Abstract: A nanoparticle film is disclosed. The nanoparticle film comprises a plurality of polymerized liquid crystal monomers having an axis of alignment, and a plurality of nanoparticles disposed in the polymerized liquid crystal monomers. Each of the nanoparticles has a surface modified by a plurality of first ligands and a long axis aligned with the axis of alignment through the plurality of first ligands.

Abstract: Modeling, constructing, and designing conformal cellular structures with spatially variable and graded microstructures that have full geometric continuity is disclosed, which includes defining a global structural domain, where the microstructures are generated for a global mesh, defining a unit structure as a base cell using a level set function, which allows for beams, trusses, shells, and solids, transforming and mapping the base cell into each element of the global mesh using an isoparametric transformation, which creates a conformal cellular structure in accordance with a set of requirements on distribution of material and/or mechanical properties, and applying a global cutting function to guarantee geometric continuity in connections on the common face of any two neighboring cells of the structure. As a result, more complex geometric shapes and features can be generated at the cell level, while maintaining the specified geometric connectivity across the cells of the structure.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method of manufacturing a polyethylene membrane comprising: stretching a polyethylene film in a first direction during a first stretching; attaching a plurality of rods on side edges of the polyethylene film; attaching a tape on the polyethylene film; stretching the polyethylene film having the rods attached thereto in a second direction during a second stretching; and annealing the polyethylene film after the second stretching. The second direction can be a transverse direction of the first direction, and the first stretching and the second stretching can be performed at the same (or higher) temperature and the same stretching speed as each other.

Abstract: A theranostic agent can be used in both photoacoustic imaging (PAI) and photothermal therapy (PTT) applications. The theranostic agent can include a small molecule, organic compound with absorption in the near-infrared (NIR) interrogation window (700-900 nm). The compound can be a biocompatible organic nanoparticle (ONP). The theranostic agent can be effectively used in PAI and PAI-guided PTT applications. The theranostic agent can be administered to a patient to locate a tumor site in the patient using in vivo imaging techniques. Once the tumor site has been determined, the tumor site can be irradiated with near-infrared light to stop or inhibit the growth of the tumor.

Abstract: Microfluidic devices to efficiently remove particulate matter (PM) in air are provided, as are methods of fabricating and using the same. A device can include a channel having a structure configured to generate chaotic advective flow in air within the channel. The channel structure can include a plurality of SHMs disposed within the channel, where each SHM comprises a plurality of grooves each having a width of 200 ?m or less and a spacing between each groove of 200 ?m or less. The plurality of SHMs can be configured to introduce microvortices in air flow within the channel.

Abstract: AIE-active chemosensors, according to the present teachings, exhibit UV-vis absorption change and become non-luminescent upon protonation. Upon deprotonation, the chemosensors revert to their original absorption and emission. This deprotonation process can be triggered in the presence of amines, and specifically, biogenic amines. The chemosensors can detect amine species, e.g., biogenic amines produced during food fermentation, quickly and with high sensitivity. Further, due to the AIE nature of the compounds, the chemosensors can be loaded onto a physical support and sealed inside a food package to monitor food spoilage.

Abstract: The present subject matter relates to a fluorescent compound having aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characteristics. The compound can undergo spontaneous hierarchical self-assembly from a vesicle to a helical fiber in the aggregate state. A composition capable of providing circularly polarized luminescence can include the fluorescent compound and at least one additional compound selected from the group consisting of an aggregation-caused quenching luminogen and an aggregation-induced emission luminogen.

Abstract: The present subject matter relates to compounds that have aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characteristics and are capable of generating Raman signals in the Raman cell-silent region (1800 cm?1-2800 cm?1). The compounds can be used in dual-mode cell imaging by fluorescence and Raman microscopes.

Abstract: A method for stretching a plurality of sample isolates, including: trapping the plurality of sample isolates away from a wall of at least one microfluidic channel of a microfluidic flow system; generating a microfluidic flow to stretch the plurality of trapped sample isolates; determining deformation characteristics of the plurality of stretched samples isolates based on one or more frames from an image processing system; and outputting information corresponding to the deformation characteristics.

Abstract: Methods of synthesizing few-layer two-dimensional (2D) Sb2S3 nanosheets using scalable chemical exfoliation are provided. The 2D Sb2S3 nanosheets can be developed as bi-functional anode materials in both lithium ion batteries and sodium ion batteries. The unique structural and functional features brought by 2D Sb2S3 nanosheets can offer short electron/ion diffusion paths and abundant active sites for surface redox reactions.

