Abstract: A thermo-responsive hydrogel, including a biocompatible monomer and/or polymer having an amino acid side chain. The hydrogel is thermo-responsive at a physiological temperature, and can include, incorporate, or encapsulate a treatment agent, such as a drug composition, a biomolecule, and/or a nanoparticle. The hydrogel is useful in delivering the treatment agent. The hydrogel is in a first physicochemical state for administration to a mammal. The hydrogel is thermo-responsive at a physiological temperature of the mammal, and changes to a second physicochemical state that is more solid than the first physicochemical state. In the second physicochemical state the thermo-responsive hydrogel releases the treatment agent.

Abstract: Nanoparticles are added to a fluid containing a wetting agent and the fluid is pumped down a well to enhance wetting of solid surfaces in and around the well before pumping an acid solution down the well. After acid is pumped, a fluid containing nanoparticles and wetting agent is again pumped down the well, leading to improved flow capacity of the well.

Abstract: A process and system for continuous crystallization of a compound using antisolvent addition in which a solution is prepared with an organic compound and a solvent. An antisolvent is added to the solution in a continuous plug flow system comprising at least one process module. The antisolvent can be added in multiple addition points such that the overall amount of antisolvent added to the continuous plug flow reactor remains fixed. The multiple addition point technique provides every process module with an equal volume of antisolvent. Finally, crystals are recovered from the slurry upon exiting the system. Preferably, the mean crystal size is less than 100 ?m.

Abstract: Nanoparticles are added to a fluid containing a wetting agent to enhance wetting of solid surfaces in and around the well and removing a water-block from the well. The wetting agent and nanoparticles combine to produce a wetting of the surfaces of the rock that allows recovery of the excess water near the well (water block).

Abstract: A method in a data processing system and apparatus for organizing files, web pages, or web site members organized in a traditional first hierarchical file structure that is on a recordable medium of a data processing system. A user-defined metalabel is assigned to each of the electronic files, web pages, or web site members. The electronic files, web pages, or web site members are organized as a function of the metalabels into a second hierarchical file structure existing simultaneously with the first hierarchical file structure on the recordable medium of the data processing system. The files, web pages, or web site members can be organized or grouped by the metalabels for efficient searching or following conversations of group members on social networking sites.

Abstract: The invention disclosed is a process to allocate channels in a sectorized and tiered cellular network. A system of allocating cellular frequencies (channels) to the sectors among the outer tier of cells within a tile is disclosed which maximizes channel set usage within the tile while minimizing co-channel interference between cells. Any unused, or remaining, frequencies for the outer tier of that cell may then be allocated to an inner tier of the cell that has not had a channel allocated thereto. No additional infrastructure or maintenance set-up is required under this technique for allocating the channel to the additional transceiver and a very high degree of channel utilization is achieved.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for electrostatic spray deposition (ESD) for fabricating a thin-layer yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) electrolyte on a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) anode substrate constructed of nickel-YSZ cermet. By reducing the thickness of the electrolyte, and thereby reducing the cell internal IR drop, an intermediate temperature SOFC (ITSOFC) can operate at 600-800° C. A collar positioned at a distance from a discharge end of a spray nozzle enhances a spray pattern of a precursor including the electrolyte material and thus provides a very thin electrolyte layer.

Abstract: The invention disclosed is a process to allocate channels in a sectorized cellular network. A system of allocating cellular frequencies (channels) to the sectors among the cells within a tile is disclosed which maximizes channel set usage within the tile while avoiding co-channel interference between cells. According to the present system, no infrastructure rebuild is required. The disclosed approach further supports all currently used cellular technology. By alternating and rotating the channel assignments across sectors, what is a seemingly locally poor algorithm utilizing additional local channels is actually a globally good algorithm which is efficient in terms of the total number of channels used owing to short reuse distance and low number of cell types.

Abstract: An electro-mechanical drive train for a hybrid electric vehicle. The electro-mechanical drive train includes a housing and a pinion shaft having a first end disposed within the housing and a second end in communication with a combustion engine. A differential is disposed within the housing and in combination with the end of the pinion shaft. An electric motor is also disposed within the housing and in actuating combination with the pinion shaft.

Abstract: A microchannel cooler containing a slurry having a particulate liquid/solid phase change material is provided balancing the interdependent factors of microencapsulated particle size with microchannel size and shape and flow conditions for the removal of high heat flux with low space and low power requirements.

Abstract: Systems for improved vehicular movement between first and second crossing roadways. The systems employ multiple turn roadways to permit a vehicle traveling on one of the crossing roadways to appropriately turn and continuously travel onto the other of the crossing roadway. The systems are adaptable to use in conjunction with either left side of the road vehicle movement or right side of the road vehicle movement. In addition, the systems can be adapted for use in conjunction a roadway crossing whereat at least one of the roads is for forwarded vehicle movement in only one direction.

