Abstract: An electrochemical cell is provided comprising a thin metal foil packaging made from at least one sheet of metal foil and having a perimeter extending around at least a portion of the electrochemical cell, as well as an electrochemical cell stack contained within the thin metal foil packaging, and a metal-to-metal welded seal around at least a portion of the perimeter of the thin metal foil packaging. The metal-to-metal welded seal is hermetic or nearly hermetic. Furthermore, the metal-to-metal welded seal is narrow, having a width of less than about 1 mm, and is less than about 5 mm away from the electrochemical cell stack. In some embodiments, the thin metal foil packaging functions not only as a hermetically or near hermetically sealed packaging, but also as either electrode of the cell bonded to the foil packaging.

Abstract: A transparent photovoltaic cell is provided. The transparent photovoltaic cell includes a first visibly transparent electrode, a visibly transparent active layer including a light absorbing material that has a bandgap greater than or equal to about 2.75 eV, and a second visibly transparent electrode. The active layer is disposed between the first transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode. The transparent photovoltaic cell is visibly transparent.

Abstract: A device and method are disclosed for intravenous cannulation. The device employs a spring to precisely and accurately control the force and velocity imparted to a piercing needle, with mechanical constraints built into the device to precisely and accurately control the distance through which the piercing needle travels. A sheathed-needle configuration is used with an outer, echogenic needle that can be seen via ultrasound; and an inner needle used to pierce the vein. The operator releases the piercing needle with a controlled velocity, controlled force, and controlled travel distance. The device reduces the human error and complications that have previously been associated with manually piercing a vein for cannulation.

Abstract: Methods of infecting a mosquito with Wolbachia and controlling a mosquito population with the Wolbachia-infected mosquito are provided herein. The method includes microinjecting a suspension including Wolbachia cells and buffer into a target mosquito embryo to produce a Wolbachia-infected G0 female. The suspension including Wolbachia cells and buffer is obtained by homogenizing a donor insect embryo, tissue, and/or whole body infected with Wolbachia to form a homogenate and the Wolbachia cells are separated from the homogenate.

Abstract: A system applies optimal peak-clipping (PC) and load-shifting (LS) control strategies of a Li-ion BESS at a large industrial facility with and without enrollment in the electrical utility company's event-based DR program. The optimally sized BESSs and discounted payback periods are determined for both control strategies with and without event-based DR enrollment. Additional optimization can be performed to reduce an environmental impact of using the BESS. Comparisons between the PC and LS control strategies' operations show that for the same sized Li-ion BESS with DR enrollment, the LS control strategy achieves more revenue in DR events and by leveraging the energy-price arbitrage.

Abstract: A computer-implemented framework (MacroNet) automatically identifies macroscale behaviors in complex systems and samples specific instances that exhibit the behavior. Applied to complex systems, this allows an automated method for identifying predictive regularities in data via dimensionality reduction to just a few variables (macrostates), that also then allows the capability to design a new system outside the original training data that exhibits the same macroscale behavior. The framework enables automated discovery of macroscale descriptions of complex systems, design of systems that have the specified macroscale description by sampling microstates consistent with the identified macrostates, and predicting behaviors at the macroscale when accurate predictions for specific systems are not possible.

Abstract: A system for accurate secondary network topology geographic information system (GIS) coordinates correction provides a more accurate feeder topology for utilities to estimate and operate distribution systems by assigning the load and distributed energy resources (DER) nodes to their corresponding customer location. To simplify the complexity of the system, only two commonly available inputs are being used as input data: municipal parcel GIS delimitation data, and utility secondary feeder topology database. The system includes a three-stage framework: the first stage reads and processes the raw input data; the second stage works automatically with no human intervention to assign the load and DER nodes to their associated location; the third stage provides the load and DER coordinates and physical address.

Abstract: A first robot performs navigation to a predetermined first static or dynamic target location. A first set of velocity candidates is generated for the first robot based on the detection of a first set of one or more velocity obstacles. A first new velocity is selected from the first set of velocity candidates. The first robot is moved at a first velocity corresponding to the first new velocity. The first new velocity is a first desired velocity or a velocity closest to the first desired velocity when at least one velocity candidate of the first set of velocity candidates corresponds to a safe and reachable velocity for the first robot. The first new velocity is a minimum velocity possible by the first robot when each one of the first set of velocity candidates corresponds to a respective unsafe velocity for the first robot.

