Abstract: In various embodiments, the present invention is directed to a facile one-pot reverse emulsion process to assemble core-shell nanoparticles (CS-SMNPs) into bright and noniridescent photonic supraballs. In one or more embodiments, the present invention is directed to core-shell nanoparticles having an inner high refractive index (RI) core and an outer low RI shell. In one or more embodiment, the present invention includes core-shell nanoparticles using high RI (˜1.74) melanin cores and low-RI (˜1.45) silica shells. In various embodiments, these nanoparticles may be self-assembled into bright and noniridescent supraballs using a scalable one-pot reverse emulsion process. According to various embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to generate a full spectrum of structural colors with the combination of only two ingredients, synthetic melanin and silica.

Abstract: In various embodiments, the present invention relates to a blockchain-powered SDN-enabled networking infrastructure in which the integration between blockchain-based security and autonomy management layer and multi-controller SDN networking layer is defined to enhance the integrity of the control and management messages. In one or more embodiments, this networking infrastructure is utilized achieve three main functionalities: (1) integrity verification of control and management commands for cloud platforms, (2) identification of the malicious hosts abusing the cloud platform, and (3) enhancing the availability of the cloud platform via autonomous bandwidth provisioning.

Abstract: In various embodiments, the present invention is directed to a PPF-based copolymer for 3D printing applications and methods for its making and use. These copolymers have a viscosity in a printable viscosity range and allow light transmittance at curing wavelengths. In various embodiments, a lower viscosity copolymers are obtained by substitution of a portion of maleic anhydride with succinic anhydride and then forming a poly(propylene fumarate-co-succinate) copolymer by the copolymerization of maleic anhydride and succinic anhydride with propylene oxide via Mg(BHT)2(THF)2 catalyzed ring opening copolymerization (ROCOP). Because of their lower viscosities, these copolymers require less, if any, diethyl fumarate (DEF) to prepare the 3D printing resin, while the mechanical properties can still be adjusted as with a PPF polymer prepared without the succinic anhydride.

Abstract: In various embodiments, the present invention provides a drug-loaded amino acid-based poly(ester urea) film for controlled local release of non-opioid analgesic compounds and various methods for their making and use. In one or more embodiments, he present invention is directed to a drug-loaded amino acid-based poly(ester urea) film for controlled local release of non-opioid analgesic compounds comprising an amino acid-based poly(ester urea) polymer or copolymer and a therapeutically effective amount of a non-opioid analgesic compound. In various embodiments, these amino acid-based poly(ester urea) polymers or copolymers will comprise a plurality of diester monomer units connected by a carboxyl group to form a poly(ester urea) (PEU) polymer.

Abstract: A method of operating a motor includes providing an electric system coupled with the motor, the electric system including parallel inverter legs; subjecting the motor to a first interleaving angle when the electric system is under a first condition; and subjecting the motor to a second interleaving angle different from the first interleaving angle when the electric system is under a second condition; wherein the steps of subjecting the motor to the first interleaving angle and subjecting the motor to the second interleaving angle occur within continuous operation of the electric system and the motor.

Abstract: An optical imaging system to image a target object includes a light source configured to emit one or more light rays to illuminate the target object and an image detector configured to capture a three-dimensional topography image of the target object when emitted light is emitted from the target object in response to being illuminated by the light rays emitted by the light source. A fluorescence image detector captures a fluorescence image of the target object when fluorescence is emitted from the target object in response illumination by light rays emitted by the light source. A controller instructs the image detector to capture the 3D topography image and the fluorescence image detector to detect the fluorescence image of the target object intraoperatively and to co-register and simultaneously display intraoperatively the co-registered topography and fluorescence information to the user via a display.

Abstract: A fluid property sensing array includes a first sensor including a first electrode assembly and a first sensing layer at least partially coating the first electrode assembly, the first sensor having a first response to a property of the fluid; and a second sensor including a second electrode assembly and a second sensing layer at least partially coating the second electrode assembly, the second sensor having a second response to the property of the fluid. The array can include a third sensor including a third electrode assembly and a third sensing layer at least partially coating the third electrode assembly, the third sensor having a third response to the property of the fluid. The first sensing layer, the second sensing layer, and the third sensing layer can be compositionally different, such that the first response, the second response, and the third response to the property of the fluid are different.

Abstract: A curable rubber composition including a rubber, a plurality of ground particles, and a reactive surfactant represented by the formula: X—Y—Z where X is a reactive group capable of forming covalent links with the rubber during compounding or vulcanization, Y is a hydrophobic linkage, and Z is a polar group capable of forming self-assemblies via intermolecular interactions, and wherein the reactive surfactant is incompatible with the rubber and a method of making the same.

Abstract: A method performed by a controller of an electric motor, including generating control parameters, the step of generating control parameters selected from: inputting a given reference torque (Tref) and a speed command to a torque generation lookup table (LUT) such that the step of generating the control parameters includes the torque generation lookup table at the given reference torque and the speed command; or utilizing an analytical model that includes one or more analytical equations or one or more functions; inputting the control parameters to a DC-link current ripple, torque ripple, and radial force ripple minimization lookup table; inputting position to the DC-link current ripple, torque ripple, and radial force ripple minimization lookup table; generating a reference current profile from the DC-link current ripple, torque ripple, and radial force ripple minimization lookup table; and inputting the reference current profile to the electric motor. Additional methods are disclosed.

