Abstract: Methods, microbial fuel cells and microbial consortia for generating electrical current are provided according to the present invention which include providing a microbial consortium to an anode chamber of a microbial fuel cell, wherein the microbial consortium includes: 1) an engineered methanogen that contains a heterologous nucleic acid sequence encoding methyl-coenzyme M reductase derived from an anaerobic methane oxidizer, 2) an exoelectrogen microbe that produces electrically-conductive appendages and/or one or more types of electron carrier, and 3) a sludge, methane-acclimated sludge, a sludge isolate component, a methane-acclimated sludge isolate component chosen from Paracoccus spp., Geotoga spp., Geobacter spp., Methanosarcina spp., Garciella spp., humic acids; or a combination of any two or more thereof.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for reprogramming glial cells into neurons are provided. The method entails using a combination of insulin and forskolin generate neurons. The neurons may be generated by converting glial cells into the neurons. The compositions and methods may also include one or both of Vitamin C (VC) and Crizotinub (Cri). Articles of manufacture are provided which include at least one pharmaceutical formulation, packaging, and printed material providing an indication and/or instruction for using the described compounds.

Abstract: A heat exchanger with a monocoque structure transfers heat between a first fluid and a second fluid. The heat exchanger in has a plurality of tubes through which the first fluid may flow in a direction, each of the plurality of tubes has a first mouth end, an N opposing second mouth end and a waist region between the first mouth end and the second mouth end. The heat exchanger also has one or more interconnected fluid channels through which the second fluid may flow, the one or more fluid channels lay generally in a plane, the plurality of tubes and the one or more fluid channels interleave such that heat may be transferred between the plurality of tubes and the one or more fluid channels, and the direction of flow of the first fluid is generally perpendicular to the plane of the one or more fluid channels.

Abstract: A reconfigurable and machine learning resilient on-chip cryptography for graphene-based devices can be configured to utilize inherent disorders associated with the carrier transport in grain boundary dominated graphene field effect transistors (GFETs). For instance, a method can be configured to model a GFET as one or more physically unclonable functions (PUFs). A GFET PUF can also be reconfigured in a way that does not involve any physical intervention and/or integration of additional hardware components. A GFET PUF can be designed to operate with ultra-low power and can be configured to be robust and reliable against variation in temperature and supply voltage in some embodiments.

Abstract: In one aspect, methods of targeted nanoparticles and cell delivery are described herein. In some embodiments methods described herein comprise coupling nanoparticles and cells to a carrier cell to form a nanoparticle-cell conjugate or cell-cell conjugate, disposing the nanoparticle-cell or cell-cell conjugate in a biological environment, and delivering the nanoparticles and cells to target cells or tissues located within the biological environment. The nanoparticles comprise a biodegradable photoluminescent polymer, and the nanoparticle-cell conjugate is formed using one or more click chemistry reaction products.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for fabricating a metal or ceramic component using a 3D printer. An entire 3D printed piece, including both the metal or ceramic component and one or more support structures, is created of a first metal or ceramic material. A sensitization layer is applied to all or part of the 3D printed piece to chemically alter portions of the first metal or ceramic material near the surface making those portions of the material more sensitive to the etching process. The etching process causes the affected material to deplete and separates the component from the support structures without requiring mechanical machining.

Abstract: A method for improved prediction and enhancement of hydrocarbon recovery from ultra-tight/unconventional reservoirs for both the primary production and any subsequent solvent huff‘n’puff periods based on facilitating the diffusion process may include steps of defining one or more initial properties of a reservoir and integrating characterization data of the reservoir; defining a wellbore trajectory for each of at least one well and one or more parameters associated with a completion/reservoir stimulation design; specifying operating conditions for a current development cycle; performing diffusion-based dynamic fracture/reservoir simulation for calculating hydrocarbon recovery and efficiency of a hydrocarbon process; and; determining whether to commence or continue enhanced oil recovery (EOR) or enhanced gas recovery (EGR) cycles.

Abstract: The present invention is related to the development of therapeutics and prophylactics for the treatment and/or prevention of bacterial infections in humans and other mammals. A new class of small molecules is disclosed that inhibits the bacterial trans-translation/ribosome rescue mechanism and thus blocks infection of host cells by bacteria. Also disclosed are methods of using the small molecule inhibitors in the treatment/prevention of bacterial infections.

Abstract: A new class of cost-effective carbon fiber precursors that comprise both hydrocarbon polymer and Pitch structural features in the same polymer structure to exhibit complementary advantages of both PAN- and Pitch-based carbon fiber precursors. The new class of carbon fiber precursors comprise a polymeric pitch copolymer, wherein the polymeric pitch copolymer includes a polymer chain and several pitch polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) molecules grafted or chemically bonded to the polymer chain. Method and processes for the creation of the new class of carbon fiber precursors are also presented, wherein said methods may comprise a thermally-induced coupling and extrusion step.

