Abstract: The present invention relates to a Drosophila in vitro system which was used to demonstrate that dsRNA is processed to RNA segments 21-23 nucleotides (nt) in length. Furthermore, when these 21-23 nt fragments are purified and added back to Drosophila extracts, they mediate RNA interference in the absence of long dsRNA. Thus, these 21-23 nt fragments are the sequence-specific mediators of RNA degradation. A molecular signal, which may be their specific length, must be present in these 21-23 nt fragments to recruit cellular factors involved in RNAi. This present invention encompasses these 21-23 nt fragments and their use for specifically inactivating gene function. The use of these fragments (or chemically synthesized oligonucleotides of the same or similar nature) enables the targeting of specific mRNAs for degradation in mammalian cells, where the use of long dsRNAs to elicit RNAi is usually not practical, presumably because of the deleterious effects of the interferon response.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to nanocomposite thermoelectric materials that exhibit enhanced thermoelectric properties. The nanocomposite materials include two or more components, with at least one of the components forming nano-sized structures within the composite material. The components are chosen such that thermal conductivity of the composite is decreased without substantially diminishing the composite's electrical conductivity. Suitable component materials exhibit similar electronic band structures. For example, a band-edge gap between at least one of a conduction band or a valence band of one component material and a corresponding band of the other component material at interfaces between the components can be less than about 5kBT, wherein kB is the Boltzman constant and T is an average temperature of said nanocomposite composition.

Abstract: An imaging method utilizing a split peroxidase is described herein. Imaging methods involve contacting a cell with a split peroxidase and a substrate thereof to allow conversion of a substrate into a product via an enzymatic reaction catalyzed by the reconstitute split peroxidase. Also disclosed herein are split peroxidases, related products and kits.

Abstract: The present invention provides compounds of Formula (I) or (II), which are thought to be able to inhibit mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) signaling pathway, induce UPR (unfolded protein response), and/or perturb mitochondrial function of a cyst cell (e.g., a cyst cell causing polycystic kidney disease (PKD, e.g., autosomal dominant PKD (ADPKD) or autosomal recessive PKD (ARPKD)) or polycystic liver disease (PLD, e.g., autosomal dominant PLD (ADPLD) or autosomal recessive PLD (ARPLD)). The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions, kits, and methods involving the compounds described herein for use in treating PKD or PLD, inhibiting the growth of a cyst cell, and/or killing a cyst cell.

Abstract: Transition metal carbide, nitride, phosphide, sulfide, or boride nanoparticles can be made by transforming metal oxide materials coated in a ceramic material in a controlled environment. The coating prevents sintering while allowing the diffusion of reactive gases through the inorganic matrix that can then alter the metal nanoparticle oxidation state, remove oxygen, or intercalate into the lattice to form a carbide, nitride, phosphide, sulfide, or boride.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel enterobactin-cargo conjugates, such as compounds of Formula (I), and salts thereof, where X is the cargo and may be an antibiotic, a fluorophore, or biotin. The present invention also provides complexes, compositions, kits, and methods that involve the compounds of Formula (I) and are useful in delivering a cargo to a bacterium, treating a bacterial infection, cystic fibrosis, and/or inflammatory bowel disease in a subject, preventing a bacterial infection, cystic fibrosis, and/or inflammatory bowel disease in a subject, inhibiting the growth of or killing a bacterium, or determining the concentration of a bacterium in a biological sample. In certain embodiments, the bacterium is a Gram-negative bacterium.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to a method for pulmonary delivery of therapeutic, prophylactic and diagnostic agents to a patient wherein the agent is released in a sustained fashion, and to particles suitable for use in the method. In particular, the invention relates to a method for the pulmonary delivery of a therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic agent comprising administering to the respiratory tract of a patient in need of treatment, prophylaxis or diagnosis an effective amount of particles comprising a therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic agent or any combination thereof in association with a charged lipid, wherein the charged lipid has an overall net charge which is opposite to that of the agent upon association with the agent. Release of the agent from the administered particles occurs in a sustained fashion.

Abstract: Security guards at large facilities, such as airports, monitor multiple screens that display images from individual surveillance cameras dispersed throughout the facility. If a guard zooms with a particular camera, he may lose image resolution, along with perspective on the surrounding area. Embodiments of the inventive Imaging System for Immersive Surveillance (ISIS) solve these problems by combining multiple cameras in one device. When properly mounted, example ISIS systems offer up to 360-degree, 240-megapixel views on a single screen. (Other fields of view and resolutions are also possible.) Image-stitching software merges multiple video feeds into one scene. The system also allows operators to tag and follow targets, and can monitor restricted areas and sound an alert when intruders breach them.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention provide compositions and methods for delivering nucleic acids to target cells.

Abstract: Integrated polymeric-ceramic membrane-based oxy-fuel combustor. The combustor includes a polymer membrane structure for receiving air at an input and for delivering oxygen-enriched air at an outlet. An oxygen transport reactor including a ceramic ion transport membrane receives the oxygen-enriched air from the polymer membrane structure to generate oxygen for combustion with a fuel introduced into the oxygen transport reactor.

