Abstract: Methods for making metastable lead-free piezoelectric materials are presented herein.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods to rejuvenate spent filtration media are described. The apparatuses include a filtration unit to filter a liquid having solids that need to be removed and a rejuvenation unit to heat the spent filtration media that has reduced filtering capacity. The methods include using the apparatus to rejuvenate spent filtration media by removing solids deposited on the filtration media to allow its repeated reuse rather than being discarded and replaced with new filtration media.

Abstract: Embodiments of the systems can be configured to receive electromagnetic emissions of a substrate (e.g., a build material of a part being made via additive manufacturing) by a detector (e.g., a multi-spectral sensor) and generate a ratio of the electromagnetic emissions to perform spectral analysis with a reduced dependence on location and orientation of a surface of the substrate relative to the multi-spectral sensor. The additive manufacturing process can involve use of a laser to generate a laser beam for fusion of the build material into the part. The system can be configured to set the multi-spectral sensor off-axis with respect to the laser (e.g., an optical path of the multi-spectral sensor is at an angle that is different than the angle of incidence of the laser beam). This can allow the multi-spectral sensor to collect spectral data simultaneously as the laser is used to build the part.

Abstract: A switched nozzle valve (SNV) for gas flow regulation includes a nozzle and a valve element. The nozzle includes an orifice with a fixed cross-section and a converging section converging towards the orifice for achieving sonic velocity of the gas in the orifice. The valve element is movable between a fully closed position seated on the nozzle at a valve seat and a fully open position spaced from the valve seat. The SNV further includes a control for controlling an operator for switching the valve element between the fully open and fully closed positions at a switching frequency by using a pulse-width-modulation (PWM) signal to regulate a time-averaged flow of the gas.

Abstract: The invention relates to an end-effector device and automated selective thinning system. The system includes vision acquisition hardware, kinematic targeting and heuristic programming, a robotic arm, and a pomologically designed end-effector. The system is utilized to improve efficiency for the fruit-thinning process in a tree orchard, such as peach thinning. By automating the mechanical process of fruit thinning, selective fruit-thinners can eliminate manual labor inputs and further enhance favorable blossom removal. Automation used in conjunction with a heuristic approach provides improvements to the system. The system may also be configured as a robotic arm or as a handheld system by including a battery and switching microcontroller with handle or wrist straps. Handheld thinning devices that are mechanical in nature may also be part of the system.

Abstract: Various aspects of the invention relate to methods and devices for treating diseases and conditions including atherosclerosis and endocarditis using low-temperature, non-equilibrium plasmas. A device may be, for example, a catheter that carries electrodes and a dielectric material for generating a localized, non-equilibrium plasma in a bodily fluid such as blood.

Abstract: A method for generating antireflective coatings for polymeric substrates using a deposition process and/or a dissolving process can provide a coating onto the outer surface of the substrate. Some embodiments can include a GLAD generated fluoropolymer coating or a co-evaporated fluoropolymer coating on a substrate that may achieve ultralow refractive index as well as improved adhesion and durability properties on polymeric substrates. In some embodiments, the deposition process is performed such that a fluoropolymer can be evaporated to form chain fragments of the fluoropolymer. The chain fragments diffused into the substrate can subsequently re-polymerize, interlocking with the polymer chains of the substrate. In some embodiments, the co-evaporation process can form a nanoporous polymer chain scaffold of the fluoropolymer, from which a sacrificial material can be dissolved out. The formed coating can be a multilayer or continuously-graded antireflective coating that has strong adhesion with the substrate.

Abstract: A method of generating a light-matter hybrid species of charged polaritons at room temperature includes providing an organic semiconductor microcavity being a doped organic semiconductor sandwiched in a microcavity capable of generating an optical resonance and coupling light to the polaron optical transition in the organic semiconductor microcavity thereby forming polaron-polaritons. The doped organic semiconductor may be a hole/electron transport material having a polaron absorption coefficient exceeding 102 cm?1 and capable of generating a polaron optical transition with a linewidth smaller than a predetermined threshold. The optical resonance of the microcavity has a resonance frequency matched with the polaron optical transition.

Abstract: Compounds and methods for treating viral infections and reducing viral multiplication, including flaviviruses. Provided is a derivative of a compound or a pharmaceutical salt thereof, wherein the compound comprises a 3?,4-didehydroribose.

Abstract: An apparatus for transmitting and receiving radiofrequency (RF) signals in a magnetic resonance imaging system for proton and X-nuclear imaging includes at least one radiofrequency (RF) coil and an ultrahigh dielectric constant material incorporated within the at least one RF coil. The permittivity of the ultrahigh dielectric constant material depends on a temperature of the material and is tunable. The apparatus also includes a temperature controller that is thermally coupled to the ultrahigh dielectric constant material. The temperature controller is configured to control a temperature of the ultrahigh dielectric constant material to tune and optimize the permittivity of the ultrahigh dielectric constant material. A chemical structure and composition of the ultrahigh dielectric constant material is selected to control and optimize the permittivity and a dielectric loss of the ultrahigh dielectric constant material and a temperature dependence of the ultrahigh dielectric constant material.

