Abstract: An orthodontic appliance may include an archwire and multiple orthodontic brackets. The archwire may fit within a human mouth and contain multiple male connectors. Each orthodontic bracket may have a configuration that facilitates attaching the orthodontic bracket to a single tooth. Each orthodontic bracket may allow one of the male connectors to be locked into the orthodontic bracket with a snapping action. The male connector may be unable to slide with respect to the orthodontic bracket after being locked in the orthodontic bracket. A manual unlocking action may allow the male connector to disengage from the orthodontic bracket.

Abstract: An evaluation device for tear secretion uses an air nozzle and a thermal camera device to cause minor irritations to the eyes and record the temperature changes of the eyes to evaluate the quantity of the tear secretion and to determine whether the subject is able to perform reflex tearing normally or not.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a two-stage on-board battery charger that can generate a wide range of output voltages is described herein. Generally, the battery charger employs a first stage buck and boost Power Factor Correction (PFC) converter, and a second stage DC-DC converter. The buck and boost PFC converter is capable of generating variable intermediate DC-link voltages which allow the on-board battery charger to efficiently generate the wider range of output voltages.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for treating patients having cancer or a premalignant or neoplastic condition. It is based, at least in part, on the discovery that a genome editing technique that specifically targets a fusion gene can induce cell death in a cancer cell other than a prostate cancer cell, e.g., a hepatocellular cancer cell, having the fusion gene. The present invention provides methods for treating cancer patients that include performing a genome editing technique targeting a fusion gene present within one or more cells of a subject to produce an anti-cancer effect.

Abstract: An off-the-shelf oral splint that is operatively secured to the maxilla and mandible to assist in reduction and provide maintenance of reduction of maxillary and mandibular fractures in the edentulous or partially edentulous patient. The oral splint is fabricated into a plurality of standardized sizes. These sizes are determined by imaging a population of jaws, measuring dimensions thereof, manipulating (e.g., calculating the mean) these dimensions, and generating a size that is representative of a subset of that population. This can be done for all sizes that would represent individuals in that population. The splint itself is fabricated virtually by creating “U-shapes”, splitting them horizontally into halves, creating an evacuation channel, and generating a coupling mechanism to hold the halves together. The splint can then be printed or otherwise manufactured.

Abstract: Disclosed are air-stable small-molecule adsorbents trimeric [Cu—Br]3 and [Cu—H]3 that undergo a reversible solid-state molecular rearrangements to [Cu—Br.(alkene)]2 and [Cu—H.(alkene)]2 dimers. The reversible solid-state rearrangement allows one to break adsorbent design trade-offs and achieve low heat of adsorption while retaining high selectivity and uptake.

Abstract: A system having a scope with a longitudinal length extending between a proximal end and a distal end includes a plurality of markers spaced along the longitudinal length. The system also includes a disassociation and positioning device that is configured to enhance unsedated transnasal endoscopic procedures by at least partially occluding the vision of a patient while enabling body cavity access, and optionally record and sense body functions such as temperature, heart rate and oxygenation of the blood stream. The system further includes a sensor integrated into the distraction device, wherein the sensor is configured to detect the markers on the longitudinal length of the scope.

Abstract: A high repetition rate pulse laser including a linear cavity having a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction is disclosed. The pulse laser includes, along the first direction, a first optical component, a gain and Raman medium, an acousto-optic crystal, a first lithium triborate (LBO) crystal and a second optical component. The first optical component allows a pumping light incident in the first direction to transmit therethrough. The gain and Raman medium receives the pumping light from the first optical component, and generates a first infrared base laser light having a first wavelength and a second infrared base laser light having a second wavelength. The acousto-optic crystal receives a radio frequency control signal from a radio frequency controller, wherein the radio frequency control signal has a signal period including a low level period and a high level period.

Abstract: A method for separating and enriching sperm from a tissue sample comprises: obtaining a microfluidic separating system having an inlet end and an outlet end, and a membrane filter (e.g., hollow fiber membrane filter) fluidly connected to the outlet end; separating the tissue sample via the microfluidic separating system into a debris fluid volume and a sperm fluid volume; and enriching the sperm fluid volume by removing excess media via the membrane filter. A two-stage tissue sample separation system comprising: a microchannel structure defining a separation fluid channel to form a separation stage; an inlet end of the microchannel structure; an outlet end of the microchannel structure; and a membrane filter fluidly connected to the outlet end for removal of at least a portion of excess media in the tissue sample.

Abstract: The present application relates to the treatment of nematode infections.

Abstract: A wireless power transfer pad for wireless power transfer with active field cancellation using multiple magnetic flux sinks includes a ferrite structure, a center coil positioned adjacent to the ferrite structure, and a plurality of side coils positioned around a perimeter of the center coil and positioned adjacent to the ferrite structure. A direction of current flow of the center coil is opposite a current flow in each of the plurality of side coils such that current flowing in a portion of the center coil adjacent to a portion of a side coil of the plurality of side coils is in a same direction as current in the portion of the side coil.

