Abstract: A tiny and portable micro-spectrometer deployable in a bullet-like form that is inexpensive to the point that it can even be disposable is described. The device is based on the micro-spectrometer that uses the Fresnel diffraction principle that allows a tiny implementation with a nanometer resolving power of spectral signal. A bullet-like micro-spectrometer has an integration of a super capacitor as a power source, a charging coil for the super capacitor, an LED or laser diode light source and driver, an analog to digital converter (ADC) circuit, and a telemetry system with antenna string. An LED or laser diode runs in a burst mode to generate deep or vacuum UV to excite target material. When the excited state of target material undergoes a singlet or triplet transition, this transition process yields fluorescence or luminescence which is a material-dependent. The micro-spectrometer senses and uses this spectral emission from material to identify the spectral signature of the targeted material.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for fabricating user-generated 2D garment pieces of a garment, the method comprising receiving garment piece data related to a plurality of 2D garment pieces, virtually 3D assembling the garment pieces to form a 3D garment, visualizing the 3D garment on an avatar, performing a garment adjustment process and generating fabrication instructions for fabricating the user-generated 2D garment pieces, wherein the garment adjustment process comprises providing 3D measurement tools and providing a plurality of 2D projection curves, receiving a user input including a manipulation of a 2D projection curve, adjusting, in response to the user input and according to the manipulation, a 2D shape of the corresponding garment piece, visualizing, in real time, a manipulated 3D garment on the avatar, the shape pieces of the manipulated 3D garment having the adjusted 2D shapes, and storing user-generated garment 2D garment pieces.

Abstract: A method for virtually representing human body poses includes receiving positioning data detailing parameters of one or more body parts of a human user based at least in part on input from one or more sensors. One or more mapping constraints are maintained that relate a model articulated representation to a target articulated representation. A model pose of the model articulated representation and a target pose of the target articulated representation are concurrently estimated based at least in part on the positioning data and the one or more mapping constraints. The previously-trained pose optimization machine is trained with training positioning data having ground truth labels for the model articulated representation. The target articulated representation is output for display with the target pose as a virtual representation of the human user.

Abstract: An emergency disconnect circuit for use with a high-voltage (HV) bus of a battery electric system, e.g., aboard a mobile system, includes a pyrotechnic switch and a manual switch. The pyrotechnic switch configured irreversibly opens in response to an electronic triggering signal to disconnect an HV battery pack from the HV bus in a first manner. The manual switch is arranged on a low-voltage (LV) bus in series with and between the pyrotechnic switch and an LV power supply. Transition of the manual switch from an open position to a closed position connects the LV power supply to the pyrotechnic switch. This causes the LV power supply to discharge the triggering signal to the pyrotechnic switch. When used aboard a mobile system, an electronic monitoring unit generates the triggering signal in a second manner in response to a threshold impact event.

Abstract: Systems and methods for transaction platforms include various systems interacting with each other and transacting in various ways. A method for configuring and launching a marketplace includes: identifying, by a processing system having one or more processors, an opportunity to facilitate configuration of a new marketplace; receiving marketplace opportunity data, wherein the marketplace opportunity data includes information related to a set of assets of one or more types; determining configuration parameters to be implemented in the new marketplace; determining the feasibility of implementing the configuration parameters in the new marketplace; determining data resources to support the new marketplace; determining an architecture of the new marketplace; determining the configuration of the data resources in a data model for the marketplace; configuring a marketplace object; connecting selected data resources to populate the marketplace object; and launching the new marketplace.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing network devices include performing clustering operations for network devices based on attributes of the network devices. By comparing the results of subsequent clustering operations, changes in network device attributes can be readily identified and any network devices for which attributes have changed may be subject to further investigation or remedial action (e.g., blocking traffic to/from the network device). Clustering may also be used to conduct an inventory of network devices by identifying groups of network devices that have similar attributes.

Abstract: A foundry mix includes a major amount of a foundry aggregate and an effective binding amount of a binder system. The foundry binder system cures in the presence of sulfur dioxide and a free radical initiator. The binder system may include (1) 10 to 70 parts by weight of an epoxy novolac resin; (2) 0.5 to 10 parts by weight of resorcinol; (3) 20 to 70 parts by weight of a monomeric or polymeric acrylate; and (4) an effective amount of a free radical initiator. Notably, (1), (2), (3) and (4) are separate components or mixed with another of said components, provided (4) is not mixed with (3) until a foundry mix is to be created, where said parts by weight are based upon 100 parts of the binder system.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure are directed to an interface for receiving input using multiple modalities in an artificial reality environment. The interface can be a virtual keyboard displayed in an artificial reality environment that includes characters arranged as elements. Implementations include an artificial reality device/system for displaying the artificial reality environment and receiving user input in a first modality, and a controller device for receiving user input in an additional input modality. For example, the artificial reality system can be configured to receive user gaze input as a first input modality and the controller device can be configured to receive input in a second modality, such as touch input received at a trackpad. An interface manager can process input in one or more of the modalities to control an indicator on the virtual interface. The interface manager can also resolve character selections from the virtual interface according to the input.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an entity-restricted access token may be bound to an entity set. In some embodiments, use of an entity-restricted access token may be detected for an action related to a first entity. Based on the detected use of the token, a plurality of entity sets associated with the first entity may be determined, and a notification (e.g., requesting selection from among the entity sets) may be presented to a mobile device of a user. Based on the user selection obtained via the notification, the token may be bound to the user-selected entity set such that subsequent use of the entity-restricted access token is restricted to actions related to entities of the user-selected entity set (e.g., the first entity and one or more additional entities related to the first entity).

