Abstract: A permanent magnet machine includes a machine housing and a stator disposed within the machine housing. The machine housing has an inner surface that extends between a first housing end and a second housing end along a central longitudinal axis. The stator has a stator core having an exterior surface and an interior surface, each extending between a first face and a second face along the central longitudinal axis. The stator core defines a plurality of openings that extend from the first face towards the second face.

Abstract: An end and monomer functionalized poly(propylene fumarate) polymer and methods for preparing this polymer, comprising isomerized residue of a maleic anhydride monomer and a functionalized propylene oxide monomer according to the formula: where n is an integer from more than 1 to 100; R is the residue of an initiating alcohol having a propargyl, norbornene, ketone or benzyl functional group; and R? is a second functional group selected from the group consisting of propargyl groups, 2-nitrophenyl groups, and combinations thereof are disclosed. The end and monomer functional groups allow for post-polymerization modification with bioactive materials using “click” chemistries and use of the polymer for a variety of applications in medical fields, including, for example, 3-D printed polymer scaffold.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bio-based polyol comprising a thiol-epoxy reaction product of an epoxidized nut or seed oil derivative, and a thiol-containing reactant. The bio-based polyol of the present invention can then be combined with a diisocyanate or a polymeric isocyanate to create a polyurethane material.

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: In various embodiments, the present invention is directed to photothermal-responsive melanin-based nanocomposites comprising a plurality of natural or synthetic melanin nanoparticles distributed with a polymer matrix suitable for use in anti-counterfeiting, photothermal responsive-communication, sensors, and heat management, among other applications. In some embodiments, the present invention will be an ink, paint, or other coating comprising the photothermal-responsive melanin-based nanocomposites. In some embodiments, the present invention is directed to a written message or design comprising one or more of the photothermal-responsive melanin-based nanocomposites. In some of these embodiments, the written message or design will be comprised of two ore more of the photothermal-responsive melanin-based nanocomposites having different concentrations of natural or synthetic melanin nanoparticles.

Abstract: In various aspects, the present invention is directed to a scalable method of producing rhamnolipids by bacterial fermentation with higher product concentrations, yields and productivities and preventing excessive foaming during the cell growth phase when the cell respiration rate is higher. It has been found that by slowing the growth rate of the bacteria by altering the ratio of the nitrogen source to the non-nitrogen source in the initial fermentation medium and supplementing the nitrogen source, excessive foaming in the growth phase can be prevented. Further, by using the non-nitrogen source as the limiting nutrient that initiates the stationary phase and then supplementing fermentation broth with the nitrogen and carbon sources, the length of the standing phase, and with it the time during which rhamnolipid production occurs can be greatly extended.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cell culture support comprising a substrate and a polymeric blend layer bound to the substrate. The polymeric blend layer comprises at least one thermoresponsive polymer and at least one coupling agent. The coupling agent is a non-protein coupling agent that has functional thiol, ester, epoxy, or aldehyde groups. The cell culture support further includes cells supported by the polymeric blend layer, wherein the thermoresponsive polymer provides for temperature induced detachment of the cells and/or cell sheets.

Abstract: A coating composition may include a polymeric binder and bacteria that exhibit biologically induced mineralization (BIM) or biologically controlled mineralization (BCM) of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) in the presence of environmental calcium. The bacteria may exhibit BIM or BCM of CaCO3 using the ChaA antiporter protein. The coating formulations may be used to form coatings that exhibit self-healing properties in response to damage, such as a cut, tear, puncture, abrasion, or the like. For example, in response to being exposed to the damage, the bacteria may utilize nutrients, a calcium source, and water to cause precipitation of CaCO3 at the site of the damage. The nutrients, the calcium source, and the water may be provided as part of the coating formulation, as part of another layer of a coating system, from an external source (e.g., an applied spray or wash), or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A tactile sensor including a first insulating layer, an intermediate layer of conductive soft polymer material, and a second insulating layer. The intermediate layer includes first and second electrically conductive strips located therein and the intermediate layer is positioned above the first insulating layer. The first and second electrically conductive strips are located within the same horizontal plane within the intermediate layer and the first and second electrically conductive strips are connected to an impedance measuring device.

Abstract: An electrocatalytic material includes a bulk material metal including at least one metal, wherein the bulk material metal is in an amorphous form and includes mesopores. A method for making an electrocatalytic material includes forming an amorphous bulk material metal, and forming mesopores in the amorphous bulk material metal. The bulk material metal may in some instances be selected from an alloy of at least one metal and at least one non-metal selected from phosphorus, boron, nitrogen, carbon, and any combination thereof. The at least one metal may in some instances be selected from iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, titanium, manganese, molybdenum, niobium, zirconium, and any combination thereof.

