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 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: A process to make a polyolefin fiber which has the following steps: mixing at least one polyolefin into a solution at room temperature or a slightly elevated temperature to form a polymer solution and electrospinning at room temperature said polymer solution to form a fiber.

Abstract: A process to make a polyolefin fiber which has the following steps: mixing at least one polyolefin into a solution at room temperature or a slightly elevated temperature to form a polymer solution and electrospinning at room temperature said polymer solution to form a fiber.

Abstract: A method for detecting disease in a patient includes providing infrared (IR) light and coupling the IR light through direct lens coupling or through a first group of one or more optical fibers. IR light is reflected from a portion of the patient and collected by a lens arrangement or a second group of one or more optical fibers. The reflected IR light is dispersed into its spectrum which is detected and analyzed. An apparatus suitable for diagnosing a disease in a patient includes an IR light source and optical fiber or direct lens coupling of IR light onto a body part or fluid of the patient. Reflected light from the patient is optically dispersed using a prism or grating. An IR focal plane array receives the optically dispersed light. The spectrum of the reflected IR light is used to provide a diagnosis of disease in the patient by identifying various disease markers or chemical fingerprints. The method and apparatus are capable of non-invasively detecting disease markers in a patient.

Abstract: An apparatus and method capable of providing spatially multiplexed IR spectral information simultaneously in real-time for multiple samples or multiple spatial areas of one sample using IR absorption phenomena requires no moving parts or Fourier Transform during operation, and self-compensates for background spectra and degradation of component performance over time. IR spectral information and chemical analysis of the samples is determined by using one or more IR sources, sampling accessories for positioning the samples, optically dispersive elements, a focal plane array (FPA) arranged to detect the dispersed light beams, and a processor and display to control the FPA, and display an IR spectrograph. Fiber-optic coupling can be used to allow remote sensing. Portability, reliability, and ruggedness is enhanced due to the no-moving part construction. Applications include determining time-resolved orientation and characteristics of materials, including polymer monolayers.

Abstract: An apparatus and method capable of providing spatially multiplexed IR spectral information simultaneously in real-time for multiple samples or multiple spatial areas of one sample using IR absorption phenomena requires no moving parts or Fourier Transform during operation, and self-compensates for background spectra and degradation of component performance over time. IR spectral information and chemical analysis of the samples is determined by using one or more IR sources, sampling accessories for positioning the samples, optically dispersive elements, a focal plane array (FPA) arranged to detect the dispersed light beams, and a processor and display to control the FPA, and display an IR spectrograph. Fiber-optic coupling can be used to allow remote sensing. Portability, reliability, and ruggedness is enhanced due to the no-moving part construction. Applications include determining time-resolved orientation and characteristics of materials, including polymer monolayers.

Abstract: An apparatus and method capable of providing IR spectral information using IR absorption phenomena requires no moving parts or Fourier Transform during operation. IR spectral information and chemical analysis of a sample in a sample containing functional groups is determined by using an IR source, a sampling accessory for positioning the sample volume, an optically dispersive element, a focal plane array (FPA) arranged to detect the dispersed light beam, and a processor and display to control the FPA, and display an IR spectrograph. Fiber-optic coupling allows remote sensing, and portability, reliability, and ruggedness is enhanced due to the no-moving part construction. Use of the apparatus and method has broad industrial and environmental application, including measurement of thickness and chemical composition of various films, coatings, and liquids, and may also be used in real-time sensing of hazardous materials, including chemical and biological warfare agents.

Abstract: An apparatus and method capable of providing IR spectral information using IR absorption phenomena requires no moving parts or Fourier Transform during operation. IR spectral information and chemical analysis of a sample in a sample containing functional groups is determined by using an IR source, a sampling accessory for positioning the sample volume, an optically dispersive element, a focal plane array (FPA) arranged to detect the dispersed light beam, and a processor and display to control the FPA, and display an IR spectrograph. Fiber-optic coupling allows remote sensing, and portability, reliability, and ruggedness is enhanced due to the no-moving part construction. Use of the apparatus and method has broad industrial and environmental application, including measurement of thickness and chemical composition of various films, coatings, and liquids, and may also be used in real-time sensing of hazardous materials, including chemical and biological warfare agents.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the fabrication of elastomeric replicas or stamps of surfaces from a stamp master, wherein the master has geometrical features below 100 &mgr;m. The elastomeric stamps of the present invention are prepared from injection-molded plastic stamp masters. The stamps are used to replicate the surfaces or patterns of the stamp master on a substrate using soft lithography techniques.

Abstract: This is a device that enables one to control the translation and rotation of an element relative to a light beam. The device has a rotatable member having a plurality of position-identifying circumferentially spaced openings therein as well as an aperture for the transmission of a light beam. The rotatable member is associated with translation means and rotating means. In a preferred embodiment the rotatable member is remotely controlled with a computer.