Abstract: A variety of fluid loss control compositions and methods are provided for controlling fluid loss in a cementing operation. As described herein, polyelectrolyte complex nanoparticles and fluid loss control compositions containing polyelectrolyte complex nanoparticles can be effective for fluid loss control in a variety of cementing operations. Methods of making and methods of using the electrolyte complex nanoparticles and fluid loss control compositions containing polyelectrolyte complex nanoparticles are also provided. The polyelectrolyte complex nanoparticles can include a polycation polymer such as a branched chain polyethylenimine, and a polyanion polymer such as polyacrylic acid or poly(vinylsulfonic) acid. The polyelectrolyte complex nanoparticles can contain additional additives such as metal ions or fluid loss additives such as a cellulose polymer.

Abstract: An apparatus for surgical lighting is disclosed. The apparatus includes a light emitting element formed with a light source encapsulated within an outer layer. The outer layer includes a biocompatible material. A power supply is coupled to the light source. The apparatus includes an actuating mechanism that controls power from the power supply to the light source to emit light along a surgical area. The light emitting element provides enhanced illumination and other surgical advantages.

Abstract: Bio-Inks and methods of using compositions comprising the bio-Inks are disclosed. 3-D tissue repair and regeneration through precise and specific formation of biodegradable tissue scaffolds in a tissue site using the bio-inks are also provided. Specific methylacrylated gelatin hydrogels (MAC) and methacrylated chitosan (MACh) preparations formulated with sucrose, a silicate-containing component (such as laponite), and/or a cross-linking agent (such as a photo-initiator or chemical initiator), as well as powdered preparations of these, are also disclosed. Kits containing these preparations are provided for point-of-care tissue repair in vivo. Superior, more complete (up to 99.85% tissue regeneration within 4 weeks applied in situ), and rapid in situ tissue repair and bone formation are also demonstrated.

Abstract: In an embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to a method of creating a supercapacitor. The method includes forming an anode and a cathode, each composed of a substrate having at least one of a lignin, a lignin-based composite, activated carbon, a plant extract, a cellulose by-product, biofuel waste, one or more metals, a metal oxide, a monometallic tungstate, or a bimetallic tungstate, and sandwiching an electrolyte coated separator between the anode and the cathode. In an addition embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to an electrode composed of a particle-decorated lignin. In some embodiments, the particle-decorated lignin includes particles that can include, without limitation, MnO2, NiWO4, MnO2, NiCoWO4, CoWO4, and combinations thereof. In a further embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to a supercapacitor made via the methods of the present disclosure.

Abstract: Provided herein are medical devices, systems and platforms to monitor tissue properties such as oxygen saturation, temperature and degree of tissue edema for diagnosis and post-operative patient monitoring. The medical devices may be handheld or portable or may be removable patches. The medical devices utilize light of various visible and near-infrared wavelengths to interrogate a tissue where the intensities of reflected light correlate to one or more tissue property. Also provided are methods for measuring tissue properties, for detecting pressure ulcers and for remotely monitoring in real time a surgical flap on a post-operative subject via the medical devices.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of selecting cyclic peptides that bind to a target by transforming a phage display library with a plurality of nucleic acids into bacterial host cells, where the nucleic acids include phage coat protein genes with a combinatorial region that encodes at least one cysteine and at least one non-canonical amino acid. The transformation results in the production of phage particles with phage coat proteins where the cysteine and the non-canonical amino acid couple to one another to form a cyclic peptide library. Phage particles are then screened against the desired target to select bound cyclic peptides. Amino acid sequences of the selected cyclic peptides are then identified. Additional embodiments pertain to methods of constructing a phage display library that encodes the cyclic peptides. Further embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to the produced cyclic peptides, phage display libraries and phage particles.

Abstract: A device includes an input converter, an output converter, and a controller. The input converter is electrically coupled to an electrical meter and an energy production array. The output converter is electrically coupled to the energy production array and a load. The controller is communicatively coupled to the input converter, the output converter, the energy production array, and the load. The input converter and the output converter are positioned between the electrical meter and the load.

Abstract: A system employs Graph Prototypical Networks (GPN) for few-shot node classification on attributed networks, and a meta-learning framework trains the system by constructing a pool of semi-supervised node classification tasks to mimic the real test environment. The system is able to perform meta-learning on an attributed network and derive a highly generalizable model for handling the target classification task. The meta-learning framework addresses extraction of meta-knowledge from an attributed network for few-shot node classification, and identification of the informativeness of each labeled instance for building a robust and effective model.

Abstract: Methods of treating endometriosis through modulation of Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4 Group A Member 1 (NR4A1) activity including administration of an NR4A1 ligand to an individual in need thereof are described. In an embodiment, the compounds include methylene substituted diindolylmethanes.

