Abstract: A variety of agricultural spacer fabrics/textiles are provided that protect plants from insect penetration while allowing for light and air penetration, and methods of use. The textiles can be used alone or in conjunction with agents such as insecticides, insect repellants, and fungicides. The agricultural textile can have an outermost fabric layer, an innermost fabric layer, and a plurality of filaments connecting the outermost fabric layer and the innermost fabric layer.

Abstract: Polyethylene glycol (PEG)-conjugated glucocorticoid prodrugs, methods of preparation, and use for the treatment of diseases and disorders are disclosed. In particular, PEG-conjugated dexamethasone compounds and methods of using them for treating inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, including but not limited to lupus, are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of tailoring the properties of garnet-type scintillators to meet the particular needs of different applications is described. More particularly, codoping scintillators, such as Gd3Ga3Al2O12, Gd3Ga2Al3O12, or other rare earth gallium aluminum garnets, with different ions can modify the scintillation light yield, decay time, rise time, energy resolution, proportionality, and/or sensitivity to light exposure. Also provided are the codoped garnet-type scintillators themselves, radiation detectors and related devices comprising the codoped garnet-type scintillators, and methods of using the radiation detectors to detect gamma rays, X-rays, cosmic rays, and particles having an energy of 1 keV or greater.

Abstract: An insulin composition comprises an insulin analogue and polymer blend. The insulin analogue contains cysteine substitutions at positions B4 and A10 (to form cystine B4-A10), and one or more additional substitutions selected from the group consisting of: a connecting domain of 5-11 amino acids between insulin A- and B domains; a non-beta-branched amino-acid substitution at position A8; a non-beta-branched acidic or polar side chain at position A14; a halogenic modification of PheB24 at the ortho position; and substitution of lysine at position B29 by Glu, Ala, Val, Ile, Leu, amino-propionic acid, amino-butryic acid, or Norleucine. The insulin analogue is compatible with a process of manufacture that includes one or more steps within the temperature range 90-120° C. The encapsulated insulin analogue may optionally contain free PEG or be PEGylated. The insulin analogue-encapsulated polymer blend may be cast as a microneedle patch for topical administration or as micropellets for subcutaneous injection.

Abstract: A system to detect gate-open failures in a MOS based insulated gate transistor can include a detection circuit, including a first circuit configured to measure a drain-source voltage across the MOS based insulated gate transistor, a first comparator circuit can be configured to compare the measured drain-source voltage to a threshold drain-source conduction voltage indicating a conduction state of a channel of the MOS based insulated gate transistor, a second circuit can be configured to measure a gate voltage applied at a gate of the MOS-based insulated gate transistor, a second comparator circuit can be configured to compare the gate voltage applied at the gate to a threshold gate voltage for the MOS based insulated gate transistor to provide an indication of whether the gate voltage applied at the gate is sufficient to activate conduction in the channel and a logic circuit can be configured to detect a gate-open failure of the MOS based insulated gate transistor based on the conduction state of the channel

Abstract: Various embodiments of a wearable haptic and thermal feedback display system are disclosed herein. In particular, the system includes an array of vibrotactile actuators and thermal units affixed on a flexible casing that could be worn around the forearm. The collocated vibrotactile and thermal stimulations could enable richer haptic communication due to better control over the generated patterns.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes the fusogenic activity of the Myomaker protein. This polypeptide, when expressed in non-muscle cells, is able to drive fusion of the cell with a muscle cell, but not with other non-muscle cells. The use of this protein and cell expressing it in the delivery of exogenous genetic material to muscle cells also is described.

Abstract: Isolated anti-IDE antibodies are provided. Each of the antibodies comprise an antigen recognition domain comprising the indicated CDR amino acid sequences. Methods of producing same, methods of using same, pharmaceutical compositions comprising same and articles of manufacture are also provided.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for producing an optimized phase mask for use in a single-molecule orientation localization microscopy (SMOLM) imaging system are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of making a hydrodesulfurization catalyst having nickel and molybdenum sulfides deposited on a support material containing mesoporous silica that is optionally modified with zirconium. The method of making the hydrodesulfurization catalyst involves a single-step calcination and reduction procedure. The utilization of the hydrodesulfurization catalyst in treating a hydrocarbon feedstock containing sulfur compounds (e.g. dibenzothiophene, 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene) to produce a desulfurized hydrocarbon stream is also provided.

Abstract: In a general aspect, a swab sample is analyzed, for example, to test for disease. In some examples, a swab head of a swab sample is inserted through an opening into an internal reservoir of a sampling device. The sampling device includes the opening, an inlet channel, an outlet channel, and the internal reservoir. The internal reservoir is in fluid communication with the inlet channel, the outlet channel, and the opening. A liquid solvent is supplied to the swab head in the internal reservoir via the inlet channel of the sampling device. The swab head is held in the liquid solvent for a period of time to form an analyte in the internal reservoir. The analyte is extracted from the internal reservoir via the outlet channel of the sampling device. The analyte is transferred to and processed by a mass spectrometer to obtain mass spectrometry data.