Abstract: Autostereoscopic display. The display includes an array of elements from which light emanates, the elements being rotatable about two orthogonal axes by microcontrollers. An eye tracker is provided for determining the location in three dimensions of at least one eye viewing the array. The microcontrollers, using information from the eye tracker, rotate the elements to mimic a concave surface to deliver light to the eye. It is preferred that the elements are mirrors and the display further includes a projector for projecting an image on the array for reflection to the eye. The elements themselves may include structure for generating light rather than reflecting light.

Abstract: In one embodiment the disclosure relates to an apparatus for depositing an organic material on a substrate, including a source heater for heating organic particles to form suspended organic particles; a transport stream for delivering the suspended organic particles to a discharge nozzle, the discharge nozzle having a plurality of micro-pores, the micro-pores providing a conduit for passage of the suspended organic particles; and a nozzle heater for pulsatingly heating the micro-pores nozzle to discharge the suspended organic particles from the discharge nozzle.

Abstract: The invention relates to optoelectronic systems for detecting one or more target particles. The system includes a reaction chamber, a specimen collector, an optical detector, and a reservoir containing cells, each of the cells having receptors which are present on the surface of each cell and are specific for the target particle to be detected, where binding of the target particle to the receptors directly or indirectly activates a reporter molecule, thereby producing a measurable optical signal.

Abstract: Nitrogen-containing lipids prepared from the conjugate addition of amines to acrylates, acrylamides, or other carbon-carbon double bonds conjugated to electron-withdrawing groups are described. Methods of preparing these lipids from commercially available starting materials are also provided. These amine-containing lipids or salts forms of these lipids are preferably biodegradable and biocompatible and may be used in a variety of drug delivery systems. Given the amino moiety of these lipids, they are particularly suited for the delivery of polynucleotides. Complexes or nanoparticles containing the inventive lipid and polynucleotide have been prepared. The inventive lipids may also be used to in preparing microparticle for drug delivery. They are particularly useful in delivering labile agents given their ability to buffer the pH of their surroundings.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions and kits comprising carbohydrate-based inhibitors that bind GNBP and/or inhibit ?(1,3)-glucanase activity. Also provided are methods of using such inhibitors to protect against or treat pest infestation, as are compositions and kits comprising subparts of the carbohydrate-based inhibitors.

Abstract: The invention discloses general apparatus and methods for electrochemical energy conversion and storage via a membraneless laminar flow battery. In a preferred embodiment, the battery includes a flow-through porous anode for receiving a fuel and a porous electrolyte channel for transporting an electrolyte adjacent to the porous anode; a flow-through porous cathode is provided for transporting an oxidant; and a porous dispersion blocker is disposed between the electrolyte channel and the porous cathode, which inhibits convective mixing while allowing molecular diffusion and mean flow. Pore structure properties are selected for tuning convective dispersion, conductivity or other macroscopic properties. Specific materials, reactants, fabrication methods, and operation methods are disclosed to achieve stable charge/discharge cycles and to optimize power density and energy density.

Abstract: Electrochemical systems for harvesting heat energy, and associated electrochemical cells and methods, are generally described.

Abstract: A noble metal nanoparticle can be grown on a semiconductor substrate by contacting a predetermined region of the substrate with a solution including noble metal ions. The predetermined region of the semiconductor substrate can be exposed by applying a polymeric layer over the substrate selectively removing a portion of the polymeric layer. The nanoparticles can be prepared in a predetermined pattern. The nanoparticle can be formed with a barrier separating it from another nanoparticle on the substrate; for example, nanoparticle can be located in a pit etched in the substrate. The size and location of the nanoparticle can be stable at elevated temperatures.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to batteries or other electrochemical devices, and systems and materials for use in these, including novel electrode materials and designs. In some embodiments, the present invention relates to small-scale batteries or microbatteries. For example, in one aspect of the invention, a battery may have a volume of no more than about 5 mm3, while having an energy density of at least about 400 W h/l. In some cases, the battery may include an electrode comprising a porous electroactive compound. In some embodiments, the pores of the porous electrode may be at least partially filled with a liquid such as a liquid electrolyte. The electrode may be formed from a unitary material. Other aspects of the invention are directed to techniques of making such electrodes or batteries, techniques of forming electrical connections to and packaging such batteries, techniques of using such electrodes or batteries, or the like.

Abstract: A liquid electrolyte can be desalinated and purified using a system that includes a first electrode and a configuration selected from (a) a second electrode and at least one distinct ion-selective boundary and (b) a second electrode that also serves as the ion-selective boundary. The ion-selective boundary is contained in the liquid conduit adjacent to a porous medium that defines pore channels filled with the liquid and that have a surface charge, and the charge of the ion-selective boundary and the surface charge of the pore channels share the same sign. A liquid including at least one charged species flows through the pore channels, forming a thin diffuse electrochemical double layer at an interface of the liquid and the charged surface of the pore channels.