Abstract: Methods and delivery agents for treatment of connective tissue that includes elastic fibers are described. Delivery agents are nano- or micro-sized particles that include a biologically active compound useful in treatment of degraded elastic fibers, and an anchoring agent at a surface that binds at or near the area of degraded elastic fibers. The delivery agents may be utilized for targeted delivery of biologically active compounds to degraded elastic fibers so as to maintain and/or regenerate the elastin component of connective tissue, and to prevent further degradation and/or rehabilitate the structural architecture of the connective tissue.

Abstract: A computerized system for generating digital representations of natural deep eutectic solvents comprising: a training dataset having a plurality of natural deep eutectic solvents; a set of non-stable natural deep eutectic solvents generated by random variation of the number of components, random variation of the individual chemical component, random variation of the stoichiometric coefficient for each component and any combination thereof; a set of non-transitory computer readable instructions, that when executed by a process are adapted to: receive a training dataset having a set of compounds using the simplified molecular-input line-entry system and having a designation of stable (e.g., 1) or not stable (e.g., 0), pre-training a language model according to the training dataset, fine tuning the language model according to a subset of labeled DES data, applying a classifier, and, providing results in a textual format.

Abstract: A system for monitoring an analyte concentration in liquid is provided. The system includes a coupon comprising an absorbent body with a window through the absorbent body wherein the liquid is maintained in said window by capillary action and surface tension. A reactant is in the absorbent body wherein the reactant is capable of diffusing into the window to react with an analyte in the liquid, or the reactant is able to react with the analyte within the coupon itself, with color-indicating by-products of the reaction diffusing into the window, wherein the analyte is present in an analyte concentration, to form a reactant with a color wherein the color has an intensity which correlates to the analyte concentration. A light source is provided which is capable of passing light into the window wherein the light is attenuated by the color proportional to the analyte concentration to form attenuated light. A detector is provided which is capable measuring an intensity of the attenuated light.

Abstract: A microheater comprises an optical fiber including a rare earth-doped glass core surrounded by a glass cladding. The rare earth-doped glass core comprises a rare earth dopant at a concentration sufficient for luminescence quenching such that, when the rare earth dopant is pumped with light at an absorption band wavelength, at least about 90% of absorbed pump light is converted into heat.

Abstract: High-power, highly efficient 3-level system fiber lasers are described. The lasers can operate at an average power of about 50W or greater with an efficiency of about 60% or greater with low diffraction limited mode quality. The lasers incorporate an all-solid photonic bandgap fiber that includes a large core (20 micrometers or greater), a high core/clad ratio (greater than 15%), and a waveguide cladding designed to define a transmission band to suppress the 4-level system of the gain medium through determination of the node size of individual nodes of a cladding lattice.

Abstract: Methods for synthesis of high surface area porous silicon-based materials and structures that can be formed according to the methods are described. Methods are scalable and capable of producing large quantities of the high surface area materials with high efficiency. The high surface area products can be in the form of a 3D network of interconnected arms or quills with multimodal porosity including high level pores between and among arms, hollow cores of the arms of the network, and pores through the walls of the arms of the network.

Abstract: Hydrothermal methods for the synthesis of bulk crystals of alkaline earth metal stannates are described. Methods can be utilized for growth of large, single crystals of alkaline earth metal stannates including fully cubic BaSnO3 and SrSnO3.

Abstract: The present invention provides, among other aspects, functionalized chromophoric polymer dots comprising a hydrophobic core and a hydrophilic cap, and bioconjugates thereof. Also provided are improved methods for preparing functionalized chromophoric polymer dots. Methods for in vivo imaging and molecular labeling are also disclosed.

Abstract: Provided herein is a redox flow battery comprising an anode comprising anodic redox mediators; a negative electrolyte tank comprising an anolyte; and an anode pump capable of circulating the anolyte through the anode. The redox flow battery further comprises a cathode comprising cathodic redox mediators; a positive electrolyte tank comprising a catholyte and a cathode pump capable of circulating the catholyte through the cathode. A separator is between the anode and cathode.

Abstract: Bioreactors and components of bioreactors are described as may be beneficially utilized in development and conditioning of cellular materials for study or implant. The bioreactors are modular, and components of the bioreactors can be easily assembled with alternatives provided to develop specific, predetermined conditioning environments for cellular materials (e.g., implantable tissue). By selection of one of multiple alternative compliance chambers, a bioreactor can be utilized to condition tissue in a low-pressure circuit (e.g., a pulmonary heart circuit), and by utilization of an alternative compliance chamber, the bioreactor can instead condition tissue in a high-pressure circuit (e.g., an aortic heart circuit).

