Abstract: A multichannel stethographic device includes a plurality of individual stethoscopes that may be embedded in a foam pad or surface mounted on a thin flexible substrate. Additional stethoscopes for the heart and thorax may also be utilized. The system may include a signal conditioning circuit, wireless DAQ module, and software (algorithms). The systems may be configured to identify and diagnose various disease conditions such as pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, congestive heart failure (CHF), interstitial pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and vocal cord dysfunction (VCD).

Abstract: A method of producing and repulping paper having a silicone release liner includes producing paper having a silicone release liner that is initially secured to the paper by a dissolvable material. During production of the paper, a water-soluble coating may be applied to a paper surface, and a silicone release coating is then applied to the water-soluble coating. Upon rewetting of the paper during repulping, the water-soluble coating dissolves, thereby enabling separation of the silicone release coating from the paper. The repulpable silicone release liner permits recovery of paper fibers using conventional repulping and recycling processes.

Abstract: The programmable communication system supports communication between both user devices message broker server(s) using a processor-based programmable modular block device implementing an execution engine and programmed to communicate with other processors through a message broker server using a predefined communication protocol. The block device includes a device port for coupling to sensor(s) and actuator(s), and a communication port to communicate with other processors using said predefined communication protocol. An editor program discovers and acquires information about the block device and about other devices in communication with the block device directly or via a message broker. The editor generates and downloads to the block device a rules-based program based on the acquired information. The block device uses the execution engine to execute the program and thereby obtain information through the ports and provide information and control signals.

Abstract: A laser beam is transmitted through a drill bit comprising diamond or other suitable light-transmitting material having sufficient hardness. The laser beam exits a tip of the drill bit, thereby heating and softening the material being drilled at and/or near the interface of the drill with the material being drilled. The process may be utilized to drill hard and brittle materials such as ceramics and semiconductors, composites and ceramic matrix composites. The process may cause high pressure phase transformation, resulting in a more ductile and plastic material near the drill point/tip. The process provides more rapid drilling, improved surface quality in drilled holes, and less tool wear.

Abstract: A printed stretchable strain sensor is provided. The printed stretchable strain sensor has a stretchable substrate and a composite ink coupled to a surface of the stretchable substrate to form a strain-sensitive conductive structure. The composite ink includes both a nanowire and a metal flake. The capability of the fabricated strain sensor, printed in two design configurations: straight line and wavy line, was investigated by studying its electro-mechanical response towards varying elongations of 1 mm, 2 mm, and 3 mm.

Abstract: A method of producing a printed electronic device on a thin PDMS film which includes coupling a first layer of a water-soluble polymer to a substrate and drying the first layer of the water-soluble polymer. The method further includes coupling a second layer of a crosslinkable PDMS polymer to the first layer of the water-soluble polymer and curing the second layer of the crosslinkable PDMS polymer to form the thin PDMS film. The method also includes printing one or more functional layers on the thin PDMS film and drying the one or more functional layers on the thin PDMS film to form the printed electronic device coupled to the substrate.

Abstract: A method of creating a sand mold for rapid casting, including the steps of determining a mold shape, providing a generally uniform thickness layer of sand, curing at least a portion of the layer of sand, machining the cured portions of the layer of sand based on the desired mold shape, and repeating the layer-forming, curing and machining steps until the sand mold is complete. Another aspect includes a machine for creating the sand mold having a build envelope defined by side walls, a movable build platform and at least one movable tool assembly, the movable tool assembly having a single or plurality of tools chosen from the group consisting of a sand dispenser, a sand leveling device, a curing device, and a machining device.

Abstract: A method of selectively extracting anions from an aqueous solution using an anion encapsulating aggregate formed upon the addition of a solvent, a copper contributor, a hydroxide contributor, a counterion contributor, and pyrazole to an aqueous solution containing the anions, or upon the addition of a solvent, a polymeric chain of [CuII(?-OH)(?-pz)]? and a counterion contributor to the aqueous solution. The aggregates include compounds of the formula cis CuIIx(OR1)y(R2pz)z, where R1 is H or an alkyl group, R2 is H, or an alkyl group or a charged group, pz is pyrazolate and each of x, y, and z is an integer between about 1 and about 40. In addition, ligand-containing anion encapsulating aggregates can be formed by synthesis with a lig-and-bound pyrazole or by substituting the ligand-bound pyrazole for the pyrazole incorporated in the aggregate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for green sand molding that prevents a bad casting by producing a mold that does not have a brittle surface. The method has the steps of filling the green sand into a flask while fluidizing the green sand by aeration at a pressure between 0.05 and 0.18 MPa, and squeezing the green sand that has been filled in the flask, wherein a mold is produced so that the friability of the mold is 10 or less. The friability is calculated by the following steps: putting the mold in a rotating cylindrical sieve that has a diameter of 177.8 min and. USA, sieve size No. 8, rotating the cylindrical sieve at 57 rpm for 60 seconds, dividing the weight of the sand that has passed through the sieve by the weight of the sand and multiplying the quotient by 100.

