Abstract: Curable rubber compositions that include reactive ionic surfactants as reinforcing fillers are described, as well as methods for preparing composite rubber compounds by direct addition of ionic surfactant solutions into rubber latex.

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 multi-purpose imaging and display system includes a display; a detector coupled to the display and having a field of view; and a filter communicating with the detector. The field of view is imaged by the detector through the filter, the filter configured to be sensitive to a first frequency spectrum, so the detector displays only objects within the field of view on the detector that emit one or more frequencies within the first frequency spectrum. The detector and filter can work together in different operational states or modes for acquiring image data of a target object under investigation. A computing device can be included to process acquired image data, and communication interfaces can be employed to achieve networking of multiple systems. A peripheral interface allows a plurality of peripheral devices to be selectively added to tailor the data acquisition and display capabilities of the imaging and display system.

Abstract: In various embodiments, the present invention is directed to a degradable poly(ester urea) (PEU)-based adhesion barrier, particularly suitable for use in connection with surgical mesh repair in the treatment of hernias and other soft tissue injuries comprising an amino acid based poly(ester urea) backbone and one or more zwitterionic side chains connected to the amino acid based poly(ester urea) backbone through a sulfide bond. In some other embodiments, the present invention is directed to method of making the PEU-based adhesion barriers comprising: preparing an amino acid based PEU polymer or terpolymer having one or more allyl functional groups; preparing a thiol functionalized zwitterionic compound; and reacting the allyl functionalized PEU polymer or terpolymer with the thiol functionalized zwitterionic compound to form a degradable PEU-based adhesion barrier having an amino acid based PEU backbone having zwitterionic side chains.

Abstract: A surface treatment layer for a titanium-containing substrate includes a disordered metal oxide lattice having metal nitride compounds doped in the disordered metal oxide lattice. A method of surface treating a metal substrate includes introducing oxygen to a titanium-containing substrate to thereby form an oxide layer within the titanium-containing substrate, and, after the step of introducing oxygen, introducing nitrogen to the titanium-containing substrate to thereby modify the oxide layer to form a surface treatment layer.

Abstract: A method of preparing and obtaining cell aggregates having increased oxygenation abilities. The method includes the preparation of fluorinated polymeric microparticles. Once the fluorinated polymeric microparticles are prepared, they are combined with mammalian cells to create the cell aggregates having increased oxygenation.

Abstract: An imaging and display system for guiding medical interventions includes a wearable display, such as a goggle display, for viewing by a user. The display presents a composite, or combined image that includes pre-operative surgical navigation images, intraoperative images, and in-vivo microscopy images or sensing data. The pre-operative images are acquired from scanners, such as MRI and CT scanners, while the intra-operative images are acquired in real-time from a camera system carried by the goggle display for imaging the patient being treated so as to acquire intraoperative images, such as fluorescence images. A probe, such as a microscopy probe or a sensing probe, is used to acquire in-vivo imaging/sensing data from the patient. Additionally, the intra-operative and in-vivo images are acquired using tracking and registration techniques to align them with the pre-operative image and the patient to form a composite image for display by the goggle display.

Abstract: A failure detection system for an energy network includes a radio frequency (RF) receiver adapted to be coupled with or in close proximity to the energy network, the RF receiver providing an amplitude modulated RF signal; an RF amplifier receiving the amplitude modulated RF signal and providing an amplified signal; an envelope detector receiving the amplitude modulated RF signal and providing a demodulated envelope signal; an optional algorithm implementation system receiving the demodulated envelope signal, where the optional algorithm implementation system processes the demodulated envelope signal by one or more of a Fast Fourier transform (FFT) trigger system and a phase-locked loop (PLL) trigger system; and a signature output that is the overall output signal of the failure detection system, wherein the signature output is adapted to indicate whether the energy network is experiencing partial discharge.

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 precursors in a stream of CO and H2 gas mixture.

Abstract: A method to detect and assess microorganism influenced corrosion includes measuring current flow between a test electrode and a control electrode in a split chamber zero resistance ammeter apparatus and calculating a predictive difference in mass loss between the test electrode and the control electrode based on that current over time; and measuring the resistance, Rpit, of a surface of the subject metal to assess pitting corrosion using an electrochemical impedance spectroscopy apparatus.

Abstract: A multi-purpose imaging and display system includes a display; a detector coupled to the display and having a field of view; and a filter communicating with the detector. The field of view is imaged by the detector through the filter, the filter configured to be sensitive to a first frequency spectrum, so the detector displays only objects within the field of view on the detector that emit one or more frequencies within the first frequency spectrum. The detector and filter can work together in different operational states or modes for acquiring image data of a target object under investigation. A computing device can be included to process acquired image data, and communication interfaces can be employed to achieve networking of multiple systems. A peripheral interface allows a plurality of peripheral devices to be selectively added to tailor the data acquisition and display capabilities of the imaging and display system.

Abstract: A shear-thickening electrolyte solution includes a polar solvent; an electrolyte dissolved in said polar solvent; and ceramic filler dispersed in said polar solvent, said ceramic filler having an aspect ratio, length to width, of greater than 1:1 and being functionalized to provide terminal end groups that interact with the polar solvent to form a solvation layer around said ceramic filler and support the suspension of said ceramic filler in said polar solvent.

Abstract: In various embodiments, the present invention is directed to a melanin composition extracted from black knot fungus (Apiosporina morbosa) using an acid-base extraction technique. In one or more embodiments, the melanin composition is extracted from the black outer layer of a black knot fungus by obtaining a powder including a black outer part of one or more black knot fungus, adding a quantity of an aqueous solution comprising one or more base, heating the mixture to solubilize a melanin in the aqueous solution to form a black alkaline supernatant containing said melanin, adding one or more acids to said black alkaline supernatant until the melanin precipitates out of said black alkaline supernatant, said melanin precipitate further comprising proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids; collecting the melanin precipitate and adding one or more acids to hydrolyze some or all of said proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids and produce the melanin composition.

Abstract: A photoresponsive polyurethane including a hard segment, a soft segment, and a photoresponsive group that is selected from a coumarin group or a coumarin derivative and an alkoxyphencyl group or an alkoxyphencyl.

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: 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 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).