Abstract: A method of performing personalized neuromodulation on a subject is provided. The method includes acquiring functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data of a brain of the subject. The method also includes calculating functional connectivity of the brain between a voxel in a subcortical region of the brain and a voxel in a cortical region of the brain, based on the fMRI data. The method also includes identifying a target location in the brain to be targeted by neuromodulation based on the calculated functional connectivity.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to compositions and methods for expressing anti-Vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) agent in a cell or subject. In some embodiments, the disclosure provides rAAVs comprising a capsid protein (e.g., AAV2 variants, AAV2/3 hybrid variants, AAV8 variants, etc.), and a transgene encoding an anti-VEGF agent (e.g., KH902) and one or more regulatory sequences. In some embodiments, compositions described herein are useful for treating subjects having diseases associated with angiogenesis or aberrant VEGF activity/signaling.

Abstract: A method and robot controller configured to obtain an inertia-vibration model of the robot arm. The inertia-vibration model defines a relationship between the inertia of the robot arm and the vibrational properties of said robot arm and have been by setting the robot arm in a plurality of different physical configurations and for each of said physical configurations of said robot arm obtaining the vibrational properties and the inertia the robot arm. The inertia-vibration model makes it possible to in a simple and efficient way to obtain the vibrational properties of different physical configurations of the robot arm whereby the robot arm can be controlled according to the vibrational properties of the robot arm. This makes it possible to reduce the vibrations of the robot arm during movement of the robot arm.

Abstract: The invention is directed to compositions comprising a modified dextran and to uses thereof for the treatment of wounds in a subject or for delivering a protein, an olignonucleotide, a pharmaceutical agent, or a mixture thereof to a subject. The modified dextran in the compositions can form hydrogels via crosslinking.

Abstract: Phase-change metasurface waveguide mode converters and photonic computing systems including a phase-change metasurface waveguide mode converter are described. In an embodiment, the phase-change metasurface waveguide mode converter include a plurality of phase-change antennae comprising a phase-change material and protruding from a surface, wherein each phase-change antenna of the plurality of phase-change antennae is configured to scatter an optical waveguide mode and cause a phase shift of light travelling through an optical waveguide optically coupled thereto. In an embodiment, the phase-change metasurface waveguide mode converter includes the plurality of phase-change antennae configured to alternate between a crystalline phase and an amorphous phase.

Abstract: Modified ribosomes that were selected using a dipeptidyl-puromycin aminonucleoside are used to mediate site-specific incorporation of one or more peptides and peptidomimetics into protein in a cell free translation system. In addition, new fluorescent dipeptidomimetics have been synthesized and incorporated into proteins, as well as modified proteins containing one or more non-naturally occurring dipeptides.

Abstract: Disclosed is a marine communication buoy. The marine communication buoy includes s a round seat, side slots and hollow boxes, four side slots are uniformly distributed outside the round seat, and each side slot is connected with the hollow box in a sliding way. The marine communication buoy also includes sealing rings and buckle covers, an outer part of each hollow box is provided with a sealing ring, an outer end of each hollow box is slidably connected with the buckle cover, and an inner side of the buckle cover is in contact with the sealing ring. The marine communication buoy also includes valves and connector pipes, the connector pipe is arranged at an outer side of each buckle cover, and the connector pipe is provided with the valve.

Abstract: Silica nanocarriers hybridized with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (“SPIONs”) and curcumin through equilibrium or enforced adsorption technique. Methods for dual delivery of SPIONs and curcumin to a target for diagnosis or therapy, for example, for SPION-based magnetic resonance imaging or for targeted delivery of curcumin to a cell or tissue. The technique can be extend to co-precipitation of mixed metal oxide involving Ni, Mn, Co and Cu oxide. The calcination temperature can be varied from 500-900° C. The nanocombination is functionalized with chitosan, polyacrylic acid, PLGA or another agent to increase its biocompatibility in vivo.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for the placement of elongate medical members within a patients body using coaptive ultrasound. In a particularly preferred embodiment, a flexible tube includes a first balloon at a distal end of the tube, and a second balloon at the distal end of the tube and positioned within the first balloon. The first and second balloons are inflatable to form one or more echogenic windows between them, which echogenic window may be detected from within a patient's body by an ultrasound probe that is external to the patient's body. Detection of such echogenic window is used to identify an acceptable location on the patient's body at which to insert a guidewire configured to receive an elongate medical member without damage to surrounding patient tissues or organs.