Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to compositions and methods of treating arthritogenic alphavirus infection. Compositions include a fusion protein comprising an Fc region, a first Mxra8 region, and a second Mxra8 region, wherein the fusion protein reduces inflammation and infection by an arthritogenic alphavirus. Methods include administering the fusion protein to a mammalian or non-mammalian subject to reduce or inhibit alphavirus infection.

Abstract: A wettable, dispersion spun fluoropolymer fiber prepared from non-melt-processible fluoropolymer particles.

Abstract: An exercise system can include an exercise device and a sliding board that when used together may help patients regain strength and mobility during lower limb rehabilitative exercises. The exercise device may include a foot support body; a support wall extending vertically upward on one side of the foot support; a divider wall extending vertically upward from the support body and extending transversely from an opposing side of the foot support body; an ankle bed rest defined by a space from the support wall and around the divider wall; and a smooth bottom surface. The sliding board can have a smooth top surface that is slidable relative to the smooth bottom surface of the exercise device.

Abstract: A method for leak testing components including loading a subject component to be tested into a vacuum chamber; securing the subject component by a tooling that seals the inlets of two Circuits; selectively setting a series of valves to provide access to vacuum systems, or to a charge system that can supply tracer gas to the Circuits; pumping a main test chamber to provide a vacuum level suitable for sampling by a mass spectrometer; testing the subject component for continuity ensure there are no blockages within the subject component; charging Circuit 1 with a tracer gas to a desired test pressure; sensing via a mass spectrometer for tracer gas; selectively setting valves to seal off Circuit 2 from a vacuum test chamber; pressurizing Circuit 2 with a tracer gas to a desired test pressure; evacuating the Circuits of the tracer gas; and unloading the subject component from the vacuum chamber.

Abstract: A sound reproduction system includes an electro-acoustic transducer and a transducer driver for driving the electro-acoustic transducer. The transducer drive includes a filter which is configured to reproduce at a listener's location an approximation to the local sound field that would be present at the listener's ears in recording space, taking into account the characteristics and intended position of the electro-acoustic transducer relative to the listener's ears. The electro-acoustic transducer includes a first sound emitter which provides an intermediate sound emission channel, and second and third sound emitters providing respective left and right sound emission channels. The first sound emitter is located intermediate of second and third sound emitters. Higher frequencies from at least one of the second and third sound emitters are transmitted closer to the first sound emitter while lower frequencies are transmitted away from the first sound emitter.

Abstract: A wettable, dispersion spun fluoropolymer fiber prepared from non-melt-processible fluoropolymer particles.

Abstract: A seal system, for an apparatus that includes a rotatable portion with airfoils coupled thereto and a stationary portion with an inner surface, includes an abradable portion including at least one abradable layer of an abradable material formed over the inner surface. The seal system also includes an abrading portion disposed over at least a portion of a substrate of the airfoil. The abrading portion includes at least one abrading layer formed on at least a portion of the substrate and a plurality of abrasive particles embedded within the abrading layer. The plurality of abrasive particles includes at least one of substantially all of one of tantalum carbide (TaC), aluminum oxide (Al2O3), and ziconia (ZrO2), cubic boron nitride (cBN) and Al2O3 in predetermined ratios, cBN, Al2O3 and ZrO2 in predetermined ratios, Al2O3 and ZrO2 fused together in predetermined ratios, and TaC and Al2O3 in predetermined ratios.

Abstract: An orthopedic support and exercise device may be used to help patients regain strength and mobility during lower limb rehabilitative exercises. An orthopedic support and exercise device may include a foot support body; a rotation restraint wall extending vertically upward on one side of the foot support; a divider wall extending vertically upward from the support body and extending transversely from an opposing side of the foot support body; an ankle bed rest defined by a space between the rotation restraint wall and the divider wall such that a foot placed on the orthopedic support and exercise device with ankle in the ankle bed rest is prevented from rotational movements during extension and flexion of a leg; and a weighted slider with a smooth bottom surface that is attached at a base of the foot support body.

Abstract: An orthopedic support and exercise device may be used to help patients regain strength and mobility during lower limb rehabilitative exercises. An orthopedic support and exercise device may include a foot support body; a rotation restraint wall extending vertically upward on one side of the foot support; a divider wall extending vertically upward from the support body and extending transversely from an opposing side of the foot support body; an ankle bed rest defined by a space between the rotation restraint wall and the divider wall such that a foot placed on the orthopedic support and exercise device with ankle in the ankle bed rest is prevented from rotational movements during extension and flexion of a leg; and a weighted slider with a smooth bottom surface that is attached at a base of the foot support body.

