Abstract: The present application relates to copper-doped double perovskites, for example, copper-doped double perovskites of the formula (I) and to uses thereof, for example as low-bandgap materials such as a semiconducting material in a device. The present application also relates to methods of tuning the bandgap of a Cs2SbAgZ6 double perovskite (for example, wherein Z is Cl) comprising doping the double perovskite with copper.

Abstract: A nano-positioning system for fine and coarse nano-positioning including at least one actuator, wherein the at least one actuator includes a high Curie temperature material and wherein the nano-positioning system is configured to apply a voltage to the at least one actuator to generate fine and/or coarse motion by the at least one actuator. The nano-positioning system being a stand-alone system, a scanning probe microscope, or an attachment to an existing microscope configured to perform a method of creepless nano-positioning that includes positioning a probe relative to a first area of a substrate using coarse stepping and interacting with the first area of the substrate using fine motion after less than 60 seconds of the positioning the probe. The movement of the scanning probe microscope is actuated by a high Curie temperature piezoelectric material that limits and/or eliminates creep, hysteresis and aging.

Abstract: Methods for the diagnosis of CRC, colorectal polyps in general and adenomatous polyps in particular by measurement of metabolites in urine are described. In some embodiments, certain metabolites are identified as being elevated or reduced in concentration or quantity in subjects with CRC and/or colorectal polyps as compared with subjects without CRC or colorectal polyps. The measurement of these metabolites in urine can indicate the presence of CRC or colorectal polyps in general or adanomatous polyps in particular in a subject.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to bioactive self-assembling peptides, nanofibers and hydrogels for activating human mast cells. The peptides, nanofibers and hydrogels comprise a self-assembling peptide that mediates self-assembly linked to a MrgX2 agonist peptide; for example, (RADA)4 linked to proadrenomedullin-12 (PAMP-12).

Abstract: A device for replacing a mitral valve includes a substantially cylindrically-shaped body having a top portion, a bottom portion, and a waist portion disposed therebetween and having ferromagnetic elements arranged circumferentially, and the top portion, waist portion, and bottom portion defining an aperture extending therethrough for allowing blood flow; and a clamping ring formed of a ferromagnetic material and supporting a plurality of ferromagnetic spheres thereon.

Abstract: An electrochromic (EC) device comprises a first electrode and a second electrode separated by an electrolyte. The first electrode comprises an electrochromic (EC) layer comprising a compound having the formula AiBjOk, where A comprises one or more elements selected from a group consisting of W, Mn, Mo, Co, Ni, Cs, and Zn, where B is different than A and comprises one or more elements selected from a group consisting of Mo, Ti, Nb, and V, where i and j have values that are greater than 0, and where k is a stoichiometric value that balances the formula. A is selected such that the EC layer has an improved optical contrast relative to BjOk and B is selected such that the EC layer has an improved specific charge capacity relative to AiOk.

Abstract: The invention, in some aspects relates to compositions and methods for altering cell activity and function and the introduction and use of light-activated ion channels.

Abstract: A method for assessing the quality of a tip of a scanning probe microscope (SPM) includes recording an SPM image, extracting a plurality of images of dangling bonds from the SPM image, feeding the extracted images of dangling bonds into a convolution neural network one image at a time, analyzing each of the plurality of images of dangling bonds using the convolution neural network, assigning each of the plurality of images of dangling bonds one of a sharp tip status or a double tip status, and determining whether the number of the plurality of images of dangling bonds of the SPM image assigned the double tip status exceeds a predetermined threshold. A method of automatically conditioning a tip of a scanning probe microscope (SPM) during imaging of a sample and a method of mass-producing atomistic quantum dots, qubits, or particular atom orbital occupation are also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an immunogenic composition comprising: a) a hepatitis C virus (HCV) heterodimeric polypeptide that includes HCV E1 and E2 polypeptides; b) a T-cell epitope polypeptide comprising a T-cell epitope present in an HCV protein other than E1 and E2; and c) a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. The present disclosure provides a method of inducing an immune response, in an individual, to an HCV polypeptide. The present disclosure provides an immunogenic composition comprising: a) a polypeptide that comprises one or more T-cell epitopes present in an HCV protein other than E1 and E2; and b) a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.

Abstract: There is described herein imidopiperidine compounds as inhibitors of human polynucleotide kinase phosphatase.

Abstract: A method for assessing the quality of a tip of a scanning probe microscope (SPM) includes recording an SPM image, extracting a plurality of images of dangling bonds from the SPM image, feeding the extracted images of dangling bonds into a convolution neural network one image at a time, analyzing each of the plurality of images of dangling bonds using the convolution neural network, assigning each of the plurality of images of dangling bonds one of a sharp tip status or a double tip status, and determining whether the number of the plurality of images of dangling bonds of the SPM image assigned the double tip status exceeds a predetermined threshold. A method of automatically conditioning a tip of a scanning probe microscope (SPM) during imaging of a sample and a method of mass-producing atomistic quantum dots, qubits, or particular atom orbital occupation are also provided.

