Abstract: The invention relates to cyanate ester resin blends containing resveratrol-based cyanate esters. At room temperature, the cyanate ester resin blend offers improved processability by remaining a liquid or forming a solid that melts at less than 70° C. The cyanate ester resin blend includes a resveratrol-based cyanate ester and a flexible cyanate ester having a configuration different than that of the resveratrol-based cyanate ester, where the resveratrol-based cyanate ester is no more than 80% of the total mass of the cyanate esters in the cyanate ester resin blend. A composite product can include the cyanate ester resin blend and a support material. When making the composite product, the support material is combined with the cyanate resin blend and cured at temperatures ranging from about 100° C. to about 300° C.

Abstract: A non-linear charge pump for phased lock loops. Furthermore, an auxiliary charge pump apparatus, comprising a positive switch electrically connected to a current source configured to supplement power to a charge pump, a negative switch electrically connected to a current sink configured to discharge power from the charge pump, a windowing comparator, further comprising an input signal received from a phase-locked loop, a first comparator configured to compare the input signal against a high voltage threshold, a second comparator configured to compare the input signal against a low voltage threshold, an AND logic gate configured to provide a window signal and an activation circuit electrically connected to the positive switch and negative switch. Additionally, a non-linear charge pump system and method for reacquiring frequency lock of a phase lock loop.

Abstract: Systems and methods of detecting a vortex made by a travelling object is disclosed. In some configurations, a graphic recognition algorithm and vortex similarity engine are used to determine whether a visual media file captured by a media collector contains a vortex. The vortex similarity engine may be configured to determine or identify certain properties about the travelling object based on the travelling object vortex. In some configurations, a computer may trigger an alert if a travelling object vortex is not expected to be in the visual media file.

Abstract: This disclosure concerns electrically conducting poly(pyrazoles). The concept of oligomerizing and polymerizing substituted aminopyrazole derivatives combined with a monomer activation procedure involving base-mediated conversion of the protonated pyrazole ring nitrogen to amine salt was developed. This disclosure concerns the specific chemistries needed for the synthesis of a pyrazole monomer used in the polymer synthesis. The procedure used for blending the novel polypyrazoles with other compounds needed for construction of solar cells for testing was developed. This disclosure concerns the concept of using these types of heteroatom-rich, electron-deficient oligomers or polymers as n-dopable or p-dopable electron acceptors in photovoltaic cells. This disclosure concerns synthesizing the starting monomer compounds and polypyrazoles.

Abstract: The invention relates to an efficient, high-throughput method of converting monoterpenes to high performance aviation fuel blendstocks. The method is a one pot, two-step process that includes a dehydration step followed by a hydrogenation step. Both steps can proceed without the use of solvents. Use of biosynthetically generated monoterpenes by this method produces sustainable aviation fuel blendstocks having applications that include use as a full-performance or an ultra-performance jet fuel blendstock.

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: Provided herein are methods and systems for high-resolution, cerebrospinal fluid-suppressed T2*-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of cortical lesions.

Abstract: A deformable array of semiconductor devices, and a method of manufacturing such a deformable array. The deformable array comprises a plurality of islands, where each island contains at least one semiconductor device, and the plurality of islands are arranged in an auxetic geometry.

Abstract: Reported herein are novel recombinant respiratory syncytial viruses (RSV) having an attenuated phenotype in which the native positions of the NS1 and/or NS2 genes in the RSV genome are shifted to a higher position, that is at positions that are more distal to the promoter. The changes in the gene positions may be present in combination with mutations at other loci to achieve desired levels of attenuation and immunogenicity. The recombinant RSV strains described here are suitable for use as live-attenuated RSV vaccines. Also provided are polynucleotide sequences capable of encoding the described viruses, as well as methods for producing and using the viruses.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions, vaccines and methods for inducing protective immunity against filovirus infection, particularly protective immunity against infection of one or more subtypes of Ebola viruses and Marburg virus.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of preparing an isolated population of human papillomavirus (HPV)-specific T cells comprise dividing an HPV-positive tumor sample into multiple fragments; separately culturing the multiple fragments; obtaining T cells from the cultured multiple fragments; testing the T cells for specific autologous HPV-positive tumor recognition; selecting the T cells that exhibit specific autologous HPV-positive tumor recognition; and expanding the number of selected T cells to produce a population of HPV-specific T cells for adoptive cell therapy. Related methods of treating or preventing cancer using the T cells are also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods of detecting a vortex made by a travelling object is disclosed. Techniques include positioning a media collector to capture a visual media file of the vortex. In some configurations, a graphic recognition algorithm and vortex similarity engine are used to determine whether a visual media file captured by a media collector contains a vortex. In some configurations, a computer may trigger an alert if a travelling object vortex is not expected to be in the visual media file.

