Abstract: A composition of a photocatalyst, a method of manufacturing the photocatalyst, and a method of chemically reducing carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide using the photocatalyst under visible-light irradiation is provided. The photocatalyst comprises a transition metal ion and graphitic carbon nitride and includes single metal sites on carbon nitride. Under visible light, the metal sites that are coordinated to nitrogen atoms get activated, without the use of additional ligands, to catalyze the reduction of carbon dioxide to selectively produce carbon monoxide. The photocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide is highly efficient, resulting a turnover number of more than 800 for carbon monoxide production in 2 hours. The composition is useful in converting carbon dioxide into useful chemicals and carbon-based fuels. A functional model of molecular catalysts for efficient carbon dioxide reduction is also present.

Abstract: 3D particle tracking and localization provide direct means to monitor details within nano-scale environments. However, a major shortcoming of 3D techniques is the sample induced aberrations due to inhomogeneous refractive index, resulting in distortion of point spread functions (PSFs), which are an important measurement tool required for these tasks in the field. This issue is particularly important when using pre-calibrated PSFs that do not take into account the sample induced aberrations. A system incorporates a Bayesian framework for simultaneous particle tracking and PSF inference directly from a given data. The system is data efficient by taking into account existing sources of uncertainty, such as uncertainty in the shape of the PSF, which is often ignored. The system is benchmarked using a wide range of synthetic and experimental data.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for actuating stringed instruments. In embodiments, the compositions and methods are non-invasive and are used with stringed instruments that contain end-pins.

Abstract: Position information estimation in a distributed radio frequency (RF) communications system is provided. Embodiments disclosed herein facilitate high-precision estimations of positions, orientations, velocities, and acceleration of network nodes in a distributed RF network. The distributed RF communications system incorporates a series of estimation processes which makes it susceptible to propagation of errors. To ensure robustness of the distributed RF communications system, relative positions of network nodes are tracked by iteratively tracking parameters used for estimating position information. Some embodiments take advantage of Kalman filtering algorithms by leveraging principles directed by physics. At every network node, several filtering algorithms can be employed to synchronize clocks, track delay between multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antennas and estimate position and orientation of other network nodes.

Abstract: Chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) including an antigen binding domain specifically binding to coronavirus spike protein, nucleic acids encoding the CARs, vectors including nucleic acids encoding the CARs, and immune cells expressing the CARs are provided. Methods of treating a subject with coronavirus, including administering to the subject an immune cell expressing a disclosed CAR are also provided.

Abstract: Methods of hydromethylation of alkenes and ketones, including methods that use Tebbe's reagent. The methods may include contacting Cp2Ti(?-Cl)(?-CH2)AlMe2 and an alkene or a ketone to produce an intermediate product that may include a titanacyclobutane. The intermediate product may be contacted with an acid to produce a methylated product.

Abstract: A system to search in a low visibility environment comprising: an infrared (IR) sensor and a radar unit to receive measurements in a first field of view; a microphone to receive audio measurements in a second field of view; processing circuitry to determine presence of an animal and/or human in the first field of view using a first machine learning engine trained based upon the IR image measurements and/or using a second machine learning engine trained based upon the radar image measurements; determine presence of an animal and/or human in the second field of view using a third machine learning engine trained based upon the audio measurements; providing a first digital transmission indicating whether a human and/or animal is detected within the first field of view; and providing a second digital signal indicating whether a human and/or animal is detected within the second field of view.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for overheight vehicle impact avoidance and incident detection. A detection subsystem of the system determines whether an incoming vehicle is clear to pass, depending at least on its height. The detection subsystem relies on distance sensors located along the freeway to detect the highest point of the vehicle and outputs an indication of whether the vehicle can pass. A warning subsystem receives the indication that a vehicle is overheight and provides a warning indication to the driver about the vehicle's inability to pass an upcoming structure. The warning subsystem may also perform a variety of other tasks, such as, for example, logging a variety of information about the vehicle and the incident, sending data about the incident locally to a central command, and generating reports.

Abstract: A computer device including a computing engine having a plurality of processor cores configured to simultaneously execute identical sets of processor-executable instructions, where each of the processor cores includes different instruction code assignments, and a malware monitoring and remediation component that detects presence of malware when instruction register values from a predetermined number of processor cores are identical during an instruction cycle. In various embodiments, the computer device may be an “edge” computer deployed in military or other highly-sensitive environments. The computing engine may be implemented using one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs).

Abstract: An accelerometer includes a vacuum chamber to receive one or more pairs of laser beams and a nanoparticle. Each laser beam includes an axis and a focus having three dimensions. The nanoparticle is trapped in an oscillating state in a substantially overlapping three-dimensional foci of the one or more pairs of laser beams. A processor calculates an acceleration of the nanoparticle based on changes in position of the oscillating nanoparticle. At least one photodetector identifies spatial coordinates of the oscillating nanoparticle. The at least one photodetector includes a plurality of photodetectors that are aligned to sense interference between light from a first laser beam and light from the first laser beam that is scattered by the oscillating nanoparticle. The one or more pairs of laser beams may be collinear. The one or more pairs of laser beams may be configured to point at each other.

