Abstract: Methods for making porous materials having metal alloy nanoparticles formed therein are described herein. By preparing a porous material and delivering the precursor solutions under vacuum, the metal precursors can be uniformly embedded within the pores of the porous material. Once absorption is complete, the porous material can be heated in the presence of one or more functional gases to reduce the metal precursors to metal alloy nanoparticles, and embed the metal alloy nanoparticles inside of the pores. As such, the metal alloy nanoparticles can be formed within the pores, while avoiding surface wetting and absorption problems which can occur with small pores.

Abstract: A process is provided for preparing a thermally conductive polymer composite. The method includes the steps of combining a linear, hydrophilic polymer and an organic, hydrophilic additive to form a blend. The additive includes at least two polar functional groups that are capable of forming hydrogen bonds. A thermally conductive polymer is also provided.

Abstract: A method of creating a composite cathode for use within a lithium ion battery. The method beginning with the step of preparing an electrolytic solution. The electrolytic solution includes a plasticizer, a crosslinkable polyether, a first lithium salt and a second lithium salt. The method ending with the step of impregnating a cathodic material with the electrolytic solution so as to form the composite cathode.

Abstract: Provided are methods and compositions for self-cleaning that include a lysozyme capable of decomposing a microbe, 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 lysozyme and said substrate and covalently linking said lysozyme to a surface of said substrate optionally by an amide bond.

Abstract: A method of producing a model of a human lung includes preparing a computer file within a computer aided design system, mathematically slicing the computer file into a plurality of layers to produce a sliced computer file, providing the sliced computer file to an additive manufacturing apparatus, and fabricating, with the additive manufacturing apparatus, a 3D object based on the sliced computer file. The model of the human lung may be utilized to evaluate surfactant treatment, to improve subsequent surfactant administration to a human patient.

Abstract: In various embodiments, the present invention is directed to a centrally-functionalizable living cationic polymer or copolymer having a centrally-substituted tetraene group having the formula wherein each R is selected from the group consisting of a polymer or a copolymer, such as a polyisobutylene polymer or a poly(isobutylene-b-styrene) copolymer.

Abstract: In various aspects, embodiments of the present invention are directed to a series of multivalent dendrons containing a bioactive peptide domain and surface-binding catechol domains. In some embodiments, these multivalent dendrons were obtained through solid phase synthesis and have a strong binding affinity to metal oxide surfaces such as, TiO2, ZrO2, CeO2, and Fe3O4, SiO2, as well as other inorganic surfaces such as hydroxyapatite, silver, fluorapatite, calcium carbonate and gold. These catechol-bearing dendrons provide a fast and efficient method to functionalize a wide range of inorganic materials with bioactive peptides and have the potential to be used in coating orthopaedic implants and fixation devices.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte membrane assembly includes a polymer electrolyte membrane layer positioned between a first electrode and a second electrode. The polymer electrolyte membrane layer can be made from a composition including a polymer matrix, a plasticizer, and an ionic material. The polymer electrolyte membrane assembly may be utilized to harvest electrical energy by allowing the polymer electrolyte membrane assembly to bend to thereby produce a second ion concentration gradient different from an initial ion concentration gradient.

Abstract: A method of preparing a polymer film having an oriented dispersed material includes casting a multi-layer polymer solution having a first polymer solution layer and a second polymer solution layer where the second polymer solution layer is at least partially immiscible with the first polymer solution layer. The method further includes passing the multi-layer polymer solution through an electric field application zone, to thereby induce orientation of the dispersed material. A multi-layer polymer film can then be formed by drying the solvent from the multi-layer polymer solution. An apparatus for preparing polymer films includes a top electrode made from a flexible metal mesh coated with a non-stick, non-conductive coating.

Abstract: Improved enzyme based methods of separating protein from protein-rich material are provided. A method can include utilizing a modeling equation to more effectively hydrolyze the various types of carbohydrates present in a protein-rich material. A method can include a fed-batch method of incrementally adding a protein-rich material, an enzyme broth, or both a protein-rich material and an enzyme broth. A method can also include partially or completely recycling the hydrolysate.

