Abstract: The technology described herein is directed to compositions comprising components of multi-component CALs or CARs, e.g., a TCR recognition domain; and one or both of: (a) an intracellular signaling domain; and (b) a first-type protein interaction domain. Further provided herein are methods for treating or preventing an autoimmune disease, a transplant rejection, or graft versus host disease.

Abstract: A method for the electrochemical remediation of a metal species comprises flowing a contaminated solution comprising a metal species to be removed through an electrochemical cell that includes a working electrode and a counter electrode spaced apart from the working electrode. The working electrode comprises a conductive substrate or current collector with a polymeric coating thereon, where the polymeric coating comprises a semiconducting or redox-active polymer. A reducing potential is applied to the electrochemical cell, thereby inducing the metal species from the contaminated solution to deposit onto the working electrode. After depositing the metal species, a recovery solution is flowed through the electrochemical cell. An oxidizing potential is applied to the electrochemical cell, thereby stripping the metal species from the working electrode and recovering the metal species in the recovery solution.

Abstract: An audio signal encoding/decoding method and an apparatus for performing the same are disclosed. The audio signal encoding method includes obtaining a full-band input signal, extracting a first feature vector corresponding to a first sub-band signal and a second feature vector corresponding to a second sub-band signal using an encoder neural network including a plurality of encoding layers, generating a first code vector corresponding to the first feature vector and a second code vector corresponding to the second feature vector by compressing the first feature vector and the second feature vector, and generating a bitstream by quantizing the first code vector and the second code vector.

Abstract: A system is disclosed that includes a computer that includes a processor and a memory, the memory including instructions executable by the processor to input an image acquired by a sensor to a neural network to output a prediction regarding an object included in the image. The neural network can be trained, based on (a) a distributed robust optimization that minimizes an expectation applied to probability distributions of loss functions to select training images that yield a solution with a selected uncertainty level and (b) generating additional input images based on adversarial images.

Abstract: A soft pressure sensing apparatus is provided. In one aspect of the present pressure sensing apparatus, a polymeric member, including conductive particles therein, is located between offset angled and crossing sets of electrodes. A further aspect includes a controller configured to calculate at least one regularized least-squares algorithm, to reduce cross-talk between the resistive members. In another aspect, a pressure sensor apparatus includes a piezoresistive film encapsulated between layers of substantially perpendicular electrodes to create a resistor network circuit where the ability to reconstruct cell resistance from measured two-point resistance. A method of manufacturing a pressure sensor includes using a mechanical vinyl cutter for the electrodes and/or piezoelectric resistive members.

Abstract: A method of training a neural network model to generate a three-dimensional (3D) model of a scene includes: generating the 3D model based on a latent code; based on the 3D model, sampling a camera view including a camera position and a camera angle corresponding to the 3D model of the scene; generating a two-dimensional (2D) image based on the 3D model and the sampled camera view; and training the neural network model to, using the 3D model, generate a scene corresponding to the sampled camera view based on the generated 2D image and a real 2D image.

Abstract: Systems and methods for developing a composite material are disclosed. The system can include a plurality of particles and a plurality of polymers. The plurality of particles can generate mechanical force in response to changing relative humidity, and the plurality of filaments can transfer the mechanical force throughout the composite material, such that the mechanical force changes a shape of the composite material reversibly and repeatedly.

Abstract: A method, which synthesizes closed circular single-stranded and double-stranded DNA molecules using in vitro enzymatic systems, is described. Circular single-stranded DNA molecules and double-stranded DNA molecules (e.g., relaxed, or supercoiled) with various sizes can be synthesized. Unwanted DNA molecules, e.g., unligated oligomers, can be removed by exonucleases, such as T5 exonuclease, T7 exonuclease, lambda exonuclease, E. coli exonuclease I and/or III. A method of converting the single-stranded circular DNA molecules into double-stranded circular DNA molecules is also described. The single-stranded and double-stranded circular DNA molecules can be used in a variety of applications.

Abstract: Certain embodiments include a method for assisting a clinician in performing a medical procedure on a patient using augmented reality guidance. The method can include obtaining a three-dimensional model of an anatomic part of the patient. The method can also include aligning the three-dimensional model with data to form augmented reality guidance for the medical procedure. In addition, the method can include presenting the augmented reality guidance to the clinician during the medical procedure using an augmented reality three-dimensional display.

Abstract: A catalyst structure includes: (1) a substrate; (2) a catalyst layer on the substrate; and (3) an adhesion layer disposed between the substrate and the catalyst layer. In some implementations, an average thickness of the adhesion layer is about 1 nm or less. In some implementations, a material of the catalyst layer at least partially extends into a region of the adhesion layer. In some implementations, the catalyst layer is characterized by a lattice strain imparted by the adhesion layer.

