Abstract: Methods for detecting a cardiac condition in a human subject are provided according to aspects of the present invention which include providing an immunological reagent characterized by specific binding to: an N-terminal fragment of human cardiac troponin T (HcTnT-N69) or a neoepitope of human cardiac troponin T generated by removal of HcTnT-N69 from HcTnT (HcTnT-neo); contacting the immunological reagent with a biological sample of the human subject under binding conditions; and detecting binding of the immunological reagent with HcTnT-N69 or HcTnT-neo, wherein detection of HcTnT-N69 or HcTnT-neo in the biological sample is indicative of a cardiac condition in the subject. Antibodies and antigen binding fragments thereof characterized by specific binding to HcTnT-N69 or HcTnT-neo, or a variant of either thereof, are provided according to aspects of the present invention.

Abstract: A vector distribution method for operation of a power amplifier of a wireless transmitter including receiving, by a first amplifier circuit, a first input vector and a second input vector. The first input vector includes data derived from an input signal of the wireless transmitter and the second input vector includes other data derived from the input signal of the wireless transmitter. The method includes, in response to receiving the input signal, instructing the first amplifier circuit to output an output signal at a high voltage.

Abstract: A method for using hydrogels to detect metal ions, including transition metal ions, comprises contacting the hydrogel in any order, with a sample potentially containing metal ions, and a solution comprising a fluorescent dye, nanoparticle, colorimetric tag, or combination thereof. The presence of metal ions in the sample may be detected by one or more suitable techniques, such as determining the color, conductivity, Raman, infrared spectrum, and/or size and/or mass change of the hydrogel. The method may be useful for detecting corrosion and/or failure of protective coating of metal structures including outdoor sculptures, building, bridges, ships, and the like.

Abstract: Nanoscale metal halide perovskites are provided. The nanoscale metal halide perovskites may have a 2D structure, a quasi-2D structure, or a 3D structure. Methods also are provided for making the nanoscale metal halide perovskites. The color emitted by the nanoscale metal halide perovskites may be tuned.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a composition comprising at least one cellulose material (such as a cellulose nanomaterial) and an optional inorganic salt component. Some embodiments of the composition can further comprise additional components, with some embodiments further comprising a non-starch polysaccharide (e.g., methyl cellulose carboxymethyl cellulose or other cellulose derivative, chitosan, or the like), a surfactant, a plasticizer, an antimicrobial component, or any combination thereof. The disclosed compositions are useful for forming edible coatings/films on plants, plant parts, and other objects. The disclosed compositions and coatings/films made using the compositions are effective at protecting fresh and processed produce and other substances and products, from various different types of food processing damage (and the deleterious effects associated therewith).

Abstract: An energy absorbing apparatus includes particles with nanopores in a liquid. A further aspect employs a reusable energy absorbing apparatus including gas-liquid interactions in nanopores. Another aspect of the present apparatus uses oversolubility of gas in a solution to enhance bubble nucleation in hydrophobic nanopores or nanochannels, which suppresses gas outflow while promoting liquid outflow from particles. Still another aspect includes anions within an aqueous electrolytic solution, containing nanoporous material therein.

Abstract: A quantum dot microscope apparatus is provided. A further aspect employs a tilted or tapered end or tip on a microscopic probe. Another aspect of the present apparatus employs a probe including a quantum dot with only one tunneling lead connected to a power source. A manufacturing aspect includes creating a tapered or asymmetrically shaped specimen-facing end of a probe where a quantum dot is located on the end. A further manufacturing aspect includes using focused ion-beam milling to create a tip or end of a quantum dot microscope probe.

Abstract: The compositions and methods are described for generating an immune response to a hepatitis B virus. The compositions and methods described herein relate to a modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) vector encoding one or more viral antigens for generating a protective immune response to a hepatitis B virus, in the subject to which the vector is administered. The compositions and methods of the present invention are useful both prophylactically and therapeutically and may be used to prevent and/or treat an infection caused by hepatitis B virus.

Abstract: Temporal knowledge distillation for active perception is provided. Despite significant performance improvements in object detection and classification using deep structures, they still require prohibitive runtime to process images and maintain the highest possible performance for real-time applications. Observing that a human visual system (HVS) relies heavily on temporal dependencies among frames from visual input to conduct recognition efficiently, embodiments described herein propose a novel framework dubbed as temporal knowledge distillation (TKD). The TKD framework distills temporal knowledge gained from a heavy neural network-based model over selected video frames (e.g., the perception of the moments) for a light-weight model. To enable the distillation, two novel procedures are described: 1) a long-short term memory (LSTM)-based key frame selection method; and 2) a novel teacher-bounded loss design.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of detecting and quantifying a virus-of-interest from human viral shed in a community, including: concentrating viral material from a wastewater sample to form a viral nucleic acid material; measuring an amount of a virus-of-interest nucleic acid in the viral nucleic acid material to obtain a first amount; measuring an amount of a marker or bacteriophage nucleic acid in the viral nucleic acid material to obtain a second amount; and forming a ratio of the first amount to the second amount to estimate a level of virus-of-interest from human viral shed within a community. In embodiments, methods for quantifying, monitoring, and/or identifying virus-of-interest such as SARS-CoV-2 are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention discloses methods of inhibiting biofilm formation, increasing bacteriocidal activity within a biofilm, treating bacteria within a biofilm, or remediating a biofilm in or on a subject, comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a compound according to Formula I: wherein R1-5 are defined herein.

