Abstract: A proposed technique allows for the security of the logic cone through logic locking and secures the outputs of the circuit from the scan chain without modifications to the structure of the scan chain. Since the oracle responses in test mode do not correspond to the functional key, satisfiability (SAT) attacks are not able to leverage the responses from the scan chain. In addition, a charge accumulation circuit is developed to prevent and detect any attempt to enter the partitioned test mode while the correct circuit responses are still stored within the registers.

Abstract: The growing research interest in passive RFID (Radio Frequency Identification)-based devices and sensors in a diverse group of applications calls for flexibility in reader antenna performance. A low-cost, easy-to-fabricate, and pattern reconfigurable UHF (Ultra High Frequency) RFID reader antenna in the RFID ISM band (902-928 MHz in the US) may offer a 54 MHz bandwidth (890 944 MHz) and 8.9 dBi maximum gain. The reconfigurable antenna can radiate four electronically switchable radiation beams in the azimuth plane. The antenna may be LHCP (Left Hand Circularly Polarized) with axial ratio (AR) in the ranging from 0.45 dB to 7 dB in the RFID ISM band.

Abstract: A method for evaluating reading comprehension is provided. The method includes the steps of providing at least one printed passage of text; providing a test subject, the test subject wearing a device for measuring brain frontal lobe usage; requiring the test subject to read the printed passage; providing a question based on the printed passage for the test subject to answer; and determining whether the device measures brain frontal lobe usage. A system for performing the method is also provided.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention provides a method for freeze-drying surfactant-stabilized microbubbles. The method includes: preparing vials comprising a mixture comprising microbubbles; partially submerging the vials in a chilled water bath, wherein the water bath has a sub-freezing temperature; placing the vials on a cooled shelf of a lyophilizer; freeze-drying the vials in the lyophilizer; and capping the freeze-dried vials. Another aspect of the invention provides a method for annealing surfactant-stabilized microbubbles. The method includes: preparing vials comprising a mixture comprising microbubbles; passing the vials in and out of liquid nitrogen (LN2) until the mixture is frozen; holding the vials at ?20° C.; placing the vials on a cooled shelf of a lyophilizer; freeze-drying the vials in the lyophilizer; and capping the freeze-dried vials.

Abstract: A backside thermography technique was developed based on the temperature sensitivity of laser-induced fluorescence in flowing two-dye solutions. The approach utilizes visible light and optically transparent packaging materials to obtain spatially resolved transient thermal measurements. This technique is compatible with optically transparent water-cooled packaging, which will allow for the characterization of processes where heat is added as well as removed. A setup was designed, constructed, and used to study the performance of seven two-dye Rhodamine B (RhB)-Rhodamine 110 (Rh110) fluorescent solutions. The effect of dye concentration ratio on sensitivity, maximum frame rate, and excitation area was characterized. The system was used to demonstrate in-situ temperature measurements showing the importance of two-dye light compensation, as well as backside thermography using a simple droplet contact method to investigate temporal response.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for treating actinic keratosis of tissue of a patient, the method including contacting non-thermal, atmospheric pressure plasma over areas of the tissue having actinic keratosis for a time and at treatment conditions effective to give rise to an at least partial amelioration of the keratosis.

Abstract: A system and method for three-dimensionally printing high viscosity materials using electrohydrodynamics is provided. The system uses a relatively low voltage electric field to draw high viscosity polymers (not in solution) from a nozzle to form three-dimensional objects with lines less than 10 microns in width. Pressurized gas at the nozzle outlet can be used to print large size/dimension parts, instead of or in addition to the electric field to draw the polymers from the nozzle.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a crumpled form of MXene materials, and methods of making and using these novel compositions.

Abstract: A passive UHF (Ultra High Frequency, 902-928 MHz) RFID-based fabric (such as a diaper) moisture sensor is low-cost, user-friendly, reusable, washable, environment-friendly and comes with an extended on-body read range of 3.6 meters with baby diapers and 4.4 meters with adult diapers. The external reader unit is connected to the internet or a local network, and may automatically notify the parents or caregivers as soon as the presence of moisture is detected.

Abstract: A key-based interleaver for enhancement the security of wireless communication includes a physical layer communication channel key to provide security even when the software encryption key is compromised. A method of creating a secure communication link using a physical layer interleaving system includes implementing a key policy implementation that utilizes temporal dependency and interleaving bits using a flexible inter and intra-block data interleaver.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for synthesizing polyoxymethylene on a substrate. The method includes depositing monomer capable of forming polyoxymethylene by an initiated polymerization reaction and an initiator, via initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD) onto a surface of a substrate in an initiated chemical vapor deposition reactor.

Abstract: A multi-site probe for interfacing with the central nervous system includes one more structures disposed perpendicularly on a backing layer, where each structure includes a braided sleeve over a flexible or rigid core, and a delivery-vehicle. The structures may include optrodes and electrodes. The location of the probe may be determined through the application of combinatorics.

Abstract: An incremental author disambiguation framework may create new clusters to accommodate new data based on the existing cluster results and newly added data. The proposed system may provide frequent update of taxonomic classification, name disambiguation and many other applications because it takes less time to generate new results. In addition, the proposed methods may reduce the time needed for updating the model and help improve the performance with the limited computational resource.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to electroacoustical devices comprising patterned MXene compositions on biaxially oriented polymer substrates and methods of making and using the same.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods of making a nanofiber-nanoparticle network to be used as electrodes of fuel cells. The method comprises electrospinning a polymer-containing material on a substrate to form nanofibers and electrospraying a catalyst-containing material on the nanofibers on the same substrate. The nanofiber-nanoparticle network made by the methods is suitable for use as electrodes in fuel cells.

Abstract: A system, device and methods for quantitatively monitoring and evaluating changes in water and hemoglobin content in the brain in a non-invasive manner are provided. The system may be used for real-time detection and monitoring of brain edema and/or for an assessment of cerebral autoregulation.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to antennas for transmitting and/or receiving electrical signals comprising a MXene composition, devices comprising these antennas, and methods of transmitting and receiving signals using these antennas.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for assembling particles having a long axis, a short axis and an average aspect ratio of 10-10,000. The method includes agitating a combination of a first solution, a second solution and the particles in any order to form a mixture wherein one of the first solution and the second solution is in the form of droplets dispersed in the other of the first solution and the second solution and the long axis of the particles is longer than a diameter of the droplets in the mixture, and continuing the agitation until the particles assemble into aggregates of particles with at least 30% of the particles aligned in parallel along the long axis. Aggregate or aggregate composites form by the method are also described.

Abstract: The increasing power density and, therefore, current consumption of high performance integrated circuits (ICs) results in increased challenges in the design of a reliable and efficient on-chip power delivery network. In particular, meeting the stringent on-chip impedance of the IC requires circuit and system techniques to mitigate high frequency noise that results due to resonance between the package inductance and the onchip capacitance. In this paper, a novel circuit technique is proposed to suppress high frequency noise through the use of a hyperabrupt junction tuning varactor diode as a decoupling capacitor for noise critical functional blocks. With the proposed circuit technique, the voltage droops and overshoots on the onchip power distribution network are suppressed by up to 60% as compared to MIM or deep trench decoupling capacitors of the same capacitance.

Abstract: A real-time workload scheduling heuristic assigns tasks to the cores such that the total load current consumption of the cores is always less than the total current capability of the under-provisioned on-chip voltage regulators. In addition, the energy-efficient scheduling of the tasks on to the cores ensures that the reconfiguration of the power delivery network is minimized. The heuristic includes DVFS management based on the unique constraints of the under provisioned voltage regulators.