Abstract: A copolymer composition that includes a silicone copolymer, methods of making the composition, and articles that include the composition, wherein the copolymer composition includes a silicone copolymer having a backbone composition that includes: silicone segments in an amount of 5 wt-% to 40 wt-%, based on the total weight of the silicone copolymer; hydrophilic segments in an amount of 40 wt-% to 75 wt-%, based on the total weight of the silicone copolymer; and reinforcing segments in an amount of 5 wt-% to 30 wt-%, based on the total weight of the silicone copolymer, wherein the reinforcing segments are derived from the reaction of one or more chain extenders with one or more multi-functional isocyanates, multi-functional carboxylic acids, multi-functional anhydrides, multi-functional esters, and/or multi-functional acid halides; wherein the silicone segments, hydrophilic segments, and reinforcing segments are connected through urea, urethane, amide, and/or oxamide linkages; wherein the hydrophilic segments

Abstract: A medical dressing that is highly flexible and conformable over skin, while maintaining strong adhesive securement to skin over extended periods of time. The dressing comprises a backing layer, support material, and a plurality of specifically placed slits in the support material, which allow for stretching and recovery of the backing layer.

Abstract: A hardcoat composition is described comprising urethane (meth)acrylate oligomer having a first functional groups; an acrylic polymer having second functional groups; wherein the first and second functional groups form a hydrogen bond; and silica nanoparticles. The hardcoat composition may be cured by actinic radiation, upon which the acrylic polymer may be removed by solvent extraction. Also described are articles comprising the cured hardcoat described herein disposed on a surface of a substrate and methods of making an article.

Abstract: Curable adhesive compositions are provided that can be cured using ultraviolet or visible light radiation. These curable adhesive compositions, which contain a curable (meth)acrylate copolymer, have a creep compliance that is less than 5(10?4) inverse Pascals at 25° C., a creep compliance that is greater than 1(10?3) inverse Pascals at 70° C., and a shear storage modulus greater than 40 kiloPascals when measured at 25° C. at a frequency of 1 radian/second.

Abstract: An air filter device including an air filter unit and an expansion unit. The air filter unit includes a filter media assembly maintained by an outer frame assembly. The outer frame assembly defines exterior length, width and depth dimensions of the air filter device in an initial state. The expansion unit provides one or more of an expanded length, width or depth in an expanded state of the air filter device. Portions or an entirety of the expansion unit can provided apart from the air filter unit in a deliver condition of the air filter device, or can be assembled to the air filter unit prior to delivery to a user. The air filter devices of the present disclosure are useful with a wide variety of differently size air handling devices, able to readily seal with an air handling device compartment via the expansion unit.

Abstract: Provided is a method of forming a fibrinogen hydrogel composition, the method including providing a fibrinogen hydrogel or precursor thereof, comprising fibrinogen hydrogel forming salt. The fibrinogen hydrogel forming salt concentration is greater than or equal to the threshold concentration to form a fibrinogen hydrogel. The method further includes denaturing the fibrinogen hydrogel such as by heating. The method optionally further includes combining the fibrinogen hydrogel with a carrier material. When present, the concentration of the carrier material typically ranges from 0.1 to about 50 wt.-%. The method further includes reducing the salt concentration below the threshold concentration to form a fibrinogen hydrogel.

Abstract: A top bracket for supporting a safety cable of a vertical climbing fall protection system, the bracket including a base plate and a pivotally deflectable plate that is integrally and pivotally connected to the base plate by a neck. The top bracket may also include an abutment plate with a forward abutment surface that is separated from a rearward abutment surface of the pivotally deflectable plate by an elongate gap.

Abstract: Controlled radical initiators that are ketone-containing dithiocarbamate or ketone-containing dithiocarbonate compounds are used to form polymeric materials that have a single polymeric block or multiple polymeric blocks. Reaction mixtures containing controlled radical initiators and various ethylenically unsaturated monomers, polymeric materials formed from the reaction mixtures, crosslinkable compositions containing the polymeric materials, crosslinked compositions formed from the crosslinkable compositions, and articles containing the polymeric materials, the crosslinkable compositions, or the crosslinked compositions are provided.

Abstract: A unitary lightguide including a first lightguide section extending along a first direction and a second lightguide section extending along a second direction is described. The second lightguide section includes a plurality of light extractors for extracting light that would otherwise propagate within and along the second lightguide section. The unitary lightguide includes a boundary region disposed between and joining the first and second lightguide sections and including a plurality of spaced apart light redirecting features. Each light redirecting feature includes a first portion extending substantially parallel to the first direction, and a second portion extending from proximate the first end of the first portion toward the second lightguide section and making an angle with the first portion in a range from about 10 degrees to about 70 degrees.

Abstract: A system and methods for sterilizing or disinfecting articles, particularly the hollow internal areas of medical instruments are disclosed. The system includes a plasma generator having an electrode, a shield, and a dielectric gap between the electrode and the shield. A source of electrical power is connected to the plasma generator for applying an electron energy density between the electrode and the shield. A source of gas comprising water vapor, oxygen and nitrogen provides a flow of gas between the electrode and the shield, to form a plasma containing acidic and/or oxidizing species. In the exemplary system, the temperature at the shield's surface is <150° C. when the electron energy density is >0.05 eV/molecule of the gas. Also disclosed is a method for disinfecting an article contaminated with a bio-film or spores, by exposing the contaminated article to the plasma for an exposure time sufficient to achieve at least 2-log10 reduction in colony forming units.

