Abstract: A composite structural element includes a concrete member and a hollow member covering a part of a length of the concrete member. The concrete member has a first end, a second end, and a first elongated body extending between the first and second ends. The first elongated body has a first length between the first and second ends thereof. The hollow member has a first open end, a second open end, and a second elongated body extending between the first and second open ends. The second elongated body has a second length that is shorter than the first length. The hollow member may include a plurality of studs and a stiffener on its interior, in contact with the concrete member.

Abstract: A method of making high performance concrete, the method may include adding ground glass powder (GP), nanosilica (nS) powder, cement, silica fume, fly ash, and sand to create a homogenized mixture. The method may also include homogenizing the mixture by mixing and adding water and superplasticizer to the homogenized mixture to obtain a slurry. The method may also include mixing the slurry until a high flowability mixture is obtained. The method may then include adding a first microsteel fiber (T1) to the high flowability mixture; adding a second microsteel fiber (T3) to the high flowability mixture; adding a third microsteel fiber (T4) to the high flowability mixture; and casting the high flowability mixture.

Abstract: A dental apparatus includes a central component. The central component includes an elongated member having a first end, a second end, and a body extending between the first and second ends thereof. The dental apparatus also includes a first holding assembly movably coupled to the body of the elongated member and a second holding assembly movably coupled to the body of the elongated member. Each one of the first and second holding assemblies is configured to releasably hold dental articulating paper. The dental apparatus, loaded with two pieces of articulating paper that are separated from one another by a certain distance, can be moved via one hand to position the two pieces of articulating paper between two adjacent teeth to assist the dentist in determining the fit of a prosthetic crown that will be cemented over a prepared natural tooth or over an implant.

Abstract: An apparatus for sanitizing a fiberoptic endoscope includes an elongated box with an interior storage chamber and a cleaning piece connected to the exterior of the box. The cleaning piece and the box are arranged in-line with one another and are configured to receive a flexible endoscopic cable of a fiberoptic endoscope inside of them to sanitize and sterilize the cable. The flexible endoscopic cable is first inserted in the cleaning piece via a through opening of the cleaning piece. The cleaning piece includes a plurality of filtering media in its interior, each with a respective through hole. The flexible endoscopic cable is disinfected as it is moved through the filtering medium through holes. Having passed through the filtering media, the flexible endoscopic cable travels to the interior storage chamber of the box, where it is irradiated by an ultraviolet light source for sterilizing the flexible endoscopic cable.

Abstract: A system for detecting diseases among plants includes a mobile device such as a smartphone, table, or personal computer, and a mobile robot which sends photographs of diseased plants to the mobile device including a plant name, disease type and location of the plant. The mobile robot includes a power supply, housing unit, camera, navigation unit, GPS unit, wireless transmitter, and traction unit for mobility of the robot. A geared motor drives the traction unit, and is connected to a low-level controller for motion control. A high-level controller is connected to the camera, navigation unit, GPS unit, and programmed with a convolutional neural network (CNN) configured to process images taken by the camera and associate with each image a plant type, disease type, and location of where the image was taken. The CNN may be a you only look once (YOLO) model trained with images from a dataset.

Abstract: A wearable non-contact fluid dispenser is provided. An arm band fastened to a user's arm having receptacle configured to hold a compressible pouch, the pouch retaining a volume of sanitation fluid. A flexible elastic tube extends from the pouch to an outlet positioned approximately to the user's palm. A hands-free valve may release sanitation fluid from the pouch to the user's palm enabling the user to sanitize their hands. The flow rate of the sanitation fluid may be controlled by the user.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a dental appliance. The dental appliance includes a first band adapted for mounting about a first tooth, such as a second molar, the first band having a mesial hook facing toward a root of the first tooth. A second band is included, the second band adapted for mounting about a second tooth, such as a premolar, wherein the second band has a distal hook facing toward a crown of the second tooth. A spring is secured to, and extends between, the distal and mesial hooks. The spring may be a nickel titanium coil spring and have a length of about 13 mm. Other embodiments include a supportive rigid bar, a bi-lateral arrangement, and a method of applying the dental appliance.

Abstract: A crown remover is provided. The crown remover is a crown removing dental appliance including a tray having a base, a buccal side vertical prong extending along an entire first side of the tray, and a palatal side vertical prong extending along an entire second side of the tray located opposite the first side. A buccal side vertical prong screw allows for adjustability of the buccal side vertical prong and a palatal side vertical prong screw allowing for adjustability of the palatal side vertical prong. A buccal side horizontal projection is located on the buccal side vertical prong and protrudes toward the center of the tray. A palatal side horizontal projection is located on the palatal side vertical prong and protrudes toward the center of the tray. A handle protrudes from the base.

Abstract: A method of making benzalaniline, the method comprising: providing benzaldehyde and aniline; performing a condensation reaction using a solvent; extracting water from the condensation reaction using a pervaporation system, wherein a poly(vinyl alcohol) PVA membrane is in the pervaporation system; and obtaining benzalaniline.

Abstract: Hydrogel nanobeads include an ionically crosslinked sulfated polysaccharide biopolymer such as a carrageenan. In an embodiment, the hydrogel nanobeads comprise kappa carrageenan (?Cg) and a metal ion crosslinking agent. In an embodiment, the metal ion crosslinking agent includes a metal ion selected from the group consisting of Zn2+, Fe2+, Fe3+, and Ti3+. The hydrogel nanobeads can be used for removal of pollutants in wastewater.

