Abstract: The present disclosure describes a genetically engineered a KASIII-independent fatty acid biosynthetic pathway that makes use of the promiscuous nature of the rest of the FAS enzymes (3-ketoacyl-ACP synthetase, 3-ketoacyl-ACP reductase, 3-hydroxyacyl ACP dehydrase, enoyl-ACP reductase) to bypass the KASIII step by providing a Co-A precursor of two or higher than two carbons (such as the four carbon butyryl-CoA) as the starting molecule. Since many CoA-based starter molecules can be supplied for the fatty acid synthesis, much more diversified products can be obtained with various carbon-chain lengths. As such, this disclosure will serve as a powerful and efficient platform to produce low to medium chain length products carrying many different functional groups.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to systems and methods for distilling a fluid by exposing the fluid to a porous membrane that includes a surface capable of generating heat. In some embodiments, the heat generated at the surface propagates the distilling of the fluid by converting the fluid to a vapor that flows through the porous membrane and condenses to a distillate. In some embodiments, the surface capable of generating heat is associated with a photo-thermal composition that generates the heat at the surface by converting light energy from a light source to thermal energy. In some embodiments, the photo-thermal composition includes, without limitation, noble metals, semiconducting materials, dielectric materials, carbon-based materials, composite materials, nanocomposite materials, nanoparticles, hydrophilic materials, polymers, fibers, meshes, fiber meshes, hydrogels, hydrogel meshes, nanomaterials, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A mechanism for compiling a generative description of an inference task into a neural network. First, an arbitrary generative probabilistic model from the exponential family is specified (or received). The model characterizes a conditional probability distribution for measurement data given a set of latent variables. A factor graph is generated for the generative probabilistic model. Each factor node of the factor graph is expanded into a corresponding sequence of arithmetic operations, based on a specified inference task and a kind of message passing algorithm. The factor graph and the sequences of arithmetic operations specify the structure of a neural network for performance of the inference task. A learning algorithm is executed, to determine values of parameters of the neural network. The neural network is then ready for performing inference on operational measurements.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for producing hydrogel matrix constructs. Methods of using hydrogel matrix constructs for tissue repair and regeneration and for the oxygenation of red blood cells are also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods generally useful in medicine, cellular biology, nanotechnology, and cell culturing are discussed. In particular, at least in some embodiments, systems and methods for magnetic guidance and patterning of cells and materials are discussed. Some specific applications of these systems and methods may include levitated culturing of cells away from a surface, making and manipulating patterns of levitated cells, and patterning culturing of cells on a surface. Specifically, a method of culturing cells is presented. The method may comprise providing a plurality of cells, providing a magnetic field, and levitating at least some of the plurality of cells in the magnetic field, wherein the plurality of cells comprise magnetic nanoparticles. The method may also comprise maintaining the levitation for a time sufficient to permit cell growth to form an assembly.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to the treatment of primary and metastatic cancer using radiation. Specifically, the disclosure relates to methods providing for the selective accretion of cytoprotective agent in tissues and/or organs, sensitive to radiation that are adjacent to malignant tumors prior to radiation of the tumors at a dose that otherwise would be toxic to the tissues and/or organs, but are necessary to achieve ablative outcome on the tumors.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a class of diol-based, unsaturated aliphatic polyesters that biodegrade into monomers capable of mitigating infection. These poly(diol fumarates) (PDFs) and poly(diol fumarate-co-succinates) (PDFSs), can be crosslinked to form networks of scaffolds with antimicrobial degradation products. Both the diol carbon length and the degree of available double bonds are tunable, resulting in a highly controllable class of antimicrobial polymers useful for cell scaffolds and drug delivery systems and devices.

Abstract: A client device includes a processor and an antenna. The client device obtains an announcement that specifies a winning client of a channel contention competition; identifies a group association of the client device using an identity of the winning client; transmits a preamble modulated by an entry of a preamble interference nullification matrix, the entry is based on the group association; and transmits, after transmitting the preamble, a data transmission. The preamble is transmitted at the same time as a second preamble is transmitted by a second client device.

