Abstract: A system and method for load control of a wind turbine is disclosed. The method includes: selecting a plurality of wind turbine components for load monitoring; defining a load envelope for each of the selected components and storing the load envelopes in a controller, the load envelopes defining a maximum acceptable load capacity for the respective component that may be at or near the component's design capability; directly or indirectly monitoring loads on the selected components and generating corresponding load signals that are communicated to the controller; with the controller, determining if the loads acting on each of the selected components are within the component's respective load envelope; and the controller initiating corrective action in the event that the load acting on any one of the selected components exceeds the component's load envelope.

Abstract: Methods are provided for making freeze dried hydrogel and structures therefrom that may be introduced into a patient's body for medical applications. Precursor components are combined to initiate crosslinking. The combined precursor components are placed in a chilled tray, and allowed to crosslink to a desired level of complete crosslinking before and/or after being placed onto the tray. The partially crosslinked hydrogel is frozen and freeze dried. After freeze drying, the hydrogel is conditioned to substantially complete crosslinking, and formed into one or more structures, e.g., plugs, hemostatic, or other medical devices. For example, the hydrogel may be cut, machined, rolled, folded, compressed, and/or cored into that may be loaded into delivery devices that may be introduced into a body to implant or otherwise deliver the structures into the body, e.g., to seal a puncture or other passage through tissue.

Abstract: An apparatus for sealing a puncture through tissue to a vessel includes an elongate occlusion member including an expandable member, a cartridge carried on the occlusion member, and a sealant carried within the cartridge. The cartridge includes an outer member and a pusher member within the outer member. The sealant is disposed within the outer member adjacent the expandable member distal to the pusher member. During use, the occlusion member is introduced into a puncture until the expandable member and the sealant extend from the puncture into the vessel. The expandable member is expanded, and withdrawn until the expanded expandable member contacts the vessel wall, thereby withdrawing the sealant back into the puncture. The outer member is withdrawn to expose the sealant within the puncture, while the pusher member prevents removal of the sealant, and then the cartridge, occlusion member, and pusher member are successively removed.

Abstract: Apparatus for sealing a puncture communicating with a blood vessel includes a porous carrier formed from lyophilized hydrogel or other material. The plug may include at least first and second hydrogel precursors and a pH adjusting agent carried by the porous carrier in an unreactive state prior to exposure to an aqueous physiological environment. Once exposed to bodily fluids, the carrier expands as the lyophilized material hydrates to enhance and facilitate rapid hemostasis of the puncture. When the plug is placed into the puncture, the natural wetting of the plug by bodily fluids (e.g., blood) causes the first and second precursors to react and cross-link into an adhesive or “sticky” hydrogel that aids in retaining the plug in place within the puncture.

Abstract: Apparatus for sealing a puncture communicating with a blood vessel includes a porous carrier formed from lyophilized hydrogel or other material. The plug may include at least first and second hydrogel precursors and a pH adjusting agent carried by the porous carrier in an unreactive state prior to exposure to an aqueous physiological environment. Once exposed to bodily fluids, the carrier expands as the lyophilized material hydrates to enhance and facilitate rapid hemostasis of the puncture. When the plug is placed into the puncture, the natural wetting of the plug by bodily fluids (e.g., blood) causes the first and second precursors to react and cross-link into an adhesive or “sticky” hydrogel that aids in retaining the plug in place within the puncture.

Abstract: A delivery system including a restraining member maintains a collapsed implant in its collapsed state for delivery through a small passageway to a desired site in a mammalian body. Once the implant is positioned at the desired site, the restraining member is released so that the stent may expand or be expanded to its expanded state. In a preferred embodiment, the restraining member comprises a sheet of material that surrounds at least a portion of the collapsed stent. Portions of the restraining member are releasably coupled to one another with a low profile thread-like member or suture.

Abstract: A polymer is provided comprising a first pendant group selected from at least one of a perfluorinated ether group or a perfluoroalkanesulfonamido group, a second pendant group comprising an ammonium group, wherein the second pendant group is free of silicon, and a third pendant group comprising an ammonium group and a reactive silicon-containing group. A composition comprising the polymer is provided. The polymer and composition are useful for protecting a substrate, for example, to render the substrate oil repellent, water repellent, or both, or to provide stain repellency to the substrate.

Abstract: In one aspect, a stiffener plate for coupling a rotor blade to a hub of a wind turbine is disclosed. The stiffener plate may generally include a mounting flange configured to be coupled to at least one of the rotor blade or the hub. The mounting flange may define an inner perimeter and a center point. In addition, the stiffener plate may include a web extending from the inner perimeter towards the center point. The web may define a cross-sectional width that varies between the inner perimeter and the center point.

Abstract: A fluorinated composition includes: a polyfluoropolyether silane represented by the formula: RfaO(CF(CF3)CF2O)pCF(CF3)CH2OZ1Si(Y1)3; and a polyfluoropolyether silane represented by the formula: Rfb[R5CH2OZ2Si(Y2)3]2 Rfa represents a perfluoroalkyl group having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, optionally substituted with at least one catenated oxygen atom or —NR8— group, wherein R8 represents a perfluoroalkyl group; Z1 represents —R1SR2—, —R1S(?O)R2—, or —R1S(?O)2R2, wherein R1 and R2 independently represent alkylene groups having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms; each Y1 independently represents a hydrolyzable group; and p is a number in a range of from 3 to 50; Z2 independently represents —R3SR4—, —R3S(?O)R4—, or —R3S(?O)2R4, wherein R3 and R4 independently represent alkylene groups having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms; Y2 independently represents a hydrolyzable group; Rfb represents a perfluoroalkylene group having at least 3 carbon atoms, optionally substituted with at least one catenated oxygen atom or —NR6— group, w

