Abstract: Disclosed is DNA valency sorting chromatography, a purification method for separating solutes based on the number of barcoded DNA molecules present on their surface, which can operate using conventional low-pressure chromatography equipment and instrumentation. Solutes can take a variety of forms, including biological macromolecules, polymeric nanoparticles, gold or silver nanospheres, gold nanorods, iron oxide nanoparticles, and semiconducting nanocrystals. In contrast to most existing purification procedures, DNA valency sorting is highly selective for the DNA sequence specifically, rather than the characteristics of the solute as a whole, and uses extremely gentle elution conditions. As a result, it is applicable to a range of solute characteristics, including variable chemical composition, surface charge, and materials with hydrodynamic diameters up to 80 nm, which cannot be purified with a well-defined number of macromolecules by any other existing technique.

Abstract: The present invention relates to granular composite density enhancement, and related methods and compositions. The applications where these properties are valuable include but are not limited to: 1) additive manufacturing (“3D printing”) involving metallic, ceramic, cermet, polymer, plastic, or other dry or solvent-suspended powders or gels, 2) concrete materials, 3) solid propellant materials, 4) cermet materials, 5) granular armors, 6) glass-metal and glass-plastic mixtures, and 7) ceramics comprising (or manufactured using) granular composites.

Abstract: A highly reliable and accurate method of assessing bacterial community viability has been developed that allows for the assessment of extremely low biomass samples, which cannot be done with traditional methods, such as qPCR. The method utilizes both PMA and droplet digital PCR (PMA-ddPCR), resulting in very accurate quantification of DNA even at very low abundances. Comparing DNA abundance in untreated samples to DNA abundance in PMA-treated samples allows the calculation of the overall viability of bacteria in any given sample. Further, PMA can be combined with traditional RNA gene sequencing (using gene-specific primers for a target species or strain) to accurately profile, e.g., the human skin microbiome, which has previously been done using traditional sequencing methods alone, but this method allows for a species-level understanding of the viable (and nonviable) components of any complex bacterial community.

Abstract: Microbial consortia exert great influence over the physiology of humans, animals, plants, and ecosystems. However, difficulty in controlling their composition and population dynamics have limited their application in medicine, agriculture, biotechnology, and the environment. The approach disclosed herein provides an effective method to dynamically control population compositions in microbial consortia, which we demonstrate in the context of co-culture fermentations for chemical production. Co-culture fermentations can improve chemical production from complex biosynthetic pathways over monocultures by distributing enzymes across multiple strains, thereby reducing metabolic burden, overcoming endogenous regulatory mechanisms, or exploiting natural traits of different microbial species. However, stabilizing and optimizing microbial sub-populations for maximal chemical production remains a major obstacle in the field.

Abstract: The approach disclosed herein is a process for non-equilibrium chemical and materials processing using the combination of non-equilibrium plasma, non-equilibrium multi-functional catalysis, a precisely programed heating and quenching (PHQ), and supersonic reaction quenching to dynamically change the chemical equilibrium and increase the yield and selectivity of the products. An important feature of the disclosed approach is to realize an efficient and high selectivity synthesis method of chemicals and materials by using non-chemical equilibrium, non-equilibrium catalysts, and non-equilibrium of excited states via active control of molecule excitation by low temperature hybrid plasma, dynamics of chemical reactions by programed heating and supersonic quenching, and the design of non-equilibrium catalysts by thermal shocks and plasma coupling to enable distributed and electrified chemical synthesis of hydrogen, ammonia, valued carbon and other chemical products at atmospheric conditions.

Abstract: Disclosed is a technique for reducing CO2 to oxalate utilizing a copper-free, nickel-enhanced electrocatalyst (such as a nickel-enhanced (Cr2O3)3(Ga2O3) electrocatalyst) that can be used for producing, e.g., 1-butanol, in exceedingly high yields. Disclosed herein are various synthetic methodologies for introducing nickel into the electrocatalysts, and described is the characterization, and optimization of the Ni enhanced electrocatalysts for the reduction of CO2 to 1-butanol with a maximum faradaic efficiency ?max of 64%, at an overpotential of 900 mV (?1.48 V vs Ag/AgCl), and having an onset overpotential of 320 mV. The product selectivity is potential dependent with other C2+ products such as 3-hydroxybutanal, (?max 63%) at an overpotential of 890 mV (?1.4 V vs Ag/AgCl); acetic acid with ?max 18% at an overpotential of 390 mV (?1.0 V vs Ag/AgCl); and acetone with ?max 10% at an overpotential of 620 mV (?1.2 V).

