Abstract: This disclosure provides peptides which have a strong affinity for the checkpoint receptor “programmed death 1” (PD-1). These peptides block the interaction of PD-1 with its ligand PD-L1 and can therefore be used for various therapeutic purposes, such as inhibiting the progression of a hyperproliferative disorder, including cancer; treating infectious diseases; enhancing a response to vaccination; treating sepsis; and promoting hair re-pigmentation or lightening of pigmented skin lesions.

Abstract: The pocket detection platform (PDP) detects pathogens, toxins and chemicals of interest simultaneously by way of a multi-channeled, soft see-through plastic pouch design that consists of inner and outer compartments that promote compartmentalization and/or unidirectional sample flow. The platform enables the concurrent running of multiple detection assay techniques such as lateral flow immunoassays (LFI), Isothermal molecular assays (i.e., Recombinase Polymerase Amplification, or RPA) and/or paper-based chemical assays (i.e., M8, pH paper) from a single wet or dry sample with minimal sample processing. The PDP reduces soldier overburden by decreasing size weight, and power (SWaP) as well as training time, electronic burden, while providing a flexible, customizable assay platform that can be rapidly produced, assembled, sustained, and when contaminated, easily to dispose of.

Abstract: Entangled quantum photons augment a classically encrypted data message and the augmented message, classical decryption key and quantum photon augmentation key are transmitted on a single classical transmission line to a receiver. Eavesdroppers, i.e., attacks, are detected in accordance with changes to the quantum photons in the augmented message.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides materials and methods for cell-free expression of epitopes for immunotherapy applications. In particular, the present disclosure provides materials and methods for expressing concatenated epitopes using a cell-free protein synthesis platform for high throughput, large scale, and unbiased epitope screening and the generation of multi-epitope vaccines.

Abstract: A portable fluidic platform for rapid and flexible end-to-end production of recombinant protein biologics includes a bioreactor system hosting stable and robust cell-free translation systems that is fluidically integrated with modular protein separation functionalities (e.g., size exclusion, ion exchange or affinity chromatography systems) for purification of the cell-free expressed product and which are configurable for process-specific isolation of different proteins, as well as for formulation. The bioreactor utilizes lysates from engineered eukaryotic (e.g., yeast) or prokaryotic (e.g., bacterial) strains that contain factors for protein folding and posttranslational modifications. Combination of various purification modules on the same fluidic platform allows flexibility of re-routing for purification of different proteins depending on specific target requirements.

Abstract: A horizontal acoustic vector sensor system described herein includes a housing which has a gimbal assembly therein which is attached to a sensor assembly which has multiple pairs of seismometers that arranged orthogonally to one or more neighboring pairs of seismometers, along an approximately horizontal axis. The gimbal assembly with sensor assembly are enclosed within the housing by an endcap which includes an electronics assembly. The multiple pairs of seismometers are wired to the electronics assembly through a slip-ring which allows for movement of the gimbal assembly without entangling the wires. The horizontal acoustic vector sensor system further includes at least one omni-directional hydrophone integrated into the endcap.

Abstract: An Activation Map Analysis (AMA) system attaches to an existing deep neural network (host network) as an observer that analyzes the internal activities of the host network to provide additional information, e.g., metrics for resilience, interpretability, and adversarial defense, to the end-user. The AMA system is developed using deep k-nearest neighbor (DkNN) coupled with principal component analysis (PCA) for data dimensionality reduction or Hyperdimensional Computing (HDC) to encode activation map data of the host for data reduction.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides materials and methods for cell-free expression of epitopes for immunotherapy applications. In particular, the present disclosure provides materials and methods for expressing concatenated epitopes using a cell-free protein synthesis platform for high throughput, large scale, and unbiased epitope screening and the generation of multi-epitope vaccines.

Abstract: An acoustic vector sensor (“AVS”) includes one or more sensitive elements arranged in an orthogonal configuration to provide high-sensitivity directional performance. The one more sensitive elements may be seismometers arranged in a pendulum-type configuration. The AVS further includes a hydrophone.

Abstract: This disclosure provides peptides that bind to LAG3 and can be used to block its interaction with other molecules such as MHC-II, FGL1, and ?-synuclein. These peptides, with their demonstrated activity and short half-life, can be used to activate cellular immunity while significantly reducing the potential for adverse events that is often associated with the antibody-based checkpoint inhibitors. The peptides can be used as stand-alone therapeutics or can be used as immune modulators in combination with other therapies.

