Abstract: The disclosure provides recombinant LAC polynucleotides encoding a laccase (LAC) polypeptide capable of polymerizing caffeyl alcohol, vectors and cells including the recombinant LAC polynucleotide. The disclosure also provides transgenic plants including cells having the recombinant LAC polynucleotide of the present disclosure and methods of increasing production of C-lignin in a plant.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system, method, and apparatus for detecting chemical effluents in an environment using Teslin substrates. To illustrate, a system includes one or more Teslin substrates which can capture molecules present in an ambient environment. The system includes a housing with the one or more Teslin substrates disposed within the housing. The system further includes means for selectively exposing different portions of the one or more Teslin substrates to the ambient environment, in which the molecules present in the ambient environment are captured by the different portions of the one or more Teslin substrates as the different portions of the one or more Teslin substrates are exposed. The system can include that the means for selectively exposing different portions of the one or more Teslin substrates is an aperture in the housing.

Abstract: The present invention includes methods for selecting a therapy for improved cognition as well as prevention of cognitive loss/dysfunction using one or more endophenotypes comprising: obtaining a sample from a subject; measuring biomarkers that differentiate between an inflammatory, a metabolic, a neurotrophic, and a depressive endophenotype; and selecting a course of treatment for the subject based on whether the subject is scored as having a high or a low endophenotype for one or more of the inflammatory, a metabolic, a neurotrophic, and a depressive endophenotypes.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure provides GlcNAc-Asn analogs of the formula: wherein the variables are as defined herein. In another aspect, the present disclosure also provides pharmaceutical compositions and methods of using the compounds disclosed herein. Additionally, the present disclosure also provides methods of treating cancer comprising inhibiting NGLY1.

Abstract: An exemplary breath analysis system may include a sampling chamber having a molecule collector disposed therein. The molecule collector may be configured such that volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in a breath sample introduced to the sampling chamber adhere to the molecule collector. A photodiode array configured to excite and/or heat the molecule collector to release at least a portion of the VOCs from the molecule collector to release at least the portion of the VOCs adhered to the molecule collector. An analysis device (e.g., a mass spectrometer or Terahertz (THz) spectrometer) may identify one or more target VOCs from among at least the portion of the VOCs released from the molecule collector and generate an output representative of the identified target VOC(s). The output may include information that quantitates a concentration of the target VOC(s) with respect to a source of the breath sample.

Abstract: An exemplary breath analysis system disposed in a portable housing may include a sampling chamber having a molecule collector disposed therein. The molecule collector may be configured such that volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in a breath sample introduced to the sampling chamber adhere to the molecule collector. A heating element may introduce heat within the sampling chamber, causing release of at least a portion of the VOCs adhered to the molecule collector. An analysis device disposed in the portable housing (e.g., a mass spectrometer or Terahertz (THz) spectrometer) may identify one or more target VOCs from among at least the portion of the VOCs released from the molecule collector and generate an output representative of the identified one or more target VOCs. The output may include information that quantitates a concentration of the one or more target VOCs with respect to a source of the breath sample.

Abstract: An interconnect and a method of making an interconnect between one or more features on a substrate comprises: sputtering a noble metal-copper eutectic thin film under controlled power on an oxide grown or deposited on a substrate; and forming an amorphous alloy structure from the noble metal-copper eutectic thin film in the shape of the interconnect and the interconnect comprising no grain or grain boundaries without temperature sensitive resistivity.

Abstract: An exemplary breath analysis system may include a sampling chamber having a molecule collector disposed therein. The molecule collector may be configured such that volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in a breath sample introduced to the sampling chamber adhere to the molecule collector. A heating element may introduce heat within the sampling chamber, causing release of at least a portion of the VOCs adhered to the molecule collector. An analysis device (e.g., a mass spectrometer or Terahertz (THz) spectrometer) may identify one or more target VOCs from among at least the portion of the VOCs released from the molecule collector and generate an output representative of the identified one or more target VOCs. The output may include information that quantitates a concentration of the one or more target VOCs with respect to a source of the breath sample.

Abstract: A method of making an insulated material comprises melting a phase change material to form liquid phase change material, combining the liquid phase change material with an insulating material, and forming a composite insulation material in response to the combining. The insulating material can be a porous material that comprises a plurality of pores, and the liquid phase change material is disposed in the plurality of pores. The phase change material can also be stored in a container and used as layer in an insulation system.

Abstract: The present application relates to systems, methods, and computer-readable media for providing generating odors. In aspects, the disclosed methods may include generating, by a chemistry dispersion element, a signal configured to act upon a surface of a chemistry reservoir to disperse an odorous substance retained within the chemistry reservoir. The chemistry reservoir and the chemistry dispersion element may be disposed within a housing. The method also includes generating, by an air pump, a volume of air, and transporting, by an airflow pathway, the volume of air from the air pump to an air outlet. The volume of air passes through at least a portion of the housing as it flows through the airflow pathway from the air pump to the air outlet, and transports at least a portion of the odorous substance dispersed by the chemistry reservoir within the housing to the air outlet.

