Abstract: This disclosure presents a new type of variable stiffness magnetic spring, which can have a highly linear translational force characteristic. The variable stiffness is achieved through the rotation of a central magnet. Both positive and negative spring constants can be created. Using an analytic-based field analysis modelling technique, the operating principle and linearity characteristics of the adjustable magnetic spring are studied. The use of a magnetic spring with an adjustable negative spring constant could enable an ocean generator to continuously operate in a resonant state, thereby greatly increasing its power generation capability. The described variable stiffness spring could also be useful in other energy harvesting applications, robotic actuator applications, and/or other applications.

Abstract: Various examples of a variable stiffness magnetic spring with a linear stroke length are provided. The stiffness of the magnetic springs is varied through rotation of one or more magnets, and both positive and negative spring constants are achievable. In one example, a variable stiffness magnetic spring includes a first magnetic component and a second magnetic component, wherein the first magnetic component is coaxial with the second magnetic component, the first magnetic component is rotatable about an axis and relative to the second magnetic component to adjust a stiffness of the variable stiffness magnetic spring, and the second magnetic component is translatable along the axis and relative to the first magnetic component. While such variable stiffness magnetic springs exhibit highly linear stroke lengths, such variable stiffness magnetic springs can be positioned in series to achieve an even longer linear stroke length.

Abstract: Methods for detecting, identifying, and/or quantifying a target molecule in a complex fluid using thermal analysis are disclosed. Exemplary complex fluids include biofluids and environmental fluids. Exemplary target molecules include proteins, peptides, nucleic acids, lipids, carbohydrates, viruses, and combinations thereof. A method for using thermal analysis to determine whether purification affects one or more characteristics, such as binding characteristics, of a target molecule is also disclosed.

Abstract: Seminaphthofluorophore-selenium probes are disclosed. The probes include a seminaphthofluorophore scaffold substituted with at least one diselenide moiety having a formula —Y—C(Q)O—(CH2)m—Se—Se—(CH2)n—ORf, where Rf is hydrogen or C1-C3 alkyl, Q is O or S, Y is O or N(Rg) where Rg is H or alkyl, and m and n independently are integers. The probes may be used to detect presence of a thioredoxin reductase.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for context-aware synthesis for video frame interpolation are provided. Bidirectional flow may be used in combination with flexible frame synthesis neural network to handle occlusions and the like, and to accommodate inaccuracies in motion estimation. Contextual information may be used to enable frame synthesis neural network to perform informative interpolation. Optical flow may be used to provide initialization for interpolation. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for context-aware synthesis for video frame interpolation are provided. A convolutional neural network (ConvNet) may, given two input video or image frames, interpolate a frame temporarily in the middle of the two input frames by combining motion estimation and pixel synthesis into a single step and formulating pixel interpolation as a local convolution over patches in the input images. The ConvNet may estimate a convolution kernel based on a first receptive field patch of a first input image frame and a second receptive field patch of a second input image frame. The ConvNet may then convolve the convolutional kernel over a first pixel patch of the first input image frame and a second pixel patch of the second input image frame to obtain color data of an output pixel of the interpolation frame. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for converting light energy into mechanical energy and/or oxygen storage, purification, isolation, concentration, and/or removed. The method may comprise exposing a mixture of a polycyclic aromatic compound and a photosensitizer to oxygen and light to form an endoperoxide, and decomposing the endoperoxide to reform the polycyclic aromatic compound and oxygen.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of nanoparticle composites that comprise covalently coupled stabilizing agent molecules that improve stability of the nanoparticle composites and allow for tight packing of lipids and/or membranes. The nanoparticle composites can further comprise inhibition inhibitors and/or lipid components that interact to form a hybrid lipid bilayer membrane around the nanoparticle core. The nanoparticle composites can be coupled to drugs, targeting moieties, and imaging moieties. The nanoparticle composites can be used for in vivo drug deliver, disease diagnosis/treatment, and imaging.

Abstract: A method for using hydrogels to detect metal ions, including transition metal ions, comprises contacting the hydrogel in any order, with a sample potentially containing metal ions, and a solution comprising a fluorescent dye, nanoparticle, colorimetric tag, or combination thereof. The presence of metal ions in the sample may be detected by one or more suitable techniques, such as determining the color, conductivity, Raman, infrared spectrum, and/or size and/or mass change of the hydrogel. The method may be useful for detecting corrosion and/or failure of protective coating of metal structures including outdoor sculptures, building, bridges, ships, and the like.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and storage media are described for motion estimation in video frame interpolation. Disclosed embodiments use feature pyramids as image representations for motion estimation and seamlessly integrates them into a deep neural network for frame interpolation. A feature pyramid is extracted for each of two input frames. These feature pyramids are wrapped together with the input frames to the target temporal position according to the inter-frame motion estimated via optical flow. A frame synthesis network is used to predict interpolation results from the pre-warped feature pyramids and input frames. The feature pyramid extractor and the frame synthesis network are jointly trained for the task of frame interpolation. An extensive quantitative and qualitative evaluation demonstrates that the described embodiments utilizing feature pyramids enables robust, high-quality video frame interpolation. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Abstract: Devices for ligand capture and methods of using the device are disclosed. The ligand may be captured from a sample, such as a plasma sample. Methods of identifying, quantifying, and/or characterizing captured ligands also are disclosed. Computer systems and methods for analyzing thermograms and determining the characteristics of ligands present in a sample are disclosed.