Abstract: A system for a wavefront imaging sensor with high resolution (WISH) comprises a spatial light modulator (SLM), a plurality of image sensors and a processor. The system further includes the SLM and a computational post-processing algorithm for recovering an incident wavefront with a high spatial resolution and a fine phase estimation. In addition, the image sensors work both in a visible electromagnetic (EM) spectrum and outside the visible EM spectrum.

Abstract: A method for a passive single-viewpoint 3D imaging system comprises capturing an image from a camera having one or more phase masks. The method further includes using a reconstruction algorithm, for estimation of a 3D or depth image.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of making conductive films by associating an inorganic composition with an insulating substrate, and forming a porous inorganic layer from the inorganic composition on the insulating substrate. The inorganic layer may include a nanoporous metal layer, such as nickel fluoride. The methods of the present disclosure may also include a step of incorporating the conductive films into an electronic device. The methods of the present disclosure may also include a step of associating the conductive films with a solid electrolyte prior to its incorporation into an electronic device. The methods of the present disclosure may also include a step of separating the inorganic layer from the conductive film to form a freestanding inorganic layer. Further embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to the conductive films and freestanding inorganic layers.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure provides tubulysin analogs of the formula (I) wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, X1, X2, X3, and A1 are as defined herein. In another aspect, the present disclosure also provides methods of preparing the compounds disclosed herein. In another aspect, the present disclosure also provides pharmaceutical compositions and methods of use of the compounds disclosed herein.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods, composition and devices for performing convection-based PCR and non-enzymatic amplification of nucleic acid sequences. Techniques and reagents employed in these methods include toehold probes, strand displacement reactions, Rayleigh-Benard convection, temperature gradients, multiplexed amplification, multiplexed detection, and DNA functionalization, in open and closed systems, for use in nucleic tests and assays.

Abstract: Methods to create two component signal transduction systems by replace the DNA binding domains and output promoters in bacteria are described.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes an engineered microorganism for producing alpha omega bifunctional C6-16 fatty acids from renewable carbon sources.

Abstract: An energy storage device including a first electrode comprising lithium, a second electrode comprising a metal diboride, an electrolyte disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode and providing a conductive pathway for lithium ions to move to and from the first electrode and the second electrode, and a separator within the electrolyte and between the first electrode and the second electrode. A method of forming an energy storage device including forming a first electrode to include lithium, forming a second electrode to include a metal diboride, disposing an electrolyte between the first electrode and the second electrode, the electrolyte providing a conductive pathway for lithium ions to move to and from the first electrode and the second electrode, and disposing a separator within the electrolyte and between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Abstract: A multicomponent photocatalyst includes a reactive component optically, electronically, or thermally coupled to a plasmonic material. A method of performing a catalytic reaction includes loading a multicomponent photocatalyst including a reactive component optically, electronically, or thermally coupled to a plasmonic material into a reaction chamber, introducing molecular reactants into the reaction chamber, and illuminating the reaction chamber with a light source.

Abstract: In one aspect, embodiments disclosed herein relate to a lens-free imaging system. The lens-free imaging system includes: an image sampler, a radiation source, a mask disposed between the image sampler and a scene, and an image sampler processor. The image sampler processor obtains signals from the image sampler that is exposed, through the mask, to radiation scattered by the scene which is illuminated by the radiation source. The image sampler processor then estimates an image of the scene based on the signals from the image sampler, processed using a transfer function that relates the signals and the scene.

Abstract: Microbes and methods used to convert renewable carbon sources such as glucose, sucrose, biomass hydrolysate, methanol or formate, to succinate-derived products, such as fumarate or malate, which are desirable products having many uses.

Abstract: Modified hydrophilic carbon clusters (HCCs), poly(ethylene glycol)-hydrophilic carbon clusters (PEG-HCCs) and similarly structured materials like graphene quantum dots (GQDs), PEGylated GQDs, small molecule antioxidants, and PEGylated small molecule antioxidants. These materials have been modified with an iron chelating moiety, deferoxamine, or a similar chelating moiety. By exploiting common binding sites, the carbon nanostructure facilitates intracellular transport including in mitochondria, reduces oxidative breakdown of the chelator moiety prior to treatment, and reduces both the cause and consequences of metal induced oxidative stress within the body thus providing a novel form of therapy for a range of oxidative and metal-related toxicities. Graphenic materials can be used for the treatment of acute and chronic mitochondrial electron transport chain dysfunction.