Abstract: Shape-programmable liquid crystal elastomers. The shape-programmable liquid crystal elastomers being synthesized by filling an alignment cell with liquid crystal monomers. The liquid crystal monomers align to a surface of the alignment cell and then are polymerized with a dithiol chain transfer agent. The alignment cell is configured to impose a director orientation on a portion of the shape-programmable liquid crystal elastomer. For some embodiments, liquid crystal elastomer laminates are prepared by arranging a plurality of liquid crystal elastomers such that a director orientation of each liquid crystal elastomer of the plurality is in registered alignment with an adjacent liquid crystal elastomer of the plurality. The arrangement is secured and the plurality of liquid crystal elastomers cured.

Abstract: The invention relates to nanohybrids that are gold nanorod J-aggregates having a broadened surface plasmonic resonance band, processes of making such gold nanorod J-aggregates and products comprising such gold nanorod J-aggregates. Such gold nanorod J-aggregates exhibit broad localized surface plasmonic reasonable range from 800 nm to 2000 nm.

Abstract: A process for the microfluidic electrochemical synthesis of geminal dipseudohalide or halide-pseudohalide compounds comprising the steps of pumping a solution comprising a compound of Formula I into a microfluidic electrochemical reactor in the presence of a base, one of a halide or pseudohalide salt (MY), and a mediator; applying an electrical current through the microfluidic electrochemical reactor; and performing oxidative addition to create a geminal dipseudohalide or halide-pseudohalide compound of the general Formula II

Abstract: An adapter for attaching an accessory is provided. The adapter includes a wearable component mounting portion and an accessory mounting platform. The accessory mounting platform includes a first aperture at a first end of the accessory mounting platform, the first aperture being configured to receive a first fastener. The accessory mounting platform further includes a second aperture at the first end of the accessory mounting platform and spaced from the first aperture along a first axis, the second aperture being configured to receive a second fastener. The accessory mounting platform further includes a third aperture at a second end of the accessory mounting platform, the third aperture configured to receive a third fastener. The first aperture, the second aperture, and the third aperture are shaped to enable mounting of a accessory at a plurality of cant angles along a second axis, the second axis being perpendicular to the first axis.

Abstract: An apparatus that includes a conformable and compressible nasopharyngeal tampon and a method for delivering the tampon to an anatomical cavity of a patient. The tampon is configured to collect and remove posterior nasal fluid from a patient. The tampon may be compressably and slidably disposed in a longitudinally extending deployment tube having mutually opposed proximal and distal ends. A longitudinal plunger is slidably disposed within and extends out of the proximal end of the deployment tube. The distal end of the plunger is disposed in choanae and/or nasopharynx of the patient. Upon manual actuation, the plunger is activated to deliver the tampon to the nasopharyngeal region of a mammalian patient. Optionally, positioning strings may be joined to the tampon, to fine tune positioning of the tampon within the choanae and/or nasopharynx.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring isometric muscle strength and dynamic strength when a limb is fixed, wherein the apparatus comprises: an attachment assembly for releasably attaching the apparatus to a support frame of an item of exercise equipment; a strain gauge configured to measure compressive or tensional forces; and a connection assembly for releasably connecting the strain gauge to a moveable component (e.g. barbell) of the exercise equipment wherein when connected makes the component immoveable such that forces exerted on the formerly moveable component require isometric muscle contraction or dynamic contraction while the limb is fixed that can be measured by the strain gauge.

Abstract: The present invention includes systems and methods for continuous fracturing operations across a multichannel fracturing configuration. To swap a first well for a second well while continuously pumping water and/or frac fluid through the fracturing system, the second well may be initially prepared through a pressure equalization process. Once the second well is equalized and open, the first well may be sequentially closed and depressurized. Thus, the first well is swapped for the second well while the water and/or frac fluid continuously flows through the system. A conditional flow control valve may be used to sequentially open and/or close the flow of frac fluid through the frac manifold.

Abstract: An electrode comprising a conductive textile structure having an inner surface that is connected to one of an electrical power supply and an electrical ground; the conductive textile structure having an outer surface, the outer surface comprising a carbon nanotube (CNT) fiber fabric fixed thereon, the CNT fiber fabric having continuous CNT fiber on the outer surface, wherein the CNT fiber fabric comprises at least one of a CNT fiber, and is at least one of knitted, woven, sewn, and embroidered. The continuous CNT fiber may be a yarn, ribbon, or thread. The CNT fiber fabric includes at least one face having a looped or interlaced structure made from the continuous CNT fiber. The CNT fiber yarn, ribbon, or thread is knitted, woven, sewn, and/or embroidered so that at least one surface comprises a textile made with CNT fiber yarns, ribbons, or threads.

Abstract: A vascular access disassembling needle assembly is provided that enables rapid insertion of a guide wire into the needle and subsequent rapid removal of the access needle off the guide wire by facile disassembly of the needle. The disassembling needle assembly includes a needle portion wherein the needle breaks apart by splitting along at least one seam that extends from the proximal to the distal end to allow removal of the guide wire. Various mechanical features are described that can facilitate the separation of the needle body along at least one seam. Once one or more seams are separated, the needle body may be removed from the guide wire without the need to withdraw the needle along the length of the guide wire, which permits preloading of expanders and other medical devices onto the guidewire.

