Abstract: A method for producing metabolites that are heavy alcohols, and particularly branched-chain alcohols is provided, involving contacting a suitable substrate with recombinant microorganisms. The microorganisms contain at least one deletion, disruptions, or mutations from the GLN gene family, VPS gene family, GNP gene family, AVT gene family, GCN gene family, or YDR391C, and combinations thereof, and overproduce the heavy alcohol as compared to a wild-type yeast strain.

Abstract: Ultra-lightweight aerogels and methods for fabricating such aerogels from ammonia borane and a support structure, where the support structure is either two-dimensional nanostructures, or hydrocarbon polymer colloids. The components are mixed, then annealed. The properties of the disclosed aerogels can be tuned by controlling the ratio between the support structure and the ammonia borane, or by infiltrating the aerogels with additives.

Abstract: Described herein are devices and methods for high throughput purification of particles. In some cases, methods and devices described herein can be used to remove erythrocytes and purify leukocytes and raise the quality of umbilical cord blood and other transplant grafts, thereby significantly improving patient outcomes.

Abstract: A precipitation route to form nanoparticles with a hydrophilic core containing water soluble materials and a hydrophobic shell is described. The process requires a stabilizing polymer composed of more polar and more non-polar regions. These regions can be arranged as a linear block copolymer, or as a comb polymer with a linear or branched polar backbone and non-polar side chains or substituents. Nucleic acids, including DNA and RNA, as well as proteins, peptides, and polysaccharides or combinations can be encapsulated in the nanoparticle core. The encapsulation of nucleic acids can require partially or fully neutralizing the acid with a base to enhance the solubility of the nucleic acid in the process solvent stream. The core or the shell of the resulting nanoparticles can be crosslinked. The nanoparticles may be coated with additional polymer to bring them into water, or processed into microparticles or larger monoliths.

Abstract: An anomalous battery operating detection device, which includes a sensing unit capable of measuring mechanical properties of a battery, coupled to a processor for determining whether anomalous behavior has been detected. These devices measure a mechanical property, identifying a difference in the property, and based on that difference, making a determination of anomalous behavior. Non-mechanical properties may also be utilized when making the determination. Responsive actions can be taken once the anomalous behavior is detected. The battery can be intercalated, and may be a lithium-ion battery cell. Alternatively, the sensing unit may measure strain. In addition, more than one sensing unit may be utilized, or a separate light source may be introduced. The system may be configured to allow the processor to determine the potential for failure before the battery fails.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electromagnetic-circuit co-design approach for massively reconfigurable, multifunctional, and high-speed programmable metasurfaces with integrated chip tiling. The ability to manipulate the incident electromagnetic fields in a dynamically programmable manner and at high speeds using integrated chip tiling approach is also disclosed. The scalable architecture uses electromagnetic-circuit co-design of metasurfaces where each individual subwavelength meta-element is uniquely addressable and programmable. The disclosed device comprises a large array of such meta-elements. The design relies on integrated high frequency switches designed in conjugation with meta-element for massive reconfigurability of incident amplitude and phase. The disclosed chip is multi-functional and can perform beamforming, high speed spatial light modulation, dynamic holographic projections, and wavefront manipulation.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and methods by which the determination of pattern recognition may be facilitated. More specifically, the present invention is a system and methods by which a plurality of computations may be conducted simultaneously to expedite the efficient determination of pattern recognition.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for calculating genetic score based on genotypic information that predicts plasticity in a phenotype. More particularly, disclosed is an algorithm to calculate a particular type of genetic score based on basic genotypic information that is provided by commercially available technologies ranging from “SNP-chips” to whole genome sequencing. Polygenic scores— attempts to summarize the genetic propensity for or risk of a given phenotype (i.e., disease or trait)—have been around for more than a decade. They aim to predict the level of a trait—i.e., how tall or short someone may be or what their blood pressure or BMI might be. The Variation Polygenic Score (“vPGS”) disclosed herein is different. Its purpose is not to predict whether someone who scores higher or lower on the vPGS will be, for instance, heavier or lighter or have a higher or lower IQ. Rather, it is formulated to predict variation. The disclosed vPGS does not predict the mean level but rather the dispersion around that mean.

