Abstract: In one aspect, a vehicle includes an aerial propulsion system, an altitude sensor system, a water sampling system, and a control system. The water sampling system includes a water sampling extension configured to extend away from the vehicle, one or more water sample receptacles, and a water pump. The control system is configured to perform operations including: guiding, using the aerial propulsion system, the vehicle over a water source; causing, using sensor data from the altitude sensor system, the vehicle to descend towards the water source so that the water sampling extension contacts the water source; and causing, using the water sampling system, the water pump to pump water from the water source into the one or more water sample receptacles through the water sampling extension while the vehicle is in flight over the water source.

Abstract: Microbial strains are provided, as are methods of making and using such microbial strains.

Abstract: Continuous processes for fabricating a perovskite device are described that include using a doctor blade for continuously forming a perovskite layer and using a conductive tape lamination process to form an anode or a cathode layer on the perovskite device.

Abstract: A method for refrigeration through voltage-controlled entropy change includes applying a voltage signal to a piezoelectric material to generate strain in the piezoelectric material, generating strain in a magnetic material attached to the piezoelectric material, and generating a change in a temperature of the magnetic material in response to the strain in the magnetic material.

Abstract: A catalyst that includes cerium oxide having a fluorite lattice structure is provided. The cerium oxide includes cerium atoms in mixed valence states of Ce3+/Ce4+, in which the ratio of Ce3+/(Ce3++Ce4+) in the lattice ranges from 40% to 90% at 20° C. The valence states Ce3+ and Ce4+ are reversible in reduction and oxidation reactions, and the cerium oxide maintains catalytic ability at temperatures at least up to 450° C.

Abstract: A top-gated graphene field effect transistor can be fabricated by forming a layer of graphene on a substrate, and applying an electrochemical deposition process to deposit a layer of dielectric polymer on the graphene layer. An electric potential between the graphene layer and a reference electrode is cycled between a lower potential and a higher potential. A top gate is formed above the polymer.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to radioiodinated compounds useful as bioconjugation reagents, and intermediates for making radioiodinated bioconjugation reagents.

Abstract: The present application provides, inter alia, chemical compounds useful as synthesis intermediates, said compounds comprising one or more guanidinium moieties and a hypervalent iodine atom. Methods for making these compounds are also provided.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for an underground antenna structure for radiating through a dissipative medium, the antenna structure. The antenna structure includes a dielectric substrate, a feeding structure disposed on the substrate, and one or more electrical conductors. The one or more electrical conductors are disposed on the substrate, oriented, and buried within the dissipative medium. The electrical conductors are also adapted to radiate signals at a frequency in a half-space adjacent to the dissipative medium. The adaptation include a beamwidth state for one or more of the electrical conductors based at least in part on the relative permittivity of the dissipative medium.

Abstract: A method for temporally and spatially aligning a laser-based x-ray source and maintaining alignment is disclosed. A pump laser beam, which interacts with a plasma source to create an electron beam, is aligned with the electron beam. A scattering laser beam is overlapped with the pump laser beam at an intersection point. The pump laser beam and scattering laser beam alignments are monitored and adjusted to maintain optimal alignment during operation of the laser-based x-ray source.

Abstract: A method for refrigeration through voltage-controlled entropy change includes applying a voltage signal to a piezoelectric material to generate strain in the piezoelectric material, generating strain in a magnetic material attached to the piezoelectric material, and generating a change in a temperature of the magnetic material in response to the strain in the magnetic material.

Abstract: This disclosure provides for four different sorghum mutants that exhibit resistance to ALS-inhibiting herbicides. This disclosure also provides for methods of using such sorghum mutants that exhibit resistance to ALS-inhibiting herbicides in breeding methods to make sorghum hybrids, varieties, or lines. The sorghum hybrids, varieties, and lines provided in this disclosure can be used in methods of controlling weeds.

Abstract: A field effect transistor photodetector that can operate in room temperature includes a source electrode, a drain electrode, a channel to allow an electric current to flow between the drain and source electrodes, and a gate electrode to receive a bias voltage for controlling the current in the channel. The photodetector includes a light-absorbing material that absorbs light and traps electric charges. The light-absorbing material is configured to generate one or more charges upon absorbing light having a wavelength within a specified range and to hold the one or more charges. The one or more charges held in the light-absorbing material reduces the current flowing through the channel.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to reagents and methods useful in the synthesis of aryl fluorides, for example, in the preparation of 18F labeled radiotracers. The reagents and methods provided herein may be used to access a broad range of compounds, including aromatic compounds, heteroaromatic compounds, amino acids, nucleotides, and synthetic compounds.

Abstract: Biomarkers of neurological autoimmune diseases are described, and methods of using such biomarkers also are described.

Abstract: This invention relates to processes and reagents for making diaryliodonium salts, which are useful for the preparation of fluorinated and radiofluorinated aromatic compounds.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a substrate; and a photoactive layer disposed on the substrate. The photoactive layer includes an electron acceptor material; an electron donor material; and a material having dipoles.

Abstract: This disclosure provides for transgenic soybean plants expressing a soybean homolog of glycine-rich protein 7 (GRP7) and exhibiting improved innate immunity and methods of making such plants.

Abstract: This disclosure describes novel probiotics, and also describes novel methods by which such probiotics can be obtained.

Abstract: A computational method is provided for predicting roadway failure due to degradation of the roadway over time as a function of the input loads, the roadway geometry, the material properties of the constituents in the asphaltic pavement, the shape, distribution, orientation and volume fractions of the constituents, and environmental conditions. The unique and new feature of the method is that it employs several physically based predictive methodologies simultaneously.