Abstract: In some aspects, the present disclosure relates to switchable phase change material system (SPCMS). In some embodiments, dynamic, switchable phase change material systems allow building envelope assemblies to store energy from one side and release to the other side in order to reduce thermal loads and peak demands for both space heating and cooling. PCM layers can be coupled with thermal insulation layers to ensure heat does not transfer readily through the building envelope and thus increase thermal heating and cooling loads for the building. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, a combination of rotatable members comprised of PCM and insulation are switchable in position such that layers with PCM are switched from one side to the other without the need to maintain the thermal insulation within a building envelope.

Abstract: A medical device is provided. The medical device includes a selectively strainable surface and a plurality of protrusions extending from the selectively strainable surface. One or more protrusions of the plurality of protrusions are configured to undergo a transformation including at least one of deformation and migration in response to a change in strain of the selectively strainable surface.

Abstract: A system for fine-scale, in-situ measurements of turbulence in the atmosphere is described. The system may be a balloon-borne instrument, performing measurements during slow descents from stratospheric altitudes, and may include at least some of onboard data compression, telemetry of data to a ground station, self-calibration, and data processing to extract turbulence parameters.

Abstract: Through discrimination of the scattered signal polarization state, a lidar system measures a distance through semi-transparent media by the reception of single or multiple scattered signals from a scattering medium. Combined and overlapped single or multiple scattered light signals from the medium can be separated by exploiting varying polarization characteristics. This removes the traditional laser and detector pulse width limitations that determine the system's operational bandwidth, translating relative depth measurements into the conditions of two surface timing measurements and achieving sub-pulse width resolution.

Abstract: Disclosed are cellulose-based flexible gels containing cellulose nanorods, ribbons, fibers, and the like, and cellulose-enabled inorganic or polymeric composites, wherein the gels have tunable optical, heat transfer, and stiffness properties. The disclosed gels are in the form of hydrogels, organogels, liquid-crystal (LC) gels, and aerogels, depending on the solvents in the gels.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and compositions for overcoming the dose-dependent down regulation of interleukin 10 (IL-10) by expressing, in addition to an interleukin 10 (IL-10) peptide, an IL-10 receptor type 1 (IL-10R1) peptide. The methods have use in treating a variety of diseases and symptoms, including but not limited to neuropathic or chronic pain; symptoms and physiological damage associated with multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, ALS, neuroinflammation, arthritis and other diseases of the joint; and autoimmune diseases.

Abstract: Technology is disclosed herein that the enhances the measurability of on-chip temperature in a cryogenic quantum computing environment. In an implementation, transceiver circuitry sends a probe signal through a target device. A lumped-element resonator device that is proximate to the surface of the target device interacts with the probe signal and modulates the probe signal. Processing circuitry reads the probe signal through the target device, and responsively measures the resonance frequency of the lumped-element resonator device. The processing circuitry correlates the measured resonance frequency with a temperature and responsively determines the temperature of the target device.

Abstract: The disclosure provides systems and methods of 3D manufacturing of striation-free objects using volumetric additive manufacturing (VAM) techniques. The systems and methods include irradiation of a photocurable resin for a pre-gelation duration and subsequent energy delivery with a diffuse curing system to produce a 3D printed object without striations.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present technology generally relate to multi-frequency satellite navigation receiver technology. More specifically, some embodiments relate to an inter-frequency signal aiding technique for multi-frequency signal tracking in a multi-frequency receiver. The present technology enables a satellite navigation receiver (such as GPS) to continue operation, or to have improved performance, in environments where signals on one or more frequency bands experience fading. Some embodiments can estimate parameters of signal channels that experience fading based on measurements obtained from all or other less compromised frequency bands in linear operation by the receiver. Some embodiments can optimally estimate carrier parameters of navigation signals with consideration of relative measurement qualities. These parameters are used to construct the local reference signals, maintain lock on the fading signals, and obtain accurate positioning solutions and remote sensing observations.

