Abstract: Colorants of a natural origin having improved physical-chemical properties, such as light and thermal stability, compositions and articles comprising and/or made of such colorants are provided.

Abstract: An artificial cilium device includes a substrate and a voltage-actuated cilia-shaped structure attached at a proximal end to the substrate. The voltage-actuated cilia-shaped structure has a first layer of a first material and a second layer of a second material. The second layer of the second material includes an exposed surface that causes the cilia-shaped structure to, in a working medium, (a) change shape from a first shape to a second shape responsive to application of a first voltage and (b) change shape from the second shape to the first shape responsive to application of a second voltage different than the first voltage.

Abstract: An artificial cilium device includes a substrate and a voltage-actuated cilia-shaped structure attached at a proximal end to the substrate. The voltage-actuated cilia-shaped structure has a first layer of a first material and a second layer of a second material. The second layer of the second material includes an exposed surface that causes the cilia-shaped structure to, in a working medium, (a) change shape from a first shape to a second shape responsive to application of a first voltage and (b) change shape from the second shape to the first shape responsive to application of a second voltage different than the first voltage.

Abstract: Disclosed are devices, systems, and methods for fabrication of moving, actuatable structures at micron scales that can be electronically controlled using low power and low voltages. Also disclosed are microscale robots having such microscale actuator structures to actuate the robots’ movements as well as devices, systems, and methods for fabrication of microscale robots. The disclosed methods of fabrication are compatible with standard semiconductor technologies.

Abstract: A method for a NMR device to determine NMR measurement results of a sample from a set of RF signals emitted by the sample and received by the NMR device is disclosed. The method can include: receiving a plurality of RF signals emitted by the sample; determining a phase shift of each signal of the plurality of RF signals; correcting a phase of each signal of the plurality of RF signals; determining a frequency shift of each signal of the plurality of RF signals; shifting each signal of the plurality of RF signals to the predetermined; correcting an additional phase shift of each signal of the shifted plurality of RF signals to generate corresponding plurality of corrected RF signals; and averaging the corrected RF signals to determine the NMR measurement result. In some embodiments, the receiving, determining, correcting, shifting and/or averaging is done by the NMR device.

Abstract: The present disclosure may be embodied as a method for creating a restriction pattern from a mask material having a strain (?mask) an for mapping elastomeric membrane having a strain (?membrane) into a target 3D shape. The method may include discretizing the target 3D shape into a plurality of radial segments, and a radial strain (?r) is determined for each radial position (r) on each radial segment of the plurality of radial segments. A restriction pattern is determined, wherein the restriction pattern comprises a quantity of mask material for each position r to provide a composite strain (?mask, ?silicone). In some embodiments, the method further includes depositing a first membrane layer into a mold and placing mask material into the first membrane layer according to the determined restriction pattern. The first membrane layer is cured.

Abstract: The present disclosure may be embodied as a method for creating a restriction pattern from a mask material having a strain (?mask) an for mapping elastomeric membrane having a strain (?membrane) into a target 3D shape. The method may include discretizing the target 3D shape into a plurality of radial segments, and a radial strain (?r) is determined for each radial position (r) on each radial segment of the plurality of radial segments. A restriction pattern is determined, wherein the restriction pattern comprises a quantity of mask material for each position r to provide a composite strain (?mask,?silicone). In some embodiments, the method further includes depositing a first membrane layer into a mold and placing mask material into the first membrane layer according to the determined restriction pattern. The first membrane layer is cured.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of determining if a tissue engineered construct is ready for implantation. In one aspect the method involves providing a tissue engineered construct comprising a scaffold having pores, analyzing the tissue engineered construct for buckling of pores, and determining whether the tissue engineered construct is ready for implantation based on the analysis. In another aspect, the invention relates to a method that involves non-destructive methods for determining whether a tissue engineered construct is ready for implantation.

Abstract: A method for a NMR device to determine NMR measurement results of a sample from a set of RF signals emitted by the sample and received by the NMR device is disclosed. The method can include: receiving a plurality of RF signals emitted by the sample; determining a phase shift of each signal of the plurality of RF signals; correcting a phase of each signal of the plurality of RF signals; determining a frequency shift of each signal of the plurality of RF signals; shifting each signal of the plurality of RF signals to the predetermined; correcting an additional phase shift of each signal of the shifted plurality of RF signals to generate corresponding plurality of corrected RF signals; and averaging the corrected RF signals to determine the NMR measurement result. In some embodiments, the receiving, determining, correcting, shifting and/or averaging is done by the NMR device.

Abstract: A microscope rheometer for measuring shear and compression properties of biological samples is disclosed. The apparatus allows a sample of biological tissue to be strained controllably while fluorescently stained cells, or other markers, within the material are imaged with a fluorescence microscope and the applied forces are measured with a strain gauge. Using the rheometer, it is possible to obtain the shear and compression stiffness of a material as a function of position.

Abstract: Particles such as islet cells are encapsulated by a method that forms a coating of uniform thickness that conforms to the size and shape of the particles. Two substantially immiscible liquids of different densities are provided in a container as upper and lower liquids such that an interface exists between the liquids. The upper liquid is less dense and has a greater viscosity than the lower liquid which is a coating liquid containing particles to be encapsulated. A tube is positioned in the upper liquid such that an orifice of the tube is above the interface. A pump connected to the tube sucks liquid through the tube at a rate sufficient to form a spout containing substantially the lower liquid extending between the interface and the tube orifice. The spout has maximum diameter at the interface and decreases in diameter as the spout approaches the tube orifice.