Abstract: A two-wheel compact magnetic crawler vehicle for traversing and inspecting surfaces. The crawler comprises a chassis. Two independently actuated magnetic drive wheels are spaced apart in a lateral direction and mounted to the chassis by a hinged joint enabling each wheel to tilt in response to the surface curvature. A probe wheel is provided at the midpoint between the two drive wheels and laterally in line therewith. A spring-assisted probe carrier passively moves the probe wheel vertically relative to the chassis in response to changes in the surface curvature. Additionally, the vehicle includes a probe angle normalization mechanism comprising spring-loaded, vertically moveable, ball casters positioned symmetrically about the probe wheel. The combined utilization of the probe carrier and the caster carrier passively maintain the probe contacting the surface, the chassis level, and the probe normal to the surface irrespective of changes in the surface curvature with vehicle movement.

Abstract: An optical fiber distributed acoustic sensor (DAS) system for detecting a red palm weevil and/or its larvae inside a tree. The system includes an optical fiber that is configured to be placed next to a tree; and a DAS box optically connected to the optical fiber and configured to receive a reflected light from the optical fiber. The DAS box includes electronics that extracts from the reflected light a frequency in a range of [400 Hz, 4 kHz], and sends a message indicating a presence of the red palm weevil and/or its larvae inside the tree.

Abstract: An apparatus, computer program product, and method are provided for the determination of one or more components of an EC number through the application of a level-by-level modeling approach capable of conducting feature reconstruction and classifier training simultaneously, based on encoded aspects of a sequence listing for a protein with an unknown function. The method includes receiving a sequence source data object associated with an enzyme; extracting a sequence data set from the sequence source data object; encoding the sequence data set into a first and second encoded sequence; generating a first predicted characteristic of the enzyme by applying the first and second encoded sequence to a first level of a model comprising a plurality of levels; and generating a second predicted characteristic of the enzyme by applying the first and the second encoded sequences to a second level of the model comprising a plurality of levels.

Abstract: Supported onium salts used as initiators for the synthesis of polycarbonates by copolymerization of carbon dioxide with epoxides are described. Embodiments of the present disclosure describe initiators comprising an insoluble portion including an onium cation attached to an insoluble support; and an anion, wherein the anion is a counter-ion to the onium cation. Embodiments further describe methods of making polycarbonates using the initiator, methods of making initiators, and the like.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are modified zeolites and methods for making modified zeolites. In one or more embodiments disclosed herein, a modified zeolite may include a microporous framework including a plurality of micropores having diameters of less than or equal to 2 nm. The microporous framework may include at least silicon atoms and oxygen atoms. The modified zeolite may further include organometallic moieties each bonded to a nitrogen atom of a secondary amine functional group comprising a nitrogen atom and a hydrogen atom. The organometallic moieties may comprise a hafnium atom that is bonded to the nitrogen atom of the secondary amine functional group. The nitrogen atom of the secondary amine function group may bridge the hafnium atom of the organometallic moiety and a silicon atom of the microporous framework.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally describe ethano-Tröger's base-amine monomers, ethano-Tröger's base polyimides of intrinsic microporosity, membranes based on ethano-Tröger's base polyimides of intrinsic microporosity, methods of making ethano-Tröger's base-amine monomers, methods of making ethano-Tröger's base polyimides of intrinsic microporosity prepared from ethano-Tröger's base-amine monomers, methods of separating chemical species, and the like.

Abstract: A free node to be deployed underwater for omnidirectional energy and data harvesting includes a housing that forms a sealed chamber; a wavelength-changing layer attached to an outside of the housing and configured to receive a first optical signal having a first wavelength range and to emit a second optical signal having a second wavelength range, different from the first wavelength range, wherein the first optical signal includes encoded data; a flexible solar cell wrapped around the housing, the flexible solar cell being configured to receive the second optical signal and generate an electrical signal; an energy storage module located in the chamber and configured to store electrical energy associated with the electrical signal; and a decoder located in the chamber and configured to receive the electrical signal and decode the encoded data. The first wavelength range is ultraviolet light and the second wavelength range is visible or infrared light.

Abstract: A prefabricated polymeric layer to be used in a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) based system, the prefabricated polymeric layer including a first sublayer; and a second sublayer attached to the first sublayer, wherein the second sublayer includes a sample holder. At least one of the first sublayer and the second first sublayer includes a polymeric material, and the prefabricated polymeric layer is to be added to a target material to be examined by the MALDI system.

Abstract: A multipurpose and transferrable sample platform for supporting, analyzing and/or processing a target material. The platform includes a substrate; a dielectric layer formed over a face of the substrate; electrodes formed over the dielectric layer; a slot formed through the substrate and the dielectric layer; and an exfoliated graphene-based membrane placed over the slot and in electrical contact with the electrodes. The exfoliated graphene-based membrane is configured to support, or act upon, a study material or chemical precursors.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are modified zeolites and methods for making modified zeolites. In one or more embodiments disclosed herein, a modified zeolite may include a microporous framework including a plurality of micropores having diameters of less than or equal to 2 nm. The microporous framework may include at least silicon atoms and oxygen atoms. The modified zeolite may further include organometallic moieties each bonded to a nitrogen atom of a secondary amine functional group including a nitrogen atom and a hydrogen atom. The organometallic moieties may include a titanium atom that is bonded to the nitrogen atom of the secondary amine functional group. The nitrogen atom of the secondary amine function group may bridge the titanium atom of the organometallic moiety and a silicon atom of the microporous framework.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are modified zeolites and methods for making modified zeolites. In one or more embodiments disclosed herein, a modified zeolite may include a microporous framework including a plurality of micropores having diameters of less than or equal to 2 nm. The microporous framework may include at least silicon atoms and oxygen atoms. The modified zeolite may further include organometallic moieties each bonded to a nitrogen atom of a secondary amine functional group including a nitrogen atom and a hydrogen atom. The organometallic moieties may include a zirconium atom that is bonded to the nitrogen atom of the secondary amine functional group. The nitrogen atom of the secondary amine function group may bridge the zirconium atom of the organometallic moiety and a silicon atom of the microporous framework.

