Abstract: A boost converter system including a power source, an inductor stage, and a voltage multiplication stage. The power source outputs a first direct current (DC) to the inductor stage. The inductor stage includes a plurality of diodes and a plurality of inductors. The inductor stage includes a first switched inductor cell and a second switched inductor cell. The first switched inductor cell is wired to a first metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET). The first MOSFET is wired to the voltage multiplication stage. The second switched inductor cell is wired to a second MOSFET. The second MOSFET is wired to the voltage multiplication stage. The voltage multiplication stage receives a first DC current from the first MOSFET and the second MOSFET. The voltage multiplication stage includes at least one voltage multiplier cell (VMC). The VMC includes a plurality of diodes and plurality of capacitors.

Abstract: A hydrogel includes a polysaccharide including aldehyde groups and carboxy groups, a functionalized chitosan, and iron (III) ions. The hydrogel further includes particles including a core including a carboxy-functionalized polythiophene and a shell including polydopamine. A wound dressing includes the hydrogel and a base layer selected from the group consisting of a gauze, lint, plaster, bandage and cotton wool. The hydrogel is attached or adhered to the base layer.

Abstract: A method for producing a flexural hybrid span beam includes casting a first layer of ultra-high performance concrete (UIHPC) into a bottom of a mold, the first layer comprising steel fibers that are randomly oriented and dispersed. The method includes self-curing the first layer for at least 48 hours to form an unfinished top surface of the first layer. The method includes casting a second layer of plain concrete, over the unfinished top surface of the first layer, in the mold, wherein the second layer of plain concrete is not reinforced by steel bars. The method includes curing the first layer and the second layer to form the flexural hybrid span beam. An interface between the first layer and the second layer is substantially flat and has a periphery conforming to a shape of the mold.

Abstract: A curable composition includes at least one polyamine; an epoxy resin; and a silane-modified biosilica material. The silane-modified biosilica material is derived from rice husk and is present in the curable composition at a concentration of 0.01 to 10 wt. %, based on the total weight of the curable composition. The silane-modified biosilica material has an average particle size of 1 to 10 micrometers (?m). A method of making a cured composite material from the curable composition.

Abstract: A method, system, and device for monitoring the relative consciousness of a subject includes conducting response tests, by a consciousness detection system, on the subject to obtain a plurality of response test results. The response test includes an eye movement test conducted with a camera sensor, and the plurality of response test results are analyzed by comparison to a machine learning module to quantify the eye movement of the subject. The consciousness detection system includes a controller, the camera sensor and an alarm. The controller includes a processor to calculate a consciousness score and a memory. The method includes recording the response test results in the memory, analyzing, with the circuitry of the processor, the response test results to determine a consciousness score, triggering an alarm based on the consciousness score indicating a loss of consciousness, and repeating the response test at predetermined regularly timed intervals.

Abstract: A boost converter system including a power source, an inductor stage, and a voltage multiplication stage. The power source outputs a first direct current (DC) to the inductor stage. The inductor stage includes a plurality of diodes and a plurality of inductors. The inductor stage includes a first switched inductor cell and a second switched inductor cell. The first switched inductor cell is wired to a first metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET). The first MOSFET is wired to the voltage multiplication stage. The second switched inductor cell is wired to a second MOSFET. The second MOSFET is wired to the voltage multiplication stage. The voltage multiplication stage receives a first DC current from the first MOSFET and the second MOSFET. The voltage multiplication stage includes at least one voltage multiplier cell (VMC). The VMC includes a plurality of diodes and plurality of capacitors.

Abstract: A method for producing a core-shell capsule for delivering a therapeutic agent is provided. The method includes printing a composite material via a nozzle on a substrate while moving the nozzle in a pre-designed pattern to create the shell of a hollow capsule. The shell defines a cavity within the hollow capsule, and the shell has an opening at an apex of an outer surface of the shell. The method includes introducing a composition, in liquid form, containing the therapeutic agent at a temperature of at least 45° C. into the cavity of the hollow capsule via the opening of the shell, and naturally cooling the composition inside the shell to solidify the composition and adhere the composition to an inner surface of the shell thereby forming a core of the core-shell capsule.

