Abstract: Cement mixtures comprising a hydration retarder comprising algae, cement additives comprising algae and/or derivatives thereof, and methods of forming and using the mixtures and additives are disclosed. The algae can be treated to form desired functional groups to tune retardation properties of the hydration retarder.

Abstract: A method for estimating portal blood flow and hepatic function in a subject is provided. In one example, the STAT test is an in vitro simplified, convenient test intended for screening purposes that can reasonably estimate the portal blood flow from a single blood sample taken 60 minutes after orally administered deuterated-cholate. The test can be administered to a patient having, or suspected of having, Chronic Hepatitis C, Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC), Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), or any chronic liver disease.

Abstract: A system for sensing phase changes in a medium includes a bidirectional interferometer having a reference arm and a sensing arm, two inputs at each of the two ends of the interferometer, and a circulator disposed between each input and the interferometer. Sources provide squeezed state pulses at an input at each end of the interferometer. Spaced-apart partial reflectors are disposed along the arms. There are detectors associated with each input. The circulators pass the squeezed state pulses into the interferometer and route reflections of the pulses to the detectors. Classical pulses may provided at the other input at each end of the interferometer.

Abstract: Systems and method herein provide for energy buffering. In one embodiment, a system includes an energy buffer comprising at least two energy storage elements. Each energy storage element is operable to buffer electrical energy. The system also includes a switch module operable to charge a first of the at least two energy storage elements while discharging a second of the at least two energy storage elements, and to discharge the first energy storage element while charging the second energy storage element after charging the first energy storage element. The switched charging of the energy storage elements compensates voltage variations between the energy storage elements to increase available electrical energy from the energy buffer.

Abstract: A hybrid converter achieves high efficiency with an inductor positioned at the lower current path that significantly decreases inductor loss by having the DC component of inductor current reduced. The circuit also features reduced inductance requirement by reducing the voltage swing blocked by the inductor. As a result, it turns to benefit of both efficiency improvement and better integration. Less voltage stress for switches is also an important advantage to switching loss reduction and switching frequency increase which in turns enables passive component size reduction. The circuit in this invention can be realized for both step-down and step-up power conversion as well as bidirectional power flow is available. For simplicity and cost, some of switches can be replaced with passive switches such as diodes which highly simplifies the converter circuit implementation.

Abstract: This invention relates to the field of genetic engineering. Specifically, the invention relates to the construction of operons to produce biologically active agents. For example, operons may be constructed to produce agents that control the function of biochemical pathway proteins (e.g., protein phosphatases, kinases and/or proteases). Such agents may include inhibitors and modulators that may be used in studying or controlling phosphatase function associated with abnormalities in a phosphatase pathway or expression level. Fusion proteins, such as light activated protein phosphatases, may be genetically encoded and expressed as photoswitchable phosphatases. Systems are provided for use in controlling phosphatase function within living cells or in identifying small molecule inhibitors/activator/modulator molecules of protein phosphatases associated with cell signaling.

Abstract: Infrared (IR) vibrational scattering scanning near-field optical microscopy (s-SNOM) has advanced to become a powerful nanoimaging and spectroscopy technique with applications ranging from biological to quantum materials. However, full spatiospectral s-SNOM continues to be challenged by long measurement times and drift during the acquisition of large associated datasets. Various embodiments provide for a novel approach of computational spatiospectral s-SNOM by transforming the basis from the stationary frame into the rotating frame of the IR carrier frequency. Some embodiments see acceleration of IR s-SNOM data collection by a factor of 10 or more in combination with prior knowledge of the electronic or vibrational resonances to be probed, the IR source excitation spectrum, and other general sample characteristics.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel GM-CSF constructs and methods of using the same. In certain embodiments, the constructs of the invention comprise certain peptide fragments from GM-CSF. In other embodiments, the invention provides certain GM-CSF peptides that act as GM-CSF mimetics.

Abstract: A microlens array includes a bottom electrode chip, a sidewall electrode chip, and a top glass chip configured to cooperate to define an array of cavities, each one of the array of cavities containing a fluid. The fluid is a mixture of a polar liquid and a non-polar liquid, in contact with one of the array of sidewalls at a contact angle. The bottom electrode chip includes a plurality of electrical contacts. The sidewall electrode chip includes an array of sidewalls, each including an electrode layer and an insulator layer. When a voltage is applied across the fluid contained a cavity via electrical contacts and the electrode layer of the cavity, the contact angle of the fluid with the sidewall is modified, in embodiments without affecting the contact angle of fluid contained in other ones of the plurality of array of cavities.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the unexpected discovery of a cross-linked polymer of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate and dipicolylamine-containing monomers that can be used as a therapeutic lens to treat ocular diseases or disorders associated with matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) over-activity and/or over-expression, such as but not limited to corneal melting (or keratolysis).

