Abstract: Processes are described for making biobased isoprene, wherein a biobased isobutene prepared from acetic acid in the presence of a catalyst is combined with a formaldehyde source to form a reaction mixture, and the reaction mixture is reacted to yield biobased isoprene. In certain embodiments, methyl-tert-butyl ether prepared by reacting the same biobased isobutene with methanol serves as a formaldehyde source, being oxidatively cracked to produce formaldehyde as well as isobutene for being converted to the biobased isoprene.

Abstract: Three-dimensional inductors may comprise a passivation layer disposed on a substrate, a three-dimensional pillar comprising a ferromagnetic material disposed on the substrate or the passivation layer, and a conductive trace wound at least partially around the pillar. Three-dimensional capacitors may comprise a passivation layer disposed on a substrate, at least two support pillars comprising a polymeric material disposed on the passivation layer or the substrate, at least two electrodes disposed between the support pillars, a dielectric disposed between the electrodes, and a metal trace. Methods of manufacturing the three-dimensional passives, such as inductors and capacitors, may comprise direct writing the components and curing them for on-chip applications.

Abstract: Various embodiments of processing systems and components for sterilization or pasteurization and associated methods of operation are described herein. For example, a method of sterilization or pasteurization includes immersing an item in an immersion fluid, and the immersed item is subject to a hydrostatic pressure of the immersion fluid. The method also includes applying microwave energy to the item while the item is immersed in the immersion fluid and subject to the hydrostatic pressure of the immersion fluid. The hydrostatic pressure of the immersion fluid prevents the water content of the item from causing steam explosion in the item while the microwave energy is applied. The method further includes heating the item immersed in the immersion fluid to a target temperature with the applied microwave energy, the target temperature being sufficient to achieve sterilization or pasteurization of the item.

Abstract: Described herein are vectors, such as adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors, and recombinant AAV expressing Smad7. The disclosed AAV vectors and rAAV can be used for therapeutic applications in the treatment and amelioration of muscle wasting, cardiac and/or skeletal muscle wasting associated with cancer cachexia.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for detecting and diagnosing sexually transmitted infections using a string of epitopes (SOE) specific for detection of causative microorganisms. The antigenic epitopes may be single epitope sequences a plurality of epitope sequences joined by repeats of glycine (-GG-) and/or lysine (-KK-) to form a series of epitopes (SOE), or nucleotide sequences encoding one or more SOEs and host cells harboring said SOE nucleotide sequences. SOEs specific for highly immunogenic regions of proteins from Trichomonas, Treponema and Neisseria species are provided. SOEs to detect the presence of trichomonas species comprise regions from Trichomonas-sptciric aldolase, GAPDH, ?-enolase and ?-actinin proteins. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising SOEs can also be used as vaccines or to elicit an immune response to specific microorganisms.

Abstract: Systems and methods for analyzing performance of a power grid monitor are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving test data from a test power grid monitor coupled to a power grid signal source and receiving reference data from a reference power grid monitor coupled to the same power grid signal source. The method also includes identifying a power grid condition based on the received test data and/or reference data, extracting a subset of the test data and a subset of the reference data corresponding to the identified power grid condition, and comparing the subset of the test data to the subset of the reference data to determine a measurement accuracy of the test power grid monitor.

Abstract: Various embodiments of microscopy systems, devices, and associated methods of analysis are described herein. In one embodiment, a method of operating a microscope includes acquiring a profile of a light signal from a sample with a photo detector without passing the light signal through a physical pinhole. The method also includes determining a parameter of the sample based on generally the entire acquired profile of the light signal.

Abstract: Several embodiments of the present technology are related to network-on-chip based integrated circuits with wireless interconnects. In one embodiment, a computing device includes a plurality of computing cores on a common substrate. The computing cores are organized into a plurality of subnets individually associated with a set of the computing cores, a communications hub associated with the set of the computing cores, and a plurality of conductive or semi-conductive connectors connecting the set of the computing cores into a small world network. The computing device further includes a plurality of wireless transceivers on the substrate, the wireless transceivers being individually associated with one of the communications hubs of a corresponding subnet.

Abstract: Systems and methods for voltage stability monitoring in power systems are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving data representing a set of system parameters of a power system having one or more power buses under a load condition. The method also includes estimating one or more sets of the system parameters under one or more additional load conditions based on the received data and topology information of the power system. The method further includes determining a voltage stability index for the power system based on both the received set of system parameters and the estimated one or more sets of the system parameters.

Abstract: Provided is a sensor platform that includes a substrate, a plurality of nanochannels disposed on the substrate, and a plurality of electrodes, a waveguide disposed on the substrate and an analysis chamber and a reference chamber disposed on the substrate. Each electrode extends substantially across a width of the plurality of nanochannels. At least one analysis optical resonator is disposed in the analysis chamber and is optically coupled to at least a portion of the waveguide. The at least one analysis optical resonator is in fluid communication with at least one of the plurality of nanochannels. At least one reference optical resonator is disposed in the reference chamber and is optically coupled to at least a portion of the waveguide. The at least one reference optical resonator is in fluid communication with at least one other of the plurality of nanochannels.

