Abstract: A device for a tissue channel includes a device frame, a shape memory polymer foam segment coupled to the device frame, and an attachment structure coupled to the device frame. The device frame includes a proximal structure, a distal structure, and an intermediate structure coupled to the proximal structure and the distal structure. The proximal structure is configured to collapse to fit into a delivery structure and expand to block migration of the proximal structure. The distal structure is configured to collapse to fit into the delivery structure and expand to block migration of the distal structure. The intermediate structure is configured to fit in the tissue channel upon device deployment. The shape memory polymer foam segment is configured to compress to fit into the delivery structure and occlude the channel. The attachment structure is configured to attach and detach the device from a delivery guide.

Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to a circulating tumor cell (CTC) microfluidic platform that is used for the detection of CTCs, enumeration of CTCs in a sample, characterization of biophysical properties, CTC cell size, CTC cell membrane deformability, stresses on CTC cell membranes, adhesion stress on CTC cells, normal stress of CTC cells, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A stool includes a base with a post extending therefrom. A seat is connected to a distal end of the post. In some configurations, the seat may be configured to act as a deployable back rest. A deployable anti-fatigue mat is connected to the base. In some configurations, the deployable anti-fatigue mat is attached to the base via a hinged connection. In some configurations, the deployable anti-fatigue mat is attached to the base with a sliding connection that allows the deployable anti-fatigue mat to slide out from the base.

Abstract: An apparatus for converting heavy hydrocarbons to light hydrocarbons includes an inlet capable of supplying a pre-foaming mixture comprising a hydrocarbon to be processed and a processing gas, wherein the processing gas is dissolved in the hydrocarbon to be processed; a foam generator configured to receive the pre-foaming mixture at a first pressure, compress the pre-foaming mixture to a second pressure that is higher than the first pressure by routing it through a nozzle; and generate a foam by allowing the pre-foaming mixture at the second pressure to expand in a chamber at a third pressure that is lower than the first or second pressures; a plasma reactor, wherein the plasma reactor is capable of receiving the foam and comprises at least one pair of spark gap electrodes capable of subjecting the foam to a plasma discharge to yield a processed mixture; and an outlet capable of receiving the processed mixture.

Abstract: A method for identifying, locating, and mapping targets of interest using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) camera footage in GPS-denied environments. In one embodiment, the method comprises obtaining UAV visual data, passing the UAV visual data through a convolutional neural network (CNN) in order to detect targets of interest based on visual features disposed in the UAV visual data, wherein the detection by the CNN defines reference points and pixel coordinates for the UAV visual data, applying a geometric transformation to known and defined pixel coordinates to obtain real-world orthogonal positions; and projecting the detected targets of interest onto an orthogonal map based on the obtained real-world orthogonal positions, all without GPS data.

Abstract: In an embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to a droplet system, apparatus, or fluid sample testing system to accomplish high-precision and high-efficiency droplet manipulation (e.g., greater than 99% platform operation efficiency). In some embodiments, the droplet system, apparatus, or fluid sample testing system includes at least one microfluidic channel or chamber and at least one interdigitated electrode (IDE) that can create a localized electric field below and/or within at least one fluidic channel or chamber. In some embodiments, this allows size-specific and/or size-dependent droplet manipulation.

Abstract: An embodiment includes a system comprising: a substrate of a medical device; an un-foamed polyurethane coating directly contacting the substrate and fixedly attached to the substrate; a thermoset polyurethane shape memory polymer (SMP) foam, having first and second states, which directly contacts the polyurethane coating and fixedly attaches to the polyurethane coating; wherein the polyurethane coating fixedly attaches the SMP foam to the substrate. Other embodiments are described herein.

Abstract: An embodiment includes a wound dressing comprising: a shape memory polymer (SMP) foam, including open cells, having first and second states; and a hydrogel (HG) included within the cells; wherein (a) in a first position a composite, including the SMP foam and the HG, is configured to be located proximate a hemorrhagic tissue with the SMP foam in the first state; (b) in a second position the composite is configured to be expanded to the second state against the hemorrhagic tissue when the SMP foam is plasticized at 37° C. depressing a glass transition temperature (Tg) of the SMP foam to below 25° C. Other embodiments are described herein.

Abstract: Disclosed are example efficient circuits that produce spark discharges for hydrocarbon conversion (or treatment of other mixtures) using a high-voltage rectified DC supply to discharge a capacitor (either internal or external) across a two-electrode gap, optimized to minimize waste energy by operating in a constant current, approximately-constant current, or constant power mode. The circuits may operate off of a standard electrical supply line (e.g. 120 VAC or 240 VAC, 60 Hz, single-phase or multi-phase). The disclosed approach is scalable to any number of discharge gaps while maintaining similar pulse characteristics and electrical efficiency.

Abstract: A metal hydride storage system (MHSS) and a method for refueling the MHSS includes obtaining a parameter vector comprising a first state of a metal hydride storage system (MHSS), and a measurable output of the MHSS; sending the parameter vector to a control algorithm, wherein the control algorithm includes a first data structure and a second data structure, wherein the first data structure corresponds to a plurality of critical regions, wherein the second data structure corresponds to a plurality of piecewise affine functions, wherein the affine functions corresponds to a control action; searching the first data structure with the parameter vector; selecting a critical region based on searching the first data structure; selecting, from the second data structure, a piecewise affine function corresponding to the selected critical region; and calculating a control action based on the affine function, where the control action comprises controlling at least one controlled parameter.

