Abstract: A composite material is described that is an effective filter to separate oil from an oil and water emulsion or other mixtures of oil and water. The composite material has a permeable substrate, such as fabric, that is coated with a selectively-permeable coating. The composite material allows only oil to pass through, while water is prevented from passing through. The composite material has two main components, a hydrophobic component and an emulsion-destabilizing component.

Abstract: Compounds described herein are inhibitors of retinoic acid inducible P450 (CYP26) enzymes, and are useful for treating diseases that are responsive to retinoids. Certain compounds have retinoid activity, are resistant to CYP26-mediated catabolism, and are used for treating diseases that are responsive to retinoids.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of analyzing an ultrasound signal. The method comprises obtaining a time series of sequential data frames associated with an ultrasound signal reflected from and/or backscattered from a fixed location of a material under investigation, each data frame comprising a plurality of samples of the ultrasound signal, and subjecting to an analysis a sequence of one or more samples of the ultrasound signal, or a sequence of at least one parameter derived from one or more samples of the ultrasound signal, wherein a result of the analysis is related to one or properties or characteristics of the material. In one embodiment the method may be used for detecting, diagnosing, and/or assessing cancer and/or abnormalities in biological tissue.

Abstract: The invention provides devices and methods for non-invasive monitoring and measuring of intraocular pressure (IOP) of a subject. Embodiments include a lens that is adapted to fit on the subject's eye, a microstructure disposed in or on the lens, the microstructure having at least one feature that exhibits a change in shape and/or geometry and/or position on the lens in response to a change in curvature of the lens. When the curvature of the lens changes in response to a change in IOP, a corresponding change in shape and/or geometry and/or position of the feature may be used to determine the change in IOP. The change in the feature is detectable in digital images of the lens taken with a mobile electronic device such as a smartphone.

Abstract: An autorotating unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has a data acquisition system and a rotor assembly including a hub that couples the rotor assembly to the UAV. Although not limited thereto, the UAV is suitable for collecting data about the inside of a cavity. The data acquisition system includes a processor and one or more sensors that obtain data about motion of the UAV and at least one parameter of the cavity as the UAV descends though the cavity. Features of the cavity may be mapped by generating a 3D point cloud from the data. The cavity may be natural or man-made, such as a mine.

Abstract: An apparatus for presenting a chemical spectrum to a human user in an audible and/or tactile format comprises an input that receives at least one chemical spectrum, a processor, and at least one transducer that produces the audible and/or tactile output. The processor identifies a first component and a second component of at least one value of the at least one chemical spectrum, selects at least one periodic function for each first component, and modulates the at least one periodic function according to the second component. Modulated periodic functions are composed into at least one complex function which is output to the at least one transducer to produce the audible and/or tactile output. The chemical spectrum may comprise data obtained from a sample using mass spectrometry, Raman spectroscopy, or the like.

Abstract: A power converter circuit includes a rectifier circuit having first and second input terminals that receive an AC input voltage and first and second output terminals that output a DC bus voltage, and a series circuit comprising a switch connected in series with an input capacitor connected across the first and second output terminals. A controller controls the switch so that the switch is on at least during a period when a magnitude of the AC input voltage is less than a selected DC bus voltage, and the switch is off during a period when the magnitude of the AC input voltage is greater than the selected DC bus voltage and less than a peak value of the AC input voltage. Power adapters incorporating these features benefit from low component count, reduced component current stress, reduced size and weight, and low cost, making then suitable for a range of portable devices such as laptop computers and cellphones.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for decellularizing adipose tissue, comprising subjecting the adipose tissue to one or more incubations in an enzymatic digestion solution containing one or more enzymes, and one or more solvent extractions, wherein decellularized adipose tissue comprising an extracellular matrix with well-preserved three-dimensional structure is obtained. The invention also provides a decellularized adipose tissue comprising an extracellular matrix with well-preserved three-dimensional architecture, and bioscaffolds, microcarrier beads, and coatings comprising the decellularized adipose tissue.

Abstract: Described herein is an excitation emission matrix (EEM) spectrometer and method, comprising a multiplexer that encodes excitation light produced by at least one excitation light source; and a demultiplexer that decodes encoded light emitted from a sample, and produces an output indicative of a characteristic of the sample. Embodiments are described wherein the multiplexer and the demultiplexer may comprise FDM or OFDM, and wherein both the excitation light and the emitted light may be encoded using a DMA or a SLM. In some embodiments the same DMA or SLM may be used to encode the excitation light and the emitted light. In some embodiments excitation light may be encoded using a Walsh function, or the excitation light may be encoded using a Walsh function and the emitted light may be decoded using an inverse Hadamard transformation.

Abstract: Disclosed are multi-stage multilevel DC-DC step-down converters. Stages may include three or four switches, and switches of each stage are operated at selected duty cycles such that each stage reduces an input voltage by one-half and voltage stress on switches is reduced. In some embodiments only a single output inductor is used in an LC filter, and the inductor may be very small as compared with a conventional Buck converter. Thus, embodiments provide DC-DC step-down converters with high power density and efficiency.

