Abstract: In a method for generating a long nucleic acid molecule, nucleic acids immobilized on a surface and having overlapping complementary sequences is released into solution. The overlapping complementary sequences are hybridized to form hybridized nucleic acids, followed by extension or ligation of the hybridized nucleic acids to synthesize the long nucleic acid molecule. The nucleic acids may comprise first and second series of nucleic acids having redundant overlapping sequences, wherein nucleic acids from the first and second series are complementary to each other. The complementary nucleic acids are hybridized to form the hybridized nucleic acids. The generated long nucleic acid molecule may have a predetermined sequence element, and it may be introduced into a system wherein the predetermined sequence element is required for replication, such that replication of the synthesized long nucleic acid molecule is indicative of the presence of the predetermined sequence element in the long nucleic acid molecule.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for altering cell activity and function by expressing a light-activated ion pump polypeptide in a cell and contacting the cell with light that activates the expressed light-activated ion pump polypeptide. In some aspects of the invention, a light-activated ion pump polypeptide is a modified haloarcula halorhodopsin polypeptide, for example, a modified Halo 57 polypeptide.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fast-response photorefractive polymer element (1) including two insulating substrates (2, 2) arranged substantially in parallel with each other, ITO electrodes (3, 3) provided on inner surfaces (2a, 2a) of two insulating substrates (2, 2), dark current control layers (4, 4) provided on inner surfaces (3a, 3a) of ITO electrodes (3, 3), and a photorefractive composite material (5) provided between two insulating substrates (2, 2) with ITO electrodes (3, 3) and dark current control layers (4, 4). The photorefractive composite material (5) contains polytriarylamine (PTAA) which is a photorefractive polymer, and a dark current control layer (4) is a single-layered monomolecular film or multi-layered monomolecular films. With these configurations, a fast-response photorefractive polymer element achieves significantly improved responsiveness.

Abstract: A synthesis gas and nanocarbon production method has a lower hydrocarbon decomposition step for decomposing lower hydrocarbon to produce hydrogen and nanocarbon, a carbon dioxide reduction step for reacting a part of the nanocarbon produced with carbon dioxide to produce carbon monoxide, and a mixing step for mixing the hydrogen and carbon monoxide produced in a predetermined ratio, thereby nanocarbon and a synthesis gas having a desired gas ratio can be simultaneously produced easily.

Abstract: A linear motor has a tubular body and a rod that penetrates the tubular body in an axial direction, and is configured to displace the tubular body and the rod relative to each other in the axial direction. The linear motor includes: 12n+1 (where n is a positive integer) teeth arranged in the axial direction so as to project from an inner peripheral surface of the tubular body; 12n slots respectively formed between adjacent teeth of the plurality of teeth; 12n coils respectively disposed in the slots; and a plurality of permanent magnets held in the rod so as to be arranged in the axial direction. The respective coils are formed by being wound around an axis of the rod in an identical direction, and the number of permanent magnets positioned in the tubular body is set to 8n.

Abstract: Described are compositions and methods for treating liver disease, e.g., acute liver disease, using bone marrow-derived stem cells and bone marrow-derived stem cell conditioned media.

Abstract: A method and equipment based on multi-core fiber Bragg grating (FBG) probe for measuring structures of a micro part are provided. The provided method relates to how to accomplish measuring structures of a micro part by transforming two or three-dimensional contact displacements into spectrum shifts of the multi-core FBG probe, and to reconstruct the structure geometry of a micro part. The provided equipment can be used to bring the spherical tip of the multi-core FBG probe into contact with a micro part, to determine coordinates of contact points, and to reconstruct the structure geometry of a micro part. The provided method and equipment feature high sensitivity, low probing force, high inspecting aspect ratio and immunity to environment interference.

Abstract: Dynamic range compression in the hearing aids is provided for restoring normal loudness of low level sounds without making the high level sounds uncomfortably loud. An apparatus along with a method using sliding-band compression is disclosed for significantly reducing the temporal and spectral distortions generally associated with the currently used single and multiband compression techniques. It; uses a frequency-dependent gain function calculated on the basis of auditory critical bandwidth based short-time power spectrum and the specified hearing thresholds, compression ratios, and attack and release times. It is realized using FFT-based analysis-synthesis and can be integrated with other FFT-based signal processing in hearing aids and audio systems.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for generating codes for representation of data in memory devices that may avoid the block erasure operation in changing data values. Data values comprising binary digits (bits) can be encoded and decoded using the generated codes, referred to as codewords, such that the codewords may comprise a block erasure-avoiding code, in which the binary digits of a data message m can be encoded such that the encoded data message can be stored into multiple memory cells of a data device and, once a memory cell value is changed from a first logic value to a second logic value, the value of the memory cell may remain at the second logic value, regardless of subsequently received messages, until a block erasure operation on the memory cell.

Abstract: An aluminum or aluminum alloy-coated steel material includes base steel; and a coating layer formed on a surface of the base steel and containing by mass % Mg: 6% to 10%, Si: 3% to 7%, Fe: 0.2% to 2%, Mn: 0.02% to 2%, and the balance as Al and incidental impurities, wherein the coating layer has pseudoternary eutectic microstructures of ?Al—Mg2Si—(Al—Fe—Si—Mn) and an area ratio of the pseudoternary eutectic microstructures in the coating layer is at least 30%.

