Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to catalyst compositions including metal chalcogenides, processes for producing such catalyst compositions, processes for enhancing catalytic active sites in such catalyst compositions, and uses of such catalyst compositions in, e.g., processes for producing conversion products. In an aspect, a process for forming a catalyst composition is provided. The process includes introducing an electrolyte material and an amphiphile material to a metal chalcogenide to form the catalyst composition. In another aspect, a catalyst composition is provided. The catalyst composition includes a metal chalcogenide, an electrolyte material, and an amphiphile material. Devices for hydrogen evolution reaction are also provided.

Abstract: Provided herein are novel heterocyclic compounds, for example, compounds of Formula (IV-C). Also provided herein are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds and methods of using the same, for example, in inhibiting aldehyde dehydrogenases, retinoid pathway activation, and/or for treating various cancers, cancer metastasis, type 2 diabetes, pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) or neointimal hyperplasia (NIH) or as a male contraceptive.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to methods of cultivating genetically altered plants with increased activity of the PsbS protein. These genetically altered plants have increased water use efficiency and substantially similar photosynthetic efficiency as compared to WT plants grown under the same conditions.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally pertains to devices and methods for determining propellant mass based on average measurements irrespective of the fluid orientation in a fuel tank. The device is useful in detecting fuel levels in tanks where the fuel is in motion, for instance in aircraft (i.e., undergoing varying acceleration maneuvers) or spacecraft (i.e., a microgravity environment). The devices and methods can also be used for determining the liquid in a surface tension screen liquid acquisition device (LAD), and particularly, the incipient breakdown as gas bubbles enter or are formed inside the LAD as the screen dries or heat transfer induces vaporization. The same basic electrode configuration can be used to stir the liquid to reduce thermal stratification and condense vapor bubbles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). More specifically, embodiments of the invention provide a pharmaceutical carrier and a compound that inhibit the induction of MMP-1 expression by cigarette smoke.

Abstract: A system and method for characterizing biological activity in a live cell using a mid-infrared photothermal system and at least one molecular probe. A mid-infrared optical source generates a mid-infrared beam, the mid-infrared beam being directed at the sample to induce a thermal effect. A visible light source generates a light, the light illuminating the sample on the substrate. An optical detector collects the light after interaction with the sample. Biological activity in the sample is characterized based on a spectral shift. Each molecular probe includes an substrate and a chemical functional group.

Abstract: A stimulated Raman photothermal (SRP) microscope for imaging a sample. A first optical source omits an intensity-modulated pump beam. A second optical source omits an intensity-modulated Stokes beam. The Stokes beam is combined with the pump beam to form a combined beam. The combined beam is directed to the sample to induce a thermal effect caused by the stimulated Raman process. A third optical source emits a probe beam, the probe beam is directed to the sample. An optical detector detects modulation of the probe beam after modulation by the sample to measure an SRP signal.

Abstract: Provided are soluble leukemia inhibitory factor receptor (LIFR) polypeptides, soluble glycoprotein 130 (gp130) polypeptides, and soluble fusion proteins and dimers including such polypeptides. The soluble polypeptides bind to leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). In certain aspects, the soluble polypeptides exhibit increased binding affinity for LIF relative to the corresponding wild-type polypeptides. Also provided are nucleic acids encoding such soluble polypeptides, expression vectors including such nucleic acids, and cells including such nucleic acids and/or expression vectors. Methods of using the soluble polypeptides, including methods of inhibiting LIF activity in an individual in need thereof (e.g., to treat cancer), are also provided.

Abstract: Systems and methods for hardware-based asynchronous logging include: initiating first and second atomic regions on first and second cores of a central processing unit (CPU); and asynchronously logging data for the first atomic region and the second atomic region using the CPU by: asynchronously performing log persist operations (LPOs) to log an old data value from each atomic region; updating the old data value to a new data value from each atomic region; tracking dependencies between the first atomic region and the second atomic region using a memory controller; asynchronously performing data persist operations (DPOs) to persist the new data value for each atomic region; and committing the first atomic region and the second atomic region based on the dependencies using the memory controller of the CPU.

Abstract: A plasticized pyrotechnic material can be easily portioned and formed or molded into a desired shape and burns at a high temperature (>2000° C.) but does not detonate. The plasticized pyrotechnic material may preferably include a combination of about 70-99% by weight of a pyrotechnic composition and about 1-30% by weight of a plasticizer composition comprising various low to mid molecular weight polyisobutylenes. The pyrotechnic material comprises inorganic oxidizers (e.g. metal oxides, oxohalide salts, nitrates, nitrites, chlorates/perchlorates) and metal or metal oxides powders mixed intimately. The plasticizer may include a small amount of a fluoropolymer, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and may also include up to 1-2% by weight of a processed oil, such as a mineral oil or motor oil. Some embodiments may also include a biocide precursor molecule.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a low-profile, high-load, and hands-free ball-balancing omnidirectional rolling system with multiple human-robot interfaces for modular and adaptive design configurations and input control interfaces. The disclosed platform uses a self-balancing ball-based robot to allow for a safe, compact, high-load, self-balancing and intuitive mobility device for a person with lower-limb disability. Advanced driving assistance such as obstacle avoidance and semi-autonomous navigation between predefined locations is also disclosed.

