Abstract: Tumor resection is commonly practiced to prevent the progression of cancer. However, there are post-surgery concerns including the formation of a void that can allow cancer cells to escape at the surgery site, which increases the risk of metastasis. To counter this challenge, an embodiment includes a polyurethane-based shape memory foam as a tissue void-filling device that can also release anti-cancer drugs. Such foams may activate at body temperature and become malleable. Such properties may enable the foam to be shaped to precisely seal the tissue void and then serve as a drug-eluting device. Based on the drug composition with poly vinyl alcohol (PVA), the drug release profile from the foam may be altered depending on the application.

Abstract: A system for enhancing overall energy production of CSPs through amplification of solar heat collection. In one embodiment, the system comprises a linear solar-thermal concentrator for concentrating solar light comprising a curved surface, two side walls, and an opening; a fluid conduit disposed within the linear solar-thermal concentrator that carries a working fluid through the linear solar-thermal concentrator; and a convection cover disposed over the opening of the linear thermal concentrator that traps heat convection energy within the linear solar-thermal concentrator.

Abstract: In an embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a method of restoring cytochrome c oxidase (CcO) activity in a subject in need thereof. In some embodiments, the method includes administering a therapeutically effective amount of elesclomol or analog thereof and rescuing defects of cells in the subject with deficiencies or mutations in at least one of SOD1, AT-1, APIS1, COA6, SCO2, COX6B1, CTR1, ATOX1, CCS, GSX1, ATP7A, ATP7B, CLCN5, and CLCN7. In a further embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a method of treating disorders of copper metabolism. In some embodiments, the method includes administering a therapeutically effective amount of elesclomol or analog to a subject, where the disorder is caused by a deficiency or mutation to a gene including, without limitation, SOD1, AT-1, APIS1, COA6, SCO2, COX6B1, CTR1, ATOX1, CCS, GSX1, ATP7A, ATP7B, CLCN5, CLCN7, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: Architectures of millimeter-wave (mm-wave) fully-integrated frequency-division duplex (FDD) transmitting-receiving (T/R) front-end (FE) modules include a duplexer (DUX), power amplifier (PA), and low noise amplifier (LNA) on a single semiconductor substrate to facilitate the development of system on a chip (SoC) for mm-wave 5th Generation (5G) wireless communications applications. The first FE module adopts a passive DUX consisting of Wilkinson power divider and ground-center-tap transformer to achieve high isolation between PA output and LNA inputs. Another FE module combines the advantages of passive DUX and power-efficient cancellation circuits to accomplish high TX-RX isolation and low noise performance at the same time. The DUX can stand alone as a single unit in a system and is used together with external PA and LNA provided in the system, or it can include its own internal PA and LNA to form a DUX FE module.

Abstract: A system for providing an indication of the presence of molecular structures in a medium is provided. The system includes a radio frequency (RF) wireless antenna, batteryless sensor, and a network analyzer. The sensor has an ultra-high frequency dipole antenna that transmits data to the RF wireless antenna and a sensing element. The sensing element is operatively coupled to the dipolar antenna and detects the presence of molecular structures. When molecular structures are detected, data indicative of the presence of the molecular structures is transmitted to a radio frequency (RF) wireless communication antenna from the dipole antenna. The network analyzer receives the data from the RF wireless antenna and analyzes the data to determine a concentration of molecular structures.

Abstract: A method of treating a Down syndrome (DS) subject with functional or at risk of decline of organ systems associated with accelerated aging due to over-production of H2S is disclosed. That method contemplates administering a pharmaceutical composition containing a H2S-reducing effective amount of hydrophilic polymer-substituted oxidized carbon nanoparticles (OCNPs) and an optional potentiating amount of lipoic acid or dihydrolipoic acid dissolved or dispersed in a physiologically acceptable diluent to the subject. The pharmaceutical composition can be administered parenterally as a liquid or per os as a solid or liquid.

Abstract: In an embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to a composition having a cation and an anion. In some embodiments, a base is incorporated into the anion, and the cation and the anion form a bifunctional catalyst. In some embodiments, the cation is a chiral cobalt(III) species, and a nitrogenous Brpnsted base is incorporated into counter anions of the chiral cobalt(III) species cation. In some embodiments, the bifunctional catalyst is a tricationic cobalt(III) hydrogen bond donor catalyst, and a nitrogenous Brpnsted base is incorporated into counter anions of the tricationic cobalt(III) hydrogen bond donor catalyst. In another aspect, the present disclosure pertains to a bifunctional catalyst having a smart anion with a cationic metal species. In some embodiments, the smart anion performs a specific role in a chemical reaction without the inclusion of additional external components to accomplish a same specific role in the chemical reaction.

Abstract: Threshold logic gates using flash transistors are provided. In an exemplary aspect, flash threshold logic (FTL) provides a novel circuit topology for realizing complex threshold functions. FTL cells use floating gate (flash) transistors to realize all threshold functions of a given number of variables. The use of flash transistors in the FTL cell allows a fine-grained selection of weights, which is not possible in traditional complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS)-based threshold logic cells. Further examples include a novel approach for programming the weights of an FTL cell for a specified threshold function using a modified perceptron learning algorithm.

Abstract: A method for determining constitutive parameters of a subject material includes collecting a force sensor output from a force sensor unit for measuring reactive forces applied to a deformation tool from a subject material travelling in a predefined direction relative to the deformation tool, collecting an image sequence output from a camera unit depicting a deformation zone formed between the deformation tool and the subject material as the subject material is plastically deformed by the deformation tool, and estimating a constitutive parameter of the subject material based on the force sensor output and the image sequence output.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method for measuring parameters of a liquid, where the method includes measuring pressure drops across a flow meter, measuring pressure upstream of the flow meter, and identifying at least one liquid parameter based, at least in part, on a correlation of a change in a multiphase flow parameter to pulse output. In an additional embodiment, a measuring apparatus for measuring parameters of a liquid, where the measuring apparatus includes an electronic control operable to measure pressure drops across the measuring apparatus, measure pressure upstream of the measuring apparatus, and correlate a change in a multiphase parameter to measured pulse output of the measuring apparatus.

