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Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) were established to further the education of Black Americans and have a long history of service to minority, first-generation, and low-income students. HBCUs are also struggling financially, due to federal and state underinvestment, small endowments, low alumni giving, and decreasing enrollment. Financial constraints not only have a direct impact on physical facilities and resources, but also on human resources. Faculty at HBCUs are tasked with heavy teaching loads and, in research-focused institutions, high research expectations, especially in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. However, HBCUs can provide only limited support for these research endeavors; thus, faculty at these institutions need to pursue external grants and contracts to support their research. In the present study, we surveyed faculty at five research-focused HBCUs to determine the major difficulties they encounter when applying for external funding (barriers) and the things their institution could do to facilitate this process (facilitators). Time constraints and difficulties with internal functioning and policies emerged as the most relevant barriers, whereas providing training and mentoring and improving internal functioning and policies emerged as the most relevant facilitators. The PATHs program is proposed as a model of faculty support anchored around mentoring and institutional awareness, and which could be adapted to different institutions to increase their faculty’s success in attaining external funding. 

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) were established to further the education of Black Americans and have a long history of service to minority, first-generation, and low-income students. HBCUs are also struggling financially, due to federal and state underinvestment, small endowments, low alumni giving, and decreasing enrollment. Financial constraints not only have a direct impact on physical facilities and resources, but also on human resources. Faculty at HBCUs are tasked with heavy teaching loads and, in research-focused institutions, high research expectations, especially in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. However, HBCUs can provide only limited support for these research endeavors; thus, faculty at these institutions need to pursue external grants and contracts to support their research. In the present study, we surveyed faculty at five research-focused HBCUs to determine the major difficulties they encounter when applying for external funding (barriers) and the things their institution could do to facilitate this process (facilitators). Time constraints and difficulties with internal functioning and policies emerged as the most relevant barriers, whereas providing training and mentoring and improving internal functioning and policies emerged as the most relevant facilitators. The PATHs program is proposed as a model of faculty support anchored around mentoring and institutional awareness, and which could be adapted to different institutions to increase their faculty’s success in attaining external funding. 

Bismuth ferrite (BiFeO3) nanocomposites were synthesized using a novel nano-agitator bead milling method followed by calcination. Bismuth oxide and iron oxide nanoparticles were mixed in a stoichiometric ratio and milled for 3 h and calcined at 650 °C in air. X-ray diffraction with Rietveld refinement, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy techniques were used to elucidate the structure of BiFeO3. The particle diameter was found to be ∼17 nm. Magnetic and electrical measurements were performed, and these results were compared with those of similar methods. Mostly, BiFeO3 was obtained with minor secondary phase formation. The resulting powder was weakly ferromagnetic with a remnant magnetization of 0.078 emu/g. This can be attributed to residual strain and defects introduced during the milling process. Electrical testing revealed a high leakage current density that is typical of undoped bismuth ferrite. 

This paper describes the 3D printing of a ternary composite of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and nanoparticles of iron oxide and barium titanate. The composite was printed using a commercially available 3D printer. Thermal curing of the composite during printing allowed for overall low process times of a few minutes. Scanning electron microscopy indicated uniform composite layers. The resulting composite films showed ferromagnetic behaviour, and applicability in magnetic actuation and piezoelectric energy harvesting. 

Semi-crystalline carbon biochar is derived from spent coffee grounds (SCG) by a controlled pyrolysis process at high temperature/pressure conditions. Obtained biochar is characterized using XRD, SEM, and TEM techniques. Biochar particles are in the micrometer range with nanostructured morphologies. The SCG biochar thus produced is used as reinforcement in epoxy resin to 3 D print samples using the direct-write (DW) method with 1 and 3 wt. % loadings. Rheology results show that the addition of biochar makes resin viscous, enabling it to be stable soon after print; however, it could also lead to clogging of resin in printer head. The printed samples are characterized for chemical, thermal and mechanical properties using FTIR, TGA, DMA and flexure tests. Storage modulus improved with 1 wt. % biochar addition up to 27.5% and flexural modulus and strength increased up to 55.55% and 43.30% respectively. However, with higher loading of 3 wt. % both viscoelastic and flexural properties of 3D printed samples drastically reduced thus undermining the feasibility of 3D printing biochar reinforced epoxies at higher loadings. 

Abstract Forcespinning technique was used to fabricate sub-micron size polycaprolactone (PCL) fibers. Forcespinning method uses centrifugal forces for the generation of fibers unlike the electrospinning method which uses electrostatic force. PCL has been extensively used as scaffolds for cell regeneration, substrates for tissue engineering and in drug delivery systems. The aim of this study is to qualitatively analyze the force spun fiber mats and investigate the effect of the spinneret rotational speed on the fiber morphology, thermal and mechanical properties. The extracted fibers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy differential scanning calorimetry, tensile testing and dynamic mechanical analysis. The results showed that higher rotational speeds produced uniform fibers with less number of beads. The crystallinity of the fibers decreased with increase in rotational speeds. The Young’s modulus of the forcespun fibers was found to be in the range of 3.5 to 6 MPa. Storage and loss moduli decreased with the increase in the fiber diameter. The fibers collected at farther distance from spinneret exhibited optimal mechanical properties compared to the fibers collected at shorter distances. This study will aid in extracting fibers with uniform geometries and lower beads to achieve the desired nanofiber drug release properties.