Abstract: This disclosure includes magnetic field correction devices and methods for using the same. Some magnetic field correction devices include an arch-shaped body configured to be worn inside or outside of a user's mouth such that the arch-shaped body follows the contour of the user's teeth or face, where the arch-shaped body has one or more sidewalls and where the sidewalls are configured to receive a plurality of ferromagnetic or magnetic members. Some of the present methods include performing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on a user having one or more magnets coupled to an apparatus disposed inside or outside and adjacent to the user's mouth. Others of the present methods include coupling a plurality of magnets to an arch-shaped body configured to be worn by a user, where the magnets are configured to reduce artifacts caused by non-biological materials within the user's mouth during MRI.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for data tag control for quantum dot cellular automata (QCA). An example method includes receiving data, associating a data tag with the data, communicating the data tag along a first wire-like element to a local tag decoder, reading instructions from the data tag using the local tag decoder, communicating the instructions to a processing element, communicating the data along a second wire-like element to the processing element, and processing the data with the processing element according to the instructions. A length of the first wire-like elements and a length of the second wire-like element are approximately the same such that communication of the instructions and the data to the processing element are synchronized.

Abstract: A system and process of morphing location-referenced panoramic images into views at nearby locations. When using panoramic images in an interactive tour, a user might desire to see the environment from viewpoints for which no panoramic images are available. This invention makes this possible. It enables a user to experience views from arbitrary locations in the environment, so as long as one or more panoramic images are available at nearby locations. In particular, this invention makes it possible to combine two non-overlapping geo-referenced panoramic video streams into a new video stream which seamlessly transitions between these streams. When used in a client-server architecture, this invention also makes it possible for the server to transmit a sparse sequence of panoramic images, and provide the user with a dense panoramic video stream, by synthesizing the missing panoramic images. Said system and process is also applicable to incomplete panoramic images, photographs, and video.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides opsins, including variant opsins with increased activity and/or increased trafficking to the plasma membrane. The opsins are useful in therapeutic and screening applications, which are also provided.

Abstract: A battery pack having a plurality of battery pack modules, wherein each battery pack module includes a battery cell and a power converter. The power converters of the plurality of battery pack modules are connected in series to form a string of N battery pack modules such that the voltage across the N battery pack modules defines the output voltage of the battery pack. A controller regulates the output voltage of each battery cell or module power converter and the output voltage of the battery pack by independently controlling each battery cell module in accordance with variables such as state-of-charge (SOC), state-of-health (SOH) and temperature, capacity, and temperature of each individual battery cell module. The power converter may be used to measure impedance of the battery pack by adding a sinusoidal perturbation signal to a reference voltage of the cell battery pack module.

Abstract: Porous materials are fabricated using interpenetrating inorganic-organic composite gels. A mixture or precursor solution including an inorganic gel precursor, an organic polymer gel precursor, and a solvent is treated to form an inorganic wet gel including the organic polymer gel precursor and the solvent. The inorganic wet gel is then treated to form a composite wet gel including an organic polymer network in the body of the inorganic wet gel, producing an interpenetrating inorganic-organic composite gel. The composite wet gel is dried to form a composite material including the organic polymer network and an inorganic network component. The composite material can be treated further to form a porous composite material, a porous polymer or polymer composite, a porous metal oxide, and other porous materials.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to surface-modified particles and to methods of making and using the same. The surface-modified particles comprise a particle core and a coating associated with the particle core, wherein the particle core comprises an active agent, the coating comprises an opsonin, and the surface-modified particle has an average size from about 1 nm to about 2,000 nm.

Abstract: Estimation of a state-of-health (SOH) in a battery are disclosed. An example technique includes determining if a terminal voltage of the chemical battery differs from a calculated terminal voltage. In response to determining that the terminal voltage of the chemical battery differs from the calculated terminal voltage, calculating a range of voltages by taking the convolution of a terminal current of the chemical battery with a range of impulse responses from a look up table of impulse responses corresponding to different SOH. The technique further includes comparing the terminal voltage of the chemical battery with the range of calculated voltages to determine a second impulse response that corresponds to the case where the terminal voltage matches the calculated voltage. The look up table of impulse responses corresponding to different SOHs is then used to determine the SOH of the chemical battery from the second impulse response.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses an amino acid composition for recovery of muscle strength and function.

