Abstract: A secondary battery having an electrode assembly including a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate, and a separator interposed between the electrode plates, wherein the electrode plates are disposed in a rolled spiral configuration. A can is sized to house the electrode assembly and a cap assembly, which includes a vent plate having a plurality of deformable sections and one or more electric connection portions disposed between the deformable sections that are radially disposed and fixedly secured to an electrode assembly. When an internal pressure of the secondary battery is greater than a predetermined level, the deformable sections upwardly deform to drive the electric connection portions into contact with one or more multiple points of a current interrupt device (CID). The secondary battery has a low aspect ratio as compared to cylindrical cells with an overall height dimension that is smaller than a corresponding width dimension.

Abstract: A bacteria-responsive shape memory polymer (SMP) platform with clinical impact for chronic wound infection control. A bacteria-responsive SMP is synthesized in a primary shape and then fixed in a secondary shape until exposed to a second stimulus, which comprises the presence of bacterial proteases. During active infection, bacteria release proteases that degrade peptides in the SMP backbone and induce recovery to the primary shape, thereby providing a visual indication of an infection. In addition, on the microscopic scale, the SMP shape change can help inhibit biofilm formation and make them more susceptible to treatment with antibiotics.

Abstract: A single solar battery device formed by a solid-state Li battery intrinsically stacked on a monolithic triple junction solar cell sharing the same electrode in between. The solar cell generates a voltage high enough to directly photo-charge a Li battery at the required C-rate without use of a converter. The subcells of the monolithic triple junction solar cell are connected monolithically in series via optimized tunnel recombination junctions through which electrons and holes from the connected subcells can recombine. The intrinsic integration of the battery with solar cell enables using of a single device without an external cable connection, thus facilitating and decreasing the installation cost.

Abstract: A prokaryote was genetically engineered to develop operationally simple, high-yield biosynthetic route for the production of farnesylated proteins. The recombinant organism was modified to express a target protein, a peptide sequence fused to the target protein at a C-terminus, and an alpha and a beta subunit of a prenyltrasferase. The prenyltrasferase may be farnesyltransferase or geranylgeranyl transferase, and the peptide sequence may comprise cysteine, two hydrophobic amino acids, and an amino acid having selectivity to farnesyltransferase or geranylgeranyl transferase.

Abstract: A shape memory polymer scaffold for treatment of a fistula. The scaffold is formed from a shape memory polymer foam that can be triggered to expand from a compressed shape to an expanded shape in response to hydration and/or heating. The shape memory polymer foam includes an antibacterial component and a biodegradable component so that the scaffold addresses infective agents in the fistula and will degrade over time as the fistula heals. The foam may comprise poly(vinyl alcohol), starch, and a phenolic acid.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for oxidizing peptides and forming disulfide bonds. In some aspects, a rapid, green, and facile oxidation of peptides (e.g., cysteine containing peptides) is performed (e.g., to promote the formation of 1-3 or more disulfide bonds). In some aspects, methods are conducted in aqueous solutions, in air, utilizing a biocompatible corrin ring-containing compound (e.g., dicyanocobinamide). In some aspects, reaction times are under 1 hour and a simple one step removal of the catalyst can be performed.

Abstract: A strategy for bacterial persister control using amphiphilic antibiotics that do not require active transport to penetrate bacterial membranes of persister cells. Persister cells have reduced drug efflux and accumulate more minocycline than normal cells, leading to effective killing of this dormant subpopulation upon wake-up. While dormancy is a well-known cause of antibiotic tolerance, it also provides an Achilles' heel for controlling persister cells by leveraging dormancy associated reduction of drug efflux.

Abstract: A solid-state lithium battery having an interfacial layer of silicon nitride (Si3N4) that ensures an intimate contact between a garnet-type electrolyte and the lithium due to its lithiophilic nature and formation of an intermediate lithium-metal alloy. The interfacial resistance experiences an exponential drop from 1197 ?cm2 to 84.5 ?cm2 and lithium symmetrical cells with an Si3N4-modified garnet exhibited low overpotential and long-term stable plating/stripping cycles at room temperature compared to bare garnet and was demonstrated to operate with high cycling efficiency and energy density, excellent rate capability and stability.

Abstract: An electrolyte for a lithium battery containing a low concentration of gadolinium nitrate (Gd(NO3)3). In an electrolyte of 1 M lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI), DME:DOL (1:1), and 1% LiNO3, 1 mg/ml of Gd(NO3)3 as additive will promote the plating/stripping of lithium metal with nodular morphology and support dendrite suppression so that less dead lithium is formed on Li anode surface.

Abstract: A parallel diarylethene mechanophore with mirror symmetry may be converted to its anti-parallel stereoisomer of C2 symmetry under ultrasound-induced force field. Concomitantly, the stereochemistry-converted material gains new stereochemistry-selective activity to undergo photocyclization reactions. The mechanophore thus uses a mechanical approach to converting the axial chirality of a sterically congested diarylethene molecule, modifying its molecular symmetry and its physical and chemical properties in response to an mechanical stimulus.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for shaping double-network hydrogels into customized 3D structures. A one-pot prepolymer formulation containing photo-cross-linkable acrylamide and thermoreversible sol-gel ?-carrageenan with a suitable crosslinker, and photo-initiator/absorbers was used. The formulation was polymerized using a TOPS system with heating stage to photo-polymerize the primary acrylamide network into a 3D structure above the sol-gel transition of ?-carrageenan (80° C.). Cooling down then generates the secondary physical ?-carrageenan network to realize tough double-network hydrogel structures. Printed 3D structures had superior lateral (37 ?m) and vertical (180 ?m) resolutions and 3D design freedoms (internal voids) that exhibit ultimate stress and strain of 200 kPa and 2400% respectively under tension, and simultaneously exhibit high compression stress of 15 MPa with a strain of 95%, both with high recovery rates.