Abstract: Endovascular variable aortic control catheters (EVACC) are provided that are adapted to augment upstream blood pressure and regulate downstream blood flow for patients in shock. The EVACC devices provide improved treatment for truncal wounds, which may be used for example on a battlefield, thereby increasing survivability of injured soldiers. The devices are a catheter-based system having a proximal hand piece for controlled deployment of the device through a delivery sheath. A collapsible, wire framework supports an expandable and collapsible occlusion barrier. The wire basket and occlusion barrier expand to fit within the lumen of the aorta. Various movable elements are used to adjust an adjustable passageway to regulate controlled anterograde blood flow.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method and device for dynamic recognition of emotion based on facial muscle movement monitoring, including: obtaining muscle movement data on one side and continuous frame images on the other side; obtaining multiple emotional states related to emotions, associating each emotional state with its corresponding continuous frame images, associating each emotional state with the muscle movement data corresponding to the continuous frame images at the same location and at the same time, to form a training set, building an emotion recognition model; inputting the muscle movement data and continuous frame images obtained in real time into the emotion recognition model to obtain a corresponding emotional state. This method builds an emotion recognition model through muscle movement data and continuous frame image, and uses motion data to make up for the parts of small action images that cannot be collected, thereby obtaining accurate emotion detection results.

Abstract: A method for triggering switches in a defined order comprises providing two or more PCSS devices and a compatible optical trigger; projecting a beam from the optical trigger; splitting the optical beam into two or more paths toward the two or more PCSS devices, wherein each of the two or more paths has a different length such that each of the two or more PCSS devices are triggered with defined time differentials. Each of the defined path lengths may be determined with the speed of light from the optical trigger along the two or more paths in order to achieve the desired switch-timing differential. The optical path consists of at least one of an optical fiber, a mirror arrangement, and a lens arrangement. Path lengths may be controlled by different fiber lengths, and transmitting a beam through a solid having a higher index of refraction than other beam path(s).

Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatus for measuring fuel thermal stability, deposit formation rate, and in-situ reactivity via optical methods and as well as methods of making and using same. Applicants' apparatus can deliver the rate and amount of degradation as well as the quantifying and qualifying the chemical species in the fuel on a real time basis during a test. As a result, Applicants' apparatus provides significantly improved performance over the current apparatuses.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method and system for repairing a blade for a turbomachine that has been damaged due to foreign object impact. Machine learning algorithms are used to determine an amount of material to be removed from one or more damage locations and determine an amount of material addition to the damaged portion(s) and/or at other locations on the blade to keep the natural frequencies of the repaired blade within design limits during operation.

Abstract: A flexible implement positioner that is lockably installable around abutting flanges of abutting tubes enables an implement, such as a temperature gauge, to be desirably positioned near the joint between the abutting flanges and enable the implement to monitor the joint between the flanges. The implement positioner includes a plurality of body segments hingedly connected to one another in an end to end relationship, with one end including a lock body segment and the opposite end including a lock body segment having a lock lever hingedly mounted thereon, the lock lever positionable in engagement with the lock body segment and pivotal to lockably engage the lock lever when installing the implement positioner on one of the flanges.

Abstract: A method for data communication between a first node and a second node includes forming one or more redundancy messages from data messages at the first node using an error correcting code and transmitting first messages from the first node to the second node over a data path, the transmitted first messages including the data messages and the one or more redundancy messages. Second messages are received at the first node from the second node, which are indicative of: (i) a rate of arrival at the second node of the first messages, and (ii) successful and unsuccessful delivery of the first messages. A transmission rate limit and a window size are maintained according to the received second messages. Transmission of additional messages from the first node to the second node is limited according to the maintained transmission rate limit and window size.

Abstract: A scramjet engine with a novel isolator is disclosed herein. The scramjet includes an air inlet configured to receive and direct air into the engine and a combustor operable to receive air from the air inlet and combust fuel therein as is conventional. An isolator is positioned between the air inlet and the combustor. The isolator includes a primary flow path separated into a plurality of separate secondary flow channels formed therethrough. The smaller secondary flow channels prevent shockwaves from propagating upstream from the combustor to the inlet that can occur during some operating conditions of a supersonic combustion flow process.

Abstract: A shaking bullet chain structure of a toy gun is provided. The toy gun has a gun body and an action. The structure includes a fixing base, a slider, a bullet chain, and a sway assembly. The fixing base is disposed beside the gun body and includes a frame and a cover. The slider is movably connected to the cover and is provided with a working trough. The bullet chain is hung on the fixing base and includes multiple bullets and a belt. One end of the sway assembly is pivoted to the frame, and another end is connected to an insert rod. The insert rod penetrates a bullet and the working trough. When the action reciprocates in the gun body, the action is configured to drives the slider to move therewith to further drive the bullet chain to shake by the working trough pushing the insert rod.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a solid-state battery that is based on a phthalocyanine solid-state electrolyte/anode connection that is chemically obtained. Such chemical connection process yields a solid electrolyte interphase that connects the solid-state battery's phthalocyanine solid-state electrolyte and anode. Unlike other processes for forming solid-state electrolyte/anode connections, the present chemical process does not require that solid-state electrolyte be ductile and flow under high pressure.