Abstract: Provided are methods for characterizing nucleotide accessibility and nucleic acid structure at single nucleotide resolution, using a combination of low-yield bisulfite conversion and next-generation sequencing (NGS). Cytosine (C) nucleotides that are in base-paired states or bound to proteins, etc. are less accessible to chemical reactions and thus exhibit lower bisulfite conversion yields. Analysis of NGS results of a low-yield bisulfite conversion product can thus inform nucleotide accessibility and nucleic acid structure. Compared to other methods for chemical probing of nucleic acid structure, the present methods provide higher information throughput, because each NGS read simultaneously reports on the base pair status of multiple nucleotides.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to methods of capturing contaminants (i.e., radionuclides and metals) from a water source by applying an oxidatively modified carbon to the water source. This leads to the sorption of the contaminants in the water source to the oxidatively modified carbon. In some embodiments, the methods also include a step of separating the oxidatively modified carbon from the water source after the applying step. In some embodiments, the oxidatively modified carbon comprises an oxidized carbon source. In some embodiments, the carbon source is coal. In some embodiments, the oxidatively modified carbon comprises oxidized coke. In some embodiments, the oxidatively modified carbon is in the form of free-standing, three dimensional and porous particles. Further embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to materials for capturing contaminants from a water source, where the materials comprise the aforementioned oxidatively modified carbons.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention provides and artificial, flexible valve indlucding: a stent defining a wall and a plurality of leaflets extending from the wall of the stent. The plurality of leaflets form a plurality of coaptation regions between two adjacent leaflets. The coaptation regions include extensions along a z-axis and adapted and are configured to form a releasable, but substantially complete seal when the leaflets are in a closed position. Another aspect of the invention provides an artificial, flexible valve including: a stent defining a wall and a plurality of leaflets extending from the wall of the stent. Each of the plurality of leaflets terminates in a commissure line. The commissure lines devi-ate from a hyperbola formed in the x-y plane by at least one deviation selected from the group consisting of: a deviation in the z-direction and one or more curves relative to the hyperbola.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure provides methods of preparing a primary or secondary amine and hydroxylated aromatic compounds. In some embodiments, the aromatic compound may be unsubstituted, substituted, or contain one or more heteroatoms within the rings of the aromatic compound. The methods described herein may be carried out without the need for transition metal catalysts or harsh reaction conditions.

Abstract: An Electron Paramagnetic resonance (EPR) system and method allows the measurement paramagnetic characteristics of materials in real-time, such as heavy oil, hydrocarbons, asphaltenes, heptane, vanadium, resins, drilling fluid, mud, wax deposits or the like. The EPR systems and methods discussed herein are low cost, small and light weight, making them usable in flow-assurance or logging applications. The EPR sensor is capable of measuring paramagnetic properties of materials from a distance of several inches. In some embodiments, a window will be used to separate the EPR sensor from the materials in a pipeline or wellbore. Since the sensor does need to be in direct contact with the materials, it can operate at a lower temperature or pressure. In other embodiments, the EPR sensor may be placed in the materials.

Abstract: There is provided a recombinant bacterium comprising at least one overexpressed acyl-ACP thioesterase gene, and wherein at least one gene from the tricarboxylic acid cycle or glycolysis or both is inactivated. There is also provided a method for producing fatty acids, said method comprising culturing bacteria comprising at least one overexpressed acyl-ACP thioesterase gene in a growth medium in a container having walls; allowing said bacteria to secrete fatty acids; and collecting said fatty acids. Acid supplementation is also shown to increase productivity.

Abstract: This disclosure describes enzymes from the type II (a discrete set of enzymes) fatty acid synthesis (“FAS”) pathway that can be used in combination with thiolases to operate a functional reversal of the ?-oxidation cycle. A combination of thiolases with one or more of 3-oxoacyl-[acyl-carrier-protein] reductase (FabG, others), 3-hydroxyacyl-[acp] dehydratase (FabA, FabZ, others), and enoyl-[acyl-carrier-protein] reductase (FabI, FabK, FabL, FabV, others) yields a functional reversal of the ?-oxidation cycle. If only one or two enzymes are used, the remaining enzymes will be traditional beta oxidation enzymes. Once this cycle is coupled with the appropriate priming and termination pathways, the production of carboxylic acids, alcohols, hydrocarbons, amines and their ?-, ?-, and ?-functionalized derivatives from renewable carbon sources can be achieved.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of opening a lipid bilayer by associating the lipid bilayer with a molecule that includes a moving component capable of moving (e.g., rotating) in response to an external stimulus; and exposing the molecule to an external stimulus before, during or after associating the molecule with the lipid bilayer. The exposing causes the moving component of the molecule to move and thereby open the lipid bilayer (e.g., by pore formation). The external stimuli may include an energy source, such as ultraviolet light. The opened lipid bilayer may be a component of cell membranes in vitro or in vivo. The opening of the lipid bilayer may allow for the passage of various materials (e.g., active agents, such as peptide-based drugs) through the lipid bilayer and into cells. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to the aforementioned molecules for opening lipid bilayers.

Abstract: Mechanisms for automatically grading a large number of solutions provided by learners in response to an open response mathematical question. Each solution is mapped to a corresponding feature vector based on the mathematical expressions occurring in the solution. The feature vectors are clustered using a conventional clustering method, or alternatively, using a presently-disclosed Bayesian nonparametric clustering method. A representative solution is selected from each solution cluster. An instructor supplies a grade for each of the representative solutions. Grades for the remaining solutions are automatically generated based on their cluster membership and the instructor supplied grades. The Bayesian method may also automatically identify the location of an error in a given solution. The error location may be supplied to the learner as feedback. The error location may also be used to extract information from correct solutions. The extracted information may be supplied to a learner as a solution hint.

