Abstract: A wafer fabrication monitoring/control system and method is disclosed. The invention utilizes Multiple Internal Reflection Infrared Detection (MIR-IR) to provide a highly sensitive (sub-10 nm, in-situ, ex-situ) on-wafer monitoring and characterization apparatus and method. The disclosed system and method has many practical applications to the development of advanced microfabrication technologies for sub-32 nm node CMOS semiconductor devices and provides support for formulation design, photolithographic patterning, etching/ashing of photoresists, plasma reactive ion etching (RIE) for trench/via patterning of low k dielectric, bottom anti-reflective coatings (BARCs), etch stop layers, and minimization/removal of plasma-etch polymers, development/confirmation of wet cleaning formulations and effectiveness for post CMP and post-etch cleaning.

Abstract: We have demonstrated controlled growth of epitaxial h-BN on a metal substrate using atomic layer deposition. This permits the fabrication of devices such as vertical graphene transistors, where the electron tunneling barrier, and resulting characteristics such as ON-OFF rate may be altered by varying the number of epitaxial layers of h-BN. Few layer graphene is grown on the h-BN opposite the metal substrate, with leads to provide a vertical graphene transistor that is intergratable with Si CMOS technology of today, and can be prepared in a scalable, low temperature process of high repeatability and reliability.

Abstract: Boron carbide polymers prepared from orthocarborane icosahedra cross-linked with a moiety A wherein A is selected from the group consisting of benzene, pyridine. 1,4-diaminobenzene and mixtures thereof give positive magnetoresistance effects of 30%-80% at room temperature. The novel polymers may be doped with transitional metals to improve electronic and spin performance. These polymers may be deposited by any of a variety of techniques, and may be used in a wide variety of devices including magnetic tunnel junctions, spin-memristors and non-local spin valves.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides targeted drug delivery vehicle compositions comprising a drug composition and targeted poly-amino-acid subunits, methods of manufacture, and methods of treatment for numerous diseases.

Abstract: A composition and method for producing plants with increased biomass and growth characteristics, and plants which flower early relative to wild-type plants. The MtNIP gene is over-expressed in plants to increase biomass, growth, and early flowering. Other genes in the NRT1/PTR family may also be over-expressed to increase biomass, growth, and early flowering.

Abstract: A method and chemical composition and material structure for improving fretting wear in substrates, particularly carbon-carbon composite (CCC). The invention relates to trilayer coatings, comprising a base of hard ZrO2, a middle layer of Al2O3, and a top layer of lubricious ZnO. The coatings of the present invention exhibit conformality and pore-filling down to approximately 100 microns into a carbon-carbon composite to which they are applied. The methods for preparing the coatings include a chemical vapor infiltration route, such as an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process, to uniformly and conformally coat the porous and open structure of CCC with a solid lubricant trilayer of ZnO/Al2O3/ZrO2 that results in significant improvement (65%) in fretting wear.

Abstract: A coupled nanomanipulation and nanospray mass spectrometry (NMS) system for single cell, single organelle, and ultra-trace molecular analysis is disclosed herein. The system primarily comprises a bio-workstation coupled to a NMS. The bio-workstation primarily comprises of a nanomanipulator stage with a plurality of nano-positioners attached to a cabinet with a piezo voltage source and a pressure injector. The present invention further describes a fingerprint lift method that when coupled with the system disclosed herein can be used for retrieval and analysis of trace amounts of drug and explosive residues. The system described herein has been used in the areas of trace and document analysis within the forensic field, trace fiber analysis, and electrostatic lifts for illicit drugs, as well as document and painting analysis.

Abstract: A group of antimicrobial compounds shows effectiveness for preventing bacterial growth and bio film formation. In particular, the compounds are effective for preventing the growth of gram-positive bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (“MRSA”) bacteria. The compounds include naturally-occurring compounds such as linoleyl ethanolamide, noladin ether, and anandamide, and man-made compounds such as CP55,640 [(?)-cis-3-[2-Hydroxy-4-(l,l-dimethylheptyl)phenyl]-trans-4-(3-hydroxypropyl)cyclohexanol] and O-2050 [(6aR,10aR)-3-(l-Methanesulfonylamino-4-hexyn-6-yl)-6a,7,10,1Oa-tetrahydro-6,6,9-trimethyl-6H-dibenzo[b,d]pyran]. Because these antibacterial compounds have unique modes of action and/or unique chemical scaffolds compared to traditional antibiotics, they are extremely useful against bacteria having resistances to antibiotics.

Abstract: The present invention includes compositions and methods of making a nanoparticle composition comprising a polymeric core comprising one or more polymers and one or more active agents, and at least one layer of one or more lipids on the surface of the polymeric core; more specifically, the invention relates to the use of curcumin within such a lipid-polymer nanoparticle formulation for minimizing QT prolongation associated with curcumin in treatment of cancer.

Abstract: The present invention includes compositions and methods for making and using a drug conjugated to a peptide or protein that binds specifically to a ligand in vivo, wherein the conjugate binds to its ligand in vivo and increases the half-life of the drug.

Abstract: The present invention includes nucleic acid hybrid molecules capable of entering cells comprising at least one vivo-morpholino oligonucleotide (vivo-MO) comprising a guanidine-rich head conjugated to the 5? end, and at least one standard oligonucleotide comprising a gene-specific sequence and a standard oligonucleotide pairing sequence, wherein the standard oligonucleotide is bound to the vivo-morpholino oligonucleotide through base pairing to form a hybrid and wherein the vivo-morpholino oligonucleotide pairing sequence is complementary to the standard oligonucleotide pairing sequence.