Abstract: Described herein are all-dry encapsulation methods that enable well-defined polymers to be applied around particles. One aspect of the invention relates to a method of coating a particle, comprising the steps of: placing said particle in a vessel at a pressure; rotating said vessel at a rotating speed for a period of time; mixing together a first gaseous monomer at a first flow rate, and a gaseous initiator at a second flow rate, thereby forming a mixture; introducing said mixture into said vessel via a vapor feedline; heating said mixture, thereby forming a reactive mixture; contacting said particle with said reactive mixture; thereby forming a polymer coating on said particle. The methods may be modified forms of initiated chemical vapor deposition using a thermally-initiated radical polymerization to create conformal coatings around individual particles while avoiding agglomeration. Particle surfaces may be coated with a range of functional groups.

Abstract: An encapsulated nanostructure fabricated using layers of polymer material and further processed for use in a micro-scale target device is presented. The fabrication includes the formation on a substrate of an array of encapsulated nanostructures. The encapsulated nanostructures each include a nanostructure and a micro-scale, multi-block structure that encapsulates the nanostructure. Each encapsulated nanostructure can be made usable by a target device by removing, e.g., by etching, one of the layers to expose a portion of the nanostructure.

Abstract: A composition for delivering an active agent to a patient. The composition includes a polymer core encapsulating the active agent and a mucoadhesive coating disposed about the core. The polymer may include covalently linked poly(ethylene glycol) chains, and the mucoadhesive coating may be selected to facilitate transfer of the particle through the intestinal mucosa. A molecular weight and cross-link density of the polymer may be selected such that the polymer core will decompose in a predetermined time interval. The fraction of the dose of the drug entering the system at circulation during the predetermined time interval may be between about 0.25% and about 25%. The composition may be formulated as a plurality of nanoparticles or microparticles that are combined with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier to produce an edible or inhalable drug product.

Abstract: The invention described herein provides methods for the detection of soluble antigens. In particular, the methods provide for the detection of soluble proteins and chemicals. In addition, the invention provides methods of detecting a nucleic acid sequence in a sample. Also described is an emittor cell comprising an Fc receptor and an emittor molecule for the detection of a target particle in a sample wherein the target particle to be detected is bound by one or more antibodies. Also provided is an optoelectronic sensor device for detecting a target particle in a plurality of samples.

Abstract: Certain aspects pertain to Fourier ptychographic imaging systems, devices, and methods such as, for example, high NA Fourier ptychographic imaging systems and reflective-mode NA Fourier ptychographic imaging systems.

Abstract: A novel method and system for conducting wide-field multi-photon microscopy through plane-projection are provided. It has been discovered that the limitations of conventional temporal-focusing techniques, such as single excitation wavelength and low acquisition rates can be resolved utilizing a novel optical set-up in which an optical diffuser is used as the scatterer. The use of such an optical arrangement enables temporal focusing regardless of the central wavelength of laser pulses. In addition, the optical sectioning possible using the disclosed microscopy is comparable to confocal microscopy, and can be robustly achieved by both moderate and high NA objectives at 100-fs pulse width. Moreover, the multi-photon excitation efficiency of the disclosed system can be enhanced by lowering the repetition rate of the ultrafast laser light source at constant pulse width and average power.

Abstract: A modular robotic system that includes a plurality of self-configuring robots. Each self-configuring robot includes a frame structure having a plurality of cylindrical bonding magnets positioned along the edges of the frame structure. The frame structure includes magnetic, non-gendered, hinges on any of the edges of the frame. The hinges provide enough force to maintain a pivot axis through various motions. The cylindrical bonding magnets are free to rotate allowing for multiple self-configurations with other like self-configuring robots. A movement generator is positioned within the frame structure that pivots to generate multi-axis movement allowing both robust self-reconfiguration with the other self-configuring robots and independent locomotion.

Abstract: Metabolic flux biosensors are provided herein, as are related compositions and methods useful for, inter alia, identifying factors which increase the production of metabolites and/or end products of metabolic pathways, and for the production of inter alia, metabolites and/or end products of metabolic pathways.

Abstract: The present invention provides polymeric materials arranged as photonic crystals, or portions of photonic crystals, having properties which can be easily tuned over a large range of wavelengths upon exposure to an external stimulus. In some embodiments, the photonic crystals comprise at least one portion which can undergo a change in a physical, chemical, dielectric, or other property upon exposure to an altering stimulus, resulting in a change in a diffracted wavelength of electromagnetic radiation (e.g, light) by the photonic crystal. Embodiments of the invention may advantageously exhibit large stop band tunability and rapid response times. Photonic crystals of the invention may be useful in a wide variety of applications, such as colorimetric sensors, active components of simple display devices, electrically controlled tunable optically pumped laser, photonic switches, multiband filters, and the like.

Abstract: Provided herein, in some embodiments, are modular transcriptional architectures and methods for regulated expression of guide RNAs in cells, such as human cells, which are based on Clustered Regularly Interspaced Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) systems.