Abstract: Various technologies described herein pertain to systems and associated methods that autocorrelate temporal signals and output an autocorrelated signal upon which vascular perfusion in tissue may be determined. The system includes a sampler that receives a first indication and a second indication at a lag time after the first indication from an indication generator. The indication generator can be a photodetector, such as in diffuse correlation spectroscopy applications of the system. The sampler generates and transmits first and second digitized indications to a processing unit of the system. The processing unit employs an algorithm that includes generating an autocorrelated indication based on the first digitized indication, the second digitized indication, and the lag time. The processing unit outputs the autocorrelated indication such that the autocorrelated indication may be used to non-invasively measure vascular perfusion in tissue.

Abstract: A method of measuring electromagnetic interference (EMI) to noninvasively identify component degradation or failure in power electronics circuitry. The method involves characterizing the degradation or failure characteristics of the component and modeling those characteristics to enable a machine learning algorithm to identify EMI frequency distribution characteristics that correspond to the degradation or failure. The EMI frequency distribution is measured and the data provided to the machine learning algorithm whereupon the algorithm identifies degradation or failures indicated by the measured data.

Abstract: A method of measuring electromagnetic interference (EMI) to noninvasively identify component degradation or failure in power electronics circuitry. The method involves characterizing the degradation or failure characteristics of the component and modeling those characteristics to enable a machine learning algorithm to identify EMI frequency distribution characteristics that correspond to the degradation or failure. The EMI frequency distribution is measured and the data provided to the machine learning algorithm whereupon the algorithm identifies degradation or failures indicated by the measured data.

Abstract: A method of measuring electromagnetic interference (EMI) to noninvasively identify component degradation or failure in power electronics circuitry. The method involves characterizing the degradation or failure characteristics of the component and modeling those characteristics to enable a machine learning algorithm to identify EMI frequency distribution characteristics that correspond to the degradation or failure. The EMI frequency distribution is measured and the data provided to the machine learning algorithm whereupon the algorithm identifies degradation or failures indicated by the measured data.

Abstract: Certain donor plasmid vectors such as pFastBac™1 and pFastBac™ Dual lack a cis DNA element upstream of the polh translation start codon (ATG) present in wild type (wt) Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV), and contain a SV40 pA fragment. When a cis DNA element is inserted upstream of the 50 bp polh promoter and SV40 pA was replaced with a AcMNPV polh pA signal in pFastBac™1 and pFastBac™Dual, certain protein expression levels in High Five™ cells using the Bac-to-Bac® system reached that of the wt AcMNPV.

Abstract: Paper products such as tissues can be made using a furnish comprising surface enhanced pulp fibers (“SEPF”). In some embodiments, SEPF have a weighted average fiber length of at least 0.3 millimeters (mm) and an average hydrodynamic specific surface area of at least 10 square meters per gram (m2/g). In some embodiments, a furnish or a paper product can comprise at least 2 % SEPF by dry weight. In some embodiments, a paper product comprising SEPF can be formed from a furnish having a freeness of 650 ml Canadian Standard Freeness (CSF) or less, optionally 600 ml CSF or less.

Abstract: The general inventive concepts are directed to the discovery that certain aryl acids can be esterified under particular conditions to provide the resulting ester as a solid that precipitates in good yield from the reaction mixture. The esters may then be isolated and purified with relative ease. Accordingly, a method for the esterification, isolation, and purification of aryl acids is provided.

Abstract: In one or more embodiments, the present invention provides novel artificial, non-naturally-occurring double stranded DNA segments (and related methods) capable of acting as decoy binding sites for oncogenic transcription factors and a general method for suppressing aberrant activity of oncogenic transcription factors that promote cancer progression. In various embodiments, the present invention involves the sequestration of targeted oncogenic transcription factors at these artificial, non-naturally occurring engineered transcription factor binding sites, which have been introduced into the cells using oncolytic or other viruses that can be engineered to selectively target cancer cells.

Abstract: In one or more embodiments, the present invention provides novel artificial, non-naturally-occurring double stranded DNA segments (and related methods) capable of acting as decoy binding sites for oncogenic transcription factors and a general method for suppressing aberrant activity of oncogenic transcription factors that promote cancer progression. In various embodiments, the present invention involves the sequestration of targeted oncogenic transcription factors at these artificial, non-naturally occurring engineered transcription factor binding sites, which have been introduced into the cells using oncolytic or other viruses that can be engineered to selectively target cancer cells.

Abstract: A recombinant baculovirus expression vector or cell comprising an engineered baculovirus fp25k gene with one to three modified or mutated spots, the modified spots comprise the two 7-adenine mononucleotide repeats (MNR) and the 10th TTAA site. The invention also provides the method of making the vector and baculovirus.

