Abstract: A device and method for manufacturing a two-dimensional electrostrictive field effect transistor having a substrate, a source, a drain, and a channel disposed between the source and the drain. The channel is a two-dimensional layered material and a gate proximate the channel. The gate has a column of an electrostrictive or piezoelectric or ferroelectric material, wherein an electrical input to the gate produces an elongation of the column that applies a force or mechanical stress on the channel and reduces a bandgap of two-dimensional material such that the two-dimensional electrostrictive field effect transistor operates with a subthreshold slope that is less than 60 mV/decade.

Abstract: Micro- or nano-pores are produced in a membrane for various applications including filtration and sorting functions. Pores with at least one cross-sectional dimension in or near the nano-scale are provided. Device designs and processing allow for the use of thin film disposition and nano-imprinting or nano-molding to produce arrays of nano-pores in membrane materials functioning in applications such as filtration membranes, drug application/control structures, body fluid sampling structures, and sorting membranes. The nano-imprinting or nano-molding approach is utilized to create nano-elements in an organic or inorganic mold material with at least one nano-element cross-sectional dimension in or close to the nano-scale. These nano-elements can be in various shapes including slits, cones, columns, domes, and hemispheres.

Abstract: The present invention relates to devices and methods for assisting breathing in a subject. In one embodiment, the device of the present invention is a splint that can be used to apply negative distending pressure, i.e., outward pull, to one or both of the chest walls and/or the abdomen of a subject. In certain embodiments, the splint comprises an air bladder that can be attached to the skin of the subject's chest and/or abdomen. When the air bladder is inflated, negative distending pressure is applied to the subject's chest and/or abdomen, thereby assisting or promoting respiration. In another embodiment, the splint comprises a piezoelectric material that when activated can provide negative distending pressure to the subject's chest and/or abdomen. In another embodiment, the subject is a neonate. In another embodiment, the inflated air bladder can apply a compressive force on the chest to facilitate expiration, and the removal of secretions in the airways.

Abstract: A compositional simulator that is fully compositional and more robust and accurate is disclosed. Relative permeability (kr) and capillary pressure (Pc) are modeled as state functions, making them unique for a given set of inputs, which can include Euler characteristic, wettability, pore connectivity, saturation, and capillary number. All of these are made to be a function of composition, T, and P or rock properties. These state function kr-Pc models are fully compositional and can fit experimental data, including complex processes such as hysteresis. The models can be tuned to measured relative permeability data, and then give consistent predictions away from that measured data set. Phase labeling problems are eliminated. Flux calculations from one grid block to another are based on phase compositions. Simulations for three or four-phase hydrocarbon phases are possible. Time-step sizes increase to stability limits of implicit-explicit methods.

Abstract: Nanoclusters comprising inorganic nanocrystals and a biodegradable polymer are disclosed. The inorganic nanocrystals have a mean particle size of 1 to 500 nm. The inorganic nanocrystals are contained within a core of the nanoclusters, on the surface of the nanoclusters, contained within a core of the nanoclusters, dispersed throughout the nanoclusters, or a combination thereof. The biodegradable polymer allows the inorganic nanocrystals to be excreted renally over a period of time. The nanoclusters can be used for medical imaging or other biomedical applications.

Abstract: A device for and a method of monitoring the healing status of a fractured bone in a person's limb is disclosed. The external fixation device may include one or more rods or struts that incorporate strain gauges designed to measure the mechanical forces on the strut when force is applied to the fractured bone. The mechanical force data may be collected by an electronic module and transmitted to a computer for statistical analysis. The device may also include a foot insole sensor for measuring the foot plantar force to normalize the data collected by an external fixation device attached to a person's leg. The method of measuring the healing status of a fractured bone includes measuring the changes in mechanical forces exerted on the one or more struts, and based on the measurements, estimating the healing status of the bone.

Abstract: The present invention provides fixation devices, locking assemblies, and methods for using the same. The fixation devices of the invention are capable of accurate insertion of medical devices by providing detection means of a patient's internal anatomy and localizing a desired target. The devices are capable of locking into position to maintain accuracy.

Abstract: Methods and systems of altering optical reflection via dynamic control of an ultrasonic/acoustic guided wave field in an acousto-optical wave conductor are described. Ultrasonic/acoustic waves transmitted by an acousto-optical wave conductor are used to modify the ability of the acousto-optical wave conductor to propagate light waves via the acousto-optical wave conductor when a light beam impinges onto one surface of the acousto-optical wave conductor. A one-way optical device may be produced by using a dynamic tuning approach to modify the sound field via mode and frequency choice (and possibly beam focusing and steering as well) in order to produce special light reflection and transmission effects. Oscillations in stress (and mass density) along the acousto-optical wave conductor and possibly across the thickness of the acousto-optical wave conductor may serve as a special acousto-optic Bragg diffraction grating that alters the nonspecular reflection of light.

Abstract: A method for treating wood packaging materials using Radio Frequency heating includes the steps of heating wood packaging materials using RF heating and applying a pressure before the heating or incrementally applying a pressure during the heating until a temperature of the wood packaging materials reaches at least 60° C. and that temperature is maintained for at least 1 minute.

Abstract: Synthetic brochosomes can be prepared by disposing a monolayer of first polymer microspheres on a substrate and forming a layer of metal on the monolayer of the first polymer microspheres. A monolayer of second polymer microspheres is then disposed on the layer of metal to form a template. The second polymer microspheres are smaller than the first polymer microspheres. A brochosome material is then electrodeposited on the template. The brochosome material is selected from the group consisting of a metal, a metal oxide, a polymer or a hybrid thereof. The first polymer microspheres and the second polymer microspheres are then removed to form a coating of synthetic brochosomes of the brochosome material on the substrate.