Abstract: A method for treating a wafer is provided with a portion of a semiconductor layer is selectively removed from the wafer so as to create an inactive region of the wafer surrounding a first active region of the wafer. The inactive region of the wafer has an exposed portion of an insulator layer, but none of the semiconductor layer. The first active region of the wafer includes a first portion of the semiconductor layer and a first portion of the insulator layer. At least one conductor is formed in contact with the first portion of the semiconductor layer, such that the conductor and the first portion of the semiconductor layer form a portion of an electrical circuit. The first active region of the wafer is selectively treated to remove a native oxide layer from the first portion of the semiconductor layer. A resulting wafer is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention, in some aspects relates to compositions and methods for altering cell activity and function and the introduction and use of light-activated ion channels.

Abstract: A method of recovering oil embedded in an underground matrix adjacent a depleted oil reservoir includes injecting a mixture of polymeric material into the depleted oil reservoir through an injection borehole, applying a pressure to the mixture to free the oil from the matrix and move the oil towards a production well, and drawing the oil from the depleted oil reservoir through the production well. The method additionally includes modeling a shear thickening of the polymeric mixture and an onset of the shear thickening. The model can be incorporated into commercial numerical simulators for predicting the injectivity and recovery due to viscoelastic thickening independently and thereby assist in quick screening polymers for oil recovery applications.

Abstract: A method for treating a wafer is provided with a portion of a semiconductor layer is selectively removed from the wafer so as to create an inactive region of the wafer surrounding a first active region of the wafer. The inactive region of the wafer has an exposed portion of an insulator layer, but none of the semiconductor layer. The first active region of the wafer includes a first portion of the semiconductor layer and a first portion of the insulator layer. At least one conductor is formed in contact with the first portion of the semiconductor layer, such that the conductor and the first portion of the semiconductor layer form a portion of an electrical circuit. The first active region of the wafer is selectively treated to remove a native oxide layer from the first portion of the semiconductor layer. A resulting wafer is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for assessing the quality of a tip of a scanning probe microscope (SPM) includes recording an SPM image, extracting a plurality of images of dangling bonds from the SPM image, feeding the extracted images of dangling bonds into a convolution neural network one image at a time, analyzing each of the plurality of images of dangling bonds using the convolution neural network, assigning each of the plurality of images of dangling bonds one of a sharp tip status or a double tip status, and determining whether the number of the plurality of images of dangling bonds of the SPM image assigned the double tip status exceeds a predetermined threshold. A method of automatically conditioning a tip of a scanning probe microscope (SPM) during imaging of a sample and a method of mass-producing atomistic quantum dots, qubits, or particular atom orbital occupation are also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides affinity tagged heterodimeric polypeptides comprising a hepatitis C virus (HCV) E1 polypeptide and an HCV E2 polypeptide, where one or both of the E1 and E2 polypeptides comprises an affinity tag. The present disclosure provides a method of producing an affinity tagged E1/E2 heterodimer of the present disclosure. The present disclosure provides methods of producing untagged HCV E1/E2 heterodimers. The present disclosure provides HCV E1/E2 heterodimers, compositions comprising same, and methods of inducing an immune response to HCV.

Abstract: Cryopreservation of endothelial cell monolayers is one of the major challenges in the cryopreservation of complex tissues. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in suspension are available commercially and recently their post-thaw cell membrane integrity was significantly improved by cryopreservation in 5% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and 6% hydroxyethyl starch (HES). However, cryopreservation of cells in monolayers has been elusive. The exact mechanisms of damage during cell monolayer cryopreservation are still under investigation. Here, we show that a combination of different factors contribute to significant progress in cryopreservation of cell monolayers. The addition of 2% chondroitin sulfate to 5% DMSO and 6% HES and cooling at 0.2 or 1° C./min led to high membrane integrity (97.3±3.2%) immediately after thaw when HUVECs were cultured on a substrate with a coefficient of thermal expansion similar to that of ice.

Abstract: Described here is a composition comprising amphiphilic silica nanoparticles, wherein the silica nanoparticles are partially fluorinated. Also described here is a method for droplet-based assay, comprising dispersing at least one aqueous droplet in a continuous fluorous phase in a microfluidic channel, wherein at least one amphiphilic silica nanoparticle is absorbed to the interface of the continuous fluorous phase and the aqueous droplet, and wherein the silica nanoparticle is partially fluorinated. Further described here is a method for droplet-based assay, comprising dispersing at least one aqueous phase droplet in a continuous fluorous phase in a microfluidic channel, wherein the continuous fluorous phase comprises at least one partially fluorinated amphiphilic particle adsorbed to an interface of the continuous fluorous phase and the aqueous phase droplet, and wherein the aqueous phase droplet comprises at least one hydrophilic polymer adsorbed to the amphiphilic particle at the interface.

Abstract: An atomic orbital based memory storage is provided that includes a plurality of surface atoms forming dangling bonds (DBs) and a subset of the plurality of surface atoms passivated with spatial control to form covalent bonds with hydrogen, deuterium, or a combination thereof. The atomic orbital based data storage that can be rewritten and corrected as needed. The resulting data storage is also archival and capable of high data densities than any known storage as the data is retained in a binary storage or a given orbital being passivated or a dangling bond (DB). A method of forming and reading the atomic orbital data storage is also provided. The method including selectively removing covalent bonds to form dangling bonds (DBs) extending from a surface atom by hydrogen lithography and imaging the covalent bonds spatially to read the atomic orbital data storage.