Abstract: Disclosed herein is a sensor for measuring perfluoroalkyl acids and/or polyfluoroalkyl acids. The sensor includes a working electrode, a counter electrode and optionally a reference electrode. The working electrode includes a film disposed on the surface of the working electrode and the film includes a perfluorinated anion exchange ionomer. A method of using the sensor to detect perfluoroalkyl acids and/or polyfluoroalkyl acids is also described.

Abstract: A vaccine is disclosed that promotes CD4+ T cell-independent host defense mechanisms to defend against infection by fungi such as Pneumocystis spp. The vaccine may be used to prevent or to treat fungal infections. The novel vaccine can provide protective immunity, even for immunocompromised individuals such as HIV patients having reduced levels of CD4+ T cells.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for reconstructing 3-D point cloud. A light source generates light that is received by a polarization field generator, which generates a polarization field that illuminates the target object being imaged such that each outgoing ray has a unique polarization state. A camera captures images of the illuminated target object and the captured images are received by a processor that: (1) performs a polarization field decoding algorithm that decodes the polarization field to obtain a set of incident rays; (2) performs a camera ray decoding algorithm to obtain a set of camera rays; (3) performs a ray-ray intersection algorithm that determines intersection points where the incident rays and the camera rays intersect; and (4) performs a 3-D reconstruction algorithm that uses the set of incident rays, the set of camera rays and the intersection points to reconstruct a 3-D point cloud of the target object.

Abstract: Methods are provided for targeting cancer cells that over-express voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs or “sodium channels”) and causing osmotic lysis of these cancer cells by initially inhibiting the sodium, potassium-adenosine triphosphatase (Na+, K+-ATPase or “sodium pump”), and then stimulating the VGSCs by pulsed magnetic field gradients to cause sodium and water to enter the cancer cells.

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: 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: A method is disclosed for making palatable methionine-restricted foods, to deliver a methionine-restricted diet to human or veterinary patients. A protein or a food product containing protein is partially oxidized, preferably with ozone, to oxidize nearly all of the methionine and cysteine. After oxidation, tryptophan and lysine are optionally added back since they tend to be oxidized also. Optionally, a small amount of methionine is also added back so that the final methionine is within a preferred range of about 0.85 to about 1.8 gram methionine per 100 gram total protein, preferably about 1.2 gram per 100 gram total protein.

Abstract: This invention relates to antimicrobial gallium compounds, and to monomers containing gallium complex moieties that can be used in oral care products and dental materials, and which can reduce or eliminate dental caries and bacterial or fungal infections associated with medical and dental devices.

Abstract: Provided are the herbicide-tolerant, aromatic (jasmine) rice cultivar designated ‘CLJ01’ and its hybrids and derivatives. The present invention provides a method for controlling weeds in the vicinity of rice, comprising contacting the rice with an herbicide, wherein said rice belongs to any of (a) variety ‘CLJ01’ or (b) a hybrid, derivative, or progeny of ‘CLJOV that expresses the imidazolinone herbicide resistance characteristics of ‘CLJOV. In some embodiments, the rice plants of the present invention include plants that comprise an AHAS mutant polypeptide that confers an increased tolerance to an imidazolinone herbicide when compared to a wild-type rice plant.

Abstract: The herbicide-tolerant rice cultivar designated ‘CLL17’ and its hybrids and derivatives are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of treating one of fractures and disfunctions of a pelvic ring of a patient comprising scanning a patient with a transdermal scan, determining, via a machine, from the scan an optimal range of angles of entry and sizes of screw to insert into the patient, communicating the optimal range to a surgeon, and inserting the screw into the patient.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a DC mechanical circuit breaker that can utilize two switches, one of which can generate zero-crossing with an alternate oscillatory circuit for the other one, which can be a conventional zero-crossing-based AC breaker and can be used in the main circuit. This is different from the conventional single-switch commute-and-absorb method currently used. The present disclosure shows that disclosed circuit breaker improves the fault current extinction and significantly reduces the voltage rate-of-change while creating the current zero-crossing faster compared to the available technology. Thus, disclosed circuit breaker is capable of interrupting high DC currents with minimal arc through a less expensive AC circuit breaker. Simulation and hardware results are provided to show the efficiency of the disclosed circuit breaker.

