Abstract: An orthopedic precast comprises a knitted shell portion and a knitted flexible portion. The precast is positioned about a limb or other mold, and heat or other hardening agent is used to harden the shell portion, while retaining flexibility in the flexible portion. Contemplated hardening agents include light, heat, and chemical polymerizing agents. In some embodiments the shell portion includes threads or yarns comprising a thermoplastic, which is then hardened by heating the thermoplastic sufficiently to at least partially melt, and thereby fuse together some of the threads or yarns, and then cooling to ambient temperature. In other embodiments, the precast is contained in a bag or other airtight container, along with a self-heating composition that is triggered to release heat upon contact with oxygen. In still other embodiments, the precast includes a prepolymer of other polymerizable composition, which is polymerized by effective application of light, heat, and/or chemical agent(s).

Abstract: Provided herein are bispecific antigen-binding molecules that bind HER2 and methods of use thereof. The bispecific antigen-binding molecules comprise a first and a second antigen-binding domain, wherein the first and second antigen-binding domains bind to two different (preferably non-overlapping) epitopes of the extracellular domain of human HER2. The bispecific antigen-binding molecules cluster on the surface of HER2 IHC2+ and IHC3+ cells, and are internalized into the cellular lysosomes. Also included are antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) comprising the antibodies or bispecific antigen-binding molecules provided herein linked to a cytotoxic agent, radionuclide, or other moiety, as well as methods of treating cancer in a subject by administering to the subject a bispecific antigen-binding molecule or an ADC thereof.

Abstract: A phosphate-free automatic dishwashing cleaning composition comprising i) a protease wherein the protease is a variant having at least 60% identity with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 and comprising at least one amino acid substitution (using the SEQ ID NO: 1 numbering) selected from the group consisting of X54T; X126A, D, G, V, E, K, I; X127E, S, T, A, P, G, C; and X128E, C, T, D, P, G, L, Y, N; and ii) from 10 to 50% by weight of the composition of a complexing agent system comprising from 0 to less than 30% by weight of the composition of citric acid.

Abstract: Methods, devices and systems of an optical sensor for spatially smart 3-D object measurements using variable focal length lenses to target both specular and diffuse objects by matching transverse dimensions of the sampling optical beam to the transverse size of the flat target for given axial target distance for instantaneous spatial mapping of flat target, zone. The sensor allows volumetric data compressed remote sensing of object transverse dimensions including cross-sectional size, motion transverse displacement, inter-objects transverse gap distance, 3-D animation data acquisition, laser-based 3-D machining, and 3-D inspection and testing. An embodiment provides a 2-D optical display using 2-D laser scanning and 3-D beamforming optics engaged with sensor optics to measure distance of display screen from the laser source and scanning optics by adjusting its focus to produce the smallest focused beam spot on the display screen.

Abstract: Silicon Carbide (SiC) probe designs for extreme temperature and pressure sensing uses a single crystal SiC optical chip encased in a sintered SiC material probe. The SiC chip may be protected for high temperature only use or exposed for both temperature and pressure sensing. Hybrid signal processing techniques allow fault-tolerant extreme temperature sensing. Wavelength peak-to-peak (or null-to-null) collective spectrum spread measurement to detect wavelength peak/null shift measurement forms a coarse-fine temperature measurement using broadband spectrum monitoring. The SiC probe frontend acts as a stable emissivity Black-body radiator and monitoring the shift in radiation spectrum enables a pyrometer. This application combines all-SiC pyrometry with thick SiC etalon laser interferometry within a free-spectral range to form a coarse-fine temperature measurement sensor.

Abstract: An optical sensing probe includes a tube having a tip portion configured for placement in an environment in which conditions are to be sensed and an etalon having a known characteristic disposed proximate the tip portion. The tube also includes a head portion remote from the tip portion containing a light directing element for directing light beams at the etalon and receiving reflected light beams from the etalon wherein the received reflected light beams are used for determining an environmental condition proximate the tip portion. A method for measuring a thickness of the etalon may include directing a light beams at different frequencies at the etalon and receiving the light beams from the etalon. The method may also include identifying conditions of the respective light beams condition received from the etalon and then calculating a first thickness of the etalon responsive to the respective conditions and the known characteristic.

Abstract: An optical sensing probe includes a tube having a tip portion configured for placement in an environment in which conditions are to be sensed and an etalon having a known characteristic disposed proximate the tip portion. The tube also includes a head portion remote from the tip portion containing a light directing element for directing light beams at the etalon and receiving reflected light beams from the etalon wherein the received reflected light beams are used for determining an environmental condition proximate the tip portion. A method for measuring a thickness of the etalon may include directing a light beams at different frequencies at the etalon and receiving the light beams from the etalon. The method may also include identifying conditions of the respective light beams condition received from the etalon and then calculating a first thickness of the etalon responsive to the respective conditions and the known characteristic.

Abstract: Silicon Carbide (SiC) probe designs for extreme temperature and pressure sensing uses a single crystal SiC optical chip encased in a sintered SiC material probe. The SiC chip may be protected for high temperature only use or exposed for both temperature and pressure sensing. Hybrid signal processing techniques allow fault-tolerant extreme temperature sensing. Wavelength peak-to-peak (or null-to-null) collective spectrum spread measurement to detect wavelength peak/null shift measurement forms a coarse-fine temperature measurement using broadband spectrum monitoring. The SiC probe frontend acts as a stable emissivity Black-body radiator and monitoring the shift in radiation spectrum enables a pyrometer. This application combines all-SiC pyrometry with thick SiC etalon laser interferometry within a free-spectral range to form a coarse-fine temperature measurement sensor.