Abstract: Fluorescent chromophores nicknamed BOPHY are provided. The chromophores may be readily synthesized in two steps from readily available reagents via the coupling of a pyrrole aldehyde or ketone with hydrazine, followed by reaction with BF3. The resultant symmetric and dimeric tetracycle is comprised of two BF2 units in six-member chelate rings, appended by pyrrole units on the periphery. The quantum yield of fluorescence for the unmodified compound and the tetramethyl variant are near unity, with values 95 and 92% respectively in CH2Cl2.

Abstract: A polystyrene-g-(polyisobutylene-b-polystyrene) is taught. The polystyrene-g-(polyisobutylene-b-polystyrene) is synthesized by first providing a polystyrene backbone. Once the polystyrene backbone is provided, the polystyrene backbone is acetylated to provide acetyl groups on the polystyrene backbone. Next, the acetyl groups are converted to —C(CH3)2OH groups. Finally, the living polymerization of isobutylene is initiated, which is then followed by the living block polymerization of styrene. A polymer network of polystyrene-g-(polyisobutylene-b-polystyrene)s is also provided.

Abstract: A star block copolymer and a thermoplastic elastomer including plurality of the star block copolymers and a method of making both is taught. The star block copolymers of the present invention include a core component having an ?-methylstyrene oligomer wherein arms emanate from the core component and the arms are poly(isobutylene-block-styrene) diblock copolymers.

Abstract: Embodiments provide an integrated motor-compressor assembly including a rotating impeller to compress a fluid passing therethrough, and diffuser vanes radially spaced from the impeller, each of the diffuser vanes including a stator winding therearound, the stator windings being supplied with current to generate sufficient magnetic flux for rotating the impeller. Embodiments provide an integrated motor-compressor assembly including a volute casing housing a rotating impeller to compress a fluid passing therethrough, a stator fixedly positioned in the volute casing proximate to the impeller, the stator including stator poles axially spaced from the impeller, each of the stator poles including a stator winding, the stator windings being supplied with current to generate sufficient axial magnetic flux for rotating the impeller.

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 multimodal endoscope apparatus includes optical components (couplers, collimators, mirrors, beam splitters, filters and the like) structured to work together to interact with a multimodal endoscope probe to provide at least two imaging modalities selected from fluorescence imaging, optical coherence tomography, and photoacoustic imaging. The multimodal endoscope probe includes a fiber optic imaging bundle including a multitude of optical fibers. In embodiments employing photoacoustic imaging, the multimodal endoscope probe further includes a polymer-Fabry-Perot interferometer. In some embodiments, a galvo scanner and fiber collimator are included and are together capable of directing light to a single optical fiber of the multitude optical fibers. The system is modular in some embodiments, allowing for switching of some components.

Abstract: Specific benzocyclobutenes serve as intramolecular or intermolecular or both intramolecular or intermolecular crosslinkers. The benzocyclobutenes can be incorporated into polymers post polymerization or can be provided as monomers that participate in homopolymerization or copolymerization with other monomer to create the polymers having benzocyclobutenes that are exploited to carry out the crosslinking. At least some of the benzocyclobutenes taught herein can be used to carry out crosslinking a ambient temperatures.

Abstract: A smartphone endoscope system includes a smartphone with first and second imaging sensors, and an imaging optics attachment. The imaging optics attachment includes a first and second imaging apparatus, the first imaging apparatus including a first light source, a beam splitter, an objective lens, and a fiber optic imaging bundle, wherein the fiber optic imaging bundle delivers excitation light to a target which emits a fluorescence emission and a reflectance emission both collected by the fiber optic imaging bundle and transmitted to the first imaging sensor. The second imaging apparatus includes a second light source, a DRS source fiber delivering broadband light to the target which produces a diffuse reflectance emission, a DRS detection fiber, a collimator, a slit, and a transmission grating wherein the transmission grating diffracts diffuse reflectance emission and creates diffracted light which is transmitted to a second imaging sensor.

Abstract: Coupling agents useful for preparing vulcanized composition with filers such as silica and carbon black are provided. The coupling agents include fluorine substituted styrene compounds and styrene compounds containing a hydrocarbyloxysilane functional group. The coupling agents may be grafted onto polydiene polymers or added into a vulcanizable composition as an oligomer. The use of one or both of fluorine substituted styrene compounds and styrene compounds containing a hydrocarbyloxysilane functional group may improve the strength, rolling resistance, and/or cure rate of a vulcanized polymer compared to a vulcanized polymer without a coupling agent.

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.