Abstract: A method of increasing production of one or more lipoxins in a subject in need thereof comprising administering to the subject an amount of a compound having the structure: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester thereof, so as to thereby increase production of the one or more lipoxins in the subject.

Abstract: A sensor for detecting non-hazardous and especially hazardous gases and/or vapors comprises a liquid crystal cell generally having a standard substrate and a conductive electrode layer thereon. An alignment layer is desirably located on the electrode layer and contains one or more types of metal nanoparticles that cover at least a portion of the alignment layer. The nanoparticles contain at least one type of ligand thereon that is capable of sensing a specific type of non-hazardous or hazardous gas. The sensor is very sensitive and can detect the gases or vapors contained within air, or the like, up to 1 part per million.

Abstract: Amphiphilic biopolymers have been synthesized by grafting lignin onto PLGA to form graft polymers, which can then be further assembled into polymeric nanoparticles without a requirement for surfactants. The nanoparticles have a typical diameter of 75 nm. The nanoparticles may be used, for example, for drug delivery, including efficient and effective drug delivery against cancers such as triple negative breast cancers.

Abstract: An electrode apparatus for removing contaminants from a fluid is provided. In another aspect, an electrochemical destruction apparatus for wastewater effluent using Boron-doped diamond electrodes is employed. A further aspect of the present apparatus includes a fluid-carrying conduit, electrodes located within the conduit, an electrical controller connected to the electrodes, a sensor connected to the controller being adapted to sense a chemical characteristic associated with contaminants in the fluid, and the controller automatically varying an electrical characteristic associated with at least one of the electrodes based, at least in part, on an input from the sensor. Yet another aspect includes a programmable controller and software which automatically employ a feedback control loop to increase or decrease electrical current density to contaminant-removing electrodes.

Abstract: Systems and methods for energy storage and energy recovery are provided. An electrical-to-electrical energy storage system includes a thermochemical energy storage device, a blower, a compressor, a turbine, and an electrical generator. The TCES device includes a vessel, a porous bed, and a heater. The porous bed is disposed within an interior volume of the vessel. The porous bed comprises a reactive material. The reactive material is configured to release oxygen upon being heated to a reduction temperature, and generate heat when exposed to oxygen. The heater is in thermal contact with the reactive material. The blower is configured to remove oxygen from the interior volume. The compressor is configured to flow oxygen into the interior volume. The turbine is configured to receive a heated, oxygen-depleted gas from the interior volume. The generator is configured to be powered by the turbine to generate electricity.

Abstract: A method of purifying an antifreeze protein (AFP) and methods of producing AFPs are disclosed. The method of purifying an AFP includes heating a crude AFP in an aqueous medium to a temperature and for a length of time sufficient to precipitate at least some thermally unstable proteins in the crude AFP and form a precipitate and a supernatant; and removing the precipitate from the supernatant. One method of producing an AFP includes collecting a crude source of the AFP; and purifying the AFP by the purification method. Another method of producing an AFP includes growing or culturing a host configured to express a recombinant AFP in a growth medium, and collecting a crude AFP from the host and/or the growth medium. The growth medium comprises water, a protein hydrolysate or other source of amino acids, a yeast extract, a biologically metabolizable C3-C6 polyol, and one or more phosphate salts.

Abstract: Various embodiments for fast prototyping of morphologies and controllers related to locomotion for a robotic device are disclosed.

Abstract: A soft-switching, high-performance single-phase alternating current (AC)-direct current (DC) converter is provided. The AC-DC converter described herein provides a new circuit topology for single-stage, single-phase or multi-phase AC-DC power conversion with power factor correction (PFC) and galvanic isolation using a high-frequency isolation transformer. The AC-DC converter improves power conversion efficiency and power density—two of the most important metrics for a power converter. It achieves soft switching for high frequency switches in the circuit, leading to higher efficiency and lower electromagnetic interference (EMI).

Abstract: This invention relates to a feedback predictive controller, systems comprising and methods employing the same. Preferably the feedback predictive controller and/or systems comprising the feedback predictive controller are part of an automatic insulin delivery system. The methods described herein can be used to control blood glucose concentration in a patient with diabetes. Preferably, the insulin delivery system is an artificial pancreas.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a systems and methods for a triplet network having speaker diarization are disclosed.

