Abstract: An amorphous thin metal film can comprise a combination of three metals or metalloids including: 5 at % to 90 at % of a metalloid selected from the group of carbon, silicon, and boron; 5 at % to 90 at % of a first metal selected from the group of titanium, vanadium, chromium, iron, cobalt, nickel, zirconium, niobium, molybdenum, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, hafnium, tantalum, tungsten, osmium, iridium, and platinum; and 1 at % to 90 at % of cerium. The three elements may account for at least 50 at % of the amorphous thin metal film.

Abstract: An amorphous thin film stack can include a first layer including a combination metals or metalloids including: 5 at % to in 90 at % of a metalloid; 5 at % to 90 at % of a first metal and a second metal independently selected from titanium, vanadium, chromium, iron, cobalt, nickel, niobium, molybdenum, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, tantalum, tungsten, osmium, iridium, or platinum. The three elements may account for at least 70 at % of the amorphous thin film stack. The stack can further include a second layer formed on a surface of the first layer. The second layer can be an oxide layer, a nitride layer, or a combination thereof. The second layer can have an average thickness of 10 angstroms to 200 microns and a thickness variance no greater than 15% of the average thickness of the second layer.

Abstract: An amorphous thin metal film can include a combination of metals or metalloids including: 5 at % to 74 at % of a metalloid selected from the group of carbon, silicon, and boron; 5 at % to 74 at % of a first metal; 5 at % to 74 at % of a second metal; and 5 at % to 70 at % of a dopant. The first and second metals can be independently selected from the group of titanium, vanadium, chromium, iron, cobalt, nickel, zirconium, niobium, molybdenum, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, hafnium, tantalum, tungsten, osmium, iridium, or platinum, wherein the first metal and the second metal can be different metals. The dopant can be selected from the group of oxygen, nitrogen, or combinations thereof. The metalloid, first metal, second metal, and dopant can account for at least 70 at % of the amorphous thin metal film.

Abstract: The invention is based on the recognition that known antimicrobial compounds, such as nisin or other lantibiotics, can be made to form a long lasting antimicrobial surface coating by linking the peptide with a block polymer, such as PLURONIC® F108 or an end group activated polymer (EGAP) in a manner to form a flexible tether and/or entrap the peptide. The entrapped peptide provides antimicrobial action by early release from entrapment while the tethered peptide provides longer lasting antimicrobial protection. Antimicrobial gels and foams may be prepared using the antimicrobial peptide containing block copolymers.

Abstract: Described herein are nitrated lipids and methods of making and using the nitrated lipids.

Abstract: Systems and methods for synthesizing high-quality nanocrystals via segmented, continuous flow microwave-assisted reactor were developed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are devices, systems, and methods for measuring an electropharyngeogram (EPG) in living organisms. In some embodiments, the devices and systems disclosed herein include an array for sorting and immobilizing an organism (such as a nematode) for measurement of an EPG and/or optical imaging. Also disclosed are methods for identifying therapeutic or toxic compounds utilizing the disclosed devices and systems. In some embodiments, the methods include screening for compounds with anthelmintic activity, toxicity (for example HERG channel blockers), or candidate drugs for treatment of a variety of human and/or animal diseases.

Abstract: Systems and methods for synthesizing high-quality nanocrystals via segmented, continuous flow microwave-assisted reactor were developed.

Abstract: Described herein are nitrated lipids and methods of making and using the nitrated lipids.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of an essential oil extraction apparatus. In some embodiments, the apparatus comprises a container configured to hold an essential oil-containing material, an essential oil extract receiver contained in the container, a condenser having an outlet fluidly coupled to the receiver and located relative to the container so as to receive essential oil-containing vapor emitted by the essential oil-containing material; and at least one microwave reflection structure associated with at least one of the container, the receiver or the condenser. The apparatus can have an overall dimension that is sufficiently small so that the apparatus fits inside a standard-sized kitchen microwave oven.

Abstract: Described are methods for the high-throughput discovery and genotyping of nucleotide polymorphisms in DNA, including single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) and short deletions and insertions. These methods take advantage of the fact that differences in DNA sequence result in the differential presence of restriction endonuclease digestion sites. Approaches involve isolation of short DNA fragments (“tags”) near restriction endonuclease sites. The presence of one (or two) of these tags indicates that a site was present. Regions of DNA with a restriction site in only one individual create an opportunity for primer extension to produce labeled material, which can be assayed on a platform that employs a collection of nucleic acids. Efficient variant detection microarrays and bead libraries are provided that contain genomic tags with different representations between two populations, so that most elements in the collection of nucleic acids contain a SNP between populations of interest.