Abstract: A compressor blade generally used in turbine engines is presented. The compressor blade includes a protective covering bonded to a tip portion of the blade with a braze material. The braze material includes from about 1 weight percent to about 10 weight percent of an active metal element, based on the total amount of the braze material. A compressor rotor is also provided that includes a plurality of the compressor blades. A method for joining a protective covering to a tip portion of a compressor blade, and a method for repair of a compressor blade, are also provided.

Abstract: A compressor blade and process for inhibiting rub encounters between a blade tip of the blade and an interior surface of a case that surrounds the rotating hardware within a compressor section of a turbomachine. The compressor blade includes a cap that defines the blade tip at a radially outermost end of the blade, and a plurality of flexible elements extending from a surface of the cap that defines the blade tip. The flexible elements extend from the surface in a span-wise direction of the blade, and are operable to become rigid due to centrifugal stiffening at compressor operating speeds and, optionally, cut a groove the interior surface of the case.

Abstract: A coated article, a process of coating an article, and a process of using an article are disclosed. The coated article includes a substrate, a porous coating material, and a thermal barrier coating material. The porous coating material includes a porosity between about 1 percent and about 20 percent, by volume. The thermal barrier coating material has a thermal conductivity that is lower than a thermal conductivity of the substrate. The porous coating material differs in one or both of composition and microstructure from the thermal barrier coating material. Additionally or alternatively, the porous coating material resists at least one of sintering, densification, and phase destabilization for a predetermined period at a predetermined temperature. The process of coating an article includes applying a coating to form the coated article.

Abstract: A seal system, for an apparatus that includes a rotatable portion with airfoils coupled thereto and a stationary portion with an inner surface, includes an abradable portion including at least one abradable layer of an abradable material formed over the inner surface. The seal system also includes an abrading portion disposed over at least a portion of a substrate of the airfoil. The abrading portion includes at least one abrading layer formed on at least a portion of the substrate and a plurality of abrasive particles embedded within the abrading layer. The plurality of abrasive particles includes at least one of substantially all of one of tantalum carbide (TaC), aluminum oxide (Al2O3), and ziconia (ZrO2), cubic boron nitride (cBN) and Al2O3 in predetermined ratios, cBN, Al2O3 and ZrO2 in predetermined ratios, Al2O3 and ZrO2 fused together in predetermined ratios, and TaC and Al2O3 in predetermined ratios.

Abstract: A method of machining a profile pattern in a ceramic coating of a turbine shroud is provided and includes applying the ceramic coating substantially uniformly onto the turbine shroud, positioning a machining tool proximate the ceramic coating, and removing material from the ceramic coating by activating the machining tool to machine the ceramic coating and by moving the machining tool across the ceramic coating in a movement pattern that generally corresponds to the profile pattern.

Abstract: A coated article and a coating application process are disclosed. The coated article includes a metallic surface, a first layer positioned proximal to the metallic surface, the first layer having a first ductility, and a second layer positioned distal from the metallic surface, the second layer having a second ductility. The first ductility is at least about 20% greater than the second ductility. The process includes providing an article, the article comprising a metallic surface, applying a first layer proximal to the metallic surface, the first layer having a first ductility, and applying a second layer distal from the metallic surface, the second layer having a second ductility.

Abstract: Disclosed is a coating, a turbine component, and a process of fabricating a turbine component. The coating includes a ceramic phase formed by ceramic particles and a ductile matrix having a ductility greater than the ceramic phase. The ceramic phase includes substantially the same microstructure as the ceramic particles. The turbine component includes a surface having the coating. The process includes applying the coating to the surface of the turbine component.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for tracking a listener's head position for virtual stereo acoustics. The method of tracking the head position of a listener includes: obtaining face images of the listener using two image pickup units; tracking the skin color of an image, thereby obtaining the two-dimensional (2D) coordinate value of the listener's position; and obtaining the distance between the image pickup units and the listener using triangulation.

Abstract: A compressor blade and process for inhibiting rub encounters between a blade tip of the blade and an interior surface of a case that surrounds the rotating hardware within a compressor section of a turbomachine. The compressor blade includes a cap that defines the blade tip at a radially outermost end of the blade, and a plurality of flexible elements extending from a surface of the cap that defines the blade tip. The flexible elements extend from the surface in a span-wise direction of the blade, and are operable to become rigid due to centrifugal stiffening at compressor operating speeds and, optionally, cut a groove the interior surface of the case.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an abradable seal includes a soft material that may be worn away and a hard material that may provide mechanical strength for the abradable seal. The soft material and the hard material may include different compositions of a base material.

Abstract: A process for erosion testing of a specimen article includes securing a test specimen in a test rig; measuring physical characteristics of the test specimen article; using a thermal spray coating apparatus, flowing incident particles at the test specimen; and re-measuring the physical characteristics of the test specimen.