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for the controlled clustering of gene regulatory proteins at the specific target genomic loci. The technology enables formation of liquid-like droplets closely interfaced with genome organization. This technology can be utilized for perturbing endogenous nuclear structures as well as nucleating synthetic membrane-less assemblies. The technology can also be utilized for inducing or detecting mechanical stresses within the genome.

Abstract: Devices and methods for smartphone impostor detection using behavioral and environmental data are provided. Impostors are attackers who take control of an electronic device (e.g., a smartphone) and gain access to confidential and private information of a legitimate user. Embodiments described herein propose a defense-in-depth mechanism to detect impostors quickly with simple deep learning algorithms, which can achieve better detection accuracy than previous works. Embodiments then consider protecting the privacy of the behavioral and/or environmental data (e.g., collected by one or more sensors) of a user by not exposing it outside the protected device. A recurrent neural network (RNN)-based deep learning algorithm is proposed which uses only sensor data of the legitimate user to learn their normal behavior. Prediction error distribution (PED) is used to enhance the detection accuracy.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for generating sound waves for at least two separate zones of a single space. The system includes, for each zone of said space: at least one array of high-frequency loudspeakers forming a directional sound wave; and at least one low-frequency loudspeaker. The system also comprises means for audio processing of the signals transmitted to the loudspeakers, which means control at least one loudspeaker to generate destructive sound waves in at least one zone of said space and to obtain distinct sound contents in said at least two distinct zones of said space. To do this, the audio-processing means control each low-frequency loudspeaker individually and each array of high-frequency loudspeaker mutually in order to generate the destructive sound waves.

Abstract: Various embodiments comprise systems, methods, architectures, mechanisms or apparatus for providing programmable or pre-programmed in-memory computing operations.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides compositions of matter comprising a polymer or peptide bound to an oxidized amino acid or an analog thereof. The present disclosure also provides packaging materials, consumer products, and cosmetic products comprising the compositions of matter disclosed herein.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of identifying an inhibitory activity of an exogeneous agent that disrupts binding of a target peptide to a biomolecule using phase separation as in cellulo read-out. Provided herein also are kits for the methods, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the agents screened by the methods, methods of preparing the pharmaceutical composition, and methods of treating a disease or condition in a subject in need thereof by administering the pharmaceutical composition.

Abstract: In one aspect, methods of preparing composite nanoparticle compositions are described herein. For example, in some embodiments, a method comprises providing a zein solution stream, an organic fluid stream including at least one additive and at least one buffer fluid stream. The zein solution stream, organic fluid stream and buffer fluid stream are delivered to a chamber for mixing at one or more rates sufficient to flash precipitate composite nanoparticles including the additive encapsulated by a shell comprising the zein.

Abstract: Discontinuity modeling techniques of computing functions of a program are described. In one example, a program has a computing function that includes a discontinuity. An input is received by the data modeling system that identifies an axis. A plurality of samples is then generated by the data modeling system along the axis based on an output of the program. The samples are then used as a basis by the data modeling system to generate a data model that models the discontinuity. The data model includes, in one example, one or more gradients and models the discontinuity using a 1D box kernel.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for experimentally optimizing information quality and engagement in crowd sourced evaluation systems. It allows estimating efficiencies of different strategies to provide the greatest opportunity for social learning. It can be used for continuous tuning of social feedback. Also disclosed is a system that allows experimentation with crowd sourced evaluations of virtual services. The experimental system supports large scale online recruitment of participants into web-browser 3D virtual world. The virtual world can be designed to approximate several types of real-world, distributed information systems. Social influences can be experimentally introduced into the feedback system in order to empirically optimize its utility.

Abstract: Described herein, are compositions and methods for preserving human milk, preventing rancidity of human milk, extending shelf life of human milk, and maintaining the nutritional properties of human milk. Specifically, the present disclosure provides, among other things, devices for storing preserved human milk and methods and compositions for preserving the same.

Abstract: According to various embodiments, a system for using magnetic reconnection to accelerate plasma is disclosed. The system includes a pair of electrodes including two concentric rings separated by an electrode gap and held at different electrostatic potential by applying a voltage to generate an inter-electrode electric field. The system further includes a plurality of magnetic coils configured to produce magnetic field lines that connect the pair of electrodes. The system additionally includes a gas injector configured to inject gas into the electrode gap, the injected gas being partially ionized by the inter-electrode electric field to generate a poloidal current that flows along open magnetic field lines across the electrode gap.

Abstract: Nanocmulsion compositions, processes, and methods that include dihydromyricetin (DHM).

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: 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.