Abstract: Method and kits for diagnosing propensity to non-contact cranial cruciate ligament rupture (CCLR) in a dog are described. The method includes isolating genomic DNA from a dog and then analyzing the genomic DNA from step for a single nucleotide polymorphism occurring in selected loci that have been determined to be associated with the CCLR phenotype via a genome-wide association study.

Abstract: The present technology provides nanoparticles comprising a positively charged polymer (e.g., polylysine) electrostatically bound to iron oxide nanoparticles and CpG oligodeoxy nucleotide. Further provided are compositions comprising same and methods of sensitizing tumor cells to radiation therapy, methods of stimulating antigen presenting cells, methods of enhancing stimulation of a type I interferon, and methods of treatment using said nanoparticles and compositions.

Abstract: ACE2 mutants and methods of using same. The mutants have one or more mutations with respect to an ACE2 protein represented by positions 18-615 of SEQ ID NO:1, such as a mutation at one or more of positions 145, 149, 273, 347, 360, 363, 371, 504, 510, and 514 of SEQ ID NO:1. The mutants can have enhanced activity and/or specificity in hydrolyzing angiotensin II, among other activities.

Abstract: An I/O memory management unit operates to provide hardware moderated restrictions on access to internal I/O device addresses of I/O devices eliminating the interposition of the operating system in such data transfers. As well as providing read/write permissions, the I/O memory management unit can perform address translation for virtualization and may be the combined with the functions of an IOMMU for managing physical addresses.

Abstract: A method of making a composition of matter comprising calcium hydroxide. The method includes the steps of contacting a calcium-containing molecule with an aqueous solution of a water-soluble salt having ammonium cation and a counter-anion, under conditions effective to yield a compound containing calcium and the counter-anion; and reacting the compound comprising calcium and the counter-anion with ammonia and water under conditions to yield calcium hydroxide.

Abstract: Alkaline aerobic depolymerization of lignin in a permeable flowthrough reactor. Methods include flowing an aqueous reaction medium that includes lignin and a base through a lumen of an oxygen-permeable channel in the presence of oxygen gas to depolymerize the lignin to aromatic monomers.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for growing films of complex layered metal oxides with high stoichiometries and high crystal qualities are provided. The layered complex metal oxides include two or more metals and oxygen and have a layered structure. The methods, which are referred to as hybrid pulsed laser deposition (hybrid PLD), synergistically combine the advantages of molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) and pulsed laser deposition (PLD) to grow complex metal oxide films that include metals with very different vapor pressures.

Abstract: Described herein is a mycobacterium mutant, comprising at least one mutation in at least one gene sequence encoding global gene regulators (GGRs) selected from the group consisting of sigH, sigL, sigE, ECF-1, and mixtures thereof, wherein the GGR gene is at least partially inactivated. Described herein also is a vaccine based on the mutant and a method of differentiating between subjects that have been infected with mycobacterium and subjects that have not been infected with mycobacterium or have been vaccinated with a mycobacterium vaccine.

Abstract: A phase shift element includes an antenna, a first dielectric layer, a ground plane mounted to a first surface of the first dielectric layer, a reflecting circuit, and a single antenna-reflector line connected between the antenna and the reflecting circuit through the ground plane and the first dielectric layer. The antenna-reflector line is formed of a conducting material. The reflecting circuit is mounted to a second surface of the first dielectric layer. The first surface is opposite the second surface. The reflecting circuit is configured to reflect a signal received on the single antenna-reflector line from the antenna back to the antenna on the single antenna-reflector line. The reflecting circuit is further configured to be switchable between four different impedance levels that each provide a different phase shift when the signal is reflected by the reflecting circuit.

