Abstract: Disclosed herein are doped thermoelectric ceramic oxide compositions comprising a calcium cobaltite ceramic. The doped thermoelectric ceramic oxide compositions can have a formula Ca3-xM2xCo4O9M1y, where M1 represents a first metal dopant, M2 represents a second metal dopant, x is a number having a value of from about 0.00 to about 3.00, and y is a number having a value of from about 0.01 to about 0.50. The doped thermoelectric ceramic oxide compositions have an increased energy conversion efficiency as compared to an undoped or conventional thermoelectric ceramic oxide materials. Also disclosed are methods for making the doped thermoelectric ceramic oxide compositions. Products and devices are disclosed comprising the thermoelectric ceramic oxide compositions, e.g., solid-state conversion devices that can utilize heat to generate electricity. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

Abstract: This invention provides processes for treating a mixture of produced water and blowdown water comprising introducing produced water (PW) into blowdown water (BD) for forming a PW-BD water mixture, softening the PW-BD water mixture, subjecting the PW-BD water mixture to activated carbon filtration and reverse osmosis membrane desalination. The process generates a product water and a brine by-product.

Abstract: Disclosed is a leg positioner apparatus to secure placement of a leg in total hip arthroplasty procedures. The leg positioner apparatus can attach to a standard operating table and helps in positioning the operative leg for femoral preparation. The leg positioner apparatus includes a post assembly mounted to an attachment bracket. The attachment bracket can be attached to the operating table. The operative leg can rest on the post assembly during the surgical procedure.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating depression disease in a treatment resistant patient comprising administering to a mucosal membrane of a patient an effective amount of a pharmaceutically acceptable composition comprising an effective amount of ketamine or dextromethorphan, wherein the mucosal administration of the ketamine or dextromethorphan containing composition allows for the mucosal absorption of the composition eliminating the digestive tract of the patient for effecting a rapid acting antidepressant treatment of the treatment resistant patient. This method includes administering the composition to a patient's mucosal membrane of a respiratory tract, a genitourinary tract, an oral tract, or rectal tract of the patient. A pharmaceutically acceptable composition comprising ketamine or dextromethorphan and a vehicle is disclosed. A biomarker for identifying a depressive disease is set forth.

Abstract: In one aspect, the disclosure relates to methods for biomass gasification to produce sustainable and renewable alternatives to fossil fuels including, but not limited to syngas having a high H2 content. The method can produce an H2/CO ratio close to 2:1, which is desirable for further chemical or transportation fuel synthesis. In another aspect, the methods disclosed herein have high yields and make use of agricultural and industrial waste (e.g., hardwood pellets and grain stovers) as starting materials. In a further aspect, the methods disclosed herein can produce useful byproducts including, but not limited to, carbon nanofibers (CNF). This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

Abstract: This invention provides a composition comprising Formula I, or salt thereof, wherein X is chlorine, Y is a methyl group, and R is an alkyl group having a carbon chain length of three carbon atoms. A method of inhibiting osteoclast development and a method for preventing bone erosion in a patient using the compositions of Formula I are disclosed.

Abstract: In accordance with the purpose(s) of the present disclosure, as embodied and broadly described herein, the disclosure, in one aspect, relates to a vibrating sharp edge spray ionization (VSSI) method suitable for coupling with a mass spectrometer, a VSSI method modified with a capillary suitable for use with continuous-flow separation methods such as liquid chromatography, and a VSSI method suitable for coupling with a capillary electrophoresis (CE) device in order to introduce the CE sample flow into a mass spectrometer. Also disclosed herein are devices for carrying out these methods and methods of making the same. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

Abstract: A microfluidic device is useful for modelling drug transmission across the vasculature and vascular barriers. The device includes a frame, a fluid-permeable lumen configured to carry a fluid through the frame in a first direction, a first chamber surrounding the lumen, and a second chamber surrounding the first fluid-permeable chamber. At least one surface of the first chamber is configured for deposition of a first population of endothelial cells. An outer surface of the second chamber is configured for deposition a second population of cells. The second chamber is configured to carry a fluid through the frame in a second direction. The fluid-permeable lumen is configured to allow the fluid to permeate through a wall of the lumen into the first chamber, and the first chamber and the second chamber are in fluid communication with each other.

Abstract: In accordance with the purpose(s) of the present disclosure, as embodied and broadly described herein, the disclosure relates to a method for producing C4 olefins from acetylene using supported metal-based catalysts and metal-based promoters. The method is inexpensive, efficient, and environmentally sound. Additionally, the method is selective for C4 olefins and other value-added products based on changes to reaction parameters including temperature, feed gas composition, and promoter identity. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for improved surgical devices and methods of using the same in connection with bariatric and gastroesophageal surgery. The present disclosure includes a lighted bougie device that can include an elongate member and a light source. The light source can be configured to emit near-infrared light. The light source can also be positioned about the bougie such that light emitted from the light source illuminates along a portion of the bougie.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for improved surgical devices and methods of using the same in connection with bariatric and gastroesophageal surgery. The present disclosure includes a lighted bougie device that can include an elongate member and a light source. The light source can be configured to emit near-infrared light. The light source can also be positioned about the bougie such that light emitted from the light source illuminates along a portion of the bougie.

