Abstract: Methods of making hexagonal boron nitride coatings upon stainless steel and other ferrous metal/alloy materials, compositions thereof, and methods of using same, such as in electrothermal membrane distillation systems using hexagonal boron nitride coated metal mesh.

Abstract: Provided herein are hybrid capture-based methods to extract single-stranded DNA or RNA directly from non-treated biospecimens. The methods allow for the detection and analysis of unexplored short single-stranded DNA (sssDNA, mean length 50 nt) and ultrashort single-stranded DNA (ussDNA, mean length 15 nt) of human origin present in the biospecimen. The methods allow the discovery of unexplored short single-stranded DNA (sssDNA) in isolated red blood cells, which were believed to be deprived of nucleic acids because of the lack of a nucleus in mature red blood cells. The DNA or RNA extracted using the disclosed methods can be used as disease prognostic biomarkers and treatment predictive biomarkers.

Abstract: Alkali metal-sulfur cells and batteries with cathode layers that store alkali metal charge carriers (e.g., lithium ions) in agglomerates of sulfurized carbon. The cathode layers lack costly and environmentally unfriendly nickel and cobalt. The cathode layers are composites that include agglomerates of sulfurized-carbon particles in a conductive binder and interconnected by sp2-bonded carbon materials, such as carbon nanotubes or nanoribbons, that extend within the agglomerates and between the sulfurized-carbon particles.

Abstract: A multicomponent conductive adhesive barrier includes an adhesive layer and a conductive barrier. The adhesive layer includes a doped pressure-sensitive adhesive and the conductive barrier layer is a carbon or metal-based material. A photoelectrode structure includes a substrate, a photoabsorbing layer, a multicomponent conductive adhesive barrier, and an electrocatalyst. A method for fabricating the photoelectrode structure includes applying a photoabsorbing layer to a substrate, preparing an adhesive layer, and forming a multicomponent conductive adhesive barrier by applying a conductive barrier layer to the adhesive layer.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for making biocompatible articles are provided. A method includes preparing a 3D printable mixture and depositing successive layers of the mixture in a predetermined pattern to form a porous biocompatible article. The predetermined pattern has a porosity suitable for a bone or cartilage scaffold. Associated 3D printable compositions and porous articles made from the described methods are also described. The preparing a 3D printable mixture can comprise conjugating an alkyne-terminated polymer to a peptide to form a peptide-containing composite, or providing a mixture that comprises a ceramic material and a binder, and wherein the 3D printable mixture comprises from 50 wt. % to 80 wt. % of the ceramic material.

Abstract: Alkali metal-sulfur cells and batteries with cathode layers that store alkali metal charge carriers (e.g., lithium ions) in agglomerates of sulfurized carbon. The cathode layers lack costly and environmentally unfriendly nickel and cobalt. The cathode layers are composites that include agglomerates of sulfurized-carbon particles in a conductive binder and interconnected by sp2-bonded carbon materials, such as carbon nanotubes or nanoribbons, that extend within the agglomerates and between the sulfurized-carbon particles.

Abstract: A method includes providing a resonant thermal oscillator in a thermofluidic system having at least two counter-flowing liquid streams separated by at least a spectrum absorbing material, wherein the spectrum absorbing material is hydrophobic, light-absorbing, and photothermal, and adjusting a flow rate in at least one of the counter-flowing liquid streams to maximize heat transfer between the at least two counter-flowing liquid streams.

Abstract: A process for extracting, recovering and recycling metals and materials from spent lithium ion batteries (LIB) that comprises the contacting battery waste products with a deep eutectic solvent, and leaching the metal from the battery waste product and extracting the metal into the deep eutectic solvent with heat and agitation. After the leaching and extracting, the process further includes recovering the dissolved metals ions from the deep eutectic solvent solution, followed by a step of regeneration of cathode materials.

Abstract: Provided herein are high-throughput methods for genetic barcoding and analysis, e.g., for tagging each biomaterial apsule with a barcode cell. These barcode cells are derived from patient samples, and thus embody natural human genetic variation. Also provided are SNP panels that can be used as genetic barcodes to identify the identity of a cell.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure provides analogs of thailanstatin of the formula wherein the variables are as defined herein. In another aspect, the present disclosure also provides methods of preparing the compounds disclosed herein. In another aspect, the present disclosure also provides pharmaceutical compositions and methods of use of the compounds disclosed herein.

Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to methods for serially expanding an artificial heart valve within a pediatric patient. For example, the artificial heart valve can be implanted into the pediatric patient during a first procedure, and then expanded during a second procedure to accommodate for the pediatric patient's growth. Some embodiments include introducing an expander into the implanted valve when the frame is expanded to a first working diameter, and then actuating the expander to expand the frame to a second working diameter greater than the first working diameter, to accommodate for the pediatric patient's growth.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of opening a lipid bilayer by associating the lipid bilayer with a molecule that includes a moving component capable of moving (e.g., rotating) in response to an external stimulus; and exposing the molecule to an external stimulus before, during or after associating the molecule with the lipid bilayer. The exposing causes the moving component of the molecule to move and thereby open the lipid bilayer (e.g., by pore formation). The external stimuli may include an energy source, such as ultraviolet light. The opened lipid bilayer may be a component of cell membranes in vitro or in vivo. The opening of the lipid bilayer may allow for the passage of various materials (e.g., active agents, such as peptide-based drugs) through the lipid bilayer and into cells. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to the aforementioned molecules for opening lipid bilayers.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions and methods for assembling multiple DNA molecules into a linear concatemer, with applications to nanopore sequencing of DNA sequence variations.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides expression constructs designed to provide for stable and/or inducible, tightly controlled production of genetically encoded payloads from engineered cells. These cassettes allow cells to be engineered to express genetically encoded payloads despite epigenetic silencing. As such, provided herein are expression systems for use in methods to engineer cells using CRISPR dCas9-activator systems such that expression of genetically encoded payloads (e.g., therapeutic proteins) can be optimized to overcome epigenetic silencing. In addition, provided herein are engineered cells comprising the expression systems.

Abstract: This present disclosure describes hybridization probes modularly constructed from several oligonucleotides with a pattern of designed complementary interactions, allowing the probes to sequence-specifically capture or analyze nucleic acid target sequences that are long and/or complex.

Abstract: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) enhancement agent includes a plurality of particles, each particle including: a metal core; a dielectric shell disposed on the metal core comprising at least one MRI contrast agent; and a metal shell disposed on the exterior surface of the dielectric shell that encapsulates the dielectric shell.

Abstract: A method of improving electrical conduction across an impaired region of a tissue (e.g., myocardial tissue), includes applying an electrically conductive wiring carbon nanotube fibers) across the impaired region. The electrically conductive wiring can become associated with non-impaired regions of the tissue on opposite sides of the impaired region by suturing. The method can also be utilized to treat or prevent cardiac arrhythmia in a subject (e.g., ventricular arrhythmia). The electrically conductive wiring includes carbon nanotubes, such as carbon nanotube fibers, Such electrically conductive wiring can be used to transmit electrical signals to a tissue or sense electrical signals from the tissue. Suture threads including carbon nanotubes, such as carbon nanotube fibers, are provided.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to the treatment of primary and metastatic cancer using radiation. Specifically, the disclosure relates to methods providing for the selective accretion of cytoprotective agent in tissues and/or organs, sensitive to radiation that are adjacent to malignant tumors prior to radiation of the tumors at a dose that otherwise would be toxic to the tissues and/or organs, but are necessary to achieve ablative outcome on the tumors.

Abstract: A method for designing lithology-specific drill bits. The method creates an experimentally verified multiphysics model to predict drilling into site-specific rock formations. A physics-based, Eulerian-Lagrangian computational modeling framework to predict particle flow and tribological phenomena. The method uses this multiphysics model to generate virtual drilling data and then generates a machine learning enabled surrogate model of the physics-based model using the data from virtual drilling to provide design charts for drill bits.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the disclosure disclose a process for adhering cells, beads or particles to a surface of a material. The surface may be flat or curved and can be employed in the context of patterned or 3D printed hollow channels, facilitating the recapitulation of certain aspects of physiological systems. In various embodiments, interfacial cell seeding is accomplished by locally polymerizing a carrier containing a suspension of cells along the surface with a crosslinking molecule incorporated into the target material in advance of the interfacial polymerization. Polymerization of the carrier entraps the cells into controlled configuration along the surface. The techniques disclosed herein can be utilized for tissue engineering to build engineered organs/devices suitable for implanting into living organisms.