Abstract: Configurations are provided for vehicular robots or other vehicles to provide shifting of their centers of gravity for enhanced obstacle navigation. Various head and neck morphologies are provided to allow positioning for various poses such as a stowed pose, observation poses, and inspection poses. Neck extension and actuator module designs are provided to implement various head and neck morphologies. Robot control network circuitry is also provided.

Abstract: Configurations are provided for vehicular robots or other vehicles to provide shifting of their centers of gravity for enhanced obstacle navigation. A robot chassis with pivotable driven flippers has a pivotable neck and sensor head mounted toward the front of the chassis. The neck is pivoted forward to shift he vehicle combined center of gravity (combined CG) forward for various climbing and navigation tasks. The flippers may also be selectively moved to reposition the center of gravity. Various weight distributions allow different CG shifting capabilities.

Abstract: Configurations are provided for vehicular robots or other vehicles to provide shifting of their centers of gravity for enhanced obstacle navigation. Various head and neck morphologies are provided to allow positioning for various poses such as a stowed pose, observation poses, and inspection poses. Neck extension and actuator module designs are provided to implement various head and neck morphologies. Robot control network circuitry is also provided.

Abstract: A clutch disc assembly for a friction torque device has a clutch damper assembly which includes a hub defining an axis of rotation and a concentric steel disc. The damper assembly includes a plurality of cushion elements fixed to the steel disc. First and second friction rings are disposed on opposite sides of the cushion elements and are rotatively fixed to the steel disc. First and second friction discs have an equal number of keyhole slots defining an equal number of arms. A friction pad is fixed to each arm, with friction pads on the first friction disc being in substantial alignment with the friction pads on the second friction disc.

Abstract: A method of treating a subject having a musculoskeletal disorder includes administering to a subject's articular site in need thereof an effective amount of a hyaluronic acid (HA) composition. In one embodiment, the HA composition includes an HA derivative, wherein carboxyl functionalities of the hyaluronic acid derivative are each independently derivatized to include an N-acylurea or 0-acyl isourea, or both N-acylurea and 0-acyl isourea. In another embodiment, the HA composition includes a crosslinked HA gel that is prepared by reacting an uncrosslinked HA with a biscarbodiimide in the presence of pH buffer in a range of between about 4 and about 8. The composite can optionally include at least one second bioactive agent other than the HA derivative, such as a steroid.

Abstract: An embodiment provides a friction clutch apparatus that includes a disk assembly disk. The disk assembly has a disk portion selectively coupled to a first member, and a hub portion selectively coupled to a second member. The hub portion is generally axially aligned with the disk portion. The disk portion is rotatable relative to the hub portion. The disk assembly selectively transmits a torque between the first member and the second member. The disk assembly also includes an energy storage member selectively damping the relative rotation between the disk portion and the hub portion. The damping includes relative rotation between the disk portion and the hub portion. The energy storage member is preloaded, thereby requiring a preselected amount of torque to be applied by one of the disk portion and the hub portion to the other of the disk portion and the hub portion prior to the relative rotation.

Abstract: A driven disc is provided that includes a hub assembly having an axis of rotation and a hub having at least one of a first radially extending projection and a first recess. The driven disc also includes a disc assembly having a disc plate rotatable relative to the hub and a wave washer positioned over the hub and between the hub assembly and the disc assembly. The wave washer includes at least one of a second recess and a second radially extending projection adapted to receive or to be received in the first radially extending projection or the first recess, respectively, to position the wave washer during assembly of the driven disc.

Abstract: A clutch disc assembly for a friction torque device has a clutch damper assembly which includes a hub defining an axis of rotation. The damper assembly includes a plurality of cushion elements extending radially outwardly away from the axis of rotation. A first friction ring includes a backer plate fixed to the cushion elements by circumferentially distributed rivets. At least one ceramic friction element is bonded to the backer plate.

Abstract: A rotational coupling assembly for transmitting torque between a driving member and a driven member includes a torsionally compliant component having first and second rotary torque transmitting members rotatable relative to one another throughout a first angular distance, and a compliant member that provides a resilient driving connection between the first and second rotary torque transmitting members within the first angular distance. A torque overload protection component is secured for rotation with the driving member and is rotatable relative to the second rotary torque transmitting member throughout a second angular distance. The overload protection component includes a rotation limiting connector adapted to selectively establish a driving connection between the overload protection component and the second rotary torque transmitting member to limit the amount of torque transmitted through the torsionally compliant component.

Abstract: An oral delivery system for Class II drugs that have low oral bioavailability due to their insolubility in water and slow dissolution kinetics and method for making such a drug delivery system are disclosed herein. The formulation may be a controlled release or immediate release formulation. The immediate release formulation contains a Class II drug, together with a hydrophobic polymer, preferably a bioadhesive polymer. In one embodiment, the drug and polymer are co-dissolved in a common solvent. The solution is formed into small solid particles by any convenient method, particularly by spray drying. The resulting particles contain drug dispersed as small particles in a polymeric matrix. The particles are stable against aggregation, and can be put into capsules or tableted for administration. The controlled release formulations contain a BCS Class II drug and a bioadhesive polymer. The controlled release formulations may be in the form of a tablet, capsules, mini-tab, microparticulate, or osmotic pump.

Abstract: Compositions containing particles of biologically active agents with sizes in the micron and submicron range and methods for making and using such particles are described herein. In the preferred embodiment the biologically active agents are peptides, proteins, nucleic acid molecules, or hydrophilic synthetic molecules. The particles have a size ranging from an average diameter of about 100 nm to about 2000 nm, preferably about 200 nm to 600 nm. Optionally the biologically active agents contain a polymeric coating. The particles are formed by adding a biologically active agent to an aqueous solution, mixing a nonsolvent that is miscible with water with the aqueous solution, and precipitating particles of the biologically active agents out of the nonsolvent: aqueous solution combination. The nonsolvent is typically a C1 to C6 alcohol, preferably a C2 to a C5 alcohol. In the preferred embodiment, the nonsolvent is tert-butyl alcohol.

Abstract: The invention relates to integrating at least two processes that use at least one acid, wherein one process utilizes an ion-exchange purification step.

Abstract: A driven disk is disclosed that includes an inner hub and an outer hub secured to at least one cover plate. The driven disk includes a predamper having a driving element and a driven element. The driving element includes the cover plate and the driven element includes a predamper driven plate fixed to the inner hub. The cover plate includes a number of apertures and the predamper driven plate includes a number of sockets at least partially aligned with the apertures in the cover plate. An energy storage member is disposed within the apertures in the cover plate and the sockets in the predamper driven plate for absorbing torque as a function of relative rotation between the inner hub and the outer hub.

Abstract: A process for preparing nanoparticles, microparticles and nanoencapsulated products using the PIN process is provided. The invention involves using additives to reduce the aggregation or coalescence of the PIN nanoparticles, microparticles, or nanoencapsulated products during their formation and collection and to facilitate the recovery of said nanoparticles, microparticles, or nanoencapsulated products.