Abstract: Phonon engineered, lanthanide doped upconverting nanoparticles with very low phonon energies and tunable methods of synthesis that adjust OA:OM ratio and reaction temperature are provided. Low phonon energy KPb2X5 (X=Cl, Br) upconverting nanoparticles, both doped and undoped, exhibit dramatically suppressed multiphonon relaxation, enhancing upconversion emission from higher lanthanide excited states and enabling room temperature observation of avalanche like upconversion by Nd3+ ions. Intrinsic optical bistability (IOB) of the materials can provide bit level functionality to all optical computing. The IOB of Nd3+ doped nanocrystals, which are either bright or dark at the same excitation power based on power history, illustrate the functionality. High contrast switching and IOB are enabled via the photon avalanche process, which sustains population inversion between the ground and the first excited 4fN states of Nd3+ ions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compound having the structure wherein A is a ring structure, with or without substitution; X1 is C or N; X2 is N, O, or S; Y1 is H, -(alkyl), -(alkenyl), -(alkynyl), -(cycloalkyl), (haloalkyl), -(alkyl)-O-(alkyl) or -(alkyl)-(cycloalkyl); Y 2 is H, -(alkyl), -(alkenyl), -(alkynyl), -(cycloalkyl), (haloalkyl), -(alkyl)-O-(alkyl) or -(alkyl)-(cycloalkyl); Y3 is H-(alkyl), -(alkenyl), -(alkynyl), -(cycloalkyl), (haloalkyl), -(alkyl)-O-(alkyl) or -(alkyl)-(cycloalkyl); Y 4 is H-(alkyl), -(alkenyl), -(alkynyl), -(cycloalkyl), (haloalkyl), -(alkyl)-O-(alkyl) or -(alkyl)-(cycloalkyl); Y5 is H, -(alkyl), -(alkenyl), -(alkynyl), -(cycloalkyl), (haloalkyl), -(alkyl)-O-(alkyl) or -(alkyl)-(cycloalkyl); a and P are each present or absent and when present each is a bond.

Abstract: Provided are cubic-phase (?-phase) erbium (Er)-doped near-infrared-II (NIR-II)-emitting nanoparticles. In certain embodiments, the nanoparticles are near-infrared-IIb (NIR-IIb)-emitting nanoparticles. Also provided are nanoparticles having disposed thereon a layer-by-layer crosslinked polymeric hydrophilic biocompatible coating. Also provided are compositions comprising the nanoparticles of the present disclosure. Methods of using the nanoparticles, e.g., for in vivo imaging, are also provided.

Abstract: A smart object may be used to monitor the hydration level of a person. The object has at least two impedance sensors that can be used to sense the complex impedance of a person when a tissue of the user comes into contact with the impedance sensors. The measured impedance can then be used to determine the hydration level of the person. In addition to using the impedance sensors to determine the hydration level of the person, the impedance sensors can also be used to capture an electrocardiogram for the person. The smart object may also be used with another smart object to determine the identity of the user or other physiological parameters of the user such as blood pressure.

Abstract: Circuit for wake-up receivers are provide. In some embodiments, the wake-up receivers include self-mixers that receive a gate bias voltage. Some of the self-mixers are single ended and some are differential. In some embodiments, the wake-up receivers include a matching network that is connected to the input of the self-mixer. In some embodiments, the wake-up receivers include a low frequency path connected to the output of the self-mixer. In some embodiments, the wake-up receivers include a high frequency path connected to the output of the self-mixer. In some embodiments, the wake-up receivers are configured to receive an encoded bit stream. In some embodiments, the wake-up receivers are configured to wake-up another receiver.

Abstract: Methods are provided herein for determining and administering optimized dosing of therapeutic anti-D47 agents, in a schedule that provides safe escalation of dose while achieving a therapeutic level in a clinically effective period of time. The methods can comprise the steps of clearance, escalation, and maintenance. In one embodiment the dosing regimen administers an initial (i) sub-therapeutic dose of an anti-CD47 agent or (ii) a cytoreductive therapy to achieve a safe level of circulating tumor cells for subsequent treatment (clearance); escalating the dose of an anti-CD47 agent until a therapeutic dose is reached (escalation); and maintaining the therapeutic dose for a period of time sufficient to reduce tumor cells in the bone marrow of the patient (maintenance). In an alternative dosing regimen, a patient determined to have a safe level of circulating tumor cells at presentation is treated by the steps of escalation and maintenance without initial clearance.

Abstract: A first aspect of this work relates to water harvesting in power plants. A water adsorbent material is driven through adsorption-desorption cycles using waste heat from a power plant to harvest water from ambient air. In a preferred embodiment, metal-organic-framework (MOF) powders are used as the water adsorbent material for this application. A second aspect of this work relates more generally to rapid adsorption-desorption cycling of MOFs for various applications.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a re-writable DNA-based digital storage system with a random access feature. An example embodiment includes reading a physical nucleotide sequence of 2n+L bases to form a digital representation of the physical nucleotide sequence; dividing the digital representation of the physical nucleotide sequence into an address representation of n bases, followed by a data representation of L bases, followed by a further address representation of n bases; decoding the data representation into an integer value less than 3L that is a sum of a first addend and a second addend, wherein the data representation includes a first subsequence of bases encoding the first addend followed by a second subsequence of bases encoding the second addend; and storing, in a computer memory, the integer value.

Abstract: Provided is an optical modulator including a substrate, and a plurality of unit structures periodically on the substrate, one of the plurality of unit structures including a heater layer on a first surface of the substrate, an antenna on a first surface of the heater layer, the antenna including a phase change material, a passivation layer on the substrate, the heater layer, and the antenna, and a reflector on a second surface of the substrate opposite to the first surface of the substrate.

