Abstract: The present invention relates to granular composite density enhancement, and related methods and compositions. The applications where these properties are valuable include but are not limited to: 1) additive manufacturing (“3D printing”) involving metallic, ceramic, cermet, polymer, plastic, or other dry or solvent-suspended powders or gels, 2) concrete materials, 3) solid propellant materials, 4) cermet materials, 5) granular armors, 6) glass-metal and glass-plastic mixtures, and 7) ceramics comprising (or manufactured using) granular composites.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is the detection of dangerous dielectric materials (explosives) and dangerous non-explosive and/or prohibited items. The detection is based on a broad bandwidth nonlinear radar system, driven by a highly stable optical frequency comb. The disclosed approach allows for the spatial resolution of the interrogated object in complex settings. Detection of dangerous materials and non-explosive chemical prohibited items is disclosed. The chemicals can be identified under clothing, within boxes, or other dielectric enclosures.

Abstract: A highly reliable and accurate method of assessing bacterial community viability has been developed that allows for the assessment of extremely low biomass samples, which cannot be done with traditional methods, such as qPCR. The method utilizes both PMA and droplet digital PCR (PMA-ddPCR), resulting in very accurate quantification of DNA even at very low abundances. Comparing DNA abundance in untreated samples to DNA abundance in PMA-treated samples allows the calculation of the overall viability of bacteria in any given sample. Further, PMA can be combined with traditional RNA gene sequencing (using gene-specific primers for a target species or strain) to accurately profile, e.g., the human skin microbiome, which has previously been done using traditional sequencing methods alone, but this method allows for a species-level understanding of the viable (and nonviable) components of any complex bacterial community.

Abstract: Microbial consortia exert great influence over the physiology of humans, animals, plants, and ecosystems. However, difficulty in controlling their composition and population dynamics have limited their application in medicine, agriculture, biotechnology, and the environment. The approach disclosed herein provides an effective method to dynamically control population compositions in microbial consortia, which we demonstrate in the context of co-culture fermentations for chemical production. Co-culture fermentations can improve chemical production from complex biosynthetic pathways over monocultures by distributing enzymes across multiple strains, thereby reducing metabolic burden, overcoming endogenous regulatory mechanisms, or exploiting natural traits of different microbial species. However, stabilizing and optimizing microbial sub-populations for maximal chemical production remains a major obstacle in the field.

Abstract: The approach disclosed herein is a process for non-equilibrium chemical and materials processing using the combination of non-equilibrium plasma, non-equilibrium multi-functional catalysis, a precisely programed heating and quenching (PHQ), and supersonic reaction quenching to dynamically change the chemical equilibrium and increase the yield and selectivity of the products. An important feature of the disclosed approach is to realize an efficient and high selectivity synthesis method of chemicals and materials by using non-chemical equilibrium, non-equilibrium catalysts, and non-equilibrium of excited states via active control of molecule excitation by low temperature hybrid plasma, dynamics of chemical reactions by programed heating and supersonic quenching, and the design of non-equilibrium catalysts by thermal shocks and plasma coupling to enable distributed and electrified chemical synthesis of hydrogen, ammonia, valued carbon and other chemical products at atmospheric conditions.

Abstract: Disclosed is a technique for reducing CO2 to oxalate utilizing a copper-free, nickel-enhanced electrocatalyst (such as a nickel-enhanced (Cr2O3)3(Ga2O3) electrocatalyst) that can be used for producing, e.g., 1-butanol, in exceedingly high yields. Disclosed herein are various synthetic methodologies for introducing nickel into the electrocatalysts, and described is the characterization, and optimization of the Ni enhanced electrocatalysts for the reduction of CO2 to 1-butanol with a maximum faradaic efficiency ?max of 64%, at an overpotential of 900 mV (?1.48 V vs Ag/AgCl), and having an onset overpotential of 320 mV. The product selectivity is potential dependent with other C2+ products such as 3-hydroxybutanal, (?max 63%) at an overpotential of 890 mV (?1.4 V vs Ag/AgCl); acetic acid with ?max 18% at an overpotential of 390 mV (?1.0 V vs Ag/AgCl); and acetone with ?max 10% at an overpotential of 620 mV (?1.2 V).

Abstract: Disclosed is a portable medical device that can automatically sense the location of a vein and inject a needle to precisely pierce the vein without damaging surrounding tissue. The disclosed device does not require additional assistance for a person to use it on oneself. The disclosed device may optionally employ a basic arm cuff style, and can be used, inter alia, in hospital, military, home infusion, infusion treatment center, emergency response, school, or disaster relief settings.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for the controlled clustering of gene regulatory proteins at the specific target genomic loci. The technology enables formation of liquid-like droplets closely interfaced with genome organization. This technology can be utilized for perturbing endogenous nuclear structures as well as nucleating synthetic membrane-less assemblies. The technology can also be utilized for inducing or detecting mechanical stresses within the genome.