Abstract: Several embodiments related to batteries having electrodes with nanostructures, compositions of such nanostructures, and associated methods of making such electrodes are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method for producing an anode suitable for a lithium-ion battery comprising preparing a surface of a substrate material and forming a plurality of conductive nanostructures on the surface of the substrate material via electrodeposition without using a template.

Abstract: This disclosure describes, in part, a system management component and failure detection component for use in a power grid data network to identify anomalies within the network and systematically adjust the quality of service of data published by publishers and subscribed to by subscribers within the network. In one implementation, subscribers may identify a desired data rate, a minimum acceptable data rate, desired latency, minimum acceptable latency and a priority for each subscription. The failure detection component may identify an anomaly within the network and a source of the anomaly. Based on the identified anomaly, data rates and or data paths may be adjusted in real-time to ensure that the power grid data network does not become overloaded and/or fail.

Abstract: Embodiments of electrophoresis systems, devices, and associated methods of analysis are described herein. In one embodiment, an electrophoresis device includes a first electrode having a first polarity, a second electrode having a second polarity, and a substrate. The substrate includes a first channel having a first section with a first cross-sectional area and a second section with a second cross-sectional area. The first end is electrically coupled to the first electrode, and the second end is electrically coupled to the second electrode. The first cross-sectional area is greater than the second cross-sectional area in a first dimension and in a second dimension generally orthogonal to the first dimension.

Abstract: A fiber grating device of low cost and arbitrary length is formed on a portion of a portion or the entirety of a highly elastic fiber optic core having a low Young's modulus of elasticity by causing elongation of the fiber optic core and forming or depositing a hard skin or cladding on the elongated fiber optic core. When the stress is then released, the hard skin or cladding buckles (including elastic or plastic deformation or both) to form wrinkles at the interface of the fiber optic core and the hard skin or cladding which are oriented circumferentially and highly uniform in height and spacing which can be varied at will by choice of materials, stretching, and thickness and composition of the cladding. Since the elastic elongation of the fiber optic core portion may be 200% or greater, an unprecedented measurement range is provided.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to antigen detection reagents and related methods, systems, and kits. The reagents comprise an antigen-binding molecule conjugated to an inorganic component. In some embodiments, the inorganic component possesses catalytic functionality to provide a detectable signal. In some embodiments, the catalytic inorganic component is or comprises a bimetallic nanoparticle. In other embodiments, the inorganic component is a nanoflowers that provides a physical scaffold onto which the antigen-binding component and a reporter component can be loaded, resulting in augmented antigen-binding and reporting capabilities.

Abstract: A method comprising incorporating indium into an entire Sn film for preventing the growth of whiskers from the Sn film, wherein the Sn film is applied to a metallic substrate.

Abstract: Techniques to improve efficiencies of power amplifiers in wireless communication devices are described herein. In one embodiment, an envelope tracking supply modulator includes a pre-amplifier having an input coupled to an envelope signal and another input coupled to a threshold voltage signal, a de-multiplexer coupled to an output of the pre-amplifier, a pulse frequency modulator having an input coupled to an output of the de-multiplexer, and a pulse width modulator having an input coupled to the output of the de-multiplexer. The de-multiplexer is configured to allow the pulse frequency modulator to modulate a switching frequency to generate a switched signal according to a slew rate of the envelope signal or allow the pulse width modulator to provide the switched signal as a current source with a constant frequency, based on a comparison result between the envelope signal and the threshold voltage signal at the pre-amplifier.

Abstract: Various embodiments of binder compositions, electrodes incorporating the binder compositions, fabrication methods for the binder compositions, and energy storage devices having the electrodes are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a binder composition includes an electrolyte solution that is ionically conductive, a polymeric material having a plurality of molecules mixed with the electrolyte solution, and a filler having a plurality of electrically conductive particles suspended in the adhesive matrix. The electrolyte solution plasticizing the polymeric material forming an adhesive matrix having the molecules of the polymeric material in an amorphous state.

Abstract: Particular aspects of the present disclosure provide bio-resorbable and biocompatible compositions for bioengineering, restoring, or regenerating tissue or bone. In one embodiment, a biocompatible composition includes a three-dimensional porous or non-porous scaffold material comprising a calcium phosphate-based ceramic having at least one dopant therein selected from metal ion dopants or metal oxide dopants. The composition is sufficiently biocompatible to provide for a cell or tissue scaffold, and resorbable at a controlled resorption rate for controlled strength loss under body, body fluid or simulated body fluid conditions.

Abstract: Systems and methods for integrating thermochemical processing of biomass and anaerobic digestion are provided. Light oxygenated organic compounds are produced as byproducts of thermochemical biomass processing e.g. by torrefaction and/or pyrolysis, and are converted to methane by anaerobic digestion. Thermochemical processing units may or may not be co-located with the anaerobic digestion units, with co-location providing benefits for e.g. rural agricultural enterprises.