Abstract: Described herein are agricultural compositions comprising an adduct of urea comprising: urea; and an inorganic salt; wherein the adduct has an average particle size ranging from about 0.1 microns to about 10 microns.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for realizing a peak-force scattering scanning near-field optical microscopy (PF-SNOM). Conventional scattering-type microscopy (s-SNOM) techniques uses tapping mode operation and lock-in detections that do not provide direct tomographic information with explicit tip-sample distance. Using a peak force scattering-type scanning near-field optical microscopy with a combination of peak force tapping mode and time-gated light detection, PF-SNOM enables direct sectioning of vertical near-field signals from a sample surface for both three-dimensional near-field imaging and spectroscopic analysis. PF-SNOM also delivers a spatial resolution of 5 nm and can simultaneously measure mechanical and electrical properties together with optical near-field signals.

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: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for realizing a peak-force scattering scanning near-field optical microscopy (PF-SNOM). Conventional scattering-type microscopy (s-SNOM) techniques uses tapping mode operation and lock-in detections that do not provide direct tomographic information with explicit tip-sample distance. Using a peak force scattering-type scanning near-field optical microscopy with a combination of peak force tapping mode and time-gated light detection, PF-SNOM enables direct sectioning of vertical near-field signals from a sample surface for both three-dimensional near-field imaging and spectroscopic analysis. PF-SNOM also delivers a spatial resolution of 5 nm and can simultaneously measure mechanical and electrical properties together with optical near-field signals.

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: Augmented or synergized anti-inflammatory constructs are disclosed including anti-inflammatory terpenes and/or vanilloids covalently conjugated to one another so that the activity of the conjugate is greater than the sum of its parts. Also disclosed are methods of improving the potency of an anti-inflammatory terpene or vanilloid by linking it to another anti-inflammatory terpene or vanilloid via a carbamate linkage, where the potency of the conjugate is greater than the sum of its parts.

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: 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: 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.

Abstract: Described herein are isolated recombinant proteins having lyase activity and nucleic acid sequences which code therefor; along with methods of expressing, isolating, purifying, and using same.

Abstract: The present invention includes a novel salt-free water softening method that utilizes an exchange medium (such as a gel exchange polymer, a macroporous exchange polymer, or an inorganic cation exchanger) that is pre-loaded with a polyvalent cation that has low solubility in aqueous phase at nearly neutral pH. The method of the invention does not require use of a sodium salt or mineral acid in the regeneration of the exchange medium.

Abstract: Provided herein are novel nanoporous glass fibers, and methods of preparing and using such fibers. In some embodiments, articles are made from particular glass starting materials, such as soda-lime phosphosilicate glass fabricated by melt-quench methods. The articles include nanoporous fibers that can be used alone, or sewn, woven, bundled, and otherwise incorporated to form nanoporous articles, including bioactive articles.

Abstract: A distributed antenna-coupling feedback scheme and specially designed distributed feedback (DFB) metallic cavity and grating for laser application and in particular to plasmonic lasers ensuring a predesigned phase condition such that a mode traveling inside a waveguide is coupled/phase-locked to a mode traveling on the top metal improving the beam quality of the laser.