Abstract: Injectable biopolymer compositions and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a biopolymer composition for treating an aneurysm is provided. The biopolymer composition can include an injectable hydrogel including: a biopolymer; a chemical crosslinker forming covalent bonds with the biopolymer; and a stabilizer configured to inhibit ex vivo precipitation of the biopolymer. The injectable hydrogel can have an ex vivo storage modulus of at least 100 Pa at 37° C. over a linear viscoelastic region of the injectable hydrogel. The ex vivo storage modulus can be greater than an ex vivo loss modulus of the injectable hydrogel over the linear viscoelastic region of the injectable hydrogel.

Abstract: An HVAC controller is provided having a plurality of control terminals for connecting to corresponding control terminals on an indoor unit for an HVAC system, at least one controller power terminal for connecting to a power terminal on the indoor unit for the HVAC system, and at least one shutoff terminal for connecting to a power terminal on a thermostat for the HVAC system, and a controllable power relay electrically coupling the shutoff terminal and the controller power terminal. Interrupting power from the power terminal on the thermostat deactivates the thermostat. The controllable power relay is closed during normal HVAC system usage and is opened for a testing process, and the shutoff terminal is the only connection between the HVAC controller and the thermostat that is not electrically coupled with the indoor unit.

Abstract: A method is provided for monitoring a machine that is operable to perform a task. The method includes accessing a smart digital twin (SDT) of an instance of the machine, the SDT including discrete modules for storage of data and logic including models of the machine, requirements of the machine, and maintenance actions for the machine. The method includes performing data analytics on values of operating conditions of the machine to determine a state of the machine, using a model from the models of the machine and the logic. The state of the machine is compared to the requirements, and a maintenance action is identified based on the comparison and to cause a change in the state to maintain the requirements. The data of the SDT is updated to include identification of the maintenance action, and an indication of the maintenance action is output for performance on the machine.

Abstract: A butterfly valve for a conduit defining a passage for a flow of a fluid therethrough in a flow direction. The butterfly valve includes a shaft rotatably mounted to the conduit and defining a longitudinal axis along its length. The butterfly valve includes a valve body coupled to the shaft, such that the valve body is rotatable along with the shaft about the longitudinal axis between a closed position and a fully open position. The valve body includes a first major surface, a second major surface opposite to the first major surface, a perimeter surface, a central plane, a first lobe, a second lobe, and a third lobe.

Abstract: A user equipment device (UE) may communicate according to a new device category satisfying specified QoS (quality of service) requirements while also satisfying specified link budget requirements, and additional optimization requirements. The UE may use physical channels and procedures (e.g. it may receive and decode control channels) in a manner compatible with and not infringing on the operation of other UEs operating in the same network, while allowing the network more flexibility to assign resources. Specifically, resources for EPDCCH on UE-specific SS and EPDCCH on common SS may be shared. That is, the resources for two search spaces may be overlaid partially or in full, giving the network more flexibility in allocating resources. Furthermore the DCI formats for MPDCCH may be extended to devices operating according to the new device category, which enables the coverage enhancement of MTC for these devices.

Abstract: A user equipment (UE) device may communicate according to a new device category satisfying specified QoS (quality of service) requirements while also satisfying specified link budget requirements, and/or additional optimization requirements. The UE device may communicate with a cellular base station according to a first mode of operation associated with the new device category, and may switch to communicating with the cellular base station according to a second mode of operation associated with a second (pre-existing) device category in response to the link budget requirements exceeding a specified value and the quality of service requirements not being sensitive.

Abstract: A butterfly valve for a conduit defining a passage for a flow of a fluid therethrough in a flow direction. The butterfly valve includes a shaft rotatably mounted to the conduit and defining a longitudinal axis along its length. The butterfly valve includes a valve body coupled to the shaft, such that the valve body is rotatable along with the shaft about the longitudinal axis between a closed position and a fully open position. The valve body includes a first major surface, a second major surface opposite to the first major surface, a perimeter surface, a central plane, a first lobe, a second lobe, and a third lobe.

Abstract: A thermal management system for a gas turbine engine includes a plurality of inlet and outlet vanes extending from a bypass inner wall towards an outer cowl, a plurality of first removable shims, a plurality of second removable shims, and a third removable shim. Each first removable shim extends between and engages the outer cowl and a corresponding inlet vane. Each second removable shim extends between and engages the outer cowl and a corresponding outlet vane. The third removable shim extends between and engages a heat exchanger and the outer cowl. Each of the plurality of first removable shims, each of the plurality of second removable shims, and the third removable shim is removable for positionally adjusting the outer cowl relative to the bypass inner wall.

Abstract: A pressurised fluid duct failure event characterising method including: monitoring acoustic signals; detecting a failure event occurrence based on an acoustic signal exceeding a first failure threshold, and identifying a failure marker; estimating, for each acoustic signal, a failure detection time, based on the failure marker and a rate of change in sound pressure level for each acoustic signal; determining an acoustic weighted position for acoustic sensors; determining an estimate of a region containing the failure event as a first sub-volume of the duct based on the acoustic weighted position and a predetermined relationship between sound pressure level and regions of the duct; calculating, for each acoustic signal, one or more spectral characteristics; and determining at least one failure characteristic based on a comparison between the one or more spectral characteristics, the estimate of the region containing the failure event, and one or more predefined failure event parameters.

