Abstract: A friction stir welding tool comprises a cylindrical shank, a shoulder portion disposed at a distal end of the shank, a pin extending from the shoulder, a cutting insert mounted within a concave portion at the distal end of the shank, and a scribe cutter mounted at a distal end of the cutting insert. The cutting insert extends distally through a channel in the pine, and the scribe cutter extends from a distal end surface of the pin in an offset position. The distal end surface of the pin is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the shank.

Abstract: In alternative embodiments, provided are methods for the glycosylation modification of bioactive compounds and drugs using isolated, recombinant or genetically modified uridine diphosphate glycosyl-transferases (UGTs). In alternative embodiments, provided are methods for modifying UGTs to generate recombinant UGTs with altered donor and/or acceptor specificities. In alternative embodiments, provided are methods for screening for recombinantly engineered UGTs with new or altered properties, for example, for new or altered donor and/or acceptor specificities, where in alternative embodiments the screening comprise use of bacterial, yeast or baculovirus expression system.

Abstract: The subject invention provides methods of treating neurological disease or disorder, such as brain injuries, such as stroke, traumatic brain injury (TBI), or other ischemic events that cause brain injury by inhibiting or down-regulating Let-7i activity or function. The disclosed methods may have the potential to extend the “window of opportunity” for treatment of such injuries and enhance the effectiveness of existing therapeutics.

Abstract: Certain embodiments are directed to methods for making programmable bioinspired nanoparticles (P-BiNP). Nanoparticles are coated with a cell membrane derived from a cell stimulated to express or overexpress a protein identified as being expressed in a target cell, forming a homotypic and organ targeted nanoparticle delivery vehicle.

Abstract: The hydrophobic and corrosion resistive film of cross-linked poly(hexafluoroisopropyl methacrylate) was prepared by photopolymerization. The starting materials were a monomer of 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropyl methacrylate, a photoinitiator of hydroxycyclohexyl phenyl ketone, and a cross-linker of poly(ethyleneglycol diacrylate). Photopolymerization was used to start polymerization and to cure the polymer film on an aluminum surface. Drop-casting was used to deposit the fluoropolymer onto an aluminum substrate (AA 3003). The fluoropolymer film has high corrosion protection when measured by potentiodynamic polarization and open circuit potential techniques in an aqueous solution of 3.5% NaCl. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy was used to monitor the polymerization process. The dynamic contact angle technique was used to measure the hydrophobicity for the fluorinated polymer coating. Thermal stability of the fluorinated polymer was measured using thermogravimetric analysis.

Abstract: Dual-layer insole apparatuses for diabetic foot lesion prevention and related methods are provided. Some insole apparatuses have a body defining a plurality of cavities configured to be coupled to a fluid source. The fluid source can deliver fluid to vary internal pressures of the cavities. The body further defines an insole-shaped structure.

Abstract: Various liquid and semisolid lubricant compositions are provided, in particular lubricant compositions containing oil from the seeds of the Brassicaceae Orychophragmus violaceus, preferably those that have been esterified with one or more fatty acids such as palmitoleic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, lauric acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, or a combination thereof. In various aspects, lubricant compositions are provided that include a petroleum or a synthetic base oil and about 40% or less by weight of a liquid lubricant composition containing oil from the seeds of the Brassicaceae Orychophragmus violaceus, preferably those that have been esterified with one or more fatty acids. In various aspects, semisolid lubricant composition are provided containing an emulsion of (i) a thickener and (ii) an oil from the seeds of the Brassicaceae Orychophragmus violaceus, preferably those that have been esterified with one or more fatty acids.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide improved techniques for creating SMA materials and SMA powders. SMA materials and powders formed may be used to form porous structures suitable for applications such as biomaterials, damping applications, actuators, and/or sensors. Embodiments for performing hydriding and dehydriding of SMA wires at low pressure and low temperature are provided. Methods may be used to produce a shape memory alloy (SMA) powder. Such methods may include hydriding a length SMA wire under low pressure for a period of time to produce a length of hydrided SMA wire, crushing the length of hydrided SMA wire to form a hydrided SMA powder, and dehydriding the hydrided SMA powder to form a dehydrided SMA powder.

Abstract: Provided herein is a method of preparing a porous composite ceramic material and a porous composite ceramic material made by the method of preparing.