Abstract: Robotic posture transfer assist devices for assisting a posture transfer of a patient in a bed may include a device body, a stabilizer coupled with the device body and the bed, and at least one robotic arm having a plurality of degrees of freedom, wherein the robotic arm may be coupled with the device body. Robotic posture transfer assist devices may further include an end-effector removably coupled with the robotic arm, a controller module that provides a control signal to the robotic arm to control a movement of the robotic arm about the plurality of degrees of freedom, and a user input device that provides a command signal to the controller module to command the movement of the robotic arm, wherein the control signal provided by the controller module corresponds with the command signal.

Abstract: A robotic cane may include a grip handle, a cane body extending from the grip handle at a first end, a motorized omni-directional wheel coupled to a second end of the cane body, a balance control sensor, and a controller module. The balance control sensor provides a balance signal corresponding to an orientation of the robotic cane. The controller module may receive the balance signal from the balance control sensor and calculate a balancing velocity of the motorized omni-directional wheel based at least in part on the balance signal and an inverted pendulum control algorithm. The controller module may further provide a drive signal to the motorized omni-directional wheel in accordance with the calculated balancing velocity. The calculated balancing velocity is a speed and direction of the motorized omni-directional wheel to retain the robotic cane in an substantially upright position.

Abstract: A mobile sanitizing device may include a sanitizer solution dispenser module, a motorized wheel assembly, and a controller module. The sanitizer solution dispenser module may be operable to dispense the sanitizer solution. The motorized wheel includes at least one wheel and is coupled to the sanitizer solution dispenser module. The controller module includes a microcontroller and a memory, and is programmed to log a sanitization record into a sanitization history of at least one user, compare the sanitization history of the user with a sanitization standard, and control the motorized wheel assembly to cause the mobile sanitizing device to approach the user to dispense sanitizing solution to the user when the sanitization history does not meet the sanitization standard.

Abstract: A robotic transportation device may include a device body, two docking arms, and a controller module. The device body may include at least one motorized wheel, and the two docking arms may include an adjustable wheel locking device. The two docking arms may extend horizontally from the device body and may be adjustable along first and second directions. The adjustable wheel locking devices comprise two adjustable wheel stops extending laterally from the docking arm. The controller module may cause the robotic transportation device to autonomously approach a target device, detect a device type, and adjust a position of the two docking arms and the two wheel stops in accordance with the device type. The controller module may move each adjustable wheel locking device under a target wheel of the target device to lock and lift the target wheels, and cause the robotic transportation device to autonomously transport the target device.

Abstract: A physical assistive robotic device may include a frame including an upright support member, a lateral member slidably engaged with the upright support member, a handle slidably engaged with the lateral member, an elevation actuator coupled to the upright support member and the lateral member, and a lateral actuator coupled to the lateral member and the handle. The elevation actuator translates the lateral member and the lateral actuator translates the handle to transition a user between a standing position and a non-standing position.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for coating micron-sized or sub-micron-sized particles such as living cells. The coating apparatus includes an encapsulation chamber enclosing a two-layer water-oil system for coating each islet cell with an aqueous polymeric coat. Islets together with an aqueous polymer solution are fed by a feed device that utilizes the principle of hydrodynamic focusing in order to ensure encapsulation of individual islets. The polymer in the aqueous coat is subsequently crosslinked by being exposed to laser light to produce structurally stable microcapsules of controllable thickness of the order of tens of microns. Encapsulated islets are removed from the encapsulation chamber by a valveless pump and recovered by filtration or centrifugation.

Abstract: A method of controlling a DC/DC converter to regulate an output voltage from an input voltage source that varies from a fully-charged voltage to a discharged voltage. The method introduced improves the dynamic response of the converter during transients by switching between different converter topologies to spread out voltage spikes, which are an inevitable result of transients. The invention also can improve the efficiency of the DC/DC converter by replacing higher loss modes with combination modes.

Abstract: A method for heat treatment of steel and a system thereof is provided. First the steel is austenitized at a suitable temperature and then the temperature is rapidly brought down to the austempering temperature. Here the cyclic austempering is carried out between two austempering temperatures by modulating the temperature with controlled heating and cooling and the controlled temperature modulation is obtained by controlling the temperature-time profile in a batch furnace or by controlling the zone temperatures in a continuous furnace. This method of cyclic austempering reduces the austempering time, reduces the energy consumption and emissions, enhances the productivity and reduces the process cost.

Abstract: A switched reluctance machine (SRM) having a rotor and stator pole numerical relationship of S number of stator poles and R number of rotor poles, where R=2S?2, when S is greater than 4; provides improved power density, torque production, torque ripple, and is readily adaptable to existing hardware such as known controllers and the like.