Abstract: Compositions and methods related to carbon nanotubes are provided. More particularly, imaging agents comprising carbon nanotubes internally loaded with a contrast agent and associated methods are provided. One example of a method may involve a method for imaging comprising: providing an imaging agent comprising a carbon nanotube loaded with contrast agent; introducing the imaging agent into a cell; and imaging the cell to detect the presence of the imaging agent.

Abstract: A method for communicating data between peripheral devices and an embedded processor that includes receiving, at a data buffer unit of the embedded processor, the data from a peripheral device. The method also includes copying data from the data buffer unit into the bridge buffer of the embedded processor as a bridge buffer message. Additionally, the method includes creating, after storing the data as a bridge buffer message, a peripheral device message comprising the bridge buffer message, and sending the peripheral device message to a thread message queue of a subscriber.

Abstract: Composite materials and methods of preparing C02 capture include: (1) a porous solid support comprising a plurality of porous channels; and (2) a nucleophilic source associated with the porous channels of the porous solid support. The nucleophilic source is capable of converting the captured C02 to poly(C02). Methods of capturing C02 from an environment include associating the environment with the aforementioned composite materials to lead to the capture of C02 from the environment. Such methods may also include a step of releasing the captured C02 from the composite material. The associating step comprises a conversion of the captured C02 to poly(C02) in the composite material. A releasing step may also include a depolymerization of the formed poly(C02).

Abstract: A method and system to induce bone growth by locally delivering bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) to the target location for a prolonged period without invasive procedures are disclosed. The new bone growth is induced by delivering cells producing BMPs from transduced viral vectors to the target cite. In various embodiments, the cells are encapsulated in hydrogel microspheres that are non-degradable or degradable by enzymes produced during the bone formation process. Various embodiments may be used to induce spinal fusion or repair critical bone defects.

Abstract: Methods for remote activation and permanent or temporary deactivation of integrated circuits (IC) for digital rights management are disclosed. Remote activation enables designers to remotely control each IC manufactured by an independent silicon foundry. Certain embodiments of the invention exploit inherent unclonable variability in modern manufacturing for the creation of unique identification (ID) and then integrate the IDs into the circuit functionality. Some of the objectives may be realized by replicating a subset of states of one or more finite state machines and by superimposing additional state transitions that are known only to the designer. On each chip, the added transitions signals are a function of the unique IDs and are thus unclonable. The method and system of the invention is robust against operational and environment conditions, unclonable and attack-resilient, while having a low overhead and a unique key for each IC with very high probability.

Abstract: Bacteria optimized to produce succinate and other feedstocks by growing on low cost carbon sources, such as sucrose.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to nanocomposites for detecting hydrocarbons in a geological structure. In some embodiments, the nanocomposites include: a core particle; a polymer associated with the core particle; a sulfur-based moiety associated with the polymer; and a releasable probe molecule associated with the core particle, where the releasable probe molecule is releasable from the core particle upon exposure to hydrocarbons. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of detecting hydrocarbons in a geological structure by utilizing the nanocomposites of the present disclosure.

Abstract: A method for transmitting data from a sender to a receiver over a channel. The method includes identifying the receiver, obtaining an initiation correlated symbol sequence (CSS) associated with the receiver, transmitting the initiation CSS, where the sender and the receiver are configured to communicate over the channel, where the channel is a frequency band in a radio-frequency spectrum. The method further includes receiving a first reservation CSS from the receiver signaling that the receiver has reserved the channel in order to receive the data from the sender. In response to receiving the first reservation CSS, transmitting the data to the receiver, and receiving an acknowledgment CSS from the receiver signaling that the receiver has received the data from the sender.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved methods for preparing cetyltrimethylammonium bromide-capped gold nanoparticles through the use of hydroquinone as a reducing agent. Such methods generally comprise the steps of: (1) providing a seed solution comprising a gold nanoparticle; (2) providing an aqueous growth solution comprising: (i) cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, (ii) hydrogen tetrachloroaurate, and (iii) hydroquinone; and (3) adding a quantity of the seed solution to the aqueous growth solution.