Abstract: A metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) plasmonic device includes a substrate; a metal layer deposited on the substrate, the metal layer being substantially reflective in at least the visible wavelength range; an oxide layer deposited on the metal layer; and gold or gold alloy nanoparticles deposited on the oxide layer.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for a fast power network simulator. A system configured per this disclosure can use identify a power network, the power network comprising generators, transmission lines, and loads, and receive a model of the power network. The model of the power network can include: models of the generators modeled as differential equations, and models of the transmission lines and the loads modeled as algebraic equations. The system can convert, via a processor, the algebraic equations of the models of the transmission lines and the loads to additional differential equations, then combine, via the processor, the differential equations and the additional differential equations, to yield combined differential equations. The system can then iteratively solve linear equations, via the processor, associated with the combined differential equations, to yield solutions, and output the solutions as part of a power simulation of the power network.

Abstract: A concentric tube steerable device includes a plurality of tubes having a nested, concentric configuration. The tubes include an outer tube and an inner tube that extends coaxially within the outer tube. The inner tube terminates at a tip, and a pose of the tip is effectuated through individual or collective rotation or translation of the tubes about a tube axis. The concentric tube steerable device includes an actuator for rotating at least one tube about a respective tube axis, and a translator for translating at least one tube along a respective tube axis. Each tube includes a precurved portion and a corresponding axis of precurvature. For at least one tube, a flexural rigidity of the tube along its axis of precurvature is less than a flexural rigidity of the tube along a second axis that is perpendicular to the axis of precurvature, thereby improving stability of the tube.

Abstract: A contact-type endoscope surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) probe includes a gradient-index (GRIN) lens, a transparent substrate adhered to the GRIN lens, and a rough metallic layer adhered to an opposite side of the transparent substrate from the GRIN lens. The GRIN lens focuses light from a Raman spectrometer onto the rough metallic layer, and the rough metallic layer is positioned at the distal end of the contact-type endoscope SERS probe.

Abstract: The present invention relates in part to a method of fabricating graphene structures from graphene oxide by reducing the graphene oxide on a patterned substrate. The invention also relates in part to graphene structures produced using said method and electrodes and capacitors comprising said graphene structures.

Abstract: Therapeutics and methods of treating COVID-19 in a patient in need thereof comprising administering a pharmaceutically effective dose of a therapeutic, wherein the therapeutic contains an ACE2 externalizer, and the ACE2 externalizer is one of diminazene, diminazene aceturate, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, ester, amide, clathrate, stereoisomer, enantiomer, or prodrug thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of cardiovascular imaging and/or measurement of blood markers for detecting, diagnosing and/or prognosing cardiac or myocardial microbleeds, especially in subject with hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. Treatment methods are also provided for subjects identified, diagnosed, prognosed, or detected with cardiac or myocardial microbleeds. In some embodiments, the subject has hypertension-induced microbleeds, but has not had a myocardial infarction or reperfusion therapy.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides compositions comprising a lyn kinase activator and TRPM8 agonist, and to methods of: reducing blood glucose levels, weight gain, or fat depot levels; treating metabolic syndrome, Syndrome X, obesity, prediabetes, type II diabetes, type I diabetes; treating hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, coronary heart disease, diabetic neuropathy, lipodystrophy, diabetic retinopathy, erectile dysfunction, kidney disease, dyslipidemia, dyslipoproteinemia, a peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-associated disorder, septicemia, a thrombotic disorder, or pancreatitis; inducing the beiging of adipocytes; and preventing pancreatic beta cell degeneration.