Abstract: An integrated microwave photonics (IMWP) apparatus is provided using sapphire as a platform. The IMWP apparatus includes: a sapphire substrate having a step-terrace surface; and a III-V stack layer epitaxially grown on the sapphire substrate. The III-V stack layer includes: a first III-V layer disposed on the sapphire substrate; a low temperature (LT) III-V buffer layer disposed on the first III-V layer; multiple second III-V layers disposed and stacked on the LT III-V buffer layer; a third III-V layer disposed on the second III-V layers; a III-V quantum well layer disposed on the third III-V layers; and a fourth III-V layer disposed on the III-V quantum well layer. The second III-V layers are respectively annealed. A growth temperature of the LT III-V layer and a growth temperature of the III-V quantum well layer are lower than a growth temperature of each of the first, second, third and fourth III-V layers.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to an abdominal stabilizer that is operational to wrap around an abdomen of a subject. The abdominal stabilizer includes a central region operational to be placed on the subject's abdomen, a proximal end operational to be immobilized on a first back region of the subject, a distal end on the opposite side of the proximal end that is operational to be immobilized on a second back region of the subject, an outer surface operational to face away from the subject, and an inner surface operational to face towards the subject. The abdominal stabilizers may also include a first strap and a second strap positioned above the central region and operational to adhere to a chest region of the subject. Further embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of lifting an abdominal pannus of a subject through the utilization of the aforementioned abdominal stabilizers.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to a stabilizer that includes: (1) a first shoulder strap and a second shoulder strap that are each operational to be positioned on different shoulders of a subject; (2) a first hip strap and a second hip strap that are each operational to be positioned on different upper thighs of a subject and connectable to the first shoulder strap and the second shoulder strap, respectively; and (3) a connecting area operational to connect to the first shoulder strap, the second shoulder strap, the first hip strap and the second hip strap on the back of a subject. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of applying the stabilizers of the present disclosure to a subject for various purposes, such as treating or preventing developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH).

Abstract: Patient specific medical balloons, assemblies, and systems for forming the same, and devices and methods for treating patients in need of a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are disclosed. The assembly for forming the medical balloon comprises a form for receiving a parison where the form is configured to prepare a patient specific medical balloon matched in geometry to a blood vessel or a lesion for a patient in need of a PCI.

Abstract: This invention generally relates to a system and process for implementing computer vision and machine learning in a poultry processing plant. In one mode of operation, the invention is configured to analyze images of processed poultry moved by a conveyor to automatically determine if the poultry carcasses have any defects. In another mode of operation, the system is configured to analyze images of processed poultry parts being weighed on a scale. In this mode of operation, the system is configured to automatically classify the poultry carcass part being weighed.

Abstract: A method of making a nanocomposite includes forming at least one gold nanorod; coating a silver layer on an outer surface of the gold nanorod; assembling a Raman reporter molecule layer on the coated silver layer; coating a pegylated layer on the assembled Raman reporter molecule layer; and conjugating the coated pegylated layer with an active layer, the active layer comprising at least one of a targeting molecule configured to bind to the target of interest and a functional molecule configured to interact with the target of interest.

Abstract: The present invention provides biosynthetic products that may be useful for controlling bacterial panicle blight of rice. These products are encoded by four biosynthetic operons found within the genome of a Pseudomonas protegens strain designated as PBL3 and deposited as ATCC #, which has been shown to inhibit the growth of Burkholderia glumae on rice plants. Also provided are vectors encoding these biosynthetic products, and methods of using the biosynthetic products to inhibit the growth of microorganisms.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are energy harvesting devices and sensors, and methods of making and use thereof. The energy harvesting devices can comprise a membrane disposed on a substrate, wherein the membrane comprises a two-dimensional (2D) material and one or more ripples; and a component electrically, magnetically, and/or mechanically coupled to the membrane and/or the substrate, such that the component is configured to harvest energy from the membrane. The sensors can comprise a membrane disposed on a substrate, wherein the membrane comprises a two-dimensional material one or more ripples; and a component electrically, magnetically, and/or mechanically coupled to the membrane and/or the substrate, such that the component is configured to detect a signal from the membrane.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and process for robot-assisted three-dimensional fabrication of continuous fiber-reinforced thermoset composites (CFRTCs). The system includes a robot and a printhead assembly having a continuous fiber feeding module, a resin coating module, and an in-situ resin curing module. The system and process use resistive Joule heating to locally cure the continuous fiber material on demand during the fabrication of the CFRTCs.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to a method of expressing a nucleic acid sequence in a cell by inserting the nucleic acid sequence at a region of a creatine kinase (CKM) and/or a myoglobin (MB) gene such that the inserted nucleic acid sequence becomes expressed in the cell by a promoter of the gene. The nucleic acid sequences may be expressed in vitro or in vivo for various purposes, such as treatment or prevention of a disease and/or tissue repair or regeneration. Additional embodiments pertain to a system for expressing a nucleic acid sequence in a cell after insertion at a region of a creatine kinase (CKM) gene and/or a myoglobin (MB) gene. Further embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to a modified cell that includes an inserted nucleic acid sequence at a region of a creatine kinase (CKM) gene and/or a myoglobin (MB) gene.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to systems for locating a peripheral nerve, which include a plurality of electrodes operational to be actuated independently of other electrodes and base area anchoring the plurality of electrodes. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of locating a fascicle or a portion of a fascicle of a peripheral nerve by (1) electrically stimulating different regions of the peripheral nerve; (2) detecting activity from the stimulated regions; and (3) correlating the detected activity from the stimulated regions to the presence of a fascicle or a portion of a fascicle at the stimulated regions. The methods of the present disclosure may also include steps of (4) generating a map of fascicles in the peripheral nerve and (5) implanting electrodes into the located fascicles.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to a system for holding at least one peripheral nerve. The system generally includes: a support surface operational for holding the peripheral nerve; a first fastener receptacle positioned on the proximal end of the support surface; and a second fastener receptacle positioned on the distal end of the support surface. Further embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of holding at least one peripheral nerve by utilizing the systems of the present disclosure. Such methods generally include: placing a system of the present disclosure at or near a peripheral nerve; positioning the peripheral nerve on the support surface of the system; and placing at least one fastener on the first fastener receptacle and the second fastener receptacle of the system. The methods of the present disclosure may also include a step of implanting electrodes into or in between fascicles of the peripheral nerve.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to covalently crosslinked colloidal cellulose nanocrystals (xCNC) and methods of preparation and use thereof. The colloidal cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are covalently crosslinked in aqueous suspension to generate a network showing tunable physicochemical properties. The xCNC structures are tunable in terms of their physicochemical properties and arrangement within the hydrogel network. The covalent crosslinking of solitary sulfonated (—OSO3) CNCs can be accomplished without prior hydroxyl replacement or functionalization.

