Abstract: Disclosed is a method for fabricating a wearable hydrogel glucose sensor, belonging to the technical field of biomedical sensing, including using polyacrylamide hydrogel as a basic material, preparing a hydrogel film by adding with phenylboronic acid group capable of recognizing glucose molecules, and carrying out grating writing on the hydrogel film in a femtosecond laser direct writing mode to obtain the wearable hydrogel glucose sensor. The hydrogel film combines with glucose and expands linearly, which makes the grating period and effective refractive index change. The quantitative measurement of glucose is realized by detecting the spatial position of diffraction band and the change of diffraction power intensity.

Abstract: The present invention provides an integrated system of moisture removal, air purification, and air ventilation of the process air while some of the energy and resources required for operation of the system are self-sustained, or in some aspects the present system is self-regenerated such as heating and cooling of air and water exchanged among various elements/modules/members within the system or between the system and the surroundings, such that it becomes an all-time and all-round air dehumidifier, purifier and ventilator. Related method for removing air moisture from the surroundings using the present system is also provided.

Abstract: Received is a main program representing one Engineering Design Optimization Problem (EDOP), the EDOP including polynomial terms with product values. A number (N) of available parallel processors for parallel processing are identified. The main program is partitioned into N subprograms, N being a positive integer greater than one. The N subprograms have fewer overlapping product values between them compared to existing solutions, and the partitioning is prime-number based. Each of the available parallel processors then independently solve a unique subprogram of the N subprograms, resulting in N unique solutions. A best solution is automatically chosen from among the N unique solutions and the best solution is automatically applied to the EDOP.

Abstract: A method of making a magnetically-drivable microrobot that is suitable for carrying and delivering cells includes photo-curing a photo-curable material composition to form a body of the magnetically-drivable microrobot. The photo-curable material composition includes a degradable component, a structural component, a magnetic component, and a photo-curing facilitation composition including a photoinitiator component and a photosensitizer component.

Abstract: Methods for preparation of surfactant-free ultra-small spinel ternary metal oxide nanoparticles are provided. A method comprises dissolving first and second metal salts in deionized water in a specific mole ratio to form a solution comprising two different metal ions, applying a coprecipitation method and adding an alkaline solution to the solution to form a colloidal suspension, wherein a colloid of the colloidal suspension is a metal hydroxide, adjusting the amount and the addition rate of the alkaline solution to form a specific structure of metal hydroxide precipitate; washing and drying the metal hydroxide to form a structured metal hydroxide powder, and applying a calcination method to the structured metal hydroxide powder to form a surfactant-free spinel-type (AB2O4) ternary metal oxide, wherein A and B each respectively comprise a metal element.

Abstract: Ultra-stable aqueous foam comprises hydrophobic silica particles residing within bubbles in an aqueous solution of a hydrophilic polymer, a protein, or aqueous dispersible colloidal particles. The combination of the hydrophobic and hydrophilic components stabilizes the foam interfaces to result in long term stability of the foam. The foams can be crosslinked to stable monolithic foams and used for structural foams, coatings, and thermal insulating for construction.

Abstract: An interactive wearable device includes a ring body and a detector. The ring body includes a top insulating layer, a bottom insulating layer, and an intermediate insulating layer disposed in between the top and the bottom insulating layers. The detector includes a receiving electrode layer disposed in between the top and the intermediate insulating layers, a transmitting electrode layer disposed in between the intermediate and the bottom insulating layers, and a ground electrode layer embedding in the bottom insulating layer and electrically coupled to an electrical ground. The receiving electrode layer has a plurality of receiving electrode portions separated from each other and arranged in a matrix and along a curve path. The interactive wearable device is configured to analyze the movement event at least according to a variation of a data set in response to the movement event, measured by receiving electrode portions.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for forming piezoelectric films on surfaces of arbitrary morphologies. The method includes providing a sol for forming the piezoelectric film; spraying the sol onto the surface thereby forming a liquid film containing the sol on the surface; wiping the liquid film with a flattening tool for flattening the liquid film; drying the flattened liquid film thereby forming a gel layer; and annealing the gel layer thereby forming the piezoelectric film. The piezoelectric films with high uniformity and desired thickness can be formed on curved and even wrinkled surfaces by the present method.

Abstract: The present invention provides wideband millimeter-wave SIW-fed FPC filtering antenna comprising a partially reflecting surface (PRS) and a filtering source configured to radiate a millimeter-wavelength electromagnetic wave. The filtering source comprises a conductive reflecting plane configured to work with the PRS to form a Fabry-Perot cavity; radiating elements including a pair of shorted radiating patches electrically connected to a ground plane through a pair of probes; and a substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) feeding structure coupled to the pair of radiating patches through a coupling aperture. The SIW-fed FPC filtering antenna has the advantages of wider bandwidth, higher directivity/gain, reduced structural complexity, compact size and appropriate feeding type for millimeter-wave applications.

Abstract: A wearable device that is capable of harvesting kinetic energy from wrist motions using piezoelectric and/or electromagnetic energy harvesters is disclosed. A first part of the device is worn on the user and second part of the device is movable against the second part to accentuate the frequency of movements.

