Abstract: An optical sensor system, comprising refractory plasmonic elements that can withstand temperatures exceeding 2500° C. in chemically aggressive and harsh environments that impose stress, strain and vibrations. A plasmonic metamaterial or metasurface, engineered to have a specific spectral and angular response, exhibits optical reflection characteristics that are altered by varying physical environmental conditions including but not limited to temperature, surface chemistry or elastic stress, strain and other types of mechanical load. The metamaterial or metasurface comprises a set of ultra-thin structured layers with a total thickness of less than tens of microns that can be deployed onto surfaces of devices operating in harsh environmental conditions. The top interface of the metamaterial or metasurface is illuminated with a light source, either through free space or via an optical fiber, and the reflected signal is detected employing remote detectors.

Abstract: A graphics processing unit and methods for comping and executing instructions with opportunistic inter-path reconvergence are provided. A graphics processing unit may access computer executable instructions mapped to code blocks of a control flow for a warp. The code blocks may include an immediate dominator block and an intermediate post dominator block. The graphics processing unit may store a first thread mask associated with the first code block. The first thread mask may include a plurality of bits indicative of the active or non-active status for the threads of the warp, respectively. The graphics processing unit may a second thread mask corresponding to an intermediate code block between the immediate dominator block and intermediate post dominator block. The graphics processing unit may execute, with threads indicated as active by the first thread mask, instructions of the intermediate code block with a first operand or a second operand depending on the second thread mask.

Abstract: In some aspects, the present disclosure provides compounds of the formula: wherein the variables are as defined herein. In some embodiments, these compounds may be used to reduce the consumption of alcohol in a patient. These compounds may be used in treat or prevent alcoholism or an alcohol abuse disorder and show an improved pharmaceutical profile relative to other commonly used compounds.

Abstract: System and methods for material dataflow extraction and simulation for bottom-up physical input-output table (PIOT) generation is provided. The system may receive an engineering model and an industry classification. The system may determine the type of engineering model. The system may execute the engineering model to generate the flow data. The system may build an physical supply use table (PSUT) for the region by determining, based on a flow type of data generated by the engineering model and the industry classification, a cell location in the PSUT. The system may store the data in the cell location of the PSUT. The system may generate a physical input output table (PIOT) based on PSUTs generated based for a plurality of industries.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of treatment for chronic pain, opioid dependence, alcohol use disorder or autism using a class of pyrimidinone compounds, an adenylyl cyclase 1 (AC1) inhibitor. The invention described herein also pertains to pharmaceutical compositions and methods for treating diseases in mammals using those compounds disclosed herein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a low-cost, thermally reversible valve for paper-fluidic diagnostic devices. In particular, this invention demonstrates a tunable valve mechanism fabricated by wax-ink printing and localized heating via thin-film resistors to sequentially release liquids through a cellulose or nitrocellulose membrane. The wax-ink valve can obstruct fluid flow for a sustained time and are thermally actuated to release a controlled amount of liquid past the valve. This integrated paper-fluidic diagnostic assay device requires minimal user involvement, can be easily manufactured and tuned to meet various fluid delivery timing and incubation needs.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a novel method for rapid preparation of three dimensional (3D) spheroids/organoids, and the 3D spheroids/organoids prepared by the novel method.

Abstract: Described herein are prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) binding conjugates that are useful for delivering therapeutic, diagnostic and imaging agents. Also described herein are pharmaceutical composition containing them and methods of using the conjugates and compositions. Also described are processes for manufacture of the conjugates and the compositions containing them.

Abstract: A vapor-pressure driven micro pump system comprising an enclosure of a supporting structure; a first chamber having a first volatile material as a propellant with a plurality of exit nozzles; a second chamber have a second volatile material inside of a collapsible diaphragm which separates the first and the second chambers within said enclosure, wherein a vacuum at the plurality of exit nozzles causes vaporization of said propellant, which is compensated and displaced by vapor of said second volatile material at a substantially constant pressure by moving of said collapsible diaphragm. The vapor-pressure driven pump system is useful for various situations, especially in a gravity-free environment in space exploration.

Abstract: A method for generating encoded depth data includes receiving digital fringe projection (DFP) data corresponding to a three-dimensional structure of a physical object, and generating first and second fringe encodings for a first predetermined wavelength based on the DFP data at a first coordinate. The method further includes generating third and fourth fringe encodings for a second predetermined wavelength based on the DFP data at the first coordinate, the second wavelength being longer than the first wavelength, and generating a combined fringe encoding based on the third fringe encoding and the fourth fringe encoding. The method further includes storing the first, second, and combined fringe encoding data in a pixel of two-dimensional image data at a pixel coordinate in the two-dimensional image data corresponding to the first coordinate.

