Abstract: A luminescent solar concentrator including a light propagation device, one or more photovoltaic cells, and one or more waveguides is provided. The light propagation device includes a plurality of nanostructures configured to permit preferential propagation of a wavelength range of light in one direction. The one or more photovoltaic cells are positioned adjacent an end of the light propagation device. The one or more waveguides are configured to guide light toward the one or more photovoltaic cells via total internal reflection within the luminescent solar concentrator.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a method of training an artificial neural network (ANN) for denoising. The method includes generating, by a similarity module, a respective set of similar elements for each noisy input element of a number of noisy input elements included in a single noisy input data set. Each noisy input element includes information and noise. The method further includes generating, by a sample pair module, a plurality of training sample pairs. Each training sample pair includes a pair of selected similar elements corresponding to a respective noisy input element. The method further includes training, by a training module, an ANN using the plurality of training sample pairs. Each set of similar elements is generated prior to training the ANN. The plurality of training sample pairs is generated during training the ANN. The training is unsupervised.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a novel class of polymers with superior mechanical properties and chemical stability, as compared to known polymers. These polymers are particularly well suited for use in anion exchange membranes (AEMs), including those employed in fuel cells. Novel methods for the manufacture of these polymers are also described.

Abstract: The electrochemical energy conversion system of the present disclosure includes an anode, a cathode, and an ion exchange membrane including a polymer having an aromatic polymer chain and an alkylated substrate including an alkyl chain, and at least one ionic group. The alkylated substrate is bound to at least one aromatic group in the polymer chain via Friedel-Crafts alkylation of the at least one aromatic group. The alkylation reaction utilizes a haloalkylated tertiary alcohol or a haloalkylated alkene as a precursor. In the presence of an acid catalyst, a carbocation is generated in the precursor which reacts with the aromatic rings of the polymer chain. The at least one ionic group is then replaced with a desired cationic or anionic group using a substitution reaction. The membranes exhibit advantageous stability achieved through a simplified and scalable reaction scheme.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a broadband signal source. The broadband signal source includes a number, n, signal paths and a combiner circuitry. Each signal path, i, includes a programmable phase shifter circuitry, an amplifier circuitry and a harmonic generation circuitry. The programmable phase shifter circuitry is configured to phase shift a path input signal by a respective phase angle, ?i. The path input signal corresponds to a source input signal having a fundamental frequency, f, and an input signal bandwidth. The amplifier circuitry is configured to amplify the phase shifted path input signal. The harmonic generation circuitry is configured to generate a path output signal including a plurality of harmonics of the amplified phase shifted path input signal.

Abstract: Compositions discussed herein are useful for treating a patient infected with a coronavirus, notably SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19. The compositions to be administered to an infected patient utilize inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease (PLpro). Several of these inhibitors include available hepatitis C virus (HCV) drugs that are already FDA-approved. These PLpro inhibitors have been found to be strongly synergistic with inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 polymerases, such as RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). One such polymerase inhibitor, remdesivir, is already in use as an anti-viral treatment of patients with COVID-19. The PLpro inhibitors, including repurposed HCV drugs such as grazoprevir, vaniprevir, and paritaprevir, increase remdesivir's ability to suppress coronavirus replication antiviral activity as much as 10-fold.

Abstract: For a passage text and a corresponding answer text, perform a word-level soft alignment to obtain contextualized passage embeddings and contextualized answer embeddings, and a hidden level soft alignment on the contextualized passage embeddings and the contextualized answer embeddings to obtain a passage embedding matrix. Construct a passage graph of the passage text based on the passage embedding matrix, and apply a bidirectional gated graph neural network to the passage graph until a final state embedding is determined, during which intermediate node embeddings are fused from both incoming and outgoing edges. Obtain a graph-level embedding from the final state embedding, and decode the final state embedding to generate an output sequence word-by-word. Train a machine learning model to generate at least one question corresponding to the passage text and the answer text, by evaluating the output sequence with a hybrid evaluator combining cross-entropy evaluation and reinforcement learning evaluation.

Abstract: A system for few-view computed tomography (CT) image reconstruction is described. The system includes a preprocessing module, a first generator network, and a discriminator network. The preprocessing module is configured to apply a ramp filter to an input sinogram to yield a filtered sinogram. The first generator network is configured to receive the filtered sinogram, to learn a filtered back-projection operation and to provide a first reconstructed image as output. The first reconstructed image corresponds to the input sinogram. The discriminator network is configured to determine whether a received image corresponds to the first reconstructed image or a corresponding ground truth image. The generator network and the discriminator network correspond to a Wasserstein generative adversarial network (WGAN). The WGAN is optimized using an objective function based, at least in part, on a Wasserstein distance and based, at least in part, on a gradient penalty.

Abstract: In one embodiment, there is provided a system for applying therapy to a human body. The system includes a coupling apparatus and a supporting apparatus. The coupling apparatus is configured to couple to an upper body portion of a user. The supporting apparatus is configured to support at least a portion of a weight of the user. An amount of weight that is supported is adjustable. In some embodiments, the system may further include a control apparatus configured to control at least one of a state and/or a position of the supporting apparatus.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a line of sight detector. The line of sight detector includes a first TeraFET (field effect transistor) including a first source, a first drain, a first gate, and a first channel having a first end and a second end. The line of sight detector further includes a first source antenna coupled to the first source; a first drain antenna coupled to the first drain; and a third antenna. Each antenna is configured to receive an incident radiation signal having a frequency in a sub terahertz or a terahertz frequency range. Each antenna is positioned a respective distance from each other antenna. Each distance is less than one wavelength of the incident radiation signal.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate generally to electrospun fibers and, more particularly, to the controlled release of an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) from electrospun fiber scaffolds (EFSs).

