Abstract: A new and distinct Berberis cultivar named ‘NCBT1’ is disclosed, characterized by purple foliage and a distinctively compact and round plant habit. Plants have very low female fertility. The new variety is a Berberis, normally produced as an outdoor garden plant.

Abstract: A method of making a bacteriochlorin is carried out by condensing a pair of compounds of Formula II to produce the bacteriochlorin, wherein R is an acetal or aldehyde group. The condensing may be carried out in an organic solvent, preferably in the presence of an acid. The bacteriochlorins are useful for a variety of purposes such as active agents in photodynamic therapy, luminescent compounds in flow cytometry, solar cells, light harvesting arrays, and molecular memory devices.

Abstract: One or more techniques and/or products are disclosed using a process for preparing metallic nanoparticles. Resulting nanoparticles may comprise a gold-silver-gold core-shell-shell nanoparticles. Such nanoparticles can be formed by forming a gold core, providing certain materials to form a silver shell, and providing certain materials to form a gold shell. The metallic nanoparticles may be used in molecular sensing, catalysis, photothermal therapy, and other biologically-relevant technologies.

Abstract: A helmet, has a shell that includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion has first, second and third layers. The second layer is positioned between the first layer and the third layer. The second layer is less dense than the first layer and the third layer. The second portion has a plurality of enemy dissipaters. Each of the energy dissipaters has a rod that extends in a spiraling manner from a fixed end to a free end. The rod tapers continuously along its length from the fixed end to the free end so that the fixed end exhibits a larger internal cross sectional area than the free end. The free end is capable of vibrating when the helmet is impacted by an object in order to dissipate impact energy.

Abstract: A method of forming a thin film on a substrate which includes a step of contacting a surface with a precursor compound having a transition metal and one or more alkyl-1,3-diazabutadiene ligands is provided. The resulting modified surface is then contacted with an activating compound.

Abstract: A multiplex system and method for achieving high throughput analysis of samples using solvent assisted ionization inlet includes an ionizing system with a heated inlet channel and a pressure differential across the inlet channel, pipet tips serially aligned with the inlet to a mass spectrometer, and a system of mapping data generated by mass spectrometry.

Abstract: A communication system includes a two-dimensional array of a plurality of plasmonic nano-antennas. Each plasmonic nano-antenna supports a surface plasmon polariton wave. A plurality of communications elements each excite a corresponding one of the plasmonic nano-antennas, thereby causing a surface plasmon polariton wave that corresponds to a signal to form on each of the plasmonic nano-antennas.

Abstract: An injector apparatus and methods for use, where the injector apparatus comprises: (a) hydraulic stage having first and second ends and including a housing defining a cavity, a primary plunger disposed in the cavity and a secondary plunger, (b) a pressurization system coupled to the hydraulic stage's first end, where the primary plunger is in fluid communication with the pressurization system and is in mechanical communication with the secondary plunger, (c) a reservoir bore defined in the hydraulic stage housing and configured to receive the primary plunger's second end, where the secondary plunger is disposed within the reservoir bore and (d) a nozzle assembly including a housing, a gas tube and a nozzle capillary, where the nozzle capillary is partially disposed in and is substantially coaxial with the gas tube, where the nozzle capillary's first end is in fluid communication with the reservoir bore's second end.

Abstract: Gang migration refers to the simultaneous live migration of multiple Virtual Machines (VMs) from one set of physical machines to another in response to events such as load spikes and imminent failures. Gang migration generates a large volume of network traffic and can overload the core network links and switches in a datacenter. In this paper, we present an approach to reduce the network overhead of gang migration using global deduplication (GMGD). GMGD identifies and eliminates the retransmission of duplicate memory pages among VMs running on multiple physical machines in the cluster. The design, implementation and evaluation of a GMGD prototype is described using QEMU/KVM VMs. Evaluations on a 30-node Gigabit Ethernet cluster having 10 GigE core links shows that GMGD can reduce the network traffic on core links by up to 65% and the total migration time of VMs by up to 42% when compared to the default migration technique in QEMU/KVM.

Abstract: A tunable superomniphobic surface with flower-like TiO2 nanostructures was fabricated into a device with precisely tailored surface energy domains that can sort droplets by surface tension. This apparatus and method for droplet sorting will enable inexpensive and energy-efficient analytical devices for personalized point-of-care diagnostic platforms, lab-on-a-chip systems, fuel sensor applications, biochemical assays and biosensors.

Abstract: A device for measuring and characterizing solid-state devices or integrated circuits at RF frequencies up to 1.0 THz and beyond is provided that includes a transmitting photomixing probe structure and a receiving photomixing probe structure. The transmitting photomixing probe structure and the receiving photomixing probe structure are ac-coupled to the solid-state device or integrated circuit in a contact-free manner.

Abstract: Methods of making an artificial leather substrate from leather waste (e.g., shavings, such as wet blue, and/or pulverized trim scrap) and products formed using the artificial leather substrate are disclosed. In one example, the artificial leather substrate comprises a composite web comprising leather waste mixed with a lightweight web, a lightweight web atop the composite web, and another lightweight web atop the first lightweight web. A method of making the artificial leather substrate includes the steps of mixing one or more fiber components, leather shavings, and/or pulverized leather trim scrap to form the composite web; needle punching the composite web; and bonding the composite web.

Abstract: Microbial fuel cells capable of generating energy from an organic-based fuel are described. The microbial fuel cells can include an anode component, a cathode component, and a separator component selected to reduce spacing between the anode and the cathode thereby improving performance of the microbial fuel cell. Cathode components including particular components that improve the lifetime, performance, and production of the cathode component at reduced cost also are described, as well as a method of using the microbial fuel cells.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of treating a bacterial infection in a mammal comprising administering to the mammal a substituted bicyclic heteroaromatic ring compound of formula I: wherein two of X1 to X8 are N and the remaining of X1 to X8 are CH; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, as well as novel compounds of formula I and salts thereof and pharmaceutical compositions comprising a compound of formula I or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to conjugates for targeting bacteria and related uses. In certain embodiments, the disclosure relates to methods of transferring a molecule of interest into bacteria comprising mixing bacteria with a non-naturally occurring conjugate under conditions such that the conjugate is transported across the bacterial cell wall. Typically, the conjugate comprises an oligosaccharide and a molecule of interest. In certain embodiments, the molecule of interest may be a tracer or an antibiotic.

Abstract: The cis-isomer and trans-isomers of the plant-derived compound gnetin H are shown have anticancer properties, anti-inflammatory properties, and low toxicity. Therapeutic and prophylactic compositions that contain cis-gnetin H, trans-gnetin H, an derivatives thereof, as well as methods of making and using said compositions, are provided, cis-gnetin H and/or trans-gnetin H can be used in purified form or as a plant extract.

Abstract: A dental implant comprising a base, a central shaft and a shock absorber spacing and allowing limited movement between the base and the central shaft.

Abstract: A photovoltaic device is provided. The photovoltaic device includes a metal salt layer disposed adjacent to a perovskite layer. The metal salt layer diffuses into the perovskite layer. Methods for fabricating the photovoltaic device are also provided.

Abstract: Tridentate platinum, palladium, and gold complexes of Formulas A-I and A-II and tridentate iridium and rhodium compounds of Formulas B-I, B-II, and B-III suitable for delayed fluorescent and phosphorescent or phosphorescent emitters in display and lighting applications.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for preparing boronic acids, for example, primary alkyl or alkenyl boronic acids, and alkali metal alkyl trifluoro borate salts, as described herein, wherein the primary alkyl boronic acids and the potassium alkyl trifluoroborate salts can contain one or more unprotected functional groups.