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: A method of making SiC nanowires comprising: (a) mixing silicon powder with a carbon-containing biopolymer and a catalyst at room temperature to form a mixture; and (b) heating said mixture to a pyrolyzing temperature sufficient to react said biopolymer and said silicon power to form SiC nanowires.

Abstract: An article of manufacture comprising: (a) a body at least a portion of which is a multi-phase material (MPM) defining a traction surface; (b) the MPM comprising at least first and second zones comprising first and second materials, M1, M2, respectively, at or near the traction surface, the M1 and M2 having first and second Young moduli respectively, the first and second moduli differing by at least a factor of 3; and (c) wherein each of the second zones has a center, and wherein the second zones have a center-to-center radial distribution function having a peak at between 10 ?m and 10 mm.

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: 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: 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 and methods presented herein provide for multivariable model predictive control of a multistep plant. In one embodiment, a model predictive controller (MPC) includes a model of the multistep plant. The MPC is operable to linearize at least two steps of the multistep plant into cycle steps based on the model, to process an output signal from the multistep plant, and to independently control the cycle steps based on the output signal to optimize an output of the multistep plant.

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: 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: 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: 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 new family of therapeutics which provides a controlled-release delivery platform for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents on an ester or an ester-carbonate backbone is disclosed herein. These agents are reversible inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase and are thus useful for clinical conditions benefiting from inflammation suppression and cholinergic intervention. These compounds are of the general formula wherein n=0, 1; X=C, Si, and N+ and NSAID=ibuprofen, naproxen, indomethacin and diclofenac. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

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.