Abstract: Chimeric double peptide vaccines are disclosed, useful for inducing active immunity against Candida fungal infections. The chimeric peptide comprises an Fba peptide and an Met6 peptide, covalently linked to one another, with or without an intermediate linker. Fba and Met6 are cell surface components of Candida. When used as a vaccine, the chimeric double peptide vaccine induces stronger protective immunity against fungal infection than does the Fba peptide alone, or the Met6 peptide alone, or a mixture (not covalently linked) of the two peptides.

Abstract: The present invention provides for compositions and methods for producing sorghum crop plants that are resistant to herbicides. In particular, the present invention provides for sorghum plants, plant tissues and plant seeds that contain altered acetolactate synthase (ALS) genes and proteins that are resistant to inhibition by herbicides that normally inhibit the activity of the ALS protein.

Abstract: For mitigating a compromised network-on-chip, code appends a node identifier of a destination node to a packet transmitted in a multiprocessor system-on-chip (MPSOC). The MPSOC may include third-party components such as a network-on-chip. The code may detect a copy of the packet from the node identifier. In addition, the code may drop the copy of the packet in response to the copy of the packet being routed to an unintended node.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for a tunable filter employing feedforward cancellation are disclosed. According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a tunable transmissive filter that includes a splitter for splitting an input signal into a first signal and a second signal, a first modifier circuit for modifying a characteristic of the first signal to produce a modified first signal, a second modifier circuit for using feedforward cancellation to modify a characteristic of the second signal to produce a modified second signal, the second modifier circuit including an N-path filter, N being an integer greater than 0; and a combiner for combining the modified first signal and the modified second signal to produce a filtered output signal having a bandpass response.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermoplastic block copolymer comprising at least one PA block and at least one PB block. The PA block represents a polymer block comprising one or more units of monomer A, and the PB block represents a polymer block comprising one or more units of monomer B. Monomer A is a vinyl, acrylic, diolefin, nitrile, dinitrile, acrylonitrile monomer, a monomer with reactive functionality, or a crosslinking monomer. Monomer B is a radically polymerizable triglyceride or mixtures thereof, typically in the form of a plant or animal oil. The present invention also relates to a method of preparing a thermoplastic block copolymer or novel thermoplastic statistical copolymers by polymerizing a radically polymerizable monomer with a radically polymerizable triglyceride or mixtures thereof via reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer polymerization (RAFT), in the presence of an free radical initiator and a chain transfer agent.

Abstract: A method for gas atomization of oxygen-reactive reactive metals and alloys wherein the atomized particles are exposed as they solidify and cool in a very short time to multiple gaseous reactive agents for the in-situ formation of a protective reaction film on the atomized particles. The present invention is especially useful for making highly pyrophoric reactive metal or alloy atomized powders, such as atomized magnesium and magnesium alloy powders. The gaseous reactive species (agents) are introduced into the atomization spray chamber at locations downstream of a gas atomizing nozzle as determined by the desired powder or particle temperature for the reactions and the desired thickness of the reaction film.

Abstract: Methods of treating a subject who has chronic tissue ischemia are disclosed. The methods can include administering to the subject a pharmaceutical composition comprising inorganic nitrite or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, for a time and in an amount sufficient to result in blood vessel growth in the ischemic tissue. The subject can be diagnosed as having a medical condition that results in persistent or recurring restriction of blood supply to a tissue, for example, peripheral artery disease, diabetes, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease or defective wound healing. The methods can include the step of identifying a suitable subject.

Abstract: Elastomer-based soft-robotic micro-tentacles capable of winding around and holding microscale objects and methods of fabricating same are provided. To realize the thin, highly deformable microtubes, a fabrication technique based on in situ thermal solidification of PDMS dip-coated around a cylindrical template and direct peeling of the cured structure is presented. This process is capable to asymmetrize the microtube's cross-sectional shape and enable the microtube to bend up to a single turn. To amplify the bending into a life-like, multi-turn spiraling motion, a semi-analytical model to shape-engineer the microtube and turn it into a micro-tentacle was produced. As a result, a hump is added to the microtube to enable the multi-turn spiraling motion.

Abstract: A portable self medication management system and method of provided. For example, the system may include a removable tote and docking station. The removable tote including a plurality of receptacles, communicating section for transferring data to and from a docking station and a power reception station for receiving power from the docking station. The docking station including a scanner, a display screen, a controller, a storage device, communicating sections for transmitting data to the removable tote and other external devices and a power transmitting section for transferring power to the removable tote.

