Abstract: One aspect of the invention provides a method for reducing inflammation in a patient including locally administering a composition comprising a complex comprising octadecylamine surface-functionalized nanodiamonds with dexamethasone bound to octadecylamine. Another aspect of the invention provides a method for reducing inflammation in a patient comprising locally administering a composition including octadecylamine surface-functionalized nanodiamonds, wherein no therapeutic agent is bound to the nanodiamonds.

Abstract: A renewable polyimide or polyamic acid formed from a reaction comprising one or more furfurylamine compounds of Formula (I) or Formula (II) and one or more dianhydride or diacid compounds and heating to a temperature of up to 350° C., as well as methods of forming thereof, and polymers comprising the polyimide or polyamic acid compounds. The renewable furan based polyimides which demonstrate excellent processability, large temperature windows for processing of resin systems, and are less toxic.

Abstract: A system for and method of antimicrobial susceptibility testing includes detecting a resonance peak of a sensor provided with live microbes on a surface thereof; applying a substance to the live microbes; detecting a resonance peak of said sensor after application of said substance; determining a width of a top of each of said resonance peaks before and after application of the substance from one of: (1) a phase angle versus frequency plot where the phase angle is the phase angle of the electrical impedance of said sensor. (2) a real part of a plot of an electrical impedance versus frequency of said sensor.

Abstract: One or more aqueous, near infrared emitting, high yield, highly photoluminescent, stable quantum dots conjugated to one or more biomarkers specific moieties. The conjugated quantum dots have an enhanced detection sensitivity and selectivity and may be formed using a novel and efficient method for conjugating one or more biomarker specific moieties to the quantum dots. The invention is further directed to a method for using the conjugated quantum dots for cancer detection in the margin of excised tissue.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of detecting a target nucleic acid sequence. In one embodiment, the method includes contacting genomic DNA with a guide RNA having a portion complementary to the target sequence in the genomic DNA and with Cas9 nickase to produce a single-strand break in the genomic DNA at a specific location adjacent to the target sequence. The method further includes contacting the nicked DNA with a polymerase and fluorescently labeled nucleotide. The fluorescently labeled nucleotide is incorporated into the nicked DNA at the specific location and the target nucleic acid sequence is detected via fluorescent label.

Abstract: Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) with tunable network structures are prepared by a facile one-pot reaction of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). These SPEs with high conductivity and high modulus exhibit superior lithium dendrite growth resistance even at high current densities. Measurements of lithium metal batteries with a LiFePO4 cathode show excellent cycling stability and rate capability. Also disclosed are products made by the process of the invention and batteries including such products.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides a composition comprising at least one monocyte comprising an agent that increases monocyte homing to a site of injury, and an effective amount of a drug. In another aspect, the invention provides a method of using the composition to deliver a drug to a site of injury.

Abstract: Ultrasonic through metal communication systems are an effective solution for transmitting data across a metal barrier when the structural integrity of the barrier cannot be compromised by physically penetrating it. Substantial improvements in through metal communication systems have been made in recent years, enabling high speed communications of up to 15 Mbps, as well as power transmission up to 30 W across flat walls. A system is described that allows for ultrasonic through metal communication across the wall of a steel tube. Primary challenges of 1) transducer contact, 2) curvature effect on echoes, and 3) alignment are analyzed and addressed through the use of radial mode piezoelectric transducers, transducer “horns”, and Electromagnetic Acoustic Transducers (EMATs). The resulting system shows no significant loss due to changes in alignment, allows for the use of either piezoelectric transducers or EMATs externally, and achieves max data rates of approximately 600 kbps without echo equalization.

Abstract: The fiber optic probe detects changes in ultrasound pressure in an immersion medium such as a liquid, a gas, or a solid, where the system includes an optical fiber probe having a fiber of the probe has a highly doped (or regular) core with a diameter in the range 5 to 10 ?m and a clad diameter equal to or more than 50 ?m; and the optical fiber tip has been modified in a D-shaped (or V-shaped) structure where the clad material has been removed from one side of the cylindrical fiber to the surface of the fiber core; then, this modified region of the fiber is coated, with a very thin layer of a metallic material, ranging from 3 to 10 nm.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical compositions comprising a RelA enzyme inhibitor and a bactericidal antibiotic, wherein said RelA enzyme inhibitor binds to the RelA enzyme in bacteria to reduce biofilm formation and to degrade biofilms that have been formed. The pharmaceutical compositions can be used to treat bacterial biofilm diseases.

