Abstract: This invention provides an attenuated virus comprising a modified viral genome engineered to containing multiple nucleotide substitutions that reduce the codon pair bias of a virus protein encoding sequence relative to a first host while the codon pair bias relative to a second host is not substantially reduced. In another embodiment, the invention provides an attenuated virus comprising modified viral genome engineered to containing multiple nucleotide substitutions that reduce the codon pair bias of a virus protein-encoding sequence relative to a first host and a second host. The attenuated virus may be used in a vaccine composition for inducing a protective immune response in a subject. The invention also provides a method of synthesizing the attenuated virus.

Abstract: A carrier free nanoparticle formulation with good circulation stability is made for anticancer drug delivery. Nanocrystals crystallized in the medium containing Pluronic F-127 then coated with albumin (Cim-F-Alb) had the smallest size and the most native albumin, and showed most favorable cell interaction profiles and better stability than commercial albumin based Abraxane formulation, while maintaining comparable cytotoxicity to those of Abraxane and solvent-dissolved paclitaxel (PTX).

Abstract: A space efficient photo-bioreactor. The bioreactor grows microalgae in a tall array of transparent flooded tubes. A nutrient media is circulated through the tubes. The array is configured to maximize the amount of sunlight falling upon each tube so that growth of the microalgae is as uniform as possible. A vertically-oriented gasser tube is provided. Gas is injected into this gasser tube along with the liquid nutrient medium. A bubble-size limiter is employed in the gas injector. The flow rates are configured so that the liquid nutrient medium and injected gas remain within the vertical gasser tube for 30 seconds or more.

Abstract: Provided is a highly sensitive pressure sensor that includes a lower substrate on which a first electrode having surface roughness is formed; an upper substrate on which a second electrode having surface roughness is formed; and a dielectric material stacked between the lower substrate and the upper substrate to be disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Abstract: The antimicrobial agent includes at least one two-dimensional metal carbide layer. The two-dimensional metal carbide has the formula Tin+1CnTx, where T represents a terminal functional group and x represents the number of terminal functional groups. The two-dimensional metal carbide is preferably Ti3C2Tx. The terminating group may be oxygen, hydroxide (OH), fluorine or combinations thereof. The antimicrobial agent may be used as a two-dimensional metal carbide antimicrobial membrane (10) or filter for removal of harmful bacteria, such as E. coli and B. subtilis. A stack of two-dimensional metal carbide layers (14) may be supported on a polymer filter substrate (12), such as a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) supporting substrate.

Abstract: Extruded starch foams are well known as biodegradable alternatives to foamed polystyrene packaging materials. Extruded foams of unmodified starch replacing 1% to 20% of the starch with kraft lignin were prepared. At 10% lignin, there are no deleterious effects on foam density, morphology, compressive strength, or resiliency as compared to a starch extruded foam, yet the foam retains its integrity after immersion for 24 hours in water. At 20% lignin there is a decrease in compressive strength and resiliency. Addition of cellulose fibers restore the mechanical properties but with an increase in density.

Abstract: A peptide that binds specifically to neuropilin-1 (NRP1) without binding to neuropilin-2 (NRP2) is provided. A fusion protein, a fusion antibody, small-molecule drug, a nanoparticle, or a liposome, which comprises the peptide, and a pharmaceutical composition for treating or preventing cancer or angiogenesis-related diseases, and a composition for diagnosing cancer or angiogenesis-related diseases are provided. A polynucleotide encoding the peptide that binds specifically to NRP1 and a method for screening the peptide that binds specifically to NRP1 are provided. An antibody heavy-chain constant region Fc-fused peptide binding specifically to NRP1 has the property of binding specifically to NRP1, and thus when it is administered in vivo, it accumulates selectively in tumor tissue, and widens the intercellular space between tumor-associated endothelial cells to promote its extravasation and increases its tumor tissue penetration.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and machine readable media that enable object localization with an RFID infrastructure. Localization is performed by modeling the distance-decaying behavior of received signal strength. Selection of optimally performing tag types and the use of uniformly sensitive tags of those optimal tag types further enhances localization accuracy. When these components are combined, RFID becomes a feasible way to locate moving and stationary objects in a 3D environment that includes other objects, as well as noise and signal pollution.

Abstract: The invention described herein pertains to selective Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors and methods of use thereof. Also described are methods for treating diseases involved abnormal JAK/STAT signaling pathway in mammals using the described selective JAK inhibitors or a pharmaceutical formulation thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing a phase-separated lead telluride-lead sulfide nanopowder using solution synthesis and a phase-separated lead telluride-lead sulfide nanopowder prepared by the method. The method includes: (a) mixing tellurium and a first solvent, followed by ultrasonic irradiation to prepare a tellurium precursor solution; (b) mixing an organosulfur compound and a second solvent, followed by ultrasonic irradiation to prepare a sulfur precursor solution; (c) mixing lead oxide, a third solvent, and a fourth solvent and heating the mixture to prepare a lead precursor solution; (d) adding the tellurium precursor solution to the lead precursor solution and allowing the mixture to react; (e) adding the sulfur precursor solution to the reaction mixture of step (d) and allowing the resulting mixture to react; and (f) cooling the reaction mixture of step (e) to room temperature to prepare a phase-separated lead telluride-lead sulfide nanopowder.

