Abstract: The present disclosure provides plants that express a variant phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) enzyme. The plants have enhanced resistance to aluminum than comparable plants that lack the variant PEPC enzyme. In addition, the plants more effectively sequester carbon, extract phosphate, and produce oxaloacetate-derived amino acids and glucose than comparable plants that lack the variant PEPC enzyme. The disclosure also provides tools for production of plants that express the variant PEPC enzyme.

Abstract: An artificial structure for promoting microalgae growth includes a 3D-printed structure formed by positioning a printing surface on a movable stage of a 3D bioprinter in contact with a bio-ink that includes a mixture of a pre-polymer material with one or more of cellulose-derived nanocrystals (CNC), and microalgae cells. By projecting modulated light onto the printing surface while moving the stage, the bio-ink is progressively polymerized to define layers of an artificial coral structure with microalgae cells disposed thereon, where the artificial coral structure is configured to scatter light within the structure.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally provides methods of implanting an implantable device in contact with a brain of a subject. Also provided are kits and systems for the implantation of one or more implantable devices.

Abstract: A Cockcroft-Walton (CW) switching voltage converter is disclosed. This CW switching converter includes a set of capacitors; an inductor coupled between an input voltage source and the set of capacitors; a set of switches; and an N-phase control module coupled to the set of switches. In some embodiments, each switch is controlled by the N-phase control module which is configured to sequentially and periodically effectuate a set of N voltage-conversion phases in a sequence of switching cycles. Note that each switching cycle effectuates a voltage conversion through the set of N voltage-conversion phases, wherein N is the conversion ratio of the CW switching voltage converter. Moreover, the N-phase control module is configured to effectuate a phase transition from a current phase to a subsequent phase when a zero-current switching (ZCS) condition on a given switch is met.

Abstract: Composite materials including a macroporous structure having a Voronoi architecture and a microporous biomaterial integrated into the macroporous structure are provided. Methods of making the composite materials and methods of using the materials to treat a bone defect are also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a novel gene drive methodology that can be used to spread engineered traits into a targeted population. More specifically, the present disclosure provides a method of using a transgenic line containing a modified Cas9, e.g., nickase Cas9, that introduces single-strand breaks/nicks, instead of double-stranded DNA cuts, to promote super-Mendelian inheritance of an engineered gene drive allele. The present disclosure further provides a Cx.quin. Cas9 (e.g., nickase Cas9) line and a Cx.quin. gene-drive line for suppression populations.

Abstract: Designs and applications of a polymer heat exchanger that includes a set of polymer plates with internal flow passages configured to carry a first gas or liquid. The set of plates is organized into a stack, wherein consecutive plates in the stack are separated by fins to form intervening flow passages for a second gas or liquid. The system includes a first liquid or gas flow pathway, which flows from an inlet, through the internal flow passages, to a first liquid or gas outlet. It also includes a second liquid or gas flow pathway, which flows from an inlet, through the intervening second gas or liquid passages, to an outlet. The first liquid or gas flow pathway flows in a direction opposite to a direction of the second liquid or gas flow pathway to provide a counterflow design that optimizes heat transfer between the two flow pathways.

Abstract: The current application fulfills a need for methods of making bi-specific CAR T-cells that have high efficacy. Aspects of the disclosure relate to a method for manufacturing a CD19/CD20 bi-specific chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell comprising the ordered steps of: (a) providing a composition comprising a population of cells comprising T cells; (b) contacting the composition comprising the population of cells comprising T cells with one or more of a transactivating composition, IL-2, and/or IL-15; (c) transducing the cell composition from (b) with a CD19/CD20 bi-specific CAR nucleic acid; and (d) removing the transactivating composition from the cell composition of (c). Further aspects relate to a population of CD19/CD20 bi-specific CAR-T cells produced by the methods of the disclosure. Yet further aspects describe a method for treating a subject for B-cell lymphoma comprising administering cells of the disclosure.

Abstract: Described herein are novel stable 9-N-, 8-N-, and 7-N-acetyl analogues of instable 9-O-acetyl, 8-O-acetyl, and 7-O-acetyl b-series gangliosides and glycosphingosines, including GD3, GD2, GD1b, GT1b, GQ1b, and their glycosphingosines. Chemoenzymatic methods for the production of the stable 9-N-, 8-N-, and 7-N-acetyl analogues are also described herein.

Abstract: An air distribution apparatus for drying almond stockpiles has a plenum with a multiply tapered flow divider that balances airflow between an inlet to the plenum and a plurality of outlet ports. In a typical almond stockpile cone shape, the middle and tallest section of the stockpile will receive the highest airflow.