Abstract: Object detection architectures for detecting and classifying objects in an image are modified to incorporate an extending Rapid Class Augmentation (XRCA) progressive learning algorithm with its defining aspect of memory built into its optimizer which allows joint optimization over both the old and the classes using just the new class data and eliminates the issues associated with catastrophic forgetting.

Abstract: A process and systems for constructing arbitrarily large virtual arrays using two or more collection platforms (e.g. AUX and MOV systems) having differing velocity vectors. Referred to as Motion Extended Array Synthesis (MXAS), the resultant imaging system is comprised of the collection of baselines that are created between the two collection systems as a function of time. Because of the unequal velocity vectors, the process yields a continuum of baselines over some range, which constitutes an offset imaging system (OIS) in that the baselines engendered are similar to those for a real aperture of the same size as that swept out by the relative motion, but which are offset by some (potentially very large) distance.

Abstract: This disclosure provides peptides which bind to LAG3, such as SAPWEPLHWPEDWWQGTGEW (SEQ ID NO:1), and can be used to block the interaction of LAG 3 with other molecules such as MHC-II, FGL1, and ?-synuclein. These peptides can be used for various therapeutic purposes, such as inhibiting the progression of a hyperproliferative disorder, including cancer, or inhibiting the progression of a synucleinopathy, inhibiting the progression of sepsis, inhibiting the progression of an infectious disease, and enhancing a response to a vaccine.

Abstract: This disclosure provides peptide conjugates that are useful for inhibiting the progression of a hyperproliferative disorder, inhibiting the progression of sepsis, inhibiting the progression of an infectious disease, enhancing a response to a vaccine, or inhibiting the progression of a synucleinopathy.

Abstract: A low power mass spectrometer assembly includes at least an ionization component, an electrostatic analyzer, a lens assembly, a magnet assembly and at least one detector located in a same plane as the entrance to the magnet assembly for detecting the deflected sample ions and/or fragments of sample ions, including ions or ion fragments indicative of the Vitamin D metabolite within the sample.

Abstract: A process and systems for constructing arbitrarily large virtual arrays using two or more collection platforms (e.g. AUX and MOV systems) having differing velocity vectors. Referred to as Motion Extended Array Synthesis (MXAS), the resultant imaging system is comprised of the collection of baselines that are created between the two collection systems as a function of time. Because of the unequal velocity vectors, the process yields a continuum of baselines over some range, which constitutes an offset imaging system (OIS) in that the baselines engendered are similar to those for a real aperture of the same size as that swept out by the relative motion, but which are offset by some (potentially very large) distance.

Abstract: Apparatus for detecting pulse optical position modulated signals with high background noise by detection of quantum arrival rate at the detector are described. Pulse signals at the detection limit are characterized by the arrival of clusters of individual photons at an optical receiver. The receiver has embedded shot noise that interferes with the detection of the signal of interest. The apparatus distinguishes the signal of interest by a measurement of the rate of arrival of the photons of the signal of interest from the ambient shot noise rate of the receiver. The apparatus determines the optimal signal detection criteria and calculates the expected bit error rate of the decoded data.

Abstract: A low power mass spectrometer assembly includes at least an ionization component, an electrostatic analyzer, a lens assembly, a magnet assembly and at least one detector located in a same plane as the entrance to the magnet assembly for detecting the deflected sample ions and/or fragments of sample ions, including ions or ion fragments indicative of the Vitamin D metabolite within the sample.

Abstract: A system for collecting data from multiple sensors at a central node is described. The system includes multiple pairs of sensor array multiplexers (SAMs) and sensors connected in series along the length of two cables each having a twisted wire pair. A first end of the length of the two cables is connected to the central node for receiving data from each of the multiple pairs. The multiple pairs include sensors of at least two different types, which may have different sampling rates. The first cable carries timing data between the multiple pairs and the central node and the second cable carries sensor data between the multiple pairs and the central node.

Abstract: A process and systems for constructing arbitrarily large virtual arrays using two or more collection platforms (e.g. AUX and MOV systems) having differing velocity vectors. Referred to as Motion Extended Array Synthesis (MXAS), the resultant imaging system is comprised of the collection of baselines that are created between the two collection systems as a function of time. Because of the unequal velocity vectors, the process yields a continuum of baselines over some range, which constitutes an offset imaging system (OIS) in that the baselines engendered are similar to those for a real aperture of the same size as that swept out by the relative motion, but which are offset by some (potentially very large) distance.