Invention Description Corrosion of steel in industrial environments such as oil and gas, water treatment, and marine systems leads to significant economic losses and infrastructure damage. Many conventional corrosion inhibitors are petroleum-based, non-biodegradable, and pose environmental and safety concerns. Additionally, these chemicals may not...

Invention Description Scrap tire rubber and plastic waste present significant environmental challenges, including degradation as well as landfill overflow, necessitating innovative solutions to repurpose these materials while mitigating pollution. At the same time, conventional construction materials such as asphalt and concrete face durability issues,...

Invention Description Traditional hot-mix asphalt requires high temperatures for production and application, leading to significant energy consumption and environmental impact. In addition, maintaining durability and moisture resistance in harsh climates—especially with exposure to deicing salts—remains a persistent challenge for roadway...

Invention Description Diet profoundly impacts our nutritional landscape, public health, and disease susceptibility. In the gut, nutrients directly influence how intestinal stem cells (ISCs) function and maintain homeostasis. Yet, the connection between metabolic processes and transcriptional regulation are poorly defined. As a long-lived population,...

Invention Description Because of their insulating and porous physical properties, polyurethanes are excellent materials for use in cushions and mattresses, insulation, packaging, acoustic absorbers and more. However, polyurethane synthesis requires catalysts, isocyanates and other agents which can be toxic and release concerning VOCs. In addition,...

Invention Description Chronic and slow-healing wounds, particularly in diabetic and obese patients, pose a significant global, medical, and economic burden due to poor healing outcomes and limited effective treatments. Post-operative complications such as intestinal adhesions further complicate recovery and emphasize the need for targeted wound therapies. ...

Background Understanding the mechanical properties of biologically relevant soft materials is increasingly important for developing a comprehensive knowledge of the underlying injury mechanism and emerging biomedical applications such as tissue regeneration, and shockwave lithotripsy. Soft materials, which are composed of a variety of substances such...

Dermatology and beauty product research and development and testing has been limited to animal testing, which in some countries has been banned. Because of increasing controversial issues surrounding animal testing of these dermatology or beauty products, there has been increasing interest in developing in-vivo like in-vitro models for skin research. ...

Pain is estimated to affect about 30% of the world’s population and treatment is challenging because of issues with addiction and withdrawal which accompany many current analgesics. Human TRPV1 is a widely expressed nociceptor and is a desirable target to modulate diverse human pathophysiologies, including pain, obesity, and diabetes, among others....

Intra-abdominal adhesions, also known as postoperative peritoneal adhesions (PPA) remain a challenging issue in the US healthcare system. It is estimated that over 90% of gastrointestinal (GI) surgical procedures result in PPA formation, regardless of the location or surgical technique used. PPAs can also develop in response to tissue damage caused...