Abstract: Materials and methods for testing unknown substances for the presence of an opioid are described.

Abstract: A control circuit is provided for a field-effect transistor with a floating source node. The control circuit includes: a charge storage device electrically connected between a gate of the field-effect transistor and a DC power supply; a gate control circuit electrically connected between the charge storage device and the gate of the field-effect transistor; and a charge control circuit electrically connected between the DC power supply and the charge storage device. The gate control circuit is configured to receive a gate control signal and operates to turn on the field-effect transistor during on time of the gate control signal and turn off the field-effect transistor during off time of the gate control signal. The charge control circuit is also configured to receive the gate control signal and operates to charge the charge storage device with power from the DC power supply during off time of the gate control signal.

Abstract: A circular polarization filter of a chiral metasurface structure is disclosed including a substrate having a nanograting pattern extending from the substrate, a dielectric layer formed directly on the nanograting pattern, and a plasmonic structure in direct contact with the dielectric layer, where the plasmonic structure may be oriented at a nonzero angle with respect to the nanograting pattern. An integrated polarization filter array is also disclosed including include a linear polarization filter, and a circular polarization filter. Methods of detecting full-stokes polarization using an integrated polarization filter array having both linear and circular polarization filters made from chiral metasurface structures is disclosed. Methods of using a Mueller matrix to evaluate polarization response of any optical device or system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A bio-barrier for reducing combustible gas emissions from the ground into the atmosphere is disclosed. The bio-barrier includes a geocomposite layer extending laterally beneath a top surface of the ground and a first geotextile layer extending laterally beneath the top surface of the ground and positioned above the geocomposite layer. The geocomposite layer and the geotextile layer configured to laterally disperse the combustible gas through at least the geotextile layer. In addition, at least one sensor may be positioned beneath the top surface of the ground and in or above the geocomposite layer, the at least one sensor measuring a parameter indicative of the concentration or oxidation of the combustible gas beneath the top surface of the ground.

Abstract: A mobile phone-based dark field microscope (MDFM) apparatus suitable for quantifying nanoparticle signals is provided. The MDFM apparatus includes an electrically operated light source, a dark-field condenser, a slide housing configured to receive an analytical slide, and an adapter housing configured to receive an objective lens and receive a portable electronic communication device. The slide housing positions the analytical slide between the objective lens and the dark-field condenser. The adapter housing registers the objective lens with a camera lens of the portable electronic communication device. A method for performing a biological quantitative study using the dark-field microscope apparatus is further provided.

Abstract: An electrically conductive material includes an anionic polymer having a polymer backbone that is bonded to a plurality of terminal catechol moieties and a plurality of terminal sulfonate moieties. It also includes a cationic polymer including poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene).

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting placement of an object in a digital image are provided. The system receives a digital image and processes the digital image to generate one or more candidate regions within the digital image using a first neural network. The system then selects a proposed region from the one or more candidate regions using the first neural network and assigns a score to the proposed region using the first neural network. Lastly, the system processes the proposed region using a second neural network to detect an object in the proposed region.

Abstract: Methods for inducing growth inhibition or apoptosis of Bcl-2-expressing cells and treatments of Bcl-2 expressing cancers are provided. Additionally, assays for agents that can induce apoptosis of Bcl-2 expressing cells are disclosed.

Abstract: An power converter includes an unfolder connected to a three-phase source and has an output connection with a positive terminal, a negative terminal and a neutral terminal. The unfolder creates two unipolar piece-wise sinusoidal DC voltage waveforms offset by a half of a period. A three-input converter connected to the unfolder produces a quasi-sinusoidal output voltage across output terminals. Switches of the converter selectively connect the positive, negative and neutral inputs across the output terminals. A PWM controller controls a first duty ratio and a second duty ratio for the converter based on a phase angle of the source and a modulation index generated from an error signal related to a control variable. The duty ratios are time varying with a fundamental frequency of the source. The modulation index relates to output voltage of the converter, peak voltage or current of the source and/or peak current at the output terminals.

Abstract: The invention provides anelastase inhibitor for use in the promotion of muscle regeneration in the treatment of a myopathy, as well as a method for promoting muscle regeneration in a subject with a myopathy, the method comprising providing the subject with a therapeutically effective amount of an elastase inhibitor. Further provided is a pharmaceutical composition comprising anelastase inhibitor for use in the promotion of muscle regeneration in the treatment of a myopathy. Elastase inhibitors may have a protective effect on muscle progenitor cells and their regenerative potential, which aids muscle cell regeneration. By protecting regenerative potential of muscle progenitor cells, elastase inhibitors enable or enhance the gown of new or existing muscle fibres.

Abstract: Hierarchical coarse-grain sparsity for deep neural networks is provided. An algorithm-hardware co-optimized memory compression technique is proposed to compress deep neural networks in a hardware-efficient manner, which is referred to herein as hierarchical coarse-grain sparsity (HCGS). HCGS provides a new long short-term memory (LSTM) training technique which enforces hierarchical structured sparsity by randomly dropping static block-wise connections between layers. HCGS maintains the same hierarchical structured sparsity throughout training and inference; this reduces weight storage for both training and inference hardware systems.

