Abstract: A suction cup device is operable for precisely-controlled attachment and detachment with an object surface, and can include attachment actuators that activate to form a seal between the suction cup device and the object surface by decreasing a cavity pressure of the suction cup device. Following attachment, the attachment actuators can deactivate to hold the seal in a “passive” mode. For detachment from the object surface, the suction cup device can include detachment actuators that increase the cavity pressure to break the seal and release the object surface from the suction cup device.

Abstract: A mechanical system includes a curved beam and a motor coupled to the curved beam. The curved beam is configured to buckle at two different locations along the positive and negative portions of its load/displacement curve, corresponding to opposite and equal sense bending directions. The motor is configured to impart a flapping motion to the curved beam.

Abstract: A system with graph-based Natural Language Processing (NLP) for querying, analyzing, and visualizing complex data structures is described. Such a system executes a generalized AI language model; defines and migrates a training dataset into a graph database by exposing data sources to an executing AI language model that self-defines a structure and self-writes an executable script to query the original data sources and self-writes code to load the extracted data into a graph database in the form of new nodes and new relationships with directionality between the nodes. The system further includes means for loading the extracted data into the graph database; condensing the information stored within the graph database into a condensed data structure representing the full architecture of the data in a natural language format; and responding to human language inquiries with responsive text, speech, and visualizations using the data loaded into the graph database.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for delivering and/or linking molecules, such as DNA, between tunable metal nanogaps and measuring electrical and/or optical properties. In one example, disclosed are high density multiplexed chips with a plurality of groups, each group including a plurality of nanodevices, the chips capable of coupling to one or more multiwell structures for providing samples to each individual group. In this way, the chips can be used for high-throughput analysis of molecules such as DNA.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a system and associated method for detecting and classifying faults in a photovoltaic array using graph-based signal processing.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a body and a plurality of members extending from the apparatus configured to form carvings with different geometries along 2D layered semiconductor material. The apparatus includes conductive pins positioned along the plurality of members that accommodate individual sensing of current-voltage characteristics per carving. The carvings can include small stripes and the apparatus can probe the electrical resistance of the small stripes of 2D layered semiconductors where the geometry defines strong current confinement, thus enabling the rapid extraction of sheet resistance for rapid comparison between material quality.

Abstract: A functional ultrathin battery separator and method for fabricating the same is disclosed. The battery separator includes a polymer substrate that is flexible, and a functional barrier layer deposed on the polymer substrate. The functional barrier layer is polycrystalline and includes a metal-organic framework and a plurality of micropores. The functional barrier layer is able to flex with the polymer substrate. The functional barrier layer is compact, such that diffusion pathways through the functional barrier layer are limited to a cutoff size, and such that the diffusion pathways that are largest are located within grains of the polycrystalline functional barrier layer rather than between grains. The battery separator may be less than 10 ?m thick, and the polymer substrate may be less than 9 ?m thick. The metal-organic framework may be ZIF-8, and the functional barrier layer may be less than 2 ?m thick.

Abstract: A system and method for the automatic stimulation of a vagus nerve for post-stroke rehabilitation is disclosed. The system includes an application subsystem having an electrode positioned to stimulate the vagus nerve and coupled to a user outside of a surgical setting. The system also includes a waveform generator communicatively coupled to the electrode, and a triggering subsystem including a receiver configured to detect the presence of a tag. The triggering subsystem is communicatively coupled to waveform generator and is configured to automatically trigger the stimulation of the vagus nerve upon detecting the presence of the tag. The tag is located proximate a rehabilitation context such that the tag is detected when the user is using the rehabilitation context, resulting in the vagus nerve of the user being automatically stimulated by the electrode in response to the user's post-stroke rehabilitation training.

Abstract: Described herein are means for systematically determining an optimal approach for the computer-aided diagnosis of a pulmonary embolism, in the context of processing medical imaging. According to a particular embodiment, there is a system specially configured for diagnosing a Pulmonary Embolism (PE) within new medical images which form no part of the dataset upon which the AI model was trained.

Abstract: A method of making a metal-polymer composite includes dealloying metallic powder to yield porous metal particles, monitoring a temperature of the mixture, controlling the rate of combining, a maximum temperature of the mixture, or both, and combining the porous metal particles with a polymer to yield a composite. Dealloying includes combining the metallic powder with an etchant to yield a mixture. A metal-polymer composite includes porous metal particles having an average particle size of about 0.2 ?m to about 500 ?m and a thermoplastic or thermoset polymer. The polymer composite comprises at least 10 vol % of the porous metal particles. A powder mixture includes porous metal particles having an average particle size of about 0.2 ?m to about 500 ?m and a metal powder. The powder mixture includes about 1 wt % to about 99 wt % of the porous metal particles.

