Abstract: The present disclosure provides articles of manufacture with improved moisture control as well as methods of making such articles. In some embodiments, provided herein the article has a fabric with an outer hydrophobic surface and an inner surface with hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions where the hydrophilic regions can form a pattern, allowing moisture to collect and move through the pattern, and the hydrophobic regions prevent the whole inner surface from becoming moist and the outer hydrophobic regions does not show moisture. The fabric may be used to make garments. The entire inner surface of the garment may be patterned with hydrophilic patterns for partial absorption, and the entire outer surface of the garment is hydrophobic, thereby preventing perspiration from being seen from outside of the garment. Further provided herein are methods of making fabrics with improved moisture control including by printing or knitting.

Abstract: A dynamic proxy may be implemented for a database that can establish a connection between the proxy and a database engine to perform a database queries received from a client at the proxy. The proxy may receive a connection request (and later database queries) through a first network endpoint from a client. The proxy can then determine based on the source of the connection request a second network endpoint through which to access the database (e.g., the endpoint of the database engine). Once the proxy establishes a connection with the database engine through the second network endpoint, the proxy can request the performance of queries at the database engine instead of the client.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides articles of manufacture with improved moisture control as well as methods of making such articles. In some embodiments, provided herein the article has a fabric with an outer hydrophobic surface and an inner surface with hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions where the hydrophilic regions can form a pattern, allowing moisture to collect and move through the pattern, and the hydrophobic regions prevent the whole inner surface from becoming moist and the outer hydrophobic regions does not show moisture. The fabric may be used to make garments. The entire inner surface of the garment may be patterned with hydrophilic patterns for partial absorption, and the entire outer surface of the garment is hydrophobic, thereby preventing perspiration from being seen from outside of the garment. Further provided herein are methods of making fabrics with improved moisture control including by printing or knitting.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides articles of manufacture with a structure that resists liquid impacts, such as from rain, as well as methods of making such articles. In some embodiments, the articles include two layers of porous material. The inner layer is made from a hydrophobic porous material or has a hydrophobic coating. A spacer layer is positioned in-between the two layers to provide physical separation between the layers, airflow between the layers, and other benefits. Importantly, the configuration of the spacer layer allows each of the other layers to be made from more breathable materials than existing waterproof materials, while allowing the article as a whole to withstand far greater water impact pressures than either layer individually.

Abstract: A fabric based digital droplet flowmetry (DDF) method and platform are provided utilizing a fluid collection network, a microfluidic junction for droplet formation and removal, and digital counting and measurement circuitry. The fluidic junction has a droplet emitter, such as a nozzle, and droplet receiver separated by a gap. The measurement circuitry detects the transient formation of a liquid bridge (the closed-circuit state) and the breakup of the bridge (the open-circuit state) as an electrical switching event. The duration of the bridge formation only lasts for a few milliseconds. The platform produces consistent droplet volume over varying flow rates and droplet size is controlled by the selection of structural parameters such as nozzle dimensions, channel geometries, surface wettability, and inlet/outlet pressures.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides articles of manufacture with improved moisture control as well as methods of making such articles. In some embodiments, provided herein the article has a fabric with an outer hydrophobic surface and an inner surface with hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions where the hydrophilic regions can form a pattern, allowing moisture to collect and move through the pattern, and the hydrophobic regions prevent the whole inner surface from becoming moist and the outer hydrophobic regions does not show moisture. The fabric may be used to make garments. The entire inner surface of the garment may be patterned with hydrophilic patterns for partial absorption, and the entire outer surface of the garment is hydrophobic, thereby preventing perspiration from being seen from outside of the garment. Further provided herein are methods of making fabrics with improved moisture control including by printing or knitting.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a portable hydrostatic tester for hydrostatic pressure resistance of a fabric without the need for a power source and the need for cutting the fabric before testing. In some embodiments, the hydrostatic tester comprises (1) a supporting structure comprising a test opening; (2) a connection tube connected to the test opening; (3) a liquid column connected to the connection tube; and (4) a reservoir configured to contain a liquid that is connected to one or both of the liquid column and the connection tube. In some embodiments, the reservoir is configured such that the liquid is forced by gravity through the test opening via the connection tube at a hydrostatic pressure dependent upon the elevation of the reservoir. The present disclosure also provides a method of testing the hydrostatic pressure resistance of a fabric using the hydrostatic tester described above.