Abstract: A passive incoherent millimeter-wave imaging system includes a receiver array including a plurality of receive modules configured to receive a scene signal reflected from a scene. The scene signal is reflected in response to a plurality of incoherent communication signals being reflected off the scene, and the plurality of incoherent communication signals are spatially and temporally incoherent at a point when reaching the scene.

Abstract: The present application focuses on systems and methods that utilize one or more carbon dioxide (CO2) sorbent substrates and a swing cycle, e.g., a moisture swing cycle, to increase the partial pressure of the CO2 in a gaseous feedstock, which is delivered through a membrane to a bioreactor, such as a membrane carbonation photobioreactor. Such systems and processes offer an effective means for concentrating and capturing CO2 obtained from air and delivering the concentrated CO2 to a photobioreactor through a membrane.

Abstract: An apparatus method for driving light emitting diodes (LEDs), comprising: receiving an alternating current input; producing a DC current having a voltage with an AC-DC boost power-factor correction stage, having a variable-frequency operation, and a set of switches controlled in dependence on the voltage to limit a peak LED current; and producing an LED drive current with a DC-DC power conversion stage having a set of switches to selectively pulse-width modulate the LEDs to control a brightness, wherein the set of switches in the AC-DC boost power-factor correction stage and the set of switches in the DC-DC power conversion stage are each controlled to switch at zero current.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for reducing the level of nornicotine and N?-nitrosonornicotine (NNN) in tobacco plants and plant parts thereof are provided. The compositions comprise isolated polynucleotides and polypeptides for a root-specific nicotine demethylases, CYP82E10, and variants thereof, that are involved in the metabolic conversion of nicotine to nornicotine in these plants. Compositions of the invention also include tobacco plants, or plant parts thereof, comprising a mutation in a gene encoding a CYP82E10 nicotine demethylase, wherein the mutation results in reduced expression or function of the CYP82E10 nicotine demethylase. Seed of these tobacco plants, or progeny thereof, and tobacco products prepared from the tobacco plants of the invention, or from plant parts or progeny thereof, are also provided. Methods for reducing the level of nornicotine, or reducing the rate of conversion of nicotine to nornicotine, in a tobacco plant, or plant part thereof are also provided.

Abstract: Various embodiments of systems and methods for a learning environment for accessible virtual computer science education are disclosed.

Abstract: Fractal-like polymeric particles having a hierarchical, branched structure are disclosed. The particles have fibers with nanometer-scale diameters on their peripheries, which enables a number of unique and highly desirable properties. The particles are fabricated by a method combining phase separation and shear forces of different solutions, in particular a polymer solution. In addition, the particles may be used as coatings, nonwovens, textiles and viscosity modifiers and adhesives, among other applications.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to antigen detection reagents and related methods, systems, and kits. The reagents comprise an antigen-binding molecule conjugated to an inorganic component. In some embodiments, the inorganic component possesses catalytic functionality to provide a detectable signal. In some embodiments, the catalytic inorganic component is or comprises a bimetallic nanoparticle. In other embodiments, the inorganic component is a nanoflowers that provides a physical scaffold onto which the antigen-binding component and a reporter component can be loaded, resulting in augmented antigen-binding and reporting capabilities.

Abstract: A method for a data owner to enforce attribute-based and discretionary access control over a cloud-based data store by specifying an access policy, creating a plurality of users with attributes that satisfy the access policy, and revoking one or more of the plurality of users by embedding their respective identities as revoked into a ciphertext, whereby only those of the plurality of users whose attributes satisfy the access policy and that are not revoked can decrypt the ciphertext.

Abstract: ‘NCORNSP-027SCMG’ is a compact, non-twining, semi-upright variety producing many short shoots. It is distinguishable from other cultivars by its palmate, deeply lobed leaves with 5-9 lobes, a compact habit, and semi-erect mounding plant architecture. The yellow-green (RHS 144B) leaves, deep-lobing, quantity of lobes, short internodes, and the plant architecture are what make ‘NCORNSP-027SCMG’ unique amongst the current ornamental sweetpotatoes in the marketplace. ‘NCORNSP-027SCMG’ also exhibits good vigor, is very well branched, and exhibits a growth habit that promotes good plant production in the greenhouse for wholesale distributors.