Abstract: Provided herein are separation processes for metal ions present in aqueous solutions based on methods involving liquid-liquid extraction. The separation process involves a chelator that can selectively bind to at least one of the metals at a relatively low pH. This can be used, for example, for recovery and purification of actinides from lanthanides, separation of metal ions based on their valence, and separation of metal ions based on the pH of the extraction conditions.

Abstract: Provided are methods of producing size-selected nucleic acid libraries. The methods include contacting a nucleic acid sample and a nucleic acid binding reagent including an affinity tag, under conditions in which nucleic acids of less than a desired length are substantially bound to the nucleic acid binding reagent and nucleic acids of the desired length are substantially not bound to the nucleic acid binding reagent. The conditions include the duration of the contacting, the concentration of the nucleic acid binding reagent, or both. The methods further include separating, using the affinity tag, the nucleic acids of less than the desired length bound to the nucleic acid binding reagent from the nucleic acids of the desired length not bound to the nucleic acid binding reagent, to produce a size-selected nucleic acid library. Compositions and kits that find use, e.g., in practicing the methods of the present disclosure, are also provided.

Abstract: Atmospheric water harvesting systems utilize a sorbent cartridge configured to hold water capture material. The sorbent cartridge is made up of a plurality of permeable trays and a plurality of spacers that are arranged to provide cross-flow for adsorption and desorption airflow pathways. The systems are used for harvesting water from surrounding air.

Abstract: A system for charge sharing compensation for a photon counting detector. A plurality of comparators, each configured to generate comparator output data based on a threshold value, a plurality of energy bins, each of the plurality of energy bins coupled to one of the plurality of comparators, and a coincidence logic coupled to two or more of the plurality of comparators and configured to receive comparator output data associated with two or more of a plurality of pixels. The comparator output data for each pixel indicates when a signal associated with the pixel crosses a threshold value. The coincidence logic is configured to generate a coincidence output when the comparator output data for a first pixel is received within a predetermined time interval of the comparator output data for a second pixel. The system includes a coincidence counting bin coupled to the coincidence logic and configured to receive the coincidence output and generate count data based on the coincidence output.

Abstract: Systems and methods for wirelessly powered biomedical treatment systems with closed-loop wireless implantable treatment devices for recording and stimulation are described. In an embodiment, a treatment system, includes: at least one implantable treatment device implantable in a location with respect to a body part, where the at least one implantable treatment device includes: an energy harvesting circuit configured to harvest ambient energy, a sensing circuit configured to sense bioelectrical signals, an stimulator circuit coupled to a set of electrodes to deliver energy, and a communication circuit configured to control the stimulation delivery circuit to deliver energy via at least one electrode from the set of electrodes in response to wireless control signals received from an external controller.

Abstract: Systems and methods for federated learning are illustrated. A method for federated learning includes steps for identifying a first set of one or more devices as members of a master committee, identifying a second set of one or more devices as members of a differential privacy (DP)-noise committee, receiving a set of encrypted noise values for differential privacy from the members of the DP-noise committee, receiving, from a third set of one or more devices, a set of encrypted update values, and aggregating the encrypted noise values and the encrypted update values to produce encrypted aggregation results. The method further includes steps for receiving, from a fourth set of one or more devices, decrypted aggregation results based on cryptographic key shares of a private cryptographic key from the master committee, and updating model parameters of the model based on the decrypted aggregation results.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods for treating asthma in a subject in need thereof comprising administering chemically synthesized secoisolaricirecinol diglucoside (SDG), and in particular, a racemic mixture of the SDG (LGM2605), stereoisomers thereof, metabolites thereof, and analogs thereof. Also provided are methods for treating or preventing ozone-induced damage in a subject in need thereof.

Abstract: A large-scale single-photonics-based optical switching system that occupies an area larger than the maximum area of a standard step-and-repeat lithography reticle is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of identical switch blocks, each of is formed in a different reticle field that no larger than the maximum reticle size. Bus waveguides of laterally adjacent switch blocks are stitched together at lateral interfaces that include a second arrangement of waveguide ports that is common to all lateral interfaces. Bus waveguides of vertically adjacent switch blocks are stitched together at vertical interfaces that include a first arrangement of waveguide ports that is common to all vertical interfaces. In some embodiments, the lateral and vertical interfaces include waveguide ports having waveguide coupling regions that are configured to mitigate optical loss due to stitching error.

Abstract: The present inventive concept is related to methods for passivating an oxide layer and methods of selectively depositing a metal, metal nitride, metal oxide, or metal silicide layer on a metal, metal oxide, or silicide layer over an oxide layer including exposing the oxide layer to a passivant that selectively binds to the oxide layer over the metal, metal oxide, or silicide layer, and selectively growing the metal, metal nitride, metal oxide or metal silicide layer on the metal, metal oxide or silicide layer.

Abstract: Embodiments methods of reducing an inflammatory immune response (e.g., inhibiting a Th1 response) and/or promoting a regulatory immune response (e.g., enhancing Treg(s)) in a mammal are provided where the method methods involve administering to the mammal a GABAA receptor positive allosteric modulator (PAM) in an amount sufficient to reduce an inflammatory immune response and/or to promote a regulatory immune response said mammal. In certain embodiments the PAM is administered in conjunction with a GABA receptor activating ligand (e.g., GABA).

