Abstract: A reconfigurable phase change device with methods for operating and forming the same are disclosed. An example device can comprise a reconfigurable layer comprising a phase change material, and a set of contacts connected with the reconfigurable layer. The set of contacts can comprise at least a first contact, a second contact, and a third contact. The device can comprise at least one control element electrically coupled with one or more of the set of contacts. The at least one control element can be configured to supply a first control signal to one or more of the set of contacts. The first control signal can be configured to modify a first portion of the reconfigurable layer thereby isolating the first contact from the second contact and the third contact.

Abstract: A biphasic scaffold and devices and methods for making the scaffold are disclosed. An example scaffold may include (a) a first plurality of randomly-oriented nanofibers defining a first tab region, (b) a second plurality of randomly-oriented nanofibers defining a second tab region, and (c) a plurality of aligned nanofibers coupled to and extending between the first tab region and the second tab region, where the plurality of aligned nanofibers are suspended between the first tab region and the second tab region.

Abstract: The disclosure provides compounds of the formula I and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The variables, e.g. R1, R2, R3, R4, A, B, J, V, W, M, J and Ar are defined herein. The disclosure also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising a compound or salt of formula I and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, methods of inhibiting dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) in vitro or in vivo with a compound or salt of formula I, and methods of treating a bacterial infections, fungal infections, and protozoal infections with a compound or salt of formula I. A compound or salt of formula I can be the first and only active ingredient used in a pharmaceutical composition or method of this disclosure or may be combined with one or more additional active ingredients that are not compounds or salts of formula I.

Abstract: A bone-repair composite includes a core and a sheath. The core is a first primary unit including a combination of a first set of yarns coated with a calcium phosphate mineral layer. The first set of yarns being made from a first group of one or more polymers. The sheath is a second primary unit a combination of a second set of yarns or one or more polymer coatings. The second set of yarns being made from a second group of one or more polymers, wherein the composite is made by covering the core with the sheath, and the composite is compression molded to allow the sheath to bond to the core. The bone-repair composite has a bending modulus comparable to that of a mammalian bone, such that the ratio of the core to the sheath is provided to maximize the mechanical strength of the bone-repair composite to mimic the mammalian bone.

Abstract: Methods and systems of optimizing efficiency of a motor drive or generator are provided. The methods include measuring data corresponding to input power and output power of a motor drive or generator at a control parameter and different load values. The methods include generating a three-dimensional surface model based on the measured data. The three-dimensional surface model can estimate an efficiency of the motor drive or generator at the control parameter and at unmeasured load values. The methods can include determining optimal efficiency of the motor drive or generator at the different load values and the unmeasured load values based on the three-dimensional surface model.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides improved viscosity measuring assemblies, and related methods of use. More particularly, the present disclosure provides advantageous measuring assemblies configured to measure the viscosity of samples/fluids (e.g., opaque or transparent liquids) using microchannels. The present disclosure provides for a viscosity measuring assembly (e.g., hand-held electronic measuring assembly) that is configured to measure the viscosity of samples/fluids (e.g., opaque or transparent Newtonian and non-Newtonian liquids, including blood, etc.), in a short period of time (e.g., within a couple of minutes) utilizing only about a droplet of fluid. The viscosity measuring assembly can include a substrate having a microchannel, a light source (e.g., a collimated low coherence light source), and a sensor (e.g., photodiode).

Abstract: The present disclosure provides advantageous composite films/coatings, and improved methods for fabricating such composite films/coatings. More particularly, the present disclosure provides improved methods for fabricating composite films by trapping at least a portion of a layered material (e.g., hexagonal boron nitride sheets/layers) at an interface of a phase separated system and then introducing the layered material to a polymer film. The present disclosure provides for the use of boron nitride layers to increase the properties (e.g., dielectric constant and breakdown voltage) of polymer films. The exemplary films can be produced by an advantageous climbing technique. Exemplary boron nitride films are composed of overlapping boron nitride sheets with a total thickness of about one nanometer, with the film then transferred onto a polymer film, thereby resulting in significant increases in both dielectric and breakdown properties of the polymer film.

Abstract: Provided are thin film composite membrane structures comprising: a selective membrane layer for ion rejection attached to a support layer, the support layer comprising a multi-zone microfiltration membrane comprising: a porous support material; and at least two microfiltration zones, where a first zone comprises a first membrane and a second zone that is attached to the first zone and that coats at least a portion of the porous support material. Thin film composite membrane structures may be provided in reverse osmosis systems or nanofiltration systems. Also, thin film composite membrane structures may be provided in direct osmotic concentration systems, forward osmosis systems, or pressure retarded osmosis systems.

Abstract: A soil-emulating device and a system for evaluation of soil-related properties are provided. The soil-emulating apparatus includes one or more soil micromodels comprising packed emulated soil particles. The packed soil particles comprise a particle size distribution, and a soil structure of a desired soil type. The soil micromodel is cast from a two-dimensional representation of a region to provide visualization of air infiltration into pores of the micromodel. The soil micromodel is located within an environmental control chamber to control humidity and, optionally, the soil micromodel is saturated with a bacteria strain. Images are captured of the soil micromodel over time.