Abstract: A method for predicting remaining useful life for industrial equipment and associated sensor modules are provided. The method includes monitoring machine sensor data for the industrial equipment in an industrial environment using at least one sensor and applying a two-tier model implemented by a computing device by executing a set of instructions from a non-transitory machine readable memory using a processor of the computing device. The two-tier model receives as input sensor data comprising the machine sensor data and applies physics of failure of the industrial equipment to determine a prediction for remaining useful life for the industrial equipment, uncertainty in the prediction for the remaining useful life for the industrial equipment, and an explanation to the prediction for the remaining useful life for the industrial equipment.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a camshaft operably adjusted by a phaser. Another aspect includes an internal combustion engine having an actuation system for an air valve. A further aspect provides a camshaft-in-camshaft system with a cam phaser located adjacent opposite ends. In another aspect, an internal combustion engine apparatus includes multiple nested camshafts with one of the camshafts having a cam configured to actuate an air intake valve associated with a turbulent jet ignition prechamber, and another of the camshafts having a cam configured to actuate an air valve of a main piston combustion chamber, the nested camshafts being independently rotatable by separate electromagnetic actuators.

Abstract: Synthesizing upconverting nanoparticles includes heating a precursor solution comprising one or more rare earth salts, an alkali metal salt or alkaline earth salt, and a solvent comprising a plasticizer in a microwave reactor to yield a product mixture, and cooling the product mixture to yield the upconverting nanoparticles. Core-shell upconverting nanoparticles are synthesized by combining the upconverting nanoparticles with a precursor solution comprising one or more rare earth salts, an alkali metal salt or alkaline earth salt, and a solvent comprising a plasticizer to yield a nanoparticle mixture, heating the nanoparticle mixture in a microwave reactor to yield a product mixture, and cooling the product mixture to yield the core-shell upconverting nanoparticles.

Abstract: Systems and methods relate to applying a coating to a substrate. Coatings can be generated using layer-by-layer application techniques. Typically, application of a first aqueous solution is alternated with application of a second aqueous solution. Example first aqueous solutions include polyethyleneimine (PEI) and hydroxy-terminated poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS-OH). Example second aqueous solutions include silicate and PDMS-OH. In some instances, first aqueous solutions and/or second aqueous solutions additionally include methyl-terminated PDMS (PDMS-CH3).

Abstract: A coat protein of Junonia coenia densovirus (JcDNV) is used to deliver attached peptide insect toxin across the gut epithelium of a fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda. A fusion protein comprising VP4 attached to an insect toxin via a peptide linker is developed. A composition comprising a JcDNV coat protein attached to an insect toxin via a peptide linker can be used for insect pest control.

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 invention relates to substituted pyrimidine compounds with the following formula: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, stereoisomer, or tautomer thereof. These compounds selectively target the hemopexin domain of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) and do not inhibit the protease's catalytic functions. The invention also relates to methods of treating cancer in a patient in need thereof with the compounds.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to thermally reversibly crosslinked polyolefins (TRC-PO) and methods for making the same. A TRC-PO can be formed by reactive melt-processing a mixture including (i) a polyolefin, (ii) an initiator, and (iii) a reversible crosslinker. The reversible crosslinker includes (A) a grafting agent moiety selected from unsaturated cyclic anhydrides, unsaturated cyclic imides, cyclic nitroxides, and ring-opened analogs thereof, and (B) a crosslinking moiety bound to the cyclic grafting agent moiety. This reactive melt-processing, for example including reactive extrusion, forms a thermally reversibly crosslinked (TRC) polyolefin with polyolefin chains reversibly crosslinked via the reversible crosslinkers, which provide dynamic covalent bonds, such as siloxanes and esters, that are amenable to melt re-processing to re-from or otherwise re-use the TRC-PO while still retaining the reversible crosslinks after re-processing.

Abstract: Devices and methods for photoacoustic tomography are disclosed herein. One exemplary photoacoustic tomography device uses a laser to produce acoustic waves in a sample. A transducer receives the acoustic waves through a slit formed by one or more blades positioned substantially parallel to the receiving aperture of the transducer. An acoustic absorber is affixed to each of the one or more blades along a surface proximal to the transducer. A processor acquires acoustic data and reconstructs photoacoustic tomographic images based on the acquired data. Reconstructing the image involves setting reconstruction parameters, defining a reconstruction area, reconstruction position, and pixel size, and calculating an acoustic travelling path for the sample to each transducer element. The acoustic travelling paths are saved into a three-dimensional array.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compounds having antiviral activity, and, in particular, an inhibitory activity on the replication of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). Druggable target sites, including Px, in the RSV N protein are disclosed, as well as compounds targeting Px. The compounds can be used to treat patients with RSV infection.

Abstract: Methods for incorporation of unique bowtie-barcodes into a nucleic acid origami nanostructure (FIG. 1). In particular, provided herein are methods that facilitate pairing and analysis of nucleic acids from individual cells using, for example, high-throughput next-generation sequencing.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of x Pyracomeles plant named ‘NCXP2’ is disclosed, characterized by abundant white flowers with showy red fruit. Plants have compact, rounded habits, and glossy green foliage. The new variety is an x Pyracomeles, typically produced as an outdoor ornamental plant.