Abstract: A thermochromic fabric utilizing cholesteric liquid crystals includes a fabric material or garment formed therefrom. The liquid crystal material is patterned with a plurality of different liquid crystal formulations, whereby each formulation has high thermal sensitivity over a narrow temperature range. As a result, the aggregate pattern of liquid crystal material formed on the thermochromic fabric allows the thermochromic fabric to have high thermal sensitivity over a broad temperature range. As such, the fabric or garment may be worn on specific body parts of a patient, such as his or her feet, to assist in making a medical diagnosis.

Abstract: An optical magnification system comprises two Pancharatnam lenses, and provides a first magnification for left-hand circularly polarized light and a second magnification different from the first magnification for right-hand circularly polarized light. An optical magnification system comprises two lenses, each having different focal lengths for left-handed and right-handed circularly polarized light, respectively, and configured to provide a first magnification for left-handed circularly polarized light and a second magnification different from the first magnification for right-handed circularly polarized light.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of placing a plate fixation device in a foot comprising the steps of: plantarly placing a reverse locking plate on the foot; and utilizing a locking guide to dorsally place reverse locking screws into the foot to mate with the reverse locking plate.

Abstract: A polymeric scaffold contains pendant liquid crystal side chains and has fully interconnected pores. Such a polymeric scaffold will preferably be 3D in nature and elastomeric, biocompatible and biodegradable. Such 3D liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) scaffolds can be used for various biomedical applications, including cell culture applications. A method for the production of such a polymeric scaffold containing liquid crystals and having interconnected pores is also disclosed that uses a metal foam sacrificial template as a scaffold to produce the polymeric smart response scaffold of the present invention. Consistent and controlled pore sizes result from etching the sacrificial metal foam template away from the polymeric scaffold, permitting the incorporation of growth factors, when needed, for enhancing cell viability and proliferation.

Abstract: A single-molecule mechanoanalytical real-time sensing device (SMART) comprising a molecular trawl and a DNA stem-loop structure that serves as a molecular dipstick, said trawl and said DNA stem-loop structure anchored by handles to two optically-trapped bead templates; said molecular trawl comprising multiple analyte recognition elements that exist in each of two separate DNA (pair) strands that act as two pincers, said pincers each having a nucleobase capable of catching an analyte in a media; said DNA stem-loop structure comprising a plurality of nucleotides in said loop and multiple base pairs in said stem; and wherein said DNA stem-loop is located generally opposite to said molecular trawl that is capable of reporting an amount of bound analyte target via mechanochemical transient events.

Abstract: Controlled biodegradable smart responsive scaffold (SRS) materials enhance attachment and viability of cells, i.e. actively guiding their expansion, proliferation and in some cases differentiation, while increasing their biomechanical functionality is an important key issue for tissue regeneration. Chemically build-in functionality in these biodegradable SRS materials is achieved by varying structural functionalization with biocompatible liquid crystal motifs and general polymer composition allowing for regulation and alteration of tensile strength, surface ordering, bioadhesion and biodegradability, bulk liquid crystal phase behavior, porosity, and cell response to external stimuli. Liquid crystal modification of such polymeric scaffolds is an ideal tool to induce macroscopic ordering events through external stimuli.

Abstract: Ink-jet printable compositions including nanoparticles capped with a protective layer of hydrocarbon chains and a single solvent exhibiting a single evaporation rate and having a specifically defined viscosity and surface tension that result in uniform and printable alignment layers for liquid crystal materials. Patterned liquid crystal-containing cells are also disclosed including one or more layers including the same or different nanoparticles capped with a protective layer of hydrocarbon chains printed on a surface of a substrate or even another nanoparticle-containing layer. Methods for producing the cells are also disclosed, including the step of printing a pattern on one or more portions of a cell surface utilizing a composition comprising the capped nanoparticles. Devices including the cells are also disclosed.

Abstract: A stereoscopic display device is provided for displaying a three-dimensional (3D) image as viewed by eyes consisting of a left eye and a right eye. In the display device, a single display screen, or separate left and right display screens, present a left image to the left eye but not the right eye, and present a right image to the right eye but not the left eye. A gaze distance tracker is configured to track gaze distance of the eyes. Variable-power lenses include a left variable-power lens arranged to provide eye accommodation for the left eye, and a right variable-power lens arranged to provide eye accommodation for the right eye. An electronic eye accommodation controller is configured to control the power of the variable power lenses to allow the image from the display to be focused on the retina, while the biological eye lens is accommodated to the gaze distance.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems, methods, and software for determining the shortest distance between vertices in relatively large graphs. In an embodiment a method includes identifying an original graph comprising a plurality of nodes and a plurality of edges, identifying a plurality of hub nodes from within the original graph, creating a hub matrix comprising the plurality of hub nodes and the shortest distance between the plurality of hub nodes, and determining a shortest distance between the at least two nodes using the original graph and/or the hub matrix.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a display device, including: a liquid crystal display panel, comprising a liquid crystal layer including a polymer network formed of a polymerizable monomer; a light guide component, wherein the light guide component is configured such that light from the light source is emitted out from the first surface of the light guide component into the liquid crystal display panel, and in a case that the liquid crystal layer is not applied with a voltage, light from the light source is totally reflected at the liquid crystal display panel without being emitted from a side of the second substrate opposite to the first substrate into the outside air.

