Abstract: Devices for detecting an analyte in a sample suspected of containing the analyte, are provided. The devices include bio-functional, nanostructured, isoporous membranes (BNIM) integrated organic electrochemical transistor (OECT), herein BNIM-OECT, for the rapid and sensitive detection of the presence of an analyte of interest, in a sample, for example, a biological sample. The membrane (i.e., BNIM) is physically separated from the OECT channel therefore the electronic device can be used multiple times. The isoporous membrane is functionalized to include a binding partner for the analyte being detected. The BNIM-OECT can be used for disease detection, by functionalizing the BNIM-OECT with a binding partner to an analyte associated with the disease, applying a collected biological sample to the BNIM-OECT. A decrease in channel current as a result of analyte binding to its binding partner on the isoporous membrane indicates the presence of the analyte in the sample.

Abstract: A composition of matter is provided comprising hierarchically ordered crystalline microporous material having well-defined long-range mesoporous ordering of hexagonal symmetry. The composition possesses mesopores having walls of crystalline microporous material and a mass of mesostructure between mesopores of crystalline microporous material. Long-range ordering is defined by presence of secondary peaks in an X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern and/or hexagonal symmetry observable by microscopy.

Abstract: A smart sand includes raw sand particles, synthetic SiO2 particles attached to the raw sand particles, a first material attached to a first set of the synthetic SiO2 particles, a second material attached to a second set of the synthetic SiO2 particles, and a third material attached to the first material. Each of the first to third materials is different from each other.

Abstract: A method includes modeling a reservoir using a lab scale set of models and a field scale set of models. The reservoir is modeled using the lab scale set of models by scanning a sample of the reservoir into the lab scale set of models to create modeled fractures, estimating hydraulic properties of the modeled fractures, estimating multi-phase dynamic properties of the modeled fractures, and determining characteristics of a flow regime of a fluid flowing through the modeled fractures. The reservoir is modeled using the field scale set of models by modeling a discrete fracture network of the reservoir, upscaling the discrete fracture network, and calibrating the discrete fracture network. An enhanced oil recovery operation is designed and performed on the reservoir using the calibrated discrete fracture network.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are modified zeolites and methods for making modified zeolites. In one or more embodiments disclosed herein, a modified zeolite may include a microporous framework including a plurality of micropores having diameters of less than or equal to 2 nm. The microporous framework may include at least silicon atoms and oxygen atoms. The modified zeolite may further include organometallic moieties each bonded to a nitrogen atom of a secondary amine functional group comprising a nitrogen atom and a hydrogen atom. The organometallic moieties may comprise a hafnium atom that is bonded to the nitrogen atom of the secondary amine functional group. The nitrogen atom of the secondary amine function group may bridge the hafnium atom of the organometallic moiety and a silicon atom of the microporous framework.

Abstract: According to one or more embodiments, a zeolite beta material may be made by a method that may include adding a parent zeolite beta in a basic solution to form a basic zeolite beta suspension, adding water to the basic zeolite beta suspension to form a dilute basic zeolite beta suspension, hydrothermally treating the dilute basic zeolite beta suspension to form a hydrothermally treated mixture, and separating from the hydrothermally treated mixture a solid zeolite beta material consisting essentially of polymorph-A and polymorph-B. The molar ratio of polymorph-A to polymorph-B of the solid zeolite beta material may be greater than molar ratio of polymorph-A to polymorph-B of the parent zeolite beta.

Abstract: A microfluidic chip includes a substrate; plural layers formed on top of each other over the substrate; a top layer formed over the plural layers; a first input port formed into the top layer; a second input port formed into the top layer; a first output port formed into a first layer of the plural layers; and a second output port formed into a second layer of the plural layers. The second layer is formed over the first layer.

Abstract: An integrated system for detecting a red palm weevil (RPW), farm fire, and soil moisture includes an optical fiber configured to be extending to a tree, and a distributed acoustic sensor (DAS) box connected to the optical fiber. The DAS box is configured to process first to third different optical signals reflected from the optical fiber, to determine a presence of the RPW from the first optical signal, a temperature at a location along the optical fiber from the second optical signals, and a moisture at a location around the tree from the third optical signal.

Abstract: A liquid desiccant system for controlling a temperature inside an enclosure includes an evaporative cooler system configured to cool an air stream AA entering the enclosure during day time; a liquid desiccant night cooler (LDNC) system configured to cool down and dry an inside air stream AE of the enclosure by using a liquid desiccant during the night; and a controller configured to switch on the LDNC system during the night.

Abstract: A fiber optic distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) system for detecting a red palm weevil (RPW) includes an optical fiber configured to be wrapped around a tree and a DAS box connected to the optical fiber. The DAS box includes a processing unit that is configured to receive a filtered Rayleigh signal reflected by the optical fiber, and run the filtered Rayleigh signal through a neural network system to determine a presence of the RPW in the tree.

