Abstract: A method of selectively inhibiting pathogenic microbes includes: providing a compound that is functional as a selective antimicrobial having a structure of Formula 1, or derivative thereof, salt thereof, or stereoisomer thereof, or having any chirality at any chiral center, or tautomer, polymorph, solvate, or combination thereof; and contacting a pathogenic microbe with the compound such that the pathogenic microbe is selectively inhibited; wherein: ring A is a cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, or polycycle combination thereof; X is S, SO, or SO2; Y is a linker or bond; Z is CH, CR2, or N; Z1 is C or N to form an imidazopyridine; each Z2, Z3, or Z4 is independently CH, CR2, or N; each Z5 or Z6 is C or CH; each R1, R2, R3 and/or R4 is independently a substituent; m is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4; and n is zero or a positive integer.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises: a photonic cavity; a substrate comprising a waveguide layer, wherein the waveguide layer comprises waveguides configured to direct light towards the photonic cavity; and a wafer comprising: a top side, and a nanowire array affixed to the top side. A method of performing a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) analysis, the method comprises: directing, using a waveguide layer of a SERS device, an incident light towards a photonic cavity of the SERS device; permitting, using the photonic cavity, a fluid to flow freely into and out of the SERS device; causing, within the photonic cavity, an interaction among the incident light, the fluid, and a nanowire array of the SERS device to create scattered light; converting the scattered light into an electrical signal; and analyzing the electrical signal to determine whether a contaminant exists in the fluid.

Abstract: A mounting system for mounting a solar panel assembly to a base assembly includes a panel support bracket, a base bracket and a clamp configured to exert a compressive force to hold the panel support bracket and the base bracket together. The clamp comprises a V-shaped clamp body that includes a pair of legs that are spring-loaded to oppose an approximation of the legs by an external compressive force. The clamp includes a pair of receiver slots, with each of the pair of receiver slots located on a corresponding one of the pair of legs. The pair of receiver slots collectively provides a clearance to admit the panel support bracket and the base bracket when the legs are compressed together.

Abstract: A wearable focal vibration device for providing vibration therapy to a patient includes a control module, a vibration module and a vibration sensor. The vibration module is configured to output a vibration in response to a command signal from the control module. The vibration sensor is configured to output a signal to the control module representative of the vibration measured by the vibration sensor. The wearable focal vibration device may also include a harness for attaching the wearable focal vibration device to the patient. The harness can include a compression mechanism and a compression sensor for ensuring that the focal vibration device is sufficiently and consistently secured to the patient.

Abstract: Bridge helix-modified variant Cas9 proteins having improved DNA cleavage selectivity in comparison to wild type versions of the Cas9 proteins, nucleic acids encoding the variant proteins, host cells containing the nucleic acids, and methods of their use.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and assembly for measuring gas diffusion through tight (nanoporous) rock samples such as shale, and tortuosity of such rock samples.

Abstract: A spray-capillary device is configured to process ultra low-volume samples. The spray-capillary device includes a spray capillary that includes an inlet end and a discharge end. The spray capillary includes a porous section at the discharge end. A downstream connector provides an interface between the porous section of the spray capillary, a conductive fluid, and a high voltage electrical source. The application of voltage to the downstream connector causes electrospray ionization, which can be used to draw ultra law volume samples into the inlet end. A gas injection assembly can be used to increase the pressure on the inlet end of the spray capillary to encourage movement of the sample through the spray capillary. The spray-capillary device is well suited for providing ultra low samples to a mass spectrometer detection device.

Abstract: Described are compounds and methods useful in measuring membrane permeability and efflux transporter activity in bacteria, including multidrug resistance Gram negative bacteria.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial system (UAS) adapted to measure one or more atmospheric conditions has a frame and a plurality of motorized rotors suspended on arms extending outward from the frame. The UAS further includes a flight control module that includes a computer programmable flight control board and a sensor package that has an air sampling scoop, a first sensor positioned inside the air sampling scoop, and a ducted fan inside the air sampling scoop. The ducted fan is configured to draw air through the air sampling scoop in contact with the first sensor. The ducted fan can be configured to operate only when the UAS is above a predetermined altitude. The UAS may also be configured to operate in a “wind vane” mode in which wind speed and direction is determined based on the pitch and heading of the UAS.

Abstract: A process for producing a bone construct, including the steps of providing a perfusion bioreactor having an inlet and an outlet; providing the perfusion bioreactor with a seeded scaffold comprising a porous scaffold seeded with mesenchymal stem cells; continuously perfusing the seeded scaffold with an osteogenic induction (differentiation) media; measuring dissolved oxygen content of the osteogenic induction media at the inlet and at the outlet to determine an oxygen uptake rate (OUR) for the seeded scaffold; measuring glucose content of the osteogenic induction media to determine a glucose consumption rate (GCR) for the seeded scaffold; and removing the seeded scaffold from the perfusion reactor as a bone construct after the ratio of the OUR to the GCR (OUR/GCR) has been determined to exceed a predetermined threshold OUR/GCR value.