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: A method and compositions of matter for treating or preventing an auto-immune disorder or immune response in a patient, that includes providing a therapeutic dose to the patient of a substituted indole compound having at least one substitution, wherein the substituted indole compound has only one thiol group, and wherein the ring the thiol group is attached to only contains one N or O atom.

Abstract: Disclosed are a system and method for active stabilization of parasitic fringes in optical spectrometers, wherein the spectrometer obtains the transmission spectrum, and a signal processor extracts the etalon drift from the spectral signatures of parasitic fringes. The disclosed approach improves spectrometer accuracy, minimizes drift, and increases time between calibrations.

Abstract: Disclosed are a procedure and system for live monitoring of staining quality and heavy metal diffusion during electron microscopy preparation protocols for biological samples. The disclosed approach employs x-rays via, e.g., a commercially available micro-CT device, to observe and measure the diffusion and distribution of the heavy metals during conventional biological sample staining procedures for electron microscopy. This allows one to observe and check the quality and homogeneity of the staining without damaging or destroying the sample.

Abstract: Described herein are chimeric polypeptides that include one or more Rubisco-binding motifs (RBMs) and a heterologous polypeptide. Additional aspects of the present disclosure provide genetically altered plants having a chimeric polypeptide including one or more Rubisco-binding motifs (RBMs) and a heterologous polypeptide. Further aspects of the present disclosure relate to genetically altered plants having a stabilized polypeptide including two or more RBMs and one or both of an algal Rubisco-binding membrane protein (RBMP) and a Rubisco small subunit (SSU) protein. Other aspects of the present disclosure relate to methods of making such chimeric polypeptides and plants, as well as cultivating these genetically altered plants.

Abstract: Methods for the hydroalkenylation of conjugated, 1,3-dienes using a diimine catalyst. The method comprises mixing a diene having at least five carbon atoms and an iron diimine complex at a temperature of about ?60° C. to about 23° C. to provide a catalyst solution; and introducing one or more alpha olefins at a pressure of at least 300 psig to obtain a product comprising the substituted diene monomer.

Abstract: Formulations including dihydromyricetin (DHM) and a fatty acid salt or a fatty acid.

Abstract: According to various embodiments, a machine-learning based system for simulating tropical cyclones (TCs) and assessing TC risk is disclosed. The system includes a hierarchical Poisson genesis module configured to develop a Poisson regression and TC genesis simulation on a plurality of clustering grids. The system further includes an analog-wind track module configured to determine movement of a TC by both analog predictors formed by historical track patterns and current in situ wind. The system additionally includes a Markov intensity module configured to determine intensity change of the TC by considering three hidden discrete states of storm intensity change and associating each state with a probability distribution of intensity change.

Abstract: According to various embodiments, a machine-learning based system for diabetes analysis is disclosed. The system includes one or more processors configured to interact with a plurality of wearable medical sensors (WMSs). The processors are configured to receive physiological data from the WMSs and demographic data from a user interface. The processors are further configured to train at least one neural network based on a grow-and-prune paradigm to generate at least one diabetes inference model. The neural network grows at least one of connections and neurons based on gradient information and prunes away at least one of connections and neurons based on magnitude information. The processors are also configured to output a diabetes-based decision by inputting the received physiological data and demographic data into the generated diabetes inference model.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an immune cell genetically modified to produce two antigentriggered polypeptides, each recognizing a different cell surface antigen. The present disclosure provides a system two antigen-triggered polypeptides, each recognizing a different cell surface antigen. The present disclosure provides a method of killing a target cancer cell, using a genetically modified immune cell or a system of the present disclosure. The present disclosure provides a computational method to identify target antigen pairs on a cancer cell.

Abstract: According to various embodiments, a sensing device for measuring oxygen concentration cycles in breath is disclosed. The sensing device includes a laser configured to emit light at an A-band of oxygen, a lens configured to collimate the light, and a multi-pass cell configured to contain a replaceable sample cell. The light passes through the multi-pass cell and is attenuated by oxygen in the sample cell. The sensing device further includes a photodetector configurated to convert the attenuated light into an electrical signal, and a lock-in amplifier or an equivalent processing circuit configured to determine oxygen concentration from the electrical signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to granular composite density enhancement, and related methods and compositions. The application where the 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.