Abstract: The disclosure relates to a thermoset omniphobic composition, which includes a thermoset polymer with first, second, and third backbone segments, urethane groups linking the first and third backbone segments, and urea groups linking the first and second backbone segments. The first, second, and third backbone segments generally correspond to urethane or urea reaction products of polyisocyanate(s), amine-functional hydrophobic polymer(s), and polyol(s), respectively. The thermoset omniphobic composition has favorable omniphobic properties, for example as characterized by water and/or oil contact and/or sliding angles. The thermoset omniphobic composition can be used as a coating on any of a variety of substrates to provide omniphobic properties to a surface of the substrate. Such omniphobic coatings can be scratch resistant, ink/paint resistant, dirt-repellent, and optically clear.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods of culturing algae that overcomes catabolic repression of photosynthesis in mixotrophic growth.

Abstract: An ionic liquid crystal elastomer composition includes a liquid crystal elastomer; and an ionic liquid.

Abstract: Photoresist layers of semiconductor components including electric fields. The photoresist layer may include a body including a first portion disposed directly over a conductive layer of the semiconductor component. The body may also include a second portion integrally formed with and positioned over the first portion. The second portion may include a surface formed opposite the first portion. Additionally, the second portion may include a plurality of charged-particles implanted therein, where the plurality of charged-particles generating an electric field may extend through the first portion and the second portion of the body.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a homopolymer, copolymer, block copolymer, and statistical copolymer comprising plural polyol monomeric units. The polyol monomeric units being acrylated and acylated or acetalized. The acrylated and acylated or acetalized polyol monomeric units have an average degree of acrylation which is 1 or more, but less than the number of the hydroxyl groups of the polyol and have an average degree of acylation or acetalization which is 1 or more, but less than the number of the hydroxyl groups of the polyol. The present invention also relates to a method of making the homopolymers, copolymers, block copolymers, and statistical copolymers, and using them in various applications, such as asphalt rubber modifiers, adhesives, or an additive in a fracking fluid for oil fracking.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and systems for sensitive and multiplexed in situ analysis of samples such as biological samples using cleavable hapten linked targeting agents and cleavable detectably-labeled hapten-binding agents. In particular, provided herein are methods for multiplexed single-cell in situ biomolecule profiling in samples, including fixed or fresh tissues, and also allows the investigation of the different cell compositions and their spatial organizations in intact tissues through consecutive cycles of probe hybridization, fluorescence imaging, and signal removal.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to omniphobic coatings, related articles including such coatings, and related method for forming such coatings or articles, for example biobased and/or biodegradable omniphobic coatings with high barrier properties. The omniphobic coating includes an oleophobic and hydrophilic first layer, and a hydrophobic and optionally oleophilic second layer adjacent to the first layer. A corresponding omniphobic coated article can include the omniphobic coating on a substrate such as a porous cellulosic or paper substrate, for example to provide a water- and oil/fat/grease-resistant coating for a paper-based product. The first layer of the omniphobic coating is adjacent to the substrate and the second layer is adjacent to the first layer at a position further from the substrate than the first layer.

Abstract: A composition comprising a glucose-responsive charge-switchable polymer is described. In the absence of glucose or under normoglycemic conditions, the positively charged polymer can be complexed with negatively charged therapeutic agents, such as insulin. Under hyperglycemic conditions, the positive charge of the polymer is reduced, and the polymer/therapeutic agent complex can disassemble, allowing the therapeutic agent to be released. Pharmaceutical compositions, nanoparticles, and microneedle arrays of the polymer and/or polymer/therapeutic agent complex and methods of treating diabetes are also described.

Abstract: Presented are RNA nucleotide sequences referred to as EXO-Codes, and longer RNA polynucleotides that contain the EXO-Codes. EXO-Codes provide RNA with the ability to a) be selectively sorted to extracellular vesicles such as exosomes, and b) deliver a variety of cargo types to program or reprogram the extracellular vesicles, and cells that receive the exosomes. Also presented are methods of making the EXO-Codes, modifying cells using the EXO-Codes, expression vectors encoding the EXO-Codes, and exosomes and other secreted vesicles that include RNA polynucleotides that contain the EXO-Codes.

Abstract: A technique is presented for quantizing pixels of an image using Sigma Delta quantization. In one aspect, pixel values for an image are segmented into columns of pixel values; and for each column in the matrix, pixel values of a given column are quantized using sigma delta modulation. The pixel values in a given column are preferably quantized as a whole, thereby minimizing accumulated quantization error from a starting pixel value in the given column to a current pixel value in the given column. In another aspect, the pixels of an image are quantized using a 2D generalization of Sigma Delta modulation.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to engineered systems and methods for detecting target nucleic acid in a sample, which may be a complex mixture. The systems and methods may improve sensitivity of target nucleic acid detection by enhancing signal generation. For example, signal generation may be enhanced through programmable capture and concentration of the target nucleic acid using an engineered type III CRISPR complex. Various ancillary nucleases such as Can1, Can2, and NucC are identified and may be used for detection. For example, binding of the engineered type III CRISPR complex may produce products that activate the identified ancillary nucleases. Different activators trigger changes in the substrate specificity of these nucleases. The activated nucleases may be used to detect programmatic detection of the target nucleic in the sample. The systems and methods are shown to detect viral RNA directly from nasopharyngeal swab samples.

