Abstract:
The United States faces significant environmental burden to treat and transport ˜0.61 billion kg of defective tomatoes (culled tomatoes) every year. The present disclosure provides for the treatment and processing of culled tomatoes in microbial-electrochemical systems, using the microbial fuel cell as a model reactor. The fundamental differences between the long-term oxidative behavior of unprocessed culled tomatoes compared to the three readily soluble substrates (dextrose, acetate, and wastewater) are disclosed. AC electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analyses indicate the influential impedance contributions of the peel & seed to the cull oxidation. Cyclic voltammetry tests indicate that the indigenous redox-active pigments in the cull influence the faradaic processes involved in the cull oxidation.
Abstract:
The invention relates to electrospun three-dimensional (3D) nanofibrous scaffolds (with controllable porosities as high as about 96%) and methods of preparing the same. The electrospun 3D scaffolds possess interconnected and hierarchically structured pores with sizes ranging from tens of nanometers to hundreds of micrometers. In embodiments, the 3D scaffolds can be biocompatible and/or biodegradable. In some embodiments, the 3D scaffolds can be conductive. In some embodiments, the 3D scaffolds can contain bioactive species.
Abstract:
The present disclosure provides a simple method to assemble a highly stretchable and highly sensitive strain sensor. Carbon nanofibers prepared by electrospinning of PAN followed by stabilization and carbonization, are sandwiched in two layers of elastomer PU. The CNFs/PU strain sensor shows large strain range of 300%, high sensitivity with gauge factor up to 72.5, and superior stability and durability during 8000 cycles of stretch/release. These parameters meet the intended objectives of the present disclosure and distinguish the present disclosure from the piezoresistive strain sensors reported in the art. Additionally, the CNFs/PU strain sensor shows fast, stable and reproducible responses following the bending movement of fingers, wrists, and elbows. A flexible CNFs/PU strain sensor with the properties disclosed herein can have broad applications in wearable devices for human motion monitoring.
Abstract:
The present invention provides formulations comprising polymers and therapeutics and methods for their manufacture. The present invention also provides medical devices coated with such formulations and methods for their manufacture. The drug-loaded polymer formulations, solutions, and films tailor the drug release characteristics for medical devices.
Abstract:
An electrode comprises carbon nanoparticles and at least one of metal particles, metal oxide particles, metalloid particles and/or metalloid oxide particles. A surfactant attaches the carbon nanoparticles and the metal particles, metal oxide particles, metalloid particles and/or metalloid oxide particles to form an electrode composition. A binder binds the electrode composition such that it can be formed into a film or membrane. The electrode has a specific capacity of at least 450 mAh/g of active material when cycled at a charge/discharge rate of about 0.1C.
Abstract:
Methods and materials relating to a medicament preparation comprising a curcuminoid component and a euradit component provided as a curcuminoid-eudragit complex, which enhance the bioavailability of the curcumin component and are useful for the treatment of various diseases including cancer, neurodegeneration, inflammation, and immunodeficiency. In some aspects, the curcuminoid component comprises curcumin to prepare a curcumin-eudragit complex and a medicament comprising curcumin-eudragit complexes.
Abstract:
The present invention is a nanoparticle mixture or suspension or nanofluid comprising nonmagnetically sensitive nanoparticles, magnetically sensitive nanoparticles, and surfactant(s). The present invention also relates to methods of preparing and using the same.
Abstract:
A method of synthesizing mechanically resilient titanium carbide (TiC) nano-fibrous felts comprising continuous nanofibers or nano-ribbons with TiC crystallites embedded in carbon matrix, comprising: (a) electrospinning a spin dope for making precursor nanofibers with diameters less than 0.5 μm; (b) overlaying the nanofibers to produce a nano-fibrous mat (felt); and then (c) heating the nano-felts first at a low temperature, and then at a high temperature for making electrospun continuous nanofibers or nano-ribbons with TiC crystallites embedded in carbon matrix; and (d) chlorinating the above electrospun nano-felts at an elevated temperature to remove titanium for producing carbon-derived-carbon (CDC) nano-fibrous felt with high specific surface areas.
Abstract:
The disclosed invention is related to microwave radiation as a method for the synthesis metal-ion solid-state electrolytes from the group known as antiperovskites or inverse perovskites, and more specifically doped or andoped antiperovskites and the use of microwave radiation to synthesize solid-state oxyhalide electrolytes or their doped derivatives with enhanced metal-ion conductivity resulting in higher purity at a lower cost and applicable for large-scale commercial applications.
Abstract:
A custom platform is developed that is capable of culturing endothelial cells three-dimensionally while inducing physiological stimuli on the cells. A model includes serum-free conditions, allowing more quantifiable angiogenesis studies that investigate the dose dependent effects of various growth factors. Angiogenesis plays a critical role during development, wound healing, and disease; therefore, further investigation of the pathway has broad implications. Also, the development of in vitro vascularized tissue models via angiogenesis provides the ability to investigate endothelial responses after exposure to nanoparticles and mechanisms of drug delivery.