Abstract: A time-synchronized micro-scale continuous point-on-wave (CPoW) measurement device, referred to as micro-CPoW, is provided. The distribution system is an integral part of the electric power system, but not much is known about how it behaves in real-time. To address this knowledge gap, a low-cost, time-synchronized, CPoW measurement system is designed, built, and characterized herein. The purpose of the micro-CPoW measurement device is to monitor the instantaneous electric current flowing through a distribution line in real time. Detection of harmonics, identification of incipient fault conditions, and general power quality monitoring are typical uses for the measured information. Because the micro-CPoW measurement device is self-powered by the line current and communicates wirelessly, it can be installed without ground-mounted instrument transformers, low-voltage power sources, or communications cabling.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for detection of anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Patient samples known or suspected of containing ACPAs were probed against citrullinated proteins, and antibody responses to 190 citrullinated proteins in 20 RA patients were investigated. Unique antibody reactivity patterns in both clinical anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide assay positive (CCP+) and negative (CCP?) RA patients were observed. At individual antigen levels, six novel antibody/antigen complexes were discovered and validated against specific citrullinated antigens (Myelin Basic Protein (MBP), osteopontin (SPP1), flap endonuclease (FENI), insulin like growth factor binding protein 6 (IGFBP6), insulin like growth factor I (IGF1) and stanniocalcin-2 (STC2)) in RA patients. Identification of immune-dominant epitope(s) for citrullinated MBP was also performed. The identified biomarkers have high specificity, especially MBP.

Abstract: A computer-implemented model is trained or otherwise configured for real-time production control. The model incorporates a plurality of classes of residence time control and optimizes produce performance by managing an associated machine's behavior according to real-time system states. The model can formulate a Markov decision process and feature-extraction method and feature-based approximation architecture to reduce state space of the model. Simulation is employed in training to estimate parameters of feature-based approximate architecture to obtain a lookahead function of the Markov decision process.

Abstract: A system for implementation within a visual sensing pipeline facilitates dynamic voltage scaling for image sensors, enabling image sensors to capture frames at varying fidelities for improved energy efficiency. The system includes hardware and software interfaces to enable dynamic voltage scaling, and are demonstrated with integration into an RPi-based streaming platform. The system is evaluated with representative IoT/AR workloads over various voltage scheduling policies.

Abstract: Synthesizing lithium lanthanum zirconate includes combining a reagent composition with a salt composition to yield a molten salt reaction medium, wherein the reagent composition comprises a lithium component, a lanthanum component, and zirconium component having a lithium:lanthanum:zirconium molar ratio of about 7:3:2; heating the molten salt reaction medium to yield a reaction product; and washing the reaction product to yield a crystalline powder comprising lithium lanthanum zirconate.

Abstract: An asphalt modifier includes bitumen, polyolefin particles, and one or more alkyl terephthalamides. Preparing an asphalt modifier includes combining one or more alkyl terephthalamides, polyolefin particles, and bitumen, and dispersing the polyolefin particles in the bitumen to yield the asphalt modifier. Digesting polyethylene terephthalate includes combining polyethylene terephthalate with an alkylamine or carboxyalkylamine to yield a reaction mixture, and heating the reaction mixture to a temperature between about 20° C. and about 300° C. to yield an alkyl terephthalamide.

Abstract: Preparing MAX phase structures includes forming a gel including a transition metal M, a Group 3A or Group 4A metal or semimetal A, and an acidic chelating agent or gelling agent X. X includes one or both of carbon and nitrogen. Preparing the MAX phase structures further includes shaping the gel to yield a shaped gel and heating the shaped gel to yield carbonaceous MAX phase structures with a composition represented by Mn+1AXn, wherein n is 1, 2, 3, or 4. The MAX phase structures can be thick films, microspheres, or microwires.

Abstract: Described herein are means for implementing fixed-point image-to-image translation using improved Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs). For instance, an exemplary system is specially configured for implementing a new framework, called a Fixed-Point GAN, which improves upon prior known methodologies by enhancing the quality of the images generated through global, local, and identity transformation. The Fixed-Point GAN as introduced and described herein, improves many applications dependant on image-to-image translation, including those in the field of medical image processing for the purposes of disease detection and localization. Other related embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a variable geometry quadrotor with a compliant frame are disclosed, which adapts to tight spaces and obstacles by way of passive rotation of its arms.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are metal compounds useful in devices, such as, for example, OLEDs.