Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to a near-infrared photothermally activated CRISPR/CAS9 genome editing machine.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to polypeptides, which may be used of the treatment of neurological diseases or disorders.

Abstract: A high efficiency plasma activation system for large scale treatment of liquid including a liquid tank; a pump having an inlet fluidly connected to an outlet of the liquid tank; a self-suction mechanism having a liquid inlet fluidly connected to an outlet of the pump, an air inlet, and an outlet fluidly connected to an inlet of the liquid tank; and a plasma generator having a plasma discharge nozzle positioned adjacent to the air inlet of the self-suction mechanism and configured to discharge gas phase plasma into the air inlet of the self-suction mechanism and introduce micro/nano bubbles (MNBs) into a flow of liquid to be treated to where the MNBs collapse to agitate and impregnate the liquid with a gas, for highly efficient plasma activation of liquid on a large scale as a green and sustainable technology for disinfection in the food industry and agriculture.

Abstract: A system for delivering fertilizer to the roots of a plant includes coated fertilizer particles. The coating can include a cellulose derivative, optionally a fatty acid, and a component, such as an aptamer, which binds specifically to a material, such as serine, which is released by the roots of the plant when the plant is actively taking up nutrients from the soil. The permeability of the coating increases when the coated particles are exposed to the material released by the roots of the plant. Thus, nutrient release from the coated fertilizer particles is synchronized with uptake of the nutrients by the plant during active growth. Advantages of the system may include one or more of improved nitrogen use efficiency by the plant, improved crop productivity, and/or reduced leaching of fertilizer from the soil.

Abstract: A regional lung deposition system including a throat simulation device, an electrostatic neutralizer, and a first filter positioned within a first filter housing. The electrostatic neutralizer is positioned downstream of an in fluid communication with the throat simulation device. The filter housing is positioned downstream of and in fluid communication with the electrostatic neutralizer. The first filter that is positioned within the filter housing is downstream of the throat simulation device and the electrostatic neutralizer. The regional lung deposition system mimics tracheobronchial (TB) deposition of pharmaceutical aerosols emitted by commercially available dry powder inhalers (DPIs) to provide an in vitro method to rapidly evaluate regional lung doses delivered by pharmaceutical inhalers directly using variable inhalation profiles.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an immunogenic composition comprising: a) i) a hepatitis C virus (HCV) heterodimeric polypeptide that includes HCV E1 and E2 polypeptides; ii) an HCV E1 polypeptide; or iii) an HCV E2 polypeptide; b) a polypeptide (also referred to herein as a “T-cell epitope polypeptide” or an “HCV T-cell epitope polypeptide”) comprising T-cell epitopes (e.g., CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell epitopes that are conserved among some HCV genotypes and that are presented through one or multiple HLA alleles common within the human population) present in an HCV protein other than E1 and E2; and c) a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. The present disclosure provides a method of inducing an immune response, in an individual, to an HCV polypeptide.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides immunogenic compositions comprising: a) hepatitis C virus (HCV) E1E2 heterodimers, HCV E2, or HCV E1; and b) an adjuvant, where the adjuvant is a cyclic dinucleotide or an archaeosome. The present disclosure provides methods of inducing an immune response in an individual to HCV, the methods comprising administering to an individual an effective amount of an immunogenic composition of the present disclosure.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides heterodimeric polypeptides comprising: 1) a variant hepatitis C virus (HCV) E2 polypeptide and an HCV E1 polypeptide; 2) a variant HCV E1 polypeptide and an HCV E2 polypeptide; or 3) a variant HCV E1 polypeptide and a variant HCV E2 polypeptide, where the variant HCV E2 polypeptide and/or the HCV E1 polypeptide comprises one or more T cell epitopes, present in an HCV polypeptide other than an HCV E1 polypeptide or an HCV E2 polypeptide. The present disclosure provides nucleic acids encoding a polyprotein that includes E1 and variant E2, E2 and variant E1, or variant E2 and variant E1. The present disclosure provides a method of producing an E1/E2 heterodimer of the present disclosure. The present disclosure provides a method of inducing an immune response in an individual. The present disclosure provides variant E2 polypeptides and variant E1 polypeptides; and nucleic acids encoding same.

Abstract: There is provided a molecule comprising a chain of seven or more contiguous units of 4,6-dideoxy-4-acylamido-?-pyranose each pair of units joined by a C1-C2 or a C1-C3 link, the chain having a terminal end and a reducing end, wherein the pyranose ring in the unit of the chain most distal from the reducing end is linked to a cap structure. The cap structure is not a 4,6-dideoxy-4-acylamido-?-pyranose. There are also provided vaccine compositions comprising the molecule and methods of vaccinating an animal against infection by a Brucella organism, including methods of distinguishing between a vaccinated and an infected animal. There are further provided novel methods of detecting the presence in a sample of an anti-Brucella antibody.