Abstract: An installation system and a method for mounting a rotor blade to a hub on a wind turbine are disclosed. The method includes coupling a rotor and a stator together, the rotor rotatably connected to the hub. The method further includes rotating the stator in a first direction, wherein rotation of the stator causes the rotor and the hub to rotate in the first direction. The method further includes securing the hub to prevent rotation of the hub. The installation system includes a coupling device configured to releasably couple a stator and a rotor together and a securing device configured to releasably secure the hub. The installation system further includes at least one stator drive device operably connected to the stator, the stator drive device configured to rotate the stator between a first position and a second position.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes a message broker subsystem 1) attempting to deliver one or more messages intended for a recipient software application to the recipient software application, 2) determining that the recipient software application is in a fault state after failing to deliver the one or more messages to the recipient software application, 3) automatically performing a fail-over process on one or more other messages intended for the recipient software application in response to the determination that the recipient software application is in the fault state, and 4) continuing to attempt to deliver a message selected from the one or more messages to the recipient software application while automatically performing the fail-over process on the one or more other messages. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: Antireflective films are described comprising a light transmissive substrate and a low refractive index layer disposed on the light transmissive substrate. The low refractive index layer comprises the reaction product of polymerizable resin composition comprising at least 20 wt-% fumed silica. In one embodiment, the polymerizable resin is ethylenically unsaturated. In a favored embodiment, the low refractive index layer increases in porosity from the light transmissive substrate interface to an opposing porous surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for sealing a puncture through tissue to a vessel includes an elongate occlusion member including an expandable member, a cartridge carried on the occlusion member, and a sealant carried within the cartridge. The cartridge includes an outer member and a pusher member within the outer member. The sealant is disposed within the outer member adjacent the expandable member distal to the pusher member. During use, the occlusion member is introduced into a puncture until the expandable member and the sealant extend from the puncture into the vessel. The expandable member is expanded, and withdrawn until the expanded expandable member contacts the vessel wall, thereby withdrawing the sealant back into the puncture. The outer member is withdrawn to expose the sealant within the puncture, while the pusher member prevents removal of the sealant, and then the cartridge, occlusion member, and pusher member are successively removed.

Abstract: Filter media is treated with a composition comprising cationic fluorinated ether silanes to provide durable water- and/or oil-repellency properties.

Abstract: Methods for sealing a puncture communicating with a blood vessel are provided that include introducing a porous carrier formed from lyophilized hydrogel or other material into the puncture. The plug may include at least first and second hydrogel precursors and a pH adjusting agent carried by the porous carrier in an unreactive state prior to exposure to an aqueous physiological environment. Once exposed to bodily fluids, the carrier expands as the lyophilized material hydrates to enhance and facilitate rapid hemostasis of the puncture. When the plug is placed into the puncture, the natural wetting of the plug by bodily fluids (e.g., blood) causes the first and second precursors to react and cross-link into an adhesive or “sticky” hydrogel that aids in retaining the plug in place within the puncture.

Abstract: Copolymers containing at least one perfluoropolyether segment and at least one polydiorganosiloxane segments are described. The copolymers further contain multiple aminooxalylamino groups that link the various segments together. Methods of making the copolymers are also described.

Abstract: A surface treatment process comprises (a) providing at least one optical device; (b) providing a curable surface treatment composition comprising (1) at least one fluorinated organosilane compound comprising (i) a monovalent segment selected from polyfluoroalkyl, polyfluoroether, polyfluoropolyether, and combinations thereof and (ii) a monovalent endgroup comprising at least one silyl moiety comprising at least one group selected from hydrolyzable groups, hydroxyl, and combinations thereof, and (2) at least one fluorinated organosilane compound comprising (i) a multivalent segment selected from polyfluoroalkane, polyfluoroether, polyfluoropolyether, and combinations thereof and (ii) at least two monovalent endgroups, each independently comprising at least one silyl moiety comprising at least one group selected from hydrolyzable groups, hydroxyl, and combinations thereof; (c) applying the curable surface treatment composition to the optical device; and (d) curing the applied, curable surface treatment composit

Abstract: A method includes: providing a silver-containing conductive member disposed on a portion of a surface of chemically-strengthened glass, wherein the conductive member comprises silver; disposing a layer comprising a curable polysilazane onto at least a portion of the conductive member and at least a portion of the surface of the chemically-strengthened glass adjacent to the conductive member; and curing the curable polysilazane. Electronic devices prepared according to the method are also disclosed.

Abstract: A surface treatment process comprises (a) providing at least one substrate; (b) providing a curable surface treatment composition comprising (1) at least one fluorinated organosilane compound comprising (i) a monovalent segment selected from polyfluoroalkyl, polyfluoroether, polyfluoropolyether, and combinations thereof and (ii) a monovalent endgroup comprising at least one silyl moiety comprising at least one group selected from hydrolyzable groups, hydroxyl, and combinations thereof, and (2) at least one organosilane compound comprising (i) a multivalent non-fluorinated segment and (ii) at least two monovalent endgroups, each monovalent endgroup independently comprising at least one silyl moiety comprising at least one group selected from hydroxyl, hydrolyzable groups, and combinations thereof, and/or at least one organosilazane compound; (c) applying the curable surface treatment composition to the substrate; and (d) curing the applied, curable surface treatment composition.

Abstract: Articles having hydrophobic fluorinated coatings are provided. More specifically, the articles include a substrate, a primer layer of acid-sintered silica nanoparticles, and a hydrophobic fluorinated layer. The hydrophobic fluorinated coatings can be used on a large variety of substrate and tend to be quite durable even when subjected to repeated rubbing and/or cleaning.