Abstract: A relaxor-PT based piezoelectric crystal is disclosed, comprising the general formula of (Pb1-1.5xMx){[(MI,MII)1-z(MI?,MII?)z]1-yTiy}O3, wherein: M is a rare earth cation; MI is selected from the group consisting of Mg2+, Zn2+, Yb3+, Sc3+, and In3+; MII is Nb5+; MI? is selected from the group consisting of Mg2+, Zn2+, Yb3+, Sc3+, In3+, and Zr4; MII? is Nb5+ or Zr4+; 0<x?0.05; 0.02<y<0.7; and 0?z?1, provided that if either MI? or MII? is Zr4+, both MI? and MII? are Zr4+. A method for forming the relaxor-PT based piezoelectric crystal is disclosed, comprising pre-synthesizing precursor materials by calcining mixed oxides, mixing the precursor materials with single oxides and calcining to form a feeding material, and growing the relaxor-PT based piezoelectric crystal having the general formula of (Pb1-1.5xMx){[(MI,MII)1-z(MI?,MII?)z]1-yTiy}O3 from the feeding material by a Bridgman method.

Abstract: A process for preparing a repellant smooth surface includes applying a coating composition onto a smooth surface of a substrate having hydroxyl functional groups thereon and an average roughness Ra of less than 4 ?m. The coating composition includes: (i) a polymerizable silane or siloxane or both selected from the group consisting of dimethyldimethoxysilane, dimethoxy-methyl(3,3,3-trifluoropropyl)silane, dimethoxy(methyl)octylsilane, diethoxydimethylsilane, (ii) a solvent and (iii) an acid catalyst. The process further includes polymerizing the silane or siloxane or both from the hydroxyl functional groups on the smooth surface of the substrate to form a chemical layer of graft polymers having ends anchored to the smooth surface and applying a lubricant coating over the formed chemical layer to adhere and maintain the lubricant on the smooth surface and form a lubricant-entrenched smooth surface as the repellant smooth surface.

Abstract: System and method of manufacturing high-strength bonded metal sheets for a battery cell are provided. The method comprises providing a stackup comprising a first metal sheet and a second metal sheet. The first and second metal sheets are separated by a first coating layer. The first coating layer comprises nickel-phosphide. The first metal sheet includes a first material of a first melting point and the second metal sheet includes a second material of a second melting point. The first coating layer including a third material of a third melting point. The method further comprises heating the stackup to allow crystallization of nickel in the first coating layer and remove the residual nickel-phosphide defining an enhanced coating layer. The enhanced coating layer comprises crystallized nickel for high-strength solid state bonding of the first and second metal sheets to the enhanced coating layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates in part to novel drug delivery particles comprising an anionic polymer matrix and a cationic polymer, wherein the anionic polymer matrix and cationic polymer together form drug delivery particles bound by electrostatic interactions and wherein the drug delivery particles comprise at least one biologically active agent. The invention also relates in part to a method of treating a mycobacterial infection using said drug delivery particles, and a method of making said drug delivery particles.

Abstract: Molecular-beam epitaxy (MBE) and more particularly suboxide MBE (S-MBE) and related structures are disclosed. S-MBE is disclosed that includes the use of a molecular beam of a suboxide that may be subsequently oxidized in a single step reaction to form an oxide film. By way of example, for a gallium oxide (Ga2O3) film, a molecular beam including a suboxide of gallium (Ga2O) may be provided. S-MBE may be performed in adsorption-controlled regimes where there is an excess of source material containing species in order to promote high growth rates for oxide films with improved crystallinity. Source mixtures for providing molecular beams of suboxides are disclosed that include mixtures of a particular element and an oxide of the element in ratios that promote such adsorption-controlled growth regimes. Related structures include oxide films having increased thickness with reduced crystal defects, including single polymorph films of gallium oxide.

Abstract: Provided are methods for detecting or diagnosing a traumatic brain injury or TBI by detecting concentration levels miRNAs associated with TBI in saliva. Methods for controlled and normalized comparisons of salivary miRNA concentration levels are further provided. Assay kits comprising salivary miRNAs, probes and/or primers for detecting salivary miRNAs are also provided.

Abstract: Methods and compositions relating to TIC10 are described according to aspects of the present invention. The compositions and methods have utility in treating disease, particularly cancer in a subject in need thereof, including a human subject as well as subjects of other species. The compositions have utility in treating brain cancer in a subject in need thereof.

Abstract: Embodiments can relate to a method for detecting a physiological condition by generating a Magnetic Resonance Image (MRI) contrast image comprising a T1 weighted (T1W) image/T2 weighted (T2W) ratio. Embodiments can further include using the T1W/T2W ratio to identify changes in substantia nigra pars compacta within a region of the brain.

Abstract: The present document relates to multilayered dielectric composites for high-temperature applications and related methods.

Abstract: An impeller includes a hub, and a plurality of blades supported by the hub, the blades being arranged in at least two blade rows. The impeller has a deployed configuration in which the blades extend away from the hub, and a stored configuration in which at least one of the blades is radially compressed, for example by folding the blade towards the hub. The impeller may also have an operational configuration in which at least some of the blades are deformed from the deployed configuration upon rotation of the impeller when in the deployed configuration. The outer edge of one or more blades may have a winglet, and the base of the blades may have an associated indentation to facilitate folding of the blades.

Abstract: An impeller includes a hub, and a plurality of blades supported by the hub, the blades being arranged in at least two blade rows. The impeller has a deployed configuration in which the blades extend away from the hub, and a stored configuration in which at least one of the blades is radially compressed, for example by folding the blade towards the hub. The impeller may also have an operational configuration in which at least some of the blades are deformed from the deployed configuration upon rotation of the impeller when in the deployed configuration. The outer edge of one or more blades may have a winglet, and the base of the blades may have an associated indentation to facilitate folding of the blades.