Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and devices for the inactivation of pathogens (e.g., bacteria, viruses, etc.) in ex vivo stored blood products, such as plasma and/or platelets, by means of directing visible light radiation from an illuminating device into blood product storage containers in order to achieve effective pathogen inactivation without the presence of an added photosensitising agent in the blood product. An exemplary apparatus includes a control unit that operates a light source that emits light in the wavelength region of about 380-500 nm which is directed onto blood product storage bags at sufficient intensity to penetrate the bag material and the opaque blood product therein in order to inactivate pathogens in the blood product but at dose levels that cause no significant detrimental effects on the blood product.

Abstract: Provided are methods and associated apparatus for determining the integrity of a hermetically sealed electronic component. The method and associated apparatus includes the use of an evacuation chamber configured to placing the hermetically sealed electronic component within. The evacuation chamber is then evacuated of atmosphere to then determine an atmospheric pressure evacuation relationship or curve occurring inside the chamber that is, in turn, used to determine the integrity of the hermetically sealed electronic component. Further aspects may include evacuating the chamber through a mass spectrometer coupled to the evacuation chamber for chemical analysis of at least one of the evacuated atmosphere for making further determinations of the integrity of the hermetically sealed electronic component.

Abstract: Systems and methods for secure distribution of biometric matching processing are provided. Certain configurations include homomorphic encrypting of captured biometric information. In some configurations, the biometric information is classified without decryption between a first identity class and a second identity class. The biometric information may be formed as a feature vector. A homomorphic encrypted feature vector may be formed by homomorphic encrypting of the biometric information.

Abstract: A method to enhance security screening includes generating an augmented reality (AR) interface incorporating scan results from scanning a target in a security scanner. The method displays, to a user of an AR interface, the AR interface mapped to the target and determines guidance including an action relevant to addressing the scan results. The method displays, to the user via the AR interface, the guidance including the action for the user to carry out and monitors user actions. The method displays, to the user via the AR interface, confirmation that the user has carried out the action.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions for attracting fire ants wherein the compositions contain at least one fire ant food source, and at least one of 10-oxo-dodecanoic acid, 11-oxo-dodecanoic acid, or a mixture thereof, and optionally a carrier. Disclosed are also methods for attracting fire ants, the methods involving treating an object or area with a fire ant-attracting effective amount of a composition of the invention.

Abstract: A flow control device for constraining fluid flow between axial flow turbomachines in series has a flow constrainer which constrains the fluid flow downstream of the first turbomachine in the series to the blades region of the second turbomachine, preventing fluid flow from impacting the hub or nosecone of the second turbomachine and providing more uniform fluid flow to the second turbomachine. The flow control device includes connective elements for positioning between the downstream region of the first turbomachine and the upstream region of the second turbomachine. The device may be equipped with stator vanes having a variety of optional configurations to further improve the uniformity of the fluid flow load on the second turbomachine.

Abstract: Calcium silicate hydrate nanoparticles are combined with ammonia control materials (e.g. alum, aluminum chloride, ferric chloride, ferric sulfate, and/or sodium bisulfate) to create a phosphorus-binding composition. In the preferred embodiment, the composition is applied to poultry litter, poultry bedding or other non-aqueous substrates that are at least partially comprised of animal manure. The composition binds with phosphorus to at least reduce the amount of phosphorus in runoff water or in leachate from fields fertilized with treated manure. The combining of the calcium silicate hydrate nanoparticles with the ammonia control products has a surprising and unexpected result. The calcium silicate hydrate-ammonia control material mix reduces soluble phosphorus more than either component of the mix alone.

Abstract: Herein is disclosed synthetic oligonucleotides comprising 2?F-ANA nucleosides that can be utilized to control plant-chewing and phloem-feeding insects, bacteria present in such insects, and bacteria present in plants. The novel approaches and materials provided herein allow for reduction of pesticide and antibiotic use without the need to create genetically modified plants.

Abstract: A portable tracer fluid injection system. The system has a vapor cloud generator which vaporizes a vapor cloud generating liquid. The vapor cloud generator is uses a sub-ohm resistive heater to vaporize small volumes of the vapor cloud generating liquid, allowing for a relatively small tracer fluid injection system. This system has the benefit of being able to target specific regions of a test object within a wind tunnel and being usable for different positions within the test section of a wind tunnel.

Abstract: A metal structure includes an alloy material containing structural deformation twins embedded during a manufacturing process of the alloy material along defined directions, a defined deformation sequence, and defined strain levels. The embedded structural deformation twins mitigate failure and fracture in the alloy material.

Abstract: A single body multi-mode mechanical resonator includes two or more spring-mass devices, one or more anchor springs, a phase 1 parallel plate electrode and a phase 2 parallel plate electrode, a plurality of interdigitated shaped combs, a plurality of interdigitated drive combs, and a plurality of interdigitated sense combs. The spring-mass devices further include two or more lumped masses and one or more anchor springs. The coupling springs couple the motion of the two or more lumped masses. The parallel plate electrodes apply forces to the in-phase mode that yield equal in magnitude but opposite in sign frequency shifts of the anti-phase mode. The shaped combs compensate for a frequency drift of the anti-phase mode and cancels first-order displacement effects. The drive combs are aligned to the anti-phase mode, with a frequency selective excitation. The sense combs are aligned to the anti-phase mode and capable of cancelling common-mode noise effects.