Abstract: A medication and event monitoring system operates through the internet, interconnecting and accommodating the transfer of information and data between a patient center, a caregiver/researcher center, and a pharmacist. A control center is provided in intercommunication with the patient, caregiver and pharmacist for accommodating the exchange of information and data regarding medication usage between and among the persons of interest. The patient center also includes physical sensing devices, such as for blood pressure, temperature, and the like for obtaining and transmitting information. The patient communicates through a smartphone, and further communicates through pill dispensing devices housed in a docking system that is in intercommunication with the various centers.

Abstract: A bistable cholesteric liquid crystal switchable window has two stable states in the absence of an applied voltage. A first stable state is a planar state which is transparent or reflective for visible light. A second stable state is a focal conic state which is opaque for visible light. The window can be switched from the first stable state to the second stable state via a first voltage pulse and from the second stable state to the first stable state via a second voltage pulse. The first voltage pulse and the second voltage pulse may have the same frequency.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display is configured such that a composite layer thereof is transparent to incident light in one voltage condition (e.g., in the absence of an applied voltage) and scatters incident light out of the display in another voltage condition (e.g., when a voltage is applied). The liquid crystal display does not need polarizers or color filters.

Abstract: A method for computing patient-specific hemodynamics. The method includes receiving three dimensional imaging data of a patent, extracting anatomical data from the three dimensional imaging data, calculating velocity and pressure fields corresponding to the extracted anatomical data, and calculating displacement and velocity of extracted solid particles corresponding to the anatomical data. The anatomical data comprises an anatomical boundary.

Abstract: Novel microlens array architectures for enhanced light outcoupling from light emission are provided. Organic light emitting devices (OLEDs) that include an outcoupling layer including these novel microlens array architectures and method for fabricating such OLEDs are provided. These devices may be used to provide OLEDs with optimized light extraction.

Abstract: A transport device comprises: a fluid cell comprising parallel substrates; an anisotropic electrolyte disposed in the fluid cell; and electrodes configured to apply an AC electric field to the anisotropic electrolyte disposed in the fluid cell. A substrate of the fluid cell includes a pattern that induces a director distortion pattern in the anisotropic electrolyte disposed in the fluid cell. The director distortion pattern has a gradient configured to induce electrokinetic flow of the anisotropic electrolyte in the fluid cell in response to the AC electric field applied by the electrodes. Cargo, such as particles, gas bubbles, or fluid, is dispersed in the anisotropic electrolyte and transported in the fluid cell by the induced electrokinetic flow of the anisotropic electrolyte. The induced electrokinetic flow may be linear, curvilinear, circular so as to induce mixing, depending on the predesigned director pattern.

Abstract: A dynamic self-organized helical superstructure device includes a chiral material and a liquid crystal material disposed between first and second substrates. The helical superstructure is reversibly switchable upon the application of at least one external stimulus from one state to another state among three states: a standing helix, a uniform lying helix, and an in-plane rotation state.

Abstract: An optical beam deflection device includes a dual-twist Pancharatnam phase device (DTPPD) with first and second Pancharatnam layers each with an in-plane twist and a transverse twist that is at least 60° over the thickness of each Pancharatnam layer, and more preferably at least 75°, and still more preferably at least 90°, with the twist sense of the second Pancharatnam layer being opposite the twist sense of the first Pancharatnam layer. To provide switchable beam deflection, an electro-optic polarization element inputs a circularly polarized light beam to the DTPPD with left-handed circular polarization or right-handed circular polarization controlled by an electrical input.

Abstract: A method for controlling self-propelled particles includes providing the particles to a liquid crystalline medium having predesigned local ordering. The method may control at least one of: a local concentration, trajectory, and net flow of self-propelled particles.

Abstract: Ink-jet printable compositions including nanoparticles capped with a protective layer of hydrocarbon chains and a single solvent exhibiting a single evaporation rate and having a specifically defined viscosity and surface tension that result in uniform and printable alignment layers for liquid crystal materials. Patterned liquid crystal-containing cells are also disclosed including one or more layers including the same or different nanoparticles capped with a protective layer of hydrocarbon chains printed on a surface of a substrate or even another nanoparticle-containing layer. Methods for producing the cells are also disclosed, including the step of printing a pattern on one or more portions of a cell surface utilizing a composition comprising the capped nanoparticles. Devices including the cells are also disclosed.