Abstract: An apparatus for detecting radiation energy includes a first comparator coupled to a first voltage source applying a first threshold voltage to the first comparator. The apparatus includes a second comparator, a radiation detector, Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC), and control circuitry. The second comparator is coupled to a second voltage source applying a second threshold voltage to the second comparator. The radiation detector is coupled to the first and second comparators. The ADC has a first input coupled to the detector, and is responsive to a second input for placing it in a low-power mode. The control circuitry is coupled to outputs of the comparators and the ADC, and the control circuitry temporarily switches the ADC from the low-power mode to a normal operating mode to perform a peak measurement of detected radiation energy, and determine the first and second threshold voltages based on the peak measurement.

Abstract: A method for making a pressure sensitive adhesive comprising: (a) making at least one epoxidized fatty acid from at least one plant oil, marine oil, other ester of unsaturated fatty acid, or a mixture thereof; and (b) polymerizing the at least one epoxidized fatty acid to produce a pressure sensitive adhesive. A method for making a pressure sensitive adhesive comprising: (a) making epoxidized oleic acid, an epoxidized linoleic acid (including fully and partially epoxidized linoleic acid), or an epoxidized linolenic acid (including fully and partially epoxidized linolenic acid) from at least one plant oil, marine oil, other ester of unsaturated fatty acid, or making mixture thereof; and (b) polymerizing the epoxidized oleic acid, the epoxidized linoleic acid, the epoxidized linolenic acid, or the mixture thereof to produce a pressure sensitive adhesive.

Abstract: Imaging processing techniques using a trained convolution neural network (CNN) are described. In one or more implementations, an image processing system and method are provided for applying an image processing algorithm to a dataset of training images to generate a plurality of performance curves, constructing a loss function based upon the plurality of performance curves, training a convolutional neural network (CNN) to optimize the loss function to establish a trained convolutional neural network, predicting a specific tuning parameter for an image of interest using the trained convolution neural network and performing image processing of the image of interest using the specific tuning parameter and the image processing algorithm to generate a processed image of interest.

Abstract: Various embodiments relate to separation of terbium(III,IV) oxide. In various embodiments, present invention provides a method of separating terbium(III,IV) oxide from a composition. The method can include contacting a composition including terbium(III,IV) oxide and one or more other trivalent rare earth oxides with a liquid including acetic acid to form a mixture. The contacting can be effective to dissolve at least some of the one or more other trivalent rare earth oxides into the liquid. The method can include separating undissolved terbium(III,IV) oxide from the mixture, to provide separated terbium(III,IV) oxide.

Abstract: A polymer-dispersed blue-phase (PDBP) liquid crystal film is formed from a polymer-based latex and blue-phase liquid crystals that are combined using an emulsification process or a polymerization-induced phase separation process. The resultant PDBP liquid crystal film includes droplets formed by the polymer-based latex that encapsulate the blue-phase liquid crystals therein, so as to allow the blue-phase liquid crystals to have a blue phase at room temperature. As such, the PDBP liquid crystal film is conducive for use in manufacturing processes, such as LCD (liquid crystal display) manufacturing processes, while providing desirable optical features, such as field-induced birefringence at low switching voltages.

Abstract: Methods and systems of detecting tampering in a digital image includes using hybrid large feature mining to identify one or more regions of an image in which tampering has occurred. Detecting tampering in a digital image with hybrid large feature mining may include spatial derivative large feature mining and transform-domain large feature mining. In some embodiments, known ensemble learning techniques are employed to address high feature dimensionality. detecting inpainting forgery includes mining features of a digital image under scrutiny based on a spatial derivative, mining one or more features of the digital image in a transform-domain; and detecting inpainting forgery in the digital image under scrutiny at least in part by the features mined based on the spatial derivative and at least in part by the features mined in the transform-domain.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a personal hygiene assist system may assist an impaired user in using deodorant. The system may include a container comprising an opening on an upper first side, opposite to a lower second side. The opening may include a substantially oblong shape configured to hold at least a lower portion of a deodorant case. The lower portion of the deodorant case may include an activation mechanism which upon rotation exposes additional deodorant positioned in the deodorant case. In some embodiments, the system may include a handle coupled to a third side coupling the first and second sides. In some embodiments, the system may include an engaging mechanism positioned in the container and coupled to the handle. When the handle is rotated the engaging mechanism may engage and rotate the activation mechanism of the deodorant exposing additional deodorant positioned in the deodorant case.

Abstract: Alexandrian laurel (Danae racemosa L.) is a highly demanded evergreen shrub. However, seed germination often takes up to 12 to 18 months with a germination rate of only about 20%. Also, due to its slow-growth rate, it typically takes up to six years to produce a saleable one-gallon size plant. Germinating seeds in the presence of cytokinins and/or auxins increased in vitro shoot multiplication and seedling quality enhancement. Benzyladenine was found to balance seedling development by simultaneously accelerating shoot growth and slowing down root growth, whereas thidiazuron significantly promoted shoot multiplication and proliferation by producing 5-30 shoots per seed.

Abstract: Vanillin and vanillyl alcohol were modified into methacrylated derivatives. The structures of vanillin-based monomers were characterized by NMR and FTIR. Renewable polymers were prepared from these vanillin-based monomers. The effects of structure and functionality of the vanillin-based monomers on the thermo-mechanical properties of the resulting polymers were investigated and discussed. Polymers from methacrylated vanillyl alcohol (MVA) demonstrated greater storage moduli, higher glass transition temperatures, and thermal resistance than those from methacrylated vanillin (MV) because of the different functionalities of their monomers.