Abstract: A method for converting animal cells into brown adipose tissue cells is provided that includes transforming the animal cells using an expression vector. The expression vector includes a nucleotide sequence encoding HB-EGF operatively linked to a promoter and a nucleotide sequence encoding ADAM 12 operatively linked to a promoter. Converting animal cells to brown adipose tissue cells can be used to treat obesity or to treat cancer by converting target cells to brown adipose tissue cells.

Abstract: A method and device for reducing gag reflex by applying pressure to a pressure point in the palm of the hand. A splint that holds the hand relatively immobile has a rigid member and an actuating pressure system, such as a solenoid, at the pressure point. The rigid member at least partially immobilizes the human user's palm and fingers. The actuating pressure system is mounted at an inner side of the volar side of the enclosure adjacent to a pressure region of the palm. A power supply is connected to the actuating pressure system to apply an electrical current to the pressure system, which exerts pressure to the pressure region of the user's palm in order to diminish or normalize the user's gag reflex response.

Abstract: A method for converting animal cells into brown adipose tissue cells is provided that includes transforming the animal cells using an expression vector. The expression vector includes a nucleotide sequence encoding HB-EGF operatively linked to a promoter and a nucleotide sequence encoding ADAM 12 operatively linked to a promoter. Converting animal cells to brown adipose tissue cells can be used to treat obesity or to treat cancer by converting target cells to brown adipose tissue cells.

Abstract: A conducting substrate made of a nickel coating on paper that can be used in a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC or DSC). Zinc oxide is the preferred wide-band semiconductor deposited as a nanoparticle layer on the nickel-coated paper to form a photoanode once a dye is deposited on the nanoparticles. A method of constructing the nickel-coated paper substrate is also contemplated.

Abstract: A method for converting animal cells into brown adipose tissue cells is provided that includes transforming the animal cells using an expression vector. The expression vector includes a nucleotide sequence encoding HB-EGF operatively linked to a promoter and a nucleotide sequence encoding ADAM 12 operatively linked to a promoter. Converting animal cells to brown adipose tissue cells can be used to treat obesity or to treat cancer by converting target cells to brown adipose tissue cells.

Abstract: An advanced transitional cup (ATC) for training developing children and developmentally-challenged individuals to drink from a cup. The ATC includes a lid with a small fluid aperture and an electric air valve. A microcontroller located in the base of the ATC converts a user-defined “flow rate” into a PWM voltage signal that successively opens and closes the air valve. A higher flow rate results in a PWM signal that opens the air valve for longer spans of time and closes the air valve for shorter spans of time as compared to a lower flow rate, thereby allowing more air to enter the ATC and fluid to be expressed from the fluid aperture more readily. A touch sensor on the sidewall of the ATC prevents the air valve from being opened, and thus fluid from exiting the fluid aperture, unless a drinker is touching the touch sensor, thereby preventing accidental spills.

Abstract: A metal-organic framework-based mesh-adjustable molecular sieve (MAMS) exhibiting a temperature-dependent mesh size. The MAMS comprises a plurality of metal clusters bound with a plurality of amphiphilic ligands, each ligand comprising a hydrophobic moiety and a functionalized hydrophilic moiety, and wherein the metal clusters and amphiphilic ligand functionalized hydrophilic moieties form a metal cluster layer, the metal cluster layer forming at least one hydrophilic pore. On each side of the metal cluster layer, a plurality of associated amphiphilic ligand hydrophobic moieties cooperate with the metal cluster layer to form a tri-layer and a plurality of tri-layers are packed in a facing-spaced apart relationship to form at least one hydrophobic pore.

Abstract: This invention relates to transgenic plants with improved phenotypic characteristics, and methods of making, identifying and selecting such plants. The transgenic plants include (a) a polynucleotide sequence encoding ETHE1 polypeptide or a functional fragment thereof, or (b) a polynucleotide that is complementary to, or hybridizes under stringent conditions to, the polynucleotide sequence of (a).

Abstract: A method for converting animal cells into brown adipose tissue cells is provided that includes transforming the animal cells using an expression vector. The expression vector includes a nucleotide sequence encoding HB-EGF operatively linked to a promoter and a nucleotide sequence encoding ADAM 12 operatively linked to a promoter. Converting animal cells to brown adipose tissue cells can be used to treat obesity or to treat cancer by converting target cells to brown adipose tissue cells.

Abstract: An advanced transitional cup (ATC) for training developing children and developmentally-challenged individuals to drink from a cup. The ATC includes a lid with a small fluid aperture and an electric air valve. A microcontroller located in the base of the ATC converts a user-defined “flow rate” into a PWM voltage signal that successively opens and closes the air valve. A higher flow rate results in a PWM signal that opens the air valve for longer spans of time and closes the air valve for shorter spans of time as compared to a lower flow rate, thereby allowing more air to enter the ATC and fluid to be expressed from the fluid aperture more readily. A touch sensor on the sidewall of the ATC prevents the air valve from being opened, and thus fluid from exiting the fluid aperture, unless a drinker is touching the touch sensor, thereby preventing accidental spills.