Abstract: In examples, a relative skin reflectance of a captured image of a subject is quantified. Based on the relative skin reflectance, the captured image is determined as suitable or not suitable for biometric identification. When the captured image is determined not suitable, a remedial capture setting is calculated and provided to an image capturing resource. Another captured image of the subject, captured under the remedial capture setting, is received from the image capturing resource. The relative skin reflectance of the another captured image is quantified and based thereon, there is a determining of whether the another captured image is suitable or is not suitable.

Abstract: A laminated article having a first layer and a second layer. Each layer has a porous carbon structure and a porous polymer. The pores of the two porous polymers are from 1 nanometer to 10 microns in diameter, and the two porous polymers have different pore size distributions. A method of making the laminated article by hot-pressing the two or more layers. The article may be used in an electrochemical cell.

Abstract: A substrate is printed with front side and back side markings in a first color ink. The front side when viewed with reflected light includes a first marking printed in a first saturation and a first symbol printed in the first saturation. The back side when viewed with reflected light includes: a second marking printed in a second saturation; a second symbol printed in the second saturation; a third marking printed in the first saturation; and a third symbol printed in the first saturation. The first marking, the second marking, and the third marking are printed to provide an interlocking pattern of low saturation color and high saturation color when viewed with transmitted light. The second symbol is visible, and the first symbol and the third symbol are visible and indistinguishable, when viewed with transmitted light.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for label placement that provide necessary information on a map when map features conflict without significantly impacting performance. Embodiments of the present disclosure can handle placement of map labels that vary in size, have prioritized label/feature groupings, apply to point, line, and area features, minimize overlap when there is no more open space, and render fast enough for interactive viewing.

Abstract: A method of laser-writing submicron pixels with tunable circular polarization and write-read-erase-reuse capability on Bi2Se3/WS2 at room temperature, comprising the steps of applying a laser to the Bi2Se3/WS2, writing a submicron pixel, wherein the submicron pixel has a circular polarization, modifying the circular polarization, allowing the circular polarization to be tuned across a range of 39.9%, tuning photoluminescence intensity, and tuning photoluminescence peak position. A method of growing Bi2Se3/WS2 as a nano-material or two-dimensional heterostructure for laser-writing submicron pixels with tunable circular polarization and write-read-erase-reuse capability on the Bi2Se3/WS2 heterostructure at room temperature.

Abstract: A MEMS nanotube based radiation sensor that is low cost, low power, compact, reliable and is applicable across many fields and a method for fabricating such a sensor are described. Each sensor may be connected to an array of similar but distinct sensors that leverage different materials and nanotube technology to detect radiation.

Abstract: Light controlled switching modules are provide. In embodiments, a light controlled switching module includes: a housing; a light controlled semiconductor switch mounted to the housing, the light controlled semiconductor switch including a semiconductor body; at least one light source mounted to the housing in a spaced relationship from the light controlled semiconductor switch and positioned to direct light emitted from the at least one light source toward the semiconductor body; and first and second electrodes mounted to the housing and connected to the light controlled semiconductor switch, wherein the first and second electrodes are configured to have variable resistance between the first and the second electrode.

Abstract: Tunable thermochromic materials comprise a metal salt with a varying proportion of two different anions and an organic ligand. Partial substitution via doping during the initial synthesis with a macro-structurally similar (generating an isostructural material) yet chemically different anion creates a material with altered thermochromic properties. For example, in bromide-doped bis(N,N?-diethylethylenediamine)nickel(II)) tetrafluoroborate; both the tetrafluoroborate (BF4-) and bromide (Br—) derivatives are isostructural. Substitution of BF4- for Br— causes a decrease in the materials' thermochromic transition temperature by approximately 10° C.

Abstract: A device to determine density includes a housing, a first transducer disposed in the housing at a first position, and a second transducer disposed in the housing at a second position. The second transducer is located a distance from the first transducer. The device also includes a controller that reads a first output from the first transducer, and reads a second output from the second transducer. The controller determines a density of a liquid based on the first output, the second output, and the distance.

Abstract: Systems and methods for continuous real-time sweat sampling and analysis are disclosed. A sweat collection article and method of collecting sweat from a person's skin using the sweat collection article are provided. The sweat collection article includes: a sweat collecting tube placed adjacent to the person's skin, and at least one piece of flexible material that has an adhesive that adheres the article to the person's skin and is positioned to overlie one end of the tube. The second end of the sweat collecting tube is in fluid communication with an instrument such as a mass spectrometer that analyzes the sweat on a real-time basis. The systems and methods may further include a device for removing salt from the sweat that is arranged so that the sweat is transported to the device prior to being transported to the instrument for analyzing the sweat.