Abstract: Non-equilibrium conditions and distinctive process-dynamics give laser-powder bed fusion (L-PBF) inherent capability to produce unique microstructural-features. However, alloy-design strategies that not only tackle printability-related challenges but also capitalize on such inherent capability, are imperative. Hence, an alloy-design strategy that integrates concepts of grain-refinement and eutectic-solidification is proposed. Consequently, an Al-3Ni-1Ti-0.8Zr (wt. %) alloy has been designed and processed with L-PBF. The alloy exhibits a wide processing-window, indicating excellent printability, and hierarchical features-enabled heterogeneous grain-structured microstructure; a high synergistic as-built strength-ductility is thus obtained. Notably, wide processing-window allows fine-tuning of as-built microstructure, whereas heterogeneous microstructure potentially allows activation of back-stress strengthening and work-hardening.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure provides GlcNAc-Asn analogs of the formula (I): wherein the variables are as defined herein. In another aspect, the present disclosure also provides pharmaceutical compositions and methods of using the compounds disclosed herein. Additionally, the present disclosure also provides methods of treating cancer comprising inhibiting NGLY1.

Abstract: A new insight on the lubrication of artificial joint components is presented. Addition of small amounts of nanoscale diamond particles to an artificial joint promotes a substantial improvement in friction and wear behavior of the artificial joint surfaces. Artificial joint implants are made from a variety of materials ranging from metal alloys to polymers. Suitable methods of applying nanoscale diamond particles to an artificial joint include (i) coating an effective amount of nanoscale diamond particles onto the artificial joint prior to implants; (ii) applying a composition to the artificial joint during an artificial joint implanting surgery, wherein said composition comprises a biocompatible carrier fluid and an effective amount of nanoscale diamond particles dispersed in the biocompatible carrier fluid; (iii) injecting the composition for lubricating the artificial joint into the artificial joint.

Abstract: An exemplary breath analysis system may include a sampling chamber having a molecule collector disposed therein. The molecule collector may be configured such that volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in a breath sample introduced to the sampling chamber adhere to the molecule collector. A heating element may ramp heat within the sampling chamber, causing release of at least a portion of the VOCs adhered to the molecule collector, lighter and/or less bound VOCs first, heavier and/or more strongly bound VOCs later. An analysis device (e.g., a mass spectrometer or a Terahertz (THz) spectrometer) may identify one or more target VOCs from among at least the portion of the VOCs released from the molecule collector and generate an output representative of the identified target VOC(s). The output may include information that quantitates a concentration of the target VOC(s) with respect to a source of the breath sample.

Abstract: Certain embodiments are directed to modified or variant Cas9 proteins, and/or methods of using the same.

Abstract: The present invention includes an apparatus and method for detecting the location of one or more sources of one or more target molecule, the apparatus comprising: a molecule detector; and a processor connected to the molecule detector and to a global position system, wherein the processor calculates the presence of the one or more target molecules, runs a computer code that determines a dynamic reverse gas stack model for the one or more target molecules, and triangulates the possible position for a source or effluent of the one or more target molecules based on the dynamic reverse gas stack model. The determined reverse gas stack model may have a Gaussian dispersion over one or more sampled locations.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to devices, systems, and methods for modeling ocular translaminar pressure gradients ex vivo. A first fluid pressure level can be applied to a first side of a wall of donor eye cup (e.g., a posterior human eye cup) to simulate intracranial pressure (ICP), for example around the optical nerve head (ONH), and a second fluid pressure level can be applied to a second side of the wall of the donor eye cup to simulate intraocular pressure (IOP). These devices, systems, and methods are unique in that they allow ex vivo modeling of dynamic changes in translaminar pressure gradients.

Abstract: An exemplary breath analysis system may include a sampling chamber having a molecule collector disposed therein. The molecule detector may be configured such that volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in a breath sample introduced to the sampling chamber adhere to the molecule collector. A heating element may introduce heat within the sampling chamber, causing release of at least a portion of the VOCs adhered to the molecule collector. An analysis device (e.g., a mass spectrometer or Terahertz (THz) spectrometer) may identify one or more target VOCs from among at least the portion of the VOCs released from the molecule collector and generate an output representative of the identified one or more target VOCs. The output may include information that quantitates a concentration of the one or more target VOCs with respect to a source of the breath sample.

Abstract: The present disclosure presents aerial communication systems and methods. One such system comprises an unmanned aerial vehicle platform and a communication component integrated with the unmanned aerial vehicle platform, wherein the communication component is configured to establish an Air to Air (A2A) communication channel with a remote directional antenna that is integrated with a remote unmanned aerial vehicle platform. The system further includes a computing component integrated with the unmanned aerial vehicle platform, wherein the computing component is configured to determine an optimal heading angle for transmission of communication signals from a directional antenna to the remote directional antenna in an unknown communication environment from received signal strength indicator (RSSI) information obtained from the remote directional antenna. Other systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Two-dimensional (2D) material-based metal or alloy catalysts synthesized on carbon materials (e.g., carbon nanotubes) prevent polysulfide shuttling and overcome technical challenges for developing practical lithium-sulfur (Li—S) batteries. Soluble lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) tend to shuttle during battery cycling and corrode a Li anode, leading to eventual performance fading in the Li—S battery. This shuttle effect can be reduced by accelerating the conversion of the dissolved polysulfides to the insoluble LiPSs and back to the sulfur. A 2D material-based alloy or 2D material synthesized on carbon materials can suppress polysulfide shuttling by catalyzing polysulfide reactions. 2D material-based alloys with 2H (semiconducting)—1T (metallic) mixed phase exhibit synergistic effects of accelerated electron transfer and catalytic performance as confirmed by the lower charge-transfer resistance of carbon nanotube (CNT)—S cathode and the high binding energy of LiPSs to the catalyst.