Abstract: Implementations of a method of modeling a flow of resources may include generating a stage resource database when the resources reach one or more stages from one or more supply nodes. The method may also include using a mass balance module to maintain an outflow less than or equal to a supply at the one or more supply nodes and an inflow greater than or equal to demand at the one or more stages. The method may include enforcing movement of resources to or from one or more supply nodes of the supply chain to the one or more stages. The method may include using a non-negativity constraint module to maintain a non-negative amount to be transported. The method may also include using a flow generation module and one or more constraint thresholds to report to a user the flow of the resources using one or more computer interfaces.

Abstract: A vertically oriented plasma reactor is provided. In another aspect, a plasma reactor includes a vertically elongated vacuum chamber, a wall internally projecting within a middle section of the housing, magnets, electrodes and a radio frequency source. A further aspect employs a workpiece-entry port and an opposite workpiece material-exit port, with one located adjacent a top end and the other adjacent a bottom end of a vertically elongated reactor housing or vacuum chamber. Yet another aspect employs a moving or falling-bed plasma reactor for use in activating biochar material.

Abstract: Various embodiments of systems and methods for mobile crowd sensing applications are disclosed herein.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of assessing the presence of microbes in a liquid sample that include assessing an initial integrated scattering intensity of objects (IC0) in the sample and an integrated scattering intensity of the objects at a time t (ICt) from modified images of the liquid sample, and identifying the sample as comprising microbes for (ICt)/(IC0) above a predefined infection threshold TI. Related systems and other aspects are also provided.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for characterizing material samples. In one aspect, a device for characterizing a sample includes a substrate configured for receiving a sample thereon; an optical fiber probe comprising a first end positioned near the sample and a second end that is bifurcated to include one or more first fiber configured for connection to a first light emitting device and one or more second fiber configured for connection to a spectrometer; a reflectance module coupled to the substrate; and a second light emitting device positioned near the sample. The optical fiber probe is configured for selectively obtaining at the spectrometer both a reflectance absorbance measurement of the sample associated with the first light emitting device and a photoluminescence measurement of the sample associated with the second light emitting device.

Abstract: A highly sensitive thermally stimulated emission (TSE) spectrometer, and a method of conducting spectrometry, are described. Provided is a thermally stimulated emission (TSE) spectrometer comprising a cryostat housing a sample stage in an area; a cooling source configured to lower a temperature of the area to as low as 9 K; a photo-excitation source configured to deliver electromagnetic radiation to a sample on the sample stage; a heat source configured to heat the area; a temperature control unit configured to control the cooling source and the heat source, so as to cool or heat the area; a monochromator configured to receive light emitted from the sample on the sample stage as the area is being heated by the heat source, and emit a specific wavelength or wavelengths of the light; a highly sensitive photomultiplier tube (PMT) configured to detect the light emitted from the monochromator at the specific wavelength or the light emitted directly from the sample covering all wavelengths.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining properties of seed cotton based on measurements from a near-infrared (NIR) sensor. The determined properties are indicative of a quality of the seed cotton. The NIR sensor is mounted on harvesting equipment to acquire quality data during harvesting. The quality data may be mapped to field location and/or forwarded on in preparation of further processing.

Abstract: A lithium-metal battery electrode-supported separator includes an electrically conductive substrate and a separator coated on the substrate. The separator includes plate-shaped ?-alumina particles, and the ?-alumina particles define inter-particle tortuous pores. A method of making the electrode-supported separator includes preparing a slurry of the plate-shaped ?-alumina particles, spreading the slurry on an electrically conductive substrate to yield a coated separator, and drying the coated separator to yield the electrode-supported separator. A lithium-metal battery includes a first electrode, a separator coated on first electrode, a second electrode comprising lithium metal, and an electrolyte in contact with the first electrode and the second electrode. The separator includes plate-shaped ?-alumina particles, the ?-alumina particles define tortuous intra-particle pores, and the second electrode is in direct contact with the separator.

Abstract: The present invention relates to anti-matriptase antibodies and immunoconjugates of anti-matriptase antibodies with cytotoxic agents and the use thereof for killing or inhibiting the growth of matriptase-expressing cancer cells, such as those of multiple myeloma and breast cancers. In particular, immunoconjugates comprising an anti-matriptase monoclonal antibody and anticancer agents such as auristatin, including monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) and monomethyl auristatin F (MMAF) are introduced, which have potent antitumor activity in vivo. Moreover, importantly; there was no weight loss or other evidence of toxicity in the animals, indicating that no significant free drug was released into the circulation from the conjugate. The present invention also provides compositions comprising these new immunoconjugates and use of them for treatment of malignancies comprising cells that express matriptase.

Abstract: ‘XSA 11377’ is a new St. Augustinegrass cultivar that is fast to establish, has good levels of shade and drought tolerances, and has superior turf quality. It is distinguishable from other cultivars by its medium-fine texture, aggressive stoloniferous growth, improved sod strength, and improved shade tolerance. ‘XSA 11377’ shows gray leaf spot and chinch bug tolerance, and maintains above average turf quality under normal management practices. ‘XSA-11377’ is also genetically distinct from other St. Augustinegrass cultivars currently in the marketplace known to the Inventor.