Abstract: A passive incoherent millimeter-wave imaging system includes a receiver array including a plurality of receive modules configured to receive a scene signal reflected from a scene. The scene signal is reflected in response to a plurality of incoherent communication signals being reflected off the scene, and the plurality of incoherent communication signals are spatially and temporally incoherent at a point when reaching the scene.

Abstract: Various embodiments for a foldable quad-rotor (FQR) inspired by an origami mechanism are disclosed herein. The FQR can fold its arms during flight to enable aggressive turning maneuvers and operations in cluttered environments. A dynamic model of folding is built for this system with the collected data, and a feedback controller is designed to control the position and orientation of the FQR. Lyapunov stability analysis is conducted to show that the system is stable during arm folding and extension, and motion planning of the FQR is achieved based on a modified minimum-snap trajectory generation method.

Abstract: Provided herein are rapid, large-scale screening methods for identifying metal-biocide combinations that are synergistically effective to kill or inhibit the growth of microorganisms. Also provided herein are novel, synergistically antimicrobial metal-biocide combinations and uses of such compositions to curb or slow microbial growth.

Abstract: A composite thermal strap includes a pyrolytic graphite stack with multiple pyrolytic graphite sheets and first and second metal foils immediately adjacent and in thermal contact with the top and bottom faces of the pyrolytic graphite stack, together forming a composite stack. The first and second metal foils do not envelop the front and back sides of the pyrolytic graphite stack. A composite thermal strap also includes first and second metal end blocks with inside surfaces connected to and thermally linked to either end of the composite stack. Also disclosed is a particle containment sleeve configured to capture pyrolytic graphite particles or metal particles that may rub off from the composite stack. Also disclosed is a snorkel, configured to pass air from within a volume encapsulated by the particle containment sleeve and the atmosphere.

Abstract: A capture device for capturing a biological substance can include: a substrate; a graphene-oxide layer on the substrate; at least one polydopamine polymer coupled with the graphene-oxide; and at least one targeting receptor coupled to the polydopamine(s), wherein the targeting receptor is capable of targeting/binding with a target biological substance. The graphene-oxide may be covalently coupled with the substrate and polydopamine, and the polydopamine may be covalently coupled with the targeting receptor. The targeting receptor can be an antibody or fragment thereof. The target biological substance can be an exosome. The substrate can be a particle (e.g., magnetic, such as magnetically responsive) or a surface in a microfluidic channel. The surface can be a top surface of a post, the post having a Y-shaped cross-sectional profile. In one aspect, the substrate is a particle. The capture device can include the target biological substance bound to the targeting receptor.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a system or a method for combusting reactants including a fuel and an oxidizer into combustion products in a combustor. A combustor can be configured to contain a flow of the reactants and the combustion products that extends in a first direction. The flow can be subject to acceleration in a second direction at least partly transverse to the first direction. One or more micro-flameholders can be disposed within the combustor at or upstream of a location at which the flow is subject to the acceleration in the second direction. The one or more micro-flameholders can be configured to facilitate or promote Rayleigh-Taylor instability to cause interpenetration of the reactants and the combustion products within the combustor.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system to quantify tension forces of the anchor bolts for, e.g., SLTS support structures. A sensing assembly comprising one or more washers is installed along an anchor bolt. The sensing assembly comprises two spaced-apart surfaces between which a capacitance can be measured if electrical potential is created between the surfaces. The capacitance between the surfaces can be calibrated to bolt tension based on the relative distance between the surfaces. An RFRD circuit is connected to the two surfaces. An RF interrogation signal can supply the electrical potential and allow a reading of the responsive capacitance between surfaces to convert the capacitance reading into a bolt tension. Additionally, the introduction of the battery-free RFRD allows data to be acquired wirelessly from a distance, enabling an entirely new method of inspection. With minimum additional hardware cost, it provides a cost-effective way to replace traditional bolt installation and inspection methods.

Abstract: A sample preparation device for electron microscopy (EM) that is configured to eliminate user-to-user variations and environment contaminations, which are often present in the conventional method of sample preparation. The device not only provides a means for evenly and reproducibly delivering a fluid or sample to an EM grid, but also provides a means for sealing the EM grid in an air-tight chamber and delivering air-sensitive samples to the EM grid. The platform may comprise readily fabricated glass chips with features integrated to preserve the integrity of the sample grid and to facilitate its extraction. The methods may eliminate the element of user dependent variability and thus improve the throughput, reproducibility and translation of these methods.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes methods and components for production of valuable industrial compounds in yeast. In an embodiment, the present invention provides a nucleic acid construct with increased stability for gene expression or gene editing comprising: a nucleic acid sequence encoding one or more of SEQ ID NO: 1-8 (CENs 1-8); and one or more regulatory elements functional in a yeast cell. In an embodiment of the present invention the nucleic acid constructs are vectors, preferably episomal vectors. High expression promoters, as well as methods for increasing production of compounds such as aromatics are disclosed.

