Abstract: As can be seen, there are needs for protein materials that have desirable mechanical properties while maintaining optical transparency. The present embodiments are directed, in part, to adhesive coatings, films, and compositions comprising polypeptides such as, but not limited to, transparent adhesive coatings and films, and methods of making the same.

Abstract: An electrosurgical system includes jaw members having a cutting element extending therebetween and a generator configured to: provide minimal power to the cutting element to maintain a pre-dissection temperature thereof; sense a change in resistance of the cutting element and ramp up power to a dissection temperature; regulate the temperature of the cutting element by regulating power; and terminate power to the cutting element to allow the cutting element to cool to the pre-dissection temperature before providing power back to the cutting element.

Abstract: A novel end assembly for canes and other walking aids having a linear adjustable hydraulic shock absorber threaded into the distal end of the cane and facility for mounting various cane and walking aid ends.

Abstract: A method for controlling an inflatable airbag system in a motor vehicle having a seatbelt includes detecting a position of a vehicle occupant relative to an airbag suppression zone (ASZ). Electronic input signals are received from a sensor suite, including an occupant position signal and a seatbelt usage status signal. A restraint capacity setting of the airbag is adjusted in response to the electronic input signals such that corresponding restraint activation logic is executed by the controller based on whether the occupant is belted or unbelted. Different ASZs may be used for belted and unbelted occupants. A motor vehicle includes a vehicle body defining a vehicle interior, an airbag, a seatbelt, a sensor suite for detecting a position of an occupant relative to the ASZ, and a controller operable for controlling a restraint capacity setting and location of the ASZ in accordance with the method.

Abstract: Oligonucleotide primers and methods of use in producing sequencing libraries are provided according to aspects of the present disclosure which include, from 5? to 3?, a homopolymer-hybridizing region, and an anchor region comprising 5?-(?)nNm-3?, wherein the homopolymer-hybridizing region is a contiguous sequence of 5 to 20 elements, wherein the elements are nucleotides or Tm increasing nucleotide analogs, wherein at least 4 of the elements are Tm increasing nucleotide analogs, wherein the homopolymer-hybridizing region hybridizes to a complementary homopolymer tract of a target nucleic acid, wherein the complementary homopolymer tract comprises a contiguous sequence of complementary elements, wherein X is any nucleotide or nucleotide analog with the proviso that ? is not a nucleotide or nucleotide analog complementary to a complementary element of the complementary homopolymer tract, and wherein N is any nucleotide or nucleotide analog.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a housing, a shaft extending from the housing, an end effector assembly extending from the shaft and configured to rotate and/or articulate relative to the housing, a motor disposed within the housing and operably coupled to the end effector assembly to rotate and/or articulate of the end effector assembly relative to the housing, and a sensing assembly configured to sense movement of the housing relative to a reference position and to drive the motor to rotate and/or articulate of the end effector assembly relative to the housing based upon the sensed movement. The sensing assembly is configured to operate in each of a standard mode, wherein movement of the housing effects rotation and/or articulation of the end effector assembly in a similar direction, and a reversed mode, wherein movement of the housing effects rotation and/or articulation of the end effector assembly in an opposite direction.

Abstract: An electrosurgical system includes an electrosurgical instrument having an electrode with a polymeric dielectric coating; and an electrosurgical generator, which includes a power converter configured to generate RF energy; a sensor coupled to the power converter and configured to sense a parameter of the RF energy; and a controller coupled to the sensor and the power converter. The controller is configured to control the power converter to output an RF waveform to achieve conductor breakthrough through the polymeric dielectric coating. The controller is further configured to determine whether the conductor breakthrough occurred based on the parameter; and execute a treatment algorithm based on a determination of the conductor breakthrough.

Abstract: A surgical instrument is provided and includes a housing having a shaft. An end effector assembly is operatively connected to a distal end of the shaft and has a pair of first and second jaw members that are movable relative to one another. A drive assembly operably couples to a handle assembly associated with the housing and is configured to impart movement of a respective jaw member when the handle assembly is actuated. A spring component operably associated with each of the jaw members is configured to provide a sealing force at the jaw members.

Abstract: Jaw members of end effector assemblies include sealing plates configured to direct the amount and flow of energy through the sealing plates. The sealing plates may have a height varying from a minimal height to a maximum height along a width or a length of the sealing plate and/or a sealing surface including at least two impedance zones having different impedance values.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention encompasses blends of structurally different polycarbonate polyols, resulting polyurethanes derived from such blends of polyols, methods of making such polyurethane compositions, and coatings and adhesives derived from such polyurethane compositions.

Abstract: A forceps is provided and includes a housing having a shaft. An end effector assembly operatively connects to a distal end of the shaft and includes a pair of first and second jaw members. One or both of the first and second jaw members is movable relative to the other jaw member from a clamping position to an open position. A resilient member operably couples to at least one of the first and second jaw members. The resilient member is configured to bias the first and second jaw members in the clamping position and provide a closure force on tissue disposed therebetween.

