Abstract: Nanocomposite adsorbent materials and methods for their preparation and use are described. As an example, a polyaniline-graphite nanoplatelet nanocomposite may be used to adsorb carbon dioxide.

Abstract: A method is provided for classifying pixels in an image into super pixels that may be executed in one or more than one electronic devices. Seed pixels are pixels selected from the image. Color distances of a color space similar to human vision perception between the seed pixels and proximal pixels are calculated. The proximal pixels are pixels located proximally to corresponding seed pixels. Geographic distances are also computed for two pixels and the geographic distances are combined with the color distances as a reference for classifying pixels into super pixels.

Abstract: Described herein are carrier nanoparticles comprising a polymer containing a polyol coupled to a polymer containing a boronic acid, configured to present the polymer containing a boronic acid to an environment external to the nanoparticle. Targeted versions of the described nanoparticles are also described, as are related compositions, methods and systems.

Abstract: A physical assistive robotic device may include a frame including an upright support member, a lateral member slidably engaged with the upright support member, a handle slidably engaged with the lateral member, an elevation actuator coupled to the upright support member and the lateral member, and a lateral actuator coupled to the lateral member and the handle. The elevation actuator translates the lateral member and the lateral actuator translates the handle to transition a user between a standing position and a non-standing position.

Abstract: Microparticles and nanoparticles and compositions thereof are provided. The microparticles and nanoparticles and compositions may be used for the treatment of musculoskeletal disease, such as osteoarthritis and injury such as trauma.

Abstract: Described herein are platinum-based brush-arm star polymers (Pt-BASPs), or a pharmaceutical composition thereof, for delivery of platinum-based agents, such as cisplatin. Also provided are methods and kits involving the Pt-BASPs, or a pharmaceutical composition thereof, for treating proliferative diseases such as cancers (e.g., lung cancer, head-and-neck cancer, esophagus cancer, stomach cancer, breast cancer, pancreas cancer, liver cancer, kidney cancer, or prostate cancer) in a subject.

Abstract: Compositions that include nanoscale structured materials or precursors thereof (e.g., self: assembling peptides) are described. The compositions can include other substances (e.g., a vasoconstrictor). Also described are methods for using the compositions to promote hemostasis, to protect the skin or wounds from contamination, to decontaiminate a site upon removal of previously applied compositions that provided a protective coating, and to inhibit the movement of bodily substances other than blood. The compositions are also useful in isolating tissue, removing tissue, preserving tissue (for, e.g., subsequent transplantation or reattachment), and as bulking, stabilizing or hydrating agents. Medical devices that include the compositions (e.g., a stent or catheter), bandages or other wound dressings, sutures, and kits that include the compositions are also described.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a sensor includes coating an end-polished sapphire fiber with aluminum to produce a sapphire fiber having an aluminum coating, anodizing the aluminum coating to produce an aluminum oxide coating, and removing the aluminum oxide coating from a distal end of the sapphire fiber.

Abstract: A method for automated opening of craniotomies includes, under the control of a computer processor, drilling into a skull for a predetermined distance and determining when there is a conductance drop near the drilling tip that indicates skull breakthrough. If the conductance is not below a predetermined threshold, drilling continues iteratively manner until conductance is below the threshold. A craniotomy pattern may be predetermined and automatically drilled under control of the processor. A cranial window may be created by drilling along a path that interpolates between holes to form the circumference of the window. An automated craniotomy opening apparatus includes a drilling apparatus with a drilling tip, at least one drilling apparatus positioning device, a detection device, and a computer processor that controls the drilling apparatus, the positioning device, and the detection device according to the method. Determining conductance may include use of an impedance detection circuit.

Abstract: Using a device for producing nanocarbon, a fluidized bed is formed by supplying a low hydrocarbon and oxygen to a fluid catalyst, and nanocarbon and hydrogen are produced by a decomposition reaction of the low hydrocarbon accompanied by a self-combustion of the low hydrocarbon and the oxygen. The device includes: a fluidized bed reactor for containing the fluid catalyst and for causing the self-combustion thereof while being supplied with the low hydrocarbon and the oxygen; a gas supplying unit connected to the fluidized bed reactor for supplying the low hydrocarbon and the oxygen to the fluidized bed reactor; an exhaust gas path connected to the fluidized bed reactor for exhausting an exhaust gas in the fluidized bed reactor to outside; and a supplying unit connected to the fluidized bed reactor for supplying the fluid catalyst to the fluidized bed reactor.

Abstract: The present invention provides, among other things, multilayer film coating compositions, coated substrates and methods thereof. In some embodiments, a structure includes a substrate; and a multilayer film coated on the substrate, wherein adjacent layers of the multilayer film are associated with one another via one or more non-covalent interactions, wherein the multilayer film comprises a first nucleic acid agent present at a loading density, and further wherein the multilayer film is characterized in that, when the structure is placed on a subject so that the multilayer film contacts cells, the first nucleic acid agent is released with a profile characterized by a feature selected from the group consisting of 1) being a burst-free release; 2) being a sustained release; and 3) exhibiting in vitro and/or in vivo biological effectiveness.

Abstract: Technologies are generally described for forming a nanofluid coolant and structures including a nanofluid coolant. In an example, a method of forming a nanofluid coolant may comprise combining a compound with an acid and with purified water to form a solution. The compound may include manganese. The method may further include heating the solution and, after heating the solution, cooling the solution effective to form at least one precipitate that includes manganese and oxygen. The method may further include filtering the at least one precipitate to form a powder that includes manganese oxide nanotubes. The method may further include functionalizing the nanotubes by irradiating them with UV radiation. The method may further include combining the functionalized manganese oxide nanotubes with a polar solvent to form the nanofluid coolant.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of uniformly heating, rheologically softening, and thermoplastically forming metallic glasses rapidly into a net shape using a rapid capacitor discharge forming (RCDF) tool are provided. The RCDF method utilizes the discharge of electrical energy stored in a capacitor to uniformly and rapidly heat a sample or charge of metallic glass alloy to a predetermined “process temperature” between the glass transition temperature of the amorphous material and the equilibrium melting point of the alloy in a time scale of several milliseconds or less. Once the sample is uniformly heated such that the entire sample block has a sufficiently low process viscosity it may be shaped into high quality amorphous bulk articles via any number of techniques including, for example, injection molding, dynamic forging, stamp forging, sheet forming, and blow molding in a time frame of less than 1 second.

Abstract: An automotive cabin cooling system uses a bladeless turbocompressor driven by automobile engine exhaust to compress incoming ambient air. The compressed air is directed to an intercooler where it is cooled and then to another bladeless turbine used as an expander where the air cools as it expands and is directed to the cabin interior. Excess energy may be captured by an alternator couple to the expander turbine. The system employs no chemical refrigerant and may be further modified to include another intercooler on the output of the expander turbine to isolate the cooled cabin environment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel pharmaceutically-useful compounds which are antagonists of the 5-oxo-ETE receptors, such as the OXE receptor. These compounds have use as therapeutic and/or prophylactic agents for diseases characterized by tissue eosinophilia, such as inflammatory conditions including respiratory diseases. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions, to the use of such compounds and compositions as medicaments, and to therapeutic methods.

Abstract: Materials and methods for implementing engineered aggregates in metamaterials are provided. The engineered aggregates may be tuned to oscillate resonantly under the influence of an external force improving the dynamic performance of the metamaterial by impeding dynamic excitation. The engineered aggregate generally comprise a multilayer resonant structure having at least a relatively heavy inner core surrounded by at least a compliant coating layer. The geometry and stiffness of the relative layers can be tuned to engineer a desired resonant frequency response within the aggregate for a chosen frequency range. The engineered aggregates are disposed in a matrix material to form a metamaterial. The engineered aggregates may be disposed within a mortar matrix to form a concrete metamaterial suitable for use, for example, in structural applications, including bunkers, shelters, etc.

Abstract: The present invention features antibody-based constructs that include a combination of two or more of a tetrameric antibody, a single chain antibody, a diabody, a triabody, another immunoglobulin-based moiety, as described herein, or biologically active variants thereof.

Abstract: In order to increase the spectral response range and improve the mobility of the photo-generated carriers (e.g. in an nBn photodetector), a digital alloy absorber may be employed by embedding one (or fraction thereof) to several monolayers of a semiconductor material (insert layers) periodically into a different host semiconductor material of the absorber layer. The semiconductor material of the insert layer and the host semiconductor materials may have lattice constants that are substantially mismatched. For example, this may performed by periodically embedding monolayers of InSb into an InAsSb host as the absorption region to extend the cutoff wavelength of InAsSb photodetectors, such as InAsSb based nBn devices. The described technique allows for simultaneous control of alloy composition and net strain, which are both key parameters for the photodetector operation.

Abstract: A rapidly dispersing dosage form is described. The dosage form releases its active ingredients within a period of less than about ninety seconds. These dosage forms exhibit a three-dimensional shape that is retained for adequate storage but is readily dispersed in the presence of excess moisture. Also disclosed are methods of administration of a medicament and a process for the preparation of rapidly dispersing dosage forms.

Abstract: A water treatment agent for removing contaminants through oxidation with high-activity intermediate-state pentavalent manganese consists of a manganese-containing compound, a complexing agent, and a persulfate, wherein the manganese-containing compound is bivalent manganese ions, permanganate or manganese dioxide. The molar ratio of the bivalent manganese ions, the ligand, and the persulfate is 1:1-50:1-1000. The agent removes contaminants through oxidation with high-activity intermediate-state pentavalent manganese, and has the advantages of high oxidizing ability, being capable of fast removing organic contaminants in water, and having no toxic and harmful substance produced.