Abstract: A method of preserving organisms in viable form, the method comprising: suspending organisms in a solution of electrospinnable polymer; drawing droplets of said solution through a spinneret; applying an electrostatic field to said droplets under electrospinning conditions; so as to form fibers having a diameter no greater than about 5 ?m within which distinct organisms are encapsulated in viable form.

Abstract: Amorphous steel composites with enhanced mechanical properties and related methods for toughening amorphous steel alloys. The composites are formed from monolithic amorphous steel and hard ceramic particulates, which must be embedded in the glass matrix through melting at a temperature above the melting point for the steel but below the melting point for the ceramic. The ceramics may be carbides, nitrides, borides, iron-refractory carbides, or iron-refractory borides. The produced composites may be one of two types, primarily distinguished by the methods for embedding the ceramic particulates in the steel. These methods may be applied to a variety of amorphous steels as well as other non-ferrous amorphous metals, and the resulting composites can be used in various applications and utilizations.

Abstract: The presently disclosed and/or claimed inventive concept(s) relates generally to processes for the non-aqueous hydrolysis of proteins and/or protein-containing materials and, more particularly but without limitation, to methods for producing amino acids from the non-aqueous solid acid hydrolysis of proteins and/or protein-containing materials. More particularly, but without limitation, the methods disclosed herein for producing amino acids from the solid acid hydrolysis of proteins and/or protein-containing materials are performed in a non-aqueous/solvent-free process. In one particular embodiment, the process of producing such amino acids from proteins and/or protein-containing materials includes, without limitation, the step of mechanocatalytically reacting a solid acid with one or more proteins and/or protein containing materials in a non-aqueous/solvent-free process using the solid acid as a catalyst.

Abstract: A photocharge storage element includes a gate insulator formed on a gate electrode, a channel formed on the gate insulator between a source electrode and a drain electrode, and an organic photoelectric conversion element formed on the channel. The organic photoelectric conversion element generates photocharges in response to light. The channel accumulates the photocharges generated by the organic photoelectric conversion element. The photocharges accumulated in the channel are read out from the channel in response to a voltage between the source electrode and the drain electrode.

Abstract: Pathogens are detected through the use of mutation-resistant ligands.

Abstract: A preparation method of silver nanostructure for use as substrate of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), which can ensure the ‘hot spot’, which provides the considerably very intense electromagnetic field in which the silver nano-structures have uniform average size and very strong forms of particles, by characterizing a variety of conditions such as, for example, concentration of AgNO3 and reductant, reaction temperature, stirring velocity, single dropwise addition quantity, dropwise addition rate, or total dropwise addition quantity, which were unpredictable in the conventional silver nanoparticle preparation method using AgNO3 aqueous solution and NaBH4 reductant, so that the preparation method can be advantageously applied for the mass production of silver nano-structures for use as substrate of SERS because the method can provide multimer form with enhanced SERS signals and reproducibility, and also ability to selectively control the particle size.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to RNA monomers comprising O-acetal levulinyl protecting groups at the 2? and/or the 5?-hydroxy functionalities of the ribose moiety. Said monomers may be incorporated into oligoribonucleotides or RNA polynucleotides. Furthermore, the invention is directed to methods for the synthesis of said RNA monomers, oligoribonucleotides and RNA polynucleotides, as well as methods for their deprotection and methods for the use of said compounds and compositions comprising said compounds. In particular, such compounds and compositions comprising them are used in methods for light-directed synthesis of RNA microarrays.

Abstract: Disclosed and claimed is a method of non-invasive immunization in an animal and/or a method of inducing a systemic immune response or systemic therapeutic response to a gene product. The skin of the animal is contacted with a non-replicative vector chosen from the group of bacterium, virus, and fungus, wherein the vector comprises and expresses a nucleic acid molecule encoding the gene product, in an amount effective to induce the response.

Abstract: Disclosed is a free-standing hybrid nanomembrane capable of energy storage. The free-standing hybrid nanomembrane includes carbon nanotube sheets and a conducting polymer coated on the carbon nanotube sheets. The carbon nanotube sheets are densified sheets formed by evaporating an alcohol from carbon nanotube aerogel sheets. The conducting polymer is coated on the carbon nanotube sheets by vapor phase polymerization. Further disclosed is a method for fabricating the free-standing hybrid nanomembrane.

Abstract: Organophosphate (OP) nerve agents and pesticides are potent inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Though oxime nucleophiles can reactivate an AChE-phosphyl adduct, the adduct can undergo a reaction called aging, leading to an aged-AChE adduct. The invention provides compounds and methods that can be used to reactivate an aged-AChE adduct. Such compounds and methods are useful to counteract organophosphorus poisoning.