Abstract: A gripping force measurement device includes a body portion and a plurality of pressure sensors. The plurality of pressure sensors includes at least one first sensor and two or more second sensors including pressure-sensitive surfaces oriented in the same direction. A pressure-sensitive surface of the first sensor and the pressure-sensitive surfaces of the two or more second sensors are disposed such that, when a subject pressurizes the pressure-sensitive surface of the first sensor and the pressure-sensitive surfaces of the two or more second sensors, the gripping force measurement device is grippable by the subject.

Abstract: Enabling the use of lithium metal as an anode electrode is a key for developing next generation energy storage device beyond current lithium ion battery technology. However, there are major obstacles that need to be overcome before it can be used in commercial applications; specifically, dendrite formation can short the cell, and electrolyte decomposition contributes to decreased battery lifetimes. Each obstacle can be overcome by coating a lithium metal anode with a liquid metal buffer that enables uniform deposition of lithium ions thereon, preventing dendritic growth and forming a stable solid electrolyte interface to separate the lithium metal anode from the electrolyte within a battery cell. The liquid metal buffer becomes a semi-liquid buffer when contributing to forming a solid electrolyte interface, and can regain its liquid state when the lithium ions flow to the cathode of the battery cell.

Abstract: Systems and methods for steering an optical beam in two dimensions are disclosed. The system includes a substrate comprising an acousto-optic antenna array and an acoustic transducer. Each antenna of the antenna array includes a high-confinement surface waveguide carrying a light signal. The acoustic transducer imparts acoustic energy into each surface waveguide as a mechanical wave. Interaction of the light signal and mechanical wave in each surface waveguide induces light to scatter into free space. The light scattered out of the plurality of waveguides collectively defines the output beam. The longitudinal angle of output beam, relative to the substrate, is determined by the relative frequencies of the mechanical waves and the light signals. The transverse angle of the output beam is controlled by controlling the relative phases of the mechanical waves and/or light signals across the surface-waveguide array.

Abstract: An adsorbate-selective metal organic framework includes a transition metal; and a plurality of organic molecules coordinated to the transition metal so as to preserve open coordination sites for selectively adsorbing molecules that have low-lying ?* orbitals. The transition metal has a lowest energy spin state in the presence of the selectively adsorbed molecules that are strongly bonding to the transition metal through ?-donating interactions which is different than the lowest energy spin state in the absence of these adsorbed molecules. The transition metal has also a lowest energy spin state in the presence of non-selected molecules that are weakly bonding to the transition metal through ?- and/or ?-accepting and/or donating interactions.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for recovering beer during a beer brewing process. In the method, yeast entrained in beer 36 is recovered from a fermentation step 32. The yeast is separated from the beer to provide recovered beer 42. The recovered beer 42 is passed through an ultraviolet (UV) photo-sterilization unit 46, to provide sterilized recovered beer 48 which is recycled to the fermentation step 32. The invention uses ultraviolet light to achieve a microbially safe beer recovered from surplus yeast, and the recovered beer is recycled back to the brewing process, thereby saving financially as well as water loss.

Abstract: A cluster of nodes, comprising: a plurality of nodes, each having a security policy, and being associated task processing resources; a registration agent configured to register a node and issue a node certificate to the respective node; a communication network configured to communicate certificates to authorize access to computing resources, in accordance with the respective security policy; and a processor configured to automatically dynamically partition the plurality of nodes into subnets, based on at least a distance function of at least one node characteristic, each subnet designating a communication node for communicating control information and task data with other communication nodes, and to communicate control information between each node within the subnet and the communication node of the other subnets.

Abstract: A method for producing a dust-reducing and dust-absorbing material from a nonmetallic mineral and a raw material from a cement plant. The method includes calcining the limestone block, to obtain quicklime; cooling the quicklime at ambient temperature, drying and pulverizing the quicklime, to obtain a first powder essentially consisting of a quicklime powder and a calcium carbonate powder; fully drying and grinding a nonmetallic mineral, to obtain a nonmetallic mineral powder; mixing the first powder and the nonmetallic mineral powder, stirring to be uniform, to obtain a mixture, and ball milling the mixture, to obtain a nano-powder; adding a dust-absorbing material to the nano-powder, adding water and mixing, and pouring the resulting mixture into a mold, and stoving; and air drying the resulting mixture, to obtain a cavernous dust-reducing and dust-absorbing material.

Abstract: A crystal-free wireless device includes a frequency calibration module and a local radio frequency (RF) oscillator having a first frequency and configured to communicate with the frequency calibration module. The crystal-free wireless device also includes a relaxation ring oscillator configured to communicate with the frequency calibration module. The relaxation ring oscillator is further configured to receive a calibration signal or periodic radio frequency packets from a wireless network and provide a reference signal to the frequency calibration module. The relaxation ring oscillator is a crystal-free oscillator. The frequency calibration module is configured to generate a calibration signal that is fed back through a Frequency Locked Loop (FLL) to the local RF oscillator to calibrate the local RF oscillator. The calibrated local RF oscillator is configured to generate a clock signal.