Abstract: A Diels-Alder adduct of a trans-cyclooctene with a tetrazine is provided, wherein the adduct bears a substituent labeled with a radionuclide. A method of producing a PET or other image of an organ in an animal or human includes forming the Diels-Alder adduct in the animal or human. Trans-cyclooctenes and tetrazines suitable for preparing the adducts are provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tyrosine kinase-inducible domain (pKID) and uses thereof. An isolated polypeptide comprising the pKID, and an isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding the pKID are provided. Also provided are methods for determining tyrosine kinase and/or phosphatase activity in a sample and for identifying an agent that inhibits a tyrosine kinase or phosphatase using a polypeptide comprising the pKID.

Abstract: A method for promoting the health of a plant comprises administering malic acid to the plant or the soil in an amount effective to recruit plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) to the plant. Administration of malic acid promotes biofilm formation of PGPR on the plant's roots, thereby restricting entry of a foliar pathogen through stomatal pores present in the leaves. Another method for promoting the health of a plant comprises administering acetoin to the plant or the soil in an amount effective to increase pathogen resistance in aerial parts of the plant.

Abstract: Methods of measuring a sample characteristic and accessories for infrared (IR) spectrometers are provided. An accessory includes an input port and an output port having an optical path therebetween, a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) structure for contacting a sample, a mirror system, and an optical element for producing collimated light. The SPR structure produces internally reflected light responsive to broadband IR light, modified by a SPR between the SPR structure and the sample. The mirror system directs the broadband IR light from the input port to the SPR structure and directs the internally reflected light from the SPR structure to the output port, producing output light indicative of a characteristic of the sample associated with the SPR. The optical element is disposed along the optical path between the input port and the output port.

Abstract: The present invention is related to compositions which can undergo targeted degradation under certain physiological reducing conditions. The compositions may, for example, be hydrogels in which maleimide-functionalized low molecular weight heparin is cross-linked with various thiol-functionalized polyethylene glycol multi-arm star polymers. Both the gelation and degradation of the hydrogels can be modified by careful selection of the thiol. For example, hydrogels prepared from aryl thiol-maleimide adducts can undergo a retro Michael addition-type reaction, leading to degradation of the composition and release of the bioactive molecule.

Abstract: A process and system for fitting, customizing and manufacturing an orthosis for a subject. 3-dimensional coordinates for a plurality of landmarks corresponding to anatomical characteristics of the subject, means for attachment of the orthosis to the subject, and a reference plane are digitally acquired. Then, coordinates of one or more virtual landmarks corresponding to one or more anatomical joint centers or joint projection locations are calculated. The landmarks are clinically aligned in a reference position of one of the anatomical joint centers and a customized digital model of the orthosis is created using the clinically aligned landmarks. Finally, the orthosis is fabricated using a computer aided manufacturing process, based upon an output from the customized digital model.

Abstract: A method of treating or preventing a thrombotic disease in a subject in need thereof comprises administering to the subject an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising an inhibitor of an apoptosis signal regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) protein. A method of identifying an inhibitor of an apoptosis signal regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) protein useful for treating or preventing a thrombotic disease, comprising (a) contacting a candidate agent with a test sample comprising the ASK1 protein, and (b) comparing the ASK1 protein activity in the test sample with the ASK1 protein activity in a control sample that has not been contacted with the candidate agent, whereby a decrease in the ASK1 protein activity in the test sample compared with the control sample indicates that the candidate agent is an ASK1 inhibitor.

Abstract: Methods and systems for acoustic multiple-input/multiple-output (MIMO) communication in an underwater environment. The method includes: a) receiving signals at multiple receivers representing transmitted signals from multiple transmitters, b) estimating channel responses between the multiple receivers and the multiple transmitters, c) performing an initial demodulation process on the received signals using the estimated channel responses to remove inter-symbol interference (ISI), and d) performing at least one subsequent demodulation process on the received signals. The subsequent demodulation process: i) removes co-channel interference (CoI) using the estimated channel responses and demodulated signals from an immediately preceding demodulation process to form interference cancelled signals and ii) removes ISI from the interference cancelled signals.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for interfacing an electric vehicle with an electric power grid are disclosed. An exemplary apparatus may include a station communication port for interfacing with electric vehicle station equipment (EVSE), a vehicle communication port for interfacing with a vehicle management system (VMS), and a processor coupled to the station communication port and the vehicle communication port to establish communication with the EVSE via the station communication port, receive EVSE attributes from the EVSE, and issue commands to the VMS to manage power flow between the electric vehicle and the EVSE based on the EVSE attributes. An electric vehicle may interface with the grid by establishing communication with the EVSE, receiving the EVSE attributes, and managing power flow between the EVE and the grid based on the EVSE attributes.

