Abstract: A heat exchanger and method of making same are disclosed. In another aspect, a method of making a heat exchanger includes sintering powder metal and hot isostatic pressing of the powder metal. Moreover, an aspect of the present heat exchanger apparatus employs plates in a stacked arrangement with supercritical-CO2 flowing between the plates and between adjacent fins. Still another aspect of a heat exchanger apparatus is made of a nickel-based alloy.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical compositions comprising a selective TGF-? inhibitor, such as a TGF?RII-Fc, are provided herein to prevent, reverse, reduce the occurrence of and/or treat fatty degeneration of skeletal muscle. Additionally, the selective TGF-? inhibitors may be used to inhibit fibro-adipogenic progenitor cell (FAP) differentiation into adipocytes.

Abstract: A laser apparatus includes an optic dispersion compensator. In another aspect, an optic (40, 45) uses phase wrapping to compress or stretch a laser pulse. A further aspect includes an apparatus and method for binary-phase compression of stretched laser pulses. In yet another aspect, a single monolithic transmissive or reflective optic (40, 45) provides compression or stretching of a laser pulse using a sinusoidal pattern for introducing binary steps. Another aspect provides a stretching or compressing optic (40, 45) for retarding a phase of multiple frequency regions of a laser pulse by a factor of 2? or less. Still another aspect employs a volume grating or multi-layer mirror including phase wrapping to obtain discontinuous phase jumps in a laser pulse compressor (45) or stretcher (40). Methods of using or making the laser apparatus are also provided.

Abstract: A method of making nanoparticles including a semiconducting nitride is provided. The method includes reacting precursors in a gas phase to form the nanoparticles including the semiconducting nitride. The precursors include at least one of a gallium (Ga) precursor or an indium (In) precursor and a nitrogen (N) precursor. The semiconducting nitride is In1?xGaxN, where 0?x?1. Structures that include the nanoparticles and systems for making the nanoparticles are also provided.

Abstract: A pressure sensor system is provided. In another aspect, a wireless intraocular pressure sensor includes a deformable or stretchable inductor. A further aspect of an intraocular pressure sensing system includes a deformable inductor sized to contact an eye. Another aspect provides an organ pressure sending system including a passive inductor with a wavy, serpentine or undulating shape.

Abstract: The disclosed articles, apparatus, methods, and compositions provide for the integration of different and environmentally-friendly processes for extraction, stabilization, and formulation of active compounds with health and/or other benefits from lignocellulosic by-products of food processes. The active compounds can include one or more of polyphenols, flavonoids, o-diphenols, anthocyanins, and phenolic acids. A high-pressure, high-temperature extraction process provides a means to recover a substantial portion of the active compounds from a biomass feedstock. The corresponding extract can be encapsulated, which provides a convenient form for stabilization and delivery of the active compounds into a final product, for example an active packaging material or corresponding actively packaged food item.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of diagnosing endometriosis and/or infertility in a subject, comprising: a) obtaining a sample from the subject; b) detecting a level of expression of a SIRT1 gene and/or protein in the sample; c) detecting a level of expression of a BCL6 gene and/or protein in the sample; d) comparing the level of expression detected in (b) with the level of expression of a SIRT1 gene and/or protein in a sample obtained from a control subject or a population of control subjects; e) comparing the level of expression detected in (c) with the level of expression of a BCL6 gene and/or protein in a sample obtained from a control subject or a population of control subjects; and f) diagnosing the subject as having infertility when the subject has a level of expression of the SIRT1 gene and/or protein greater than the level of expression of the SIRT1 gene and/or protein of the control subject or population of control subjects and also has a level of expression of the BCL6 gene and/or protein t

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method for demodulation of a fiber optic sensor is provided. An aspect of the system provides an optical fiber, a laser, a phase modulator configured to be coupled to the optical fiber, and a sensor. The laser emits a laser beam into the optical fiber. The phase modulator receives the laser beam from the laser and directs the laser beam to the sensor. The sensor includes a coiled portion of the optical fiber, uncoiled segments adjacent the coiled portion, and at least two fiber Bragg gratings configured to be coupled to opposite uncoiled segments adjacent the coiled portion of the optical fiber. The sensor system may further include a photodetector configured to receive a reflected portion of the laser beam from the sensor. The reflected portion is divided into at least two paths where at least two sub-outputs are generated for demodulation and sensing.

Abstract: A power generator or sensor apparatus is provided. Another aspect employs a hybrid triboelectric and electromagnetic generator. In still another aspect, a power generator is used for water wave energy harvesting. A further aspect provides a power generator including an outer housing with an electrical conductor on an exterior thereof, radial overlapping electrodes located within the housing with a dielectric layer between the electrodes, a plate linearly moveable within the housing, at least one magnet affixed to the plate, and at least one spring biasing the plate within the housing. Moreover, an aspect of the present power generator includes a modularized connection configuration to linearly secure together multiples of the housing.

