Abstract: Disclosed herein is a device comprising a PHA based copolymer layer comprising at least one of an electrospun ribbon of fibers of a polyhydroxyalkanoate based copolymer or the polarized polymeric composition obtained by the process of claim 1, wherein the layer is configured to exhibit one or more of a piezoelectric effect, a pyroelectric effect and a ferroelectric effect, wherein each of the electrospun ribbon of fibers and the polarized polymeric composition comprises a ?-form of the PHA based copolymer present in an amount of from about 10% to about 99%, as measured by x-ray diffraction. The device can be configured for use as a sensor, a actuator, a nanomotor, or a biobattery.

Abstract: A device adapted to be secured to the foot of a user includes one or more vibration actuators configured to provide vibrations to the user's foot, one or more force or acceleration sensors configured to sense forces or acceleration exerted by the user's foot, and a controller configured to operate the vibration actuators in a continuous mode to provide intermittent vibration to the user's foot independent of information sensed by the force or acceleration sensors. The vibration includes a first period of continuous vibration followed by a second period of no vibration followed by a third period of continuous vibration. The device may also be configured to operate in a feedback mode.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a device comprising a PHA based copolymer layer comprising at least one of an electrospun ribbon of fibers of a polyhydroxyalkanoate based copolymer or the polarized polymeric composition obtained by the process of claim 1, wherein the layer is configured to exhibit one or more of a piezoelectric effect, a pyroelectric effect and a ferroelectric effect, wherein each of the electrospun ribbon of fibers and the polarized polymeric composition comprises a ?-form of the PHA based copolymer present in an amount of from about 10% to about 99%, as measured by x-ray diffraction. The device can be configured for use as a sensor, a actuator, a nanomotor, or a biobattery.

Abstract: A method for mitigating an involuntary muscle movement in a patient by applying external vibration in multiple locations distributed about a periphery of an upper arm or forearm of the patient for an applied vibration duration that is less than the efficacy duration. Applied vibration duration as a percentage of efficacy duration is ideally less than 80%. A wearable device for performing the method has a flexible base for removably affixing to a patient's upper arm or forearm, a plurality of vibration generators, a power source, and a connected microcontroller configured to control the vibration generated by the vibration generators in accordance with a pulse frequency. The microcontroller is configured to connect to a remote controller via a communications interface. The vibration generators have a nominal vibration frequency different from the pulse frequency.

Abstract: A nanocomposite structure includes: a) a charged fibrous substrate including fibers having disposed on their surfaces a multilayer structure including a layer of a first polyelectrolyte and disposed thereon a layer of a second polyelectrolyte of opposite charge from the first, the second polyelectrolyte forming the outermost layer of the charged fibrous substrate; and b) charged nanorods having a charge opposite that of the charged fibrous substrate, including gold nanorods each having disposed on its surface one or more layers, the outermost of which is a third polyelectrolyte having a charge opposite that of the second polyelectrolyte, wherein the first and third polyelectrolytes may be the same or different; wherein the charged nanorods are disposed unaligned with respect to each other on the charged fibrous substrate.

Abstract: A nanocomposite structure includes: a) a charged fibrous substrate including fibers having disposed on their surfaces a multilayer structure including a layer of a first polyelectrolyte and disposed thereon a layer of a second polyelectrolyte of opposite charge from the first, the second polyelectrolyte forming the outermost layer of the charged fibrous substrate; and b) charged nanorods having a charge opposite that of the charged fibrous substrate, including gold nanorods each having disposed on its surface one or more layers, the outermost of which is a third polyelectrolyte having a charge opposite that of the second polyelectrolyte, wherein the first and third polyelectrolytes may be the same or different; wherein the charged nanorods are disposed unaligned with respect to each other on the charged fibrous substrate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to carrying out infrared emission spectroscopic measurements using a sample directly or a substrate, on which a sample is placed, coated, spun-on, deposited or in some way attached, as an external source to produce a time dependent infrared emissive signature from said sample or substrate with a subsequent analysis of this signature by an infrared spectrograph equipped with a focal plane array detector.

Abstract: Nanofiber electroprocessing apparatus comprising a conductive stylus having a 5 to 250 nm diameter tip; a collector spaced below the tip; a continuous supply of flowable polymer to the tip, and a power supply for creating a potential difference between the tip and the collector sufficient to produce a nanofiber. The conductive stylus may comprise an atomic force microscope (AFM) tip and may further be mounted within an AFM scanning holder having a mechanism for moving the tip. A method of electroprocessing a nanofiber comprises providing the conductive stylus, such as an AFM tip, providing a collector below the tip, supplying the tip with the flowable polymer, energizing the tip to create a potential difference between the tip and the collector, and thereby producing the nanofiber. Systems and methods for using nanofibers so created may be used for anticounterfeiting or object identification.

Abstract: A gas detector includes a predetermined amount of a sensor material having at least one optical property which changes as a result of reaction with a target gas and a photometric device operable to measure the intensity of said at least one optical property of the sensor material. The reaction is such that there is a one-to-one relationship between the magnitude of the intensity of at least one optical property and the concentration of the target gas in the gas sample whereby the concentration of the target gas in the gas sample may be determined from the measured magnitude of the intensity of said at least one optical property after the passage of the predetermined volume of gas sample over the given area of sensor material.