Abstract: Tunable polymer-based sonic structures (“TuPSS”) are made up of sonic structures and polymers. The TuPSS has three general requirements: a) The sonic structure is composed of one or materials engineered to behave as a lens, filter, cloak, or dampener; b) Stimulus sensitive polymer is incorporated into the sonic structure; and c) The actuation of the polymer tunes the acoustic behavior of the structure in a predictable manner. The tunable polymer-based sonic structures utilize stimuli-driven physical properties of the polymers in these acoustic structures to produce a stimulus driven, or tunable, sonic structure or device. The sonic structures actively modulate mechanical vibrations that propagate through the structures, but are passive in that they do not produce mechanical vibrations. The stimuli for the structures include electric, magnetic, electromagnetic, chemical, thermal, and shaking/orientation.

Abstract: A method for designing complex, mixed signal circuits, comprising generating electronic data defining a baseline schematic design. Generating a parameterized parasitic-aware netlist using the baseline schematic design. Performing design and process parameter statistical optimization using the parameterized parasitic-aware netlist and mixed signal component specifications. Determining whether one or more predetermined design specifications are satisfied. Optimizing the parameterized parasitic-aware netlist if it is determined that the one more predetermined design specifications are not satisfied. Generating electronic data defining a schematic-optimal layout design if it is determined that the one or more predetermined design specifications are satisfied.

Abstract: A method for encoding data comprising generating a table having N moduli, where N is a positive integer equal to two or more, where each of a plurality of integers has a unique set of residue values associated with the moduli. Storing or transmitting the first data field value of a sequence of L data fields values, where L is an integer equal to or greater than 2. Storing or transmitting a set of K residue values, where K<N, for each of the successive L?1 data field values of the sequence of M data field values until a set of K residue values for each successive data field value have been stored. Retrieving or receiving the first data field value and the L?1 sets of K residue values. Reconstructing the sequence of L data fields using the multi-residue multivariate encoding table and a table look-up process, using the first value and the L?1 sets of K residue values.

Abstract: The present invention includes compositions and methods of making an activated polymeric nanoparticle for targeted drug delivery that includes a biocompatible polymer and an amphiphilic stabilizing agent non-covalently associated with a spacer compound that includes at least one electrophile that selectively reacts with any nucleophilic on a targeting agent and places the targeting agent on the exterior surface of a biodegradable nanoshell, wherein an active agent is loaded with the nanoshell.

Abstract: A method for modeling a circuit comprising storing a plurality of design variable ranges for a circuit component in a non-transient electronic data memory. Performing transistor-level simulations at a plurality of sample points for the circuit component to generate a plurality of design variable samples for the circuit component. Storing a neural network architecture in the non-transient electronic data memory that models the plurality of design variable samples for the circuit component. Storing a performance metric metamodel and a circuit parameter metamodel generated using Verilog-AMS.

Abstract: Disclosed is a substrate-mediated assembly for graphene structures. According to an embodiment, long-range ordered, multilayer BN(111) films can be formed by atomic layer deposition (ALD) onto a substrate. The subject BN(111) films can then be used to order carbon atoms into a graphene sheet during a carbon deposition process.

Abstract: Environmentally-friendly alternatives to organometallic antifoulants that are efficacious at preventing biofouling by organisms such as the zebra mussel. Preferred antifoulant compositions utilize compounds having a Lipophilic-Amide-Spacer-ElectroNegative (“LASEN”) structural motif, such as capsaicin, and compounds having a TetraHydroCannibinoid (“THC”) structural motif. The antifoulant compositions are non-toxic, and effective.

Abstract: Direct growth of graphene on Co3O4(111) at 1000 K was achieved by molecular beam epitaxy from a graphite source. Auger spectroscopy shows a characteristic sp2 carbon lineshape, at average carbon coverages from 0.4-3 monolayers. Low energy electron diffraction (LEED) indicates (111) ordering of the sp2 carbon film with a lattice constant of 2.5 (±0.1) ? characteristic of graphene. Six-fold symmetry of the graphene diffraction spots is observed at 0.4, 1 and 3 monolayers. The LEED data also indicate an average domain size of ˜1800 ?, and show an incommensurate interface with the Co3O4(111) substrate, where the latter exhibits a lattice constant of 2.8 (±0.1) ?. Core level photoemission shows a characteristically asymmetric C(1s) feature, with the expected lr to lr* satellite feature, but with a binding energy for the three monolayer film of 284.9 (±0.1) eV, indicative of substantial graphene-to-oxide charge transfer.

Abstract: Dopamine D3 receptor antagonists and partial agonists are known to modulate the reinforcing and drug-seeking effects induced by cocaine and other abused substances. By introducing functionality into the butylamide linking chain of the 4-phenylpiperazine class of ligands, improved D3 receptor affinity and selectivity, as well as water solubility, is achieved. A series of linking-chain derivatives are disclosed wherein functionality such as OH, OAc, and cis or trans-cyclopropyl groups have been introduced into the linking chain. In general, these modifications are well tolerated at D3 receptors and achieve high selectivity over D2 and D4 receptors.