Abstract: A transverse flux machine includes a stator assembly consisting of a plurality of shaped cores, each having a base with a plurality of legs with a corresponding gap between each leg and each leg having a winding. A rotor assembly is positioned adjacent the stator assembly and includes a rotor disc, and a rotor ring with a plurality of rotor poles interleaved with a plurality of interpoles. The plurality of rotor poles and plurality of interpoles are radially disposed around the rotor disc. The plurality of rotor poles include a plurality of focused rotor poles interleaved with a plurality of diffused rotor poles.

Abstract: A method of making an alloy includes mechanically alloying aluminum with an alloying element to form an alloy. The method may include a subsequent step of compacting the alloy powder to form an aluminum alloy compact. The alloying element may be chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), molybdenum (Mo), titanium (Ti), manganese (Mn), vanadium (V), niobium (Nb), or silicon (Si).

Abstract: A single stack transverse flux machine includes a rotor assembly having an internal rotor disc with a rotor shaft extending from and rotating with the internal rotor disc, and a rotor ring having a plurality of stator poles interleaved with a plurality of interpoles. The plurality of stator poles and the plurality of interpoles are radially disposed around the internal rotor disc. Each stator pole has a plurality of core components spaced apart from one another. Primary magnets are interposed between the plurality of core components. The machine also includes a stator assembly with a plurality of shaped cores, each shaped core having a base with a plurality of legs with a corresponding gap therebetween. Each leg has a winding, and the shaped cores are positioned so that each leg is juxtaposed with a corresponding one of the plurality of core components and has an air gap therebetween.

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: An axial flux machine (AFM) includes a rotor rotatably disposed between a pair of fixed stators. The rotor and the stators are formed of tape-wound laminated cores of ferromagnetic material. In addition, the rotor includes multiple layers of angled magnets that circumscribe the rotor. Such configuration enables the axial flux machine to achieve a high airgap flux density while achieving a high saliency ratio and lowered cogging torque as compared to current generation AFMs.

Abstract: In various embodiments, the invention relates to poly(propylene fumarate) (PPF)-based star-shaped copolymers synthesized using a core-first approach that uses a multi-functional alcohols as an initiator, and Mg(BHT)2(THF)2 as catalyst for controlled ring opening copolymerization (ROCOP) of maleic anhydride (MAn) with propylene oxide (PO). In some embodiments, these star-PPF copolymers have lower viscosities than their linear analogs, allowing a decrease in DEF fraction in resin formulation, as well as the use of higher molecular weights. These star-shape PPF can be used to prepare PPF:DEF resins containing as much as 70% by weight of the multi-arm PPF star copolymers, and have a low complex viscosity of high Mn star PPF resin that affords rapid printing with a Mn nearly eight times larger than the largest linear PPF oligomer printed previously.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to compositions and processes in the field of self-cleaning system using digestive proteins. One composition includes a substrate, a digestive protein capable of decomposing a stain molecule, and a linker moiety bound to both said digestive protein and said substrate. The processes include binding a substrate to a surface and forming a linker moiety between a digestive protein and said substrate.

Abstract: In one or more embodiments, the present invention is directed to a blockchain secured, software-defined network and monitoring system comprising: a multi-controller software-defined network (SDN) network layer; a blockchain based security and autonomy layer; a deep learning-driven decision making layer comprising the one or more computational centers and a horizontal data plane layer. In some embodiments, the present invention is directed to methods for ensuring the integrity of a control commands and optimizing performance and security using the blockchain secured, software-defined network and monitoring system. In various embodiments, the present invention relates to methods for extracting useful features from said labelled and non-labelled data contained in the horizontal data plane layer in the blockchain secured, software-defined network and monitoring system using a knowledge domain-enabled hybrid semi-supervision learning method.

Abstract: An acoustic noise mitigation system for an electric machine includes one or more suspension members. The suspension members may include arcuate members that are positioned between a machine housing and a stator. During operation of the electric machine, the electromagnetic force frequency that is generated by the stator relative to a rotating rotor is able to be absorbed by the suspension members. As a result, acoustic noise generated by the electric machine is reduced.

Abstract: In one or more embodiments, the present invention provides a novel approach to the addition of plasticizers for softening TPUs, i.e., lowering the durometer and the melt viscosity. This approach involves incorporating bonded sulfonate groups with quaternary ammonium counterions into the TPU. In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the softening of TPU is achieved by incorporating an ionic diol, such as N,N-bis (2-hydroxyethyl)-2-aminoethane-sulfonic acid (BES), coupled with various bulky alkyl ammonium cations, during the chain extension step of the TPU synthesis. It is believed that that steric hindrance of the bulky quaternary ammonium groups weakens the dipole-dipole interactions of the sulfonate groups and/or lowers the crystallinity of the hard block, thereby creating additional free volume that softens the polymer and lowers the melt viscosity.