Abstract: Provided herein are scaffold biomaterials comprising a decellularised plant or fungal tissue from which cellular materials and nucleic acids of the tissue are removed, the decellularised plant or fungal tissue comprising a cellulose- or chitin-based 3-dimensional porous structure. Methods for preparing such scaffold biomaterials, as well as uses thereof as an implantable scaffold for supporting animal cell growth, for promoting tissue regeneration, for promoting angiogenesis, for a tissue replacement procedure, and/or as a structural implant for cosmetic surgery are also provided. Therapeutic treatment and/or cosmetic methods employing such scaffolds are additionally described.

Abstract: The present application provides a hydrodefluorodimerization process, which is useful in the synthesis of, for example, fluoroolefins that can be used as refrigerants, blowers and the like. The process is an “early-stage fluorination” process, wherein precursors containing fluorine are assembled into the desired product using a zerovalent nickel catalyst. Also provided is a liquid composition comprising one or more fluoroolefin produced by this catalytic process.

Abstract: An optical performance monitor comprises a first stage configured to receive a multiplexed optical signal. The first stage is tunable over a period. The first stage periodically filters the multiplexed optical signal over an optical channel to produce a fine filtered optical signal. A second stage is coupled to the first stage and has a second-stage transfer function. The second stage receives the fine filtered optical signal and produces one or a plurality of interfered optical signal pairs. A third stage is coupled to the second stage and has a third-stage transfer function. The third stage receives the optical signal pairs and demultiplexes the optical signal pairs to produce a plurality of demultiplexed optical signals. The combination of the second-stage transfer function and the third-stage transfer function is flatter over the optical channel than the third-stage transfer function.

Abstract: A method for preparing exosomes or exosome-like vesicles packaged with a nucleic acid of interest is provided. In certain embodiments, the method may comprise: introducing into an exosome-producing cell a nucleic acid construct comprising the nucleic acid sequence of interest incorporated in a pre-miR-451 structural mimic, and allowing the cell to produce exosomes. Nucleic acid constructs, compositions, and uses thereof are also provided.

Abstract: Provided are compounds that enhance the efficacy of viruses by increasing spread of the virus in cells, increasing the titer of virus in cells, or increasing the antigen expression from a virus, gene or trans-gene expression from a virus, or virus protein expression in cells. Other uses, compositions and methods of using same are also provided.

Abstract: Nanopore arrays are fabricated by controlled breakdown in solid-state membranes integrated within polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic devices. This technique enables the scalable production of independently addressable nanopores. By confining the electric field within the microfluidic architecture, nanopore fabrication is precisely localized and electrical noise is significantly reduced during sensing.

Abstract: The present application provides a hydrodefluorination process for the preparation of hydrofluoroalkenes by catalyzed substitution of one or more F atoms of a C2-C30 fluoroalkene, or a C2-C10 fluoroalkene, with one or more H atoms using a hydride source, such as a silane, and copper catalyst. During this process at least one C—F bond in the fluoroakene is converted to a C—H bond. The process is useful in the manufacture of hydrofluoroalkenes, such as hydrofluoroalkenes employed as, for example, refrigerants and blowers. Also provided are precatalyst compositions for performing the process, and formulations manufactured from hydrofluoroalkenes produced using the process.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for removing mercury contaminant from an aqueous solution, the methods including: providing an aqueous solution, the aqueous solution being contaminated with at least trace amounts of an oxidized mercury species; culturing a photoheterotrophic or fermentative heterotrophic bacteria in the aqueous solution under anaerobic conditions in which the bacteria reduce the oxidized mercury species to elemental mercury (Hg0), wherein the bacteria comprises one or more bacteria of the order Clostridiales; and removing the elemental mercury from the aqueous solution. Also provided are bioreactors for removing mercury contaminant from an aqueous solution, as well as uses of photoheterotrophic or fermentative heterotrophic bacteria, wherein the bacteria comprises one or more bacteria of the order Clostridiales, for removing mercury contaminant from an aqueous solution.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a nanopore at a particular location in a membrane includes controlling a dielectric strength of the membrane at a particular location on the membrane while applying one of an electric potential or an electric current to the membrane, monitoring an electrical property across the membrane while one of the electric potential or the electric current is being applied across the membrane, detecting an abrupt change in the electrical property across the membrane while one of the electric potential or the electric current is being applied across the membrane; and removing the electric potential or the electric current from the membrane in response to detecting the abrupt change in the electrical property.

