Abstract: Systems and methods of operating a lower limb device having at least a powered joint are provided. A method includes configuring the device to a first state in a finite state model for a current activity mode including a stair ascent mode or a stair descent mode. The method also includes, based on real-time sensor information, transitioning the device between different states in the finite state model when pre-defined criteria for transitioning among the different states are met. In the method, the finite state model for stair ascent includes lifting and swing phases, where the lifting phase includes a powered knee extension and a powered ankle push-off. The finite state model for stair descent includes yielding and swing states, where the swing states include providing a powered plantarflexion of the powered ankle joint and the yielding states include providing a resistive and passive plantarflexion of the powered ankle joint.

Abstract: A design for test (DfT) architecture is provided that enables pre-bond parametric testing of through-silicon vias (TSVs). A grouping of N number of input/output (I/O) segments are configured to receive a test signal in a feedback loop, where each I/O segment includes one or more buffers (or inverters) and a TSV connected at one end to the one or more buffers. The TSV acts as a shunt-connected capacitor—when defect free—and includes a load resistance when the TSV contains a defect. Each I/O segment can also include one or two multiplexers to control whether the I/O segment receives a test or functional signal and, optionally, whether the I/O segment is bypassed or included in the ring oscillator. The varying loads caused by the defects cause variations in the delay across the buffers (or inverters) of an I/O segment that can be detected in the output signal.

Abstract: A multi-loop switching control system for a doubly-fed wind turbine based on logic switch control. Output variables of the doubly-fed wind turbine may be used to form output feedback control channels. Each output feedback control channel may switch between a switch controller and a vector controller to form a multi-loop switching controller. When a power system associated with the doubly-fed wind turbine is subjected to a relatively large external disturbance, state variables and the output variables of the wind turbine deviate from an original balance point, and the output feedback control loops of the doubly-fed wind turbine are switched from the vector controller to the switch controller. Under control of the switch controller, the state variables and output variables return to a vicinity of the original balance point, and the output feedback control loops of the wind turbine are switched from the switch controller to the vector controller.

Abstract: The measuring cup includes numerous embodiments configured for a user to precisely determine the cup contents without need to lift the cup to one's eye level or to lower the eye level to the level of the cup contents. The various embodiments include folding cups; cups having transparent passages in the wall; cups having adjustably positionable bottoms; cups having level indicator rods in the cup interior extending upward from the cup bottom; cups having one or more filaments extending across the cup interior; cups having rigid level indicators spanning the cup interior; cups having adjustably positionable level indicator tabs therein; cups having buoyant level indicator tabs adjustably positionable in the cup interior; and cups having removable clip-on scales extending down along the interior of the cup wall, the scales having a plurality of attachment points for the removable attachment of a level indicator tab at a desired attachment point.

Abstract: The present invention includes a hydrogel and a method of making a porous hydrogel by preparing an aqueous mixture of an uncrosslinked polymer and a crystallizable molecule; casting the mixture into a vessel; allowing the cast mixture to dry to form an amorphous hydrogel film; seeding the cast mixture with a seed crystal of the crystallizable molecule; growing the crystallizable molecule into a crystal structure within the uncrosslinked polymer; crosslinking the polymer around the crystal structure under conditions in which the crystal structure within the crosslinked polymer is maintained; and dissolving the crystals within the crosslinked polymer to form the porous hydrogel.

Abstract: A device for capturing preselected cell types from a fluid sample that includes a plurality of cell types includes a substrate, a plurality of nanowires at least one of attached to or integral with a surface of the substrate such that each nanowire of the plurality of nanowires has an unattached end, and a layer of temperature-responsive material formed on at least the unattached end of each of the plurality of nanowires. The layer of temperature-responsive material has a compact configuration at a first temperature and an expanded configuration at a second temperature so as to facilitate release of cells captured at the first temperature to be released at the second temperature.

