Abstract: The present invention minimizes issues with transmission lines through the use of a normal-metal/superconducting meta-material structure realized with controlled impedance sub-wavelength line sections, which effectively concentrate the uncertainty in the section lengths in a portion of the termination geometry which has minimal impact on the non-resonant absorption in the structure. The present invention is used to achieve broadband absorption response and signal termination in planar transmission line devices. The longest wavelength sets the required length of the meta-material line, and its footprint is set by properties of the guiding structure (i.e., the resultant line can be folded, meandered, or spiraled with a spacing set is set by the field confinement of the transmission line topology in use).

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing an exchange for physicals (EPP) may comprise receiving, with a matching engine module in communication with a processor, EFP data comprising an amount of securities to be traded and a price. The matching engine module may calculate a first delta percentage between the EFP data and an index based on the amount, the price, and an index value. The matching engine module may calculate a residual delta based on the first delta percentage and an index notional value. The matching engine module may attribute the residual delta to the securities.

Abstract: Systems and methods for projecting one or more trends in electronic data and generating enhanced data. A system includes a data forecasting system is in electronic communication with one or more electronic data sources via an electronic network. The data forecasting system is configured to: monitor the electronic data source(s) for data that meet one or more predetermined criteria; obtain at least a portion of the monitored data from electronic data source(s) based on the predetermined criteria; create a data set from the obtained data; derive one or more data values associated with the data set over a predetermined period according to a forward-looking term methodology; and utilize the data set and the derived value(s) over the predetermined period to derive at least one data forecast metric associated with the data set.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments may provide a high-thermal-stability cryogenic-kinematic-mount with passive magnetic vibration damping. In various embodiments, the cryogenic-kinematic-mount may be configured for use in sub-Kelvin environments. Various embodiment cryogenic-kinematic-mounts may provide dampening and thermal isolation without a need for electronics or software feedback-based controls for the mounts. Various embodiments cryogenic-kinematic-mounts may be passive mounts configured to not require dampening controls.

Abstract: The present is directed to compositions comprising regulatory T cell epitopes, wherein said epitopes comprise a polypeptide comprising at least a portion of SEQ NOS: 1-14, fragments and/or variants thereof, as well as methods of producing and using the same.

Abstract: A structured membrane fabrication method begins with a membrane wafer on a substrate and at least one thin-film on the membrane wafer such that portions of the membrane wafer are exposed. The exposed portions of the membrane wafer and each thin-film are covered with an acetone-inert protectant. Portions of the protectant are etched through to the membrane wafer while each thin-film remains fully covered by the protectant. A handle is coupled to the protectant with a wax that dissolves in acetone. Portions of the substrate are then removed to define and expose a contiguous region of the membrane wafer adjacent to each thin-film and the portions of the protectant so-etched. The wax is exposed to acetone so that it dissolves. The contiguous region of the membrane wafer is then etched through at the portions of the protectant so-etched. The protectant is then removed.

Abstract: Methods and systems that enable growing a SiGe film at relative high temperature resulting in single crystalline properties and imparting twin crystal structures and/or dislocation to the SiGe film through either in-situ or ex-situ electron-beam irradiation. The various embodiments may maintain (or increase) the Seeback coefficient and electrical conductivity of thermoelectric materials and simultaneously decrease the thermal conductivity of the thermoelectric materials.

Abstract: A system for measuring a heat response of a battery cell includes a cell chamber configured to receive the battery cell therein. The cell chamber is configured to trigger a battery cell into a thermal runaway event while in the cell chamber, which causes the battery cell to eject an electrode winding, particles, and gas. The system also includes an ejecta bore muffler configured to receive the electrode winding, the particles, and the gas. The system also includes an ejecta basket configured to be positioned at least partially within the ejecta bore muffler. The ejecta basket is configured to capture the electrode winding while allowing at least a portion of the particles, the gas, or both to pass therethrough. The system also includes a gas collection system configured to receive at least a portion of the gas that passes through the ejecta basket.

Abstract: Chemical test methods for evaluating the alkali-silica reactivity (ASR) of an aggregate or an aggregate within a particular concrete job mix design by exposing the aggregate to a simplified system with the same or simulated long-term pore solution conditions is provided. ASR is a chemical reaction occurring between alkaline hydroxides within cement paste and certain types of amorphous silica found in mineral aggregates. Causing an accumulation of internal pressure within concrete structures due to the formation of a hygroscopic gel through the absorption of water, ASR leads to expansion and cracking of concrete. The present test method determines the reactivity index (RI) of a given aggregate, or an aggregate as it is to be used in a proposed concrete job mix design by determining the average concentrations of calcium, aluminum, and silicon across multiple tested samples, wherein the RI is the ratio of the concentrations of silicon to that of aluminum and calcium combined.

Abstract: A system and method that remotely quantifies mass emission rates of emission material emitted from moving vehicles as they operate in real-time. Release locations of these emission materials may or may not coincide, and plumes generated from the releases may be spatially overlapping or distinct. The method can quantify both distance-based mass emission rates (grams/mile) and time-based emission rates (gram/hour). Exemplary approaches can be used to measure vehicle emissions as they move whether the emissions are released from the tailpipe or elsewhere on the vehicle and without touching the vehicle. The approaches might also be used in other situations where material is emitted from a body in a flow field, such as an aircraft or marine vessel moving through air, a stationary source in a wind field, or brake or tire wear particulate material of a heavy-duty truck driving on the road.

