Abstract: CRISPR RNA-guided nucleases are routinely used for sequence-specific manipulation of DNA. While CRISPR-based DNA editing has become routine, analogous methods for editing RNA have yet to be established. Here we repurpose the type III-A CRISPR RNA-guided nuclease for sequence-specific cleavage of the SARS-COV-2 genome. The type III cleavage reaction is performed in vitro using purified viral RNA, resulting in sequence-specific excision of 6, 12, 18 or 24 nucleotides. Ligation of the cleavage products is facilitated by a DNA splint that bridges the excision and RNA ligase is used to link the RNA products before transfection into mammalian cells. The SARS-COV-2 RNA is infectious and standard plaque assays are used to recover viral clones. Collectively, this work demonstrates how type III CRISPR systems can be repurposed for sequence-specific editing of RNA viruses including SARS-COV-2 and more generally for gene therapy.

Abstract: The invention provides anelastase inhibitor for use in the promotion of muscle regeneration in the treatment of a myopa-thy, as well as a method for promoting muscle regeneration in a subject with a myopathy, the method comprising providing the subject with a therapeutically effective amount of an elastase inhibitor. Further provided is a pharmaceutical composition comprising anelastase inhibitor for use in the promotion of muscle regeneration in the treatment of a myopathy. Elastase inhibitors may have a protective effect on muscle progenitor cells and their regenerative potential, which aids muscle cell regeneration. By protecting regenerative potential of muscle progenitor cells, elastase inhibitors enable or enhance the grown of new or existing muscle fibres.

Abstract: Processes for conductive material nanogap formation have been developed that include: providing a base material, wherein the base material is either solid or comprises a micropore that extends through the first layered material, and wherein the micropore comprises a top opening, a bottom opening, and a volume boundary, applying a conductive material sheet to the first layered material, wherein the conductive material sheet covers the top opening of the micropore, applying two conducting electrodes to the conductive material sheet, so that each one of the conducting electrodes is positioned on either side of the micropore, applying an etch mask that covers at least a part of the conductive material sheet, the top opening of the micropore (if present), or a combination thereof, applying a passivation layer over at least the etch mask, fabricating a hole in the passivation layer directly above the top opening of the micropore, and applying at least one voltage pulse through the at least one conducting electrode

Abstract: A deep learning based method for integrating demand forecasting and scheduling of online ride-hailing at a hub is provided. The method includes: S1, performing data processing: performing missing value filling, outlier processing and normalization processing on the historical orders of online ride-hailing and relevant feature data of the urban transportation hub; S2, performing feature screening: primarily screening the relevant features by means of a Pearson correlation test and box plot analysis, calculating an influence degree of data of each feature on the orders of online ride-hailing by using an XGBoost algorithm, and secondarily screening the features; S3, performing model construction: constructing an integrated model for demand forecasting and scheduling decision of online ride-hailing at the urban transportation hub; and S4: performing algorithm design: designing a decision tree and deep learning combination algorithm, and calculating the number of online hailed rides to be scheduled.

Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of a thin-film photovoltaic technology including a single-junction crystalline silicon solar cell with a photonic-plasmonic back-reflector structure for lightweight, flexible energy conversion applications. The back-reflector enables high absorption for long-wavelength and near-infrared photons via diffraction and light-concentration, implemented by periodic texturing of the bottom-contact layer by nanoimprint lithography. The thin-film crystalline silicon solar cell is implemented in a heterojunction design with amorphous silicon, where plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) is used for all device layers, including a low-temperature crystalline silicon deposition step. Excimer laser crystallization is used to integrate crystalline and amorphous silicon within a monolithic process, where a thin layer of amorphous silicon is converted to a crystalline silicon seed layer prior to deposition of a crystalline silicon absorber layer via PECVD.

Abstract: A functional ultrathin battery separator and method for fabricating the same is disclosed. The battery separator includes a polymer substrate that is flexible, and a functional barrier layer deposed on the polymer substrate. The functional barrier layer is polycrystalline and includes a metal-organic framework and a plurality of micropores. The functional barrier layer is able to flex with the polymer substrate. The functional barrier layer is compact, such that diffusion pathways through the functional barrier layer are limited to a cutoff size, and such that the diffusion pathways that are largest are located within grains of the polycrystalline functional barrier layer rather than between grains. The battery separator may be less than 10 ?m thick, and the polymer substrate may be less than 9 ?m thick. The metal-organic framework may be ZIF-8, and the functional barrier layer may be less than 2 ?m thick.

Abstract: A system and method for the automatic stimulation of a vagus nerve for post-stroke rehabilitation is disclosed. The system includes an application subsystem having an electrode positioned to stimulate the vagus nerve and coupled to a user outside of a surgical setting. The system also includes a waveform generator communicatively coupled to the electrode, and a triggering subsystem including a receiver configured to detect the presence of a tag. The triggering subsystem is communicatively coupled to waveform generator and is configured to automatically trigger the stimulation of the vagus nerve upon detecting the presence of the tag. The tag is located proximate a rehabilitation context such that the tag is detected when the user is using the rehabilitation context, resulting in the vagus nerve of the user being automatically stimulated by the electrode in response to the user's post-stroke rehabilitation training.

Abstract: The presently-disclosed subject matter relates generally to GaAs/GaAsSb core-shell nanowire grown on silicon substrate, methods of growing such nanowire, and the use of said nanowires in various applications, including but not limited to photodetection applications.

Abstract: An orthopedic cast splitter apparatus for splitting an orthopedic cast may include a frame, a handle pivotally coupled to the frame, a drive rod configured to translate relative to the frame, and a jaws. The jaws may include a first plate coupled to the frame, and a second plate coupled to the drive rod and extending parallel to the first plate, with the second plate being configured to translate relative to the first plate. The jaws also may include a first tooth removably coupled to the first plate and extending beyond an end of the first plate, and a second tooth removably coupled to the second plate and extending beyond an end of the second plate, with the first tooth and the second tooth being configured to be inserted within a fissure formed in the orthopedic cast.

