Abstract: Disclosed is a thermochemical reactor system and method for a temperature swing cyclic process with integrated heat recovery having at least two modules, wherein each module includes at least one chemical reaction zone and at least one thermal energy storage unit. The at least two modules are operationally connected for at least one heat transfer fluid for transporting heat between the two modules. Each chemical reaction zone includes at least one reacting material that undergoes in a reversible manner an endothermic reaction at temperature Tendo and an exothermic reaction at temperature Texo, wherein Tendo and Texo differ from each other. The at least one reacting material is provided in at least one encapsulation within each of the chemical reaction zones such that a contact of the reacting material and the at least one heat transfer fluid is avoided.

Abstract: A sensor assembly adapted to be embedded in a concrete structure comprising a body, and at least one sensor configured to determine parameters related to the durability of a concrete structure, wherein the sensor is arranged at least partially within the body, wherein the body comprises a shell covering the outer surface of the body and consisting of or comprising a mineral material, and wherein the sensor assembly has a rounded shape, particularly an ellipsoid or spherical shape, and a first extension extending along a first axis being 90 mm or less. A concrete structure is also provided having at least one sensor assembly.

Abstract: In a method for aromatizing an alicyclic region of a cannabinoid, especially in enantiopure, scalemic and/or racemic form, in particular for aromatizing the cyclohexene group in ?9-THC-C5, ?9-THCA-C5 A, ?9-THCV-C3, ?9-THCVA-C5 A, and/or scalemic or racemic mixtures of these substances, wherein an oxidizing agent is added to the cannabinoid, sulfur is used as the oxidizing agent.

Abstract: The invention is notably directed to a method for encoding information. This method first comprises generating an encryption key according to polymorphic features of nucleic acids from one or more entities. Next, information is encrypted based on the generated key. Finally, the encrypted information is encoded into synthetic DNA. Another aspect concerns a method for retrieving information. Consistently with the above encoding scheme, synthetic DNA in provided, which encodes encrypted information. Such information is read by sequencing the synthetic DNA and by decrypting the information read using a decryption key. The latter is generated according to polymorphic features of nucleic acids from one or more entities (e.g., from the legitimate individual(s) requesting access to information). Thus, the encoded information cannot be interpreted unless a suitable decryption key is available. The invention is further directed to related DNA samples and systems, including DNA vaults.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rotational shear rheometer (1) comprising a first plate (10), a first flexure (11) pivotally connecting the first plate (10) to a support (60), a piezoelectric element (40) extending along a longitudinal axis (L) arranged tangentially in respect of the first plate (10), wherein said piezoelectric element (40) is configured to elongate and/or undergo compression along said longitudinal axis (L), and wherein said first end (41) is mechanically coupled to said first plate (10), wherein said first flexure (11) comprises a first flexural element (12) and a second flexural element (13) non-parallel to the first flexural element (12), wherein the first flexural element (12) and the second flexural element (13) connect said first plate (10) to said support (60), extend radially in respect of the pivot axis (P) and intersect with the pivot axis (P), wherein said piezoelectric element (40) is further configured as a sensor capable of detecting a torque acting on said first plate (10).

Abstract: A microfibrillated cellulose-loaded foam is indicated, comprising microfibrillated cellulose, at least one thickening agent and/or at least one adhesive biopolymer. Furthermore, a method for producing such a microfibrillated cellulose-loaded foam and a use of such a foam are provided.

Abstract: Method for making a porous graphene layer of a thickness of less than 100 nm with pores having an average size in the range of 5-900 nm, includes the following steps: providing a catalytically active substrate catalyzing graphene formation under chemical vapor deposition conditions, the catalytically active substrate in or on its surface being provided with a plurality of catalytically inactive domains having a size essentially corresponding to the size of the pores in the resultant porous graphene layer; chemical vapor deposition using a carbon source in the gas phase and formation of the porous graphene layer on the surface of the catalytically active substrate. The pores in the graphene layer are in situ formed due to the presence of the catalytically inactive domains.

Abstract: A method and system for propelling and controlling displacement of a microrobot in a space having a wall, includes the steps of: forming the microrobot with a body containing a magnetic field-of-force responsive material, wherein, in response to a magnetic field of force, a force is applied to the material in a direction of the magnetic field of force; positioning the microrobot in the space for displacement in that space; and generating the magnetic field of force with a predetermined gradient and applying the magnetic field of force to the microrobot propelling the microrobot through the space in a direction of a field of force. Then, a sequence of field generating steps are executed, wherein each step includes calculating the direction, amplitude and spatial variation of the net field of force to control displacement of the microrobot in the space and against the wall from one equilibrium point to another.

Abstract: The present invention relates to tri-functional crosslinking reagents carrying (i) a ligand-reactive group for conjugation to a ligand of interest having at least one binding site on a target glycoprotein receptor, (ii) a hydrazone group for the capturing of oxidized receptor-glycoproteins and (iii) an affinity group selected from azides and aklynes for the detection, isolation and purification of captured glycoproteins; as well as their manufacturing. The invention further provides for improved methods of detecting, identifying and characterizing interactions between ligands and their corresponding target glycoproteins on living cells and in biological fluids. The invention further provides for new uses of catalysts in such methods.

Abstract: A terahertz device includes a first waveguide, which is a plasmonic waveguide, having a first core with a nonlinear material, such as a ferroelectric material, and having a cladding with a first cladding portion including, at a first interface with the first core, a first cladding material that is an electrically conductive material. The terahertz device can include an antenna having a first and a second arm (for receiving or for emitting or for both, receiving and emitting electromagnetic waves in the terahertz range); a first and a second electrode arranged close to the first waveguide.