Abstract: A nanoparticle barrier-coated substrate is prepared by mixing pigment nanoparticles, a binder and a liquid carrier to form a coating solution, applying the coating solution onto the substrate and drying the coating solution to form the barrier coating on the substrate. The pigment nanoparticles can be chosen from talc, calcium carbonate, clay, silica and plastic and the substrate can be a cellulosic material or an inorganic material. If the substrate is initially provided with large pores, a precoating can be applied to the substrate prior to the application of the pigment nanoparticles thereto.

Abstract: Carbon nanotubes are formed on a substrate by providing a coiled filament in a chemical vapor deposition chamber, supporting a substrate having a catalytic coating provided thereon inside the coiled filament, evacuating air, if present, from the chamber, heating the filament and applying a bias voltage between the filament and the substrate, introducing a reactant gas into the chamber, and pyrolyzing the reactant gas to deposit the carbon nanotubes on the catalytic coating. The substrate can be in the form of a rod or fiber and the carbon nanotubes can be deposited in a radially extending cluster on the substrate. The present invention also contemplates an apparatus for carrying out the inventive method.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a workstation having a base including two spaced apart arcuate legs having a common first radius. A worksurface support assembly is supported on the base and includes two spaced apart arcuate supports. Each support has a common second radius that is equal to the common first radius of the legs. Elongate slots extend through each of the supports. Each of the legs has a central segment that is received in a respective one of the elongate slots in the supports. Each of the supports includes an arcuate member that is slidably fitted on a support track. A worksurface is secured to and supported by the arcuate members. A lift assembly is provided and is configured to move the worksurface support assembly in a generally horizontal direction with respect to the base to vertically adjust the worksurface between upper and lower elevational positions.

Abstract: A multi-channel fiber-optic rotary joint having an elongate housing with a passageway extending therethrough. Fiber optic containing bundles are oriented in hollow shafts at the opposite ends of the passageway, which hollow shafts are rotatively supported in the housing. An alignment mechanism is provided inside the housing for effecting an optimizing of signal strength of signals transmitted between the respective fiber optic bundles.

Abstract: A chair (20) formed out of two side panels (22, 24) and a seat panel (26). The side panels are formed with complementary slots (32, 34) that allow the side panels to be interlocked. The seat panel is formed to have wings (44) that extend out from the sides of the seat panel adjacent the front of the seat panel. The wings seat in slots (48) that extend rearwardly from the front ends of the side panels. The seat panel is also formed with tabs (52) that extend out from the side edges of the panel. The tabs rest on support surfaces (54, 55) formed on the side panels. The assembly of this chair does not require the use of any fastening tools.

Abstract: The method of detecting and identifying a substance in a sample requires the sample to be changed from a first temperature to a second temperature, the sample scanned with an instrument for measuring infrared radiation, the temperature difference between the temperature of the substance at the sample's first and second temperatures determined, and the substance identified based on this temperature difference. The infrared method allows for the objective determination of a substance in a sample without the necessity of the labor and time required in conventional methods and is especially suitable for detecting the presence of "stickies" in recycled paper.

Abstract: A furniture assembly is made up of a base member, an intermediate member, an upper member and several flexible connectors which join the base, intermediate and upper member. The base can have a central opening provided therein having a continuous inner surface and the intermediate member can have a continuous outer surface which corresponds to the continuous inner surface of the base. The flexible connectors pass through openings provided in the intermediate member and fixes the relative positions of the base member, upper member and intermediate member by resilient forces.

Abstract: A split frame table has a planar table top and a base. The base has several panels that are rotatably joined via hinges to each other. The panels each have two pairs of legs and a pair of cross members. The pairs of legs are spaced apart from each other and have the cross members located between the legs. The spaced apart pairs of legs define a leg slot therebetween. The panels each have a cavity formed therein. The leg slots and the cavities form a storage chamber when the panels are arranged in a linear aligned position. The linear aligned position allows insertion of the table top into the storage chamber for storage and protection of the table top. The table top is removable from the storage chamber when the panels are in the linear aligned position. The panels can be arranged into another position in which all of the panels are generally perpendicular to each adjoining panel. This position allows the table top to be supported on top of the base to form a table.

Abstract: A multi-functional bench seat. The bench seat has a base to which one or more seat sections are attached. Each seat section has a complementary support arm also attached to the base. A back section is attached to each support arm. Both the seat section and support arm are capable of being rotated relative to the base. The back section is capable of being rotated relative to the seat support arm. Consequently, the bench seat may be positioned in a number of different positions to serve as either a seat or a support table.