Abstract: The present invention(s) is directed to novel conductive Mn+1Xn(Ts) compositions exhibiting high volumetric capacitances, and methods of making the same. The present invention(s) is also directed to novel conductive Mn+1Xn(Ts) compositions, methods of preparing transparent conductors using these materials, and products derived from these methods.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of inhibiting, suppressing or preventing levodopa-induced dyskinesia in a patient suffering from Parkinson's Disease, comprising the step of administering to the patient a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one compound of the invention. The present invention further provides a method of inhibiting, suppressing or preventing Parkinson's Disease in a patient, comprising the step of administering to the patient a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one compound of the invention.

Abstract: A process for grain boundary engineering of an aluminum alloy of AA5XXX series which includes steps of annealing the aluminum alloy at a first temperature of from about 350° C. to about 450° C.; deforming the annealed aluminum alloy to reduce the thickness by from about 2% to about 20% of the original thickness of the aluminum alloy; heat treating the deformed aluminum alloy at a second temperature from about 450° C. to about 550° C., and optionally sensitizing the heat treated alloy in one or more sensitizing steps. Aluminum alloys of the AA5XXX series treated by the process of the present invention are also provided.

Abstract: A process for producing a radiation resistant nanocrystalline material having a polycrystalline microstructure from a starting material selected from metals and metal alloys. The process including depositing the starting material by physical vapor deposition onto a substrate that is maintained at a substrate temperature from about room temperature to about 850° C. to produce the nanocrystalline material. The process may also include heating the nanocrystalline material to a temperature of from about 450° C. to about 800° C. at a rate of temperature increase of from about 2° C./minute to about 30° C./minute; and maintaining the nanocrystalline material at the temperature of from about 450° C. to about 800° C. for a period from about 5 minutes to about 35 minutes. The nanocrystalline materials produced by the above process are also described. The nanocrystalline materials produced by the process are resistant to radiation damage.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to crystalline solids having an empirical formula of M2A2X, wherein M is at least one Group IIIB, IVB, VB, or VIB metal, preferably Cr, Hf, Sc, Ti, Mo, Nb, Ta, V, Zr, or a combination thereof; wherein A is Al, Ga, Ge, In, Pb, or Sn, or a combination thereof; and each X is CxNy, where x+y=1. In some particular embodiments, the crystalline composition has a unit cell stoichiometry of Mo2Ga2C.

Abstract: A wearable, wireless and battery-free continuous health monitor includes an RFID tag used as an On-Off Keying Device to measure the heart rate. The tag's returned signal strength variations are used to calculate the respiration rate. Machine learning algorithms are employed to determine the health parameters.

Abstract: In described embodiments, the present invention includes a magnesium-based composite material formed from a plurality of ?-phase magnesium grains; and a ?-alloy phase comprising magnesium and nano-diamond and/or and phosphate containing nanoparticles, the ?-alloy phase surrounding each of the plurality of magnesium grains. A method of manufacturing a composite material is also disclosed.

Abstract: One or more aqueous, near infrared emitting, high yield, highly photoluminescent, stable quantum dots conjugated to one or more biomarkers specific moieties. The conjugated quantum dots have an enhanced detection sensitivity and selectivity and may be formed using a novel and efficient method for conjugating one or more biomarker specific moieties to the quantum dots. The invention is further directed to a method for using the conjugated quantum dots for cancer detection in the margin of excised tissue.

Abstract: The invention includes a method of preventing or treating metastasis in a subject diagnosed with prostate cancer. In certain embodiments, the metastasis comprises bone cancer. In other embodiments, the subject suffers from castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Abstract: An aqueous approach to synthesize capped SnS quantum dots (QDs) followed by optional capping molecule extension by attaching one or more extending molecules to the capping molecule via peptide bond formation at elevated temperature. The capped SnS QDs may have a capping molecule:Sn:S molar ratio of 16:3:1 to 16:12:1. A suspension of SnS QDs was heat-treated at 200° C. for 0.5-4 hrs. The obtained SnS QDs showed an NIR emission peak at 820-835 nm with an excitation wavelength at 690 nm. The as synthesized SnS QDs were found to have high positive zeta potential of ˜30 mV and thus were toxic to cells. By neutralizing the SnS QDs the cytotoxicity was reduced to an accepted level. The heat-treatment step can be obviated by adding a glycerol solution containing S2? anions and capping molecule to a glycerol solution of Sn2+ ions.