Abstract: A method and system for removing smeared pixels from an image includes obtaining a plurality of training images of a scene from different poses, forming a point cloud of the scene having a plurality of pixels and a depth, and rendering a first pixel in a first reference frame to a second reference frame. The method includes comparing a depth difference of the first depth and the second depth, determining whether the pixel is valid or smeared based on the depth difference, associating a label with the pixel corresponding to valid or smeared, training a classifier with the pixel and the label to form a trained classifier, obtaining an image to be classified at the classifier and classifying the pixels in the image as valid or smeared and removing smeared pixels from the image to form a cleaned image.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions comprising a polymer and a metabolic inhibitor, as well as a method of using the composition to modulate an immune response. The composition may be produced in the form of a synthetic tissue for provision in a subject. The composition or synthetic tissue may further comprise additional therapeutic agents.

Abstract: A pressure sensor apparatus is provided. In another aspect, a wireless intraocular pressure sensor includes a deformable or stretchable inductor having a three-dimensionally serpentine or wavy shape. A further aspect of an intraocular pressure sensing system includes a closed loop, deformable and variable inductor of an undulating shape in lateral and depth directions, within a ring-shaped and polymeric carrier layer, sized to contact an eye. A method of making a wireless intraocular pressure sensor, including a three-dimensionally deformable metal layer, is also provided.

Abstract: A microwave capillary nanodiamond reactor assembly, and methods of making and using same, are provided. In another aspect, a reactor and method use less than 100 W of microwave power within a cavity to create a plasma therein, so a substrate or workpiece is placed in a cool plasma zone of about 350-400° C., while growing diamond on the workpiece in a low temperature synthesis manner. In another aspect, a workpiece is moved within a diamond-growing reactor while plasma is in a plasma cavity of the reactor. Furthermore, an aspect of the present reactor and method moves a plasma generating head of a reactor relative to a workpiece while the workpiece is in the reactor.

Abstract: A method of making nanoparticles including a semiconducting nitride is provided. The method includes reacting precursors in a gas phase to form the nanoparticles including the semiconducting nitride. The precursors include at least one of a gallium (Ga) precursor or an indium (In) precursor and a nitrogen (N) precursor. The semiconducting nitride is In1?xGaxN, where 0?x?1. Structures that include the nanoparticles and systems for making the nanoparticles are also provided.

Abstract: A luminescent solar concentrator (LSC) device is provided. The LSC device has an active layer including a modified luminophore having a polymethine component including a plurality of methine groups (?CH—)n, where n is an odd integer greater than 1. A hydrogen atom (H) of one of the plurality of methine groups is replaced by one of -AR1R2 or -DR3, where A is selected from nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), arsenic (As) and antimony (Sb) and D is selected from oxygen (O), sulfur (S), selenium (Se), and tellurium (Te), R1 and R2 are independently selected from H, aliphatic groups, and aromatic groups bound to A through a carbon atom, or R1 and R2 together form an alicyclic ring containing A, and R3 is selected from H, aliphatic groups, aromatic groups, and alicyclic groups bound to D through a carbon atom.

Abstract: A method for treating or inhibiting the progression of placental insufficiency syndrome in a subject in need thereof is provided. The method includes administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a composition including irisin.

Abstract: A power generator or sensor apparatus is provided. Another aspect employs a hybrid triboelectric and electromagnetic generator. In still another aspect, a power generator is used for water wave energy harvesting. A further aspect provides a power generator including an outer housing with an electrical conductor on an exterior thereof, radial overlapping electrodes located within the housing with a dielectric layer between the electrodes, a plate linearly moveable within the housing, at least one magnet affixed to the plate, and at least one spring biasing the plate within the housing. Moreover, an aspect of the present power generator includes a modularized connection configuration to linearly secure together multiples of the housing.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a camshaft operably adjusted by a phaser. Another aspect includes an internal combustion engine having an actuation system for an air valve. A further aspect provides a camshaft-in-camshaft system with a cam phaser located adjacent opposite ends. In another aspect, an internal combustion engine apparatus includes multiple nested camshafts with one of the camshafts having a cam configured to actuate an air intake valve associated with a turbulent jet ignition prechamber, and another of the camshafts having a cam configured to actuate an air valve of a main piston combustion chamber, the nested camshafts being independently rotatable by separate electromagnetic actuators.

