Abstract: The present subject matter relates to systems, devices, and methods of enhancing carbon fiber dispersion in wet-laid nonwovens. A quantity of fibers is deposited in a medium, and each of one or more stirring elements is moved in a pattern to mechanically agitate the medium. In some embodiments, moving each of the one or more stirring elements includes moving the one or more stirring elements in complementary patterns to induce a chaotic advection current within the medium.

Abstract: A method for producing polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fiber, the method comprising: (i) mixing PAN with an ionic liquid in which the PAN is soluble to produce a PAN composite melt in which the PAN is dissolved in the ionic liquid; (ii) melt spinning the PAN composite melt to produce the PAN fiber; and (iii) washing the PAN fiber with a solvent in which the ionic liquid is soluble to substantially remove the ionic liquid from the PAN fiber. Also described herein is a method for producing carbon fiber from the PAN fiber as produced above, the method comprising oxidatively stabilizing the PAN fiber produced in step (iii), followed by carbonizing the stabilized PAN fiber to produce the carbon fiber. The initially produced PAN fiber, stabilized PAN fiber, resulting carbon fiber, and articles made thereof are also described.

Abstract: A method for inhibiting ice recrystallization in a cryogenic medium is provided. The method includes the steps of cryopreserving a biological substrate including at least one of cryopreserved biological cells, cryopreserved biological tissue, and cryopreserved biological organs; and applying a bile salt to the cryopreserved biological substrate before and/or during cryopreservation of the biological substrate. A corresponding stabilized cryopreserved medium is also provided.

Abstract: Provided are methods and apparatus for determining a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of at least a portion of a test object. An example provided method includes (i) producing information describing a reference image of the test object portion during low-temperature excitation; (ii) heating the test object portion to a higher temperature; (iii) measuring a change in temperature of the test object portion; (iv) producing information describing an image of thermal change in displacement of the test object portion at the higher temperature; (v) comparing the information describing the image of thermal change in displacement of the test object portion at the higher temperature to the information describing the reference image to produce strain information describing heating-induced changes in strain in the test object portion; and (vi) producing CTE information by correlating the strain information with the change in temperature of the test object portion.

Abstract: An antiviral composition contains a sialidase inhibitor. Methods for treating a viral infection include administering the composition to a patient. The sialidase inhibitor may be of general formula (l) wherein R1 is selected from the group consisting of OH, O-acetyl, N3, OCOCH2X1 and NHCOCHX1; X1 is selected from the group consisting of H, a C1-C5 alkyl group, acetyl, propionyl, butyryl, valoryl, hexanoyl, pentanoyl, and 2-methylpropanyl; R2 is H or COCH2X2; X2 is selected from the group consisting of H, a C1-C5 alkyl group, acetyl, propionyl, butyryl, valoryl, hexanoyl, pentanoyl, and 2-methylpropanyl; R3 is selected from the group consisting of H, OH, COCH2X3 and OCOCH2X3; X3 is selected from the group consisting of H, a C1-C5 alkyl group, acetyl, propionyl, butyryl, valoryl, hexanoyl, pentanoyl, and 2-methylpropanoal; R4 is selected from the group consisting of H, OH, a C1-C6 alkyl group, and CH2X4; and X4 is H or a C1-C6 alkyl group.

Abstract: The disclosure describes engineered cells for the treatment of joint and bone disease. The cells are engineered to sense signals only found in diseased compartments and in turn produce therapeutic molecules that are secreted into the local environment.

Abstract: A purified antibody, or an antigen-binding fragment thereof, is provided that binds selectively to a protein specific to an X-chromosome of a mammalian sperm cell. The sperm cell protein includes an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NOs: 4 and 9-16. The antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof may be derived by immunization of a host by an antigenic peptide composition including one or more natural or synthetic antigenic peptide sequences set forth as SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3, and SEQ ID NOs: 4 and 9-16. The antibody finds utility in identifying an X-chromosome bearing sperm cell population, and in methods for skewing a sex ratio in mammals. Embodiments of the subject antibodies referred to herein as anti-GX1-E protein antibody and anti-GX1-M protein antibody have the ATCC Patent Deposit Designations PTA-125897 and PTA-125898, having been deposited on Apr. 2, 2019.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of aluminum-based alloys having improved intergranular corrosion resistance. Methods of making and using the disclosed alloy embodiments also are disclosed herein.

Abstract: Composite materials capable of absorbing and dissipating high energy forces such as ballistic impacts and explosive blasts. Composites of elastomers and reinforcing nanoparticle materials are configured to absorb and dissipates high energy forces. Composites can be configured as nonwoven webs, and can be layered. Methods of making a ballistic resistant composite material capable of absorbing and dissipating high energy forces.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing components for use in a power system includes at least one power amplifier circuit configured to be coupled to the component and a control circuit configured to operate the power amplifier circuit responsive to at least one state of a component emulator for the component included in a system emulator for the power system. The component emulator may include at least one power electronics converter circuit and the control circuit may be configured to control at least one of a voltage and a current of the at least one power amplifier circuit responsive to at least one of a voltage and a current of the at least one power electronics converter circuit. The control circuit may be further configured to control the component emulator responsive to at least one state of the at least one power amplifier circuit.