Abstract: A pressure sensing apparatus which utilizes an electrolytic droplet retained between a first and second sensing electrode within a housing. Contact between the electrolyte droplet and the electrodes form electric double layers (EDL) having interfacial EDL capacitance proportional to interface contact area which varies in response to mechanical pressure applied to deform exterior portions of the housing. The electrolyte contains a sufficient percentage of glycerol to prevent evaporative effects. Preferably, the sensing electrodes are modified with depressions, hydrophilic and/or hydrophobic portions to increase central anchoring of the electrolyte droplet within the housing. The inventive pressure sensor provides high sensitivity and resolution which is beneficial to numerous applications, and is particularly well-suited for medical sensing applications.

Abstract: A pressure sensing apparatus which utilizes an electrolytic droplet retained between a first and second sensing electrode within a housing. Contact between the electrolyte droplet and the electrodes form electric double layers (EDL) having interfacial EDL capacitance proportional to interface contact area which varies in response to mechanical pressure applied to deform exterior portions of the housing. The electrolyte contains a sufficient percentage of glycerol to prevent evaporative effects. Preferably, the sensing electrodes are modified with depressions, hydrophilic and/or hydrophobic portions to increase central anchoring of the electrolyte droplet within the housing. The inventive pressure sensor provides high sensitivity and resolution which is beneficial to numerous applications, and is particularly well-suited for medical sensing applications.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is presented for the management of fluid flow utilizing different adjacent wettability regions to form a fluidic network structure on a substrate. The fluidic network structure may include liquid-absorptive fluidic channels, where the fluid can flow within these channels and be removed from the substrate. Fluid can be moved by gravitational force, compression force, capillary force and surface tension force.

Abstract: This invention includes the implementation of several unconventional droplet manipulations on a superhydrophobic-patterned surface microfluidic platform, which may be applied to automated biological analyzes and point-of-care diagnostic applications.

Abstract: A pressure sensing apparatus which utilizes an electrolytic droplet retained between a first and second sensing electrode within a housing. Contact between the electrolyte droplet and the electrodes form electric double layers (EDL) having interfacial EDL capacitance proportional to interface contact area which varies in response to mechanical pressure applied to deform exterior portions of the housing. The electrolyte contains a sufficient percentage of glycerol to prevent evaporative effects. Preferably, the sensing electrodes are modified with depressions, hydrophilic and/or hydrophobic portions to increase central anchoring of the electrolyte droplet within the housing. The inventive pressure sensor provides high sensitivity and resolution which is beneficial to numerous applications, and is particularly well-suited for medical sensing applications.

Abstract: A pressure sensing apparatus which utilizes an electrolytic droplet retained between a first and second sensing electrode within a housing. Contact between the electrolyte droplet and the electrodes form electric double layers (EDL) having interfacial EDL capacitance proportional to interface contact area which varies in response to mechanical pressure applied to deform exterior portions of the housing. The electrolyte contains a sufficient percentage of glycerol to prevent evaporative effects. Preferably, the sensing electrodes are modified with depressions, hydrophilic and/or hydrophobic portions to increase central anchoring of the electrolyte droplet within the housing. The inventive pressure sensor provides high sensitivity and resolution which is beneficial to numerous applications, and is particularly well-suited for medical sensing applications.

Abstract: A pressure sensing apparatus which utilizes an electrolytic droplet retained between a first and second sensing electrode within a housing. Contact between the electrolyte droplet and the electrodes form electric double layers (EDL) having interfacial EDL capacitance proportional to interface contact area which varies in response to mechanical pressure applied to deform exterior portions of the housing. The electrolyte contains a sufficient percentage of glycerol to prevent evaporative effects. Preferably, the sensing electrodes are modified with depressions, hydrophilic and/or hydrophobic portions to increase central anchoring of the electrolyte droplet within the housing. The inventive pressure sensor provides high sensitivity and resolution which is beneficial to numerous applications, and is particularly well-suited for medical sensing applications.

Abstract: This invention includes the implementation of several unconventional droplet manipulations on a superhydrophobic-patterned surface microfluidic platform, which may be applied to automated biological analyses and point-of-care diagnostic applications.

Abstract: A pressure sensing apparatus which utilizes an electrolytic droplet retained between a first and second sensing electrode within a housing. Contact between the electrolyte droplet and the electrodes form electric double layers (EDL) having interfacial EDL capacitance proportional to interface contact area which varies in response to mechanical pressure applied to deform exterior portions of the housing. The electrolyte contains a sufficient percentage of glycerol to prevent evaporative effects. Preferably, the sensing electrodes are modified with depressions, hydrophilic and/or hydrophobic portions to increase central anchoring of the electrolyte droplet within the housing. The inventive pressure sensor provides high sensitivity and resolution which is beneficial to numerous applications, and is particularly well-suited for medical sensing applications.