Abstract: Coated nanowires comprising a core and a ferromagnetic coating are magnetically aligned and bound to a substrate. The substrate may have a thiol-functionalized surface. In some examples, the coated nanowires are nickel-coated copper nanowires and the substrate may be a carbon-doped oxide or silicon oxide.

Abstract: Molecular probes for detecting and imaging pancreatic cancer are disclosed. The probes are modified benzoxanthene fluorophores, which are selectively taken up by pancreatic cancer cells, such as pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells. Embodiments of the disclosed probes are useful for pancreatic cancer detection, therapeutic monitoring, and/or image-guided surgery.

Abstract: This application relates to translating mechanical energy from a low-speed rotor to a high-speed rotor or vice versa in a magnetic gearbox. More specifically, this application discloses various embodiments of a coaxial magnetic gearbox with flux concentration Halbach rotors. In certain implementations, the device further comprises a circular back iron (or other ferromagnetic material) disposed concentrically along the axis of the cylindrical magnetic gearing device. In such embodiments, this flux concentration back iron (or ferromagnetic pole) improves the torque density and can also help retain the magnets in place.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a waste management device, and methods of using the same. The waste management device disclosed herein comprises a vessel having a wall that has a hydrophobic material at an inner surface thereof, and the wall is maintained at a temperature that is at least at Leidenfrost temperature for a mixture. The waste management device disclosed herein further facilitates separating one or more liquids from the mixture of liquids.

Abstract: The disclosure presents configurations and analyses of magnetic gears, which may be used in the second stage of a multistage magnetically geared generator for a marine hydrokinetic generator application and/or other applications as described. In order to reduce field harmonics and maximize the torque density, a Halbach rotor topology is utilized. One feature of the disclosed configuration is a unique magnet arrangement that enables inner and outer Halbach rotor magnets to be more easily assembled, even with dimensional tolerance inaccuracies. The disclosed Halbach magnet rotor topology makes use of the internal magnet forces to retain the magnets in position, and the disclosed configuration also helps with the assembly process.

Abstract: This application concerns embodiments of a low cost magnetically geared lead screw (MGLS). In some embodiments, a MGLS system comprises at least an outer cylinder, an inner rotor, and a translator sandwiched between the outer cylinder and the inner rotor. In various embodiments, the MGLS overcomes some of the disadvantages of other systems by skewing magnetic pole pairs on either or both of the outer cylinder or the inner rotor instead of skewing magnetic portions of the translator. By skewing the pole pairs, the translator placed between the outer and inner cylinder is generally not required to contain any magnetic material (such as permanent magnets or magnetic rings, rare earth elements, etc.), which may otherwise cause the translator to become costly and/or heavy, or to exhibit any other number of deficiencies.

Abstract: This disclosure presents a new type of variable stiffness magnetic spring, which can have a highly linear translational force characteristic. The variable stiffness is achieved through the rotation of a central magnet. Both positive and negative spring constants can be created. Using an analytic-based field analysis modelling technique, the operating principle and linearity characteristics of the adjustable magnetic spring are studied. The use of a magnetic spring with an adjustable negative spring constant could enable an ocean generator to continuously operate in a resonant state, thereby greatly increasing its power generation capability. The described variable stiffness spring could also be useful in other energy harvesting applications, robotic actuator applications, and/or other applications.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments concern a composition comprising a diatom frustule and two or more photocatalytic nanoparticles dispersed on the surface of the frustule. Also disclosed are embodiments of a method for making the composition. The nanoparticles are dispersed such that they are separate and not in physical contact with each other. An average distance between the nanoparticles may be from greater than 0 nm to 100 nm. The nanoparticles may comprise a dopant material. Paint compositions comprising the diatom frustule compositions are also contemplated. The diatom frustule composition may be useful for removing and/or degrading volatile organic compounds, such as those present in the atmosphere.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods and compounds for isolating and detecting lysophosphatidic acids (LPAs) are disclosed. Kits for performing the methods also are disclosed. LPAs are isolated from biological samples by liquid-liquid extraction followed by solid phase extraction. LPA species may be separated by HPLC, and the separated species may be identified and quantified. Also disclosed are embodiments of compounds capable of universally detecting a plurality of LPA species with substantially equivalent sensitivity. Embodiments of the disclosed compounds are useful for determination of total LPA concentration in a sample comprising a plurality of LPA species without separation of individual LPA species.