Abstract: A high voltage discharge generating a plasma wave front is disposed within a headspace over an oil-containing liquid in order to create various chemical changes within the headspace, and ultimately within the liquid in order to inactivate various microbes, synthesize new chemicals, speed separation of a mixture, and aid in oil extraction. Such a discharge may be repeated at an optimum duration and duty-cycle to maximize the chemical effects of the non-equilibrium plasma at a substantially lower temperature than for an equilibrium plasma.

Abstract: An embolectomy device comprised of an expansion unit and a support unit is disclosed. The expansion unit can be actuated in response to one or more external stimuli, and the support unit, located proximately to the expansion unit, provides a force to hold the expansion unit in place and to further induce the expansion unit's radial expansion. The radial expansion of the expansion unit causes the expansion unit to physically contact a blood clot, enabling the blood clot to be removed. In some embodiments, the expansion unit can be fabricated from a shape memory polymer foam. In some embodiments the support unit can be fabricated from any elastic material including, without limitation, shape memory alloys.

Abstract: A passive infrared (PIR) sensor system, includes a PIR sensor configured to produce an output signal in response to receiving infrared (IR) radiation, an electronic shutter positionable in a field of view (FOV) of the PIR sensor, wherein the electronic shutter includes a liquid crystal (LC) material, wherein the electronic shutter includes a first state providing a first transmissivity of IR radiation through the electronic shutter and a second state providing a second transmissivity of IR radiation through the electronic shutter that is less than the first transmissivity, and a shutter actuator configured to apply an actuation signal to the electronic shutter to actuate the electronic shutter between the first state and the second state.

Abstract: An apparatus for surgical lighting is disclosed. The apparatus includes a light emitting element formed with a light source encapsulated within an outer layer. The outer layer includes a biocompatible material. A power supply is coupled to the light source. The apparatus includes an actuating mechanism that controls power from the power supply to the light source to emit light along a surgical area. The light emitting element provides enhanced illumination and other surgical advantages.

Abstract: The digital human workplace solution is deployed in a customer service setting and involves a computer programmed with a digital human that is displayed to interact with the customer and adapt to inputs providing information about the user or the environment. The digital human workforce solution is also programmed to interface with one or more databases of information that can be used during the customer service interaction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a copolymer, preferably a degradable copolymer, comprising at least first and second repeat units and/or derived from at least first, second, and third monomers.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method for measuring parameters of a liquid, where the method includes measuring pressure drops across a flow meter, measuring pressure upstream of the flow meter, and identifying at least one liquid parameter based, at least in part, on a correlation of a change in a multiphase flow parameter to pulse output. In an additional embodiment, a measuring apparatus for measuring parameters of a liquid, where the measuring apparatus includes an electronic control operable to measure pressure drops across the measuring apparatus, measure pressure upstream of the measuring apparatus, and correlate a change in a multiphase parameter to measured pulse output of the measuring apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polymer, preferably a degradable polymer, derived from monomers (A) and (B) and/or comprising a repeat unit of formula (Ii) and at least one terminal group of formula (II).

Abstract: Disclosed herein are antisense oligonucleotides that are capable of inducing expression of ubiquitin-protein ligase E3A (UBE3A) from the paternal allele in animal or human neurons. The oligonucleotides target the suppressor of the UBE3A paternal allele by hybridization to SNHG14 long non-coding RNA at the 5?-end of UBE3A-AS, which is downstream of SNORD115-45 snoRNA. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions and methods for treatment of Angelman syndrome.

Abstract: A method of removing pollutants from flue gas includes cooling the flue gas to remove condensed water. The flue gas is then compressed and dehydrated. The dehydrated flue gas is chilled to separate pollutants.

