Abstract: In a method for controlling energy damping in a shape memory alloy, provided is a shape memory alloy having a composition including at least one of: Cu in at least about 10 wt. %, Fe in at least about 5 wt. %, Au in at least about 5 wt. %, Ag in at least about 5 wt. %, Al in at least about 5 wt. %, In in at least about 5 wt. %, Mn in at least about 5 wt. %, Zn in at least about 5 wt. % and Co in at least about 5 wt. %. The shape memory alloy is configured into a structure including a structural feature having a surface roughness and having a feature extent that is greater than about 1 micron and less than about 1 millimeter. Energy damping of the structural feature is modified by exposing the structural feature to process conditions that alter the surface roughness of the structural feature.

Abstract: Automultiscopic displays enable glasses-free 3D viewing by providing both binocular and motion parallax. Within the display field of view, different images are observed depending on the viewing direction. When moving outside the field of view, the observed images may repeat. Light fields produced by lenticular and parallax-barrier automultiscopic displays may have repetitive structure with significant discontinuities between the fields of view. This repetitive structure induces visual artifacts in the form of view discontinuities, depth reversals, and extensive disparities. To overcome this problem, a method modifies the presented light field image content and makes it more repetitive. In the method, a light field is refined using global and local shearing and then the repeating fragments are stitched. The method reduces the discontinuities in the displayed light field and leads to visual quality improvements.

Abstract: Methods to systematize the development of machines using inexpensive, fast, and convenient fabrication processes are disclosed. In an embodiment, a folding pattern and corresponding circuit design can provide the blueprints for fabrication. The folding pattern may be provided (e.g. laser machined) on a flat sheet of substrate material, such as a polymer. The circuit pattern may be generated by etching or applying (e.g. sputtering) a copper foil layer onto the substrate. Circuit components and actuators may then be added at specified locations. The flat substrate may then be folded along the predefined locations to form the final machine. The machine may operate autonomously to perform a task.

Abstract: An ASIC for monitoring wideband GHz spectrum to sense respective frequency components present in the spectrum. The ASIC implements Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) techniques to facilitate identification of one or more frequency components of a sparse signal after the signal is sub-sampled at a rate below the Nyquist criterion. The ASIC computes a first Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) of a first sub-sampled set of samples of a time-varying signal representing the monitored spectrum and sampled at a first sampling rate, and further computes a second FFT of a second sub-sampled set of samples of the time-varying signal sampled at a second sampling rate different from the first sampling rate. In one example, each of the first FFT and the second FFT is a low-radix FFT to facilitate a low-power and low-cost ASIC implementation of wideband spectrum sensing.

Abstract: The present invention provides devices and methods for detecting and tracking fast-moving-object. In one application, the present invention can be employed to detect and track fast eye movements (saccades). An example device of the present invention tracks a moving object by generating, within a single frame of a detector (e.g., a video camera) two or more images of the moving object. The images are generated by illuminating the moving objects with sequentially activated light sources (e.g. sequentially strobed light-emitting diodes). The rate at which the light sources are sequentially activated exceeds the frame rate of the detector, resulting in generating multiple images of the moving object within a single frame of the detector. The devices and methods described herein, including a saccadometry system, can utilize off-the-shelf components and does not require expensive high-frame-rate video equipment.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for multiple cytokine detection from single cells for the purpose of generating immunological profiles of diseases.

Abstract: A system and method for predicting whether a vehicle will come to a stop at an intersection is provided.

Abstract: Provided are methods and devices for formation and study of three-dimensional biological systems, including prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell migration, proliferation, and differentiation.

Abstract: Electrochemical cells having molten electrodes having an alkali metal provide receipt and delivery of power by transporting atoms of the alkali metal between electrode environments of disparate chemical potentials through an electrochemical pathway comprising a salt of the alkali metal. The chemical potential of the alkali metal is decreased when combined with one or more non-alkali metals, thus producing a voltage between an electrode comprising the molten the alkali metal and the electrode comprising the combined alkali/non-alkali metals.

Abstract: Method for making a liquid foam from graphene. The method includes preparing an aqueous dispersion of graphene oxide and adding a water miscible compound to the aqueous dispersion to produce a mixture including a modified form of graphene oxide. A second immiscible fluid (a gas or a liquid) with or without a surfactant are added to the mixture and agitated to form a fluid/water composite wherein the modified form of graphene oxide aggregates at the interfaces between the fluid and water to form either a closed or open cell foam. The modified form of graphene oxide is the foaming agent.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for analyzing polysaccharides. In particular, compositional and sequence information about the polysaccharides are derived. Some methods use NMR in conjunction with another experimental method, such as, capillary electrophoretic techniques for the analysis.