Abstract: Disclosed are devices that feature nanopores formed in graphene sheets, such as graphene ribbons. The graphene sheets include an edge irregularity, such as a zig-zag configuration, a chiral edge, or an armchair-configuration edge, which edges confer on the devices the ability to discriminate between different subunits of a macromolecule translocated through the nanpore. The disclosed devices and methods have application to DNA sequencing and analysis, among other applications.

Abstract: A method for the detection in a body fluid of perlecan polypeptide fragments that are biomarkers of tumor metastasis, and antibodies for detecting these fragments are described. An immunoassay kit for detecting the presence of these biomarkers in a body fluid, such as serum or urine, is also described.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting electromagnetic waves are disclosed. A system for detecting such waves includes a device having a first magnetic layer having a fixed magnetization direction, a second magnetic layer having an unfixed magnetization direction responsive to the electromagnetic wave, and a barrier layer positioned between the first and second magnetic layers. The device may have an impedance dependent on a relative angle between the fixed magnetization direction and the unfixed magnetization direction. The system further has a detector configured to detect a change in the impedance indicative of the electromagnetic wave. The electromagnetic wave may be detected by positioning the device in order to detect the electromagnetic wave, determining a change in the impedance of the device, and detecting the electromagnetic wave based on the change in the impedance of the device. Characteristics of the wave such as frequency, power, and phase may also be detected.

Abstract: Processes for fabricating back contacts for photovoltaic cell devices are disclosed. The processes involve depositing a passivation layer on the back surface of a wafer, depositing an emitter layer on the passivation layer, depositing a metal layer on the emitter layer, laser firing selected areas of the metal layer to form base contacts, laser cutting the metal layer to create at least one isolation region between emitter contacts and base contacts, and applying a stream of reactive gas to form a second passivation layer in the isolation region. The process may further involve inkjetting a resist on the passivation layer in a pattern corresponding to a boundary between the one or more emitter contacts and the one or more base contacts, and laser cutting the metal layer over the resist to create the isolation region.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are novel antagonists of the androgen receptor and androgen receptor mutations associated with clinical failure of currently prescribed anti-androgens and use of said antagonists in the treatment of conditions associated with inappropriate activation of the androgen receptor.

Abstract: A flexible silicon anode includes a flexible substrate, a layer of silicon with a thickness of 1 ?m or less adhered to the flexible substrate, and a current collector in contact with the layer of silicon. A lithium ion battery cell includes a flexible silicon anode, a current collector in contact with the layer of silicon; a lithium cathode; a separator between the silicon anode and the lithium cathode; an electrolyte in contact with the silicon anode and the lithium cathode; and an electrical connection between the silicon anode and the lithium cathode. Forming the flexible silicon anode can include etching a silicon-on-insulator structure to form a silicon layer on the silicon substrate, treating the silicon layer, contacting the treated silicon layer with a flexible substrate, and separating the flexible substrate and the silicon substrate, thereby transferring the treated silicon layer from the silicon substrate to the flexible substrate.

Abstract: Systems and methods for optical tracking are disclosed. One optical tracking system includes a first optical element configured to focus a light beam and a second optical element configured to redirect the focused light beam from the first optical element. The second optical element is configured to move in order to continuously receive the focused light beam during movement of the focused light beam. Another optical tracking system includes an optical element configured to redirect a light beam and a photosensitive material configured to change its optical properties when it receives the redirected light beam, in order to continuously redirect the light beam during movement of the light beam. The optical tracking methods employ the above-described optical tracking systems.

Abstract: Magnetic devices incorporating magnetic composite materials are disclosed. A tunable magnetic device includes magnetic composite material and a magnetic field source. The magnetic composite material includes an insulator and magnetic material embedded in the insulator. The magnetic material has a remanent magnetization. The magnetic field source is operable to apply a magnetic field to the magnetic composite material in order to change the remanent magnetization of the magnetic material. A magnetic device for detecting a magnetic pulse includes magnetic composite material and a sensor. The magnetic composite material includes an insulator and magnetic material embedded in the insulator. The magnetic material has a remanent magnetization. The remanent magnetization changes when the magnetic composite material receives the magnetic pulse. The sensor is positioned to determine the remanent magnetization of the magnetic material.

Abstract: A peptide comprising the sequence VKVKVRVKVDPPTKVKVRVKV-NH2 forms a hydrogel which has the ability to shear-thin and recover. The hydrogel, both before and after shear-thinning, is capable of killing bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Abstract: A method for targeted delivery of therapeutic compounds from hydrogels is presented. The method involves administering to a cell a hydrogel in which a therapeutic compound is noncovalently bound to heparin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel fusion protein comprising a nitrate reductase (NR) and a truncated hemoglobin N (trHbN) domain. The fusion protein may be used for bioremediation of nitric oxide.