Abstract: An advanced tool drive system (ATDS) is capable of grasping a variety of tools through a common interface and provides multiple modes of operation for these tools for these tools. The ATDS is a combination of both a tool actuator and tool change-out mechanism and provides three nested drive actuators-two rotary and one linear. In addition to the tool drive, the ATDS includes four brushless direct current (BLDC) motors which provide the actuation torque to accomplish the multiple modes of ATDS operation, and a camera positioning mechanism (CPM) capable of viewing features on a client satellite or asteroid. By consolidating the drive actuation motors within the ATDS, the design of mating tools becomes less complex and reduces risk and cost of multiple drive actuators having to be installed in multiple tools.

Abstract: A solderless antenna includes a pair of spaced-apart electrically-conductive disks arranged in a vertical stack and a self-supporting, branched-path feed circuit. The feed circuit has a signal-receiving point and four signal paths leading to four excitation points. The first signal path is the shortest. The second signal path includes a portion of the first signal path and is longer than the first signal path. The third signal path is unique with respect to the first signal path and second signal path, and is longer than the second signal path. The fourth signal path includes a portion of the third signal path and is longer than the third signal path.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for delivering psychophysiological self-regulation training in a virtual, augmented, and/or mixed reality environment that simulates a social situation, such as one involving conflict. A user (e.g., a trainee) may interface with a training computing system directly or via an avatar that may interact with other characters in the simulation who may be programmed at one or more levels of threat to or cooperation with the trainee. The system may provide feedback to the trainee regarding their cognitive and emotional states. The feedback may be designed to encourage them to develop the ability to respond in future real environments with appropriately effective states, where the feedback may take the form of the behavior of the characters, with the trainee's interaction based on their effective states being rewarded by desirable character behavior and the trainee's ineffective states being penalized by undesirable character behavior.

Abstract: Augmenting the functionality of an off-the-shelf additive manufacturing machine, such as a 3D printer, by generating a component design having an autonomy characteristic, and that may impart a functionality to one or more components manufactured by the additive manufacturing machine that is based on an interaction between the component and the additive manufacturing machine. The design includes code for instructing the additive machine to build an ancillary component, such as a cantilever spring, and build the primary manufactured object, and use the cantilever spring to propel the object off the build platform. In this manner the functionality of an off-the-shelf additive manufacturing machine is expanded without physical modification of the machine, and can be implemented remotely to embed additional functionality into designed components that are to be fabricated, for example on spacecraft where physical retrofits are impractical. Other applications include parts and material testing and rapid prototyping.

Abstract: Described herein are articles composed of coatings with improved gamma radiation shielding and physical properties. In one aspect, the article is composed of a coating, where the coating includes a first layer composed of a first Z grade material, a second layer composed of a second Z grade material, and a third layer composed of a third Z grade material, wherein the atomic number of the first Z grade material and the third Z grade material is less than the atomic number of the second Z grade material. In one aspect, the substrate of the article is a textile. Methods for making the articles described herein are also provided.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing an exchange for physicals (EPP) may comprise receiving, with a matching engine module in communication with a processor, EFP data comprising an amount of securities to be traded and a price. The matching engine module may calculate a first delta percentage between the EFP data and an index based on the amount, the price, and an index value. The matching engine module may calculate a residual delta based on the first delta percentage and an index notional value. The matching engine module may attribute the residual delta to the securities.

Abstract: A system for remotely monitoring communications equipment is provided that includes at least one communications remote monitoring panel (CRMP) operatively coupled to a plurality of radios. The CRMP is configured for communicating messages that includes queries for information relating to radio functionality to and information responsive to the queries for information from the plurality of radios using one of a plurality of communication specifications. A first of the plurality of radios is configured to communicate using a first communication specification and a second of the plurality of radios is configured to communicate using a second communication specification, and the CRMP is further configured to determine, for each of at least the first radio and the second radio, an applicable communication specification and communicate with the first radio and second radio using the applicable communication specification.

Abstract: A grasp assist system includes a glove, finger saddles attached to a respective glove finger, one or more tendon actuators, and artificial tendons. The saddles have a rectangular body partially circumscribing a respective glove finger. Each saddle includes end lobes at opposite distal ends of the body. A first end of each tendon is secured to one of the tendon actuators. A second end forms a triple Brummel loop defining a main loop and two anchor loops. The anchor loops are disposed around the lobes. The saddles may form a rounded, double-headed arrow shape that is at least double the thickness of the body. The finger saddles are anisotropic, with different bending strengths depending on the axis, and may be constructed of thermoplastic polyurethane-coated nylon. Flexion and/or contact sensors and a controller may be used. A method of connecting the tendon actuator to the finger is also disclosed.

Abstract: An adjustable beam directing optical system for a focused laser differential interferometer (FLDI) instrument according to various aspects of the present technology may include optical half waveplate to achieve an incident linear polarization orientation with equal components of laser intensity aligned to the vertical and horizontal axis of the optical system, and an optical prism for splitting these components of an incident laser beam into two orthogonally-polarized beams equally about an optical axis of the FLDI instrument. A series of beam realignment devices positioned downstream of the optical prism are configured to selectively direct each beam to a predetermined location.

Abstract: The disclosed system and method transmit a signal from the surface (or surroundings) of a celestial object to a satellite (for which you know the orbital elements) that re-transmits the signal back to a transceiver on the surface of the celestial object from which a time delay to obtain a range measurement and a Doppler shift to obtain the range-rate can be measured. With knowledge of the satellite's orbital elements and the range and range-rate, a location of the transceiver can be determined.