Abstract: The presently disclosed delivery systems utilize microtools, also referred to as theragrippers, to deliver a drug or other therapeutic agent to targeted tissue. More particularly, the drug delivery system and methods provide a delivery system that is capable of anchoring to a tissue site and then delivering a drug or therapeutic agent to the tissue directly to or in the vicinity of the site over an extended period of time. Any number of theragrippers may be deployed as desired to deliver different doses of a desired drug or therapeutic agent. The theragrippers also can be biodegradable such that they remain in place for an extended period of time and then degrade without adversely affecting the surrounding tissue.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a rechargeable electrochemical cell including an electrolyte side, a cathode side, and a polymer/plasticizer. The electrolyte side includes a solid glass electrolyte including an electrolyte mobile cation and electric dipoles, as well as an anode including a metal of the electrolyte mobile cation and contacting the solid glass electrolyte at an anode:solid glass electrolyte interface. The cathode side includes a cathode including a cathode active material into which a cathode guest cation is reversibly extracted/inserted. The cathode active material has a voltage versus lithium (Li) metal of between 3V and 15V. The polymer/plasticizer contacts the solid glass electrolyte at a solid glass electrolyte:polymer/plasticizer interface and the cathode at a polymer/plasticizer:cathode interface such that the cathode guest cation is confined to the cathode side and the electrolyte mobile cation is confined to the anode side during charge and discharge of the electrochemical cell.

Abstract: A variety of targeting moiety peptide epitope complexes (TPECs) are described in different embodiments. In each of the embodiments, however, a targeting moiety may be used to deliver the TPEC to an area of unwanted cells, allowing for a therapeutic effect to be delivered locally. The TPEC also contains a plurality of T-cell epitopes. The TPEC further comprises cleavage sites that release the T-cell epitopes from the targeting agent, and in some embodiments from each other, when they are in the microenvironment of the unwanted cells. Although the arrangement and number of T-cell epitopes varies in different embodiments described herein, once cleaved from the targeting agent (and any neighboring T-cell epitopes), the T-cell epitopes function by stimulating an immune response against the unwanted cells.

Abstract: A wavelength routing SW is a large-scale optical switch device of a conventional technique, and it requires as many wavelength-tunable light sources as the number of input ports. For the wavelength-tunable light sources to achieve a stable oscillating operation across a wide wavelength range, a complicated control mechanism is necessary. This has been an obstacle in providing a large-scale optical switch device in terms of cost and circuit scale. A wavelength routing SW in the present disclosure includes N wavelength group generators, a splitting-selection unit, and MN tunable filters. Each wavelength group generator includes M fixed-wavelength light sources. Inexpensive general-purpose devices that require no control mechanism for wavelength tuning can be used as the fixed-wavelength light source. The channel loss in the optical switch device can also be reduced by using light sources with a limited narrow range of tunable wavelengths and the wavelength-dependent output port selecting function of an AWG.

Abstract: A defects evaluation system and method are provided in the present invention. Based on the principle of the microscopic scattering dark-field imaging, the present invention implements a sub-aperture scanning for the surface of spherical optical components and then obtains surface defects information with image processing. Firstly, the present invention takes full advantage of the characteristic that the surface defects of spherical optical components can generate scattering light when an annular illumination beam irradiates on the surface, to implement the sub-aperture scanning and imaging that covers the entire spherical surface. Then, a series of procedures such as the global correction of sub-apertures, the 3D stitching, the 2D projection and the digital feature extraction are taken to inspect spherical surface defects. Finally, actual size and position information of defects are evaluated quantitatively with the defects calibration data.

Abstract: A Raman spectroscopic detection device comprising at least one microfluidic sample channel; at least one excitation waveguide for exciting a Raman signal and at least one collection waveguide for collecting a Raman signal. The output of the excitation waveguide and the input of the collection waveguide are positioned directly in the microfluidic sample channel.