Abstract: Described herein are methods of forming an electrocatalyst structure on an electrode, comprising depositing a first layer on the electrode using atomic layer deposition (ALD), wherein the first layer comprises a plurality of discrete nanoparticles of a first electrocatalyst, and depositing one or more of a second layer on the first layer and the electrode using ALD, wherein the one or more second layer comprises a second electrocatalyst, wherein the first layer and the one or more second layers, collectively, form a multi-layer electrocatalyst structure on the electrode. Also described are electrodes having a multi-layer electrocatalyst structure. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

Abstract: An apparatus containing at least one electrochemical cell with an electrode structure. The electrode structure contains at least one carbide chemical compound. The carbide chemical compound may be a salt-like carbide. The electrode may contain at least one electronically conductive element different from the carbide. Carbon compositions of various forms may be formed by the methods and apparatus using the electrode structure. Large pieces of pure carbon may be produced. Post-reaction processing of the carbon may be carried out such as exfoliation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating depression disease in a patient comprising administering to a mucosal membrane of a patient an effective amount of a pharmaceutically acceptable composition comprising an effective amount of ketamine or dextromethorphan, or both ketamine and dextromethorphan, wherein the mucosal administration of the ketamine or dextromethorphan containing composition allows for the mucosal absorption of the composition eliminating the digestive tract of the patient for effecting a rapid acting antidepressant treatment of the patient. Preferably, this method includes administering the composition to the oral cavity, and more preferably to the buccal cavity, of the patient. A pharmaceutically acceptable composition comprising ketamine or dextromethorphan and a vehicle is disclosed. A biomarker for identifying a depressive disease is set forth. A method of treating depressive illness in a patient using dextromethorphan via the oral route is provided.

Abstract: A stage apparatus is disclosed for supporting and positioning a body tissue sample in a microscope. The stage apparatus has (a) an elongated base mount having a longitudinal body extending between a first end and a second end, (b) means for attaching the first end of the base to a mount or platform associated with the microscope, (c) a tissue mount having a tissue well attached to an elongated mount stem, the tissue well of sufficient size and shape to store the body tissue sample, and (d) means for attaching the second end of the base mount and the tissue mount, the tissue mount being removable and separable from the base mount.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a device, such as a virtual reality (VR) and/or a prosthetic limb are provided. A biomimetic controller of the system comprises a signal processor and a musculoskeletal model. The signal processor processes M biological signals received from a residual limb to transform the M biological signals into N activation signals, where M and N are integers and M is less than N. The musculoskeletal model transforms the N activation signals into intended motion signals. A prosthesis controller transforms the intended motion signals into three or more control signals that are outputted from an output port of the prosthesis controller. A controlled device receives the control signals and performs one or more tasks in accordance with the control signals.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and a device to image and characterize human tumors, and to classify the tumors as either malignant or benign. The method includes using a multi-compression technique upon the tissue or organ combined with a 3D ultrasound strain imaging of the compressed tissue or organ for acquiring raw data and analyzing the raw data using a computer processing unit equipped with a nonlinear biomechanical tissue model for tumor classification. A device is provided having a compression stage for delivering multi-compression with continuous force measurements, and a 3D ultrasound transducer strain imaging probe, wherein the imaging probe and the compression stage are in communication with a computer processing unit.

Abstract: An inorganic solid electrolyte glass phase composite is provided comprising a substance of the general formula La2/3-xLi3xTiO3 wherein x ranges from about 0.04 to about 0.17, and a glass material. The glass material is one or more compounds selected from Li2O, Li2S, Li2SO4, Li3PO4, P2O5, P2O3, Al2O3, SiO2, CaO, MgO, BaO, TiO2, GeO2, SiS2, Sb2O3, SnS, TaS2, P2S5, B2S3, and a combination of two or more thereof. A lithium-ion conducting solid electrolyte composite is disclosed comprising a lithium-ion conductive substance of the general formula La2/3-xLi3xTiO3—Z wherein x ranges form about 0.04 to 0.17, and wherein “Z” is the glass material identified above. A battery is disclosed having at least one cathode and anode and an inorganic solid electrolyte glass phase composite as described above disposed on or between at least one of the cathode and the anode.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a coaxial cavity resonator; a radio frequency power source coupled to the coaxial cavity resonator; a direct current power source coupled to the coaxial cavity resonator; a combustion process feedback module configured to sense a condition in a combustion environment by measuring a characteristic of the coaxial cavity resonator; and a controller configured to modulate operation of the coaxial cavity resonator based at least in part on combustion process feedback information from the combustion process feedback module.

Abstract: In one aspect, the disclosure relates to thermoelectric ceramic oxide compositions comprising a CaMnO3 ceramic. In a further aspect, the disclosed thermoelectric ceramic oxide compositions can dramatically increase the energy conversion efficiency of thermoelectric through a combination of modifying the chemistry of precursor materials, and simultaneously introducing a metal oxide liquid phase during sintering. In a further aspect, the present disclosure pertains to thermoelectric ceramic oxide compositions comprising a metal doped CaMnO3 having with a metal oxide grain boundary phase; wherein the metal is selected from group 13, group 14, group 15, group 16, or a rare earth element. In a still further aspect, the disclosure relates to methods for making the thermoelectric ceramic oxide materials. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.