Abstract: Certain embodiments are directed to methods of treating LLT1 expressing cancer by administering to a subject having an LLT1 expressing cancer an LLT1 inhibitor.

Abstract: Systems and methods for copper etch monitoring and control are described. Certain embodiments include utilizing thin-film cells to measure the absorbance of a copper etch solution to determine the etch rate of the solution. In another embodiment, a method of controlling etch rate of a copper etch solution includes detecting characteristics of the copper etch solution utilizing a sensor device, e.g., flow cell and/or attenuated total reflection probe, calculating, based on the detected characteristics of the copper etch solution, the etch rate of the copper etch solution, and adjusting the etch rate of the copper etch solution in response to the calculated etch rate deviating from a specified value.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure provides GlcNAc-Asn analogs of the formula (I): wherein the variables are as defined herein. In another aspect, the present disclosure also provides pharmaceutical compositions and methods of using the compounds disclosed herein. Additionally, the present disclosure also provides methods of treating cancer comprising inhibiting NGLY1.

Abstract: switchable optical filter that is based on carrier injection induced semiconductor to metal phase transition (SMT) of vanadium oxide-based (e.g., VO2) thin films may reversibly change from optically transparent to opaque while undergoing such phase transition. Electrical carrier injection may be established by an electric field or by photoexcitation. The SMT may also be induced by a combination of applying an electric field and optical flux. Such a switchable optical filter, when inserted in the optical path of an optical radiation sensor, may be used to control and/or limit high power optical beams, such as a laser beam impinging on one or more sensor elements. Since the SMT may be configured to occur at ultrafast time scales (e.g., approximately 100 femtoseconds), it may also act as a beam shutter and/or as a fast optical beam modulator.

Abstract: Direct pixel-by-pixel phase engineering in a SLM is an effective method for the holographic fabrication of graded photonic super-quasi-crystals with desired disorder and graded photonic super-crystals with rectangular unit-cells. Multiple levels of filling fractions of dielectric in the crystal have been created in the graded regions. Fabrication of these graded photonic super-crystals and super-quasi-crystals with small feature size is possible, using a laser projection system consisting of integrated spatial light modulator and reflective optical element.

Abstract: A soft-landing (SL) instrument for depositing ions onto substrates using a laser ablation source is described herein. The instrument of the instant invention is designed with a custom drift tube and a split-ring ion optic for the isolation of selected ions and is capable of operating at atmospheric pressure. The drift tube allows for the separation and thermalization of ions formed after laser ablation through collisions with an inert bath gas that allow the ions to be landed at energies below 1 eV onto substrates. The split-ring ion optic is capable of directing ions toward the detector or a landing substrate for selected components.

Abstract: An interconnect and a method of making an interconnect between one or more features on a substrate comprises: sputtering a noble metal-copper eutectic thin film under controlled power on an oxide grown or deposited on a substrate; and forming an amorphous alloy structure from the noble metal-copper eutectic thin film in the shape of the interconnect and the interconnect comprising no grain or grain boundaries without temperature sensitive resistivity.

Abstract: An exemplary breath analysis system may include a sampling chamber having a molecule collector disposed therein. The molecule detector may be configured such that volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in a breath sample introduced to the sampling chamber adhere to the molecule collector. A heating element may introduce heat within the sampling chamber, causing release of at least a portion of the VOCs adhered to the molecule collector. An analysis device (e.g., a mass spectrometer or tetrahertz (THz) spectrometer) may identify one or more target VOCs from among at least the portion of the VOCs released from the molecule collector and generate an output representative of the identified one or more target VOCs. The output may include information that quantitates a concentration of the one or more target VOCs with respect to a source of the breath sample.

Abstract: The present invention provides amorphous bi-functional catalytic aluminum metallic glass particles having an aluminum metallic glass core and 2 or more transition metals disposed on the surface of the aluminum metallic glass core to form amorphous bi-functional aluminum metallic glass particles with catalytic activity.

Abstract: The present invention includes a composition and method for the treatment of an eye disease comprising a therapeutically effective amount of an autophagy stimulator that treats or slows the progression of the eye disease by enhancing or stimulating autophagy or correcting an autophagy deficiency.

Abstract: The present invention related to compounds, compositions, methods of use, and processes for preparing compound which are useful as deterrents for terrestrial arthropods and marine organisms.