Abstract: Described herein relates to the practical application of a multi-objective mixed integer nonlinear optimization model for the improvement of vessel scheduling, which accounts for all major route service cost components reported in the literature and separates them in two conflicting groups. The original mixed integer nonlinear model is linearized by discretizing the vessel sailing speed reciprocal, and the Global Multi-Objective Optimization Algorithm is developed to solve the linearized model. It was found that negotiation of both vessel service time windows and handling rates between liner shipping companies and marine container terminal operators may significantly reduce the total route service cost components. Furthermore, the numerical experiments show that vessel schedules are more sensitive to the unit fuel cost as compared to the unit carbon dioxide emission cost.

Abstract: An osmotic sanitary collection bag for collecting fluid discharged from the vagina during menstruation. The osmotic sanitary collection bag includes an absorbent sponge having a plurality of drainage apertures disposed therethrough. Elongated adhesive strips extend away from the sponge and are adhered to a first surface of a conventional sanitary device to secure the osmotic sanitary collection bag in place. A collection bag abuts the absorbent sponge and is disposed in underlying relation to the absorbent sponge and the drainage apertures. The absorbent sponge is laced with salt, alcohol, and an odor-masking substance, such as sodium bicarbonate.

Abstract: A composition, method of treating inflammation or edema, and method of increasing transdermal permeation and flux of at least one cannabinoid is presented. The composition is comprised of at least one cannabinoid, at least one permeation enhancer and at least one hydrophilic polymer. Administration of a therapeutically effective amount of this composition of can be used to treat both inflammation and edema in a patient as well as increasing transdermal permeation and flux of the at least one cannabinoid.

Abstract: Novel compounds and methods of using the compounds and compositions to treat pancreatic cancer are presented. Novel compounds N-(5-fluoro-2-oxo-1-(tetrahydrofuran-2-yl)-1,2-dihydropyrimidin-4-yl)octanamide and N-(5-fluoro-2-oxo-1-(tetrahydrofuran-2-yl)-1,2-dihydropyrimidin-4-yl)dodecanamide are provided. The compounds have been shown to induce cytotoxicity in pancreatic cancer cells and can serve as a novel oral treatment for pancreatic cancer.

Abstract: Described herein relates to a multi-component adaptor assembly including a resin reservoir adaptor disposed on a printing surface of a preexisting additive manufacturing device, and including a build platform adaptor secured to a translatable arm of the preexisting additive manufacturing device. The resin reservoir adaptor is used to modify an existing resin reservoir by creating one or more smaller reservoirs within the larger housing, thereby reducing an amount of resin stored within the device to reduce resin waste. Moreover, the rotating and/or sliding build platform adaptor is designed to selectively contact one or more of the reservoirs of the resin reservoir adaptor, thereby selectively printing components of an additive manufactured process.

Abstract: A lipid-, polymer-, and metal-based system of modified nanostructures of active biomedical and pharmaceutical agents used for in vivo (whole body/organ or tissue-specific) imaging. The modified nanostructure system involves various combinations of excipients (lipids, oils, surfactant, polymers, metals, carbon, nanotubes, etc.) in a formulation that allows a user to: (1) sustain the bioluminescent, fluorescent, or contrast signal for a longer period than conventional systems without repetitive administration (e.g., nanostructure system of luciferin), (2) target specific sites of interest (e.g., organ, tissue, receptors, proteins, etc.) for enhanced imaging of the targeted site (e.g. nanostructure system of XenoLight DIR with CREKA allows imaging of tumor vasculature), and (3) increase bioluminescent, fluorescent, or contrast signal flux.

Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to a diffuser headband system. The system may include a diffuser headband formed from an elastic material coupled to a sanitized air generating source that produces sanitized air. The diffuser headband may form a substantially oval shape and include an elastic tube attached to the elastic material. A first portion of the elastic tube may be perforated to include a group of air outlet holes spaced along a surface of the elastic tube. A second portion of the elastic tube may include an inlet that receives the sanitized air from the sanitized air generating source. The air outlet holes receive the sanitized air from the inlet and expel the sanitized air to provide an air shield that encircles a person's body wearing the diffuser headband. The air shield blocks viral aerosol droplets from entering or leaving an airspace occupied by the person wearing the diffuser headband.

Abstract: Methods and related devices for enhancing the nutritional value of algal silage for aquaculture using electromagnetic radiation to expedite and make uniform the annealing process of the microalgae on the silage. New isolates have been screened for their natural abilities to produce added nutritional value comparable, if not higher, relative to industry gold standard strains.

Abstract: An active force electric field anti-pathogenic fabric is used to remove pathogens from an environment surrounding the fabric. The fabric can be woven into daily clothing items, personal protective equipment, or other clothing items typically worn by a user. The fabric includes a current-carrying mesh that is coated with active materials used to remove pathogens from the air. As such, the fabric operates as an anti-pathogenic material that is used to remove harmful particles from an area surrounding a user. Accordingly, microorganisms, smoke particles, industrial pollutants, odor molecules, allergens are structurally disassociated into harmless protein fragments and natural molecules when encountering the purifying agents in the fabric.

Abstract: Novel dual 5-HT1A and 5-HT7 receptor ligands and methods of using the novel ligands to treat a neurological disorder are presented.

Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to a testbed platform for characterizing materials and inks utilized in additive manufacturing of nanocomposites. The system may include a testbed base coupled to a group of electromagnets. The base may include an aperture for housing a microscope slide and an interchangeable channel including a microfluidic flow cell of various geometric angles. The system may further include a group of needle tips in fluidic communication with the microfluidic flow cell. The needle tips may be coupled, via lock connectors, to syringes that dispense magnetic inks utilized in additive manufacturing into the microfluidic flow cell. The system may also include an inverted microscope lens and a high-speed camera in optical communication with the base. The camera may be utilized to capture images of a flow behavior of the magnetic inks for performing an analysis that determines a nozzle design for microdispensing during an additive manufacturing process.