Abstract: Various techniques are provided for performing real-time subject-motion-tracking during photon imaging by applying various data processing techniques on raw photon-events data generated by photon imaging scanners. In one aspect, a process of performing real-time subject-motion tracking during photon imaging begins by receiving multiple channels of raw singles-event data from a set of detector groups of the photon scanner while scanning a live subject. For each received channel of raw singles-event data, a singles-rate time series is generated based on a predetermined temporal resolution. Next, the set of singles-rate time series corresponding to the set of detector groups is combined to generate an overall singles-rate time series. Subsequently, the overall singles-rate time series is processed to extract in real-time one or more motion signals corresponding to one or more physiological motions of the live subject while the live subject is being scanned.

Abstract: Methods for fabricating a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) using epitaxial lateral overgrowth (ELO). The ELO layers comprise island-like III-nitride semiconductor layers grown on a substrate using a growth restrict mask, wherein the island-like III-nitride semiconductor layers comprise a light emitting resonant cavity. An aperture for the resonant cavity is fabricated on a wing of the ELO layers with distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) mirrors formed on bottom and top regions of the wing of the ELO layers.

Abstract: The present invention sets forth small novel abscisic acid (ABA) receptor agonist scaffolds and compounds with potent in vivo activity. In some aspects, the present invention provides agricultural formulations and methods comprising the ABA receptor agonists described herein, such as methods of managing crop water use and improving stress tolerance (e.g., drought tolerance). In some preferred embodiments, the inventive compounds have improved properties relative to the current “best in-class” molecules quinabactin and its derivatives.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides compounds of Formula (VIIb) and methods for inhibiting or degrading the N-terminal domain of the androgen receptor, as well as methods for treating cancers such as prostate cancer.

Abstract: Various examples for multi-tone continuous wave detection and ranging are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, an initial signal is generated using initial radio frequency (RF) tones, and is emitted as a multi-tone continuous wave signal. The initial signal is reflected from a target and received as a reflected signal. Resultant RF tones, including a frequency, a phase and a power, are determined from the reflected signal in a frequency domain. A frequency-domain sinusoidal wave is fitted to the resultant RF tones in the frequency domain, and a distance to the target is determined using a modulation of the frequency-domain sinusoidal wave. A phase processing algorithm is applied to generate the target distance and speed by triangulating the range information encoded in the backscattered RF tones.

Abstract: A method for proton resonance frequency shift (PRF) and T1-based temperature mapping using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes acquiring, using the MRI system, a set of magnetic resonance (MR) data from a region of interest of a subject by performing a variable-flip-angle multi-echo gradient-echo 3D stack-of-radial pulse sequence. The pulse sequence is configured to acquire radial k-space data in a plurality of segments, each segment acquired with each of a plurality of flip angles. The method further includes generating at least one T1 map based on the set of MR data, generating at least one PRF temperature map based on the set of MR data, generating at least one T1-based temperature map based on the set of MR data and displaying the PRF temperature map and the T1-based temperature map. In another embodiment, the MR data may be used to generate a plurality of quantitative parameter maps for each of the plurality of MR parameters such as T1, proton-density fat fraction (PDFF), and R2*.

Abstract: Disclosed are devices, systems and methods for implantable a biofuel cells. In some aspects, a biofuel cell device for extracting energy from a biological fluid includes a substrate including two compartments each with one or more openings; an anode assembly disposed in the substrate and including an anode electrode and functionalization material to facilitate an oxidative process that releases electrons captured at the anode electrode; and a cathode assembly disposed in the substrate separated from the anode assembly and including a catalytic material facilitate a chemical reduction process such that the biofuel cell device extracts electrical energy from the substance in the biological fluid.

Abstract: An oral and oropharyngeal cancer screening system and associated methods are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the screening system provides an at least one oral and oropharyngeal cancer screening device configured for selectively capturing images of an oropharyngeal area of an at least one patient. The screening device provides an elongate, relatively compact housing, a distal end of the housing being selectively bendable. An imaging module is positioned within the housing, the imaging module providing a lens, an at least one light source, and an imaging sensor positioned in the distal end of the housing. A user application resides in memory on an at least one user device in selective communication with the at least one screening device. The user application is configured for receiving images captured by the at least one screening device and recording risk factors, automatically analyzing the captured images and potential health-risk factors to screen for OPML and oral and oropharyngeal risk.

Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed herein relate to a cryogenic refrigeration system which may use a compression based cryocooler or liquid nitrogen pre-cool to cool a medium to ˜80K, and may in conjunction with a magnetic refrigeration system operating in the sub-80K temperature regime to provide cooling to a medium to temperatures below 80K. In some embodiments, the disclosed system may be useful for cooling on the order of about 3 kg/day to about 300 kg/day of hydrogen gas to liquid form, with higher efficiency than a standard vapor compression based system. This higher efficiency may make the system a more attractive candidate for use in cryogenic cooling applications.

Abstract: Disclosed are compounds of formula (I): and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The compounds of the invention are BDII-selective inhibitors of BET proteins, and have therapeutic potential for treating cancer, acute kidney disease, and viral infections, among other diseases.