Abstract: An electrode is provided. The electrode includes a contact pad composed of boron-doped polycrystalline diamond (BDD); a fiber core composed of BDD extending longitudinally from the contact pad from a first end that is in direct contact with the contact pad to an opposing second end; and a polycrystalline diamond (PCD) cladding that coats and hermetically seals the contact pad and the fiber core. A first portion of the contact pad and a second portion at or near the second end of the fiber core are not coated and hermetically scaled by the PCD cladding. A method of fabricating the electrode is also provided.

Abstract: An electron beam emitter apparatus includes a light source and a radio frequency (“RF”) source. In another aspect, an apparatus includes direct density modulation of photo-assisted field emission from a radio frequency cold cathode. A further aspect provides a radio frequency source connected to an electron emitter or cold cathode having tapered projections, and a photon emitter such as a laser, infrared light or ultraviolet light.

Abstract: Described herein are compositions and methods that involve use of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (e.g., fish oil and/or flax oil) as supplements to colostrum. When administered to newborn calves the combination of colostrum with fish oil and/or flax oil can improve the health and immune function of the calf.

Abstract: Provided is a cross-spectral face recognition learning method based on a set of associated face images, a thermal image and a visual image, of a plurality of persons. The thermal image is coded in two different ways. A style encoder provides a style code of the thermal image. An identity encoder provides an identity code of the thermal image. The visual image is coded in a similar way with a style encoder providing a style code and with an identity encoder providing an identity code. The two face images of the same person share in the identity features a common part in the respective identity codes, noted as common identity code, whereas the style codes for the two images comprise features only relevant two the specific style, i.e. either thermal or visual, of the image. Other embodiments disclosed.

Abstract: Provided is a thermal face and landmark detection method for providing a ground truth reference database, capturing a thermal image comprising at least one face, detecting a face in the thermal image, cropping the thermal image creating a cropped face thermal image, applying a Gaussian filters method to the cropped face thermal image creating an improved cropped face thermal image and applying a landmark detector to the improved cropped face thermal image creating an landmarked cropped face thermal image. Other embodiments disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of estimating the pose of a ligand in a receptor comprising identifying all possible atom pairs of protein-ligand complexes in a given configuration space for a system that comprises proteins; creating a first database and a second database; where the first database comprises associated pairwise distant dependent energies and where the second database comprises all probabilities that include how the atom pairs can combine; combining the first database with the second database via statistical mechanics to accurately estimate binding free energies as well as a pose of a ligand in a receptor; and selecting a protein-ligand complex for further study.

Abstract: A magnetic-field-assisted plasma coating system and method are provided. In another aspect, a coating system employs a cathode with a linearly moveable magnetic field. A further aspect employs a workpiece as an anode within which is located an elongated cathode which internally coats a bore of the workpiece. Still another aspect of the present system and method employs an elongated and hollow cathode with at least one magnetic source therein. In yet another aspect, end caps or plates seal against one or more open ends of a workpiece bore to be coated, with a cathode inserted into the bore and a vacuum being created within the bore such that the workpiece itself defines at least a portion of a vacuum chamber.

Abstract: A series of pyridinium compounds have a low reduction potential and a highly persistent radical state are generally 2,6-dialkyl-4-arylpyridinum compounds and are utilized as anolytes in redox flow, thin-film metal-organic hybrid and all-organic batteries. Associated routes for synthesizing these pyridinium compounds from pyrylium intermediates are also disclosed.

Abstract: Pellet insertion apparatus and methods. In accordance with an example, a method of inserting a pellet in a tree includes extending a taper (108) and an actuator rod (118) into the tree. The actuator rod (118) positioned within a through-bore (110) and extending from a taper distal end (112). The method includes securing the taper (108) in the extended position. The method includes retracting the actuator rod (118). The method includes loading a plug into the through-bore (110) of the taper (108). The method includes moving the actuator rod (118) to a plug insertion position.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to methods for extracting lignin from lignocellulosic biomass using volatile trialkylamines. A lignocellulosic biomass is combined with an aqueous extraction solution including the trialkylamine and water to provide a biomass extraction mixture that can at least partially extract lignin from the lignocellulosic biomass. The method further includes removing the trialkylamine from the biomass extraction mixture. The method further relates to the utilization of the resulting materials. For example, the lignin extract can be used to make carbon fibers, carbon-carbon materials, or polyamines. The delignified biomass can be used as feed for animals, fungi and/or bacteria. Also, the cellulosic or carbohydrate components of the delignified biomass can be hydrolyzed into pentoses and/or hexoses, which can be used as a feed or starting material for the subsequent conversion into other products.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for treating or preventing developmental disorders associated with mutations in the OCD1 gene.