Abstract: A heat exchange system is disclosed which includes an air inlet, a membrane in fluid communication with the air inlet and adapted to have a partial vapor pressure difference across the membrane to thereby drive water vapor flux through the membrane, wherein the membrane is a selective membrane configured to allow passage of water vapor and block passage of air (O2/N2) through the membrane, where the membrane includes a thermally conductive side, a vacuum pump configured to generate the partial vapor pressure difference across the membrane, and a heat exchanger coupled to the thermally conductive side of the membrane configured to provide simultaneous mass and heat transfer.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to systems including nanoelectrospray ionization emitters in a movable array format in which the emitters can be loaded, singly or simultaneously, through their narrow ends using a novel dip and go method based on capillary action, taking up sample from an array. The sample solutions in each emitter can be electrophoretically cleaned, singly or simultaneously, by creating an inductive electric field that moves interfering ions away from the narrow end of the capillary. Subsequent to cleaning, the emitters are supplied with an inductive electric field that causes electrospray into a mass spectrometer allowing mass analysis of the contents of the emitter.

Abstract: A convergent three-dimensional (3D) additive manufacturing system is disclosed which includes a header, a base, a first dispensing system mounted onto the header, the space between the header and the base adjacent to the first dispensing system defining a first zone, a second dispensing system mounted onto the header, the space between the header and the base adjacent the second dispensing system defining a second zone, the first zone, and the second zone are separated by a screen adapted to prevent contamination across the first and second zones, the first dispensing system carrying raw material for a first product, and the second dispensing system carrying raw material for a second product.

Abstract: A method of transducing electrical energy to sound is disclosed which includes providing a transducer, the transducer includes lead zirconate titanate (PZT) particles mixed with graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) in a flexible substrate aligned in a first direction, forming a transducer subsystem, a first conductive protective electrode having a width and a length configured to provide a first electrical connectivity to an external circuit, and a second conductive protective electrode having the width and the length and configured to provide a second electrical connectivity to the external circuit, wherein the transducer subsystem is sandwiched between the first and second conductive protective electrodes, and providing an external circuit configured to provide an electrical signal to the first and second conductive protective electrodes to thereby transduce the electrical signal to sound.

Abstract: The system includes a tensioned metastable fluid detector apparatus, a mixing chamber, and a processor. The processor is communicatively coupled to the tensioned metastable fluid detector apparatus. The processor executes steps to form an isotope detection rate versus negative pressure response curve and to determine the isotopic ratio. The mixing chamber is selectively coupled to the tensioned metastable fluid detector apparatus. The mixing chamber is configured to prepare a sample for tensioned metastable fluid detector analysis.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a method for reducing the toxicity of inhaled polymyxins as a therapeutic agent comprising the step of co-administration of an aminoglycoside; a method for improving the aerosolization of an aminoglycoside comprising the step of combination formulation with a polymyxin; and a process for manufacturing a dry powder composition comprising a polymyxin and aminoglycoside. Pharmaceutical compositions and methods of treatment for lung infections are within the scope of this invention.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to systems and methods for sample analysis using swabs. In certain aspects, the invention provides systems that include a probe having a conductive proximal portion coupled to a porous material at a distal portion of the probe that is configured to retain a portion of a sample that has contacted the porous material, and a mass spectrometer having an inlet. The system is configured such that the porous material at a distal portion of the probe is aligned over the inlet of the mass spectrometer.

Abstract: Fabrication of functional polymer-based particles by crosslinking UV-curable polymer drops in mid-air and collecting crosslinked particles in a solid container, a liquid suspension, or an air flow. The particles can contain different phases in the form or layered structures that contain one to multiple cores, or structures that are blended with dissolved or emulsified smaller domains. A curing system produces ultraviolet rays that are directed onto the particles in the jet stream from one side. A reflector positioned on other side of the jet stream reflects the ultraviolet rays back onto the particles in the jet stream.

Abstract: Sensors capable of sensing shear and normal forces and suitable for measuring reaction forces on a body region of an individual, and systems and methods. Such a sensor includes a first plate and multiple second plates that are separated from the first plate by a dielectric material to define multiple capacitor units that are each responsive to normal and shear forces applied to the sensor. Each capacitor unit comprises an individual second plate of the second plates and a portion of the first plate that is superimposed by the individual second plate. The second plates are superimposed on the first plate so that a shear force applied to the sensor causes a first portion of at least one of the second plates to not be superimposed on the first plate while a remaining portion of the second plate remains superimposed on the first plate to define a superimposed area therebetween.

Abstract: The method of separating an actinide within a mixture of an Rn-progeny alpha emitting isotope includes disposing a continuous air monitoring filter in acetone. The acetone is then evaporated, thereby forming a residue. The residue is mixed with a first solution including nitric acid, thus forming a first blend. The first blend is mixed with a second solution including an extraction solvent, thus forming a second blend. The second blend is stratified into a first layer and a second layer. The first layer is extracted from the second blend, thus separating the actinide from the Rn-progeny alpha emitting isotope.