Abstract: Provided are systems and methods for decalcifying aortic valves and/or other valves, blood vessels, and/or cardiac tissues in a mammalian (e.g., a human) patient (e.g., a patient having or suspected of having calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD)). A transcatheter (aortic) valve decalcification system/method can include applying one or more pulsed magnetic fields to the calcium deposit(s) within a valve or other vessel or tissue within the patient. The system can include a catheter having pulsed magnetic field ribbons disposed therein, and the catheter can be provided to the patient.

Abstract: The invention pertains to an inducible CRISPR system for controlling expression of a CRISPR complex with an inducible fusion promoter. One embodiment of the invention provides HIV LTR-minimal Drosophila hsp70 fusion promoter that can be used for inducible co-expression of gRNA and Cas9 in HIV-infected cells to target cellular cofactors such as Cyclin T1. A single introduction of such embodiment leads to sustained suppression of HIV replication in stringent, chronically infected HeLa-CD4 cell lines as well as in T-cell lines. In another embodiment, the invention further relates to enhancement of HIV suppression by incorporating cis-acting ribozymes immediately upstream of the gRNA in the inducible CRISPR system construct. The inducible fusion promoter is adaptable for other tissue- or cell-type specific expression of the inducible CRISPR system.

Abstract: Hybrid carbon nanofiber (Cnf) products (e.g., mats, yarns, webs, etc.) and methods of fabricating the same are provided. The hybrid Cnf products are flexible and lightweight and have high thermal conductivity. An electrospinning process can be used to fabricate the hybrid Cnf products and can include preparation of an electrospinning solution, electrospinning, and carbonization (e.g., under a vacuum condition).

Abstract: The subject invention provides catalytical compounds/complexes, compositions comprising such compound/complex, synthesis of the compounds/complexes, and methods of using such compounds/complexes as catalysts in, for example, RCM reactions. Specifically, the subject invention provides the synthesis of the first catalytically active V oxo alkylidene, VO(CHSiMe3)(PEt3)2Cl, which exhibits superior performance compared to other analogs.

Abstract: The subject invention provides fluorophore-quencher nucleic acid molecules comprising relaxed or supercoiled DNA molecules, and their use in rapid and efficient high-throughput screening (HTS) assays to screen and identify compounds that inhibit DNA gyrases. These compounds can be used as antibiotics for treating bacterial infections, especially, multidrug resistant bacterial infections.

Abstract: The invention provides a sorbent material comprising a PSA that is synthesized via a sol-gel process. The sorbent material enables higher loading of PSA and other functional groups than conventional sorbents. The sorbent material can further encapsulate carbonaceous and/or non-carbonaceous particles that are distributed throughout the sorbent network. The invention also relates to a method of making the sorbent materials.

Abstract: Robotic devices that can be utilized on pipes of any material and of a variety of pipe diameters are provided. The robotic device utilizes a ducted fan to create the normal forces needed to adhere to any part of a pipe. The chassis of the device can be segmented to allow for application on various diameter pipes.

Abstract: Hybrid renewable energy source systems and methods are provided. A hybrid renewable energy source system can include a renewable energy source system (e.g., a photovoltaic (PV) system) in conjunction with an energy storage system (ESS), such as a battery energy storage system (BESS). The hybrid renewable energy source system can include at least one intelligent decentralized controller at the inverter/converter level, feeding a robust coordinated controller, thereby allowing the hybrid renewable energy source system to operate as a unified single power generation unit (PGU).

Abstract: Systems, methods, and protocols for developing invasive brain computer interface (iBCI) decoders non-invasively by using emulated brain data are provided. A human operator can interact in real-time with control algorithms designed for iBCI. An operator can provide input to one or more computer models (e.g., via body gestures), and this process can generate emulated brain signals that would otherwise require invasive brain electrodes to obtain.

Abstract: The invention pertains to an inducible CRISPR system for controlling expression of a CRISPR complex with an inducible fusion promoter. One embodiment of the invention provides HIV LTR-minimal Drosophila hsp70 fusion promoter that can be used for inducible co-expression of gRNA and Cas9 in HIV-infected cells to target cellular cofactors such as Cyclin T1. A single introduction of such embodiment leads to sustained suppression of HIV replication in stringent, chronically infected HeLa-CD4 cell lines as well as in T-cell lines. In another embodiment, the invention further relates to enhancement of HIV suppression by incorporating cis-acting ribozymes immediately upstream of the gRNA in the inducible CRISPR system construct. The inducible fusion promoter is adaptable for other tissue- or cell-type specific expression of the inducible CRISPR system.