Abstract: A microfluidic device includes a microfluidic channel formed in the microfluidic device and defined by a floor and a ceiling positioned vertically above the floor, wherein the microfluidic channel includes at least one fluid inlet configured to receive a fluid flow and at least one fluid outlet, and wherein at least one of the ceiling and the floor of the microfluidic channel is sloped relative to a horizontal plane.

Abstract: In an embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to a method of reducing cytocidal activity of cells. In some embodiments, the method includes altering eukaryotic elongation factor-2 kinase (eEF-2K) in a subject and inducing a reduction of cytocidal activity of cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) in the subject. In some embodiments, the altering of eEF-2K in the subject can include a decrease of eEF-2K in the subject.

Abstract: A method and system for decoding low density parity check (LDPC) codes. A method includes performing block parallel processing that initiates processing all non-zero block columns of a plurality (M) of rows of a layer of an LDPC matrix in each clock cycle, where M?p, and p is a total number of rows in a layer of the LDPC matrix; and updating a P message responsive to determination of a final state for each row of the LDPC matrix. The LDPC matrix includes layers, each comprising a plurality (M) of rows that are processed per clock cycle. Each of the plurality of rows of each of the layers is datawise independent of the rows processed during a previous NP_MAX clock cycles and at least one row in each layer is datawise dependent on a row of an immediately preceding layer, and NP_MAX is greater than one.

Abstract: In an embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to a wearable sensor. In some embodiments, the wearable sensor includes a double-sided adhesive layer, a paper microfluidic layer, and an encapsulation layer. In an additional embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to a method of biochemical analysis. In general, the method includes collecting biofluid from a subject via a wearable sensor and quantifying the biofluid. In some embodiments, the wearable sensor includes a double-sided adhesive layer and a paper microfluidic layer having a microfluidic channel in a serpentine configuration. In some embodiments the microfluidic channel includes an inlet to receive the biofluid, an outlet to collect the excess biofluid, and a plurality of plasmonic sensors.

Abstract: A solution consisting of: a poly(a-olefin) (PAO) selected from the group consisting of PAO283, PAO432, and PAO687; and a reactive organometallic reagent selected from the group consisting of n-butyllithium, sec-butyllithium, tert-butyllithium, n-butyllithium in hexane, sec-butyllithium in cyclohexane, and tert-butyllithium in pentane.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention includes an expandable implant to endovascularly embolize an anatomical void or malformation, such as an aneurysm. An embodiment is comprised of a chain or linked sequence of expandable polymer foam elements. Another embodiment includes an elongated length of expandable polymer foam coupled to a backbone. Another embodiment includes a system for endovascular delivery of an expandable implant (e.g., shape memory polymer) to embolize an aneurysm. The system may include a microcatheter, a lumen-reducing collar coupled to the distal tip of the microcatheter, a flexible pushing element detachably coupled to an expandable implant, and a flexible tubular sheath inside of which the compressed implant and pushing element are pre-loaded. Other embodiments are described herein.

Abstract: An embodiment includes a platform shape memory polymer system. Such an embodiment exhibits a blend of tunable, high performance mechanical attributes in combination with advanced processing capabilities and good biocompatibility. A post-polymerization crosslinking synthetic approach is employed that combines polyurethane and thiol-ene synthetic processes. Other embodiments are described herein.

Abstract: A method for reconstructing a three-dimensional (3D) of a sample includes displacing an outer surface of the sample at a desired sample, repeatedly activating an ultraviolet stroboscopic illuminator to produce ultraviolet excitation light at a frequency that is based on the speed of the sample, repeatedly activating a pair of laterally spaced cameras of a stereoscopic imaging unit as the outer surface of the sample is displaced to capture a plurality of 2D images of different sections of the outer surface of the sample, and reconstructing a 3D image of the sample from the plurality of 2D images of the different sections captured by the pair of cameras.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a strand displacement system including a DNA/PNA complex, an input DNA strand, where the DNA/PNA complex binds to the input DNA strand forming a complex and displaces a PNA intermediate and forms an activated domain on the PNA, and a Bi complex that reacts with the activated domain on the PNA to thereby release an output DNA strand. In an additional embodiment, a fluorogenic sensor including a heteroduplex between an achiral PNA strand and a fluorogenic aptamer, where the fluorogenic aptamer includes L-RNA, an input DNA strand, where the input DNA strand binds to the heteroduplex and displaces an incumbent fluorogenic aptamer strand and forms an activated domain on that strand, and a dye.

Abstract: In an embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to a method of recycling that includes applying an electromagnetic field to a composite material having carbon fiber therein, heating the composition, degrading a matrix of the composite material, and recovering the carbon fiber from the composite material. In an additional embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to a method of non-contact recycling that includes applying an electromagnetic field to a composite material having carbon fiber therein with an electromagnetic applicator via at least one of direct current or alternating current, heating the composition, degrading a matrix of the composite material, and recovering the carbon fiber from the composite material. In some embodiments, the electromagnetic field is applied in a non-contact manner.