Abstract: Methods and compositions of improving plant yield by introducing into a plant the K-domain of a MADS box gene are disclosed. The expression of the K-domain provides plants with altered flower development, plant size and leaf development.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are described herein that inhibit FAK/ATK interactions. Such methods and compositions are useful for inhibiting cell adhesion and cancer metastasis.

Abstract: A packet position modulation system includes a node configured to transmit a plurality of packets at corresponding time intervals. The node is configured to adjust, for at least one packet of the plurality of packets, the corresponding time interval to transmit the at least one packet. The system includes a base station configured to receive the plurality of packets from the node at corresponding time intervals, determine a difference between a previous time that a previous packet of the plurality of packets was received and a present time that a present packet of the plurality of packets was received, and recover coded data from the present packet based on the difference.

Abstract: Advanced automotive active-safety systems, in general, and autonomous vehicles, in particular, rely heavily on visual data to classify and localize objects, most notably pedestrians and other nearby cars, to assist the corresponding vehicles maneuver safely in their environment. However, the performance of object detection methods is anticipated to degrade under challenging rainy conditions. Nevertheless, and despite major advancements in the development of deraining approaches, the impact of rain on object detection has largely been understudied, especially in the context of autonomous systems. This disclosure analyzes this problem space and presents an improved system for detecting objects under rainy conditions.

Abstract: A wirelessly powered resistive sensor is presented. The sensor includes: an antenna; a parametric resonator and a resistive loop circuit. The parametric resonator is configured to receive a pumping signal from the antenna and operable to oscillate at two frequencies. The resistive loop circuit is inductively coupled to the parametric resonator, such that oscillation frequency of the parametric resonator changes (e.g., linearly) with changes in resistance of the resistance loop circuit. The resistance of the resistor in the resistive loop circuit approximately equals the impedance of the resistive loop circuit at one resonance frequency of the parametric resonator. The resistive sensor may further include a resonator enhancer circuit arranged adjacent to the parametric resonator and operates to resonate at frequency of the pumping signal.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a reversible adhesive composition including a copolymer between a vinyl spacer monomer unit and a vinyl reversible binder monomer unit. Each monomer unit can be based on acrylate monomer, a vinyl ester monomer, or a vinyl ether monomer, with the spacer monomer unit generally having a shorter pendant chain (such as 1-3 carbon atoms) and the reversible binder monomer unit having a longer pendant chain (such as 3-20 carbon atoms). A corresponding article includes first and second surfaces (or substrates) that are in contact with and bonded to the reversible adhesive composition at an interface therebetween. The reversible adhesive composition generally involves non-covalent and/or non-ionic bonding forces, for example H-bonding, permanent dipole, electron donor-acceptor moieties, and/or van der Waals forces, between the copolymer chains.

Abstract: A method is provided for pretreating cellulosic or lignocellulosic biomass comprising de-esterifying the biomass with an alkali treatment to produce de-esterified biomass; and pretreating the de-esterified biomass with ammonia to produce de-esterified ammonia pretreated biomass. In various embodiments, the de-esterified ammonia pretreated biomass has an amide concentration ranging from about 0.04 to about 25 mg/g biomass. In other embodiments, the amide concentration is no more than 0.04 mg/g biomass. Various ammonia pretreatment processes may be used, including liquid or gaseous ammonia pretreatments, including, but not limited to, liquid ammonium hydroxide pretreatments, various AFEX pretreatments, with or without biomass densification, and various cellulosic conversion pretreatments including “COBRA” pretreatments. Products (e.g., animal feed) and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases by administering compositions that increase the activity of a small proline-rich repeat 1 A protein (Sprr1A), or derivative thereof to the brain. Specifically, the compositions may comprise a nucleic acid molecule encoding a Sprr1A protein or a biologically-active portion thereof. The neurodegenerative disease may be Parkinson's Disease, Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or traumatic brain injury.

Abstract: Accurate vehicle localization is arguably the most critical and fundamental task for autonomous vehicle navigation. While dense 3D point-cloud-based maps enable precise localization, they impose significant storage and transmission burdens when used in city-scale environments. A highly compressed representation for LiDAR maps, along with an efficient and robust real-time alignment algorithm for on-vehicle LiDAR scans, is proposed here. The proposed mapping framework, requires less than 0.1% of the storage space of the original 3D point cloud map. In essence, mapping framework emulates an original map through feature likelihood functions. In particular, the mapping framework models planar, pole and curb features. These three feature classes are long-term stable, distinct and common among vehicular roadways. Multiclass feature points are extracted from LiDAR scans through feature detection.

Abstract: A new cherry tree variety suitable for use as rootstock.

Abstract: A new cherry tree variety suitable for use as rootstock.