Abstract: Improved methods of making anhydrosugars by pyrolysis of a substrate sugar to remove at least one water molecule thereby producing a desired anhydrosugar and side products, the improvement being either 1) protecting one hydroxyl group of the substrate sugar before pyrolysis; or (2) pretreating the substrate sugar with a metal salt and optional acid before pyrolysis, wherein lower amounts of said side products are produced by said improved method.

Abstract: In one aspect, embodiments disclosed herein relate to a lens-free imaging system. The lens-free imaging system includes: an image sampler, a radiation source, a mask disposed between the image sampler and a scene, and an image sampler processor. The image sampler processor obtains signals from the image sampler that is exposed, through the mask, to radiation scattered by the scene which is illuminated by the radiation source. The image sampler processor then estimates an image of the scene based on the signals from the image sampler, processed using a transfer function that relates the signals and the scene.

Abstract: A bubble continuous positive airway pressure system may include an adjustable flow generator configured to control a flow rate of air to be delivered to a patient. A pressure-regulated delivery system is configured to control a pressure delivered to the patient interface. The delivery system is operatively connected to a pressure control tube. One end of the pressure control tube is submerged in a liquid. A patient interface is configured to transfer pressure from the pressure control tube to the patient's airway.

Abstract: In some aspects, the present disclosure provides methods of aminating an aromatic compound comprising reacting an aminating agent with an aromatic compound in the presence of a rhodium catalyst. In some embodiments, the methods may comprise aminating an aromatic compound which contains multiple different functional groups. The methods described herein may also be used to create bicyclic system comprising reacting an intramolecular aminating agent with an aromatic ring to obtain a second ring containing a nitrogen atom. In another aspect, the methods described herein may also be used to create a cyclic aliphatic cyclic/poly cyclic amine system comprising a reacting an intramolecular aminating agent by insertion into a C(sp3)-H bond.

Abstract: Disclosed herein methods for combating biofouling in a liquid, e.g. an aqueous medium by providing a surface coated with at least one laser-induced graphene (LIG) layer in said liquid medium. Particularly disclosed herein method and devices for treating water comprising passing a water stream through a membrane module equipped with at least one spacer coated with at least one layer of LIG, and optionally by applying an electric potential to the at least one LIG layer to achieve a bactericidal effect in the water stream. Specifically, disclosed herein a polymeric mesh suitable for use as a spacer in a membrane module in water treatment application, said mesh being at least partially coated with LIG.

Abstract: Asphaltene may be effectively broken into smaller molecules by first elucidating the structure of the asphaltene and then developing a catalyst system based on the elucidated structure. The structure may be determined based on a series of analytical techniques including NMR, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, XPS, and LDI. The most probable structure is determined using computational methods based on quantum mechanics and classical molecular dynamics and the catalyst system is developed for the most probable structure.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to methods of producing a graphene hybrid material by exposing a graphene precursor material to a laser source to form a laser-induced graphene, where the laser-induced graphene is derived from the graphene precursor material. The methods of the present disclosure also include a step of associating a pseudocapacitive material (e.g., a conducting polymer or a metal oxide) with the laser-induced graphene to form the graphene hybrid material. The formed graphene hybrid material can become embedded with or separated from the graphene precursor material. The graphene hybrid materials can also be utilized as components of an electronic device, such as electrodes in a microsupercapacitor. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to the aforementioned graphene hybrid materials and electronic devices.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to methods of capturing CO2 from an environment by hydrating a porous material with water molecules to the extent thereby to define a preselected region of a plurality of hydrated pores and yet to the extent to allow the preselected region of a plurality of pores of the porous material to uptake gas molecules; positioning the porous material within a CO2 associated environment; and capturing CO2 by the hydrated porous material. In some embodiments, the pore volume of the hydrated porous material includes between 90% and 20% of the pre-hydrated pore volume to provide unhydrated pore volume within the porous material for enhanced selective uptake of CO2 in the CO2 associated environment. In some embodiments, the step of capturing includes forming CO2-hydrates within the pores of the porous material, where the CO2.nH2O ratio is n<4.

Abstract: A method of generating parameters to guide a spreading process of a three dimensional printer may include the following steps: determining one or more properties of an actual powder; generating a virtual powder model which mimics the actual powder; performing one or more virtual spreading simulations; experimentally validating virtual spreading; and using advanced regression techniques to generate spreading process map from a few virtual spreading simulations.

Abstract: A radar system may comprise a trigger, driver, switching circuit, and antenna for generating an ultra-short impulse without utilizing an oscillator. A radar imaging system for imaging a formation or a cross section of a pipeline may include at least one radar sensor. The system may transmit a high-frequency, short impulse signal to a formation or pipeline and measure a reflected signal. A high speed impulse generator may allow the short impulse signals to be generated. This impulse generator may utilize a switching circuit and digital driver to provide the short impulse signals. The images provide useful information about complex permittivity of the formation, the geometry of the pipeline, deposition thickness of asphaltenes and wax, velocity of the fluid, as well as size, type, concentration of gas bubbles, water, or solid particles in the flow, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: Methods of controllably forming Bernal-stacked graphene layers are disclosed. In some embodiments, the methods comprise one or more of the following steps: (1) cleaning a surface of a catalyst; (2) annealing the surface of the catalyst; (3) applying a carbon source onto the cleaned and annealed surface of the catalyst in a reaction chamber; and (4) growing the Bernal-stacked graphene layers on the surface of the catalyst in the reaction chamber, where the number of formed Bernal-stacked graphene layers is controllable as a function of one or more growth parameters, such as a total pressure of the reaction chamber. Further embodiments of the present disclosure also include steps of: (5) terminating the growing step; and (6) transferring the formed Bernal-stacked graphene layers from the surface of the catalyst onto a substrate.