Abstract: Single-domain antibodies (SAbs) against three Yersinia pestis surface proteins (LcrV, YscF, and F1), nucleic acid sequences encoding the SAbs, and polypeptides comprising two or more SAbs capable of recognizing two or more epitopes and/or antigens. The present invention further includes methods for preventing or treating Y. pestis infections in a patient; methods for detecting and/or diagnosing Y. pestis infections; and devices and methods for identifying and/or detecting Y. pestis on a surface and/or in an environment.

Abstract: A pegylated, circularly permuted construct of the CapD enzyme (a gamma glutamyl transferase enzyme acting as a hydrolase specific to poly-?-D-glutamic acid) is used to treat anthrax and other bacterial infections, including but not limited to infection with strains that are resistant to available antibiotics.

Abstract: Described herein are biofilm bioreactors for synthesis at the interface between two liquids, and methods of using such bioreactors for the biotransformation of feedstocks into chemical products. Also contemplated is the extraction of such products.

Abstract: A system and method for securely exchanging information between a server and an endpoint. A firewall and switch may administer connections between the endpoint and the server. The network interface of the server may send and receive information through the firewall and switch. A program task in the sever may set the network interface to be in an “on state” for a predetermined amount of time on a specific date thereby creating an active time transfer window that the network interface can receive communications from the endpoint.

Abstract: A system and method for securely exchanging information between a server and an endpoint. A firewall and switch may administer connections between the endpoint and the server. The network interface of the server may send and receive information through the firewall and switch. A program task in the sever may set the network interface to be in an “on state” for a predetermined amount of time on a specific date thereby creating an active time transfer window that the network interface can receive communications from the endpoint.

Abstract: A system and method for securely exchanging information between a server and an endpoint. A firewall and switch may administer connections between the endpoint and the server. The network interface of the server may send and receive information through the firewall and switch. A program task in the sever may set the network interface to be in an “on state” for a predetermined amount of time on a specific date thereby creating an active time transfer window that the network interface can receive communications from the endpoint.

Abstract: A substrate is printed with front side and back side markings. The front side when viewed with reflected light includes: a first marking printed with a first gradient of two colors; a second marking printed with a second gradient of two colors; a first symbol printed with a third gradient of two colors; a second symbol printed with a fourth gradient of two colors; a third symbol printed with a fifth gradient of two colors; and a fourth symbol printed with a sixth gradient of two colors. The back side when viewed with reflected light includes: a third marking printed with the fourth gradient; a fourth marking printed with the third gradient; a fifth symbol printed with the second gradient; a sixth symbol printed with the first gradient; a seventh symbol printed with the sixth gradient; and an eighth symbol printed with the fifth gradient.

Abstract: Systems and methods for growth of silicon carbide over a layer comprising graphene and/or hexagonal boron nitride, and related articles, are generally described. In some embodiments, a SiC film is fabricated over a layer comprising graphene and/or hexagonal boron nitride, which in turn is disposed over a substrate. The layer and/or the substrate may be lattice-matched with the SiC film to reduce defect density in the SiC film. The fabricated SiC film may then be removed from the substrate via, for example, a stressor attached to the SiC film. In certain cases, the layer serves as a reusable platform for growing SiC films and also serves a release layer that allows fast, precise, and repeatable release at the layer surface.

Abstract: The various embodiments described herein include methods, devices, and systems for operating superconducting circuits. In one aspect, an electric circuit includes: (1) a superconductor component having a first terminal at a first end and a second terminal at a second end; (2) a gate component thermally-coupled to the superconductor component at a first location between the first terminal and the second terminal, where the gate component is thermally-coupled via a first section of the gate component; and where the gate component has a smallest width at the first section so as to focus resistive heating toward the superconductor component.

Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring skin tone. A camera and computer may measure skin tone health of a face dataset and color quality of a single face image. The computer and camera may measure skin tone across wide sample of volunteers, express skin tone in CIELCH coordinates; and identify the range of observed lightness, chromaticity, and hue values in the population to determine a sample set. The computer and camera may be configured to match the image to a coordinate system of lightness, chromaticity, and hue in the sample set. If a match is not possible, the computer may be configured to select a coordinate closest to the measured lightness, chromaticity, and hue.