Abstract:
An embodiment is developed for a cylindrically shaped, elliptical rolling robot that has the ability to morph its outer surface as it rolls. The morphing actuation alters lengths of the major and minor axes, resulting in a torque imbalance that rolls the robot along faster or brakes its motion. A control scheme is implemented, whereby angular position and horizontal velocity are used as feedback to trigger and define morphing actuation. A goal of the control scheme is to cause the robot to follow a given velocity profile comprised of steps and ramps. Equations of motion for the rolling robot are formulated, which include rolling resistance torque caused by deformation of the outer surface tread. A computer program solves the equations of motion, and resulting plots show that by automatically morphing its shape in a periodic fashion, the rolling robot is able to commence from an initial position, achieve constant average velocity and slow itself.
Abstract:
A nanocomposite material comprises polyethylene terephthalate (PET) as a base polymer and a nanoparticle that increases the strength of the base polymer.
Abstract:
According to an embodiment, a method for grafting POSS (polyhedral silsesquioxane) nanomaterial to graphene oxide is described for use in preparation of high performance composite materials. In another embodiment, amine functionalized graphene oxide may be particularly suitable. In this embodiment, POSS molecules grafted to amine functionalized graphene oxide are synthesized by reacting graphene oxide with different POSS molecules. The amine functionalized graphene oxide may be dissolved in a solvent and the reaction may include the presence of a catalyst. The resultant POSS grafted graphene oxide/POSS grafted amine functionalized graphene oxide may be mixed with a resin (epoxy) in a masterbatch. The masterbatch may then be packaged and sold. The masterbatch material may then be introduced into the interlaminar area of graphite/epoxy composites. Biodegradability and interlaminar fracture toughness testing results from the use of epoxy based nanocomposites containing POSS modified graphene oxide polymer are expected to improve.
Abstract:
Provided are shelf-stable probiotic compositions comprising endospores of Bacillus with desirable characteristics such as acid resistance, high temperature tolerance, and high levels of phytase, α-amylase, cellulolytic and/or protease enzyme activities. Methods for their use, e.g. in food for animal and human consumption, are also provided, as are food products which comprise the probiotics and methods of making the same.
Abstract:
Methods of continuous production of a product of interest using a filamentous fungus are provided. The fungus is auxotrophic for a nutrient that is required for fungal growth, but not for fungal synthesis of the product of interest. Under growth limiting culture conditions, in which the nutrient is absent from the culture medium, the amount of fungus remains constant or nearly constant and nutrients are not used up for growth but instead are available for synthetic pathways which produce the product of interest.
Abstract:
A method includes providing a pulsed magnetic field, exposing a tissue mass to the pulsed magnetic field, and receiving an ultrasonic signal from a region of the tissue imbued with magnetic particles.
Abstract:
A transgenic wheat 2174 cultivar with increased resistance to diseases caused by foliar pathogens is provided, as are methods for making the transgenic cultivar. The methods involve genetically engineering (transforming) 2174 to overexpress cDNA encoding the resistance gene LR34 in a form that is correctly spliced.
Abstract:
There is taught herein a real-time, lumped parameter cardiovascular dynamics model that uses features extracted from online electrocardiogram (ECG) signal recordings to generate certain surrogate hemodynamic signals. The derived signals can be used to real time animate a 3-D heart model. The model represents the coupled dynamics of the heart chambers, valves, and pulmonary and systemic blood circulation loops in the form of nonlinear differential equations. The features extracted from ECG signals can be used to estimate the timings and amplitudes of the atrioventricular activation input functions as well as other model parameters that capture the effect of cardiac morphological and physiological characteristics. The results indicate the potential of a virtual instrument that uses the model-derived signals for clinical diagnosis in lieu of expensive instrumentation.
Abstract:
A set of vectorcardiogram leads attach to a patient and a signal conditioning circuit receives a plurality of analog signals from the plurality of vectorcardiogram leads. An analog to digital converter that transforms the conditioned analog signals into digital signals and a processor transforms the digital vectorcardiogram signals into electrocardiogram signals.
Abstract:
Solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) having conductive filler aligned to have directional ionic conductivity. The SPE with aligned conductive filler are used in a structural supercapacitor comprising one or more plies. Each of the plies has a first and second conducting member, each with a plurality of sections with conductive filler oriented normal to the inner surface of the first conducting member. The plies also having a pair of epoxy-SPE layers with aligned conductive filler. The resin layers are between the inner surfaces of the first and second conducting members.