Abstract: Embodiments of a recombinant human Parainfluenza Virus (hPIV) F ectodomain trimer stabilized in a prefusion conformation are provided. Also disclosed are nucleic acids encoding the hPIV F ectodomain trimer and methods of producing the hPIV F ectodomain trimer. Methods for inducing an immune response in a subject are also disclosed. In some embodiments, the method can be a method for treating or inhibiting a hPIV infection in a subject by administering a effective amount of the recombinant hPIV F ectodomain trimer to the subject.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of treating a subject with cancer using a therapeutically effective amount of one or more one or more tumor-specific antibody-IR700 molecules. The methods can further include administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of (a) one or more CTLA4 antibody-IR700 molecules, one or more PD-L1 antibody-IR700 molecules, or combinations thereof, (b) one or more reducing agents, (c) one or more immunoactivators, or combinations of a, b, and c, for example, either simultaneously or substantially simultaneously with the tumor-specific antibody-IR700 molecules, or sequentially (for example, within about 0 to 24 hours). The method also includes irradiating the subject or cancer cells in the subject (for example, a tumor or cancer cells in the blood) at a wavelength of 660 to 740 nm at a dose of at least 1 J/cm2. The use of one or more reducing agents can reduce edema resulting from treatment.

Abstract: The inventive subject matter includes an antimicrobial peptide vectored composition made of a bacterial protein expression vehicle expressing one or more recombinant antimicrobial peptide effector molecules. More specifically these novel recombinant antimicrobial peptide effector molecules exhibit preferential antimicrobial activity. In some embodiments, the antimicrobial activity is facilitated via interaction with the lipid bilayer of the parasitic cell form, leading to membrane pore formation and resulting in cell lysis. The utility of the current inventive subject matter has demonstrated a reduced viability of Eimeira acervulina sporozoites was shown in vitro using a sporozoite killing assay.

Abstract: Thermoelectric (TE) nanocomposite material that includes at least one component consisting of nanocrystals. A TE nanocomposite material in accordance with the present invention can include, but is not limited to, multiple nanocrystalline structures, nanocrystal networks or partial networks, or multi-component materials, with some components forming connected interpenetrating networks including nanocrystalline networks. The TE nanocomposite material can be in the form of a bulk solid having semiconductor nanocrystallites that form an electrically conductive network within the material.

Abstract: A quantum EIT-based optical switch includes a first waveguide, linear or nonlinear, a separate nonlinear waveguide evanescently coupled to the first waveguide, and a pump coupled to the nonlinear waveguide. A quantum STIRAP-based optical transduction device, which includes an auxiliary, intermediate spectral state for the quantum signal that aids efficient transduction of the quantum signal from the input spectral state to the output spectral state in a single device.

Abstract: Embodiments of a novel platform for delivering a peptide antigen to a subject to induce an immune response to the peptide antigen are provided. For example, nanoparticle polyplexes are provided that comprise a polymer linked to a peptide conjugate by an electrostatic interaction. The conjugate comprises a peptide antigen linked to a peptide tag through an optional linker. An adjuvant may be included in the nanoparticle polyplex, linked to either the polymer or the conjugate, or admixed with the nanoparticles. The nanoparticle polyplex can be administered to a subject to induce an immune response to the peptide antigen.

Abstract: Novel, nanoparticle-based vaccines are provided that elicit an immune response to a broad range of infectious agents, such as influenza viruses. The nanoparticles comprise a heterogeneous population of fusion proteins, each comprising a monomeric subunit of a self-assembly protein, such as ferritin, joined to one or more immunogenic portions of a protein from an infectious agent, such as influenza virus. The fusion proteins self-assemble to form nanoparticles that display a heterogeneous population of immunogenic portions on their surface. When administered to an individual, such nanoparticles elicit an immune response to different strains, types, subtypes and species with in the same taxonomic family. Thus, such nanoparticles can be used to vaccinate an individual against infection by different Types, subtypes and/or strains of infectious agents.

Abstract: Disclosed are recombinant insect ferritin nanoparticles that can be used to display two different trimeric antigens at an equal ratio. Also disclosed are nucleic acids encoding the recombinant insect ferritin nanoparticles and methods of producing the recombinant insect ferritin nanoparticles. Methods for eliciting an immune response in a subject are also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is an isolated or purified T cell receptor (TCR) having antigenic specificity for mutated human p53. Related polypeptides and proteins, as well as related nucleic acids, recombinant expression vectors, host cells, populations of cells, and pharmaceutical compositions are also provided. Also disclosed are methods of detecting the presence of cancer in a mammal and methods of treating or preventing cancer in a mammal.