Abstract: This system is directed to a computerized system for development of textiles with modified physical properties through stitching and can include a set of non-transitory computer readable instructions configured for: receiving a design pattern representing desired physical properties of a textile having a higher stiffness area and a lower stiffness area; developing a contiguous stitching pattern constrained by a pattern perimeter boundary and having a continuous stitching path, developing a first stiffness area within the contiguous stitching pattern having a first area of density, developing a second stiffness area within the contiguous stitching pattern having a second area of density wherein the first area of density has more stitch density than the second area of density, and transmitting the contiguous stitching pattern to an embroidery machine configured to provide a textile having the contiguous stitching pattern incorporating into the textile.

Abstract: This system and method provide for manufacturing a multi-material hybrid structure comprising a single- or multi-layer sheet or tube, which are made of metals, fabrics, polymer and their combinations, and at least one layer or body made of formed resin. The methods include a simultaneous forming-injection process that followed with an additional sequence to initiate the forming process along with curing and/or solidification and/or bonding processes. The additional sequence provides a pressure drop inside the cavity using tool movement and or additional deformation of one/or several layers of the sheet using any fluid pressure, suction and/or electromagnetic force. The injection process can be used for any kind of synthetic or bio-based resin with or without fiber reinforcement. It is also integrated with supercritical assisted technology.

Abstract: The present invention provides alkyl substituted polysaccharide compositions and methods of repairing substrates involving use of the alkyl substituted polysaccharide compositions.

Abstract: Implantable sensors for determining bone health that can be utilized in conjunction with orthopedic implants are described. The sensors can include passive strain gauges or passive chemical sensors that can be read by radiographic imaging techniques. Sensors can be affixed to implantable support devices so as to non-invasively monitor the effect of load on the implant; for instance, to provide a quantitative assessment of when a fracture is sufficiently healed to allow safe weight-bearing upon the limb. Alternatively, sensors can monitor the health of a local implant area; for instance, to monitor the implant area of early stage infection or healing of a fusion procedure.

Abstract: A system of digitally representing equipment failure comprising: a testing assembly for testing a component of a manufacturing equipment wherein the component includes a defect in a critical area included in the component; a sensor in communications with the testing assembly for sensing a failure state of the component, a set of computer readable instructions adapted for: receiving a critical failure mode associated with the component, receiving a testing dataset from the sensor representing testing results produced by the testing assembly wherein the testing dataset includes initial data representing an undamaged component and a failure dataset representing a failed component, isolating a set of failure data representing a testing status of the component from initial testing to failure of the component determined by the critical failure mode, creating a usable lifetime model of the component according to the set of failure data.

Abstract: The system can be for the management of access authorization using an immutable ledger comprising and can include a server having a computer readable medium in communications with an immutable ledger. A set of computer readable instructions can be included in the server and can be configured for: receiving a set of data, encrypting the set of data with a data-encryption-key and storing the encrypted data on the immutable ledger, creating a key tree having a node associated with a user, creating a key-encryption-key associated with the node and the user, and, distributing the key-encryption-key to the user wherein the key-encryption-key is configured to decrypt the data-encryption-key thereby providing access to the data for the user.

Abstract: A system for including a computer readable medium; data pipes a first emission source, second emission source, and remediation source, a remediation data pipe in communication with the server and a remediation source; a sensor; a facilities system in communications with a server; and, a set of computer readable instructions stored on the computer readable medium and configured to: receive first and second emission information, and remediation information, calculate an emission value, generate a facility action information according to a comparison of the enterprise emission value and a target emission value, and, transmit the facility action information to the facilities system wherein the facilities is configured to implement or reject an action represented by the facility action information.

Abstract: Provided herein are multi-functional particles. The particles may include poly(lactide-co-glycolide)-g-polyethylenimine (PLGA-g-PEI (PgP)), at least one targeting moiety, at least one therapeutic agent, and/or at least one nucleic acid. Also provided herein are methods of using the multi-functional particles.

Abstract: Pressure/strain piezoresistive are described that include a poled piezoelectric polymer such as PVDF or P(VDF-TrFE) and graphene. The poled piezoelectric polymer and the graphene are electronically coupled to form a heterojunction and provide an ultra-high sensitivity pressure/strain sensor. The sensors can be carried on a flexible supporting substrate such as PDMS or PET to exhibit high flexibility. The materials of formation can be biocompatible and the sensors can be wearable or implantable.

Abstract: A relatively fast, inexpensive, and non-destructive method for separation and isolation of biologically active nanoparticles is described. Methods include the use of solid phase separation medis such as channeled fibers in a hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC) protocol to isolate biologically active nanoparticles from other components of a mixture. Biologically active nanoparticles can include natural nanoparticles (e.g., exosomes, lysosomes, virus particles) as well as synthetic nanoparticles (liposomes, genetically modified virus particles, etc.