Abstract: A smart retail product shelf liner called ‘MOOCA’ to detect product loads on its surface. The liner preferably has an origami like structure whose properties (e.g., angles, unit size, material) are adjusted to make the liner configurable for different sizes, load ranges, and product packaging. The smart liner is well suited for autonomous checkout systems. MOOCA is an origami-inspired low-cost configurable surface structure having conductive threads and copper wires integrated into the origami structure to detect and recognize product loads and thus to detect when products are either picked-up, or put-down, upon the smart MOOCA liner of the shelf.

Abstract: A Photonic molecule may include a first ring resonator that is tunable by a first piezoelectric actuator. A Photonic molecule may include a second ring resonator that is tunable by a second piezoelectric actuator, wherein the second ring resonator optically coupled to the first ring resonator. A Photonic molecule may include a third ring resonator that is tunable by a third piezoelectric actuator, wherein the third ring resonator is optically coupled to the first ring resonator and the second ring resonator. A Photonic molecule may include a waveguide optically coupled to the first ring resonator.

Abstract: A device including an activated p-type layer comprising a III-Nitride based Mg-doped layer grown by vapor phase deposition or a growth method different from MBE. The p-type layer is activated through a sidewall of the p-type layer after the removal of defects from the sidewall thereby increasing a hole concentration in the p-type layer. In one or more examples, the device includes an active region between a first n-type layer and the p-type layer; a second n-type layer on the p-type layer; and a tunnel junction between the second n-type layer and the p-type layer, and the activated p-type layer has a hole concentration characterized by a current density of at least 100 Amps per centimeter square flowing between the first n-type layer and the second n-type layer in response to a voltage of 4 volts or less applied across the first n-type layer and the second n-type layer.

Abstract: Opsin proteins are GPCRs known for light perception. Here it is shown that these receptors are also expressed in chemosensory cells and function as chemosensory receptors activated by a range of molecules, including tastants such as theobromine, for which a receptor has not previously been known. Provided are novel assay systems for assessing chemosensory opsin activation by chemical ligands. By these assays, novel ligands of chemosensory opsins may be identified, the chemosensory properties of molecules may be evaluated; and the modulation of chemosensory properties by modifications or modulators may be tested.

Abstract: Systems and methods for utilizing a small form-factor, wirelessly powered transceiver are disclosed. In one embodiment, a wireless powered transceiver includes a receive antenna configured to receive a receive signal, a transmit antenna configured to transmit a transmit signal, a power harvesting system including a rectifier circuit configured convert radio frequency energy from the receive signal into DC (direct current) voltage, and a power management unit (PMU) configured to set the operating mode and biasing condition of the receive and transmit circuitry blocks and provide DC voltage from the receive circuitry block to the transmit circuitry block to maintain a minimum voltage, a receiver circuitry block configured to provide energy from the receive signal to the power harvesting system, and a transmitter circuitry block including a data modulator circuit, the data modulator circuit configured to generate the transmit signal using DC voltage received from the power management unit.

Abstract: A multi-phase hybrid power converter architecture which provides high efficiency, high power density and high conversion ratios for non-isolated DC to DC power conversion. Hybrid converters are described in which a switched-capacitor network is interoperably merged with a switched-inductor network having multiple inductors, resulting in a circuit with reduced component count and in which soft-charging of the capacitors is performed. Multi-phase switching is utilized and includes a freewheeling state for output voltage regulation in which inductor current ramps down. The SC converter can be configured to provide various conversion ratios, such as 4-to-1, 6-to-1 and 8-to-1, and optimized for the needs of specific application.

Abstract: Provided are compositions and methods that include one or more of: (1) a Class 2 CRISPR/Cas effector protein, a nucleic acid encoding the effector protein, and/or a modified host cell comprising the effector protein (and/or a nucleic acid encoding the same); (2) a CRISPR/Cas guide RNA that binds to and provides sequence specificity to the Class 2 CRISPR/Cas effector protein, a nucleic acid encoding the CRISPR/Cas guide RNA, and/or a modified host cell comprising the CRISPR/Cas guide RNA (and/or a nucleic acid encoding the same); and (3) a CRISPR/Cas transactivating noncoding RNA (trancRNA), a nucleic acid encoding the CRISPR/Cas trancRNA, and/or a modified host cell comprising the CRISPR/Cas trancRNA (and/or a nucleic acid encoding the same).

Abstract: Optoelectronic devices, such as photovoltaic devices, comprising a low band gap, solution processable diketopyrrolopyrrole or dithioketopyrrolopyrrole chromophore core or cores are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of fabricating such optoelectronic devices.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for the treatment of otic disorders with immunomodulating agents and auris pressure modulators. In these methods, the auris compositions and formulations are administered locally to an individual afflicted with an otic disorder, through direct application of the immunomodulating and/or auris pressure modulating compositions and formulations onto the auris media and/or auris interna target areas, or via perfusion into the auris media and/or auris interna structures.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods, systems and kits for performing microwell analysis in sealed small volumes. The microwells of the invention are sealed through the pairing of microwell and bead geometry wherein the diameter of the beads is greater than the diameter of the bottom of the microwells. Loading the beads into the microwells seals samples within an analytical space between the bottom of a nested bead and the bottom of the subject microwell.