Abstract: Methods for label-free characterization of untagged molecules within a biological sample in-situ. The untagged molecules may be constituent of extracellular vesicles, and are excited in the biological sample with at least one wavelength band of light derived from a single stream of optical pulses. Light emitted by the untagged molecules by SHG, THG, 2PAF and 3PAF processes is detected. Separate measures of the biological sample corresponding to light emitted by the untagged molecules in each of the SHG, THG, 2PAF and 3PAF processes are derived. On that basis, normal extracellular vesicles may be differentiated from extracellular vesicles associated with a tumor on the basis of a specified signature of characteristics of images of SHG, THG, 2PAF and 3PAF processes.

Abstract: Microneedle arrays and methods of forming the same can include one or more bioactive components bonded to a biocompatible material such that the one or more bioactive components are cleavable in vivo to release the bioactive component from the biocompatible material.

Abstract: In this work, a hydrophilic, yet slippery solid surface was developed. Because the surfaces are hydrophilic, there is significant affinity between the surface and contacting water, which results in substantial spreading of the contacting liquids on the surface. Due to their strong affinity, a high solid-liquid adhesion having virtually no mobility of the water on the surface occurs. However, counter-intuitively, the disclosed surfaces are highly slippery such that liquids can slide on the surface while maintaining their hydrophilicity. Demonstrated herein are water droplets that can slide on the surface under its own weight, when the hydrophilic, yet slippery solid surface is slightly tilted (?=3°). This indicates that the disclosed hydrophilic surfaces are slippery to water.

Abstract: Compounds, compositions, and methods comprising a polyamine compound are described, which may be used to kill, disperse, treat, or reduce biofilms, or to inhibit or substantially prevent biofilm formation. In certain aspects, the present invention relates to compounds, compositions, and methods comprising polyamine compounds that have antimicrobial or dispersing activity against a variety of bacterial strains capable of forming biofilms.

Abstract: The method of friction stir spot welding uses a database of stored optimization parameters to maximize welding strength for an input type of material and an input geometrical parameter of the material, such as its thickness. Experiments are performed for a variety of different materials having different thicknesses. Each experiment performed for each material and each thickness associated with the material measures the welding strength of a friction stir spot welding process for varying values of an initial dynamic welding parameter, a final dynamic welding parameter and a type of varying function. The values of the initial dynamic welding parameter, final dynamic welding parameter and type of varying function that maximize the measured welding strength for the selected material and its selected thickness are stored in a lookup table. A rotating tool may then be controlled using these optimized values in order to maximize welding strength.

Abstract: The synthesis of ursolic acid nanoparticles includes dissolving ursolic acid powder in methanol, boiling water for five minutes, and adding the methanol solution to the boiled water dropwise at a flow rate of 0.1-0.3 ml/min under ultrasonic conditions. After sonication for 20 minutes, the contents are stirred for about 15 minutes, and then dried. Particle size distribution studies and TEM micrographs confirm the resulting product comprises nanoparticles. In vitro testing confirms the ursolic acid nanoparticles exhibit greater anticancer activity than conventional-size particles, and that the nanoparticles exhibit antimicrobial effect against gram positive and gram negative bacteria, as well as fungi.

Abstract: Diagnostic systems, methods, and devices employing low-cost handheld components are disclosed herein. A diagnostic system can include a diagnostic device that is configured to perform one or more assays on a fluid sample, such as a whole blood sample, in one or more microfluidic channels or chambers. The diagnostic device can move the fluid sample into or through the one or more microfluidic channels or chambers without using any electrical power, for example, using manual actuation to generate a positive or negative pressure within the diagnostic device. The diagnostic device can have a connector for interfacing with a separate handheld unit that can provide power and data processing. For example, the separate handheld unit can be a smartphone or PDA, and the connector can interface with an existing input/output port of the unit to draw power and/or transmit data.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, enhancement of a field of view of a user may be facilitated via one or more dynamic display portions. In some embodiments, one or more changes related to one or more eyes of a user may be monitored. Based on the monitoring, one or more positions of one or more transparent display portions of a screen of wearable device may be adjusted, where the transparent display portions enable the user to see through the screen of the wearable device. A live video stream representing an environment of the user may be obtained via the wearable device. An enhanced video stream derived from the live video stream may be displayed on one or more other display portions of the screen of the wearable device.