Abstract: There is described herein methods and devices for high DC gain closed loop operation amplifiers exploiting cascaded low gain stages and a controller-based compensation circuit for stability.

Abstract: There is described herein methods and devices for confining and/or manipulating molecules. At least one molecule is introduced into a fluidic chamber. The fluidic chamber is formed inside a device comprising at least one first electrode having a first surface spaced from at least one second electrode having a second surface facing the first surface. The at least one second electrode has a plurality of dielectric structures arranged to form openings along the second surface. At least one electrical signal is applied across the at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode to generate a non-uniform electric field having electric field lines extending from the first surface of the at least one first electrode to the second surface of the at least one second electrode in the openings formed between the dielectric structures. The at least one electrical signal has a frequency level causing the at least one molecule to move inside the fluidic chamber in accordance with a predetermined movement.

Abstract: There is described a multi-mode unrolled decoder. The decoder comprises a master code input configured to receive a polar encoded master code of length N carrying k information bits and N?k frozen bits, decoding resources comprising processing elements and memory elements connected in an unrolled architecture and defining an operation path between the master code input and an output, for decoding a polar encoded code word, at least one constituent code input configured to receive a polar encoded constituent code of length N/p carrying j information bits and N/p?j frozen bits, where p is a power of 2, and at least one input multiplexer provided in the operation path to selectively transmit N/p bits of one of the master code and the constituent code to a subset of the decoding resources.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides agents capable of promoting endogenous steroid production (such as endogenous testosterone production) without altering the endogenous luteinizing hormone. The present disclosure also provides associated therapeutic methods as well as screening assays for identifying further therapeutic agents for the prevention, treatment and/or alleviations of symptoms associated with hypogonadism.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for performing a nanoarray-in-microarray assay is provided, which can be used to estimate a protein concentration in a sample solution. A plurality of nanodots are fabricated on a surface having at least one affinity binder. One or more microspots are superimposed over the nanodots on predetermined regions of the surface, each of the microspots comprising at least one antibody. An assay process is performed on the surface, and the surface is imaged to acquire optical images of the nanodots within each microspot. Image analysis algorithms are the performed on the optical images to identify bindings on individual ones of the plurality of nanodots.

Abstract: MEMS based sensors, particularly capacitive sensors, potentially can address critical considerations for users including accuracy, repeatability, long-term stability, ease of calibration, resistance to chemical and physical contaminants, size, packaging, and cost effectiveness. Accordingly, it would be beneficial to exploit MEMS processes that allow for manufacturability and integration of resonator elements into cavities within the MEMS sensor that are at low pressure allowing high quality factor resonators and absolute pressure sensors to be implemented. Embodiments of the invention provide capacitive sensors and MEMS elements that can be implemented directly above silicon CMOS electronics.

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: GaN-based nanowire heterostructures have been intensively studied for applications in light emitting diodes (LEDs), lasers, solar cells and solar fuel devices. Surface charge properties play a dominant role on the device performance and have been addressed within the prior art by use of a relatively thick large bandgap AlGaN shell covering the surfaces of axial InGaN nanowire LED heterostructures has been explored and shown substantial promise in reducing surface recombination leading to improved carrier injection efficiency and output power. However, these lead to increased complexity in device design, growth and fabrication processes thereby reducing yield/performance and increasing costs for devices. Accordingly, there are taught self-organizing InGaN/AlGaN core-shell quaternary nanowire heterostructures wherein the In-rich core and Al-rich shell spontaneously form during the growth process.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to use of rhamnolipid coated nanoparticles of zero valent iron (NZVI), either in its bare form or functionalized with other materials (M) such as trace amounts of a palladium catalyst, for transforming chlorinated solvent pollutants by targeting the non-aqueous phase, which contains said chlorinated solvent pollutants. The method may be useful as water treatment technology for restoration of groundwater resources contaminated with toxic, chlorinated solvent pollutants as well as in the treatment of industrial waste of chlorinated solvents in reactor systems.

Abstract: It is provided an anti-microbial composition comprising a phenolic-rich extract such as a phenolic-rich maple syrup extract (PRMSE) and at least one antibiotic and a method of treating a bacterial infection comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a phenolic-rich extract and at least one antibiotic.

Abstract: A triazole bridged flavonoid dimer compound library was efficiently constructed via the cycloaddition reaction of a series of flavonoid-containing azides (Az 1-15) and alkynes (Ac 1-17). These triazole bridged flavonoid dimers and their precursor alkyne- and azide-containing flavonoids were screened for their ability to modulate multidrug resistance (MDR) in P-gp-overexpressed cell line (LCC6MDR), MRP1-overexpressed cell line (2008/MRP1) and BCRP-overexpressed cell line (HEK293/R2 and MCF7-MX100). Generally, they displayed very promising MDR reversal activity against P-gp-, MRP1- and BCRP-mediated drug resistance. Moreover, they showed different levels of selectivity for various transporters. Overall, they can be divided into mono-selective, dual-selective and multi-selective modulators for the P-gp, MRP1 and BCRP transporters.