Abstract: Compounds are provided herein. In general, the compounds are substituted pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines. The compounds can be used as inhibitors for multi-resistant cancers. Also provided herein are methods of forming the compounds, methods for inhibiting aurora kinase A and/or aurora kinase B activity and epidermal growth factor activity, methods of treating, ameliorating, or preventing cancer, and uses of the compounds for inhibiting aurora kinase A and/or aurora kinase B activity and epidermal growth factor receptor kinase activity. The compounds are generally of the formulas as illustrated herein, including those of Formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof: wherein: X1 is N; X2 is N; X3 is —NH—; X4 is N or CR2; X5 is CH or CCH3; L1 is —NR4—R1; L2 is NH2 or H; R1 is: R2 is a 5-membered heteroaryl; R4 is H; R5 is as described herein; and m is 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5.

Abstract: Methods and devices for transmitting and receiving data through biological tissue using ultrasonic pulses are described. Methods of the present invention may set an initial time-hopping frame length and an initial spreading code length for data transmission. A request-to-transmit may be sent from a transmitter over a control channel at the initial frame and code length. The receiver may respond to the transmitter with a clear-to-transmit packet having feedback information. The feedback information can be used to improve a forward time-hopping frame length and a forward spreading code length. Embodiments of the invention may involve a body area network or body surface network comprising a plurality of implanted sensor nodes operating according to the disclosed invention.

Abstract: A fabric-based, soft-bodied aerial robot includes contact-reactive perching and embodied impact protection structures while remaining lightweight and streamlined. The aerial robot is operable to 1) pneumatically vary its body stiffness for collision resilience and 2) utilize a hybrid fabric-based, bistable (HFB) grasper to perform passive grasping. When compared to conventional rigid drone frames the soft-bodied aerial robot successfully demonstrates its ability to dissipate impact from head-on collisions and maintain flight stability without any structural damage. Furthermore, in dynamic perching scenarios the HFB grasper is capable to convert impact energy upon contact into firm grasp through rapid body shape conforming in less than 4 ms.

Abstract: A multiplexing scheme, a system for reading out signals from an optical sensor array, particle detection devices and systems are provided. For example, the optical sensor array may comprise plurality of optical sensors arranged in rows and columns. In the multiplexing scheme, a readout ASIC may be electrically connected to the plurality of optical sensors via a plurality of first channels and a plurality of second channels. Each first channel may be electrically connected to a subset of optical sensors in a corresponding row of the optical sensor array, where there may be at least one optical sensor between connections. Each second channel may be electrically connected to a subset of optical sensors in a corresponding column of the optical sensor array, where there may be at least one optical sensor between connections.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a medical and healthcare service platform that is supported by a digital data currency system and provides medical and healthcare data processing, analyzing, and predicting based on a digital human system by integrating participating parties comprising individual persons, researchers, healthcare providers, and regulatory and public sectors.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed to downscale the resolution of a coarse-resolution soil moisture data. Coarse-resolution soil moisture data may include data cells that each represent a geographic region having at least one dimension greater than or equal to 1 km. A plurality of fine-resolution supplemental soil moisture data may be received that includes at least one of soil data, vegetation data, topography data, and climate data. The fine-resolution supplemental soil moisture data comprising data cells that each represent a geographic region having at least one dimension less than or equal to 100 meters. The coarse-resolution soil moisture data may be downscaled to fine-resolution soil moisture data using the plurality of fine-resolution supplemental soil moisture data, the fine-resolution soil moisture data comprising data cells that each represent a geographic region having at least one dimension less than 100 meters.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for reducing the level of nornicotine and N?-nitrosonornicotine (NNN) in Nicotiana plants and plant parts thereof are provided. The compositions comprise isolated polynucleotides and polypeptides for cytochrome P450s that are involved in the metabolic conversion of nicotine to nornicotine in these plants. Expression cassettes, vectors, plants, and plant parts thereof comprising inhibitory sequences that target expression or function of the disclosed cytochrome P450 polypeptides are also provided. Methods for the use of these novel sequences to inhibit expression or function of cytochrome P450 polypeptides involved in this metabolic conversion are also provided. The methods find use in the production of tobacco products that have reduced levels of nornicotine and its carcinogenic metabolite, NNN, and thus reduced carcinogenic potential for individuals consuming these tobacco products or exposed to secondary smoke derived from these products.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system and method for public housing evaluation including a computer-implemented public housing evaluation unit that receives survey data from a remotely connected survey device. The survey data comprises information about the physical environment of one or more public housing residents that is used to create a digital public housing environment profile for each survey participant. A plurality of digital public housing environment profiles may be statistically analyzed to create a public housing index identifying interrelationships among physical environment and demographic data in the digital public housing environment profiles. Public housing authority computers may access and view the public housing index to determine whether actions may be taken that may improve a public housing resident's physical environment and/or likelihood that they may successfully transition out of public housing.

Abstract: A hyper-precise positioning and communications (HPPC) system and network are provided. The HPPC system is a next-generation positioning technology that promises a low-cost, high-performance solution to the need for more sophisticated positioning technologies in increasingly cluttered environments. The HPPC system is a joint positioning-communications radio technology that simultaneously performs relative positioning and secure communications. Both of these tasks are performed with a single, co-use waveform, which efficiently utilizes limited resources and supports higher user densities. Aspects of this disclosure include an HPPC system for a network which includes an arbitrary number of network nodes (e.g., radio frequency (RF) devices communicating over a joint positions-communications waveform). As such, networking protocols and design of data link and physical layers are described herein.