Abstract: A sampling tool for use with an infrared spectrophotometer, and method of use. The sampling tool comprises a bottom plate; and a mesh attached to the bottom plate, the mesh having a plurality of interstitial spaces, and the mesh having a mesh width and a mesh thickness, wherein the mesh is configured to receive a sample material and retain a portion of the sample material within the interstitial spaces of the mesh to form a sample having a sample thickness which is substantially the same as the mesh thickness. The mesh width may be sized to be in a range of about 1 to 3 times the width of an infrared beam directed toward the sampling tool from the spectrophotometer.

Abstract: In one non-limiting embodiment, the present disclosure is directed to a controller having a memory; and a processor coupled to the memory and configured to: cause a neural network to receive current measurements of a current material; instruct the neural network to determine dominant features of the current measurements; instruct the neural network to provide the dominant features to a decoder; and instruct the decoder to generate a generated spectral response of the current material based on the dominant features. In another non-limiting embodiment, the present disclosure is directed to a method including the steps of receiving current measurements of a current material; determining dominant features of the current measurements; providing the dominant features; and generating a generated spectral response of the current material based on the dominant features.

Abstract: Mutants of Gram-negative bacteria having outer membranes comprising modified OrbA nanopores absent an N-terminal plug domain are disclosed. The modified OrbA nanopores confer the outer membrane of the bacteria with enhanced permeability. The mutants of Gram-negative bacteria optionally comprise efflux-deficient efflux pumps. The mutants may be used, for example, in a screening method for identifying a compound having an anti-bacterial activity.

Abstract: A method for desalinating a brine includes the use of a cooled intermediate-cold-liquid (ICL), which combines with the brine in a crystallization or freezing tank to produce a slurry of ice, brine, and ICL. The method includes steps for separating the ICL, ice and brine, and returning the separated ICL to the source of cooled ICL tank. The method concludes with the steps of passing the separated brine to the crystallization tank, and melting the separated ice to form desalinated water. The method is significant in that it produces desalinated liquid water and solid salts. The combination of superior heat transfer with high quality purified water and competitive desalination economy makes the disclosed freeze desalination technology an attractive solution for desalination of highly concentrated brines produced in a variety of industries, including but not limited to the oil and gas industry and reject brine management.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed in non-limiting embodiments to compounds, compositions, and methods of treating conditions and diseases associated with activation of the gonadotropin GnRH receptor (GnRHR), particularly those involving GnRHR activating autoantibodies (GnRHR AAbs). In one non-limiting embodiment, the disease is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). The therapeutic compounds in at least certain embodiments include peptides which at least partially comprise D-amino acids, such as retro-inverso D-amino acid (RID) peptides, which are able to bind with high affinity to GnRHR AAbs.

Abstract: Flow device systems for use in an HVAC system (“HVAC”) are described. The system may include a controller receiving sensor signals including differential pressure, valve commands, fan/pump speed, and fan/pump motor power signal from the HVAC. The controller transmits override valve commands for multiple valve positions of the valve and multiple speeds of the fan and pump. A characteristic curve may be determined from the signals provided from the HVAC and the measured flow rate at each valve position or fan/pump speed during transmission of the plurality of override valve commands for the valve positions of the valve and fan/pump speed for fan/pump operation frequencies. Virtual flow rate through the valve, fan or pump is determined using the characteristic curve. In addition, valve dynamic behavior is determined using valve stiction and valve stiction plus deadband. Valve commands are updated based on valve dynamic behavior and a valve characteristic curve.

Abstract: A method comprises operating in an idle user state; determining to exit the idle user state and enter an active user state; obtaining cell loads of cells; calculating association functions based on the cell loads; determining, from among the association functions, a first association function with a maximum value; selecting a first cell associated with the first association function as a target cell; and entering the active user state by connecting to the first cell.

Abstract: In one aspect, methods of biomolecular analysis are described herein. Briefly, a method comprises providing a composition comprising glycosaminoglycans and contacting the composition with a membrane comprising at least one nanopore. An electric field is applied across the nanopore, and data of glycosaminoglycan translocation events through the nanopore are recorded. A molecular weight distribution of the glycosaminoglycans is derived from the data.

Abstract: An imaging agent and a method of its use for imaging a necrosis in a tissue of a subject. The imaging method may be positron emission tomography (PET). In at least one embodiment the imaging agent comprises 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoroglucaric acid (18F-FGA), or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof. The imaging agent may be disposed in a pharmaceutically-acceptable excipient, carrier, diluent, or vehicle. The imaging agent may be contained within a kit. The disclosure includes in at least one embodiment a method of preparing a radiopharmaceutical such as 18F-FGA for use in imaging.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes compositions comprising ?-lactam antibiotics and branched polyethylenimines (BPEI), having efficacy against various Gram-positive bacteria, for example Gram-positive bacteria having resistance against ?-lactam antibiotics, one non-limiting example of which is Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The compositions result in the resensitization of such resistant bacterial strains to traditional antibiotic therapies such as ?-lactam antibiotics.