Abstract: A device and method for drilling a pilot hole within an object at a predetermined angle. The device includes a spacer having a lateral surface established by a first surface and a second surface and at least a portion of the lateral surface includes an extension. The extension having a proximal end and a distal end where the proximal end abuts the lateral surface and the distal end is configured to couple to a first end of a body. A guide body is also provided and is coupled to the device. The guide member includes a bore extending from a first end to a second end. Subsequent to disposing the spacer within the object, a drilling instrument may be disposed within the guide body thereby drilling out the pilot hole at the prescribed angle.

Abstract: An assembly and method for end-to-side connection to anatomical tissue is disclosed. The system and method are particularly useful in coupling a ventricular assist device pump to an aorta. The assembly and method include using a tubular graft member coupled to a connection ring having at least one of a plurality of distally projecting tines extending from a distal aspect of the connection ring, and a stent having a distal flange section configured to abut an abluminal wall surface of the aorta, and an assembly including the tubular graft member and connection ring, for delivering the end-to-side connection.

Abstract: Compositions relating to thermostable vaccines and methods of preparing the same. Specifically, methods of preparing thermostable vaccines based on a recombinant ricin neurotoxin protein and uses of co-adjuvants to develop a composition capable of eliciting an immune response in a subject.

Abstract: A photonic-based microwave generator includes a mode-locked laser that generates an optical pulse train, a feedback photodiode that samples the optical pulse train, and a servo amplifier that processes the photodiode output into a servo signal. The servo signal controls the mode-locked laser to suppress relative intensity noise on the optical pulse train. The microwave generator may also include a microwave photodiode for converting the optical pulse train into a microwave signal. The microwave generator may also include a second servo amplifier that processes a low-frequency output of the microwave photodiode into a second servo signal that drives an optical modulator that modulates the optical pulse train. The microwave photodiode, optical modulator, and servo amplifier form a feedback loop that suppresses amplitude noise on the microwave signal. By reducing amplitude noise and relative intensity noise, phase noise caused by amplitude-to-phase noise conversion is minimized.

Abstract: Chronological age is an important predictor of morbidity and mortality, however it is unable to account for heterogeneity in the decline of physiological function and health with advancing age. Several attempts have been made to instead define a “biological age” using multiple physiological parameters in order to account for variation in the trajectory of human aging; however, these methods require technical expertise and are likely too time-intensive and costly to be implemented into clinical practice. Accordingly, a metabolomic signature of biological aging was developed that can predict changes in physiological function with the convenience of a blood sample. A weighted model of biological age was generated based on multiple clinical and physiological measures in a large group of healthy adults and was then applied to a cohort of healthy older adults who were tracked longitudinally over a 5-10 year timeframe.

Abstract: A method for forming an oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalyst (200, 900) may include providing a carbon (210, 910) supported platinum nanoparticle (220, 920) substrate (Pt/C) (110) and applying a tungsten nitride (WN) film (940) onto the surface of the Pt/C substrate (210, 220, 910, 920) using atomic layer deposition (ALD) (120). The Pt/C substrate (210, 220, 910, 920) with the WN film (940) may then be oxidized at a low temperature (130) and annealed at a high temperature in order to reduce WN to metallic tungsten (W) (140). The metallic W forms a blocking layer (230, 930) over coarse Pt nanoparticles (220, 920) and improves the activity and the durability of the Pt/C catalyst (900, 200) when used in fuel cells or related applications.

Abstract: The present invention, in one aspect, relates to monomers and photopolymers that exhibit a high refractive index. The photopolymers of the invention have properties suitable for fabricating holographic optical elements (HOEs).

Abstract: An implantable anastomotic assembly, which is configured to be attached to cardiovascular tissue, includes a connection interface, a plurality of outer plates, and a plurality of connectors configured to extend between and interconnect the connection interface and the plurality of outer plates, respectively, according to various embodiments. The connection interface is separate from and non-contiguous with the plurality of outer plates, according to various embodiments.