Abstract: A system and process for low flow water monitoring in agriculture that measures water consumption at an individual bird/animal/plant level by weighing water in a controlled sealed environment. The system and process include a pressure regulation device fluidly connected to one or more reservoir tanks filled with water. The pressure regulation device is adjustable allowing for different output pressures suitable for many different agriculture applications.

Abstract: A method for forming a biocompatible structure includes the steps of forming a layered structure having alternatively disposed first layers and second layers, where the first layers includes at least one polymer and first particles, and the second layers includes second particles; and treating the layered structure with a washing solvent to form the biocompatible structure, where the first particles are solvable in the washing solvent.

Abstract: A method of making at least one nanocomposite for surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) detection of a target of interest includes forming at least one gold nanorod; coating a silver layer on an outer surface of the gold nanorod; assembling a Raman reporter molecule layer on the coated silver layer, wherein the Raman reporter molecule layer comprises Raman reporter molecules that are detectable by the SERS; coating a thiolated polyethylene glycol (PEG) layer on the assembled Raman reporter molecule layer; and conjugating the coated thiolated PEG layer with molecules of an antibody to make the at least one nanocomposite.

Abstract: A rice cultivar designated CLL18 is disclosed herein. The present invention provides seeds, plants, and plant parts derived from rice cultivar CLL18. Further, it provides methods for producing a rice plant by crossing CLL18 with itself or another rice variety. The invention also encompasses any rice seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by the methods disclosed herein, including those in which additional traits have been transferred into CLL18 through the introduction of a transgene or by breeding CLL18 with another rice cultivar.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to cellulose nanocrystal-based emulsions that can serve as a spray adjuvant for improved agrochemical application efficiency. More particularly, the cellulose nanocrystal-based emulsions are nanocellulose-stabilized Pickering emulsions having a semi-liquid formulation of colloidal cellulose nanocrystals and biopolymers that can substitute currently used surfactants and drift reducing agents in agrochemicals. The cellulose nanocrystal-based emulsions are suitable with both water soluble and oil soluble active ingredient chemistries, and the shear characteristics of the emulsions make them suitable for oil in water-based spray applications. Droplet size distribution can be tuned by changing the ingredient concentrations, thus helping control particle drift. Moreover, a stable cross-linked network formation facilitates the entrapment and encapsulation of volatile agrochemical chemistries, thus preventing their volatilization and reducing vapor drift.

Abstract: The invention provides improved slurries for the polishing of hard materials such as those having a Mohs hardness of greater than about 6. Exemplary hard surfaces include sapphire, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, and gallium nitride, and diamond. In the compositions and method of the invention, novel compositions comprising a unique combination of additives which surprisingly were found to uniformly disperse diamond particles having a wide range of particle size in a slurry. In the method of the invention, the generally alkaline slurry compositions of the invention are capable of utilizing diamond particle sizes of greater than 40 microns while effecting good removal rates. In such cases, when utilized with a suitable pad, rapid and planar grinding of silicon carbide, silicon nitride, sapphire, gallium nitride, and diamond is possible, with uniform surface damage.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, system, and computer program product for automatically detecting missing annotations (false negative objects) in 2D material detection data sets. Feature maps of an input image (e.g., image of 2D material obtained from optical microscopic images) are extracted using a backbone of a neural network (e.g., Mask-RCNN). Upon receiving such extracted feature maps, a list of object proposals are outputted by a regional proposal network of the neural network. The list of object proposals refer to the list of objects (visual representation of something in the image) in the input image to be annotated. Such a list of object proposals includes positive proposals (indicating that such objects were annotated) and negative proposals (indicating that such objects were not annotated). The false negative proposals (missing annotations) are then predicted from such a list of object proposals by measuring a self-attention between the positive and negative proposals.