Abstract: A system and method is presented for cuff-less blood pressure measurement in a mobile device. A key aspect of this disclosure is the discovery of a new location for blood pressure measurement at the fingertip of a subject and that reflectance-mode photoplethysmography can be used to help make this measurement. Through experiments in human subjects, it was discovered that it is indeed possible to measure systemic blood pressure by having a subject press the fingertip against a reflectance-mode photo-plethysmography-force sensor unit under visual guidance and then compute blood pressure from the resulting variable-amplitude blood volume oscillations and applied pressure via an oscillometric algorithm.

Abstract: Disclosed are cathodes comprising a conductive support substrate having an electrocatalyst coating containing nickel hosphide nanoparticles and a co-catalyst. The conductive support substrate is capable of incorporating a material to be reduced, such as CO2 or CO. A cocatalyst, either incorporated into the electrolyte solution, or into the conductive support, or adsorbed to, deposited on, or incorporated into the bulk cathode material, alters the electrocatalyst properties by increasing the carbon product selectivity through interactions with the reaction intermediates.

Abstract: Relay-aided intelligent reconfigurable surfaces (IRSs) are provided. A novel relay-aided intelligent surface architecture is described herein that has the potential of achieving the promising gains of IRSs with a much smaller number of elements, opening the door for realizing these surfaces in practice. A half-duplex or full-duplex relay is connected to one or more IRSs. This merges the gains of relays and reconfigurable surfaces and splits the required signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) gain between them. This architecture can hen significantly reduce the required number of reconfigurable elements in the IRS(s) while achieving the same spectral efficiencies. Consequently, the proposed relay-aided intelligent surface architecture needs far less channel estimation/beam training overhead and provides enhanced robustness compared to traditional IRS solutions.

Abstract: An amphibious robot is provided. An aspect of the robot includes an elongated flexible body, actuators in the flexible body and spaced apart along a length of the flexible body. The actuators are configured to move the flexible body in a serpentine or concertina motion on land and in water. An additional aspect includes a camera coupled adjacent to an end of the flexible body, at least one sensor coupled to the flexible body, and a buoyancy controller located in the flexible body. Another aspect includes a power source coupled to the flexible body and configured to power the actuators, the camera, the sensors, and the buoyancy controller. Yet another aspect employs an electric controller to control the actuators and receive data from the sensors.

Abstract: A novel assay which can differentiate a neutralizing antibody from non-neutralizing antibody which can be easily visualized, for example, by a portable UV lamp, among other visualization techniques. This assay can produce results in about 30 minutes and can be performed by untrained individuals in a non-laboratory environment. Also described is an ELISA method for determining if a human possesses at least one type of neutralizing antibody against SARS-Cov-2.

Abstract: Biomass derived benzophenone derivatives, and methods of making and using the same, are described. In accordance with the present disclosure, biomass derived benzophenone derivatives are useful as visible light photoinitiators.

Abstract: Electroplating of aluminum may be utilized to form electrodes for solar cells. In contrast to expensive silver electrodes, aluminum allows for reduced cell cost and addresses the problem of material scarcity. In contrast to copper electrodes which typically require barrier layers, aluminum allows for simplified cell structures and fabrication steps. In the solar cells, point contacts may be utilized in the backside electrodes for increased efficiency. Solar cells formed in accordance with the present disclosure enable large-scale and cost-effective deployment of solar photovoltaic systems.

Abstract: This invention relates to recombinant Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) arrays and recombinant nucleic acid constructs encoding Type I-E CASCADE complexes as well as plasmids, retroviruses and bacteriophage comprising the same.

Abstract: Provided herein are highly sensitive compositions and methods for detection of at least one specific nucleic acid molecule in a sample. The presence of a specific nucleic acid provides a positive indicator of a pathogenic agent, contaminant, non-canonical bases, and/or wild-type or mutated genes in a sample or a cell. Applications for which the compositions and methods are particularly well suited include point-of-care disease diagnosis or cellular RNA imaging.

Abstract: Formulations for chemoprevention of oral cancer and precancerous lesions, and for methods for preparing the formulations are described.

Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed relate to conductive graphene matrix-encapsulated cells. A matrix-encapsulated cell includes an encapsulating polymer matrix including a biopolymer and graphene. The matrix-encapsulated cell also includes one or more of the cells encapsulated within the encapsulating polymer, wherein the graphene directly contacts at least some of the cells. The matrix encapsulating the one or more cells is electrically conductive.

Abstract: A multifunctional manifold for use with electrochemical devices having a spiral cross-section, such as spiral solid-oxide fuel cells, includes an interface that is configured to be placed in operative communication with such devices. The interface includes a fuel interface section and an oxidant interface section that are each configured as spirals. The spiral interface sections also include channels that are configured to be placed in operative communication with corresponding spiral channels of the electrochemical device to deliver operating gases, such as fuel gas and oxidant gas, thereto. In addition to delivering operating gases to the fuel cells, the multifunctional manifold is also configured to act as an electrical current collector and a heat exchanger.

Abstract: An exemplary system may include an augmented reality device with a user interface, a processor and memory having a program communicatively connected to the processor. A transceiver may be communicatively connected to a practitioner device for real-time practitioner guidance. The system may include a plurality of sensors and a feedback device in communication with the processor. The system may display initial and updated guidance objects in a real-time environment of the user and in response to sensor outputs of the plurality of sensors. The feedback device may provide at least one of audio, visual, and tactile feedback in response to the sensors outputs. The system may condition the user to provide a desired reaction by guiding the real-time user reactions in the real-time environment using the feedback in response to the sensor outputs.

Abstract: A method of charging and/or discharging energy in reusable fuel workpieces or particles includes a solar furnace with counter-flowing workpieces and gas, to exchange heat therebetween, with the exiting gas and workpieces being at about ambient temperature. A further aspect employs a production plant including a reduction reactor configured to use excess electrical energy generated by renewable power generators to charge and/or discharge solid-state thermochemical fuel. Another aspect includes a fuel flow control valve using air pulses. An oxygen-deprived and reusable fuel, such as magnesium manganese oxide, or magnesium iron oxide, is also provided. In another aspect, an apparatus for producing a solid-state fuel includes a reduction reactor including a reactor chamber configured to receive concentrated solar energy, and a reactor tube having a recuperation zone, a reduction zone, and a quenching zone, wherein the reduction zone passes through the reactor chamber.

Abstract: Biomass derived benzoin derivatives, and methods of making and using the same, are described. Benzoin derivatives may be used as visible light photoinitiators.

Abstract: Isatin derivatives, and methods of using isatin and isatin derivatives as photoinitiators, are described.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of tracking molecular dynamics in three dimensions. In some embodiments, the methods include introducing an incident light toward a second surface of a substrate to induce a plasmonic wave at least proximal to a first surface of the substrate. A population of particles is connected to the first surface of the substrate via one or more first biomolecules. In some embodiments, the methods also include detecting a change in position of the particles in the population along at least three dimensions over a duration from a change in intensity of the incident light reflected at an interface of the first surface of the substrate. Related systems and computer readable media are also provided.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to methods and systems for optimizing a property of a plant. In some embodiments, the methods of the present disclosure include: (1) receiving one or more growth-related parameters of the plant; (2) receiving one or more phenotype-related parameters of the plant; (3) receiving one or more qualitative parameters of the plant; (4) utilizing a computing unit to evaluate said one or more growth-related parameters, phenotype-related parameters and qualitative parameters of the plant; and (5) utilizing the computing unit to adjust the one or more of the growth-related parameters of the plant based on the evaluation. In some embodiments, the aforementioned steps are repeated a plurality of times. In some embodiments, the parameters are stored in a database and utilized by a machine-learning algorithm to optimize the evaluation of the parameters and adjustment of the growth-related parameters.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a bio-inspired robot operable for detecting crack and corrosion defects in tubular structures are disclosed herein.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally devices for detecting analytes in a subject. More particularly, the present disclosure provides a biosensor array for detecting analytes in a subject. Embodiments of the present disclosure include a biosensor array comprising a plurality of sensor cells for detecting an analyte in a subject. In accordance with these embodiments, the plurality of sensor cells comprises at least one electrode, at least one antibody immobilized on a surface of the at least one electrode, and a biodegradable coating in contact with the at least one antibody.