Abstract: Devices and methods for smartphone impostor detection using behavioral and environmental data are provided. Impostors are attackers who take control of an electronic device (e.g., a smartphone) and gain access to confidential and private information of a legitimate user. Embodiments described herein propose a defense-in-depth mechanism to detect impostors quickly with simple deep learning algorithms, which can achieve better detection accuracy than previous works. Embodiments then consider protecting the privacy of the behavioral and/or environmental data (e.g., collected by one or more sensors) of a user by not exposing it outside the protected device. A recurrent neural network (RNN)-based deep learning algorithm is proposed which uses only sensor data of the legitimate user to learn their normal behavior. Prediction error distribution (PED) is used to enhance the detection accuracy.

Abstract: Methods of inducing or controlling particle motion in suspensions and colloids are described. In one aspect, a method of inducing particle motion in a suspension comprises contacting the suspension with a gas phase to establish at least one interface between the gas phase and continuous phase of the suspension. One or more gases of the gas phase are transferred across the interface to provide a solute gradient in the continuous phase, the solute gradient inducing motion of the suspended particles.

Abstract: Various embodiments comprise systems, methods, architectures, mechanisms or apparatus for providing programmable or pre-programmed in-memory computing operations.

Abstract: Metasurfaces and systems including metasurfaces for imaging and methods of imaging are described. In one embodiment, a method for acquiring images by an imaging system comprising a metalens includes: illuminating the metalens; acquiring light passing through the metalens as a first image by an image sensor; and processing the first image into a second image that is a deconvolved version of the first image by a post-processing engine. The metalens includes a plurality of nanoposts carried by a substrate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for generating sound waves for at least two separate zones of a single space. The system includes, for each zone of said space: at least one array of high-frequency loudspeakers forming a directional sound wave; and at least one low-frequency loudspeaker. The system also comprises means for audio processing of the signals transmitted to the loudspeakers, which means control at least one loudspeaker to generate destructive sound waves in at least one zone of said space and to obtain distinct sound contents in said at least two distinct zones of said space. To do this, the audio-processing means control each low-frequency loudspeaker individually and each array of high-frequency loudspeaker mutually in order to generate the destructive sound waves.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a stellarator comprising two sets of coils, namely a set of encircling coils which encircle the plasma axis, and a set of shaping coils which do not encircle any other coil or the plasma. In some embodiments, the encircling coils include a structural element to maintain their shape under magnetic forces. In some embodiments, the shaping coils are mounted onto one or more structural elements which, together with the shaping coils, constitute a field shaping unit. Also disclosed is a controller which may modify the electrical current flowing in one or more subsets of the coils in order to achieve target plasma parameters. Also disclosed is a method of designing a set of shaping coils by discretizing a surface dipole or current potential distribution.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides compositions of matter comprising a polymer or peptide bound to an oxidized amino acid or an analog thereof. The present disclosure also provides packaging materials, consumer products, and cosmetic products comprising the compositions of matter disclosed herein.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of identifying an inhibitory activity of an exogeneous agent that disrupts binding of a target peptide to a biomolecule using phase separation as in cellulo read-out. Provided herein also are kits for the methods, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the agents screened by the methods, methods of preparing the pharmaceutical composition, and methods of treating a disease or condition in a subject in need thereof by administering the pharmaceutical composition.

Abstract: In one aspect, methods of preparing composite nanoparticle compositions are described herein. For example, in some embodiments, a method comprises providing a zein solution stream, an organic fluid stream including at least one additive and at least one buffer fluid stream. The zein solution stream, organic fluid stream and buffer fluid stream are delivered to a chamber for mixing at one or more rates sufficient to flash precipitate composite nanoparticles including the additive encapsulated by a shell comprising the zein.

Abstract: Discontinuity modeling techniques of computing functions of a program are described. In one example, a program has a computing function that includes a discontinuity. An input is received by the data modeling system that identifies an axis. A plurality of samples is then generated by the data modeling system along the axis based on an output of the program. The samples are then used as a basis by the data modeling system to generate a data model that models the discontinuity. The data model includes, in one example, one or more gradients and models the discontinuity using a 1D box kernel.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for experimentally optimizing information quality and engagement in crowd sourced evaluation systems. It allows estimating efficiencies of different strategies to provide the greatest opportunity for social learning. It can be used for continuous tuning of social feedback. Also disclosed is a system that allows experimentation with crowd sourced evaluations of virtual services. The experimental system supports large scale online recruitment of participants into web-browser 3D virtual world. The virtual world can be designed to approximate several types of real-world, distributed information systems. Social influences can be experimentally introduced into the feedback system in order to empirically optimize its utility.

Abstract: Described herein, are compositions and methods for preserving human milk, preventing rancidity of human milk, extending shelf life of human milk, and maintaining the nutritional properties of human milk. Specifically, the present disclosure provides, among other things, devices for storing preserved human milk and methods and compositions for preserving the same.