Abstract: Disclosed are electrochemical devices, such as lithium ion battery electrodes, lithium ion conducting solid-state electrolytes, and solid-state lithium ion batteries including these electrodes and solid-state electrolytes. Also disclosed are methods for making such electrochemical devices.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for treating diseases, disorders or conditions associated with the expression of the Glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol (GPI)-linked GDNF family ?-receptor 4 (GFR?4).

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for selectively treating a cancer or tumor utilizing an effective amount of a vegetable oil-derived polyol or hydrogel particles comprising a vegetable oil-derived polyol. In some embodiments, the cancer is a gynecologic cancer, specifically an ovarian cancer. In other aspects, the present invention provides a method of targeting and imaging various tumors and/or tumor associated macrophages (TAMs).

Abstract: A haptic stimulator includes a multilayer sheet with a piezoelectric or electroactive polymer layer adapted to mechanically deform upon application of voltage, the multilayer sheet secured to a substrate, and a source of electrical stimulation coupled to drive electrodes on the polymer layer with an AC signal to vibrate the polymer layer. In particular embodiments, the polymer contains polyvinylidene fluoride, and electrodes are patterned to control local electric fields. Another haptic stimulator has first and second electrodes with an air gap and an insulating sheet between first and second electrodes, with an AC voltage driver connecting to the electrodes. In a method of providing haptic stimulation to skin an alternating current supply drives first and second electrodes, the electrodes disposed upon either a piezoelectric or electroactive polymer sheet, vibrating the polymer layer by driving the electrodes; and coupling vibrations of the polymer layer to the sensate skin.

Abstract: According to various embodiments, a method for detecting security vulnerabilities in at least one of cyber-physical systems (CPSs) and Internet of Things (IoT) devices is disclosed. The method includes constructing an attack directed acyclic graph (DAG) from a plurality of regular expressions, where each regular expression corresponds to control-data flow for a known CPS/IoT attack. The method further includes performing a linear search on the attack DAG to determine unexploited CPS/IoT attack vectors, where a path in the attack DAG that does not represent a known CPS/IoT attack vector represents an unexploited CPS/IoT attack vector. The method also includes applying a trained machine learning module to the attack DAG to predict new CPS/IoT vulnerability exploits. The method further includes constructing a defense DAG configured to protect against the known CPS/IoT attacks, the unexploited CPS/IoT attacks, and the new CPS/IoT vulnerability exploits.

Abstract: Described are systems, methods, and devices relating to normothermic extracorporeal support of an organ, tissue, or bioengineered graft comprising cross-circulation (XC) perfusion for prolonged periods (days to weeks) via an XC perfusion circuit in connection with an extracorporeal host (e.g., animal, patient, organ transplant recipient) are disclosed. The XC perfusion circuit comprises auto-regulation of blood flow based on the trans-organ blood pressure difference between arterial and venous pressure. Recipient support enabled 36 h of normothermic perfusion that maintained healthy lungs with no significant changes in physiologic parameters and allowed for the recovery of injured lungs. Extended support enabled multiscale therapeutic interventions in all extracorporeal lungs. Lungs exceeded transplantation criteria.

Abstract: A tissue adhesion prevention hydrogel is provided and engineered with essential features for maintaining separation between tissues and organs in any part of the body, thus preventing adhesion formation, are their shear-thinning, viscoelasticity, and rapid self-healing. A method of using the tissue adhesion prevention hydrogel for tissue adhesion prevention is also provided. A method of interposing the tissue adhesion prevention in between tissue layers for tissue adhesion prevention is further provided.

Abstract: A non-reciprocal filter with parametric amplification to obtain non-reciprocal propagation of forward and reverse signals is disclosed. The non-reciprocal filter may include two asymmetrical transmission lines and a current source. The filter, when implemented in the acoustics domain using surface acoustic waves (SAW), may operate in a phase-coherent or a phase-incoherent degenerate mode, providing low insertion loss and high decibels of isolation.

Abstract: Provided are certain derivatives of amphotericin B (AmB) characterized by reduced toxicity and retained anti-fungal activity. Certain of the derivatives are C16 urea derivatives of AmB. Certain of the derivatives are C3, C5, C8, C9, C11, C13, or C15 deoxy derivatives of AmB. Certain of the derivatives include C3? or C4? modifications of the mycosamine appendage of AmB. Also provided are methods of making AmB derivatives of the invention, pharmaceutical compositions comprising AmB derivatives of the invention, and methods of use of AmB derivatives of the invention.