Abstract: Vehicles and related systems and methods are provided for calibrating a sensing arrangement within an interior compartment of the vehicle. One method involves initiating operation of an interior component of the vehicle, obtaining one or more signals from the sensing arrangement within the interior compartment of the vehicle, wherein a characteristic of the one or more signals is influenced by the operation of the interior component, determining a measured position of the interior component based at least in part on the characteristic of the one or more signals, obtaining a reference position associated with the interior component, and determining a calibration offset for a reference axis associated with the sensing arrangement based on a relationship between the measured position and the reference position, wherein subsequent operation of the vehicle is influenced by the calibration offset associated with the sensing arrangement.

Abstract: An electrosurgical system includes an electrosurgical instrument having an electrode with a polymeric dielectric coating; and an electrosurgical generator, which includes a power converter configured to generate RF energy; a sensor coupled to the power converter and configured to sense a parameter of the RF energy; and a controller coupled to the sensor and the power converter. The controller is configured to control the power converter to output an RF waveform to achieve conductor breakthrough through the polymeric dielectric coating. The controller is further configured to determine whether the conductor breakthrough occurred based on the parameter; and execute a treatment algorithm based on a determination of the conductor breakthrough.

Abstract: Described herein are flash nanoprecipitation methods capable of encapsulating hydrophobic molecules, hydrophilic molecules, bioactive protein therapeutics, or other target molecules in amphiphilic copolymer nanocarriers.

Abstract: A processor is described. The processor includes model specific register space that is visible to software above a BIOS level. The model specific register space is to specify a granularity of a processing entity of a lock-step group. The processor also includes logic circuitry to support dynamic entry/exit of the lock-step group's processing entities to/from lock-step mode including: i) termination of lock-step execution by the processing entities before the program code to be executed in lock-step is fully executed; and, ii) as part of the exit from the lock-step mode, restoration of a state of a shadow processing entity of the processing entities as the state existed before the shadow processing entity entered the lock-step mode and began lock-step execution of the program code.

Abstract: A thermal cutting element for a surgical instrument includes a substrate, a Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation (PEO) coating disposed on the substrate, and a heating element disposed on the PEO coating and including first and second end portions adapted to connect to different potentials of electrical energy to heat the heating element. A jaw member of a surgical instrument includes a structural frame including a proximal flange portion and a distal body portion, a jaw housing surrounding the distal body portion of the structural frame, a tissue-treating plate disposed atop the jaw housing and defining a longitudinal slot therethrough along at least a portion of a length thereof, and the thermal cutting element disposed within the longitudinal slot.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical system includes an ultrasonic transducer configured to receive an electrical drive signal and produce ultrasonic mechanical motion that is output along an ultrasonic horn of the ultrasonic transducer. The ultrasonic horn defines a transverse cam slot. A blade extends from the ultrasonic horn. The blade receives the ultrasonic mechanical motion from the ultrasonic horn for treating tissue. A jaw member is movable relative to the blade between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for clamping tissue. A cam pin is slidably disposed in the cam slot and is operably coupled to the jaw member. Slidably advancing the cam pin in the cam slot actuates the jaw member between the spaced-apart position and the approximated position.

Abstract: Jaw members of end effector assemblies include sealing plates configured to direct the amount and flow of energy through the sealing plates. The sealing plates may have a height varying from a minimal height to a maximum height along a width or a length of the sealing plate and/or a sealing surface including at least two impedance zones having different impedance values.

Abstract: Embodiments of an invention a processor architecture are disclosed. In an embodiment, a processor includes a decoder, an execution unit, a coherent cache, and an interconnect. The decoder is to decode an instruction to zero a cache line. The execution unit is to issue a write command to initiate a cache line sized write of zeros. The coherent cache is to receive the write command, to determine whether there is a hit in the coherent cache and whether a cache coherency protocol state of the hit cache line is a modified state or an exclusive state, to configure a cache line to indicate all zeros, and to issue the write command toward the interconnect. The interconnect is to, responsive to receipt of the write command, issue a snoop to each of a plurality of other coherent caches for which it must be determined if there is a hit.

Abstract: A system for cleaning water can include an intake configured to receive input water, a pump configured to move the input water through at least a portion of the system, a discharge for discharging output water, an electromagnet configured to expose the input water to a magnetic field fluidically between the intake and the discharge, a course filter unit configured to filter the input water fluidically between the intake and the discharge, a nano-bubble injector configured to inject nanobubbles into the input water fluidically between the intake and the discharge, and an ultrafiltration filter configured to filter the input water fluidically between the intake and the discharge. A system for cleaning water can include a system for producing potable fresh water from seawater.