Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments provide pyroelectric sandwich thermal energy harvesters. In the various embodiment pyroelectric sandwich thermal energy harvesters, generated electrical energy may be stored in a super-capacitor/battery as soon as it is generated. The various embodiment pyroelectric sandwich thermal energy harvesters may harvest electrical energy from any environment where temperature variations occur. The various embodiment pyroelectric sandwich thermal energy harvesters may be power sources for space equipment and vehicles in space and/or on earth, as well as the for wireless sensor networks, such as health monitoring systems of oil pipes, aircraft, bridges, and buildings.

Abstract: Some embodiments include a privacy/security apparatus for a portable communication device that includes a housing assembly configured to at least partially attenuate at least one of sound energy, acoustic energy, and electromagnetic energy including light, optical, and IR energy and RF radiation from passing through the housing assembly. The housing assembly includes a Faraday cage with two or more portions, and at least one protective shell coupled to or forming at least one aperture. The at least one aperture is configured and arranged to at least partially enclose the portable communication device so that at least a portion of the portable communication device is positioned within at least one portion of the Faraday cage, and the at least one seal coupled or integrated with the protective shell. The housing assembly can be an articulating assembly, a sliding assembly, and can include an active acoustic jamming or passive acoustic attenuation element.

Abstract: Disclosed are nucleopeptide compounds that include a nucleobase, and an amino acid. Certain compounds further comprise a glycoside. The compounds may self-assemble to form supramolecular hydrogels. Also, the compounds may be used as a platform to examine specific biological functions (e.g., binding to DNA and RNA) of a dynamic supramolecular system that is able to interact with both proteins and nucleic acids. Other uses include: methods of growing cells and methods of delivering a substance to a cell.

Abstract: A cochlear lead includes a thermoformed circuit with a substrate with electrodes formed on the substrate and shaped to curve around a longitudinal axis of the cochlear lead. Traces are also formed on the substrate and connected to the electrodes. Intermediate sections between the electrodes may be curved about an axis that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: In one example, an implantable lead includes a substrate and an electrically conductive material disposed on the substrate to form a flexible circuit. The flexible circuit includes a proximal end adapted to electrically connect to an implantable processor, a distal portion adapted to stimulate a cochlear nerve, and a lead body extending from the proximal end to the distal portion, the lead body having a longitudinal axis and comprising a plurality of electrical traces adapted to carry electrical signals from the proximal end to the distal portion. A flag extension is formed in the substrate and extends laterally outward from the lead body longitudinal axis. A method for forming a cochlear lead with a flag extension is also provided.

Abstract: An implantable lead may include an insulating substrate and a first asymmetric electrode formed on the insulating substrate. The first asymmetric electrode may have external perimeter edges defining a boundary between an exposed portion of the first electrode and the insulating substrate, wherein the external perimeter edges of the first electrode have asymmetric edge lengths.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for displaying an image on a portable image device are provided. The method includes receiving a first input indicative of an input associated with an application, generating a first image object in a buffer of the portable image device, storing the first image object in a memory of the portable image device, generating a first image using the first image object stored in the memory of the portable image device, and displaying the first image on an image display device of the portable image device.

Abstract: Some embodiments include a privacy/security apparatus for a portable communication device that includes a housing assembly configured to at least partially attenuate at least one of sound energy, acoustic energy, and electromagnetic energy including light, optical, and IR energy and RF radiation from passing through the housing assembly. The housing assembly includes a Faraday cage with two or more portions, and at least one protective shell coupled to or forming at least one aperture. The at least one aperture is configured and arranged to at least partially enclose the portable communication device so that at least a portion of the portable communication device is positioned within at least one portion of the Faraday cage, and the at least one seal coupled or integrated with the protective shell. The housing assembly can be an articulating assembly, a sliding assembly, and can include an active acoustic jamming or passive acoustic attenuation element.

Abstract: The present technology relates to a polymeric material including a plurality of polymer subunits and an active cross-linker, wherein the active cross-linker is covalently linked to the plurality of polymer subunits. The active cross-linker offers a key building block for constructing novel molecular architecture in chemomechanical soft materials and illustrates a new approach to tailor material properties.

Abstract: The invention relates to a peptide that includes a plurality of amino acid residues and an enzymatically cleavable moiety including taurine or hypotaurine, the enzymatically cleavable-moiety being linked to the peptide via covalent bond, wherein the peptide is capable of self-assembly to form nanofibrils in the presence of an enzyme that hydrolyzes the enzymatically cleavable-moiety. Compositions containing the enzymatically responsive peptide, and the use thereof for forming a nanofibril network internally of cells, for treating a cancerous condition, and imaging cells are also disclosed.