Abstract: A pressurised fluid duct failure event location determination method including: monitoring acoustic signals; detecting a failure event occurrence based on an acoustic signal of those exceeding a first failure threshold, and identifying a failure marker; estimating, for each acoustic signal, a failure detection time; determining an acoustic weighted position for acoustic sensors based on the respective failure detection time for each acoustic signal and the position of each microphone; determining an estimate of a region containing the failure event as a first sub-volume of the duct based on the acoustic weighted position and a predetermined relationship between sound pressure level and regions of the duct; discretising the first sub-volume of the duct into a first three-dimensional grid having voxels according to a first grid mesh size; and determining a first estimate of the failure event location using a time-domain beamforming algorithm applied to the acoustic signals and the first sub-volume.

Abstract: The anatomical model of a nasal cavity, such as a human nasal cavity, for in-vitro inhalation studies such as toxicological screening, intranasal drug delivery studies, and neurophysiological studies. The model includes a model body including separable upper and lower model portions together defining the nasal cavity and including fluidic channels therein that define an olfactory region of the upper model portion, and a nasal passage defined in the lower model portion. A biocompatible porous membrane is positioned between the upper and lower model portions, and the biocompatible membrane is configured for culturing olfactory epithelium cells thereon. An artificial mucous layer coats a surface of the nasal cavity and is configured to collect particles passing through the nasal cavity.

Abstract: A thermal management system for a gas turbine engine includes a plurality of inlet and outlet vanes extending from a bypass inner wall towards an outer cowl, a plurality of first removable shims, a plurality of second removable shims, and a third removable shim. Each first removable shim extends between and engages the outer cowl and a corresponding inlet vane. Each second removable shim extends between and engages the outer cowl and a corresponding outlet vane. The third removable shim extends between and engages a heat exchanger and the outer cowl. Each of the plurality of first removable shims, each of the plurality of second removable shims, and the third removable shim is removable for positionally adjusting the outer cowl relative to the bypass inner wall.

Abstract: The anatomical model of a nasal cavity, such as a human nasal cavity, for in-vitro inhalation studies such as toxicological screening, intranasal drug delivery studies, and neurophysiological studies. The model includes a model body including separable upper and lower model portions together defining the nasal cavity and including fluidic channels therein that define an olfactory region of the upper model portion, and a nasal passage defined in the lower model portion. A biocompatible porous membrane is positioned between the upper and lower model portions, and the biocompatible membrane is configured for culturing olfactory epithelium cells thereon. An artificial mucous layer coats a surface of the nasal cavity and is configured to collect particles passing through the nasal cavity.

Abstract: In accordance with various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, a system, device and platform for culturing and maintaining tissue representative cellular models combined with active fluidics mimicking body circulation. In combination, multiple chamber devices enable modeling of multi-organ communication, representative of in vivo conditions.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to providing system information for cell access to link budget limited devices. According to some embodiments, a base station may transmit an announcement information block (MB) in a downlink shared data channel (e.g., PDSCH), wherein the AIB contains information useable by a UE in determining the location of system information in the downlink shared data channel. The UE can thus determine the location of and decode system information without having to decode a downlink control channel (e.g., PDCCH). This may be important for certain classes of devices, such as link budget limited devices, which have issues in decoding the downlink control channel. Improved paging scheduling techniques are also disclosed which more efficiently use PDCCH paging resources.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are orthopedic devices and methods to aid in reducing weight or pressure on a portion of a subject's foot while maintaining stability of the hindfoot and ankle. Certain embodiments include an upper assembly and a support pillar configured to extend beneath only a portion of a subject's foot. The support pillar can be configured to extend from the heel of a subject's foot to the subject's midfoot, such that at least a portion of the subject's forefoot extends lengthwise therebeyond and does not contact the support pillar. The orthopedic device can further include one or more means for securing the upper assembly around the leg, ankle, dorsal foot, or a combination thereof. Additional aspects include a method of promoting the healing of a podiatric condition using any one or more of the orthopedic devices disclosed herein.

Abstract: An inlet assembly includes a web extending between a first end and a second end along a first axis. The web includes first and second major surfaces. The inlet assembly includes a load transfer flange at least partially disposed around the web and configured to be fixedly coupled to a gas turbine engine. The inlet assembly includes first vanes spaced apart from each other at least along the first axis. Each first vane extends between the first major surface of the web and the load transfer flange. The inlet assembly includes second vanes spaced apart from each other at least along the first axis. Each second vane extends between the second major surface of the web and the load transfer flange.

Abstract: A nasal simulator includes a three-dimensional (3D) printed nasal cavity within based on diagnostic imagery of a human nasal cavity. The nasal simulator comprising a fan system positioned to mimic air flow through the human nasal cavity. A first probe access bore is formed through the 3D printed nasal cavity to a first location having a first internal contour. An anemometer insert having an outer diameter sized to be slidingly received in and to pneumatically seal the first probe access bore, the anemometer insert having a distal contour that aligns with the first internal contour of the 3D printed nasal cavity, the anemometer insert having a longitudinal bore that is sized to receive a probe of an anemometer to detect characteristics of the air flow through the 3D cavity.

Abstract: A user equipment (UE) device may communicate according to a new device category satisfying specified QoS (quality of service) requirements while also satisfying specified link budget requirements, and/or additional optimization requirements. The UE device may communicate with a cellular base station according to a first mode of operation associated with the new device category, and may switch to communicating with the cellular base station according to a second mode of operation associated with a second (pre-existing) device category in response to the link budget requirements exceeding a specified value and the quality of service requirements not being sensitive.

Abstract: A user equipment (UE) device may communicate according to a new device category satisfying specified QoS (quality of service) requirements while also satisfying specified link budget requirements, and/or additional optimization requirements. The UE device may communicate with a cellular base station according to a first mode of operation associated with the new device category, and may switch to communicating with the cellular base station according to a second mode of operation associated with a second (pre-existing) device category in response to the link budget requirements exceeding a specified value and the quality of service requirements not being sensitive.