Abstract: A new Hibiscus plant named ‘RutHib1’ is characterized by a combination of good form, medium vigor, predominately purple foliage, white flowers with a red eye, and good tolerance to Alternaria, Cercospora, and Phytophthora pathogens.

Abstract: A method of using an acoustic resonator including receiving at a first stage of a resonator an incoming acoustic wave. The method further includes resonating the incoming wave with a flexible membrane, a taper of the flexible membrane, and a cavity of a first stage, thereby producing synergistic effect on a resulting acoustic resonance. Additionally, the method includes transforming an acoustic energy associated with the incoming acoustic wave into an elastic energy, wherein the elastic energy is channeled through the flexible membrane, thereby reducing an intensity of the incoming acoustic wave and resulting in a first reduced incoming acoustic wave. Further the method includes transferring the first reduced incoming acoustic wave through a hole of a neck of the flexible membrane. The method also includes transferring a first pressure wave caused by a perturbation in the flexible membrane into a second stage, thereby producing a second acoustic wave.

Abstract: Disclosed is a biochemical detection device in which a reaction incubation time required for a biomolecular reaction in a liquid-phase based point-of-care detection reaction device is passively controlled using a dissolvable material layer in a limited volume, thereby to minimize the user intervention. The biochemical detection device includes a substrate; a probe disposed on the substrate; a dissolvable material layer disposed on the substrate, wherein the dissolvable material layer has a first opening defined therein, wherein the probe is received in the first opening; an absorbing material layer disposed on the dissolvable material layer and having a second opening defined therein, wherein the first opening communicates with the second opening and is smaller than the second opening; and a non-dissolvable material layer disposed on an inner face of the second opening of the absorbing material layer and on an exposed top face of the dissolvable material layer.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a method for preparing structurally unique nanomaterials and the products thereof. In particular, the present invention discloses a method for preparing ultra-narrow nanowire or nanorod on a patterned monolayer or thin film supported by a 2D material substrate in a nonpolar environment, wherein said pattered monolayer or thin film comprises a polymerizable phospholipid with a terminal amine. A gold nanowire or nanorod so prepared has a highly controlled diameter of about 2 nm, and a length about 1000 nm, dependent in part on molecular domain sizes in the monolayer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a gate electrode extending in a first direction on a substrate, a first active pattern extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction on the substrate to penetrate the gate electrode, the first active pattern including germanium, an epitaxial pattern on a side wall of the gate electrode, a first semiconductor oxide layer between the first active pattern and the gate electrode, and including a first semiconductor material, and a second semiconductor oxide layer between the gate electrode and the epitaxial pattern, and including a second semiconductor material. A concentration of germanium of the first semiconductor material may be less than a concentration of germanium of the first active pattern, and the concentration of germanium of the first semiconductor material may be different from a concentration of germanium of the second semiconductor material.

Abstract: Systems and methods for ultrafast synthetic transmit aperture (“USTA”) ultrasound imaging using coded virtual sources are described. The methods can implement spatially distinct or spatially overlapping sub-apertures with appropriate timing of transmission between the spatially overlapping sub -apertures. The systems and methods described here are capable of increasing signal-to-noise ratio (“SNR”) and spatial resolution to reduce frame rate.

Abstract: Virus vectors wherein each of the virus vectors expresses a sequence targeting a consensus conserved nucleic acid sequence, which when expressed in cells, functions as a modulator for nucleic acid encoding a domain.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing image data are provided. An image data processing apparatus includes: a receiver configured to receive image data that represents a current frame; and a processor configured to perform an inverse fast Fourier Transform (IFFT) computation with respect to a first region of the current frame, and to obtain an IFFT computation result with respect to a second region of the current frame by using a result of the IFFT computation with respect to the first region.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a structure of an automatic hair implanter capable of continuously performing hair transplantation work by applying a structure of a conventional manual hair implanter. A proposed automatic hair implanter (hair transplantation device) comprises a rotating magazine therein, and several needle modules are stored in the magazine. Two pushrods, which are positioned on a rear portion of the device and capable of translational motion, play a role of pushing a needle and a shaft, which constitute a needle module, forward. The needle and the shaft may be moved backward by a spring positioned inside the magazine.

Abstract: Provided herein are polynucleic acids and expression vectors for the expression and secretion of angiotensin peptide fragments (e.g., angiotensin-(1-7)) in probiotic bacteria. Provided herein are also probiotic compositions that enable efficient, cost-effective and patient friendly oral therapeutics for treating diverse pathological conditions that involve the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), e.g., pulmonary hypertension, diabetes, diabetic complications, cardiovascular diseases, and ocular inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases.