Abstract: A method for growing polarized endometrial cells, said method comprising: (a) disposing endometrial cells on a scaffold, said scaffold comprising a silica-based glass composition, characterized by multi-modal porosity, said scaffold being to define a top side and a bottom side; (b) providing nutrients to said top and bottom sides of said scaffold and an environment to grow polarized endometrial cells on said scaffold.

Abstract: Described herein are apparatus comprising: a first layer comprising a first microfluidic channel; a second layer comprising a second microfluidic channel; and a membrane for culturing cells; along with methods of making and using same.

Abstract: Provided herein are connectors for use in assembling reinforced concrete structures, as well as methods of assembly using the connectors. In one embodiment, the connectors and methods provide for secure and easy connection to the butt end of any rebar rod, as well as attachment of an opposite end to another metal structure. For example, a butt portion of a connector slides over the butt portion of a rebar rod, and can include one or more sidewall openings to allow welding onto rebar that is enclosed within the butt portion of the connector. The opposite second end can include a faceplate for attaching a weld plate, thus permitting a series of connections using connectors and weld plates, among other things. The connectors provide selected properties that differ from the rebar, welds, and weld plates, such as stretch, yield strength, ultimate strength, and transfer of stress and vibration, among other things.

Abstract: Augmented or synergized anti-inflammatory constructs are disclosed including anti-inflammatory amino acids covalently conjugated with other anti-inflammatory molecules such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, vanilloids and ketone bodies. Further conjugation with a choline bioisostere or an additional anti-inflammatory moiety further augments the anti-inflammatory activity.

Abstract: The present invention includes apparatuses and methods to separate a gas from a gaseous mixture using supercapacitive swing adsorption.

Abstract: Resilient members having near-surface architectures including microstructures for controlling friction are provided. A film-terminated array of fibrils having a sharp film/fibril juncture exhibits an unexpectedly large enhancement of adhesion, static friction and sliding friction. The enhancement is provided against so rough indenters. A film-terminated array of elongated ridges and valleys unexpectedly exhibits low adhesion, and an unexpectedly large enhancement of sliding friction. The film-terminated ridge/valley design provides an anisotropic structure with direction-dependent frictional properties. The increase in sliding friction force varies as a function of interfibrillar spacing, and corresponds to a mode is in which buckling of the terminal film occurs. The near surface architectures may be designed with varying scales and varying parameters to provide performance characteristics tailored to various applications.

Abstract: A method for purifying waste water, and a dual chamber purification system, in which feed water may be passed first through a hybrid anion exchange unit, and subsequently through a weak acid cationic exchange unit. The hybrid anion exchanger may comprise a hybrid sorbent (HAIX-NanoZr) with dual functional sorption sites. The weak acid cationic exchanger may be a fiber having a shell-core physical configuration with relatively short intra-particle diffusion path length so that the ion exchange sites reside predominantly on the periphery. The system may be used to achieve partial desalination or TDS reduction and concurrent removal of target contaminants (e.g., phosphate, hardness). Further, the system may be regenerated using CO2 as the sole regenerant for both the hybrid anion exchanger and the weak acid cationic exchanger, thus producing spent regenerant with no externally added chemicals.

Abstract: An anaerobic biological reactor comprising an anaerobic digester having a chamber configured to receive a microbial suspension, a chamber inlet configured to direct an organic waste stream into the digester, and ion-exchange fibers within the chamber in position to contact and chemically react with microbial suspension received into the chamber.

Abstract: In one aspect the invention provides a graded refractive index single crystal waveguide having a glass block containing at least one crystal core, the crystal core having a central portion extending along an axis from a first end to a second end; an interface defining a peripheral boundary of the crystal core at a junction of the crystal core and an adjacent portion of the glass block, and a continuous, radially symmetric misorientation transverse to the central portion; wherein the misorientation has a misorientation angle that increases with increasing distance from the central portion towards the interface.

Abstract: A material structure and system for generating a III-Nitride digital alloy.

Abstract: In one aspect the invention provides a graded refractive index single crystal waveguide having a glass block containing at least one crystal core, the crystal core having a central portion extending along an axis from a first end to a second end; an interface defining a peripheral boundary of the crystal core at a junction of the crystal core and an adjacent portion of the glass block, and a continuous, radially symmetric misorientation transverse to the central portion; wherein the misorientation has a misorientation angle that increases with increasing distance from the central portion towards the interface.