Abstract: In an embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to a method for evaluation of sterility in a solution using impedance sensing. In another embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to a method for evaluation of bioburden in a solution. In a further embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to various devices for evaluation of sterility or bioburden.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical compositions comprising poorly water-soluble drugs (PSDs) and sucrose acetate isobutyrate (SAIB). The compositions are amorphous solid solutions or amorphous solid dispersions where the PSDs are present in the molecular or the amorphous state in the SAIB. The PSDs in amorphous form in the amorphous solid solutions can be stable against crystallization on exposure to elevated temperature and humidity conditions. Oral dosage forms containing the compositions are characterized by a higher dissolution rate in water, a higher serum maximum concentration (Cmax), and/or a greater area under the curve (AUG) than an equivalent oral dosage form without the SAIB.

Abstract: The subject invention pertains to the synthesis and characterization of V2O5/CdE NW/QD heterostructures. The V2O5/CdE heterostructures are versatile new materials constructs for light harvesting, charge separation, and the photocatalytic production of solar fuels; polymorphism of V2O5 and compositional alloying of both components provides for a substantial design space for tuning of interfacial energy offsets. Also provided are a new class of type-II heterostructures composed of cadmium chalcogenide QDs (CdE where E=S, Se, or Te) and ?-V2O5 nanowires (NWs). The synthesis and characterization of V2O5/CdE NW/QD heterostructures, prepared via successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) and linker-assisted assembly (LAA), the characterization of their photoinduced charge-transfer reactivity using transient absorption spectroscopy, and their performance in the photocatalytic reduction of protons to hydrogen are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of fabrication processing a pre-preg material includes applying electromagnetic heating to a composition including a fiber and a resin. The electromagnetic heating is conducted with at least one fringing field capacitor utilizing radio frequency (RF) alternating current (AC) and controlling cross-linking of the resin in the composition via the electromagnetic heating.

Abstract: A system for measurement of light scattering from a test article includes a light emitting device, configured to emit a light beam onto the test article along light axis, a collection assembly configured to collect scattered light from the test article along a measurement axis that is oriented at a non-zero angle from the light axis, wherein the collection assembly includes a first angular spectral filter, and a second angular spectral filter spaced from the first angular spectral filter along the measurement axis, wherein a position or orientation of at least one of the first angular spectral filter and the second angular spectral is adjustable relative to the measurement axis.

Abstract: A venous valve model includes a first layer having a central axis and a fluid channel extending between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet formed in the first layer, wherein the fluid channel is defined by a pair of channel walls, a first venous valve formed in the first layer and positioned along the fluid channel, and a pair of first actuation chambers positioned adjacent the channel walls of the fluid channel, wherein the pair of first actuation chambers are configured to decrease a width of the fluid channel in response to pressurization of the pair of first actuation chambers.

Abstract: A process for continuously upgrading heavy oil to produce light hydrocarbon gases which are recycled in the process as a carrier gas used in spark-discharge hydrocarbon cracking within the process. The process also produces light hydrocarbon liquids which are used to upgrade the heavy oil. An apparatus for continuously upgrading heavy oil to produce light hydrocarbon gases which are recycled in the as a carrier gas used in spark-discharge hydrocarbon cracking within the apparatus. The apparatus also produces light hydrocarbon liquids which are used to upgrade the heavy oil.

Abstract: In an embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to an oleaginous bacterium. In some embodiments, the oleaginous bacterium includes lipids and at least one exogenous and inducible gene. In some embodiments, the exogenous and inducible gene encodes at least one protein capable of inducing lysis in the oleaginous bacterium to release the lipids. In an addition embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to a method of releasing lipids into an environment. In general, the method includes one or more of the following steps of: (1) introducing at least one oleaginous bacterium of the present disclosure to the environment; and (2) inducing expression of at least one exogenous gene in the oleaginous bacterium to thereby induce the expression of at least one protein. In some embodiments, the protein facilitates the lysis of the oleaginous bacterium and release of the lipids into the environment.

Abstract: Carbon-carbon bond forming reactions are the cornerstone of organic chemistry. A new class of ligands was developed for transition metal catalyzed cross-coupling reactions. These phosphine-urea ligands incorporate a urea subunit into the backbone of the ligand, which is designed to bind to the organometallic coupling partner and simultaneously facilitate and direct transmetalation of the nucleophile. Synthetic routes were designed and executed to synthesize phosphine-urea ligands. These ligands catalyze a wide variety of cross-coupling reactions including Suzuki, Negishi, and Buchwald-Hartwig cross-couplings. Aryl-aryl, alkyl-aryl, and alkyl-alkyl C—C cross-couplings are performed successfully with these ligands. In addition, specific chiral phosphine-urea ligands catalyze Negishi cross-couplings enantioselectively from a racemic alkylzinc nucleophile.

Abstract: In an embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to a nanocarrier having a shell and a core disposed within the shell. In some embodiments, the shell includes a functionalized surface. In an additional embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to a method of drug delivery. In general, the method includes administering a nanocarrier to a subject, targeting, by the nanocarrier, an area in the subject, and releasing a composition having the drug to the area. In some embodiments, the nanocarrier has a shell and a core disposed within the shell. In some embodiments, the shell includes a functionalized surface.