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle for performing gardening tasks, the vehicle including a motorized wheeled chassis with at least one motor providing power to a plurality of wheels, at least one rotating wheel attached to the motorized wheeled chassis, a line or blade extending from the rotating wheel configured to perform a selected gardening task, at least one of a downward-facing camera or an outward-facing camera, and a processor configured to control processing related to determining a position of the motorized wheeled chassis, driving the at least one motor to move one or more of the plurality of wheels, rotating the at least one rotating wheel when the selected gardening task is performed, and correcting a path of the motorized wheeled chassis based on one or more images obtained from the at least one of the downward-facing camera or the outward-facing camera.

Abstract: Advantage is taken of the enhanced permeability and retention effect (EPR effect) to shield normal tissue from exposure to combinations of chemotherapeutic agents. Imaging agents that exhibit the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect in solid tumors are useful in mimicking the behavior of chemotherapeutic or other drugs for treatment of said tumor conjugated to carriers of similar size and shape to the carriers of said imaging agents.

Abstract: A scaffold may comprise a first polymeric electrospun fiber comprising a first material having a first degradation rate, and a second polymeric electrospun fiber comprising a second material having a second degradation rate different from the first degradation rate. The first degradation rate may substantially correspond to a cell infiltration rate, and the second degradation rate may be slower than the first degradation rate. Such a scaffold may be manufactured by electrospinning a first polymer fiber having a first degradation rate by ejecting a first polymer solution from a first polymer injection system onto a mandrel, and electrospinning a second polymer fiber having a second degradation rate different from the first degradation rate by ejecting a second polymer solution from a second polymer injection system onto a mandrel. Wound healing may be improved by applying such a scaffold to a portion of a wound.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described herein for an improved mechanism for authenticating users. In particular, the methods and systems facilitate variable authentication of users on mobile devices based on current and historical physical movement of the mobile devices at geographic locations and during predetermined time intervals while maintaining user privacy. Specifically, methods and systems authenticate users by comparing current motion data to historical motion data to determine if a user must be re-authenticated. For example, current motion data may be inconsistent with historical motion data and may cause re-authentication of a user. As another example, current motion data may be consistent with historical motion data and may not require re-authentication of a user. Moreover, the methods and systems alleviate privacy concerns by not transmitting sensitive data over one or more wired or wireless networks.

Abstract: A Wi-Fi chip is configured to operate in a power saving Wi-Fi mode in which the Wi-Fi chip repeatedly checks, at a first time interval, periodic DTIM beacons transmitted at a second time interval by a wireless access point of a Wi-Fi network, wherein the first time interval is longer than the second time interval. Upon receiving a standby message, the Wi-Fi chip, during a predefined time duration, operates in a standby mode in which the Wi-Fi chip checks at a third time interval periodic DTIM beacons transmitted by the wireless access point, wherein the third time interval is shorter than the first time interval.

Abstract: A load control device (e.g., an LED driver) for controlling the intensity of a lighting load (e.g., an LED light source) may provide a wide output range and flicker-free adjustment of the intensity of the lighting load. The load control device may comprise a load regulation circuit, a control circuit, and a filter circuit (e.g., a boxcar filter circuit) that operates in a different manner in dependence upon a target current. When the intensity of the lighting load is near a low-end intensity, the control circuit may adjust an operating frequency of the load regulation circuit in response to the target current, and may control the filter circuit to filter a current feedback signal during a filter window that repeats on periodic basis. When the intensity of the lighting load is near a high-end intensity, the control circuit may control the filter circuit to constantly filter the current feedback signal.

Abstract: A positioning and retrieval device manipulated by carrying element coupled to an handle and driven by an actuator that allows for axial movement and rotational movement of a capturing portion on the carrying element.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for providing guidance when reversing a vehicle towing a trailer. In one embodiment, a method includes: storing, in a data storage device, parameters associated with the vehicle and the trailer; when the vehicle towing the trailer is determined to be operating in reverse, receiving image data associated with an environment of the vehicle; computing, by a processor, an anticipated yaw rate of the trailer based on the parameters and steering angle data; determining, by the processor, at least one feature of at least one trailer guideline based on the anticipated hitch angle; and generating, by the processor, display data based on the image data and the at least one feature of the at least one trailer guideline.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a halogen free flame retardant elastomer composition, a halogen free flame retardant article prepared from the same, and preparation methods thereof.

Abstract: Multi-frequency microDoppler fusion is described. An example of a method includes performing a 2D Fourier transform of raw Radar sensor data and raw LiDAR sensor data to generate Radar range-Doppler map data and LiDAR range-Doppler map data; performing a Stationary Wavelet Transform (SWT) calculation of the Radar and LiDAR sensor range-Doppler map data to generate a Radar SWT product and a LiDAR SWT product; performing an SWT product thresholding operation to extract signatures that are common to the Radar SWT product and the LiDAR SWT product; and performing a microDoppler calculation on the extracted common signatures to generate Radar-LIDAR joint fused micro-Doppler signatures.

Abstract: A symmetric affine mode is applied to a current block. First affine parameters of a first affine model of the symmetric affine mode are determined. The first affine model is associated with the current block and a first reference block of the current block in a first reference picture. Second affine parameters of a second affine model of the symmetric affine mode are derived based on the first affine parameters of the first affine model. The second affine model is associated with the current block and a second reference block of the current block in a second reference picture. The first affine parameters and the second affine parameters have one of opposites signs, inverse values, and a proportional relationship. Control point motion vectors (CPMVs) of the current block are determined based on the first and second affine models. The current block is reconstructed based on the determined CPMVs.