Abstract: An energy producing device includes a piezoelectric layer having a first side and second side opposite of the first side, a first electrical contact arranged on the first side of the piezoelectric layer, a second electrical contact arranged on the second side of the piezoelectric layer, and a counter-layer arranged on the second electrical contact. The piezoelectric layer, first and second electrical contacts, and counter-layer form a beam having a neutral axis outside of the piezoelectric layer.

Abstract: A method and system for early detection of biofouling utilizing a fluorescence based extracellular enzyme activity assay is disclosed. The method provides a means for early detection of biofouling on membranes used in flow-through membrane filtration systems for with a feed water flow, such as waste water of water for desalination. Also disclosed is an at-line sensor utilizing the fluorescence based extracellular enzyme activity assay that is positioned in the membrane filtration system for detection of biofouling.

Abstract: An integrated photovoltaic (PV) panel-water sorption layer system that includes a PV panel having a front face that is configured to receive solar light for generating electrical current, and a back face that is opposite to the front face; and an atmospheric water harvesting device attached to the back face of the PV panel. The atmospheric water harvesting device is configured to cool down the PV panel by evaporating absorbed atmospheric water based on heat received from the PV panel.

Abstract: A stuck-at fault mitigation method for resistive random access memory (ReRAM)-based deep learning accelerators, includes: confirming a distorted output value (Y0) due to a stuck-at fault (SAF) by using a correction data set in a pre-trained deep learning network, by means of ReRAM-based deep learning accelerator hardware; updating an average (?) and a standard deviation (?) of a batch normalization (BN) layer by using the distorted output value (Y0), by means of the ReRAM-based deep learning accelerator hardware; folding the batch normalization (BN) layer in which the average (?) and the standard deviation (?) are updated into a convolution layer or a fully-connected layer, by means of the ReRAM-based deep learning accelerator hardware; and deriving a normal output value (Y1) by using the deep learning network in which the batch normalization (BN) layer is folded, by means of the ReRAM-based deep learning accelerator hardware.

Abstract: There is a dynamically adjustable photovoltaic (PV) system for transforming solar energy into electrical energy. The dynamically adjustable PV system includes a first PV fold including a first set of PV cells for generating electrical energy, and a first laminating film that encapsulates the first set of PV cells; a second PV fold including a second set of PV cells for generating electrical energy, and a second laminating film that encapsulates the second set of PV cells; and a connecting mechanism that connects the first laminating film to the second laminating film. The connecting mechanism includes a chamber.

Abstract: A multi-zoned fluidized bed reactor system may include a multi-zoned fluidized bed reactor and at least one catalyst regeneration loop. The multi-zoned fluidized bed reactor comprising a housing, a fluid bed distributor plate positioned at the bottom of the housing, a fluidized catalyst bed disposed vertically above the fluid bed distributor plate and a condensation zone disposed vertically above the fluidized catalyst bed. The at least one catalyst regeneration loop may be fluidly coupled to the stripping zone and a reaction zone. The at least one catalyst regeneration loop may be operable to withdraw a portion of spent catalyst from the stripping zone, regenerate the portion of spent catalyst to produce regenerated catalyst, and return the regenerated catalyst to the reaction zone. A method of regenerating catalyst in a multi-zoned fluidized bed reactor may include passing a portion of spent catalyst from a stripping zone to a catalyst regeneration loop.

Abstract: An emission-free power generation system includes a combustion chamber having a first inlet for receiving a fuel and a closed-loop fluidic circuit fluidly connected between a second inlet of the combustion chamber and an outlet of the combustion chamber. Combustion gases from the combustion chamber include only water and carbon dioxide, and the fuel includes performic acid or a combination of formic acid and hydrogen peroxide.

Abstract: Carbon-based single metal atom or bimetallic, trimetallic, or multimetallic alloy transition metal-containing catalysts derived from exoelectrogen bacteria and their methods of making and using thereof are described. The method comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a solution medium comprising at least an electron donor and an electron acceptor comprised of one or more salts of a transition metal; (b) providing exoelectrogen bacterial cells and mixing the exoelectrogen bacterial cells into the solution medium of step (a); (c) incubating the solution medium of step (b); (d) isolating the exoelectrogen bacterial cells from the incubated solution medium of step (c); and (e) pyrolyzing the exoelectrogen bacterial cells resulting in formation of the catalyst. The electron donor can be formate, acetate, or hydrogen.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and a method for building a 3D object by mixing a bioink solution, a buffer solution capable of inducing gelation of the bioink solution and a dispersion containing micro and/or nanoparticles, and ejecting the formed hydrogel out of a nozzle. The present invention further relates to a method of obtaining a hydrogel.