Abstract: Multi-Mechanism Energy Harvesters (MMEHs) combining magnetostrictive and inductive mechanisms with a shape and size similar to an AA battery. Included are MMEHs with (a) an inductive mode: a cylindrical tube, a rod lengthwise within the tube, permanent magnets with opposing polarities at opposing ends of the tube, an annular oscillatory magnet in the tube and between the magnets and around the rod; and a primary coil around the tube and oscillatory magnet, such that relative movement between the magnet and coil induces electrical current in the coil; and (b) a magnetostrictive mode comprising: piezoelectric cymbal transducers on opposing ends of the tube and comprising a magnetostrictive material surrounded by a secondary coil, such that movement of the magnetostrictive material induces voltage in the secondary coil. During use, electrical energy can be harvested from the relative motion between the magnet and coil and from the magnetostrictive material.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide regioselectively substituted carbohydrate and polysaccharide derivatives, such as cellulose esters, and methods for preparing them. Particular methods of the invention include deacylation of esters using tetrabutylammonium fluoride to obtain selective substitution at desired hydroxyl position(s) of the ester. Preferred is deacylation of an ester, which shows selectivity for removal of acyl groups from the ester of the secondary alcohols at C-2 and C-3, and which affords cellulose-6-O-esters with high regioselectivity by a simple one-step process employing no protective groups. Inventive regioselectively substituted cellulose esters can be prepared by such methods to obtain esters with the following anhydroglucose repeating units: wherein R1, R2, and R3 are each independently chosen from a hydrogen atom, and, whether substituted or unsubstituted, branched or unbranched, an alkanoyl group, an aroyl group, and a heteroaroyl group.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the fields of chemistry and pharmaceuticals. Embodiments of the present invention provide transition metal complexes of amino acids. Transition metal complexes of embodiments of the invention according to Categories I, II, III, and/or IV may be used as antimicrobial, anti-malarial, and anti-cancer agents, as well as catalysts in chemical reactions. Such compounds of the invention are particularly useful for combating multi-drug resistance against a broad range of microbials (such as MRSA and mycobacteria), including gram positive and gram negative bacteria, as well as can be used as anti-cancer agents against bladder cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, rectal cancer, endometrial cancer, kidney cancer, leukemia, lung cancer, melanoma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, and thyroid cancer, to name a few.