Abstract: A magnetically coupled ball drive system for actuation of spherical surfaces and wheels is disclosed. An internal support structure interacts with exterior drive wheels magnetically to produce rotational motion. A related improvement involving reduction of slip due to insufficient traction is also presented to establish a design for a more robust and versatile device that can be used in robotics or for producing vehicle locomotion.

Abstract: The present embodiments generally relate to enabling participants in an online gathering with networked audio to use a cancelling auralizer at their respective locations to create a common acoustic space or set of acoustic spaces shared among subgroups of participants. For example, there are a set of network connected nodes, and the nodes can contain speakers and microphones, as well as participants and node mixing-processing blocks. The node mixing-processing blocks generate and manipulate signals for playback over the node loudspeakers and for distribution to and from the network. This processing can include cancellation of loudspeaker signals from the microphone signals and auralization of signals according to control parameters that are developed locally and from the network.

Abstract: Dynamic windows with adjustable tint give users greater control over flow of light and heat. Reversible metal electrodeposition dynamic windows include (i) a transparent or translucent conductive electrode; (ii) an electrolyte solution in contact with the electrode, the electrolyte solution comprising metal cations that are reversibly electrodeposited onto the transparent electrode upon application of a cathodic potential; and (iii) a counter electrode. The electrolyte solution advantageously includes a small amount of an additive (e.g., an inhibitor, an accelerator, a leveler, or an organic or inorganic molecule that similarly serves to enhance the surface morphology of the metal cations during reversible metal electrodeposition onto the transparent electrode). Such enhancement of surface morphology during the reversible electrodeposition of the metal tinting layer over the electrode enhances one or more of color neutrality, transmittance characteristics of visible wavelengths (e.g.

Abstract: A vertically oriented plasma reactor is provided. In another aspect, a plasma reactor includes a vertically elongated vacuum chamber, a wall internally projecting within a middle section of the housing, magnets, electrodes and a radio frequency source. A further aspect employs a workpiece-entry port and an opposite workpiece material-exit port, with one located adjacent a top end and the other adjacent a bottom end of a vertically elongated reactor housing or vacuum chamber. Yet another aspect employs a moving or falling-bed plasma reactor for use in activating biochar material.

Abstract: Unglycosylated lysostaphin variant protein, nucleic acid molecule, vector and host cell, as well as a method for production of unglycosylated lysostaphin variant protein in a yeast expression system are provided. The proteins are produced in a Pichia pastoris expression system and have been shown to have activity equivalent to wild-type lysostaphin. The lysostaphin variant proteins can be used as therapeutic proteins for treatment of diseases such as Staphylococcus aureus infection.

Abstract: Provided herein is a nucleic acid comprising consensus amino acid sequence of foot-and-mouth disease FMDV VP1-4 coat proteins of FMDV subtypes A, Asia 1, C, O, SAT1, SAT2, and SAT3 as well as plasmids and vaccines expressing the sequences. Also provided herein is methods for generating an immune response against one or more FMDV subtypes using the vaccine as described above as well as methods for deciphering between vaccinated mammals with the vaccine and those that are infected with FMDV.

Abstract: Systems and methods for cell typing in accordance with embodiments of the invention are illustrated. One embodiment includes a cell typing system, including a processor, and a memory, the memory containing a cell typing application that configures the processor to obtain single cell ribonucleic acid sequencing (scRNA-seq) data generated from a single cell, generate a two-dimensional (2D) image includes a grid of pixels referred to as a GenoMap, where each pixel describes a gene-gene interaction based upon the scRNA-seq data, provide the 2D image to a convolutional neural network (CNN), obtain a cell classification of the single cell from the CNN, and provide the cell classification via a display.

Abstract: Systems and methods for imaging breath-hold (BH)-induced oxygenation changes in a patient are provided. A non-invasive, non-contact device can be used to image BH-induced oxygenation changes in one or more parts (e.g., foot) of a patient. The patient can hold his or her breath for a set amount of time while imaging is performed using the device, and the imaging can be performed before and/or after the time while the patient is holding his or her breath as well (e.g., during a recovery period). This enables tissue oxygenation based flow correlation independent of melanin concentration (e.g., skin color) of the patient and/or the curvature of the tissue (of the patient) being imaged.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an ultrafast, variable multi-focal technique using a laser (such as a picosecond laser or a femtosecond laser) to generate a pulsed laser beam, and a tunable acoustic gradient of index (TAG) lens ahead of an objective lens to achieve multi-focal laser scribing by shaping the pulsed laser beam pulse-by-pulse into a plurality of focal points along an axial axis of the laser beam at one or more selected positions without mechanically moving any optics or sample repositioning. The location of the focal points can be customized and even varied during processing.