Abstract: A composite photoalignment layer for aligning liquid crystal molecules includes: a monomeric material; a photoinitiator or a thermal initiator; and an azo dye material. A method for preparing a composite photoalignment layer for aligning liquid crystal molecules includes: mixing, in solution form, a monomeric material, a photoinitiator or a thermal initiator, and an azo dye material; coating the mixed solution onto a substrate to form a thin film; exposing the thin film to polarized light; and, with a thermal initiator, heating the thin film to polymerize the monomeric material and form a solid thin film.

Abstract: Aspects describe gas sensitive field effect transistor (FET) structures, a gas sensitive FET array including the disclosed gas sensitive FET structures, and methods of manufacturing and using the same. In one example, a gas sensitive FET structure can include a body comprising a substrate layer, an intermediate layer over the substrate layer, and a passivation layer over the intermediate layer. Primary terminals disposed within the body can include at least one source terminal, at least one drain terminal and at least one gate terminal. A floating gate disposed within the body can comprise metal at a top surface of the intermediate layer. The passivation layer can be etched over the floating gate, and the floating gate can be electrically coupled to the gate terminal of the primary terminals. A sensing material layer can be positioned over the floating gate. A reset element can be included for resetting the floating gate.

Abstract: Methods, systems and storage medium for separating a target signal from noise are disclosed. A method comprises providing a plurality of input signals, each of the plurality of input signals comprising the target signal; synchronizing the plurality of input signals; and separating the plurality of synchronized input signals into the target signal and the noise.

Abstract: Methods and devices for a spintronic device of spin-orbit torque magnetic random access memory (SOT-MRAM) are provided. A unit cell of a device can comprise a ferromagnetic (or ferrimagnetic or antiferromagnetic) layer on the heavy metal layer, and a current source configured to transmit either non-collinear current pulses in the heavy-metal layer or two perpendicular currents in the heavy metal layer. The current pulses exhibit a phase difference, and the magnitude of a sum of the respective current pulses is constant (in its simplest form) and the flow direction of the pulses is time-dependent.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for detecting the mechanical response of a mechanical component by an organic mechanoresponsive fluorescent material, comprising the following steps of: selecting an organic mechanoresponsive fluorescent material; preparing an organic mechanoresponsive fluorescent material solution; forming a film on a metal surface; calibrating fluorescence intensity and obtaining the fluorescence intensity and distribution in a crack tip area; observing the fluorescence signal generated at cracks to monitor the occurrence of fatigue cracks, and predict a propagation pathway of fatigue cracks by using the fluorescence intensity distribution in the crack tip area.

Abstract: The disinfectant-dosing microgel is formed from a mixture of a sol and a solution of a disinfecting and deodorizing agent. In use, the sol phase is transformed, by various conditions, into an active microgel. The disinfectant-dosing microgel is applied to the waste, such as by spraying, mixture therewith or the like. The combination of the sol and the solution of the disinfecting and deodorizing agent or, alternatively, the combination of the polymer and the solution of the disinfecting and deodorizing agent, is triggered to transform from the sol phase into the active microgel for long-term disinfection and deodorization of the waste by the temperature, pH, and/or salt concentration of the waste. The transformation to the active microgel for long-term disinfection and deodorization of the waste can also be initiated by adding chemical substances to alter the pH or promote gelation, either before, during or after application to the waste.

Abstract: A three-broadside-mode patch antenna includes: a rotationally symmetric radiator; a patch, wherein the patch is separated from the rotationally symmetric radiator by a dielectric and configured to capacitively feed the rotationally symmetric radiator; and three antenna probes, connected to the patch, configured to provide three antenna ports corresponding to three respective broadside radiation polarizations.

Abstract: The present subject matter relates to water-soluble, fluorescent compounds that have aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characteristics and exhibit near infrared (NIR) absorption. The compounds can be utilized as plasma-membrane specific bio-probes in cell imaging through a wash-free and fast staining procedure. In addition, the compounds can efficiently generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) in vivo when irradiated with visible light. As such, the compounds can be effective in killing cancer cells through image-guided, photodynamic therapy (PDT) processes.

Abstract: A visual tracker can be configured to obtain profile data associated with a pose of a living entity. In response to detecting a person, a camera can be selected from cameras. Additionally, in response to selecting the camera, the system can receive video data from the camera representative of a stance of the person. Consequently, the stance of the person can be estimated, resulting in an estimated stance.

Abstract: Provided herein are recombinant peptides useful for inhibiting the function of autophagy-related 8 (Atg8) proteins. The recombinant peptides can be used in the preparation of imaging agents for monitoring autophagy in a cell or subject and treating autophagy related diseases, such as cancer.