Abstract: One disclosed embodiment concerns an aqueous inorganic coating precursor solution comprising a mixture of water, polynuclear aluminum hydroxide cations, and polyatomic ligands selected from nitrate (NO3?), nitrite (NO2?), or combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, the composition has a molar concentration ratio of polyatomic ligands to aluminum of less than 3; an aluminum cation concentration of from about 0.01 M to about 3.5 M; and/or a polyatomic anion concentration of from about 0.1 to about 2.5 times the aluminum cation concentration. Embodiments of a method for forming the precursor solution also are disclosed. For example, certain embodiments comprise adding a metal having a sufficient reduction potential to reduce nitric acid to an aqueous solution comprising aluminum nitrate (Al(NO3)3).

Abstract: A method to generate siRNAs in vivo is described, as are constructs and compositions useful in the method. The method does not depend on the use of DNA or synthetic constructs that contain inverted duplications or dual promoters so as to form perfect or largely double-stranded RNA. Rather, the method depends on constructs that yield single-stranded RNA transcripts, and exploits endogenous or in vivo-produced miRNAs or siRNAs to initiate production of siRNAs. The miRNAs or siRNAs guide cleavage of the transcript and set the register for production of siRNAs (usually 21 nucleotides in length) encoded adjacent to the initiation cleavage site within the construct. The method results in specific formation of siRNAs of predictable size and register (phase) relative to the initiation cleavage site. The method can be used to produce specific siRNAs in vivo for inactivation or suppression of one or more target genes or other entities, such as pathogens.

Abstract: This application concerns systems and methods for compressing natural gas with an internal combustion engine. In a representative embodiment, a system for compressing a gas comprises a reciprocating internal combustion engine including at least one piston-cylinder assembly comprising a piston configured to travel in a cylinder and to compress gas in the cylinder in multiple compression stages. The system can further comprise a first pressure tank in fluid communication with the piston-cylinder assembly to receive compressed gas from the piston-cylinder assembly until the first pressure tank reaches a predetermined pressure, and a second pressure tank in fluid communication with the piston-cylinder assembly and the first pressure tank. The second pressure tank can be configured to receive compressed gas from the piston-cylinder assembly until the second pressure tank reaches a predetermined pressure.

Abstract: Spatial location systems can be based on multi-resolution grids such as mixed aperture combinations of hexagonal cells. A particular finest resolution can be selected based on a suitable combination of intermediate grid apertures such as arbitrary combinations of aperture 3, aperture 4, and aperture 7 hexagons. Location identifiers can be uniquely assigned by generating child cells from a parent cell so that the generated child cells do not overlap child cells of other parent cells. One or more child blocks can be used at any resolution to avoid such overlap. For aperture three and aperture four hexagonal cells, blocks of four and three child cells, respectively, can be used to provide unique location identifiers.

Abstract: An electron source for electron-induced dissociation in an RF-free electromagnetostatic cell for use installation in a tandem mass spectrometer is provided. An electromagnetostatic electron-induced dissociation cell may include at least one magnet having an opening disposed therein and having a longitudinal axis extending through the opening, the magnet having magnetic flux lines associated therewith, and an electron emitter having an electron emissive surface comprising a sheet, the emitter disposed about the axis at a location relative to the magnet where the electron emissive surface is substantially perpendicular to the magnetic flux lines at the electron emissive surface.

Abstract: Described herein are nitrated lipids and methods of making and using the nitrated lipids.

Abstract: Mass spectrometry cells include one or more interleaved magnetostatic and electrostatic lenses. In some examples, the electrostatic lenses are based on electrical potentials applied to magnetostatic lens pole pieces. In other alternatives, the electrostatic lenses can include conductive apertures. Applied voltages can be selected to trap or transport charged particles, and photon sources, gas sources, ion sources, and electron sources can be provided for various dissociation processes.

Abstract: The present application relates to apparatus and methods of reducing the cost of microchannel array production and operation. In a representative embodiment, a microchannel array can comprise a first lamina having one or more flanges and a plurality of elongated bosses. The one or more flanges can extend along a perimeter of the first lamina, the plurality of elongated bosses can at least partially define a plurality of first flow paths, and the first lamina can define at least one opening. The microchannel array can also comprise a second lamina having a plurality of second flow paths, and can define at least one opening. The second lamina can be disposed above the first lamina such that the second lamina encloses the first flow paths of the first lamina and the at least one opening of the first lamina is coaxial with the at least one opening of the second lamina.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Corylus plant named ‘Wepster’ characterized by high vigor and an upright-spreading plant habit, yellowish-green developing and fully expanded leaves during the spring and summer, resistance to eastern filbert blight caused by the fungus Anisogramma anomala (Peck) E. Müller, presence of random amplified polymorphic DNA markers 152-800 and 268-580 amplified by the polymerase chain reaction and which are linked to a dominant allele for resistance to eastern filbert blight from the cultivar Gasaway, expression of incompatibility alleles S1 and S2 in the styles, and DNA fingerprints at 8 of 20 microsatellite marker loci differ from both parents OSU 440.005 and ‘Tonda Pacifica’, and from one parent at an additional 12 marker loci.