Abstract: Supported catalyst for use in a process for the synthesis of methanol, characterized in that the supported catalyst comprises indium oxide in the form of In2O3 and at least one noble metal being palladium, Pd, wherein both indium oxide and at least one noble metal are deposited on a support remarkable in that the supported catalyst is a calcined supported catalyst comprising from 0.01 to 10.0 wt. % of palladium and zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) in an amount of at least 50 wt. % on the total weight of said supported catalyst.

Abstract: Described is a haemostatic device comprising a substrate and a surface formed on the substrate. The surface comprises at least one of micro- and nano-sized materials, the materials being partially embedded in a base, the surface substantially preventing wetting of the substrate. An embodiment of the device is carbon nano fibres embedded partially in a PDMS or PTFE base, on a substrate.

Abstract: A system includes a computing platform having a hardware processor and a memory storing a software code and a neural network (NN) having multiple layers including a last activation layer and a loss layer. The hardware processor executes the software code to identify different combinations of layers for testing the NN, each combination including candidate function(s) for the last activation layer and candidate function(s) for the loss layer. For each different combination, the software code configures the NN based on the combination, inputs, into the configured NN, a training dataset including multiple data objects, receives, from the configured NN, a classification of the data objects, and generates a performance assessment for the combination based on the classification. The software code determines a preferred combination of layers for the NN including selected candidate functions for the last activation layer and the loss layer, based on a comparison of the performance assessments.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a nozzle for 3-D printing. The nozzle may include a first nozzle tip defining a first outlet, where the first nozzle tip includes a first channel extending therethrough. The nozzle may further include a second nozzle tip defining a second outlet, where the second nozzle tip includes a second channel extending therethrough, and where the first channel surrounds the second outlet. The second nozzle tip may be retracted longitudinally with respect to the first nozzle tip such that the second outlet of the second nozzle tip is located in the first channel.

Abstract: According to one implementation, an image enhancement system includes a computing platform including a hardware processor and a system memory storing a software code configured to provide a normalizing flow based generative model trained using an objective function. The hardware processor executes the software code to receive an input image, transform the input image to a latent space representation of the input image using the normalizing flow based generative model, and perform an optimization of the latent space representation of the input image to identify an enhanced latent space representation of the input image. The software code then uses the normalizing flow based generative model to reverse transform the enhanced latent space representation of the input image to an enhanced image corresponding to the input image.

Abstract: Some implementations of the disclosure are directed to capturing facial training data for one or more subjects, the captured facial training data including each of the one or more subject's facial skin geometry tracked over a plurality of times and the subject's corresponding jaw poses for each of those plurality of times; and using the captured facial training data to create a model that provides a mapping from skin motion to jaw motion. Additional implementations of the disclosure are directed to determining a facial skin geometry of a subject; using a model that provides a mapping from skin motion to jaw motion to predict a motion of the subject's jaw from a rest pose given the facial skin geometry; and determining a jaw pose of the subject using the predicted motion of the subject's jaw.

Abstract: Methods and systems for sequence-controlled polymer encoding, decoding, and storage are provided. In various embodiments, input data is encoded into one or more sequence controlled polymer, wherein encoding the input data comprises applying an error-correction code. The one or more sequence-controlled polymer are synthesized. The synthesized one or more sequence-controlled polymer are encapsulated in a plurality of particles. The plurality of particles are embedded into a feedstock.

Abstract: An endoscope for inspection of the gastrointestinal tract of a mammal, in particular of the small intestine of a human, includes an elongated, flexible tubular structure and a flexible, elongated element placed inside the tubular structure such that a distal portion of the elongated element protrudes from a distal end of the tubular structure and is connected to an endoscopic tip, wherein the elongated element is engaged with the tubular structure in such way that a rotation of the tubular structure around the elongated element in a first rotation direction will increase a gap between the endoscopic tip and the distal end, while a rotation of the tubular structure around the elongated element in a second rotation direction, opposite to the first rotation direction, will decrease the gap between the endoscopic tip and the distal end.

Abstract: A system and a method for training a semantic segmentation model includes obtaining a plurality of sets of images each having an index z for visibility, iteratively training the model. Iteratively training the model includes (a) for each z above 1, obtaining preliminary semantic segmentation labels for each image of the set of images of index z?1 by applying the model to each image of the set of images of index z?1, (b) processing each preliminary semantic segmentation labels using semantic segmentation labels obtained using the model on a selected image of index 1, and obtaining processed semantic segmentation labels, (c) training the model using the set of images of index z?1 and the associated processed semantic segmentation labels, and (d) performing steps (a) to (c) for z+1.

Abstract: A method of producing a diffractive optical element (1) comprises the steps of providing at least one substrate (3) having a surface (4) and generating a relief structure (2) in the surface (4) of the substrate (3) using a processing device (5). The relief structure (2) is generated such that a distance (D) between a surface (8) of the relief structure (2) and the surface (4) of the substrate (3) along the third direction (z) varies essentially continuously. A diffractive optical element (1) comprises a relief structure (2), wherein at least in a portion of the relief structure (2) a distance (D) between the surface (8) of the relief structure (2) and the surface (4) of the substrate (3) varies essentially continuously. A virtual image display device comprises at least a first and a second of such diffractive optical elements (1).