Abstract: An engineered polypeptide includes at least two units, wherein each unit includes a polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 4, a polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 5, a polypeptide with 90% or greater homology to SEQ ID NO: 4, or a polypeptide with 90% or greater homology to SEQ ID NO: 5, wherein the engineered polypeptide does not comprise SEQ ID NO: 12 or SEQ ID NO: 13. Further described is a synthetic materials including the peptides. Also included are synthetic materials including polypeptide of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 9-32, a polypeptide with 90% or greater homology any one of SEQ ID NOs: 9-32, a polypeptide encoded by any one of SEQ ID NOs. 57-79, or a polypeptide with 90% or greater homology to a polypeptide encoded by any one of SEQ ID NOs. 57-79.

Abstract: The present invention teaches an asymmetrical metal complex comprising a metal center coordinated with between two and six hydrophilic ligands, wherein at least one of said hydrophilic ligands is chemically different than the other said hydrophilic ligands.

Abstract: In various embodiments, the present invention provides well-defined biodegradable poly(lactone-b-propylene fumarate) diblock and triblock polymers formed using a novel one-pot, scalable ring-opening block-order copolymerization (ROBOCOP) technique that utilizes magnesium 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenoxide (Mg(BHT)2(THF)2) to “switch” from the ROP of cyclic esters to the ROCOP of maleic anhydride (MAn) and propylene oxide (PO) to produce PPF based block copolymers for application in additive manufacturing and patient specific regenerative medicine. These block copolymers are fully resorbable and can be photochemically crosslinked in a number of applications, including 3D printing. By adding the lactone block to the PPF polymer, the viscosity of the resulting block copolymer at working temperatures can be precisely controlled and the quantity of the reactive diluent in printable resins can be reduced or eliminated.

Abstract: In one or more embodiments, the present invention is directed to an electrically conductive polymer composition comprising a conductive metal filler material comprising a plurality of metal particles and one or more carbon-based filler material substantially homogenously dispersed throughout a polymer matrix, wherein the aspect ratio of the one or more carbon-based filler material is at least ten times greater than the aspect ratio of the conductive metal filler material comprising a plurality of metal particles. In one or more embodiment, the carbon-based filler material will comprise at least one of carbon nanotubes, multi-walled carbon nanotubes and edge-functionalized graphene.

Abstract: A wireless self-charging power pack including a solution processed conductive thin film integrating a solar cell with a solid-state supercapacitor. Additionally, a method of forming a wireless self-charging power pack including integrating a solar cell with a solid-state supercapacitor by forming a layer of conductive thin film between the solar cell and the solid-state supercapacitor through solution processing of the material forming the conductive thin film.

Abstract: A method of producing a degradable material comprising steps of hydrogenating 2-ethylidene-6-hepten-5-olide (EVL) by introducing hydrogen to the EVL in order to obtain modified EVL; combining the modified EVL with a catalyst to form a reaction mixture; and subjecting the reaction mixture to reaction conditions that will allow the modified EVL to react by ring-opening polymerization in the presence of the catalyst to form a product composition including polymeric-EVL, wherein the polymeric-EVL is hydrolytically degradable, wherein the reaction conditions include a reaction temperature of from ?40° C. to 70° C.

Abstract: In one or more embodiments, the present invention is directed to a novel method for synthesizing Mg(BHT)2(THF)2 catalyst, which has several advantages over previous methods. Dry toluene or pentane are not required for synthesizing the catalyst, and the reaction is done in a bulk solution of BHT and THF. Further, because the Mg(BHT)2(THF)2 is made in a one-step (“one-pot”) synthesis, the time required for synthesizing and drying the catalyst is reduced. Using the new method of the present invention, the Mg(BHT)2(THF)2 is pure after removing excess THF, thereby eliminating the need for washes and recrystallization.

Abstract: Provided are methods and compositions for self-cleaning that include a digestive protein capable of decomposing stain forming molecules, a substrate applied to a solid surface, and a linker moiety bound to an outer surface of said substrate and an active group of said digestive protein, said linker moiety between said protein and said substrate and covalently linking said protein to a surface of said substrate by an amide bond, the linker moiety between a free amine of said protein and said outer surface of said substrate wherein the digestive protein forms a layer on a surface of said substrate such that the digestive protein is surface exposed for reaction with a stain.

Abstract: A 3D-printable blend comprising a thermoplastic elastomer and a polymer. The thermoplastic elastomer is selected from poly(styrene-b-isobutylene-b-styrene) (SIBS), poly(St-b-butadiene-b-St) (SBS), poly(St-b-isoprene-b-St) (SIS), and their hydrogenated derivatives. The polymer is selected from polystyrene (PSt), poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) (PPO) and blends of PSt and PPO. The blends may be made into filaments suitable for use in the production of 3D printed articles.

Abstract: A fuel cell catalyst for oxygen reduction reactions including Pt—Ni—Cu nanoparticles supported on nitrogen-doped mesoporous carbon (MPC) having enhanced activity and durability, and method of making said catalyst. The catalyst is synthesized by employing a solid state chemistry method, which involves thermally pretreating a N-doped MPC to remove moisture from the surface; impregnation of metal precursors on the N-doped MPC under vacuum condition; and reducing the metal precurors in a stream of CO and H2 gas mixture.

Abstract: A method of coating an alloy substrate includes providing an alloy substrate that includes less than 0.3 wt. % of diffusible elements; introducing one or more diffusible elements into the alloy substrate to thereby form a diffusible-element-containing alloy substrate; and introducing the diffusible-element-containing alloy substrate to a material reactive with the one or more diffusible elements.