Abstract: Provided is a Group 9 novel metal catalyst complex further comprising a ketone-containing cocatalyst. The metal catalyst complex is useful in generating olefins from alkanes with great efficiency. In one embodiment, provided is an iridium catalyst complex useful in the dehydrogenation of alkanes comprising a ketone-containing cocatalyst and iridium complexed with a tridentate ligand. Also provided is a novel dehydrogenation method which utilizes the catalyst composition. In other embodiments, a novel process for preparing oligomers from alkanes utilizing the catalyst composition is provided.

Abstract: Carbon monoxide-releasing organic molecules are described herein. The molecules can be synthesized prior to administration (e.g., ex vivo) or formed in vivo. In those embodiments where the molecules are formed in vivo, reactants are administered under physiological conditions and undergo a cycloaddition reaction to form a product which releases carbon monoxide. In applying such reactions for therapeutic applications in vivo, the cycloaddition and CO release typically occur only under near-physiological or physiological conditions. For example, in some embodiments, the cycloaddition reaction and/or release of carbon monoxide occur at a temperature of about 37 C and pH of about 7.4. Pharmaceutical compositions and methods for release carbon monoxide are also described.

Abstract: An accelerometer 100 which includes a bracket 110, a pair of electrodes 210/220/230/240/250, a first electrically conductive foam 120, a second electrically conductive foam 130, wherein the first electrically conductive foam and the second electrically conductive foam are inserted between the pair of electrodes and the bracket.

Abstract: A device for non-contact measurement of blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) in a mammalian subject including a camera and one or more arrays of LEDs each having a first set of LEDs emitting near infrared (NIR), and the second set of LEDs emitting orange light located in an optical path adapted to transmit reflected light from a subject to the camera. A controller transmits a camera trigger to the camera, and is further coupled to transmit control signals to the one or more arrays of LEDs. A processor receives photoplethysmography (PPG) data signal values from the camera. The PPG data signal values are present in the reflected light and include pulsatile and non-pulsatile components. The processor determines SpO2 values from the PPG data signal values from the measured ratios of pulsatile to non-pulsatile components of the PPG signals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to graphene oxide-coated nanofiber scaffold that provides instructive physical cues to the differentiation of stem cells into selected cell lineages or networks.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a method for selecting lactic acid bacterial strains effective for preventing bone loss in humans and strains that have been selected according to the presented method. The selection method is based on the strain's capability of reestablishing an altered microbial community to normal and/or harboring at least one of four specific SNPs.

Abstract: Alexandrian laurel (Danae racemosa L.) is a highly demanded evergreen shrub. However, seed germination often takes up to 12 to 18 months with a germination rate of only about 20%. Also, due to its slow-growth rate, it typically takes up to six years to produce a saleable one-gallon size plant. Germinating seeds in the presence of cytokinins and/or auxins increased in vitro shoot multiplication and seedling quality enhancement. Benzyladenine was found to balance seedling development by simultaneously accelerating shoot growth and slowing down root growth, whereas thidiazuron significantly promoted shoot multiplication and proliferation by producing 5-30 shoots per seed.

Abstract: A two-step (sequential) machine learning analysis tool is provided that involves a combination of an initial active learning step followed by an imbalance class learner (ACL-ICL) protocol. This technique provides a more tightly integrated approach for a more efficient and accurate machine learning analysis. The combination of ACL and ICL work synergistically to improve the accuracy and efficiency of machine learning and can be used with any type of dataset including biological datasets.

Abstract: Various embodiments of processing systems and components for sterilization or pasteurization and associated methods of operation are described herein. For example, a method of sterilization or pasteurization includes immersing an item in an immersion fluid, and the immersed item is subject to a hydrostatic pressure of the immersion fluid. The method also includes applying microwave energy to the item while the item is immersed in the immersion fluid and subject to the hydrostatic pressure of the immersion fluid. The hydrostatic pressure of the immersion fluid prevents the water content of the item from causing steam explosion in the item while the microwave energy is applied. The method further includes heating the item immersed in the immersion fluid to a target temperature with the applied microwave energy, the target temperature being sufficient to achieve sterilization or pasteurization of the item.

Abstract: A catalyst is prepared in situ by reaction between an aryl halide and a Ni(0) complex. The catalyst may be used to promote chain-growth polymerization of halogen-substituted Mg or Zn monomers by a controlled radical mechanism. Polymers, co-polymers, block copolymers, polymer thin films, and surface-confined polymer brushes may be produced using the catalyst.

Abstract: A phase frequency detector with two stages of operation; each stage containing two D flip-flops. Each D flip-flop is interconnected to eliminate detection dead zone while avoiding glitches and incorrect output conditions for fast phase locked loop convergence and wide-band applications.