Abstract: One aspect of the disclosure is directed to a method for activation/enhancement of cell growth of a plant. The method also stimulates the production of pharmaceutically active metabolites, including alkaloids, in plant cell cultures. The method includes providing a nano-sized material contained agent, and treating the plant with the nano-sized material contained agent to allow sufficient interaction of cells of the plant with the nano-sized material so as to activate/enhance the cell growth of the plant or to stimulate the production of pharmaceutically active metabolites.

Abstract: A berry harvesting berries system including a mobile platform and a tendon-driven gripper having fingers made of a compliant material, which prevents unwanted damage to the berries.

Abstract: The invention relates to a three-dimensional food printing system and method for fabricating porous hydrogel particles having small sizes and high porosity. The inventive method first forms a highly consistent biopolymer solution with desired rheological properties. The biopolymer solution is extruded using a 3D food printing system and then freeze-dried into the desired porous hydrogel particles, having a desired particle size, morphological, structural, thermal and textural properties, and crystallinity. The hydrogel particles can then be utilized for targeted delivery systems for bioactive compounds, nutraceuticals, micronutrients, probiotics, and the like, and can also be used in connection with personalized nutrition and medicine plans and programs.

Abstract: A 3D printer comprising a pump, stepper motor adapted to drive the pump and a printing arm connected to a curing source and nozzle.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are antimicrobial materials comprising a carbohydrate-templated microgel and a plurality of metal ions complexed thereto. The carbohydrate-templated microgel comprises a network copolymer molecule comprising a monoacrylate monomer, a crosslinking monomer, and a ligand monomer and wherein the microgel is prepared by the copolymerization of the monoacrylate monomer, the crosslinking monomer, and the ligand monomer in the presence of a carbohydrate or a carbohydrate derivative. The microgels have antimicrobial activity and allow for implementation of multiple, simultaneous mechanisms of antimicrobial action.

Abstract: Embodiments pertain to a system for testing the mechanical stability of a material. Such systems generally include: (1) a chamber with a first end and a second end that are on opposite ends of the chamber; (2) a motion actuating unit associated with the first end of the chamber; (3) a first base area associated with motion actuating unit at or near the first end of the chamber; and (4) a second base area associated with the second end of the chamber. Additional embodiments pertain to methods for testing the mechanical stability of a material through the utilization of the systems.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to a material that includes: (1) a first copper-based layer; (2) a copper nanowire layer above the first copper-based layer, which generally includes a plurality of copper nanowires embedded with a polymer; and (3) a second copper-based layer positioned above the copper nanowire layer such that the copper nanowire layer is sandwiched between the first copper-based layer and the second copper-based layer. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of forming a material of the present disclosure.

Abstract: A composite comprising: substrate having thereon an intermediate layer and a diamond-like carbon (DLC) top layer on said intermediate layer, with increased adhesion strength to DLC and other hard coatings, and which provides a buffer layer for adjusting the uneven expansion/compression behavior of DLC coatings and substrates.

Abstract: Embodiments pertain to a computer-implemented method of identifying at least one facial micro-expression pattern of a face of a subject by (1) receiving a plurality of images of the face of the subject, where the plurality of images represent consecutive images of the face of the subject taken sequentially during a period of time; (2) feeding the plurality of images into a machine-learning algorithm, where the machine-learning algorithm includes a diagonal micro attention (DMA) module that identifies at least one facial micro-movement between the plurality of images and correlates the facial micro-movement to at least one facial micro-expression pattern; and (3) outputting the facial micro-expression pattern of the face of the subject. Additional embodiments pertain to computing devices for identifying at least one facial micro-expression pattern of a face of a subject in accordance with the aforementioned processes.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to systems and methods for evaluating demographic bias of images in a model having multiple clusters of images. In some embodiments, the method may include the steps of: determining demographic bias of the images in each of the multiple clusters of the model via a cluster purity evaluation module, encouraging a demographic fairness consistency for each of the multiple clusters via a loss function module to maintain fairness of the model, identifying, via a cross-attention module, correlations between each of the multiple clusters, and strengthening, via the cross-attention module, samples to have a stronger relationship with a centroid of each of the multiple clusters.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a herbicide and methods for the control of a grass or a broadleaf weed in a crop. The herbicide comprises an effective amount glufosinate, or a salt thereof, and an effective amount of a metabolic inhibitor.