Abstract: A power converter includes an unfolder connected to a three-phase source and has an output connection with three output terminals. A three-input converter connected to the unfolder produces a quasi-sinusoidal output voltage across converter output terminals. Switches of the converter selectively connect each of the three output terminals across the converter output terminals. A pulse-width modulation controller controls a first duty ratio and a second duty ratio for the converter based on a phase angle of the source and a modulation index generated from an error signal related to a control variable. The duty ratios are time varying at a rate related to a fundamental frequency of the source. The modulation index relates to output voltage of the converter, peak voltage or current of the source and/or peak current at the output terminals.

Abstract: Various embodiments relate to forming particles using undercooled metal particles in response to focused low power laser light. Particle growth can be initiated by utilizing the metastable and liquid nature of the particles, allowing for surface instability promoted by the laser light to induce liquid flow to translate to a neighboring particle. This event can cascade radially leading to accumulation of the liquid metal at the epicenter. The grown solidified particle size can be varied by using different power, exposure time, or working distance. Once the liquid has accumulated into a single region, it eventually solidifies either through homogeneous or heterogeneous nucleation to give a solid particle of larger size than the original. Such a method can be used to print patterns on a surface in four dimensions, where the fourth dimension (4D) is attained through gradient in size of the particles made. Additional systems and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: The multi-modal imaging system, in particular for brain imaging, comprising a pump signal generator which emits at least one pump signal in the radio frequency (RF)-range with a first power P1 and a second power P2, a wireless detection unit, which comprises at least one parametric resonator circuit with multiple resonance modes, wherein the at least one parametric resonator circuit comprises at least two varactors, at least one capacitor and at least one inductance, wherein, in a first detection mode, the pump signal, having a first power P1, induces a first pump current in the at least one parametric resonator circuit, wherein the at least one parametric resonator circuit is operated below its oscillation threshold and generates a first output signal by amplifying a first input signal, which is provided due to a magnetic-resonance (MR) measurement, wherein an external receiving device receives the first output signal, wherein, in a second detection mode, the pump signal, having a second power P2, induces a

Abstract: A method for activating a cell-signaling pathway of interest in a cell, including applying a time-modulated localized alternating current electrical field to the cell, wherein the amplitude and frequency of the localized alternating current electrical field is selected to activate the cell signaling pathway of interest, thereby activating the cell signaling pathway.

Abstract: A system, methods and software for administering and managing experiential learning opportunities (ELOs) are disclosed. The system generally includes a database server storing a relational database containing ELO placement data and records and having an interface configured to communicate with a university computer having a student information database thereon, website server, configured to host an ELO website through which users interact with the relational database, and a memory in the website server, storing a content management system (CMS) that comprises modules and a data pool stored in/on storage nodes on the website server. The modules include a forms module for users to enter ELO data and submit ELO requests, ELO proposals, waivers and agreements, and a timelog module to collect and store timelog data and manage the timelog approval process.

Abstract: The poor water solubility of high molecular weight chitosan has limited its use in areas such as food and beverage products, post-harvest treatments, cosmetic and pharmaceutical products, medical treatments, and environmental pollution treatments. Disclosed is a high-molecular-weight, solid-state chitosan powder that is completely water-soluble.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include methods of producing modified polypeptides and modified polypeptide-ribosome or polypeptide-mRNA complexes, and methods of screening polynucleotide and polypeptide libraries. The present disclosure also provides polypeptide libraries useful in screening for single molecule phenotypes. Also provided are kits useful for producing polypeptides capable of being modified using methods disclosed herein.

Abstract: Modulation of inward potassium ion conductance with structurally diverse small-molecules in the arthropod salivary gland induces arthropod salivary gland failure that results in a reduction or elimination in the ability of the arthropod to feed. Administering Kir channel inhibitors reduces food intake, increases feeding time, reduces salivary gland secretion, induces mortality, and reduces transmission of vector-borne pathogens. Kir channel inhibitors induce these adverse effects in ticks, mosquitoes, horn flies, and aphids.

Abstract: ‘NCORNSP-029SCBC’ is a vigorous, highly-twining, climbing variety of Ipomoea batatas producing many shoots. It is distinguishable from other ornamental sweetpotato cultivars by its palmate, deeply lobed leaves with 3-5 lobes, an aggressive climbing habit, and heavily branched architecture. The purple leaves, long internodes, and the plant architecture, which promotes good plant production in the greenhouse for wholesale distributors, distinguishes ‘NCORNSP-029SCBC’ amongst the current ornamental sweetpotatoes in the marketplace. ‘NCORNSP-029SCBC’ exhibits very good vigor and is very well branched. ‘NCORNSP-029SCBC’ is suitable for use in vertical landscape or container plantings.