Abstract: An isolated polypeptide comprising a peptide selected from: i) DHX1SDNYT, wherein X1 is L or H (SEQ ID NO:3); ii) a conservative variant of i) iii) a fragment of i) or ii); wherein the conservative variant and/or fragment retains biological activity and the peptide is 15 or less amino acids as well as recombinant cells, and uses thereof.

Abstract: Considerations for selecting capacitive sensors include accuracy, repeatability, long-term stability, ease of calibration, resistance to chemical and physical contaminants, size, packaging, integration options with other sensors and/or electronics, and cost effectiveness. It is beneficial if such sensors are amenable to above-IC integration with associated control/readout circuitry for reduced parasitics and reduced footprint through area sharing. The inventors have established a combined Lorentz force based magnetometer and accelerometer MEMS sensor exploiting a low temperature, above-IC-compatible fabrication process operating without requiring vacuum packaging.

Abstract: Modern communication systems must cope with varying channel conditions and differing throughput constraints. Polar codes despite being the first error-correcting codes with an explicit construction to achieve the symmetric capacity of memoryless channels are not currently employed against other older coding protocols such as low-density parity check (LDPC) codes as their performance at short/moderate lengths has been inferior and their decoding algorithm is serial leading to low decoding throughput. Accordingly techniques to address these issues are identified and disclosed including decoders that decode constituent codes without recursion and/or recognize classes of constituent directly decodable codes thereby increasing the decoder throughput. Flexible encoders and decoders supporting polar codes of any length up to a design maximum allow adaptive polar code systems responsive to communication link characteristics, performance, etc. while maximizing throughput.

Abstract: A hydrogel comprising a colloidal suspension of MIXMIIYPZ two-dimensional nanocrystals in water, wherein MI is Na+ and/or Li+, MII is Mg2+ or a mixture of Mg2+ with one or more Ni2+, Zn2+, Cu2+, Fe2+ and/or Mn2+, P is a mixture of dibasic phosphate ions (HPO42?) and tribasic phosphate ions (PO43?), X ranges from about 0.43 to about 0.63, Y ranges from about 0.10 to about 0.18, Z ranges from about 0.29 to about 0.48, X, Y, Z being mole fractions, is provided.

Abstract: A building product is made from granular material and a binder that includes steel slag. A process for making the building product includes combining the granular material and the binder and then curing the combined granular material and binder with carbon dioxide. A building material includes a mixture of steel slag and a silica-rich material. The steel slag and silica-rich material is treated by heating. The silica-rich material may be waste glass and/or fly ash. A process for making the building material includes mixing the steel slag and silica-rich material and further heating the mixture.

Abstract: A vehicle guidance system for an agricultural vehicle is described which includes an optical imaging device collecting information of field characteristics, and a steering control device receiving the information of field characteristics transmitted from the optical imaging device. The steering control device having a steering actuator including a motor operatively connected to a hub adaptor. The hub adaptor is removably mountable to a central hub of a steering wheel of the agricultural vehicle in fixed rotary engagement, wherein when the hub adaptor is engaged to the central hub of the steering wheel, rotation of the hub adaptor by the motor causes corresponding rotation of the steering wheel. The steering control device thereby autonomously rotates the central hub of the steering wheel in response to the information of field characteristics received by the steering control device and the vehicle guidance system thereby steers the agricultural vehicle.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of a metal-organic compound is provided. This method comprises the steps of (a) providing at least one metal precursor, (b) providing at least one bridging organic ligand, and (c) exposing together the metal precursor and the ligand to liquid CO2 or supercritical CO2 as a reaction medium, thereby producing said metal-organic compound.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a reversible hydrogen transfer process and storage system using visible light to photocatalytically generate hydrogen from compounds comprising saturated or partially saturated carbocyclic residue and catalytically hydrogenate compounds comprising at least one carbocyclic aromatic residue.

Abstract: A heating mechanism for use in DNA applications such as DNA amplification, extraction and sterilization is provided. Nanoparticles having photo-thermal properties are put in contact with a reaction mixture and irradiated with an activation light beam to activate these photo-thermal properties, thereby releasing heat. Nanoparticles of several types may be used. Use of the same nanoparticles or of different one to monitor the reaction using a different light beam is also presented.