Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for cathodes having a metal sulfide thin layer, devices including cathodes, lithium ion batteries including cathodes, methods of making cathodes, and the like.

Abstract: A method for the treatment of cancer involves delivering a surface active agent to an organism, where the surface active agent selectively partitions to and kills cancer cells as opposed to healthy cells. The surface active agent can be an ionic or a non-ionic surfactant with a HLB of less than 29 or a mixture of surface active agents with a HLB of less than 40, where the hydrophobic portion is a lesser fraction of the surface active agent than the hydrophilic portion. A fluorescence method of detecting and locating cancer cells in an organism involves delivering a surface active agent, where the surface active agent includes a fluorescence moiety that upon selective partitioning of the surface active agent to the cancer cells and irradiation by a radiation source to excite the fluorescence moiety, a fluorescence emission is observed permitting the detection and location of the cancerous tissue by local volumes of relatively high intensity emission.

Abstract: The present invention in various embodiments provides methods of treating stroke and conferring protection on a population of cells associated with ischemia in a subject following an ischemic event, comprising: (a) providing an estrogen compound; and (b) administering the effective amount of the compound over a course that includes at least one dose within a time that is effectively proximate to the ischemic event, so as to confer protection on the population of cells. Novel methods are provided for the delivery of an estrogen compound. Examples of ischemic events treatable according to the invention are cerebrovascular disease or stroke, subarachnoid subhemorrhage, myocardial infarct, surgery and trauma. A method of treating ischemic damage utilizing hormones that are non-sex hormones is also provided. A method of treating stroke with ent-17&bgr;-estradiol, and a method of synthesis, and compounds produced from the synthesis are provided.