Abstract: A method for extracting keratin from wool fibers is described. The method includes treating the wool fibers in a solvent, washing, and drying to form cleaned wool fibers. The method incudes cutting the cleaned wool fibers and dispersing in an ionic liquid to form a slurry. The method further includes sonicating the slurry to form a first composition containing dissolved keratin. The method also includes mixing the first composition with water to precipitate the keratin from the first composition. Additionally, the method involves separating and collecting the precipitated keratin from the first composition, washing, and drying to form the keratin. The method for extracting keratin from natural fibers is also described.

Abstract: A method of detecting an imidacloprid compound including: contacting an electrochemical sensor with a solution; applying a potential across the electrochemical sensor in the solution. The method further includes measuring the current output of the electrochemical sensor; and determining if the imidacloprid compound is present in the solution based on the current output. The electrochemical sensor includes at least one layer of a nanocomposite at least partially coating a substrate surface. The nanocomposite includes silver nanoparticles, mesoporous carbon, and hematite ore.

Abstract: A method of processing a mammogram image, including receiving a digital mammography image of a breast of a patient, and separating the digital mammography image into three channels. The method includes removing noise and uneven illumination to form a first set of three uniform background images, and separating a luminance channel and a chrominance channel from the first set with a transfer function to form a second set of three uniform background images. The method includes applying principal component analysis to the second set; and assembling a single grayscale image and applying a first subspace projection. The method includes removing at least a portion of a pectoral muscle from the grayscale image, and normalizing the muscle removed image using a second order Gaussian Laplacian and an oriented diffusion filter to form a processed image. The method includes identifying cancerous and/or noncancerous regions in the processed image.

Abstract: A nanocomposite photocatalyst is provided. The nanocomposite photocatalyst contains a carbon nanomaterial made of amorphous carbon and graphitic carbon, metal oxide nanoparticles disposed on the carbon nanomaterial, and noble metal nanoparticles disposed on the metal oxide nanoparticles and/or the carbon nanomaterial. Also provided is a method of forming the nanocomposite photocatalyst and a method of photodegrading an organic pollutant in water using the nanocomposite photocatalyst and visible light irradiation.

Abstract: A nanocomposite photocatalyst is provided. The nanocomposite photocatalyst contains carbon nitride particles, a polymer composite comprising a conducting polymer and a carbon nanomaterial, the polymer composite being disposed on the carbon nitride particles, and noble metal nanoparticles disposed on both the polymer composite and the carbon nitride particles. Also provided is a method of forming the nanocomposite photocatalyst and a method of photodegrading an organic pollutant in water using the nanocomposite photocatalyst and visible light irradiation.

Abstract: A nanocomposite photocatalyst is provided. The nanocomposite photocatalyst contains carbon nitride particles, a polymer composite comprising a conducting polymer and a carbon nanomaterial, the polymer composite being disposed on the carbon nitride particles, and noble metal nanoparticles disposed on both the polymer composite and the carbon nitride particles. Also provided is a method of forming the nanocomposite photocatalyst and a method of photodegrading an organic pollutant in water using the nanocomposite photocatalyst and visible light irradiation.

Abstract: A nanocomposite photocatalyst is provided. The nanocomposite photocatalyst contains a carbon nanomaterial made of amorphous carbon and graphitic carbon, metal oxide nanoparticles disposed on the carbon nanomaterial, and noble metal nanoparticles disposed on the metal oxide nanoparticles and/or the carbon nanomaterial. Also provided is a method of forming the nanocomposite photocatalyst and a method of photodegrading an organic pollutant in water using the nanocomposite photocatalyst and visible light irradiation.

Abstract: A nanocomposite photocatalyst is provided. The nanocomposite photocatalyst contains a carbon nanomaterial made of amorphous carbon and graphitic carbon, metal oxide nanoparticles disposed on the carbon nanomaterial, and noble metal nanoparticles disposed on the metal oxide nanoparticles and/or the carbon nanomaterial. Also provided is a method of forming the nanocomposite photocatalyst and a method of photodegrading an organic pollutant in water using the nanocomposite photocatalyst and visible light irradiation.

Abstract: A process for the direct oxidation of methane to C1-oxygenates (formaldehyde and methanol) has been developed. The process involves a gas stream, comprising methane, an oxidizing agent (such as air, or oxygen blended with an inert diluent), and a nitrogen oxide as a gas phase sensitizer at oxidation conditions to produce C1-oxygenates, such as formaldehyde and methanol. A certain proportion of nitrogen oxide, which acts as a radical initiator, in the stream is crucial to achieve a high yield of formaldehyde and methanol. In addition, the temperature plays an important role in the conversion of methane and in the selectivity to C1-oxygenates.