Abstract: A speech analysis system that can accurately determine whether a predetermined sound in a spoken work has been correctly pronounced. The speech analysis system includes a machine learning algorithm that has been trained to consider temporal and spectral information about the frame-by-frame components of a target sound. The speech analysis system is personalized based on previous therapy recordings for a speaker's specific error and correct/mispronounced exemplars from speakers with matched vocal tracts. The speech analysis system may be integrated into an adaptive therapy program, such as Speech Motor Chaining, to provide an assessment of proper speech and personalized biofeedback in the place of a live clinician.

Abstract: A steerable robotic needle formed from a compliant wire that is surrounded by an inner layer having one or more tunable regions positioned in predetermined locations and an inert region extending over the rest of the wire. The tunable region changes stiffness in response to an external trigger, such as heating via electrical energy, so that the needle can bend more readily in the predetermined location. The inner layer may be encapsulated in an elastomeric tube to prevent heat from reaching the surrounding environment. The resulting change in stiffness allows the needle to perform maneuvers in a body that require a larger curvature.

Abstract: A system configured to characterize a number of contributors to a DNA mixture within a sample, the system comprising: a sample preparation module configured to generate initial data about the DNA mixture within the sample; a processor comprising a number of contributors determination module comprising a machine-learning algorithm configured to: (i) receive the generated initial data; (ii) analyze the generated initial data to determine the number of contributors to the DNA mixture within the sample; and an output device configured to receive the determined number of contributors from the processor, and further configured output information about the received determined number of contributors.

Abstract: A polymer film having a non-planar surface defined by a series of surface bumps and a plurality of nanoparticles in the polymer film, wherein the nanoparticles are more concentrated proximately to surface and in the surface bumps to provide anti-wetting and anti-stick properties. The polymer coating is formed by casting a thin layer of a photopolymerizable polymer precursor having a plurality of nanoparticles over a transparent substrate and then irradiating the thin layer from below with a periodic light field so that the photopolymerizable polymer precursor forms a polymer with a non-planar surface and the nanoparticles are concentrated proximately to the non-planar surface as a result of phase separation. The resulting film can be washed with a solvent to remove any uncured polymer and peeled away from the substrate for use as an anti-stick and anti-wetting coating.

Abstract: A method of forming complex ceramic structures without altering the ceramic microstructure. A tape cast ceramic substrate is masked and then sprayed with a film having a different thermal expansion coefficient than the tape cast ceramic substrate. The mask is removed to leave the desired pattern of film on the tape ceramic substrate. As the substrate and film cools down from the peak sintering temperature, deformation occurs due to the different thermal expansion coefficients. By varying film thickness and deposition pattern, the composite can be designed to deform only in certain areas, allowing for well-controlled folding of the tape cast ceramic composite to provide for folding into complex shapes.

Abstract: An approach to achieve highly tunable adhesion using low pressure by inducing sidewall buckling in soft hollow pillars (SHPs). Dry adhesion of these SHPs can be changed by two orders of magnitude (up to 145×) using low activating pressure (˜?10 kPa or ˜20 kPa). Negative pressure triggers sidewall buckling while positive pressure induces sidewall bulging, both of which can significantly change stress distribution at the bottom surface to facilitate crack initiation and reduce adhesion therein. A single SHP can be activated by a micropump to manipulate various lightweight objects with different curvature and surface texture. An array of SHPs can realize selective pick-and-place of an array of objects. Minor modifications to the SHPs in terms of geometry and material (with or without cap, circular or noncircular cross section) can further enhance the adhesion tuning performance of these SHPs.

Abstract: A non-catalytic microcombustion based FFC for the direct use of hydrocarbons for power generation. The potential for high FFC performance (450 mW·cm?2 power density and 50% fuel utilization) in propane/air microcombustion exhaust was demonstrated. The micro flow reactor was used as a fuel reformer for equivalence ratios from 1-5.5. Soot formation in the micro flow reactor was not observed at equivalence ratios from 1 to 5.5 and maximum wall temperatures ranging from 750 to 900° C. H2 and CO concentrations in the exhaust were found to have a strong temperature dependence that varies with the maximum wall temperature and the local flame temperature.

Abstract: A testing apparatus for evaluating a medical implant for electric potential oscillations that lead to corrosion. The testing apparatus uses a uniaxial load device having a mounting base for accepting a medical implant and orienting the implant along a predetermined axis, a support plate positioned under the uniaxial load device and moveable to apply a force to the implant, a load cell positioned above the mounting plate to measure the force applied to the implant, and a set of differential variable reluctance transducers positioned to measure motion of the implant. A chamber encloses the uniaxial load device so that the implant can be submerged in a fluid replicating human synovial fluid. A faraday cage surrounds the chamber for isolation from environmental electromagnetic radiation. An array of near field antenna are positioned circumferentially around the chamber and driven by a multi-frequency generator.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for lowering blood glucose. More specifically, the present invention provides compositions comprising a complex comprising IF and B12 conjugated to a peptide comprising a GLP-1 agonist. Advantageously, the composition may be delivered subcutaneously.