invention describes systems and methods for predicting and detecting a seizure in a subject. The methods of the invention comprise measuring interneuron synchrony in terms of the coherence between interneuron action potentials and local field potential oscillations. In one embodiment, the detection of specific patterns of coherence, correlation and firing rate of interneurons predicts an upcoming seizures.

Abstract: A holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal (HPDLC) tunable filter exhibits switching times of no more than 20 microseconds. The HPDLC tunable filter can be utilized in a variety of applications. An HPDLC tunable filter stack can be utilized in a hyperspectral imaging system capable of spectrally multiplexing hyperspectral imaging data acquired while the hyperspectral imaging system is airborne. HPDLC tunable filter stacks can be utilized in high speed switchable optical shielding systems, for example as a coating for a visor or an aircraft canopy. These HPDLC tunable filter stacks can be fabricated using a spin coating apparatus and associated fabrication methods.

Abstract: Channel based authentication schemes for intrusion detection that operates at the physical layer are described that apply the capabilities of a pattern reconfigurable antenna for improved performance. Performance gains are achieved by the schemes as a function of the number of antenna modes. The first scheme relies on a channel based fingerprint for differentiating between transmitters whereas another scheme poses the intruder detection problem as a generalized likelihood ratio (GLR) test problem that operates on the channel realizations corresponding to different modes present in a reconfigurable antenna. The benefits of these two schemes over single element antennas are demonstrated. General guidelines are provided on how to choose the different elements of the decision metric in order to realize better performance for physical layer based authentication schemes based on any diversity scheme.

Abstract: A tendon reinforcement assembly includes a rivet having a female portion having a female free end, a female connecting end, and a female portion axial passage extending therethrough. A male portion has a male free end, a male connecting end adapted to be inserted into the female free end, and a male portion axial passage extending therethrough. The male portion axial passage extends coaxially with the female portion axial passage. A suture extends through the male portion axial passage and the female portion axial passage. The suture has a first suture end extending outwardly of the male free end and a second suture end extending outwardly of the female free end.

Abstract: Groups of architecturally connected files may incur and accumulate high maintenance costs as architectural debts. To quantify such debts, architectural debt, which is a term used herein, may be identified, quantified, measured, and modeled. A history coupling probability matrix for this purpose may search for architecture debts through the lens of 4 patterns of prototypical architectural flaws shown to correlate with reduced software quality. Further, a new architecture maintainability metric—Decoupling Level (DL)—measures how well the software can be decoupled into small and independently replaceable modules. The DL metric opens the possibility of quantitatively comparing maintainability between different projects, as well as monitoring architecture decay throughout software evolution.

Abstract: Presenting a visualization of antenna radiation patterns may include sending a request to a server for up-to-date information regarding an antenna mode; receiving the request at the server and reading a register value for the antenna mode; responding, by the server, with updated antenna mode information; and overlaying antenna radiation patterns on an image based on the mode information.

Abstract: A nondestructive evaluation method for determining the material used in a below ground service line includes inserting a probe with a wave measurement device therein into an area corresponding to a location of a service line; inciting a service line wave through an exposed portion of the service using a vibratory shaker; measuring, by the wave measurement device, a substrate wave created by the service line wave passing thought the service line and into the substrate; identifying, by a data acquisition system, the service line wave velocity; comparing the service line wave velocity to a known set of wave velocities in service line according to a service line material; and identifying the service line material in the service line by comparing the wave velocity in the service line with the known set of wave velocities.

Abstract: The present invention provides small molecule inhibitors of hepatitis B virus (HBV) covalently closed circular (ccc) DNA, which are useful as therapeutics in the management of chronic HBV. The compounds of the invention achieve epigenetic modification of the cccDNA, histone modification and histone deacetylase activity inhibition, thus modulating HBV cccDNA. The present invention further provides methods for modulating HBV cccDNA, for treating or preventing HBV in a subject, and for modulating cccDNA transcription of hepatitis B in a subject.

Abstract: An asymmetric sensor having asymmetric electrodes and/or being asymmetrically anchored provides enhanced sensitivity. In example embodiments, part of the electrode on a sensor is etched or removed resulting in enhanced mass-change sensitive resonant modes. In another example embodiment, a sensor is anchored asymmetrically, also resulting in enhanced mass-change sensitive resonant modes. By asymmetrically anchoring a piezoelectric portion of a sensor, resonant bending modes of the sensor can be measured electrically without external instrumentation. Modifying the electrode of a piezoelectric cantilever enables expression of mass-change sensitive resonant modes that normally do not lend themselves to electrical measurement.

Abstract: A system for and method of antimicrobial susceptibility testing includes detecting a resonance peak of a sensor provided with live microbes on a surface thereof; applying a substance to the live microbes; detecting a resonance peak of said sensor after application of said substance; determining a width of a top of each of said resonance peaks before and after application of the substance from one of: (1) a phase angle versus frequency plot where the phase angle is the phase angle of the electrical impedance of said sensor, (2) a real part of a plot of an electrical impedance versus frequency of said sensor, (3) a plot of a magnitude of electrical impedance versus frequency of said sensor, and (4) a phase angle versus frequency plot where the phase angle is the phase angle between an output voltage and an input voltage of said sensor, and comparing the determined widths of tops of said resonance peaks or standard deviations of the frequency of said resonance peaks to determine antimicrobial susceptibility incl

Abstract: A planar (two-dimensional, XY location) touch sensor may include a knitted structure and supplementary method of sensing detects human touch on a fabric surface. This sensor may be fully knitted and detect the continuous planar location and contact force of human touch along the surface of the structure. The fabric may conform to any arbitrary surface and may be a rectangle for touch pad applications. This sensor may be used for applications that include robotics and human-machine interaction, smart garments and wearables, as well as medical textiles and flexible embedded sensors. This touch sensor may require as few as only two electrode connections from the fabric to sense both planar touch and pressure, which allows it to work in areas with limited space that allow for limited complexity for wiring.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to lithium ion transport media for use in separators in lithium ion batteries, and the membranes, separators, and devices derived therefrom.