Abstract: The thermochemical conversion of biomass material to one or more reaction products includes generating thermal energy with at least one heat source, providing a volume of feedstock, providing a volume of supercritical fluid, transferring a portion of the generated thermal energy to the volume of supercritical fluid, transferring at least a portion of the generated thermal energy from the volume of supercritical fluid to the volume of feedstock, and performing a thermal decomposition process on the volume of feedstock with the thermal energy transferred from the volume of supercritical fluid to the volume of the feedstock in order to form at least one reaction product.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides compositions comprising a lyn kinase activator and TRPM8 agonist, and to methods of: reducing blood glucose levels, weight gain, or fat depot levels; treating metabolic syndrome, Syndrome X, obesity, prediabetes, type II diabetes, type I diabetes; treating hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, coronary heart disease, diabetic neuropathy, lipodystrophy, diabetic retinopathy, erectile dysfunction, kidney disease, dyslipidemia, dyslipoproteinemia, a peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-associated disorder, septicemia, a thrombotic disorder, or pancreatitis; inducing the beiging of adipocytes; and preventing pancreatic beta cell degeneration.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for accurately estimating the absorbed dose of radiation indicated by a subject based on the expression pattern of a panel of radiation-modulated (RM) genes at various time points following exposure of the subject to ionizing radiation.

Abstract: A method for preparing a device having a film on a substrate is disclosed. In the method, a film is deposited on a substrate. The film includes a single-crystalline or poly-crystalline semiconducting thin film. The single-crystalline or poly-crystalline semiconducting thin film is formed by sequential evaporation of a first and a second element. One example device prepared by the method includes a silicon substrate and a film on the substrate, wherein the film includes semiconducting and single- or poly-crystalline pyrite as the compound.

Abstract: Compositions for bromide removal include a two-dimensional material impregnated with silver. The silver may be impregnated in the two-dimensional material by contacting the two-dimensional material with silver ions in an aqueous solution, allowing the silver ions to adsorb on the two-dimensional material, and drying the two-dimensional material. Removing bromide from an aqueous composition including bromide may include contacting the aqueous composition with a two-dimensional material impregnated with silver, and allowing the bromide to react with the silver to yield silver bromide.

Abstract: A single beam plasma or ion source apparatus is provided. Another aspect employs an ion source including multiple magnets and magnetic shunts arranged in a generally E cross-sectional shape. A further aspect of an ion source includes magnets and/or magnetic shunts which create a magnetic flux with a central dip or outward undulation located in an open space within a plasma source. In another aspect, an ion source includes a removeable cap attached to an anode body which surrounds the magnets. Yet a further aspect provides a single beam plasma source which generates ions simultaneously with target sputtering and at the same internal pressure.

Abstract: Detecting abnormalities in vital signs of subjects of videos is provided. Aspects of the present disclosure include methods, apparatuses, and systems to detect and measure vital sign information of one or more human subjects of a video and detect abnormalities in the vital sign information. In some examples, such abnormalities can be used to indicate video data is likely altered or fraudulent. In this regard, imaging photophlethysmography (IPPG) and advanced signal processing techniques, including adaptive color beamforming, can be used to extract the vital signs of the video subjects.

Abstract: A vital sign monitoring system using an optical sensor is provided. The vital sign monitoring system, and related methods and devices described herein, is equipped with a camera or other optical sensor to remotely detect and measure one or more physiological parameters (e.g., vital signs) of a subject. For example, the vital sign monitoring system can detect, measure, and/or monitor heart rates and respiration rates from one or multiple subjects simultaneously using advanced signal processing techniques, including adaptive color beamforming to more accurately detect and measure the vital sign(s) of interest.

Abstract: Disclosed is direct ink write (DIW) print extrusion head for 3D printing of viscous elastomers. The disclosed print extrusion head comprises a mixer assembly, comprising a fluid distribution cap coupled to a carrier, an in-line mixer coupled to the fluid distribution cap. A cooling jacket surrounds the in-line mixer. A nozzle is coupled to the in-line mixer and protrudes below the cooling jacket over a work surface. The position of the nozzle relative to the work surface is changeable. At least one heat source is on the chassis and disposed adjacent to the fluid distribution cap. The at least one heat source comprises a heat guiding element to direct heat to a region onto the work surface below the nozzle.

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: A securely pre-coded orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (SP-OFDM) system includes a transmitter configured to transmit a secure transmit signal through a dynamic constellation and a receiver configured to recover the original signal from the received secure transmit signal. It is aimed to reinforce the physical layer security of wireless communications under hostile interference. Potential applications include 4G and 5G communication systems, ASTC3.0 HDTV systems, WiFi systems, and any future wireless systems that utilize OFDM.