Abstract: The present invention provides probiotic compositions comprising isolated bacterial strains, referred to herein as LactX, StrepX1 and StrepX3. Methods of using the compositions to increase growth rate in pigs and enhance pig production are also provided.

Abstract: A system that uses autonomous robots for 3D manufacturing an object where the robots have different tool heads for performing different manufacturing operations.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to covalently crosslinked colloidal cellulose nanocrystals (xCNC) and methods of preparation and use thereof. The colloidal cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are covalently crosslinked in aqueous suspension to generate a network showing tunable physicochemical properties. The xCNC structures are tunable in terms of their physicochemical properties and arrangement within the hydrogel network. The covalent crosslinking of solitary sulfonated (—OSO3) CNCs can be accomplished without prior hydroxyl replacement or functionalization.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an expandable scaffold and a method for fabricating the scaffold. The expandable scaffold includes a three-dimensional porous structure comprising a composite material composed by a first material and a second material. The 3D porous structure has a tunable expansion capacity. When applied in a liquid, the 3D porous structure may uptake the liquid and expand from an original volume to an expansion volume up to 1000 times of the original volume. The 3D porous structure may be formed by a plurality of layers of the composite material, and architecture and shape of the layers of the composite material are arranged in accordance with a shape and a size of the expansion volume. Applications of the scaffold may include a bone or soft tissue regeneration system or a bleed stopping device.

Abstract: An integrated microwave photonics (IMWP) apparatus is provided using sapphire as a platform. The IMWP apparatus includes: a sapphire substrate having a step-terrace surface; and a III-V stack layer epitaxially grown on the sapphire substrate. The III-V stack layer includes: a first III-V layer disposed on the sapphire substrate; a low temperature (LT) III-V buffer layer disposed on the first III-V layer; multiple second III-V layers disposed and stacked on the LT III-V buffer layer; a third III-V layer disposed on the second III-V layers; a III-V quantum well layer disposed on the third III-V layers; and a fourth III-V layer disposed on the III-V quantum well layer. The second III-V layers are respectively annealed. A growth temperature of the LT III-V layer and a growth temperature of the III-V quantum well layer are lower than a growth temperature of each of the first, second, third and fourth III-V layers.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to a stabilizer that includes: (1) a first shoulder strap and a second shoulder strap that are each operational to be positioned on different shoulders of a subject; (2) a first hip strap and a second hip strap that are each operational to be positioned on different upper thighs of a subject and connectable to the first shoulder strap and the second shoulder strap, respectively; and (3) a connecting area operational to connect to the first shoulder strap, the second shoulder strap, the first hip strap and the second hip strap on the back of a subject. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of applying the stabilizers of the present disclosure to a subject for various purposes, such as treating or preventing developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH).

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to an abdominal stabilizer that is operational to wrap around an abdomen of a subject. The abdominal stabilizer includes a central region operational to be placed on the subject's abdomen, a proximal end operational to be immobilized on a first back region of the subject, a distal end on the opposite side of the proximal end that is operational to be immobilized on a second back region of the subject, an outer surface operational to face away from the subject, and an inner surface operational to face towards the subject. The abdominal stabilizers may also include a first strap and a second strap positioned above the central region and operational to adhere to a chest region of the subject. Further embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of lifting an abdominal pannus of a subject through the utilization of the aforementioned abdominal stabilizers.

Abstract: Patient specific medical balloons, assemblies, and systems for forming the same, and devices and methods for treating patients in need of a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are disclosed. The assembly for forming the medical balloon comprises a form for receiving a parison where the form is configured to prepare a patient specific medical balloon matched in geometry to a blood vessel or a lesion for a patient in need of a PCI.

Abstract: A new and distinct nectarine tree named ‘A-662CN’ which originated from a hand-pollinated cross of ‘A-421CN’ nectarine (female parent; unreleased breeding selection) x ‘A-334CN’ nectarine (male parent; unreleased breeding selection) made in 1993 is described. This new nectarine tree cultivar can be distinguished by its yellow, standard-acid, firm flesh, early-season ripening, high soluble solids content, outstanding flavor, good postharvest performance, and moderate tolerance to bacterial spot.