Abstract: Structures, catalysts, and reactors suitable for use for a variety of applications, including gas-to-liquid and coal-to-liquid processes and methods of forming the structures, catalysts, and reactors are disclosed. The catalyst material can be deposited onto an inner wall of a microtubular reactor and/or onto porous support structures using atomic layer deposition techniques.

Abstract: Disclosed are biomarkers, methods and assay systems for the identification of poor prognosis of interstitial pneumonia (pulmonary fibrosis) in an individual diagnosed with suspected of having interstitial pneumonia.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates optical imaging devices and methods useful in biological and medical imaging applications. In one embodiment, an optical imaging device includes a flexible lightguide having a first end and a second end, the output of the source of pulsed infrared radiation being optically coupled to the first end of the flexible lightguide; a lens assembly attached to and optically coupled to the second end of the flexible lightguide, the lens assembly comprising a variable-focus lens element, the a variable-focus lens element having a tunable focal length; and a photodetector coupled to the flexible lightguide to detect radiation propagating from the second end toward the first end of the flexible lightguide. The optical imaging devices and methods can be used in both confocal and multi-photon techniques.

Abstract: Sub-diffraction limited fluorescent images using a fiber-based stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscope are reported. Both excitation and depletion beams are transported through polarization-maintaining fiber and a lateral resolution of 100 nm has been achieved.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of inhibiting the growth or metastasis of a cancer in a mammal by inhibiting a Ral GTPase in the mammal. The invention also provides small molecule inhibitors of Ral GTPases useful in the methods of the invention and pharmaceutical compositions containing the therapeutically effective compounds of the invention, and methods of using the same.

Abstract: According to some aspects of the present disclosure, an atomic clock and methods of forming and/or using an atomic clock are disclosed. In one embodiment, an atomic clock includes: a light source configured to illuminate a resonance vapor cell; a narrowband optical filter disposed between the light source and the resonance vapor cell and arranged such that light emitted from the light source passes through the narrowband optical filter and illuminates the resonance vapor cell. The resonance vapor cell is configured to emit a signal corresponding to a hyperfine transition frequency in response to illumination from the light source, and a filter cell is disposed between the light source and the resonance vapor cell and configured to generate optical pumping. An optical detector is configured to detect the emitted signal corresponding to the hyperfine transition frequency.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present technology include a wearable physiological monitoring device, related algorithms and software that are tied to a portable electronic device for readout. The wearable device can perform real-time measurement of a number of physiological and environmental parameters including heart rate, pulse oximetry, respiration, movement, environmental particulate matter, moisture, temperature (e.g., ambient air and body temperatures) and geospatial location. Some embodiments may establish a physiological baseline for a patient by measuring the above parameters during a healthy state. Collected data can be wirelessly transmitted to a portable electronic device or monitoring and feedback platform where software will analyze the data and make assessments of the device wearer's health based upon the wearer's baseline.

Abstract: A novel method of diluting the structures in the cell population, such that individual cells, dependent on the activity of the structures, become single measurement devices. This can be applied to all Bacterial Microcomparments (“BMCs”), organelles, and macromolecules, and could provide a universal method for the design of novel ones and understanding of the diverse structures. In one aspect the present invention provides A method of creating a bacterial strain with inducible and detectable carboxysomes. The method includes the steps of incorporating a labeled carbon-fixation enzyme into the genome of a bacterium; deleting all or a portion of the ccm operon from the bacterium; and reintroducing a ccm operon comprising an inducible promoter to create a ?ccm+ strain.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for ultra or extreme-high vacuum are described. Such systems may comprise a vacuum chamber, a target within the vacuum chamber, two or more overlapping radiation shields arranged within an inner vacuum space of a vacuum chamber, and surrounding at least a portion of the target, a first and a second cooling element unit thermally coupled to a first and second radiation shield of the two or more overlapping radiation shields, wherein the first unit is configured to reduce the first radiation shield's temperature to at least <100K, and the second unit is configured to reduce the second radiation shield's temperature to at least <25K, and a third cooling element unit coupled to the target and isolated from the first and second radiation shield, wherein the third cooling element unit is configured to reduce the target's temperature to at least <4K.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a medical implant, and more particularly, to a vascular implant having a dual coating structure for preventing in-stent restenosis and thrombosis. In one embodiment, the invention contemplates a vascular stent with a coating comprising a hydrophobic, degradable core with a coaxial sheath comprising at least one polyethylene-glycol derivative. In one embodiment, the at least one polyethylene-glycol derivative comprises polyethylene-glycol dimethacrylate.