Abstract: Compounds are provided that are photoluminescent and electroluminescent, and may emit intense blue or deep blue light. Also provided are methods of producing photoluminescence and electroluminescence, methods of applying the compounds in thin films, and uses of the compounds described herein in a light emitting device, a luminescent probe, a sensor, and/or an electroluminescent device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a micro-nozzle array comprising a plurality of capillaries comprising a first silica-based material and a second silica-based material substantially surrounding the first silica-based material of the plurality of capillaries, and a plurality of nozzles extending beyond a face of the micro-nozzle array, each nozzle corresponding to a single capillary, wherein each nozzle comprises the first silica-based material. The micro-nozzle array may be used in hydrodynamic or electro-osmotic applications. In one embodiment the micro-nozzle array is a multiple electrospray emitter. The invention also relates to methods for preparing and using micro-nozzle arrays.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and apparatus for improving communications between humans and devices. The invention provides a method of modulating operation of a device, comprising: providing an attentive user interface for obtaining information about an attentive state of a user; and modulating operation of a device on the basis of the obtained information, wherein the operation that is modulated is initiated by the device. Preferably, the information about the user's attentive state is eye contact of the user with the device that is sensed by the attentive user interface.

Abstract: An apparatus for electromagnetic (EM) tracking or localization is described which includes one or more EM transmitters and receivers (sensors, or trackers), an indication of relative locations of the one or more transmitter and sensor with respect to one or more instrument, optionally, a model of the one or more instrument flexibility, a measurement uncertainty analyzer that reports an uncertainty associated with each measurement, an equation of motion or dynamic model with motion constraints that describes an expected behavior of the one or more instrument, a probabilistic simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) algorithm that simultaneously estimates a pose of one or more instrument and updates a field distortion map, or parameters of a field distortion model, a field distortion estimator that uses currently-available information of the field distortion map and estimates field distortion in the vicinity of the one or more instrument, to be used for future measurement compensation, a transient analyzer

Abstract: A current-ripple-based control strategy for an AC-DC converter with a series ripple cancellation converter (RCC). Embodiments provide series ripple cancellation by sensing the load current information, and significantly simplify the control circuitry. In addition, the embodiments allow input voltage of the series RCC to tightly track its output voltage peak value with no extra control circuit, thus minimizing the RCC component voltage stress as well as the RCC loss. Embodiments are suitable for driving an LED load, where they eliminate LED light flicker caused by the power factor correction (PFC) stage, and significantly reduce its output capacitance.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to hyaluronic acid derivatives, and in particular, derivatives in which the N-acetyl group of hyaluronic acid has been substituted, and methods and uses thereof.

Abstract: Provided are circuits and methods for a power converter that converts AC input power into DC output power using a first output circuit that provides a first output comprising a DC voltage with a first AC voltage ripple and a second output circuit including a floating capacitor and one or more power switching device, and provides a second output comprising a second AC voltage ripple, wherein the first output and the second output are connected together in series, such that the first AC voltage ripple is substantially cancelled and substantially ripple-free DC output power is provided. Embodiments significantly reduce the total output capacitance requirement without sacrificing power factor, thus avoiding the need for electrolytic capacitors and enabling the use of long-life film capacitors. The circuits and methods are particularly suitable for use in applications where ripple-free high power and high reliability are required, such as in high power LED lighting.

Abstract: Polyurethane-based and epoxy-based coating compositions are described that provide coatings and adhesives that are clear, amphiphobic and durable. Both water and hexadecane readily slide off these surfaces without leaving a residue. Coatings with thicknesses ranging from about 10 nm to about 10 ?m exhibited excellent transmittance properties. Such films exhibited durability against abrasion, ink-resistance, anti-graffiti, anti-fingerprint, and strong adhesion to glass surfaces. The coatings are applicable to electronic devices, fabrics, glass, etc. to prepare optically clear, stain-resistant, and smudge-resistant surfaces.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of analyzing an ultrasound signal. The method comprises obtaining a time series of sequential data frames associated with an ultrasound signal reflected from and/or backscattered from a fixed location of a material under investigation, each data frame comprising a plurality of samples of the ultrasound signal, and subjecting to an analysis a sequence of one or more samples of the ultrasound signal, or a sequence of at least one parameter derived from one or more samples of the ultrasound signal, wherein a result of the analysis is related to one or properties or characteristics of the material. In one embodiment the method may be used for detecting, diagnosing, and/or assessing cancer and/or abnormalities in biological tissue.

Abstract: Described herein are methods and circuits for improving the performance of an AC to DC power supply. The methods and circuits achieve high power factor (PF) at the AC side and at the same time, reduce or substantially eliminate ripple in the DC output power. The methods and circuits provide an isolated topology including primary side voltage and current sensing and primary side ripple cancellation control. The methods and circuits may be used in any application where high power factor and/or low output ripple are required. In particular, the methods and circuits may be used in DC lighting applications, such as in light emitting diode (LED) lighting, wherein suppression of low frequency ripple in the output power eliminates visible flickering.