Abstract: A permeable pavement system including a permeable pavement composition and a related method are provided. The permeable pavement system includes a first layer of a permeable pavement composition including a quantity of a first permeable pavement material and a quantity of cured carbon fiber composite material (CCFCM) incorporated therewith, the first layer defining a first surface; and a second layer of a second permeable pavement material deposited over a substantial entirety of and covering the first surface of the first layer of the permeable pavement composition, wherein the first layer interfaces with the second layer to at least strengthen the permeable pavement system.

Abstract: Described herein are means for systematically determining an optimal approach for the computer-aided diagnosis of a pulmonary embolism, in the context of processing medical imaging. According to a particular embodiment, there is a system specially configured for diagnosing a Pulmonary Embolism (PE) within new medical images which form no part of the dataset upon which the AI model was trained.

Abstract: An electrode is provided. The electrode includes a contact pad composed of boron-doped polycrystalline diamond (BDD); a fiber core composed of BDD extending longitudinally from the contact pad from a first end that is in direct contact with the contact pad to an opposing second end; and a polycrystalline diamond (PCD) cladding that coats and hermetically seals the contact pad and the fiber core. A first portion of the contact pad and a second portion at or near the second end of the fiber core are not coated and hermetically scaled by the PCD cladding. A method of fabricating the electrode is also provided.

Abstract: The present application provides fibers made from recombinant hagfish intermediate filament proteins. Methods of expressing and purifying the proteins, and methods of creating the fibers, are likewise disclosed. The method of purifying protein yields larger quantities of hagfish protein than have been previously achieved, and the fibers have the highest mechanical properties yet recorded for recombinant hagfish protein fibers.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and kits including at least one nucleic acid or polypeptide molecule encoding for a mutant CoChop protein. Methods of the invention include administering a composition comprising a mutant CoChop to a subject to preserve, improve, or restore phototransduction. Preferably, the compositions and methods of the invention are provided to a subject having impaired vision, thereby restoring vision to normal levels.

Abstract: A method of making a metal-polymer composite includes dealloying metallic powder to yield porous metal particles, monitoring a temperature of the mixture, controlling the rate of combining, a maximum temperature of the mixture, or both, and combining the porous metal particles with a polymer to yield a composite. Dealloying includes combining the metallic powder with an etchant to yield a mixture. A metal-polymer composite includes porous metal particles having an average particle size of about 0.2 ?m to about 500 ?m and a thermoplastic or thermoset polymer. The polymer composite comprises at least 10 vol % of the porous metal particles. A powder mixture includes porous metal particles having an average particle size of about 0.2 ?m to about 500 ?m and a metal powder. The powder mixture includes about 1 wt % to about 99 wt % of the porous metal particles.

Abstract: A time-synchronized micro-scale continuous point-on-wave (CPoW) measurement device, referred to as micro-CPoW, is provided. The distribution system is an integral part of the electric power system, but not much is known about how it behaves in real-time. To address this knowledge gap, a low-cost, time-synchronized, CPoW measurement system is designed, built, and characterized herein. The purpose of the micro-CPoW measurement device is to monitor the instantaneous electric current flowing through a distribution line in real time. Detection of harmonics, identification of incipient fault conditions, and general power quality monitoring are typical uses for the measured information. Because the micro-CPoW measurement device is self-powered by the line current and communicates wirelessly, it can be installed without ground-mounted instrument transformers, low-voltage power sources, or communications cabling.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for detection of anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Patient samples known or suspected of containing ACPAs were probed against citrullinated proteins, and antibody responses to 190 citrullinated proteins in 20 RA patients were investigated. Unique antibody reactivity patterns in both clinical anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide assay positive (CCP+) and negative (CCP?) RA patients were observed. At individual antigen levels, six novel antibody/antigen complexes were discovered and validated against specific citrullinated antigens (Myelin Basic Protein (MBP), osteopontin (SPP1), flap endonuclease (FENI), insulin like growth factor binding protein 6 (IGFBP6), insulin like growth factor I (IGF1) and stanniocalcin-2 (STC2)) in RA patients. Identification of immune-dominant epitope(s) for citrullinated MBP was also performed. The identified biomarkers have high specificity, especially MBP.

Abstract: The present application relates to an electrically conductive asphalt mastic (ECAM) composition that includes an asphalt binder, a mineral filler, and a plurality of conductive carbon microfibers, between 3 and 12 mm in length, which are the sole source of electrical conductivity in the ECAM composition where the conductive carbon microfibers and the mineral filler are dispersed in the asphalt binder, and wherein said conductive carbon microfibers are present in the ECAM composition in an amount of less than 2.00% of total volume of the ECAM composition. The application further relates to an electrically conductive asphalt concrete (ECAC) composition that includes an asphalt binder, a mineral filler, an aggregate, and a plurality of conductive carbon microfibers, where the conductive carbon microfibers are the sole source of electrical conductivity in the electrically conductive asphalt concrete composition.

Abstract: An electron beam emitter apparatus includes a light source and a radio frequency (“RF”) source. In another aspect, an apparatus includes direct density modulation of photo-assisted field emission from a radio frequency cold cathode. A further aspect provides a radio frequency source connected to an electron emitter or cold cathode having tapered projections, and a photon emitter such as a laser, infrared light or ultraviolet light.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Viburnum plant named ‘NCVX5’ is described, characterized by abundant white spring flowers with lustrous, evergreen foliage. Plants have upright habits and dense branching. The new cultivar is a Viburnum, typically for ornamental garden use.