Abstract: Provided herein are polypeptides that are truncated modified recombinant forms of ADAMTS13, nucleic acid molecules encoding the polypeptides, drug delivery compositions and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the polypeptides, and methods of using the polypeptides and compositions (e.g., in the treatment of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP)).

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems are disclosed for implementing a fiber optic reflectance standard (FORS) for testing and/or calibration of a test instrument (TI), which provides a traceable means to calibrate the making optical return loss measurements (ORLM). The apparatus for implementing the FORS may include an optical splitter, first and second optical inputs coupled to the optical splitter, and an optical fiber having first and second ends, and coupled to the optical splitter at the first end of the optical fiber. Furthermore, the apparatus includes an attenuator (e.g., a mechanical attenuator) configured to contain a portion of the optical fiber between the first and second ends and selectively attenuate optical signal gain of the optical fiber. The testing and/or calibration results in an uncertainty that is at least four times better than a typical test instrument.

Abstract: A method of determining geo-reference data for a portion of a measurement area includes providing a monitoring assembly comprising a ground station, providing an imaging assembly comprising an imaging device with a lens operably coupled to an aerial device, hovering the aerial device over a measurement area, capturing at least one image of the measurement area within the imaging device, transmitting the at least one image to the ground station using a data transmitting assembly, and scaling the at least one image to determine the geo-reference data for the portion of the measurement area by calculating a size of a field-of-view (FOV) of the lens based on a distance between the imaging device and the measurement area.

Abstract: An in vitro release test (IVRT) method and system is provided for drug release testing. The IVRT method, referred to herein as adaptive perfusion, employ tangential-flow filtration (TFF), where released drug products that are smaller than a molecular weight cutoff (MWCO) of a membrane filter pass therethrough into the permeate. Unreleased drug products are retained by the pores of the filter and are recirculated to a retentate reservoir. Fresh media is provided to the retentate in order to maintain a constant total volume for the sample as well as to maintain sink conditions for the drug release. Drug concentration in the retentate and permeate are evaluated by in situ monitoring with one or more sensors and/or by periodic removal of aliquots from the respective reservoirs. In some embodiments, the membrane filter can be conditioned prior to use in order to improve the accuracy, precision, or both of the subsequent testing.

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and methods for sensing and measurement of magnetic fields that are insensitive to temperature, and respond linearly to the magnitude of the magnetic field. In particular, the apparatus and methods include the use of a resistance network including at least one fluorinated graphene foam (FGF) magnetoresistive device. Measurement of a voltage drop across at least one FGF magnetoresistive device is correlated to either merely the presence of a magnetic field or for measurement of at least a scalar magnitude value of the magnetic field. The use of FGF affords both temperature-insensitivity and linear magnetic field responsivity.

Abstract: Described herein is the preparation of solid acid fuel cell (SAFC) electrode materials suitable for intermediate temperature (200° C.-300° C.) oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalysis via anaerobic, in vacuo pyrolysis of metal-organic coordination polymer precursor materials with divalent metals (e.g. Pt or Pd) as nodes to form small, catalytically active nanoparticles inside a porous, electrically conductive carbonized framework.

Abstract: Deposition of Pt nanoparticles on UiO metal organic frameworks via solvothermal reduction is achieved by reducing Pt acetylacetonate (Pt(acac)2) in a UiO-66 and N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) mixture at, for example, 130° C. for 18 hrs. Modification of reaction temperature and time can control the size of the Pt nanoparticles.

Abstract: Provided herein are shaped-charges for focusing a filler, such as a fluid mass, and related methods of using the shaped-charges for disruption of an explosive target. The shaped-charge comprises an attenuating body positioned and configured to attenuate rarefaction waves to increase filler, including a fluid mass, explosively driven out of the container toward a target while also maintaining and enhancing fluid jet integrity. To further control impact and impulse forces on a target, additional layers may be used, including a foam layer and a jet-clipping layer positioned between the shaped-charge and the target surface. Also provided are propellant driven liquid disrupters having special attenuating bodies to improve liquid jet column characteristics.