Abstract: A water storage tank is provided with a water storage bag for storing finished water and a space for accommodating squeezed water outside of the water storage bag. The water storage tank enables a rapid introduction of squeezed water by having a flow guiding groove connected in communication with the space for accommodating squeezed water. A hollow tube extending into the water storage bag is arranged to prevent distortion of the water storage bag, so as to completely squeeze the finished water out of the bag. A cylindrical middle part and two ellipsoidal or hemispherical ends of the water storage tank can improve the stress bearing performance of the water storage tank. A household water purifier using the water storage tank is also described.

Abstract: A headset communication device includes at least one processor configured to transmit, via a dedicated virtual communication channel of a wireless communication protocol, local beacon data to one or more remote headset communication devices within a work environment, to discover a remote headset communication device included in the one or more remote headset communication devices by receiving, via the dedicated virtual communication channel of the wireless communication protocol, remote beacon data that is transmitted by the remote headset communication device, to automatically synchronize, based on the remote beacon data, the headset communication device with the remote headset communication device, and, to transmit, via one or more additional virtual communication channels of the wireless communication protocol, local audio communication data to the one or more remote headset communication devices.

Abstract: There is provided a barrier film including a barrier layer having two opposing major surfaces, wherein the barrier layer comprise buckling deformations and non-buckling regions; a first organic layer in direct contact with one of the opposing major surfaces of the barrier layer; a second organic layer in direct contact with the other of the opposing major surfaces of the barrier layer; and a substrate in direct contact with the first organic layer or the second organic layer.

Abstract: An orthodontic bracket having a bracket pad (2), and a bracket body (1) extending from the bracket pad. The bracket has a slot (4) for receiving an orthodontic archwire. The slot has a proximal slot side face (4a), a distal side face (4b) and a slot ground face (4c). The bracket has at least one archwire support structure (5a, 5b) that forms a support surface (6a, 6b) in a plane of the slot ground face. The support surface is spaced from the slot ground face. The archwire support structure forms a flat and protrudes in a dimention generally parallel to a slot cross axis. The invention help maximizing the tip control in an orthodontic treatment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a kit of parts comprising Part A and Part B, Part A comprising: ascorbic acid, component(s) comprising an ascorbic acid moiety or derivative(s) thereof, optionally polymerizable component(s) without acidic moieties, optionally polymerizable component(s) with acidic moieties, and optionally filler(s), Part B comprising polymerizable component(s) without acidic moieties, polymerizable component(s) with acidic moieties, transition metal component(s), organic peroxide(s), and optionally filler(s), The invention is also directed to a redox initiator system comprising ascorbic acid, component(s) comprising an ascorbic acid moiety or derivative(s) thereof, transition metal component(s), preferably comprising a copper or iron ion containing salt, organic peroxide(s), preferably comprising a hydroperoxide or di-peroxide. The kit of parts and redox initiator system are particularly useful in the dental field.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an unsaturated fluorinated ether or amine compound of formula (I) with low global warming potential and method of making the compound (I), where RH1 is and RH2 are independently selected from H or CH3, wherein when RH1 is CH3 then RH2 is H and when RH2 is CH3, then RH1 is H; X is O or N and when X is O, then n is 1 and Rf is a linear or branched perfluorinated alkyl group comprising 1-10 carbon atoms and optionally comprising at least one catenated O or N atom; X is N, then n is 2 and (i) each Rf is independently selected from a linear or branched perfluorinated alkyl group comprising 1-8 carbon atoms and optionally comprising at least one catenated O or N atom, or (ii) the two Rf's are bonded together to form a ring structure optionally comprising at least one catenated O or N atom, wherein the ring of the ring structure consists of 5-7 atoms, no more than 10 carbon atoms, and is perfluorinated.

Abstract: Described herein is dioxolane-containing compound of formula (I) wherein (i) Rf1 and Rf2 are independently linear or branched perfluoroalkyi groups having with 1-8 carbon atoms and optionally comprise at least one catenated heteroatom, or (ii) Rf1 and Rf2 are bonded together to form a ring structure having 4-6 carbon atoms and optionally comprise one or more catenated heteroatoms; Rf2 is a linear or branched perfluoroalkyi groups having with 1-3 carbon atoms; and R4 and R5 are independently selected from H, F, Cl, a linear or branched alkyl group having 1-3 carbon atoms, optionally wherein the alkyl group comprises at least one of: fluorine, chlorine, a hydroxyl group, or a catenated heteroatom; for use in cleaning compositions, as an electrolyte solvent, as a heat transfer fluid, or a vapor phase soldering fluid.

Abstract: Described herein are cationic polymers having a plurality of quaternary amino groups, methods of making such polymers, and uses of such polymers as ion exchange membranes in electrochemical devices.

Abstract: An electrical connector provides electrical connection between first, second, and third printed circuit boards (PCBs). The connector defines spaced apart substantially parallel, first, second and third mating slots and includes a plurality of pairs of first terminals and a plurality of pairs of second terminals. For each pair of first terminals: the first terminals are electrically connected to each other; one of the first terminals is disposed in the first mating slot; and the other of the first terminals is disposed in the third mating slot. For each pair of second terminals: the second terminals are electrically isolated from each other; one of the second terminals is disposed in the second mating slot; and the other of the second terminals is disposed in the third mating slot.

Abstract: Connectors or connector assemblies include first and second latching members attached to a housing thereof for latching the connector to a mating connector are provided. When the connector mates with the mating connector in a first/second mating orientation, the first/second latching member, but not the second/first latching member latches the connector to the mating connector.