Abstract: Methods and reactors for electrochemically expanding a parent material and expanded parent materials are described. Current methods of expanding parent materials incompletely-expand parent material, requiring expensive and time-consuming separation of expanded parent material from unexpanded parent materials. This problem is addressed by the methods and reactor for electrochemically expanding a parent material described herein, which during operation maintain electrical connectivity between the parent material and an electrical power source. The resulting materials described herein have a greater proportion of expanded parent material relative to unexpanded parent material compared to those made according to others methods.

Abstract: A textile includes a substrate and a coating applied to a surface of the substrate. The coating includes a plurality of bilayers positioned one on top of the other. Each bilayer includes a first layer including a cationic polymer and a second layer comprising an anionic polymer. The cationic polymer in the first layer includes a polyethyleneimine (PEI), a poly(vinyl amine) (PVAm), a poly(allyl amine) (PAAm), a polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride (PDDA), or a chitosan (CH). The anionic polymer in the second layer includes a poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), a poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS), a poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA), a poly(sodium phosphate) (PSP), or a poly(vinyl sulfate) (PVS).

Abstract: Methods for disinfecting a surface are provided which include contacting a surface with a solution comprising Fe(VI)O42?, thereby disinfecting the surfaces. In some cases, the surface to be contacted with the solution is in a space suitable for human occupancy and the surface is arranged in the ambient of the space. In addition, solutions comprising Fe(VI)O42? are provided. The solutions may additionally include a hypohalite salt and a surfactant.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for optimized sensor deployment and fault detection in the context of agricultural irrigation and similar applications. For instance, a computing device may execute a genetic algorithm (GA) routine to determine an optimal sensor deployment scheme such that a mean-time-to-failure (MTTF) for the system is maximized, thereby improving communication of sensor measurements. Moreover, in various embodiments, a centralized fault detection scheme may be employed and a soil moisture of a field can be determined by statistically inferring soil moistures at locations of faulty nodes using spatial and temporal correlations.

Abstract: An embodiment includes a platform shape memory polymer system. Such an embodiment exhibits a blend of tunable, high performance mechanical attributes in combination with advanced processing capabilities and good biocompatibility. A post-polymerization crosslinking synthetic approach is employed that combines polyurethane and thiol-ene synthetic processes. Other embodiments are described herein.

Abstract: The disclosure provides methods and compositions for affecting the development of antigen presenting cell (APC, e.g., a macrophage or dendritic cell). The methods include maturing an APC, promoting anti-inflammatory phenotype, promoting development of a T regulatory cell (Treg) from a naive T cell. The methods generally include exposing an APC to a tryptophan derived microbiota metabolite (TDMM), such as an anti-inflammatory or pro-mucosal TDMM, and permitting the APC to mature. In some embodiments, the conditioned APC is exposed to a naive T cell to further promote development of a T regulatory cell (Treg). In some embodiments, the TDMM is selected from the group consisting of indole, indole-3-acetate, 5-hydroxyindole, and indole-3-pyruvate.

Abstract: A single anchor terminal is provided for a roadside wire rope barrier. The single anchor terminal includes a release post, a brace, and an anchor base. The brace supports the release post in an upright position and extends from the release post to the anchor base. The brace has a first portion attached to the release post and a second portion coupled to the first portion with a release component. The anchor base includes a main post that supports the release post and a brace anchor that is coupled to the main post.

Abstract: Vanadium oxide nanomaterials dispersed in a polymeric matrix, substrates including the vanadium oxide nanomaterials dispersed in a polymeric matrix, and related methods of making vanadium oxide nanomaterials dispersed in a polymeric matrix are described.

Abstract: Activated ferrate solutions, methods of their preparation, and methods of disinfecting surfaces and oxidizing pollutants in water are provided.

Abstract: A 3D strobo-stereoscopic imaging system includes a rotary drive configured to couple to a sample to be imaged by the system, wherein the rotary drive is configured to rotate the sample about a rotational axis when coupled to the rotary drive, a stroboscopic illuminator, a stroboscopic control module coupled to the rotary drive and the stroboscopic illuminator, wherein the stroboscopic control module is configured to repeatedly activate the stroboscopic illuminator at a frequency that is based on a rotational speed of the sample about the rotational axis, a stereoscopic imaging unit including a pair of laterally spaced cameras orientable in the direction of the sample, and an image reconstruction module coupled to the stereoscopic imaging unit and configured to reconstruct a 3D image of the sample from images produced by the pair of cameras of the stereoscopic imaging unit.

Abstract: Provided herein are cementitious materials, for example, a crack-resistant cementitious mortar. The cementitious materials are a mixture of cement, at least one recycled fiber reinforcement material, a recycled aggregate material, and water. Also provided is a method for increasing the crack-resistance of a cementitious material by replacing the sand in a cement mortar with a recycled aggregate material and adding at least one recycled fiber reinforcement material and a volume of water.