Abstract: A complex includes an amyloid peptide complexed with a cholinesterase inhibitor, an NMDA receptor antagonist, or a combination, of a cholinesterase inhibitor and an NMDA receptor antagonist, wherein the amyloid peptide comprises X1X2GAIIGX3X4 (SEQ ID NO: 2), wherein X1 and X4 are each independently YF or FY, and X2 and X3 are each 1 amino acid long, and are each independently T, N, S, or Q; or X2 and X3 are each 2 amino acid long and X2 is (Y or F)T, (Y or F)N, (Y or F)S or (Y or F)Q, and X3 is T(Y or F), N(Y or F), S(Y or F) or Q(Y or F), wherein the amyloid peptide self-assembles into amyloid fibrils, and wherein the peptide has a total length of 11-13 amino acids.

Abstract: An autonomous landing system includes a vertical landing aircraft, a visual cue coupled to an offshore landing platform and including a visual indicator located that extends vertically across a horizon and is maintained parallel with the horizon, and an autonomous control system configured to control a position of the aircraft with respect to the visual indicator to maneuver the aircraft into a hovering, predefined landing position above the offshore landing platform, and control the position of the aircraft with respect to the visual indicator to cause the aircraft to descend from the landing position and land on the offshore landing platform.

Abstract: In an embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to a method of treating or preventing C. difficile infections. In some embodiments, the method includes administering an antitoxin to a subject in need thereof. In some embodiments, the antitoxin includes a designed ankyrin repeat protein (DARPin). In an additional embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to a composition including an antitoxin for treating or preventing C. difficile infections. In some embodiments, the anti-toxin includes a DARPin. In some embodiments, the anti-toxin is a monomeric or dimeric DARPin for the neutralization of Clostridium difficile toxin B (TcdB).

Abstract: A method for predictive fire control, comprising identifying a plurality of wildfire risk points on a power grid, calculating a route for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to intersect with a maximum number of points as a function of a range of the UAV, controlling the UAV to traverse the route, monitoring one or more sensors for an indication of a wildfire event and controlling the UAV to release a fire retardant on the fire.

Abstract: In an embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to a supercapacitor composed of a cathode material, a gel electrolyte, and a zinc foil anode. In some embodiments, the cathode material, the gel electrolyte, and the zinc foil anode are in a multilayered configuration. In some embodiments, the cathode and anode materials provide load-bearing capability. In an additional embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to a method of making a supercapacitor. In general, the method includes fabricating a cathode material, preparing a gel electrolyte, coating a zinc foil electrode with the gel electrolyte, and sandwiching the zinc foil electrode with the cathode material. In some embodiments, the sandwiching forms a multilayered configuration composed of the cathode material, the gel electrolyte, and the zinc foil anode.

Abstract: A photonic biosensor including a biological probe disposed on a mid-infrared-transparent waveguide can be used to detect biological analytes in biological samples, using specific binding of the analyte to the probe in conjunction with absorption spectroscopy. In various embodiments, the biosensor is used for molecular diagnostics, e.g., to detect oligonucleotides or proteins associated with a coronavirus.

Abstract: Chalcogenide waveguides with high width-to-height aspect ratios and a smooth exposed surfaces can serve as mid-infrared evanescent-absorption-based sensors for detecting and identifying volatile organic compounds and/or determining their concentration, optionally in real-time. The waveguide sensors may be manufactured using a modified sputtering process in which the sputtering target and waveguide substrate are titled and/or laterally offset relative to each other and the substrate is continuously rotated.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides intrabody compositions comprising i) an intrabody and ii) one or more inserts. The disclosure also provides methods for activating and deactivating intracellular and extracellular interactions utilizing the compositions, for instance via chemical and/or light.

Abstract: A method of fabrication processing a pre-preg material includes applying electromagnetic heating to a composition including a fiber and a resin. The electromagnetic heating is conducted with at least one fringing field capacitor utilizing radio frequency (RF) alternating current (AC) and controlling cross-linking of the resin in the composition via the electromagnetic heating.

Abstract: A method of characterizing brain activity includes receiving an electroencephalogram (EEG) output. In addition, the method includes determining a mathematical model of a brain using the EEG output, wherein the mathematical model comprises a plurality of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) that are determined based on the EEG output. Further, the method includes characterizing brain activity of a subject using the mathematical model.