Abstract: An optical sensing probe includes a tube having a tip portion configured for placement in an environment in which conditions are to be sensed and an etalon having a known characteristic disposed proximate the tip portion. The tube also includes a head portion remote from the tip portion containing a light directing element for directing light beams at the etalon and receiving reflected light beams from the etalon wherein the received reflected light beams are used for determining an environmental condition proximate the tip portion. A method for measuring a thickness of the etalon may include directing a light beams at different frequencies at the etalon and receiving the light beams from the etalon. The method may also include identifying conditions of the respective light beams condition received from the etalon and then calculating a first thickness of the etalon responsive to the respective conditions and the known characteristic.

Abstract: Two new techniques to form extreme environment minimally invasive freespace targeted optical temperature sensors using preferably single crystal Silicon Carbide (SiC) optical sensor chips. One technique uses wavelength signal processing exploiting the SiC chip's quadratic nature of its Thermo-optic effect. The other sensing method uses spatial signal processing while utilizing the temperature dependent Snell's law effect. A unique multi-sensor temperature measurement system is described using optical switching, fiber-remoting, and wavelength controls.

Abstract: A remote temperature sensing system includes a light source selectively producing light at two different wavelengths and a sensor device having an optical path length that varies as a function of temperature. The sensor receives light emitted by the light source and redirects the light along the optical path length. The system also includes a detector receiving redirected light from the sensor device and generating respective signals indicative of respective intensities of received redirected light corresponding to respective wavelengths of light emitted by the light source. The system also includes a processor processing the signals generated by the detector to calculate a temperature of the device.

Abstract: An agile optical sensor based on spectrally agile heterodyne optical interferometric confocal microscopy implemented via an ultra-stable in-line acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) based interferometer using double anisotropic acousto-optic Bragg diffraction. One embodiment uses a tunable laser as the light source while other embodiments use a broadband source or a fixed wavelength laser as the source. One embodiment uses anisotropic diffractions in an AOTF to generate two near-collinear orthogonal linear polarization and slightly displaced beams that both pass via a test sample to deliver highly sensitive sample birefringence or material optical retardation measurements. A spherical lens is used to form focused spots for high resolution spatial sampling of the test object. The laser and AOTF tuning allows birefringence measurements taken at different wavelengths, one at a time.

Abstract: A remote temperature sensing system includes a light source selectively producing light at two different wavelengths and a sensor device having an optical path length that varies as a function of temperature. The sensor receives light emitted by the light source and redirects the light along the optical path length. The system also includes a detector receiving redirected light from the sensor device and generating respective signals indicative of respective intensities of received redirected light corresponding to respective wavelengths of light emitted by the light source. The system also includes a processor processing the signals generated by the detector to calculate a temperature of the device.

Abstract: An agile optical sensor based on spectrally agile heterodyne optical interferometric confocal microscopy implemented via an ultra-stable in-line acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) based interferometer using double anisotropic acousto-optic Bragg diffraction. One embodiment uses a tunable laser as the light source while other embodiments use a broadband source or a fixed wavelength laser as the source. One embodiment uses anisotropic diffractions in an AOTF to generate two near-collinear orthogonal linear polarization and slightly displaced beams that both pass via a test sample to deliver highly sensitive sample birefringence or material optical retardation measurements. A spherical lens is used to form focused spots for high resolution spatial sampling of the test object. The laser and AOTF tuning allows birefringence measurements taken at different wavelengths, one at a time.

Abstract: An agile optical sensor based on scanning optical interferometry is proposed. The preferred embodiment uses a retroreflective sensing design while another embodiment uses a transmissive sensing design. The basic invention uses wavelength tuning to enable an optical scanning beam and a wavelength dispersive element like a grating to act as a beam splitter and beam combiner to create the two beams required for interferometry. A compact and environmentally robust version of the sensor is an all-fiber in-line low noise delivery design using a fiber circulator, optical fiber, and fiber lens connected to a Grating-optic and reflective sensor chip.

Abstract: A fishhook having a shank and an integral curved bend portion terminating in a spear portion ending in a sharp point. The spear portion has an axis generally parallel to the shank with a generally uniform cross-section. The spear has a side facing the shank having a rounded barbed portion between the point and the curved bend portion.

Abstract: A plurality of fatigue life test strips (16, 18, 20, 22) has each of the strips anchored to a base (12) which is subject to thermal cycling and consequent dimensional change which causes fatigue. The base is, at best, semiconductive, and the strips are conductive. The conductivity of each of the strips is measured by test circuit (52) so that, when one fails due to fatiguing, the failure is signaled.

Abstract: A window stand for plants that is especially suited for mounting on an inner the window sill and provides for drainage of water, to the outdoors. The stand is in the form of an elongated shelf member having a corrugated bottom of alternating transverse ridges and valleys. The ridges are coplanar and level when the shelf is installed on a window sill, to hold flower pots upright without tilting. The valleys slope downward toward the outside edge of the inner sill, to allow any excess water to drain outward under the sash.