Abstract: Bacterial strains are provided that can be isolated from the microflora of lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium), and that are capable of increasing the antioxidant content of their growth medium. The bacteria can be used, for example, to increase the antioxidant content of various foodstuffs, as probiotics or as additives to animal feed. Antioxidant-enriched compositions produced by fermentation processes utilizing the bacteria are also provided. The antioxidant-enriched compositions can be used in the preparation of cosmetics and nutritional supplements. The antioxidant-enriched compositions also have therapeutic applications.

Abstract: The present application provides a hydrodefluorodimerization process, which is useful in the synthesis of, for example, fluoroölefins that can be used as refrigerants, blowers and the like. The process is an “early-stage fluorination” process, wherein precursors containing fluorine are assembled into the desired product using a zerovalent nickel catalyst. Also provided is a liquid composition comprising one or more fluoroölefin produced by this catalytic process.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for implementing a parametric down-conversion (PDC)-based calibration comprising calibrating a measuring instrument; disposing a pinhole at a position of a light-emitting sample for which the measuring instrument needs to be calibrated; irradiating a nonlinear crystal with a light source; setting the nonlinear crystal by ensuring a phase-matching wavelength of the nonlinear crystal is set at one boundary of a desired bandwidth; acquiring one or more PDC spectrums by the measuring instrument; obtaining peak values and their corresponding wavelengths from each acquired spectrum; and obtaining a response function based on the peak values and corresponding wavelengths.

Abstract: Provided are compounds of Formula (II) that enhance the efficacy of viruses by increasing spread of the virus in cells, increasing the titer of virus in cells, or increasing the antigen expression from a virus, gene or trans-gene expression from a virus, or virus protein expression in cells. Other uses, compositions and methods of using same are also provided.

Abstract: A photovoltaic device comprises at least two sub-cells, at least one connecting element electrically connecting adjacent sub-cells to one another, each sub-cell comprising: at least one segment; and at least one connecting element electrically connecting adjacent segments to one another in the event that a sub-cell has more than one segment; each one of the sub-cells having a unique bandgap and being arranged such that bandgaps of the sub-cells are in descending order with respect to a light incident surface of the photovoltaic device, each sub-cell being designed such that all segments of the photovoltaic device produce approximately the same current.

Abstract: An optical power transfer device with an embedded active cooling chip is disclosed. The device includes a cooling chip made of a semiconductor material, and a first subassembly and a second subassembly mounted on the cooling chip. The cooling chip comprises at least one metallization layer on a portion of a first surface of the cooling chip, at least one inlet through a second surface of the cooling chip, wherein the second surface is opposite to the first surface, at least one outlet through the second surface and one or more micro-channels extending between and fluidly coupled to the at least one inlet and the at least one outlet. A cooling fluid flows through the one or more micro-channels. The first subassembly is mounted on the at least one metallization layer and comprises a laser. The second subassembly comprises a phototransducer configured to receive a laser beam from the laser.

Abstract: There are provided dicysteine peptide tags for use with dimaleimide fluorescent labelling agents for the labelling and detection of specific protein targets. Peptide tags comprising the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 are described.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to the flow of analytes, particles or other materials. As consistent with one or more embodiments described herein, an apparatus includes a membrane having one or more pores in a membrane. First and second electrodes facilitate electrophoretic flow of analytes through the pore, and a third electrode controls movement of the particles in the pore by modulating the shape of an electric double layer adjacent sidewalls of pore. This modulation controls the strength of an electroosmotic field that opposes the electrophoretic flow of the analytes via the pore.

Abstract: There are provided Tissue Transglutaminase (TG2) inhibitor compounds, and compositions and methods of use thereof for the prevention or treatment of a cancer.

Abstract: A method and system is described for using radar to provide non-contact detection of human breathing at a distance. Radar data is processed to remove clutter and enable detection of a breathing signal. The breathing signal can be used to determine breathing rate or posture of the target. Static obstructions can be removed from the radar data to identify target breathing signal. The system and method can be applicable to emergency response, home or institutional monitoring applications and for detection of medical conditions.

Abstract: The present application provides a hydrodefluorination process for the preparation of hydrofluoroalkenes by catalyzed substitution of one or more F atoms of a C2-C30 fluoroalkene, or a C2-C10 fluoroalkene, with one or more H atoms using a hydride source, such as a silane, and copper catalyst. During this process at least one C—F bond in the fluoroakene is converted to a C—H bond. The process is useful in the manufacture of hydrofluoroalkenes, such as hydrofluoroalkenes employed as, for example, refrigerants and blowers. Also provided are precatalyst compositions for performing the process, and formulations manufactured from hydrofluoroalkenes produced using the process.