Abstract: A method for installing an in situ, low-permeability temporary horizontal barrier at depth for vertical containment of a soil mass including installing a low permeability vertical barrier having walls located to contain a predetermined soil volume, the vertical barrier having a horizontal surface area in a plane perpendicular to its walls; and injecting low permeability reagents capable of forming a temporary horizontal barrier in a pattern suitable for creating a horizontal subsurface barrier joined to all of the vertical barrier walls to form an in situ barrier.

Abstract: A method of synthesizing a mixed-halide perovskite is disclosed herein. The method includes the steps of mixing a first single-halide perovskite and a second single-halide perovskite to form a solid phase mixture and heating the solid phase mixture at a temperature below a first decomposition temperature of the first single-halide perovskite and below a second decomposition temperature of the second single-halide perovskite for a time sufficient to form the mixed-halide perovskite. During the mixing, the first and second single-halide perovskite are both in the solid phase. A mixed-halide perovskite made according to the method is also disclosed herein. The mixed-halide perovskite is free of amorphous and/or semicrystalline phases. The mixed-halide perovskite can be utilized in a photovoltaic cell in a solar panel.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting radiation energy includes a first comparator coupled to a first voltage source applying a first threshold voltage to the first comparator. The apparatus includes a second comparator, a radiation detector, Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC), and control circuitry. The second comparator is coupled to a second voltage source applying a second threshold voltage to the second comparator. The radiation detector is coupled to the first and second comparators. The ADC has a first input coupled to the detector, and is responsive to a second input for placing it in a low-power mode. The control circuitry is coupled to outputs of the comparators and the ADC, and the control circuitry temporarily switches the ADC from the low-power mode to a normal operating mode to perform a peak measurement of detected radiation energy, and determine the first and second threshold voltages based on the peak measurement.

Abstract: Mutant fibroblast growth factor (FGF) proteins having a polypeptide sequence with a high sequence identity to proteins encoded by members of the Fgf-1 subfamily of genes from a mammalian species, such as human, and with a specific amino acid substitution of an alanine at a position corresponding to amino acid position 66 of human FGF-1 with a cysteine and/or a specific amino acid substitution of a phenylalanine at a position corresponding to amino acid position 132 of human FGF-1 with a tryptophan (based on the 140 amino acid numbering scheme of human FGF-1) are provided. Other amino acid mutations or substitutions may be combined. Polynucleotide sequences encoding the mutant FGF proteins and host cells containing such polynucleotide sequences are provided. Methods of administering a mutant FGF protein to an individual to treat an ischemic condition or disease or a wound or tissue injury are also provided.

Abstract: Applicants have discovered a novel induction method for inducing digital dermatitis lesions consistent with the natural disease process. Applicants have prepared a consortium including a macerated tissue culture that may be used in the method as well as a novel inoculation procedure. The consortia of microbes includes isolates of Treponema phagedenis, Porphorymonas, and Bacteroides and the invention includes use of these novel isolates in preventing and treating digital dermatitis. The invention can be used to screen, test or compare the relative efficacy of various drugs and biologics for use in treatment or control of digital dermatitis.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the invention provide a method comprising treating a hydroxy-carboxylic acid compound with a compound of formula (I) in the absence of a solvent, to provide a diacid of formula (II), wherein R is a linker molecule; wherein each Y is independently a leaving group; and wherein X is a residue of a biologically active compound.

Abstract: The invention relates to microfluidic devices and array disks for “one-pot” isolated chemical reactions. The array disks comprise a plurality of sectors in which each sector comprises one microfluidic device. The microfluidic devices comprise a fluid delivery channel and an array of wells wherein the fluid delivery channel delivery fluid into the wells in a serpentine arrangement. In some embodiments, the fluid delivery channel is directly above the array of wells. In other embodiments, the fluid delivery channel is offset from the array of wells so that side channels branching from the fluid delivery channel delivers fluid into the wells. The well of the microfluidic device comprises a gas-permeable membrane that forms the floor, well, or at least a portion of the floor or wall of the well. In preferred embodiments, the well is cylindrical.

Abstract: A radiation detection system is disclosed comprising of number of detector elements arranged in a regular pattern that allows for directional information to be collected based on the number of radiation interaction events in each detection element. This system is mounted to an unmanned vehicle. In some embodiments, this information is used by the motion control unit of the unmanned vehicle to guide its movement toward a radiation source. A radiation spectrometer, also integrated in the detection system, is able to identify radiation sources.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are folded sheets of material for use as a structural member and assembly thereof. According to an aspect, a sheet of material defines one or more tabs, slots, and a plurality of fold lines. The fold lines are spaced such that folding the sheet along the fold lines places the slots in substantial alignment for receiving the at least one tab such that a structural member having a web formed in an interior thereof is formed.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for the delivery of gas bubbles to liquids are generally described. The devices can include a primary conduit comprising a plurality of openings fluidically connecting an internal flow pathway of the primary conduit to an environment outside the primary conduit. The devices may also include, in some instances, a secondary conduit located at least partially within the primary conduit, the secondary conduit configured to redistribute the pressure of the gas delivered to the openings of the primary conduit, and comprising a plurality of openings fluidically connecting an internal flow pathway of the secondary conduit to a portion of the internal flow pathway of the primary conduit outside the secondary conduit. Certain of the gas delivery systems and methods described herein are capable of delivering gas at relatively uniform linear flow velocities across multiple gas outlet openings. Certain embodiments are related to inventive configurations (e.g.

Abstract: A new and distinct Berberis cultivar named ‘NCBX1’ is disclosed, characterized by glossy purple foliage and a very compact plant habit. Plants have no observed female fertility. The new variety is a Berberis, normally produced as an outdoor garden plant.