Abstract: Provided herein are connectors for use in assembling reinforced concrete structures, as well as methods of assembly using the connectors. In one embodiment, the connectors and methods provide for secure and easy connection to the butt end of any rebar rod, as well as attachment of an opposite end to another metal structure. For example, a butt portion of a connector slides over the butt portion of a rebar rod, and can include one or more sidewall openings to allow welding onto rebar that is enclosed within the butt portion of the connector. The opposite second end can include a faceplate for attaching a weld plate, thus permitting a series of connections using connectors and weld plates, among other things. The connectors provide selected properties that differ from the rebar, welds, and weld plates, such as stretch, yield strength, ultimate strength, and transfer of stress and vibration, among other things.

Abstract: The present invention includes methods of promoting single crystal growth via solid-solid transformation of an appropriate glass, while avoiding the gaseous or liquid phase. In certain embodiments, in the all-solid-state glass-to-crystal transformation of the invention, extraneous nucleation is avoided relative to crystal growth via spatially localized laser heating and optional inclusion of a suitable glass former in the composition. The ability to fabricate patterned single-crystal architecture on a glass surface was demonstrated, providing a new class of micro-structured substrate for low cost epitaxial growth and active planar devices, for example.

Abstract: In one aspect the invention provides a graded refractive index single crystal waveguide having a glass block containing at least one crystal core, the crystal core having a central portion extending along an axis from a first end to a second end; an interface defining a peripheral boundary of the crystal core at a junction of the crystal core and an adjacent portion of the glass block, and a continuous, radially symmetric misorientation transverse to the central portion; wherein the misorientation has a misorientation angle that increases with increasing distance from the central portion towards the interface.

Abstract: Compositions comprising nanoparticles (e.g., nanocrystals) of stishovite silica are described. Such nanoparticles may be made by (1) subjecting a mesoporous silica starting material (e.g., SBA-16 or KIT-6) to a pressure of less than about 20 GPa (e.g., about 12 GPa); (2) heating the mesoporous silica starting material while under pressure to an elevated temperature of less than about 1000° C. (e.g., a temperature of between about 300° C. and about 400° C.); and thereafter isolating the nanoparticles. The nanoparticles may be used in a work tool that is configured and adapted for cutting, drilling, abrading, polishing, machining, or grinding, among other uses.

Abstract: The present invention includes an anion exchange method that uses sulfate-containing acid mine drainage (AMD), or any sulfate containing water resource, to remove strontium, barium, and/or radium from contaminated water sources, such as but not limited to hydraulic fracturing waste water, flowback, and/or produced water, without requiring any external regenerant. The removal process may be adopted with any waste water or impaired water source containing sulfate anions.

Abstract: A symmetrical quantum well active layer provides enhanced internal quantum efficiency. The quantum well active layer includes an inner (central) layer and a pair of outer layers sandwiching the inner layer. The inner and outer layers have different thicknesses and bandgap characteristics. The outer layers are relatively thick and include a relatively low bandgap material, such as InGaN. The inner layer has a relatively lower bandgap material and is sufficiently thin to act as a quantum well delta layer, e.g., comprising approximately 6 ? or less of InN. Such a quantum well structure advantageously extends the emission wavelength into the yellow/red spectral regime, and enhances spontaneous emission. The multi-layer quantum well active layer is sandwiched by barrier layers of high bandgap materials, such as GaN.

Abstract: Augmented or synergized anti-inflammatory constructs are disclosed including anti-inflammatory amino acids covalently conjugated with other anti-inflammatory molecules such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, vanilloids and ketone bodies. Further conjugation with a choline bioisostere or an additional anti-inflammatory moiety further augments the anti-inflammatory activity.

Abstract: Resilient members having near-surface architectures including microstructures for controlling friction are provided. A film-terminated array of fibrils having a sharp film/fibril juncture exhibits an unexpectedly large enhancement of adhesion, static friction and sliding friction. The enhancement is provided against rough indenters. A film-terminated array of elongated ridges and valleys unexpectedly exhibits low adhesion, and an unexpectedly large enhancement of sliding friction. The film-terminated ridge/valley design provides an anisotropic structure with direction-dependent frictional properties. The increase in sliding friction force varies as a function of interfibrillar spacing, and corresponds to a mode in which buckling of the terminal film occurs. The near surface architectures may be designed with varying scales and varying parameters to provide performance characteristics tailored to various applications.

Abstract: Novel semiconductor nanoparticles and methods of biosynthesizing the same are provided by biosynthetic processes using cell-free supernatants and isolated enzymes.