Abstract: Provided herein are immunoreactive peptides which can selectively bind Ehrlichia-specific anti-p120 or anti-p140 antibodies. Methods and kits utilizing the immunoreactive peptides are also provided. The immunoreactive peptides may be utilized, e.g., for determining whether or not a subject is infected with Ehrlichia chaffeensis or Ehrlichia canis. In certain embodiments, the immunoreactive peptides may be utilized in an ELISA or lateral flow assay.

Abstract: A neurotrophic peptide having the sequence VGDGGLFEKKL (SEQ ID NO: 1) may be used to help sustain local microenvironment after mild-to-moderate brain injury. Treatment with the peptide was shown to enhance differentiation of newly born progenitors in the dentate gyrus 30 days after injury and to promote neuronal maturation and survival that is not seen naturally after traumatic brain injuries.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid additive for etching silicon nitride and silicon oxide layers, a metal ink including the same for forming silicon solar cell electrodes and a method for manufacturing silicon solar cell electrodes. More particularly, it relates to a liquid additive including metal nitrate, metal acetate, or hydrates thereof and a metal ink for forming silicon solar cell electrodes, mixed with the liquid additive and a metal. Further, it relates to a method for manufacturing silicon solar cell electrodes comprising a one-step non-contact printing for etching of a silicon nitride layer or silicon oxide layer and forming electrodes.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a two-photon probe for in-vivo imaging, having high selectivity for copper(II) ion, and a method for quantitatively estimating copper(II) on (Cu2+) in vivo using the same. The two-photon probe according to the present disclosure can detect intracellular free copper(II) on for a long period of time with a penetration depth greater than 90 ?m in living cells and tissues without the problems of mistargeting and photobleaching and can quantitatively estimate copper(II) on concentration in vivo using the ratio of blue emission intensity at 400-450 nm and red emission intensity at 550-650 nm.

Abstract: Devices and systems for power electronic circuits are provided. Embodiments of the present invention enable high density inductive energy storage by using electromechanical coupling between an electrically conducting inductive element and a mechanical resonator to passively store energy via both electromagnetic and mechanical mechanisms. A microelectromechanical inductor (MEMI) is provided utilizing a magnet and a conductor. In a specific embodiment, the MEMI includes a permanent magnet on a compliant layer centrally disposed within a spiral coil. In a further embodiment, a second coil is provided near the magnet to provide a resonating transducer.

Abstract: An interactive mixed reality simulator is provided that includes a virtual 3D model of internal or hidden features of an object; a physical model or object being interacted with; and a tracked instrument used to interact with the physical object. The tracked instrument can be used to simulate or visualize interactions with internal features of the physical object represented by the physical model. In certain embodiments, one or more of the internal features can be present in the physical model. In another embodiment, some internal features do not have a physical presence within the physical model.

Abstract: The subject invention is directed toward antimicrobial agents and methods of treating and preventing infection by pathogenic microorganisms and endophytic microorganisms in a plant through the use of SecA inhibitors.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for substituting polyaromatic hydrocarbons or polyheterocyclic compounds with perfluoroalkyl groups. The methods can include heating a polyaromatic hydrocarbon substrate or a polyheterocyclic compound substrate in the presence of a perfluoroalkyl iodide, typically in a closed system, wherein the heating is sufficient to bring both the polyaromatic hydrocarbons or polyheterocyclic compound, and the perfluoroalkyl iodide, into the gas phase, thereby allowing the substrate to react with the perfluoroalkyl iodide in the gas phase to form polyaromatic hydrocarbons or polyheterocyclic compounds having one or more perfluoroalkyl substituents. The methods allow for the creation of versatile libraries of novel perfluoroalkyl-containing derivatives that can serve as important building blocks and active components in biomedical, electronic, and materials applications.

Abstract: Metal nanoparticles entrapped or encapsulated in a polymer nanocapsule disclosed. Methods of making and using the metal nanoparticles entrapped or encapsulated in a polymer nanocapsule are also disclosed.

Abstract: Provided herein is a computerized image reconstruction apparatus and method that includes recording projection path information and energy loss information of a plurality of particles traversing an object being imaged and determining an estimated image of the object based on the projection path information and the energy loss information sampled into a projection format. The estimated image includes an active volume defined by an enclosure border. Cost function minimization uses an Adaptive-weighted Total Variation cost function, a Penalized Weighted Least-Squares cost function, or an Alpha-Divergence cost function to update the estimated image. An iterative updating algorithm corresponding to the cost function updates the estimated image and produces a final image based on the estimated image according to a predetermined threshold.