Abstract: Embodiments of the presently disclosed technology provide a synergistic combination of a conjugated open-shell donor-acceptor polymer with a carbon-based compound (e.g., reduced graphene oxide) to produce a composite electrode material which demonstrates state-of-the-art capacitance and potential window, with excellent kinetics and cycle life. The conjugated open-shell donor-acceptor polymer may comprise a plurality of alternating electron-rich monomers (i.e., donors) and electron-deficient monomers (i.e., acceptors) bonded together via a conjugated backbone. The conjugated backbone may comprise a connection of n-orbitals of the plurality of monomers in alternating single and double bonds that facilitates unpaired electron delocalization—thereby stabilizing charge for the polymer. The carbon-based compound of the composite electrode material may provide porous, conductive scaffolds for the composite electrode material, resulting in electrodes scalable to microns-thick films with fast kinetics.

Abstract: Devices and methods that can detect and control an individual polymer in a mixture is acted upon by another compound, for example, an enzyme, in a nanopore are provided. The devices and methods also determine (˜>50 Hz) the nucleotide base sequence of a polynucleotide under feedback control or using signals generated by the interactions between the polynucleotide and the nanopore. The invention is of particular use in the fields of molecular biology, structural biology, cell biology, molecular switches, molecular circuits, and molecular computational devices, and the manufacture thereof.

Abstract: A method may include embedding, in a hidden layer and/or an output layer of a first machine learning model, a first digital watermark. The first digital watermark may correspond to input samples altering the low probabilistic regions of an activation map associated with the hidden layer of the first machine learning model. Alternatively, the first digital watermark may correspond to input samples rarely encountered by the first machine learning model. The first digital watermark may be embedded in the first machine learning model by at least training, based on training data including the input samples, the first machine learning model. A second machine learning model may be determined to be a duplicate of the first machine learning model based on a comparison of the first digital watermark embedded in the first machine learning model and a second digital watermark extracted from the second machine learning model.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a DNA-targeting RNA that comprises a targeting sequence and, together with a modifying polypeptide, provides for site-specific modification of a target DNA and/or a polypeptide associated with the target DNA. The present disclosure further provides site-specific modifying polypeptides. The present disclosure further provides methods of site-specific modification of a target DNA and/or a polypeptide associated with the target DNA The present disclosure provides methods of modulating transcription of a target nucleic acid in a target cell, generally involving contacting the target nucleic acid with an enzymatically inactive Cas9 polypeptide and a DNA-targeting RNA. Kits and compositions for carrying out the methods are also provided. The present disclosure provides genetically modified cells that produce Cas9; and Cas9 transgenic non-human multicellular organisms.

Abstract: The technology described in this document can be used to implement beam steering in optical systems and photonic devices, to provide a nonmechanical beam steering system for projecting optical energy and controlling the direction of the optical energy using a collection of devices and components that are fixed in position to selectively direct light from an array of different optical emitters at different locations.

Abstract: A cabin air filtration system and method for regenerating a cabin air filtration system are disclosed. The filtration system includes a frame, and a renewable sorption layer within the frame, the renewable sorption layer configured to clean air from one or more of outside of an automobile and inside an automobile. The cabin air filtration system for an automobile can include a first layer, the first layer configured to particulates, and a second layer, the second layer configured to remove volatile compounds and gases. The method includes placing a renewable sorption layer within a frame in an oven, the renewable sorption layer configured to filter air from one or more of outside of the automobile and inside the automobile; creating a vacuum within the oven; and heating a source of water within the oven to perform a steam regeneration treatment on the renewable sorption layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to diarylhydantoin compounds, including diarylthiohydantoins, and methods for synthesizing them and using them in the treatment of hormone refractory prostate cancer.

Abstract: Methods are described for preventing or treating skeletal diseases such as period paralysis by administering to a subject a Kv7 channel opener.

Abstract: Broadly applicable and stereoselective formation of glycosidic linkage remains challenging yet of critical importance in giycoscience. By developing an SN2 glycosylation, this work advances a general solution to this challenge via stereoinversion at the anomeric position of glycosyl ester donors. This SN2 process is enabled by a basic directing-group in the leaving-group, which is activated by a cationic gold catalyst or any other electrophilic reagent. Unlike all the reported directing group approaches, this strategy is applicable to any glycosyl donors—a long sought-after yet unmet goal in carbohydrate chemistry; moreover, the basic directing-group upon glycosylation is lost as part of the leaving-group and hence traceless in the glycoside products, therefore avoiding potential complications in downstream transformations. Highly selective construction of glycosidic bonds including challenging 1,2-cis glycosidic bonds is achieved in excellent yields.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a composition comprising extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) or embryonic stem cells (ESCs). The present EVs possess immunoregulatory functions that are distinct from those of EVs derived from mesenchymal stem cells. The present EVs can be used to treat or modulate immune responses in diseases such as cancer or autoimmune diseases.