Abstract: A shape-memory alloy actuated switch (SMAAS) is provided that enables the stable switching of two separate circuits. The presently disclosed SMAAS includes a substrate, one or more electrical contacts attached to the substrate for connecting to load circuits, and one or more electrically conductive elements for selectively connecting the one or more electrical contacts. The disclosed SMAAS also includes one or more shape-memory alloy actuators attached to the substrate. The one or more shape-memory alloy actuators are configured to move the one or more electrically conductive elements. The shape-memory alloy actuators are self-heated by passing current through the shape-memory alloy material. The disclosed SMAAS may also include electrical contacts to connect an external control current to the shape-memory alloy material. In some examples, the provided SMAAS includes one or more retention mechanisms to prevent movement of the electrically conductive elements after actuation.

Abstract: A facial mask configured to be worn by a user includes a mask substrate, a temperature and respiration rate sensor for monitoring the temperature and breathing rate of the user, a humidity sensor for monitoring the humidity of the breath of the user, and a cough sensor for monitoring the cough rate of the user. The sensors may be printed onto a sensor array substrate, which is then secured to the mask substrate. The sensors provide real-time monitoring of the temperature, the breathing rate, the humidity, and the cough rate of the user.

Abstract: Cesium-niobium-chalcogenide compounds and a semiconductor device are provided. The cesium-niobium-chalcogenide compound is selected from the group consisting of CsNbS3, CsNbSe3, and CsNbOx-3Qx, where Q is S or Se, and x is 1 or 2, and includes an edge-shared orthorhombic crystal structure. In one embodiment, the semiconductor device includes a cathode layer, an anode layer, and an active layer disposed between the cathode layer and the anode layer, and the active layer includes the cesium-niobium-chalcogenide compound.

Abstract: A method and system of constructing a network map from imagery comprising using an iterative search process guided by a CNN-based decision function to derive a network graph directly from the output of the CNN.

Abstract: A game system comprising a game surface generator configured to generate a game surface having: a primary game surface with a first edge; an additional game surface with a second edge, wherein the primary game surface and the additional game surface are each divided into a plurality of game spaces and the first edge of the primary game surface is coupled to the second edge of the additional game surface, there being a bijective mapping between the primary game surface and the additional game surface; a game piece control module configured to position a plurality of game pieces on the primary game surface such that each game piece is positioned on one of the game spaces and a plurality of additional game pieces are positioned on corresponding game spaces of the additional game surface according to the bijective mapping.

Abstract: IoT frameworks require flexible and scalable communication and security schemes that can be deployed on devices of low computational capabilities and memory (e.g., resource-constrained devices). A system is provided including a mesh network of resource-constrained devices creating a self-organizing and collaborative communication topology between the devices, and an attribute-based encryption security scheme integrated with the mesh network that enables the resource-constrained devices to communicate securely in unsecured channels by defining an access policy that can only be satisfied by the authorized resource-constrained devices. In order to integrate the attribute-based encryption scheme with the mesh network of resource-constrained devices, a serializer and deserializer are provided that prepare all communications to go through the attribute-based encryption scheme by converting all data and metadata into a suitable format for transmission over the network.

Abstract: An HVAC system is provided. The HVAC system includes a UV light source configured to disinfect air, a ventilation system, and an adsorption filter. The adsorption filter is configured to capture carbon dioxide from air.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system and methods for determining and reserving an optimized amount of required cloud instance resources in order to provide quality streaming to viewers while also reducing overhead costs. For content providers, the choice of appropriate cloud location to transcode the live streams and appropriate number of video representations to serve the current viewership is a key in minimizing cost. However, this task cannot typically be done on the fly due to the properties of live streaming characterized by its dynamic, heterogeneity and wideness. The provided system helps predict the incoming load and the exact number of resources to allocate at each cloud site to help prevent the content provider from over-provisioning resources, leading to an extra cost, or under-provisioning resources, leading to viewers' dissatisfaction.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides new and innovative systems and methods for filtering encrypted messages. In an example, a computer-implemented method includes obtaining a message, determining sender profiling features of the message, determining enterprise graph features of the message, determining header features of the message, determining a message flag based on the sender profiling features, the enterprise graph features, and the header features, and processing the message based on the message flag.

Abstract: A method for preparing PAM with the aluminum-based crosslinker is provided. The method includes diluting the PAM with deionized water; adding the crosslinker gradually while stirring at room temperature; sonicating in a water bath; adding HCl and KOH to adjust pH; and testing compatibility with salts.