Abstract: The subject invention provides methods for the chemical synthesis of racemic arsinothricin (D,L-AST), the novel organoarsenical antibiotic. One is by condensation of the 2-chloroethyl(methyl)arsinic acid with acetamidomalonate, and the second involves reduction of the N-acetyl-protected derivative of hydroxyarsinothricin (AST-OH) and subsequent methylation of the resulting sodium salt of trivalent arsenic intermediate with methyl iodide. The enzyme AST N-acetyltransferase (ArsN1) was utilized to purify L-AST from racemic AST. This expedient chemical synthesis of AST provides a source of this novel antibiotic for future drug development.

Abstract: The subject invention provides compounds, peptidomimetics, and methods of synthesis thereof. The subject invention provides the synthesis and use of guanidino acids and/or poly guanidino acids not only as vehicles for drug delivery but as toolbox for drug discovery. The peptidomimetic of the subject invention comprises oligo(guanidino acid)s or poly(guanidino acid)s with guanidines as peptide bond surrogates. The incorporation of the guanidine as amide bond surrogates offers significant differences in polarity, hydrogen bonding capability, and acid-base character.

Abstract: The disclosure describes the effects of transcription mediated from a promoter on the transcription mediated by divergently coupled supercoiling-sensitive promoter. Transcription initiated from a promoter inhibits transcription mediated by a specific supercoiling-sensitive promoter that is divergently coupled to the promoter. A gyrase inhibitor relieves this inhibition and substantially increases the transcription mediated by the specific supercoiling-sensitive promoter that is divergently coupled to another promoter. Accordingly, the invention pertains to a method for identifying a compound as a gyrase inhibitor or not a gyrase inhibitor based on differential expression of genes under the control of divergently coupled promoters in the presence of the compound. Another embodiment of the invention provides an assay for identifying one or more compounds from a library of compounds as a gyrase inhibitor.

Abstract: The subject invention provides compositions and methods for treating, preventing or ameliorating vascular calcification, for example, medial vascular calcification and intimal atherosclerotic calcification via the inhibition of EGFR. The subject invention also provides compositions and methods for treating or preventing a disease associated with vascular calcification via the inhibition of EGFR.

Abstract: Vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (VACNTs) (e.g., multi-walled VACNTs and methods of synthesizing the same are provided. VACNTs can be synthesized on nickel foam (Ni—F), for example by using a plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) technique. A wet chemical method can then be used to coat on the VACNTs a layer of nanoparticles, such as tin oxide (SnO2) nanoparticles.

Abstract: Microsupercapacitors (MSCs), as well as methods of fabricating the same and methods of using the same, are provided. An MSC can include interdigitated microelectrodes having reduced graphene oxide (rGO) (e.g., vertically aligned nanosheets thereof) disposed on upper surfaces of the microelectrodes. The MSC can be fabricated by preparing a micro-current collector (MCC) comprising the interdigitated microelectrodes using photolithography and then performing a bipolar electrochemistry process on the MCC to deposit rGO on the upper surfaces of the interdigitated microelectrodes (e.g., in a single-step in situ exfoliation, reduction, and deposition).

Abstract: A system and method for electrical label-free detection of single protein molecules via a nanoscale electrode based on detecting the transient potential change of the floating nanoelectrode, which works for both large and small molecules. The system can also be applied to study the interactions of molecules with molecular receptors on the surface of the nanoscale electrode. The motion and dynamics of the protein near the nanoscale electrode can be detected with high precision in real time based on their intrinsic charges by the potentiometric method using a differential amplifier. The nanoelectrode can be integrated into a microfluidic device for biosensing applications.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting and/or identifying an attack on a battery management system (BMS) or a battery system. The voltage and/or state of charge (SOC) of the BMS or battery system can be monitored, and one or more datasets can be obtained. A principal component analysis (PCA) based unsupervised k-means approach can be applied on the one or more datasets to monitor for irregularities that indicate an attack.

Abstract: Flexible fuel cell sensors and methods of making and using the same are provided. A fuel cell sensor can be used for the detection of, for example, isopropyl alcohol (IPA), and the working mechanism of the fuel cell sensor can rely on redox reactions. The fuel cell sensor can include a proton exchange membrane (PEM), an anode disposed on a first surface of the PEM, a cathode disposed on a second surface of the PEM opposite from the first surface, and a reference electrode disposed on the first surface of the PEM and spaced apart from the anode.

Abstract: Stacked magnetic cores that can achieve high density with a small footprint, as well as methods of fabricating and using the same, are provided. A stacked magnetic core can be fabricated by depositing nanomagnetic films with control in composition and nanostructure via a continuous electroplating process. The magnetic films are interspersed with thin adhesive films (that can be insulating) in an automated roll-to-roll process. That is, the magnetic films and adhesive films are disposed in an alternating fashion. The adhesive films can keep the magnetic films completely electrically isolated from each other, while also adhering adjacent magnetic films to each other.