Abstract: A biocompatible resin composition that is used in the manufacture of a dissolvable microneedle that is used for the transdermal delivery of one or more active pharmaceutical ingredients to a subject. The biocompatible resin composition includes lithium phenyl-2,4,6-trimethylbenzoylphospinate, water, and poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (molecular weight 550), and may include methacrylated hyaluronic acid, that is capable of forming a structurally stable microneedle patch. The microneedle patch is formulated with the biocompatible resin composition using a continuous, one-step process utilizing additive manufacturing. Once manufactured, the microneedle patches are formulated to adhere to an outer layer of a subject's skin. Once administered to the subject, the microneedle compositions create microscopic pathways into the subject's subdermal layers to deliver one or more active agents to the subject, such as to the subject's bloodstream.

Abstract: An osmotic sanitary collection bag for collecting fluid discharged from the vagina during menstruation. The osmotic sanitary collection bag includes an absorbent sponge having a plurality of drainage apertures disposed therethrough. Elongated adhesive strips extend away from the sponge and are adhered to a first surface of a conventional sanitary device to secure the osmotic sanitary collection bag in place. A collection bag abuts the absorbent sponge and is disposed in underlying relation to the absorbent sponge and the drainage apertures. The absorbent sponge is laced with salt, alcohol, and an odor-masking substance, such as sodium bicarbonate.

Abstract: Novel compositions and methods of using the compositions to treat triple negative breast cancer are presented. 4-Ethyl-N-(7-hydroxy-3,4-dihydroisoquinolin-2(1H)-yl) benzamide has been shown to downregulate the expression of several genes associated with TNBC such as amphiregulin (AREG), epiregulin (EREG), inhibitor of DNA binding 1 (ID1), inhibitor of DNA binding 3 (ID3), killer cell lectin like receptor C3 (KLRC3), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2), and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1). In addition, the compound has been shown to downregulate the oncostatin M(OSM) signaling pathway.

Abstract: The practical application of a multi-objective mixed integer nonlinear optimization model for the improvement of vessel scheduling, which accounts for all major route service cost components reported in the literature and separates them in two conflicting groups. The original mixed integer nonlinear model is linearized by discretizing the vessel sailing speed reciprocal, and the Global Multi-Objective Optimization Algorithm is developed to solve the linearized model. It was found that negotiation of both vessel service time windows and handling rates between liner shipping companies and marine container terminal operators may significantly reduce the total route service cost components. Furthermore, the numerical experiments show that vessel schedules are more sensitive to the unit fuel cost as compared to the unit carbon dioxide emission cost.

Abstract: A multi-component adaptor assembly including a resin reservoir adaptor disposed on a printing surface of a preexisting additive manufacturing device, and including a build platform adaptor secured to a translatable arm of the preexisting additive manufacturing device. The resin reservoir adaptor is used to modify an existing resin reservoir by creating one or more smaller reservoirs within the larger housing, thereby reducing an amount of resin stored within the device to reduce resin waste. Moreover, the rotating and/or sliding build platform adaptor is designed to selectively contact one or more of the reservoirs of the resin reservoir adaptor, thereby selectively printing components of an additive manufactured process. The multi-component adaptor assembly allows for additive manufacturing projects using less resin with fewer waste products; simultaneous printing of identical structures; and the selective printing of different components of a structure during a single printing cycle.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a collaborative manufacturing system utilizing a plurality of mobile agents. The mobile agents operate dual robotic arms to improve single and multi-material builds' efficiency. In some embodiments, the dual robotic arms work together in the same area to create multi-functional components. In addition, the mobile agents can change tool heads on the arms to allow for hybrid manufacturing such as pick and place, additive, and subtractive manufacturing. One or more mobile agents interact with other mobile agents, thereby increasing the end product's efficiency and quality. Mobile agents utilize swarm manufacturing techniques to improve the manufactured product's time efficiency further and use machine learning to adjust and re-assign mobile agents constantly.

Abstract: A system and methodology for rehydrating perishable items (e.g., flowers, fresh food items, such as fruits, vegetables, other produce, and nuts) during storage and transportation thereof. The osmotic rehydration apparatus includes a pressurized chamber, a humidifier, an ozone generator, an electrostatic sprayer, a reservoir containing saline, and an air compressor. The perishable items are placed in the osmotic chamber under positive pressure. A film of saline solution is applied to the surface of the perishable items via an electrostatic sprayer. The saline/chlorine film on the perishable items is dried, and the osmotic chamber is saturated with ozone gas via an ozone generator. The osmotic chamber is then saturated with tiny pure water droplets via a humidifier or an electrostatic sprayer. The pressure within the chamber is raised to a pressure above atmospheric pressure. The osmotic chamber is then placed inside a cooler at a temperature slightly above freezing.

Abstract: An osmotic food production system designed to produce fruits, vegetables, and freshwater from urine or saltwater. In some embodiments the osmotic food production system also produces oxygen. In some embodiments, the osmotic food production system is portable and capable of transporting on a vehicle capable of space travel. Embodiments of the present invention can be used to address the existing problems of food production, waste disposal/utilization, oxygen generation, and water conservation in an efficient way to allow for prolonged space travel or colonization of distant planets and moons.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a system and method for detecting or sensing damage within a target material, as well as related devices. In some embodiments, a damage sensing system including a target material, an optical fiber embedded into the target material, where the optical fiber has an outer surface running the length of the optical fiber, a photosensitive receiver, and a triboluminescent coating coated on the optical fiber.