Abstract: A flexible and precise fixture for micromachining includes a base and a support shaft extending vertically from the base. The support shaft includes a proximal end attached to the base and an enlarged distal end inserted inside a cavity of a clamp support block. One or more clamp jaws are provided on a top surface of the clamp support block. One or more angular pointers are included having a proximal end mounted pivotally on the base and a distal end pivotally mounted to the clamp support block, each pointer mounted to an individual side wall of the clamp support block. A washer and nut are mounted on the support shaft, the washer positioned between the nut and the clamp support block. The nut is threadedly mounted on the support shaft and may be tightened or loosened to place the clamp support block into a respective fixed or released position.

Abstract: A medical apparatus for controlling or treating epistaxis includes a first elongated structural component, a second elongated structural component, and a coupling component pivotally coupling the first and second elongated structural components to one another. The first elongated structural component includes a first handle portion, a first operating portion and a first through opening disposed between the first handle portion and the first operating portion. The second elongated structural component includes a second handle portion, a second operating portion and a second through opening disposed between the second handle portion and the second operating portion. The coupling component extends in the first and second through openings. Each one of the first and second operating portions may include an elongated body with one or more slits extending therealong. Each slits defines a receiving area for one or more nasal packs.

Abstract: The method for measuring the thickness of thin films uses diffraction of a polarized light beam through a thin film to indirectly measure its thickness. The thin film is prepared on an optically opaque substrate and the thin film and the optically opaque substrate are sandwiched between a pair of optically opaque walls, in a manner similar to a conventional single-slit diffract setup where the thin film serves as the slit. A polarized light beam with a wavelength ? is diffracted through the thin film such that a diffraction pattern is formed on a surface. A set of light intensities of the diffraction pattern formed on the surface is measured for multiple values of a diffraction angle ?. A thickness, d, of the thin film is then determined by fitting the measured set of light intensities to an equation for normalized intensity, Inor(?, d, ?), given by I n ? o ? r ( ? , d , ? ) = [ sin ? ( ? ? d ? ? ? ) ? ? d ? ? ? ] 2 .

Abstract: Surfactin-based lipopeptides for mRNA delivery are made by a method including providing OleSurf lipids to form an organic phase, mixing a mRNA in 100 mM citrate buffer at pH 4 to form an aqueous phase, mixing one part of the organic phase with three parts of the aqueous phase to obtain mRNA loaded lipid nanoparticles, purifying the mRNA loaded lipid nanoparticle platform using dialysis, and purifying the mRNA loaded lipid nanoparticle platform using centrifugal filtration. The OleSurf lipids are made by modifying surfactin with oleylamine. The resulting nanoparticles may be useful as mRNA delivery vehicles.

Abstract: The linkage for increasing the ductility of fiber reinforced polymer bars includes a solid central shaft and first and second hollow receiver portions. Each of the first and second hollow receiver portions has an open end and a closed end, with the closed ends being respectively secured to first and second ends of the solid central shaft. Each of the first and second hollow receiver portions has a diameter associated therewith which is greater than a diameter of the solid central shaft, and each of the first and second hollow receiver portions has a central channel extending axially from, and in communication with, the corresponding one of the open ends. In use, the central channels of the first and second hollow receiver portions are adapted for respectively partially receiving first and second fiber reinforced polymer bars.

Abstract: An endodontic irrigation needle includes a connection fitting, needle, and apical plug. The needle includes a proximal end joined to the connection fitting, is hollow and forms a conduit for irrigation fluid and a plurality of exit ports for discharging irrigation fluid. An apical plug is formed of a different material than the needle and is permanently bonded to the distal end of the needle. The apical plug may be formed of an elastomeric material such as rubber. The apical plug may be wedge-shaped and include two or more layer portions joined by one or more flexible connecting portions. The layer portions may include a wedge-shaped tip layer, a disc-shaped mid layer, and a tapered top layer. A method for endodontic irrigation includes abutting an apex opening of a root canal with the apical plug, and discharging irrigation fluid through the exit ports of the needle.

Abstract: Surfactin-based lipopeptides for mRNA delivery are made by a method including providing OleSurf lipids to form an organic phase, mixing a mRNA in 100 mM citrate buffer at pH 4 to form an aqueous phase, mixing one part of the organic phase with three parts of the aqueous phase to obtain mRNA loaded lipid nanoparticles, purifying the mRNA loaded lipid nanoparticle platform using dialysis, and purifying the mRNA loaded lipid nanoparticle platform using centrifugal filtration. The OleSurf lipids are made by modifying surfactin with oleylamine. The resulting nanoparticles may be useful as mRNA delivery vehicles.

Abstract: A method and device for grasping tissue using the tissue forceps with wide jaws. The tissue forceps include a first arm and a second arm joined at a vertex at a proximal end. The first arm and the second arm have distal portions which are extensions angled leftward away from the longitudinal axis of the first and second arms. Wide forceps jaws terminate the distal end of the angled extensions and the terminal inner surfaces of the jaws have serrated edges. The forceps is adapted to sequentially grasp tissue on opposed sides of a tissue interface and then present the tissue for further procedure. The jaws can be straight, convex, or concave to hold, stabilize and manipulate tissue flap borders with better grasping and control. The jaws can be in line with the handle (straight) or 45 or 90 degrees offset for better access to different surgical site's locations.

Abstract: A method of determining beta radiation intensity based on calculated resonance frequency and calculated quality factor can include providing an electrical sensor comprising at least one prong, irradiating the first composite material of the one of the plurality of planar surfaces and the material of the second section with beta radiation from a beta radiation source; measuring at least one impedance value from the electrical sensor with an impedance analyzer; calculating at least one resonance frequency value based on the measured at least one impedance value; calculating at least one quality factor value based on the calculated at least one resonance frequency value; and determining the beta radiation intensity based on the calculated at least one resonance frequency value and the calculated at least one quality factor value.