Abstract: Methods of making polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)/polymer composites are disclosed herein. The products can be used in the field of bio- and medical applications, such as for use in artificial blood vessels, vascular grafts, cardiovascular and soft tissue patches, facial implants, surgical sutures, and endovascular prosthesis, and for any products known in the aerospace, electronics, fabrics, filtration, industrial and sealant arts.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure are directed to methods and/or apparatuses involving the formation of pore-free or nearly pore-free liquid droplets. As may be implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments, liquid droplets including metal are formed having pores within the liquid droplets. This may involve, for example, atomizing liquid metal with a gas and forming the droplets having pores. The pores are then driven out of the liquid droplets by heating the liquid droplets from a first state in which an outer surface of the droplets has a lower temperature than an inner region thereof, to a second state in which the outer surface has a higher temperature than the inner region.

Abstract: Methods of preparing mammalian enteroids, and methods producing T. gondii oocysts in vitro and in vivo in heterologous systems, are provided.

Abstract: Microorganisms and methods for producing reuterin. The microorganisms express a phage protein from Limosilactobacillus reuteri, Limosilactobacillus mucosae, or Limosilactobacillus oris, or a homolog thereof, that enhances the production of reuterin. The methods can include culturing the microorganisms to thereby produce the reuterin.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are circular zymogens of RNase 1 that have a proteolytic cleavage site and are activated by a specific protease. These circular zymogens are useful for treatment of disorders that are characterized by a specific protease (e.g., HTV-1 protease).

Abstract: The disclosed subject matter provides systems and methods for predicting a spontaneous preterm birth based on transvaginal ultrasound images of a subject. An example method can include providing a preterm birth prediction model, obtaining one or more transvaginal ultrasound images of the subject, each including cervical features, determining measurements of a plurality of cervical structure features from the one or more ultrasound images, assessing, using the preterm birth prediction model, cervical health of the subject based on the measurements of the plurality of cervical structure features, and calculating the spontaneous preterm birth risk based on the assessed cervical health, using the preterm birth prediction model.

Abstract: Methods for diagnosing propensity to exhibit acquired peripheral neuropathy in dogs are described. The methods and kits test dogs for presence of a disease-associated genomic variant. Presence of the genomic variant indicates an increased likelihood of the dog developing an acquired peripheral neuropathy. This information can be used to guide preemptive clinical treatment of the animal for peripheral neuropathy and to choose dogs for selective breeding programs.

Abstract: A direct converter for an axisymmetric mirror confinement system provides a set of radially symmetric vanes charged to capture ions escaping along the axis of the confinement system and to convert their energy to electrical power. An electron trap positioned before the charged vanes uses a magnetic field to divert and collect electrons, separating them from the ions, and may support a radial electric field providing plasma control. The charged vanes may be constructed of or have a coating of a getter material absorbing neutrals derived from those ions after capture.

Abstract: A system for monitoring and establishing physical properties of a subsurface formation at a testing site having a source well and one or more receiver wells may include a pump, a data collection system, and a controller. The controller may cause the pump to extract fluid from and inject fluid into the source well based on one or more measures indicative of an amount of liquid in the source well. The controller may receive measures related to pressures in the receiver wells and physical properties of the subsurface formation may be determined based on the measures related to pressures in the receiver well. In some cases, noise may be removed from the measures related to pressures in the receiver wells to facilitate determining the physical properties of the subsurface formation.

Abstract: An ethanologen for producing biofuel from one or more carbohydrates and reducing lactate and acetate production in a biofuel manufacturing process. The ethanologen is made by introducing into the ethanologen one or more exogenous genes required for production of a bacteriocin. The resulting ethanologen reduces lactate and acetate production by contaminant lactic acid bacteria by expression of the bacteriocin during the biofuel manufacturing process. Certain resulting ethanologens ferment sugars not naturally or not preferentially utilized by Saccharomyces cerevisiae during the manufacturing process.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to plant cells and plants modified to increase resistance to necrotrophs or drought and methods of selecting and using the same. More specifically, the invention relates in part to plant cells and/or plants modified to eliminate or reduce as compared to control plants cell the NADPH oxidase activity or expression of certain respiratory burst oxidase homolog (RBOH) proteins and methods of selecting for and using the same.