Abstract: A method of recycling glass fiber-reinforced polymer composite materials that can provide improved quality recycled glass fiber is described. More particularly, the method comprises pyrolysis of glass fiber-reinforced polymer composite scrap and/or end-of-life material and the subsequent immersion of the pyrolyzed glass fibers in a molten salt bath, e.g., comprising molten potassium nitrate. Immersion in the molten salt bath can eliminate char from the pyrolyzed fibers, as well as removing residual inorganic materials. In addition, immersion in the molten salt bath can strengthen the glass fiber, which can result in the recovery or avoidance of tensile strength losses normally incurred through traditional char removal processes.

Abstract: The present invention contemplates a topical ophthalmic system for treating a Gram-positive bacterially-infected mammalian eye. The system comprises an ophthalmic composition containing a halogenated fluorescein or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester thereof dissolved or dispersed in an aqueous ophthalmic carrier and present in an anti-bacterial keratitis-treating effective concentration of about 0.2 µg/mL to about 50 µg/mL. The ophthalmic composition has a pH value of about 6.5 to about 7.6, a viscosity of about 10 to about 300 cps and an osmolality of about 270 mOsm/kg to about 340 mOsm/kg. The ophthalmic composition is present in a vessel opaque to actinic light. Also contemplated is a method of treating a mammal having a Gram-positive bacterial infection of an eye by administering the ophthalmic composition to the infected eye and maintaining the treated eye in the substantial absence of actinic light for about 3 hours to about 12 hours.

Abstract: Systems and methods herein provide for sinusoidal signal distortion monitoring and visualization via a Circular Trajectory Approach (CTA). In one embodiment, a system includes a differentiator operable to differentiate an input signal from a sinusoidal signal at substantially a same fundamental frequency of the input signal. The input signal comprising a sinusoidal waveform having distortions. The system also includes a processor operable to calculate a distance index from the input signal to a derivative of the input signal to reveal distortions in the input signal, and a display operable to display the distortions in the input signal.

Abstract: Provided herein are compounds, pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, and methods of using such compounds to treat diseases or disorders associated with TRPC3 activity.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods of producing plants with preferred levels of cell wall biosynthesis; and uses of such plants. The inventors have identified that the GFR9, CCoAOMT and MYB41 genes are major regulators of the cell wall biosynthesis pathway. Plants with modulated cell wall biosynthesis, based on modulation of the expression or activity of the GFR9, CCoAOMT and MYB41 genes, have divergent uses including pulp and paper production, and bioproduct production.

Abstract: A small diameter surgical tool implements an agonist-antagonist deflectable joint. The deflectable joint is an actuatable bendable structure that uses push-pull, agonist-antagonist action of a pair of nested tubes to actuate the joint. The tubes are designed to have non-central, offset neutral axes, and they are fixed together at locations distal to the deflectable joint, such as at their distal ends. Axial translations of the tubes relative to each other causes a push-pull, agonist-antagonist action between the tubes, which causes the deflectable joint to bend. In one implementation, a deflectable joint can be created in nested tubes by configuring radial portions of the tube sidewalls extending along the joint to have an axial region of reduced stiffness. As a result, axial agonist-antagonist motion between the tubes can cause bending of the deflectable joint.

Abstract: An alloy includes aluminum, a rare earth element, and an alloying element selected from the following: Si, Cu, Mg, Fe, Ti, Zn, Zr, Mn, Ni, Sr, B, Ca, and a combination thereof. The aluminum (Al), the rare earth element (RE), and the alloying element are characterized by forming at least one form of an intermetallic compound. An amount of the rare earth element in the alloy is in a range of about 1 wt. % to about 12 wt. %, and an amount of the alloying element in the alloy is greater than an amount of the alloying element present in the intermetallic compound.

Abstract: Methods of microbial screening for identifying alcohol acyltransferases for ester biosynthesis and submodules for ester pathways to produce butyryl-coenzyme A derived esters are disclosed. The method includes the introduction preselected plasmids into a respective host strain to form engineered microbes, in situ fermentation thereof followed by a colorimetric assay for quantification of production of the target ester. In situ fermentation includes inoculating each well of a microplate that have a culture media for producing target esters with one of the engineered microbes, adding an overlay of a solvent to each, and incubating the same. The colorimetric assay includes transfer of a quantity of the overlay from each well to respective clean wells of a new microplate, treatment of each well to form an iron-hydroxamic acid complex aqueous phase, centrifugation of the microplate, and measurement of the absorbance at 520 nm and comparison to a standard curve for the target ester.

Abstract: This invention contemplates combined use of a rose bengal (RB) derivative with irradiation of bacteria with light to treat and kill the irradiated bacteria. In one aspect, Gram-positive bacteria are treated in a method in which the bacteria are contacted with an aqueous pharmaceutical composition containing a rose bengal (RB) compound of Formula I, discussed within, dissolved or dispersed therein at about 0.2 to about 3.1 µg/mL. Those contacted bacteria are contacted with light of the wavelength about 500 nm to about 600 nm for a time period of about 1 to about 10 minutes to provide a light dose of about 0.7 to about 7.2 J/cm2. A similar method is contemplated for treating Gram-negative bacteria that are one or more of Burkholderia, Salmonella, and Proteus using an aqueous pharmaceutical composition containing about 2 to about 15 µM concentration of the RB compound.

Abstract: A power converter circuit includes a switch including a field effect transistor, the field effect transistor being a wide bandgap field effect transistor and being configured to maintain an on operational state responsive to a maintenance signal received through a gate terminal, a current sensing circuit that is configured to estimate a drain terminal current of the field effect transistor responsive to a voltage between the gate terminal of the field effect transistor and a source terminal of the field effect transistor, and a gate driving circuit that is configured to generate the maintenance signal responsive to the estimate of the drain terminal current.