Abstract: Methods for producing new neurons in the brain in vivo are provided according to aspects of the present invention which include introducing NeuroD1 into a glial cell, particularly into a reactive astrocyte or NG2 cell, thereby “converting” the reactive glial cell to a neuron. Methods of producing a neuronal phenotype in a glial cell are provided according to aspects of the present invention which include expressing exogenous NeuroD1 in the glial cell, wherein expressing exogenous NeuroD1 includes delivering an expression vector, such as a viral expression vector, including a nucleic acid encoding the exogenous NeuroD1 to the glial cell.

Abstract: Crosslinked biodegradable block polyurethane copolymers prepared from a plurality of biodegradable polymers or oligomers linked together via urethane bonds and crosslinked via a citrate ester are disclosed. Such copolymers can include folic acid and fabricated into medical devices such as a nerve growth conduit and locally deliver folic acid to a site of injury such as a PNS injury site.

Abstract: A method of creating a functionally-graded multi-material (FGM) part in multi-material additive manufacturing includes providing a part digitized into voxels, generating a lattice structure having a series of repeating unit cells, where each is the smallest nonrepeating constituent of the lattice structure and is generated by a continuous surface defined by a continuous function. The method further includes taking an inverse volume of the lattice structure within the part, creating a material gradient by varying a thickness of the surface at the boundary between the lattice structure and the inverse volume, assigning one of the two FGM component materials to the voxels in the volume occupied by the lattice structure and assigning the other to the voxels occupied by the inverse volume, outputting the voxels each with a designated material, the lattice structure and the inverse volume forming a mechanical interlock at the interface of the two component materials.

Abstract: Systems and methods for completing a morphological characterization of an image of a placenta and providing suggested pathological diagnoses are disclosed. A system includes programming instructions that, when executed, cause processing devices to execute commands according to the following logic modules: an Encoder module that receives the digital image of the placenta and outputs a pyramid of feature maps, a SegDecoder module that segments the pyramid of feature maps on a fetal side image and on a maternal side image, a Classification Subnet module that classifies the fetal side image and the maternal side image, and a convolutional IPDecoder module that localizes an umbilical cord insertion point of the placenta from the classified fetal side image and the classified maternal side image. The localized umbilical cord insertion point, segmentation maps for the classified fetal side and maternal side images are provided to an external device for determining the morphological characterization.

Abstract: This application provides methods to differentiate between subjects with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and typically developing (TD) or developmentally delayed (DD) subjects using miRNA and/or microbiome levels detected in saliva samples and patient information. The method can be used to monitor the progress of ASD and guide its treatment. RNA-seq, qPCR, or other methods determine counts and abundance of miRNA or microbiomes. MicroRNA and/or microbiome sequencing data are refined by normalization to expression levels or abundance of time-invariant miRNAs and/or microbial RN As to control for time of sample collection or to compensate for circadian fluctuations in these levels. Multivariate logistic regression and nonlinear classification techniques are further used to select a panel of miRNAs and microbiomes that accurately differentiate between subjects with ASD, DD, and TD in subjects with an unknown ASD status. These panels of miRNAs and microbiomes may be developed into a RNA assay kit.

Abstract: A method for pooled sample testing for a target substance using compressed sensing includes receiving a plurality of individual samples, determining a mixing matrix for a plurality of pooled sample mixtures to create by mixing portions of selected ones of the plurality of individual samples, and determining an allocation matrix for the plurality of pooled samples, wherein the allocation matrix allocations portions of each of the plurality of pooled samples for each test, performing mixing to create the plurality of pooled sample mixtures based on the mixing matrix and the allocation matrix, performing quantitative tests on the plurality of pooled sample mixtures so as to estimate an amount of the target substance contained within each of the plurality of pooled sample mixtures, and decoding results of the quantitative tests to determine quantitative estimates of amount of the target substance in each of the plurality of individual samples.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes compositions and methods for preparing membrane protein nanosheets and two-dimensional crystals. In particular, the methods employ a solvent. A mixture of a polymer and a membrane protein is solubilized in the solvent, applied to a substrate, and subsequently dried to form the nanosheet or two-dimensional crystal. Applicants have surprisingly found that the membrane proteins maintain their structure when exposed to solvents during the short processing time utilized.

Abstract: The present invention provides microfluidic devices capable of sequestering single particles in individual microchambers and isolating the particles from one another. The devices provide a plurality of channels fluidly connected to a plurality of microchambers. A fluid suspension comprising particles of interest can be passed through the devices in a first direction to sequester single particles in each microchamber. An isolating fluid can be passed through the devices in a second, reverse direction to isolate the particles from one another. The devices can selectively isolate several particles in each microchamber.

Abstract: Methods relating to treatment and diagnosis of head injury are provided herein.

Abstract: Highly dense lithium based ceramics can be prepared by a low temperature process including combining a lithium based ceramic with a polar solvent having a lithium based salt dissolved therein and applying pressure and heat to the combination to form a salt-ceramic composite. Advantageously, the lithium salt is one that dissolves in the polar solvent and the heat applied to the combination is no greater than about 250° C. Such composites can also have high ionic conductivity.