Abstract: Disclosed herein are PEG-DPCA conjugates having multiple hydrophobic DPCA groups at one or both terminal ends of a PEG compound and compositions thereof and methods of using thereof for tissue regeneration and/or cellular repair (e.g., wound healing).

Abstract: A method includes providing a fluid to a structure including an aperture, applying a voltage signal to a circuit that includes the fluid, applying a substantially periodic pressure signal to the fluid, detecting a current signal in the circuit as an analyte passes through the aperture in response to the substantially periodic pressure signal, and processing the current signal and the substantially periodic pressure signal to determine a switch time and a release time for the analyte. An apparatus includes a structure including an aperture to receive a fluid, a voltage source to provide a voltage signal to an electronic circuit having a path that includes the aperture, a pressure signal generator to provide a substantially periodic pressure signal to the fluid, and a system to process the periodic pressure signal and a current signal induced in the electronic circuit.

Abstract: Systems and devices for airflow measurements in rooms and air delivery ducts with low-cost, low-power, accurate, calibration-free, and compact wireless airflow sensors are provided. The system uses room and duct flow sonic anemometers and processing to measure air velocities and temperatures as well as allow control over the environmental conditioning systems. The anemometers use arrays of transmitter/receivers to simultaneously measure multiple sound paths and determine velocity vectors and volumetric flow paths. By transmitting in both directions along the paths between transceivers, differential times of flight (TOF) are measured. These determine both the velocity and temperature of the air along each path.

Abstract: A spinal cord stimulator includes: (1) a flexible substrate; (2) a power source embedded in the flexible substrate; (3) a controller embedded in the flexible substrate and connected to the power source; and (4) an array of electrodes, including an array of stimulation electrodes, disposed over the flexible substrate and connected to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to direct the array of stimulation electrodes to deliver a stimulation pattern to a spinal cord of a patient.

Abstract: A multimodality phantom apparatus includes a housing and a system of materials disposed within the housing. The system of material includes a first amount of abase material, a second amount of glass microspheres, a third amount of CaCO3, a fourth amount of gadolinium contrast and a fifth amount of agarose. The housing may include a plurality of compartments and at least one slot. The system of materials may be disposed within at least one compartment. The slot may be used to receive a dosimeter.

Abstract: Embodiments described and discussed herein provide methods for selectively depositing a metal oxides on a substrate. In one or more embodiments, methods for forming a metal oxide material includes positioning a substrate within a processing chamber, where the substrate has passivated and non-passivated surfaces, exposing the substrate to a first metal alkoxide precursor to selectively deposit a first metal oxide layer on or over the non-passivated surface, and exposing the substrate to a second metal alkoxide precursor to selectively deposit a second metal oxide layer on the first metal oxide layer. The method also includes sequentially repeating exposing the substrate to the first and second metal alkoxide precursors to produce a laminate film containing alternating layers of the first and second metal oxide layers. Each of the first and second metal alkoxide precursors contains a different metal selected from titanium, zirconium, hafnium, aluminum, or lanthanum.

Abstract: A monitoring apparatus for a human body includes a node network with at least one motion sensor and at least one acoustic sensor. A processor is coupled to the node network, and receives motion information and acoustic information from the node network. The processor determines from the motion information and the acoustic information a source of acoustic emissions within the human body by analyzing the acoustic information in the time domain to identify an event envelope representing an acoustic event, determining a feature vector related to the event envelope, calculating a distance between the feature vector and each of a set of predetermined event silhouettes, and identifying one of the predetermined event silhouettes for which the distance is a minimum.

Abstract: A pneumatic circuit for controlling the activation of a robot with inflatable chambers includes at least one ring oscillator formed from a plurality of valves connected in series to selectively admit fluid pressure to inflate and deflate the chambers. Sequential actuation of the valves induces sequential bending and rotation of combinations of the chambers to effect motion. A switching valve changes the actuation sequence of the oscillator valves to change the direction of motion.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to electrocatalytic process for conversion of a hydrocarbon reactant, comprising: introducing the hydrocarbon reactant into an acidic solution in a presence of a catalyst, wherein the catalyst includes a d° transition metal-oxo moiety; and applying an electrical input to the catalyst to convert the hydrocarbon reactant into a product. The present disclosure also relates to a catalyst for conversion of a hydrocarbon reactant, comprising a d° transition metal-oxo moiety and a sulfonic moiety bonded to the d° transition metal.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus related to the determination of ecological processes. In one aspect, a device includes a base and a substrate in contact with a first side of the base. The base defines a stem port. The substrate and the first side of the base define a chamber. The chamber includes a root chamber and a first nutrient chamber. The root chamber and the first nutrient chamber are separated by a first mesh having openings of about 1 micron to 300 microns. The device is operable to house a plant, with roots of the plant being in the root chamber, and a stem of the plant passing through the stem port.