Abstract: Disclosed are techniques for enhanced nucleic acid detection using blocked or partially blocked crRNAs or target RNAs, and a composition of matter (detection reactions consisting of occluded crRNAs or target RNAs). Here, the mechanism of Cas 13 protein activation in response to RNA structure perturbations was systematically probed using a massively multiplexed screen. It was found that there are two distinct sequence-independent modes by which secondary structure affects Cas13 activity: structure in the protospacer region competes with the crRNA and can be disrupted via a strand-displacement mechanism, while structure in the region 3? to the protospacer has an allosteric inhibitory effect. The kinetic nature of the strand displacement process was leveraged to improve Cas13-based RNA detection and enhance mismatch discrimination by up to 50-fold, enabling sequence-agnostic mutation identification at low (<1%) allele frequencies.

Abstract: A short-wave infrared photothermal (SWIP) microscopy system and method for vibrational imaging of a sample generates shortwave infrared excitation light probe light. The excitation light and the probe light are combined to generate a combined beam, which is focused to generate a focused combined beam, which is directed onto the sample to obtain a SWIP signal generated by absorption-induced thermo-optic selective heating of the sample. The SWIP signal is collected through an aperture in a condenser and detected.

Abstract: A design methodology and tool called INFORM are provided that use a two-phase approach for sample-efficient constrained multi-objective optimization of real-world nonlinear systems. In the first optional phase, one may modify a genetic algorithm (GA) to make the design process sample-efficient, and may inject candidate solutions into the GA population using inverse design methods. The inverse design techniques may be based on (i) a neural network verifier, (ii) a neural network, and (iii) a Gaussian mixture model. The candidate solutions for the next generation are thus a mix of those generated using crossover/mutation and solutions generated using inverse design. At the end of the first phase, one obtains a set of nondominated solutions. In the second phase, one chooses one or more solution(s) from the non-dominated solutions or another reference solution to further improve the objective function values using inverse design methods.

Abstract: Systems and methods for computing variation in physiological parameters and covariate relationships are provided. Sensor data derived can be transformed into physiological interval data. A point-process model with global optimization can be fit to the physiological interval data. Variation of the physiological interval data can be computed using the fitted model. Covariate data can also be collected. A state-space model with global optimization can be fit to the physiological interval data and covariate data.

Abstract: Nucleic acid molecules and compositions comprising one or more nucleic acid sequences that encode a consensus Marburgvirus filovirus glycoprotein immunogens. Immunomodulatory methods and methods of inducing an immune response against Marburgvirus are disclosed. Method of preventing infection by Marburgvirus and methods of treating individuals infected with Marburgvirus are disclosed. Consensus Marburgvirus filovirus glycoprotein immunogens are disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are instruments and related methods for measuring oxidative potential (OP) in airborne particulates, particularly PM2.5. The instrument is formed from three main components: a sample injector, a sample incubator and a measurement system. The instrument provides an automatic measure of five OP endpoints in a relatively rapid time frame of less than 3 hours. In this manner, additional parameters beyond the gross particle concentration or mass per unit volume is obtained, including the biologically-relevant OP associated with PM2.5.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a transgenic soybean plant with increased oleic acid content comprising a polynucleotide encoding a fatty acid desaturase (FAD) related promoter that functions in the soybean plant operably linked to a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide having FAD activity. The invention is also related to a plant of an agronomically elite soybean variety with increased oleic acid content comprising a polynucleotide encoding a fatty acid desaturase (FAD) related promoter that functions in the soybean plant operably linked to a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide having FAD activity. The invention is still further directed to a method of increasing the oleic acid content of a soybean plant comprising transforming the soybean plant with a polynucleotide encoding a fatty acid desaturase (FAD) related promoter that functions in the soybean plant operably linked to a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide having FAD activity.

Abstract: A dilation device is provided for modeling mitral regurgitation in a mitral valve that includes an annular housing surrounding an aperture; a first anterior blade mounted to the housing and defining a substantially straight inner edge adjacent the aperture; and a plurality of posterior blades mounted to the housing and defining a curved inner edge adjacent the aperture, the posterior blades movable to dilate a valve mounted to the blades. An annulus of a valve may be sutured to the blades such that valve is disposed adjacent the aperture, and the dilation device may be actuated to cause the posterior blades to dilate a posterior region of the valve.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are apparatus for a cooler device includes a manifold constructed at least partially of silicon oxide. The manifold includes an array of inlet channels and an array of outlet channels. Each inlet channel has a first depth. The array of outlet channels are interlaced with the array of inlet channels, Each outlet channel has a second depth that is larger than the first depth. Each of the array of outlet channels has a pair of sidewalls separating each outlet channel from adjacent inlet channels of the array of inlet channels.

Abstract: The subject invention provides compositions and methods for isolating exosomes from, for example, biological fluid samples, cell cultures and/or cultured medium. Provided are Absolute Precipitation of Exosomes (APEX) reagents and precipitation techniques to isolate exosomes from various EV subsets, cells, dead cells, and/or cell debris. Advantageously, APEX is a rapid, effortless, inexpensive, high-recovery method to extract exosomes. This method is also faster and purer at isolating exosomes from other precipitation techniques.

Abstract: Provided herein are compounds that inhibit a binding interaction between a ? integrin and a G protein subunit, as well as compositions, e.g., pharmaceutical compositions, comprising the same, and related kits. In some embodiments, the compound is an antibody or antibody analog, and, in other embodiments, the compound is a peptide or peptide analog. Also provided are methods of using the compounds, including methods of treating or preventing a medical condition, such as stroke, heart attack, cancer, or inflammation.