Abstract: A handheld nebulizer includes a body having a control assembly and an actuation assembly. The control assembly is in electrical communication with the actuation assembly for delivering nebulized particles of a compound to a subject. A nebulizing chamber accommodates a removable cartridge for conducting nebulization. The removable cartridge holds a mixture of a compound to be nebulized into nebulized particles. A nebulizing element is affixed or detachably mounted to the removable cartridge, and the removable cartridge is in electrical communication with the control assembly. A removable cartridge for a handheld nebulizer is also provided.

Abstract: Pre-populating a form can include receiving a first input that describes a problem from a first user. Pre-populating a form can include associating a category with the first input. Pre-populating a form can include selecting a first form based on the category. Pre-populating a form can include pre-populate the first form based on a second input provided by a second user to a second form belonging to the category.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for displaying an image on a portable image device are provided.

Abstract: A transmit power measurement apparatus includes a transmit power detection path, a compensation circuit and a tracking circuit. The compensation circuit includes a programmable filter device and a compensation controller. The programmable filter device generates a filter output. The compensation controller sets the programmable filter device at least based on a frequency response of the transmit power detection path. The tracking circuit generates a transmit power tracking result at least based on the filter output.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for controlling a terminal device by using a headset wire connected to the terminal device. The method includes: recognizing a user's gesture based on a current detected in a specific region of the headset wire; acquiring control instruction corresponding to the user's gesture; and executing the control instruction. According to the present disclosure, when a current is detected in the specific region of the headset wire, a user's gesture is recognized based on the current, control instruction corresponding to the user's gesture is acquired, and the control instruction is executed to control the terminal. In the whole procedure, the user only needs to touch the specific region of the headset wire without using pressure button to produce current signal, thereby the operation of controlling the terminal device is convenient and fast.

Abstract: A micro-humidifier for operably-connecting to a breathing circuit contains a liquid feed, a liquid chamber operably-connected to the liquid feed, and a vapour generator operably-connected to the liquid chamber. The liquid chamber has a volume of from about 0.01 mL to about 30 mL. The micro-humidifier is operably-connected to and/or is designed to be operably-connected to a breathing circuit upstream of the patient. When the micro-humidifier is operably-connected to a breathing circuit, the vapour from the vapour generator enters into the breathing circuit. A respiratory humidification system contains the a breathing circuit and the micro-humidifier as described herein. The micro-humidifier is operably-connected to the breathing circuit upstream of the patient, and the vapour from the vapour generator enters into the breathing circuit.

Abstract: The invention relates to an enzymatically responsive product that includes an amino acid residue conjugated to a magnetic particle, wherein the amino acid residue is phosphorylated or sulfated or comprises an ester-moiety linked via peptide bond. Compositions containing the enzymatically responsive product, and the use thereof for separating distinct types of mammalian cells (e.g., cancer cells from normal cells), for treating a cancerous condition, and imaging cancer cells are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions, and uses thereof, for simultaneously detecting expression of multiple target genes in a sample. The present invention further relates to certain isolated polynucleotides that can be used as primers or primer pairs in the present methods and compositions for simultaneously detecting expression of multiple target genes in a sample.

Abstract: A high efficiency optical ignition device is provided in a two-part compact and robust package to be mounted directly on an internal combustion engine chamber. The ignition device ignites a combustion fuel with a high intensity plasma generated by a high power laser beam from a solid state laser operable in Q-switched, or non-Q-switched mode for producing short or long pulses, respectively. Multiple pulses are generated, and duration and frequency of the laser beam pulses are controlled by controlling an optical pump module to pump the solid state laser. The optical pump module comprises a semiconductor laser, preferably a VCSEL device. One or more laser beams are precisely directed, each one to a desired location anywhere within the combustion chamber for more efficient and near complete burning of the combustion fuel. The robust packaging is well suited to withstand mechanical and thermal stresses of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A wireless communication system for demodulating data packets includes an interface circuit and a modem circuit. The interface circuit may receive a data packet, and the demodulator circuit may demodulate a first part of the data packet by dispreading only selected data bits in the data packet. The demodulator circuit may separately process at least a data payload portion of the data packet without dispreading.