Abstract: A data storage method includes partitioning a data into an array having a plurality of data blocks and storing the data blocks across a plurality of storage nodes. Parity blocks are encoded based on the data array by performing a shift operation on the data array to produce a shifted array and performing an exclusive OR (XOR) operation on the elements in each row of the shifted array to produce a parity block. The method further includes storing the parity blocks across a plurality of the storage nodes. Systems are configured to recover data from a data array in the event that the data array is at least partly inaccessible.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a cargo revenue management system and method that increases the efficiency of cargo revenue management by increasing the prediction accuracy of cargo volumes that customers will tender in order to generate more efficient decisions to accept or reject cargo bookings. The provided system accomplishes this increased efficiency by identifying cargo volumes that customers arbitrarily book when an actual volume is unknown as disguised missing values and deemphasizing such values in the prediction of a cargo volume that will be received. The provided system additionally utilizes machine-learning models trained on a combination of features to predict a cargo volume that will be received for a particular cargo booking. Based on the predicted cargo volume that will be received, the system generates a decision of whether to accept or reject the cargo booking to maximize revenue generation.

Abstract: Systems and methods for low-cost and morphologically stable 3D printing are disclosed. A solution-based method for 3D printing, comprising i) providing a substrate comprising a flat surface; ii) providing a first solution of a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) molecule comprising a functional group at each end of the SAM molecule; iii) applying the first solution to the flat surface of the substrate to form a first SAM comprising a first liquid surface; iv) providing a second solution of a metal precursor; v) applying the second solution on the first liquid surface to form a second liquid surface over the first SAM; vi) applying a first force to cross-link the first SAM; vii) repeating steps iii) and v)-vi) to form a multiple layer of the SAM; and viii) either applying a second force to anneal the multiple layer of the SAM to form a soft material or applying a third force to anneal the multiple layer of the SAM to form a hard material.

Abstract: A distributed energy management system includes a photovoltaic (PV) source, and a plurality of controllable loads in communication with the PV source. The plurality of controllable loads include a first controllable load including a first interactive plug associated with a first connected state timer and a first disconnected state timer, and a second controllable load including a second interactive plug associated with a second connected state timer and a second disconnected state timer. The PV source is configured to determine a maximum PV power, determine a difference between the maximum PV power and a current PV power, responsive to determining that the difference is less than or equal to a threshold power, set the reference AC voltage as a first voltage, and responsive to determining that the difference is greater than the threshold power, set the reference AC voltage as a second voltage greater than the first voltage.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems that can be used by an end-user to verify both the identity of a remote service (4) and the authenticity of a response provided by the remote service (4), even if the first authentication arrangement (2) used to interact with the remote service (4) is compromised. The end-user requests the remote service (4) to provide evidence of its identity, in the form of potentially different authentication materials. The authentication materials are then verified independently on each additional authentication arrangements (6, 7) and used to determine the authenticity of the response from the remote service (4).

Abstract: A modular DC-DC converter and a battery charging device are provided. The modular DC-DC converter includes a first converter provided at an input side, a plurality of second converters provided at an output side, and a plurality of high-frequency transformers provided between the first converter and the second converters. The first converter and the high-frequency transformers are connected in series at the input side, and the second converters are connected in parallel at the output side.

Abstract: A system of video steganalyzer is provided. The system includes a display and a processor. The processor is configured to generate a motion vector map from a video, extract a morphological feature from the motion vector map, evaluate the morphological feature of the motion vector map, and determine if the video includes embedded information.

Abstract: The present subject matter is directed to a system and method for producing carbon and syngas from carbon dioxide (CO2). The system includes a first reactor (7) for producing solid carbon (15) from a feed including CO2 and a volatile organic compound such as methane (1), and a second reactor (20) for producing syngas. Reactions in the first reactor (7) are conducted in a limited oxygen atmosphere. The second reactor (20) can use dry reforming, steam reforming, and/or partial oxidation reforming to produce the syngas (22).

Abstract: New formulation for pyrite scale removal from oil and gas wells and a method of pyrite scale removal are disclosed. The chemical formulation is composed of K2B4O7-4H2O, in a concentration of about 9-20 wt. % of the composition, preferably about 14 wt. % of the composition. The new formulation has the ability to dissolve pyrite without generation of the toxic H2S. Furthermore, the new formulation is cheaper and has very low corrosion rate compare to 15 wt. % HCl with corrosion inhibitor. The disclose method uses the disclosed new formulation to dissolve iron sulphide scale, performed at about 100-150° C. and about 500-2000 psi.