Abstract: A hierarchical fault detection and isolation system, method, and/or computer program product that facilitates fault detection and isolation in a complex networked system while reducing the computational complexity and false alarms is provided. The system, method, and/or computer program product utilizes a system level isolation and detection algorithm and a diagnostic tree to systematically isolate faulty sub-systems, components, etc. of the complex networked system.

Abstract: A polymer having a contact angle with water that is greater than or equal to 90° and a contact angle with 1,3-propane diol that is less than 90°. A pervaporation membrane comprising the polymer and a process for purifying a fermentation broth using a pervaporation membrane comprising the polymer is also described.

Abstract: A reconfigurable phase change device with methods for operating and forming the same are disclosed. An example device can comprise a reconfigurable layer comprising a phase change material, and a set of contacts connected with the reconfigurable layer. The set of contacts can comprise at least a first contact, a second contact, and a third contact. The device can comprise at least one control element electrically coupled with one or more of the set of contacts. The at least one control element can be configured to supply a first control signal to one or more of the set of contacts. The first control signal can be configured to modify a first portion of the reconfigurable layer thereby isolating the first contact from the second contact and the third contact.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for removing sulfur-containing compounds from a fluid. The method involves adding manganese oxide to the fluid; doping the manganese oxide in situ with iron, cobalt, or combinations thereof to give a doped manganese oxide adsorbent; and contacting the fluid with a selected amount of the doped manganese oxide adsorbent and at a selected temperature and pressure sufficient for the doped manganese oxide adsorbent to preferentially adsorb the sulfur-containing compounds in the fluid. The disclosure also relates to a process for preparing a doped manganese oxide adsorbent, and a doped manganese oxide adsorbent prepared by the process. The disclosure further relates to a method for tuning structural properties (e.g., surface area, pore size and pore volume) of a doped manganese oxide adsorbent.

Abstract: Described herein is an enzyme-mediated approach to bioconjugation at nanoparticle (NP) surfaces. This process is enabled by a new synthetic linker compatible with the covalent attachment of alkyne modified substrates, including dyes, peptides and nucleic acids. The methods described herein specifically allow for the linkage of molecules to a DNA-functionalized nanoparticle surface. Enzymatic ligation of molecules to the terminal hydroxyl group of DNA using T4 DNA ligase is achieved through incorporation of a single monophosphate on the approaching substrate. In contrast to previous strategies, the linkers disclosed herein are compatible with alkyne modified molecules of a variety of sizes and charges indicating that the ligase minimally requires the monophosphate and the incoming hydroxyl for conjugation to be successful.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include systems and methods for cell identification using a lens-less cell identification sensor. Randomly distributed cells can be illuminated by a light source such as a laser. The object beam can be passed through one or more diffusers. Pattern recognition is applied on the captured optical signature to classify the cells. For example, features can be extracted and a trained classifier can be used to classify the cells. The cell classes can be accurately identified even when multiple cells of the same class are inspected.

Abstract: An article with controllable wettability includes a substrate and a layer of a composite material supported on the substrate. The layer has an exposed surface and the composite material includes particles that have controllable polarization embedded fully or partially in a matrix. A controller is operable to selectively apply a controlled variable activation energy to the layer. The controllable polarization of the particles varies responsive to the controlled variable activation energy such that a wettability of the exposed surface also varies responsive to the controlled variable activation energy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Barberry plant, botanically known as Berberis thunbergii and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘UCONNBTB113’. The unique characteristics of this new Barberry plant include no fruit, seed sterile; very compact, extremely dense, low-growing habit only reaching 30 cm tall; bright yellow spring foliage and light yellow and chartreus summer foliage; adaptable to many landscape situations; resistant to black stem rust disease; and winter cold hardy to at least ?26° C.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Barberry plant, botanically known as Berberis thunbergii and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘UCONNBTCP4N’. The unique characteristics of this new Barberry plant include essentially seed sterile; compact, dense, low-growing habit; thick and slightly leathery purple-red spring and summer foliage; adaptable to many landscape situations; resistant to black stem rust disease; and winter cold hardy to at least ?26° C.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Barberry plant, botanically known as Berberis thunbergii and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘UCONNBTB048’. The unique characteristics of this new Barberry plant include seed sterile; compact, dense, low-growing habit; thick and slightly leathery bright yellow spring foliage and light yellow and chartreus summer foliage; adaptable to many landscape situations; resistant to black stem rust disease; and winter cold hardy to at least ?26° C.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Barberry plant, botanically known as Berberis thunbergii and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘UCONNBTB039’. The unique characteristics of this new Barberry plant include no fruit, seed sterile; compact, dense, spreading habit with overarching stems reaching 70 cm tall; bright green spring foliage and dark green summer foliage; adaptable to many landscape situations; resistant to black stem rust disease; and winter cold hardy to at least ?26° C.