Abstract: Methods of labeling, amplifying, and sequencing mitochondrial DNA are provided. The labeling methods typically include using polymerase-based extension of one or more unique molecular identifier (UMI) primers along a target mitochondrial DNA template, each UMI primer including a universal primer sequence, a unique molecular identifier sequence, and a mitochondrial DNA binding sequence. Amplification of the labeled-target mitochondrial DNA can include, for example, polymerase chain reaction (e.g., high-fidelity long-range). Methods of determining the sequence of labeled-target mitochondrial DNA can include use of a long-read sequencing platform. The methods may further including one or more of grouping sequences having the same UMI into one of more groups, determining the sequence of each labeled-target mitochondrial DNA by determining the consensus sequence of each group, and identifying polymorphisms in one or more of the labeled-target mitochondrial DNA.

Abstract: A photodetection device is configured to detect light and the photodetection device includes a substrate having a largest surface; a dielectric formed over the largest surface of the substrate; a first metallic electrode formed on the dielectric; a second metallic electrode formed on the dielectric, at a given distance from the first metallic electrode, to form a channel; and a single-crystal linear-chain polyfluorinated dibromo-platinum(II) diimine complex located in the channel.

Abstract: A composition of an indium oxide catalyst including an alkali dopant and a method for producing an indium oxide catalyst including an alkali dopant. The alkali dopant may include a cation of Li+, Na+, K+, Rb+, Cs+, and Fr+. The method for producing the indium oxide catalyst including an alkali dopant includes mixing a solution of an indium salt with a base to form precipitated indium hydroxide, contacting the precipitated indium hydroxide with a solution including an alkali metal salt to produce an indium hydroxide solution, and calcinating the indium hydroxide solution to form indium oxide; thereby forming the indium oxide catalyst including an alkali dopant.

Abstract: Imaging of complex, non-stationary three dimensional (3D) flow velocities is achieved by encoding depth into color. A flow volume 22 is illuminated with a continuum 40 of light planes 42 whereby each depth corresponds to a respective light plane 14 having a specific wavelength of light. A diffractive component 46 in the camera 24 optics, which records the trajectories of illuminated particles 20 within the flow volume 22, ensures that all light planes 42 are in focus simultaneously. The setup permits a user to track 3D trajectories of particles 20 within the flow volume 22 by combining two dimensional (2D) spatial and one dimensional (1D) color information. For reconstruction, an image formation model for recovering stationary 3D particle positions is provided. 3D velocity estimation is achieved with a variant of a 3D optical flow approach that accounts for both physical constraints as well as the color (rainbow) image formation model.

Abstract: A sand aggregate includes plural aggregate grains, wherein at least one aggregate grain of the plural aggregate grains includes, desert sand grains that are too small to be used in concrete applications, carbonate particles distributed on an external surface of the desert sand grains, and a sand-based glue that aggregates the desert sand grains together. The at least one aggregate grain has a size comparable to river sand grains, while the desert sand grains have a size smaller than the river sand grains so that the at least one aggregate grain is suitable for concrete applications.

Abstract: Modified zeolites may include a microporous framework including a plurality of micropores having diameters of less than or equal to 2 nm. The microporous framework may include at least silicon atoms and oxygen atoms. The modified zeolite may include a plurality of mesopores having diameters of greater than 2 nm and less than or equal to 50 nm, wherein the plurality of mesopores are ordered with cubic symmetry. The modified zeolite may include a plurality of titanium atoms each bonded to four bridging oxygen atoms, wherein each of the bridging oxygen atoms bonded to the titanium atoms bridges one of the plurality of the titanium atoms and a silicon atom of the microporous framework.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a soft stamp includes providing a substrate having a first electrode and a second electrode, the second electrode being formed at a distance less than 100 nm from the first electrode so that a nanogap Ng is formed between the first and second electrodes; pouring a curable substance over the first and second electrodes and into the nanogap Ng; curing the curable substance to form a soft stamp; and removing the soft stamp from the first and second electrodes. The soft stamp has a nano-feature having a size less than 100 nm.

Abstract: A functionalized fibrous hierarchical zeolite includes a framework comprising aluminum atoms, silicon atoms, and oxygen atoms, the framework further comprising a plurality of micropores and a plurality of mesopores. The functionalized fibrous hierarchical zeolite is functionalized with at least one terminal amine bonded to a silicon atom. Terminal organometallic functionalities are bonded to a nitrogen atom of the at least one terminal amine, the terminal organometallic functionalities comprising a platinum atom.

Abstract: Expression vectors and methods of protein purification, which allow for selection of full length protein over truncated forms of the protein being purified, are disclosed. The methods express a target protein as a three domain fusion, represented by formula I:A-[Li]-B-[L2]-C, where A is a first purification tag domain, C is the second purification tag domain and B is the target protein domain. A, B and C are preferably covalently linked by linkers, L1 and L2 may be optional. The purification tags at the N and C termini are different. The purification tags at the N and C termini are different. Expression vectors including nucleic acid sequences which encode the fusion protein represented by formula I are also disclosed. The vectors are used with host expression systems such as insect, yeast, or mammalian cells to express the target protein, which is subsequently purified as a function of the different affinity tags.