Abstract: The present invention provides additive manufacturing methods of forming multilayer energy storage devices on a surface by formulating all components of the multilayer energy storage device into liquid compositions and: (1) applying a first liquid current collector composition above the surface to form a first current collector layer above the surface; (2) applying a first liquid electrode composition above the first current collector layer to form a first electrode layer above the first current collector layer; (3) applying a liquid electrically insulating composition above the first electrode layer to form an electrically insulating layer above the first electrode layer; (4) applying a second liquid electrode composition above the electrically insulating layer to form a second electrode layer above the electrically insulating layer; and (5) applying a second liquid current collector composition above the second electrode layer to form a second current collector layer above the second electrode layer.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to methods of capturing CO2 from an environment by associating the environment (e.g., a pressurized environment) with a porous carbon material that comprises a plurality of pores and a plurality of nucleophilic moieties. In some embodiments, the associating results in sorption of CO2 to the porous carbon materials. In some embodiments, the sorption of CO2 to the porous carbon materials occurs selectively over hydrocarbons in the environment. In some embodiments, the methods of the present disclosure also include a step of releasing captured CO2 from porous carbon materials. In some embodiments, the releasing occurs without any heating steps by decreasing environmental pressure. In some embodiments, the methods of the present disclosure also include a step of disposing released CO2 and reusing porous carbon materials. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to porous carbon materials that are used for CO2 capture.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to methods of forming a reinforcing material by: (1) depositing a first material onto a catalyst surface; and (2) forming a second material on the catalyst surface, where the second material is derived from and associated with the first material. In some embodiments, the first material includes, without limitation, carbon nanotubes, graphene nanoribbons, boron nitride nanotubes, chalcogenide nanotubes, carbon onions, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the formed second material includes, without limitation, graphene, hexagonal boron nitride, chalcogenides, and combinations thereof. In additional embodiments, the methods of the present disclosure also include a step of separating the formed reinforcing material from the catalyst surface, and transferring the separated reinforcing material onto a substrate without the use of polymers.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to therapeutic compositions that comprise: (1) a nanovector, (2) an active agent; and (3) a targeting agent, wherein the active agent and the targeting agent are non-covalently associated with the nanovector. The present invention also pertains to methods of treating various conditions in a subject by utilizing the above-described therapeutic compositions. Methods of making the therapeutic compositions are also a subject matter the present invention.

Abstract: A wellbore fluid may include an oleaginous continuous phase, one or more magnetic carbon nanoribbons, and at least one weighting agent. A method of performing wellbore operations may include circulating a wellbore fluid comprising a magnetic carbon nanoribbon composition and a base fluid through a wellbore. A method for electrical logging of a subterranean well may include placing into the subterranean well a logging medium, wherein the logging medium comprises a non-aqueous fluid and one or more magnetic carbon nanoribbons, wherein the one or more magnetic carbon nanoribbons are present in a concentration so as to permit the electrical logging of the subterranean well; and acquiring an electrical log of the subterranean well.

Abstract: A composition and method demulsify a produced emulsion from anionic surfactants and polymer (SP) and alkali, surfactants, and polymer (ASP). The produced emulsion is demulsified into oil and water. In one embodiment, the composition includes a surfactant. The surfactant comprises a cationic surfactant, an amphoteric surfactant, or any combinations thereof.

Abstract: Carbon nanotubes (CNT) fibers having a resistivity lower than 120 ??*cm are prepared by a wet spinning process including the steps of supplying a spin-dope of carbon nanotubes to a spinneret, extruding the spin-dope through at least one spinning hole in the spinneret to form spun carbon nanotubes fibers, and coagulating the spun carbon nanotubes fibers in a coagulation medium to form coagulated carbon nanotubes fibers. The carbon nanotubes fibers are drawn at a draw ratio higher than 1.0. The carbon nanotubes have a length of at least 0.5 ?m. The carbon nanotubes fibers can further have a resistivity lower than 50 ??*cm. At the same time, the CNT fibers can have high modulus.

Abstract: Metal/metal oxide nanoparticle-embedded polymer films were synthesized in situ wherein the polymerizing agent was utilized for both reduction and polymerization (such as curing). This in situ method avoids the use of any external reducing agent/stabilizing agent and leads to a uniform distribution of nanoparticles in the polymer matrix. In some embodiments, additional heating can be utilized to form the nanoparticles embedded in the polymer film.

Abstract: A method of increasing cellular NADPH levels by expressing one or more genes that encode an enzyme that causes the production of NADPH. The system is combined with other enzymes that require NADPH, thus improving the overall yield of the desired product.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present invention pertains to methods of detecting a contamination of an environment by a fracture fluid that comprises magnetic particles. In some embodiments, such methods include: (1) collecting a sample from the environment; and (2) measuring a magnetic susceptibility of the sample in order to detect the presence or absence of the magnetic particles. Further embodiments of the present invention pertain to methods of tracing fracture fluids in a mineral formation. In some embodiments, such methods include: (1) associating the fracture fluids with magnetic particles; (2) introducing the fracture fluids into the mineral formation; and (3) measuring a magnetic susceptibility of the fracture fluids. Additional embodiments of the present invention pertain to fracture fluids containing the aforementioned magnetic particles, the actual magnetic particles, and methods of making said magnetic particles.

Abstract: In various embodiments, the present disclosure describes methods for processing seismic data to concurrently produce a velocity model and a depth image. Various embodiments of the methods include: a) acquiring seismic data; b) generating a shallow velocity model from the seismic data; c) generating a stacking velocity model using the shallow velocity model as a guide; d) generating an initial interval velocity model from the stacking velocity model; and e) generating an initial depth image using the initial interval velocity model. The methods also include iterative improvement of the initial depth image and the initial interval velocity model to produce improved depth images and improved interval velocity models. Improvement of the depth images and the interval velocity models is evaluated by using a congruency test.