Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions, particularly compositions useful in maintaining and supporting healthy microflora in the female urogenital tract which could lead to inhibition of vaginal infections, as well as methods of treating and preventing vaginal infections. Compositions useful in supporting healthy microflora, disclosed herein, generally comprise a therapeutic amount of a first saccharide and a therapeutic amount of a second saccharide or an organic acid. The saccharides may be, for example, a pentose, a disaccharide, a cyclodextrin, a pectic substance or a non-digestible polysaccharide. The organic acid may be, for example, malic acid.

Abstract: A locking carabiner includes a body having a first end and a second end. A gate rotatably coupled to the second end about a gate axis, and a locking mechanism rotatably coupled to the gate about a locking mechanism axis. The locking member is configured to engage with the first end, and the gate axis is substantially parallel to, and offset from, the locking mechanism axis. Additionally, the rotation of the locking mechanism is in a substantially similar plane as the rotation of the gate.

Abstract: A vaporizer cartridge includes a base, inner and outer substantially concentric walls extending from the base and defining a vaporization chamber between the outer and inner walls adapted for containing at least one vaporizable substance, and a heating receptacle opening extending through the base within a perimeter of the inner wall adapted for receiving a heating element inserted into the heating receptacle opening, wherein a top edge of the outer wall forms an open top rim adapted for coupling to a mouthpiece. The vaporizer cartridge may also have a mouthpiece with a top opening, a central open bore, and a bottom opening sealably coupled to the open top rim. A vaporizer apparatus having a heating component and a vaporizer cartridge is provided, as is a method of making a vaporizer cartridge and a method of vaporizing a consumable substance.

Abstract: Methods and sets of non-biological reagents (elution reagents, tag isomers, tag reactive groups, crosslinkers) for single or multiplexed capture and gentle elution of biomolecules. Examples are provided using amine- and cysteine-reactive reagents for enrichment of proteins, peptides, and rare peptide modifications.

Abstract: Core shell nanoparticles of an iron-cobalt alloy core, a silicon dioxide shell and a metal silicate interface between the core and the shell are provided. The magnetic properties of the nanoparticles are tunable by control of the interface thickness. A magnetic core of high magnetic moment obtained by compression sintering the thermally annealed superparamagnetic core shell nanoparticles is also provided. The magnetic core has little core loss due to hysteresis or eddy current flow.

Abstract: An example smoking apparatus for use with smoking materials in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure includes a mouthpiece, a bowl piece, and an inner tube, connecting the mouthpiece and the bowl piece. The smoking apparatus comprises an ejection mechanism to eject used smoking materials.

Abstract: Core-shell-core nanoparticles of an iron-cobalt alloy core, a silica shell and a manganese bismuth alloy core or nanoparticle on the surface of the silica shell (FeCo/SiO2/MnBi) are provided. The core-shell-core nanoparticles are alternative materials to rare-earth permanent magnets because of the hard magnetic manganese bismuth in nanometer proximity to the soft magnetic iron cobalt.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a green body of ceramic-forming material can comprise a support device including at least one air bearing including a support surface with a plurality of apertures. In one example, the support surface is configured to circumscribe greater than 180° of a support area for the green body. In another example, the plurality of apertures include at least a quantity of apertures oriented with a fluid emitting axis extending at an oblique angle with respect to an extrusion axis. In still another example, the air bearing is adjustable. Methods for producing a green body also provide an air cushion between a support surface and the green body.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a green body of ceramic-forming material can comprise a support device including at least one air bearing including a support surface with a plurality of apertures. In one example, the support surface is configured to circumscribe greater than 180° of a support area for the green body. In another example, the plurality of apertures include at least a quantity of apertures oriented with a fluid emitting axis extending at an oblique angle with respect to an extrusion axis. In still another example, the air bearing is adjustable. Methods for producing a green body also provide an air cushion between a support surface and the green body.

Abstract: Superparamagnetic core-shell nanoparticles having a core of an iron cobalt ternary alloy, a shell of a silicon oxide on the core and a metal silicate interface layer between the core and the shell layer are provided. Methods to prepare the nanoparticles are also provided.

Abstract: A method to prepare a core-shell-shell FeCo/SiO2/MnBi nanoparticle wherein the morphology of the MnBi shell is formed by synthesis of the MnBi layer in an applied magnetic field is provided.

Abstract: A system for providing an audio processing interface at a mobile device configured to detect an audio processor, present, via a user interface, a display screen to receive user input to initiate audio testing, iteratively present a series of testing screens, each including at least one instruction and test status, and present another instruction and test status in response to receiving and indicative of a successful sample at a previous microphone location.

Abstract: Core shell nanoparticles of an iron oxide core, a silicon dioxide shell and an iron silicate interface between the core and the shell are provided. The magnetic properties of the nanoparticles are tunable by control of the iron silicate interface thickness. A magnetic core of high magnetic moment obtained by compression sintering the thermally annealed superparamagnetic core shell nanoparticles is also provided. The magnetic core has little core loss due to hysteresis or eddy current flow.

Abstract: A method for absolute protein or peptide quantitation by mass spectroscopy. A sample containing a protein or peptide of interest is prepared for mass spectroscopy analysis. The sample is subjected to mass spectroscopy analysis at low resolution whereby a single additive mass spectroscopy peak is obtained, then is subjected to high resolution mass spectroscopy analysis whereby a plurality of mass spectroscopy peaks are obtained. The intensity of each of the plurality of mass spectroscopy peaks is quantitated either by comparison to an internal standard set, or by using a standard curve generated for each isotopologue set. Quantitation using a standard curve enhances quantitation across a dynamic range of analyte.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a green body of ceramic-forming material can comprise a support device including at least one air bearing including a support surface with a plurality of apertures. In one example, the support surface is configured to circumscribe greater than 180° of a support area for the green body. In another example, the plurality of apertures include at least a quantity of apertures oriented with a fluid emitting axis extending at an oblique angle with respect to an extrusion axis. In still another example, the air bearing is adjustable. Methods for producing a green body also provide an air cushion between a support surface and the green body.

Abstract: A reagent and its method of production are provided. The reagent includes at least one zero-valent atom, whether metal, metalloid, or non-metal, in complex with at least one hydride molecule. The method of production includes ball-milling a mixture which includes an elemental (i.e. zero-valent) material and a hydride. In some cases, the elemental material is a non-metal such as carbon. The reagent can be useful as a reagent for the synthesis of elemental nanoparticles composed of zero-valent metal, metalloid, or non-metal.

Abstract: A method for absolute protein or peptide quantitation by mass spectroscopy. A sample containing a protein or peptide of interest is prepared for mass spectroscopy analysis. The sample is subjected to mass spectroscopy analysis at low resolution whereby a single additive mass spectroscopy peak is obtained, then is subjected to high resolution mass spectroscopy analysis whereby a plurality of mass spectroscopy peaks are obtained. The intensity of each of the plurality of mass spectroscopy peaks is quantitated either by comparison to an internal standard set, or by using a standard curve generated for each isotopologue set. Quantitation using a standard curve enhances quantitation across a dynamic range of analyte.

Abstract: Core shell nanoparticles of an iron oxide core, a silicon dioxide shell and an iron silicate interface between the core and the shell are provided. The magnetic properties of the nanoparticles are tunable by control of the iron silicate interface thickness. A magnetic core of high magnetic moment obtained by compression sintering the thermally annealed superparamagnetic core shell nanoparticles is also provided. The magnetic core has little core loss due to hysteresis or eddy current flow.