Abstract: A nano scale robotic system for single cell DNA sequencing of a strand of DNA positioned on a slide utilizes an atomic force microscope (AFM) having an end effector in the form of a cantilever with a tip. The AFM causes its cantilever tip to scan over the base pairs of the DNA strand. A pair of spaced-apart electrodes at the tip makes contact with opposite sides of the DNA strand and the current between bases of the DNA strand is measured by a current measurement system connected to the electrodes. An artificial intelligence-based data analytic system determines the DNA sequence based on the current from the current measuring system. The AFM tip is guided over the DNA strand by comparing compressed desired intensity local scan images and compressed actual intensity local scan images and using the difference to control the location of the tip.

Abstract: The present invention provides an aptamer that specifically hinds CD44, composition comprising the aptamer, as well as methods for detecting CD44 and for targeted delivery to CD44-expressing cells.

Abstract: It provides novel fusion proteins that are capable of self-crystallization and exhibit improved physical properties such as enhanced tolerance to organic solvents and increased thermostability. Polynucleotides encoding the fusion proteins as well as methods of making and using such fusion proteins are also described.

Abstract: A blocking signal cancellation low noise amplifier system includes a first low noise amplifier, a second low noise amplifier, a blocking signal extraction and bias generation circuit, a bias switching circuit, and a bias switching signal generating circuit. The first low noise amplifier is used for dynamic input matching, and the first low noise amplifier receives an input signal and outputs it after amplifying. The blocking signal extraction and bias generation circuit is used to extract a blocking signal from the output signal of the first low noise amplifier, and output a DC voltage signal. The bias switching circuit is used to switch the first low noise amplifier between a blocking mode and a small signal mode. The bias switching signal generating circuit is used to compare the DC bias voltage signal VB2 with a preset reference voltage signal Vref.

Abstract: An ultra-strong, ductile and cheap medium manganese steel comprises in percentage by mass: 8-12 wt. % Mn, 0.2-0.4 wt. % C, 1-3 wt. % Al, 0.05-0.39 wt. % V, and the balance of Fe. The manufacturing method of the ultra-strong and ductile medium manganese steel includes the steps of: (a) hot rolling an ingot at 900-1200° C. into a steel sheet (or plate, or bar); (b) air cooling or water quenching the steel sheet to room temperature or warm rolling temperature, (c) warm rolling the steel sheet at 350-750° C. with 30-60% thickness reduction; (d) air cooling or water quenched the steel sheet to room temperature; (e) annealing the steel sheet at 600-650° C. for 0-300 minutes and (f) air cooling or water quenched the sheet to room temperature.

Abstract: A bilayer passive film structure of a substrate, comprising an inner layer comprising an oxide of a first element, and an outer layer comprising an oxide of a second element, wherein the passivation potential of the first element is lower than the passivation potential of the second element, and the passivation potential of the second element is lower than the transpassivation potential of the first element. Also a method of forming the above bilayer passive film structure of a substrate, comprising: treating a surface of the substrate containing Cr and Mn. Further a stainless steel comprises, in percentage by weight, 15%<Cr<22%, 13%<Mn<23%, 12%<Ni<23%, and 0.5%<Si<4%, wherein Si can be replaced with an equal amount of Al, Ti or V.

Abstract: Denoising of magnetic resonance (MR) images can be achieved using a deep neural network and an image acquisition process that uses multi-NEX (Number of Excitations) or multi-NSA (Number of Signal Averages or Acquisitions) to produce two or more complex-valued images of a region of interest. The set of images resulting from the image acquisition process can be input to a deep neural network that has been trained to produce a denoised MR image from a set of multi-NEX or multi-NSA images. The deep neural network can be implemented using a two-dimensional or three-dimensional convolutional neural network to match the dimensionality of the input images. Training of the denoising neural network can use real MR images.

Abstract: The invention relates to energy-resolved X-ray imaging apparatus and method. The present disclosure provides an apparatus for electromagnetic irradiation imaging. The apparatus includes one or more pixels, each pixel including a plurality of detector cells arranged in a row extending in a row direction. The row is configured to receive photons at an incident surface at one end of the row, and the received photons penetrate the plurality of detector cells in the row direction. The plurality of detector cells of the same row are configured to generate respective signals that collectively indicate an energy-resolved spectral profile of the photons based on the penetration of the photons into the row of detector cells.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for enhancing antigen-specific immunity in a subject are provided. Pharmaceutical compositions including an effective amount of an immuno-stimulatory cardiolipin as an adjuvant in combination with an antigen and methods of use thereof for stimulating protective immunity to the antigen in a subject are provided. Administration of the combination of the antigen and cardiolipin adjuvant is effective to enhance antigen-specific immunity in a subject to a greater degree than administering to the subject the same amount of the antigen alone. The active agents can be administered together or separately. In preferred forms the cardiolipin is cardiolipin species (C18:2)4. In preferred forms the antigen is formulated as a vaccine, such as an influenza vaccine. A preferred amount by weight of each reagent is about 10-40% cardiolipin to about 90-60% antigen(s), inclusive.

Abstract: The subject invention pertains to a pneumatic, hydraulic, or otherwise inflatable or pressurized artificial muscle. Also provided are methods for making, controlling, and using such a muscle useful for prostheses, movement aids, or wearable robots to assist the movement of impaired subjects or to improve the function of healthy subjects. Muscles can be made by densely winding tension wires around pressurized expandable tubes having one or more specific geometric shapes removed from the tube cross section. The curve of output characteristics such as output force vs. contraction ratio can be adjustable by changing parameters of the sectional view of the tube. The appropriate shape of tube and related output characteristics can be selected according to application area or body part to be assisted to achieve the most flexible and optimal design for one or more muscle groups.