Abstract: A technology is described for spatially estimating thermal emissivity. A method can include obtaining spectral emissivity data and satellite imaging data for a geographic area. A weighted emissivity model of emissivity values may be generated for surfaces included in the geographic area from the spectral emissivity data and the satellite imaging data, wherein the spectral emissivity data is mapped to the satellite imaging data to generate the weighted emissivity model. Thermal imaging data for the geographic area may be received from an airborne thermal imaging sensor and a thermal emissivity map can be generated for the geographic area using the thermal imaging data and the weighted emissivity model. The emissivity values from the weighted emissivity model can be used to estimate thermal emissivity values.

Abstract: An Ussing chamber assembly for assessing a tissue sample and for receiving a first fluid and a second fluid during such assessment is disclosed. The Ussing chamber assembly includes an Ussing chamber configured to be separated by the tissue sample into a first chamber portion and a second chamber portion. The assembly includes a first channel in fluidic communication with the first chamber portion, a second channel in fluidic communication with the second chamber portion, and at least three electrical conductors in fluidic communication with the first chamber portion.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions comprising chimeric polypeptides that bind to free ubiquitin proteins or free ubiquitin-like proteins with high affinity, as well as chimeric polypeptides that bind to both free and conjugated ubiquitin proteins or free and conjugated ubiquitin-like proteins, and methods of using the chimeric polypeptides to determine the amount of free or total ubiquitin or free or total ubiquitin-like proteins in various types of samples.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to methods of treatment, including treatment of a myopathy by administering to a subject in need thereof an elastase inhibitor in combination with a glucocorticoid. The present disclosure is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions that include an elastase inhibitor that can be used in such treatment.

Abstract: Down-regulating autoimmune regulator (AIRE) function in B cells to produce antibodies is described. The antibodies can be class-switched, high affinity, and neutralizing, and have a high degree of somatic hypermutations, even in the framework region, as compared to antibodies produced in the absence of AIRE downregulation.

Abstract: Compositions comprising Group V/III nanowires, and methods of making such nanowires are described. Some compositions comprise one or more core-shell nanowires comprising a core and a first shell surrounding or substantially surrounding the core. The core is formed from GaAs(1-y)Sby, where y=about 0.03-0.07 and the first shell is formed from GaAs(1-x)SbxN, where x=0.27-0.34. The nanowires have an average emission maximum of 1.4-1.7 ?m. Some nanowires further comprise a second shell surrounding or substantially surrounding the first shell. The second shell is formed from a Group V/III material such as Ga1-mAlmAs, where m=0-0.2. Some nanowires have the structure GaAs(0.93-0.97)Sb(0.03-0.07)/GaAs(0.66-0.73)Sb(0.27-0.34)N/Ga(0.8-1)Al(0-0.2)As.

Abstract: Provided are antisense oligomers targeted against bacterial mRNAs and other macromolecules associated with a biochemical pathway and/or cellular process, and related compositions and methods of using the oligomers and compositions to treat an infected mammalian subject, for example, as primary antimicrobials or as adjunctive therapies with classic antimicrobials.

Abstract: A shared optics and telescope for transmitting a transmission beam and receiving a return signal is provided. The shared optics and telescope includes a pair of axicon lenses operable to shape the transmission beam into an annular beam having an outer diameter and an inner diameter, a secondary mirror operable to deflect the annular beam into a deflected annular transmission beam, and a primary mirror that includes an inner mirror portion and an outer mirror portion, the inner mirror portion operable to expand the deflected annular transmission beam, and the outer mirror portion operable to collect the return signal.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for reducing the level of nornicotine and N?-nitrosonornicotine (NNN) in Nicotiana plants and plant parts thereof are provided. The compositions comprise isolated polynucleotides and polypeptides for cytochrome P450s that are involved in the metabolic conversion of nicotine to nornicotine in these plants. Expression cassettes, vectors, plants, and plant parts thereof comprising inhibitory sequences that target expression or function of the disclosed cytochrome P450 polypeptides are also provided. Methods for the use of these novel sequences to inhibit expression or function of cytochrome P450 polypeptides involved in this metabolic conversion are also provided. The methods find use in the production of tobacco products that have reduced levels of nornicotine and its carcinogenic metabolite, NNN, and thus reduced carcinogenic potential for individuals consuming these tobacco products or exposed to secondary smoke derived from these products.

Abstract: A new and distinct interspecific hybrid Corylus plant named ‘OSU 541.147’ characterized by a vigorous, upright growth habit, the production of nuts with round kernels that fall free of the husk at maturity, and resistance to eastern filbert blight caused by the fungus Anisogramma anomala (Peck) E. Müller.