Abstract: A solar cell device having a solid state light absorber region that incorporates a donor-acceptor particle structure. The particle structure includes acceptor particles that generate a flow of electrons in the solid state light absorber region in response to absorbed photons; and donor particles comprising a phosphorescent material, wherein each donor particle is coupled to a group of acceptor particles, and wherein the phosphorescent material absorbs high energy photons and emits lower energy photons that are absorbed by the acceptor particles.

Abstract: A direct current-direct current (DC-DC) converter includes a plurality of switches configured to be coupled to a voltage source. The DC-DC converter also includes a transformer having a primary winding coupled to the plurality of switches and a secondary winding. The DC-DC converter further includes a first capacitor; and a second capacitor, wherein the first capacitor is coupled in series with the primary winding, the second capacitor is coupled in parallel with the secondary winding. The first capacitor, the second capacitor, and a leakage inductance of the transformer form a dual-capacitor resonant circuit.

Abstract: Systems and methods for lighting an environment are disclosed. A lighting system includes at least one light source and a control system in communication with the at least one light source. The light source is configured to emit light having a plurality of emission characteristics. The control system is configured to randomly vary at least one of the emission characteristics of the light emitted by the light source. A method for lighting an environment includes emitting light from a light source, and randomly varying at least one of the emission characteristics of the emitted light.

Abstract: In one embodiment, there is provided method of imaging a biological sample. The method includes providing, by a polarizing source assembly, a source polarized coherent electromagnetic beam to the biological sample. The method further includes capturing, by a detector assembly, an intermediate electromagnetic beam from the biological sample. The intermediate electromagnetic beam is related to the source polarized coherent electromagnetic beam and to an optical anisotropic property of the biological sample. The method further includes providing, by the detector assembly, an output electrical signal corresponding to an output electromagnetic beam. The output electromagnetic beam is related to the intermediate electromagnetic beam. The method further includes generating, by an imaging circuitry, an image of at least a portion of the biological sample based, at least in part, on the output electrical signal.

Abstract: A high absorption photovoltaic material and method of making the material for use in a solar cell are disclosed. The photovoltaic material includes a surface modified with a layer of repeating photonic crystal structures. The photonic crystal structures are approximately inverse conically shaped and have a curved sidewall that has an approximately Gaussian shape. The photonic crystal structures generally have a high vertical depth and sidewall angle. The structures also have a gradient refractive index profile and exhibit the parallel-to-interface refraction light trapping effect. An anti-reflective coating is disposed over the photonic crystal structure layer. The photovoltaic material exhibits near unity light absorption over a broad range of visible and near infrared wavelengths and incidence angles, even at reduced thicknesses.

Abstract: Training a CNN with pseudo ground truth for CT artifact reduction is described. An estimated ground truth apparatus is configured to generate an estimated ground truth image based, at least in part, on an initial CT image that includes an artifact. Feature addition circuitry is configured to add a respective feature to each of a number, N, copies of the estimated ground truth image to create the number, N, initial training images. A computed tomography (CT) simulation circuitry is configured to generate a plurality of simulated training CT images based, at least in part, on at least some of the N initial training images. An artifact reduction circuitry is configured to generate a plurality of input training CT images based, at least in part, on the simulated training CT images. A CNN training circuitry is configured to train the CNN based, at least in part, on the input training CT images and based, at least in part, on the initial training images.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to, inter alia, a modified surface comprising an optically active monomer, a polymeric material having a surface onto which the optically active monomer is covalently bound. In one aspect, a membrane comprising an optically active monomer, a poly(aryl sulfone) membrane having a surface onto which the optically active monomer is covalently bound. The present disclosure also relates to a method of modifying a surface, the method comprising applying sufficient energy to a surface to induce covalent bonding with an optically active monomer, and contacting the optically active monomer with the surface. In one aspect, a method of modifying a surface of a poly(aryl sulfone) membrane is disclosed. In another aspect, a method of synthesizing an optically active monomer is disclosed. In one aspect, a method of filtration of chiral compounds is disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and method for performing X-ray computed tomography (CT) that can improve spectral separation and decrease motion artifacts without increasing radiation dose are provided. The systems and method can be used with either a kVp-switching source or a single-kVp source. When used with a kVp-switching source, an absorption grating and a filter grating can be disposed between the X-ray source and the sample to be imaged. Relative motion of the filter and absorption gratings can by synchronized to the kVp switching frequency of the X-ray source. When used with a single-kVp source, a combination of absorption and filter gratings can be used and can be driven in an oscillation movement that is optimized for a single-kVp X-ray source. With a single-kVp source, the absorption grating can also be omitted and the filter grating can remain stationary.

Abstract: Fisher discriminant analysis is performed on data sets of typically developing (TD) individuals and data sets of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) individuals to produce a model that classifies TD individuals from ASD individuals. The ASD data sets include pre-treatment folate-dependent one-carbon metabolism (FOCM) and transsulfuration (TS) pathway metabolic profile data and post-treatment folate-dependent one-carbon metabolism (FOCM) and transsulfuration (TS) pathway metabolic profile data for patients receiving one or more ASD treatments. Changes in adaptive behavior are predicted by utilizing regression of changes in adaptive behavior and changes in biochemical measurements observed in the data sets. Thus, the system can be used to predict the effectiveness of a given course of treatment for an ASD patient based on measured metabolite data of that patient, or to predict the overall effectiveness of a clinical trial based on metabolite data for the trial participants.