Abstract: A family of reconfigurable asynchronous logic elements that interact with their nearest neighbors permits reconfigurable implementation of circuits that are asynchronous at the bit level, rather than at the level of functional blocks. These elements pass information by means of tokens. Each cell is self-timed, and cells that are configured as interconnect perform at propagation delay speeds, so no hardware non-local connections are needed. A reconfigurable asynchronous logic element comprises a set of edges for communication with at least one neighboring cell, each edge having an input for receiving tokens from neighboring cells and an output for transferring tokens to at least one neighboring cell, circuitry configured to perform a logic operation utilizing received tokens as inputs and to produce an output token reflecting the result of the logic operation, and circuitry.

Abstract: A superhydrophilic coating can be antireflective and antifogging. The coating can remain antireflective and antifogging for extended periods. The coating can have a graded refractive index. The coating for wafer-level optics can be for targeted capillary condensation in nanoparticle containing reflow-compatible coatings.

Abstract: It is provided a Near Infrared Sensitive (NIR-sensitive) nanoparticle complex comprising a NIR-sensitive nanoparticle and surfactant(s) adsorbed on the nanoparticle, wherein the surfactant is at least one surfactant selected from: wherein X=1-9; Y=0-9; n=0-9; Z=1-9; W=0-9; m=0-9; each of R1, R2, R3 and R4, if present, is H, substituted or unsubstituted C1-C6 alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted C1-C6 aryl, HS, COOH, NH2 or OH; R5 is COOH, NH2 or OH; with the proviso that n+m is <10; (b) an amino acid having the structure in (a), wherein X=1; Y=2; Z=1; W=1; R1, R2 and R4 are not present; R3 is NH2; and R5 is COOH; or (c) a peptide, wherein the peptide comprise at least one amino acid (b). Further, it is provided a NIR-sensitive nanoparticle complex(es) having biomolecule(s), for example drug(s), loaded on the surfactant(s).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for requesting data from one of a plurality of servers. A virtual network of nodes is generated in response to a data request. A first node on the virtual network of nodes is chosen randomly, and a path generated from the first node to the root on the virtual network. At least one node on the path is mapped to a respective one of the plurality of servers and data is requested from a server. The node may be mapped to the server using the method and apparatus for distributing a request to one of a plurality of resources of the present invention.

Abstract: Umbilics of two surfaces are compared and it is determined from this comparison whether the suspect surface is a copy of the original surface based on the comparison. Comparing umbilics includes determining whether locations of the umbilics of the suspect surface match within a specified margin umbilics of the original surface, and determining whether pattern types of umbilics of the suspect surface match pattern types of corresponding umbilics of the original surface. A “weak” test may be performed, in which corresponding points on the two surfaces are compared, wherein the comparison of umbilics is performed if corresponding points of the two surfaces are located within a specified margin of each other. The points may be gridpoints on wireframes, which in turn may be based on lines of curvature of the surfaces. Comparing umbilics is performed if it is determined that each surface has at least one umbilic.

Abstract: The present invention relates, in general, to the over-production of L-isoleucine by nonhuman organisms.

Abstract: A device for noninvasive, continuous monitoring of arterial blood pressure for advanced cardiovascular diagnoses. Most of the current noninvasive, continuous blood pressure measurement devices are mechanically intrusive and, therefore, cannot be used for long-term ambulatory monitoring. This new approach requires only simple, noninvasive monitoring devices such as finger photoplethysmographs and an electrical impedance photoplethysmograph (EIP) to monitor the dynamic behavior of the arterial blood flow. In this approach, measured signals from these noninvasive sensors on an arterial segment are integrated to estimate the blood pressure in the segment based on a hemodynamic model. A mathematical model of the arterial blood flow is derived and transformed into a state-space representation.

Abstract: Methods of inducing sleepiness and sleep in an individual by administering to that individual a single dose of melatonin sufficient to induce sleepiness and sleep in the individual.

Abstract: A technique for aligning corresponding features on opposite surfaces of a transparent substrate. In one embodiment thereof a laser beam is applied to a pair of grating elements on one surface of the substrate to produce an interference fringe pattern on the opposite surface, the centerline between the grating elements being at a known distance from the features on the one surface and corresponding to the center bright space of the fringe pattern. A reference mark on a movable mask, which reference mark is at the same known distance from feature locations on the mask, is aligned with the center bright space of the interference fringe pattern and the feature locations on the mask can then be used to position features on the opposite surface which are aligned with the features on the one surface of the substrate.