Abstract: A method of increasing the probability and rate of seed germination, increasing vegetative biomass, and increasing water uptake in seeds, in which a seed is introduced to an effective concentration of carbon nanomaterial. The effective concentration of carbon nanomaterial is 10-200 ?g/mL.

Abstract: The claimed invention is directed to a real-time noise classification and tuning system for cochlear implant and other hearing device applications. The system is capable of automatically selecting the optimized parameters of a noise suppression algorithm in response to different noisy environments. The feature vector and the classifier deployed in the system to automatically identify the background noise environment are selected so that the computation burden is kept low to achieve a real-time throughput. The results reported herein indicate improvement in speech enhancement when using this intelligent real-time hearing device system.

Abstract: An optical device and a method of using an optical filter are provided. The optical device includes an optical filter and a narrowband optical source. The optical filter has a refractive index that varies along a length of the optical filter. The narrowband optical source is in optical communication with the optical filter and is configured to generate light having a wavelength at or in the vicinity of at least one of a wavelength corresponding to a local transmission maximum and a wavelength corresponding to a maximum slop of the group index spectrum of the optical filter.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses methods of administering SRF?3. Administering SRF?3 may reduce proliferation of cancer cells, and modulate activity of promoters regulated by serum response factor.

Abstract: A non-volatile memory circuit includes an SRAM cell with magnetoelectric or ferroelectric structures for maintaining data within the SRAM cell even with power off. In some implementations, the magnetoelectric and ferroelectric structures can be programmed using a NOR or tristate gate coupled to an internal state of the SRAM cell. In other implementations, the magnetoelectric and ferroelectric structures can be configured as programmable resistors in the cross-coupled signal path of the SRAM inverters.

Abstract: A robust fabrication process for selective area growth of semiconductors in growth windows is provided. Sidewall growth is eliminated by the presence of a spacer layer which covers the sidewalls. Undesirable exposure of the top corners of the growth windows is prevented by undercutting the growth window prior to deposition of the dielectric spacer layer. The effectiveness of this process has been demonstrated by selective-area growth of Ge and Ge/SiGe quantum wells on a silicon substrate. Integration of active optoelectronic devices with waveguide layers via end-coupling through the dielectric spacer layer can be reliably accomplished in this manner.

Abstract: A micromechanical device capable of providing out-of-plane motion and force generation in response to an in-plane strain applied to the device is provided. Embodiments of the present invention comprise one or more islands that are operatively coupled with one or more hinges. The hinges are operative for inducing rotation of the islands when a lateral strain is applied to the structure. In some embodiments, the hinges are also electrically conductive such that they enable electrical communication between the one or more islands and devices external to the structure. Some embodiments of the present invention are particularly well suited for use in biological applications. Some devices in accordance with the present invention are fabricated using conventional planar processes, such as flex-circuit fabrication techniques.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for preventing, ameliorating or treating biofilm infections are provided, including biofilms comprising at least one Pseudomonad or Staphylococcus, such as S. aureus. The biofilm infections may be associated with artificial joints, prostheses or implants.

Abstract: This invention relates to a new and distinct stevia plant designated as ‘12-05-005’ primarily adapted to produce sweeteners.

Abstract: Magneto-electric nanoparticles in a subject interact with an external magnetic field to cause stimulation of neural networks in the subject. Electric signals in the neural network are coupled to magnetic dipoles induced in the nanoparticles to cause changes in electric pulse sequences of the subject's brain.

Abstract: Methods and compositions directed to blends of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) with styrene ethylene butadiene styrene (SEBS) are disclosed. In certain aspects, the blends further include an ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). In a further aspect, the blends are compatible with 3D printing platforms.