Abstract: The antimicrobial agent includes at least one two-dimensional metal carbide layer. The two-dimensional metal carbide has the formula Tin+1CnTx, where T represents a terminal functional group and x represents the number of terminal functional groups. The two-dimensional metal carbide is preferably Ti3C2Tx. The terminating group may be oxygen, hydroxide (OH), fluorine or combinations thereof. The antimicrobial agent may be used as a two-dimensional metal carbide antimicrobial membrane (10) or filter for removal of harmful bacteria, such as E. coli and B. subtilis. A stack of two-dimensional metal carbide layers (14) may be supported on a polymer filter substrate (12), such as a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) supporting substrate.

Abstract: The method for dynamic video magnification magnifies small motions occurring simultaneously within large motions. The method involves selecting a region of interest from a video for magnification. The region of interest is warped to obtain a stabilized sequence of frames that discounts large motions. Each frame of the stabilized sequence is decomposed to a foreground layer, a background layer, and an alpha matte layer, and each of the foreground and alpha matte layers is magnified. Then a magnified sequence is generated from the magnified layers using matte inversion. Any image holes in the magnified sequence are filled in using texture synthesis. Finally, the magnified sequence is de-warped to the original space-time coordinates.

Abstract: The method of forecasting for solar-based power systems (10) recognizes that no single solar irradiance forecasting model provides the best forecasting prediction for every current weather trend at every time of the year. Instead, the method trains a classifier to select the best solar irradiance forecasting model for prevailing conditions through a machine learning approach. The resulting solar irradiance forecast predictions are then used to allocate the solar-based power systems (10) resources and modify demand when necessary in order to maintain a substantially constant voltage supply in the system (10).

Abstract: The hybrid organic-inorganic perovskite-based solar cell with copper oxide as a hole transport material includes a transparent conducting film layer (12) sandwiched between a glass substrate (11) and a titanium dioxide layer (14). The transparent conducting film layer (12) can be fluorine-doped tin oxide. A lead methylammonium tri-iodide perovskite layer (16) is formed on the titanium dioxide layer (14), such that the titanium dioxide layer (14) is sandwiched between the lead methylammonium tri-iodide perovskite layer (16) and the transparent conducting film layer (12). A layer of copper oxide (Cu2O) (18), as a hole transport material, is formed on the lead methylammonium tri-iodide perovskite layer (16). The lead methylammonium tri-iodide perovskite layer (16) is sandwiched between the layer of hole transport material (18) and the titanium dioxide layer (14). A gold contact (20) is formed on the layer of hole transport material (18).

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of forming aerogels.

Abstract: The direct current (DC) side fault isolator for high voltage direct current (HVDC) converters (10) includes a first set of double thyristor switches (12) connected across the line-to-line voltage terminals between first and second phases of alternating current (AC) terminals of a HVDC converter (14), and a second set of double thyristor switches (12) connected across the line-to-line voltage between the second phase and a third phase of the AC terminals of the HVDC converter (14). In use, the first and second sets of double thyristor switches (12) separate the HVDC converter (10) from an external power grid (18) during direct current (DC) side faults by turning on these thyristors (12).

Abstract: The reconfigurable radio direction finder system and method uses a reconfigurable antenna to electronically cycle through a plurality of different antenna configurations to determine a signal direction. Specifically, the reconfigurable antenna is cycled through N different antenna configurations, where N is an integer greater than one, where each antenna configuration has a pointing direction associated therewith defined by an elevation angle ?n of an n-th antenna configuration, where n is an integer between 1 and N, and an azimuthal angle ?n of the n-th antenna configuration. A received signal strength of the radio signal is measured for each of the antenna configurations as a power output of the n-th antenna configuration, Pn.

Abstract: A machine translation system (1) comprises a language analysis module (3) which receives an unknown text (4) and analyses portions of the unknown text (4). The language analysis module (3) identifies language features in the unknown text (4) and provides the linguistic fingerprint to a translation configuration selection module (5). The translation configuration selection module (5) selects translation configurations (T1-T9) from a memory (6) which corresponds with the identified linguistic fingerprints and communicates the selected language configurations (T1-T9) to a machine translation module (7). The machine translation module (7) translates the unknown text (4) into a different language using the selected translation configurations (T1-T9).