Abstract: An emotion analysis and recognition system including an automated recognition of bodily expression of emotion (ARBEE) system is described. The system may include program instructions executable by a processor to: receive a plurality of body movement models, each body movement model generated based on a crowdsourced body language dataset, calculate at least one evaluation metric for each body movement model, select a highest ranked body movement model based on the at least one metric calculated for each body movement model, combine the highest ranked body movement model with at least one other body movement model of the plurality of body movement models, calculate at least one evaluation metric for each combination of body movement models, and determine a highest ranked combination of body movement models to predict a bodily expression of emotion.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a membrane comprising a bonding layer; and an activation layer disposed on the bonding layer and in contact with it; where the activation layer comprises catalyst nanoparticles that are operative to decompose impurities contained in an aqueous solution to generate gas bubbles that remove a sludge disposed on the membrane. Disclosed herein too is a method of purifying an aqueous solution comprising disposing in the aqueous solution, a membrane that comprises a bonding layer and an activation layer; where the activation layer comprises catalyst nanoparticles; partitioning the aqueous solution into a concentrate portion and a filtrate portion; where the activation layer contacts the concentrate portion; and decomposing impurities contained in the aqueous solution to generate gas bubbles that remove a sludge disposed on the membrane.

Abstract: A method for treating and preventing diseases associated with neutrophil infiltration, particularly ocular diseases, is provided, which method comprises administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of ceramide or a derivative thereof. Also provided is a composition for treating diseases associated with neutrophil infiltration, the composition comprising ceramide or a derivative thereof.

Abstract: Vesicles formed from a block copolymer comprising at least one (poly)2-C1-3alkyl-2-oxazoline block and at least one polybutadiene block; and membranes comprising such vesicles. Block copolymers comprising at least one (poly)2-C1-3alkyl-2-oxazoline block and at least one polybutadiene block, provided that the copolymer is not the diblock copolymer consisting of 40 butadiene units and 190 2-methyl-2-oxazoline units terminated by a hydroxy group, are novel, and also form part of the invention.

Abstract: Provided are compositions and methods for use in polycystic ovary syndrome diagnosis (PCOS). The method involves a sample from a subject for a DENND1A Variant 2 mRNA or DENND1 A Variant 2 protein to make or aid in a diagnosis of PCOS. Also provided are methods for selecting an individual as a candidate for therapy for polycystic ovary syndrome by testing a biological sample from an individual for DENND1 A Variant 2 mRNA or DENND1 A Variant 2 protein and designating the individual as a candidate for the PCOS based on determining DENND1 A Variant 2 mRNA or DENND1 A Variant 2 protein in the sample. Also provided are products for use in aiding diagnosis of PCOS which contain reagents for detecting DENND1 A Variant 2 mRNA or DENND1 A Variant 2 protein, and packaging containing printed material describing use and indications for the product.

Abstract: An impeller includes a hub, and a plurality of blades supported by the hub, the blades being arranged in at least two blade rows. The impeller has a deployed configuration in which the blades extend away from the hub, and a stored configuration in which at least one of the blades is radially compressed, for example by folding the blade towards the hub. The impeller may also have an operational configuration in which at least some of the blades are deformed from the deployed configuration upon rotation of the impeller when in the deployed configuration. The outer edge of one or more blades may have a winglet, and the base of the blades may have an associated indentation to facilitate folding of the blades.

Abstract: An impeller includes a hub and a blade supported by the hub. The impeller has a stored configuration in which the blade is compressed so that its distal end moves towards the hub, and a deployed configuration in which the blade extends away from the hub. The impeller may be part of a pump for pumping fluids, such as blood, and may include a cannula having a proximal portion with a fixed diameter, and a distal portion with an expandable diameter. The impeller may reside in the expandable portion of the cannula. The cannula may have a compressed diameter which allows it to be inserted percutaneously into a patient. Once at a desired location, the expandable portion of the cannula may be expanded and the impeller expanded to the deployed configuration. A flexible drive shaft may extend through the cannula for rotationally driving the impeller within the patient.

Abstract: The present invention is related to the development of therapeutics and prophylactics for the treatment and/or prevention of bacterial infections in humans and other mammals. A new class of small molecules is disclosed that inhibits the bacterial trans-translation/ribosome rescue mechanism and thus blocks infection of host cells by bacteria. Also disclosed are methods of using the small molecule inhibitors in the treatment/prevention of bacterial infections.

Abstract: A sense amplifier utilizes a phase transition material (PTM) in conjunction with CMOS circuits to provide a precise sensing threshold. The sense amplifier can be used in memory applications to sense states of stored bits with high accuracy and robustness. In one sense amplifier, a first diode-connected transistor has gate and drain nodes coupled to an input node of the sense amplifier, a second transistor has a gate node coupled to the gate node of the first diode-connected transistor, and the PTM is coupled to the source node of the second transistor. In another sense amplifier, a first transistor has a gate node coupled to an input node of the sense amplifier, a PTM is coupled to the source node of the first transistor, and an output stage including an inverter is coupled between a drain node of the first transistor and an output node of the sense amplifier.

Abstract: Dielectric capacitors including dielectric compositions with high dielectric constant, low dielectric loss, and high thermal stability are disclosed. The dielectric compositions can include a dipolar polymer having a high glass transition temperature (e.g., Tg>150° C.) in combination with either (i) another dipolar polymer having a high glass transition temperature (e.g., Tg?150° C.) in the form of a blend, or (ii) the dipolar polymer with an inorganic interfacial agent volume content less than 2 vol % in the dielectric composition.