Abstract: A quantum random number generator (QRNG) that includes at least one potential well and an electron detector outputting unique signals for quantized electron occupations as a source of random numbers. The at least one potential well including at least one exactingly placed dangling bond (DB) that is biased via a control wire. The DB extends from a silicon atom or from a germanium atom. Additionally, a method of operating the quantum random number generator includes measuring the unique signals as low/high current values or times between output transitions to assign maximal and minimal values leading to a constant stream of the source of random numbers.

Abstract: A waveguide assembly integrated with a semiconductor wafer is provided. The waveguide assembly includes a waveguide channel defined by internal walls of the wafer lined with a metallic layer, and having at least one port for transmission of the RF signal into or out of the waveguide channel. The waveguide assembly also includes a semiconductor obstacle member disposed in the waveguide channel. The waveguide assembly may be fabricated using etching and deposition processes for semiconductor devices. In use, selectively varying either one or both of frequency or power level of electromagnetic radiation applied to the obstacle member varies electrical conductance of the obstacle member, and thereby varies the electrical impedance of the obstacle member to transmission of the RF signal through the waveguide channel. The waveguide assembly may be used for switching, attenuating, routing, filtering, and transforming the RF signal.

Abstract: An atomic orbital based memory storage is provided that includes a plurality of surface atoms forming dangling bonds (DBs) and a subset of the plurality of surface atoms passivated with spatial control to form covalent bonds with hydrogen, deuterium, or a combination thereof. The atomic orbital based data storage that can be rewritten and corrected as needed. The resulting data storage is also archival and capable of high data densities than any known storage as the data is retained in a binary storage or a given orbital being passivated or a dangling bond (DB). A method of forming and reading the atomic orbital data storage is also provided. The method including selectively removing covalent bonds to form dangling bonds (DBs) extending from a surface atom by hydrogen lithography and imaging the covalent bonds spatially to read the atomic orbital data storage.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides compounds that are amylin receptor antagonist compounds, compositions that include the subject compounds, methods for preparing and using the amylin receptor antagonists, and compositions containing the amylin receptor antagonists for treating, preventing, or ameliorating Alzheimer's disease. Aspects of the present disclosure include a method of inhibiting activity of an amylin receptor by administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of an amylin receptor antagonist.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a therapeutic antisense oligonucleotide which binds to exon 51 of the human dystrophin pre-mRNA to induce exon skipping, and conjugates and compositions thereof for the treatment of DMD.

Abstract: The development of stretchable, mechanically and electrically robust interconnects by printing an elastic, silver-based composite ink onto stretchable fabric. Such interconnects can have conductivity of 3000-4000 S/cm and are durable under cyclic stretching. In serpentine shape, the fabric-based conductor is enhanced in electrical durability. Resistance increases only ˜5 times when cyclically stretched over a thousand times from zero to 30% strain at a rate of 4% strain per second due to the ink permeating the textile structure. The textile fibers are ‘wetted’ with composite ink to form a conductive, stretchable cladding of the silver particles. The e-textile can realize a fully printed, double-sided electronic system of sensor-textile-interconnect integration. The double-sided e-textile can be used for a surface electromyography (sEMG) system to monitor muscles activities, an electroencephalography (EEG) system to record brain waves, and the like.

Abstract: Beta-hydroxybutyric acid-based radiopharmaceuticals, pharmaceutical compositions comprising same, methods for preparing same, and methods of using same for diagnostic imaging and non-imaging tracer studies are provided.

Abstract: A silica monolith nested in a polymer sponge may be formed by applying a hydrolyzed mixture of siloxanes to a melamine-formaldehyde sponge, and may be used in methods of solid phase extraction.

Abstract: Compositions and methods of preparing sorbent compositions (SCs) and protonated sorbent compositions (PSCs) for use in concentrating lithium from native brines are described. In particular, SCs of the general formula Li1.3-1.6Mn1.6-1.7O4, methods of preparing the SCs and PSCs that have improved properties for lithium extraction and concentration over single and multiple cycles are described.

Abstract: Curing agents for epoxy monomers are prepared from the partial esterification of citric acid with certain alkyl or alkenyl alcohols. These curing agents, which contain mixtures of unreacted citric acid and monoalkyl or monoalkenyl citrate, and which are substantially free of trialkyl or trialkenyl citrate, are used without co-solvents for preparing biobased resins from plant oil-derived epoxides. The resulting biobased resins can in turn be used to prepare thermo set materials and biocomposites.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of preventing or treating atherosclerosis or a symptom thereof comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a specific inhibitor of neuraminidase 1 (neu1); neuraminidase 3 (neu3); or a bispecific inhibitor of neu1 or neu3 of formula I; (I) and a compound of formula I.