Abstract: Neuromorphic computational circuitry is disclosed that includes a cross point resistive network and line control circuitry. The cross point resistive network includes variable resistive units. One set of the variable resistive units is configured to generate a correction line current on a conductive line while other sets of the variable resistive units generate resultant line currents on other conductive lines. The line control circuitry is configured to receive the line currents from the conductive lines and generate digital vector values. Each of the digital vector values is provided in accordance with a difference between the current level of a corresponding resultant line current and a current level of the correction line current. In this manner, the digital vector values are corrected by the current level of the correction line current in order to reduce errors resulting from finite on to off conductance state ratios.

Abstract: An algal growth system can include a frame and a flexible sheet material that can have a substantially vertical orientation, where the flexible sheet material can facilitate the growth and attachment of algae, where the flexible sheet material can be supported by the frame.

Abstract: A miniature Hall current plasma source apparatus having magnetic shielding of the walls from ionized plasma, an integrated discharge channel and gas distributor, an instant-start hollow cathode mounted to the plasma source, and an externally mounted keeper, is described. The apparatus offers advantages over other Hall current plasma sources having similar power levels, including: lower mass, longer lifetime, lower part count including fewer power supplies, and the ability to be continuously adjustable to lower average power levels using pulsed operation and adjustment of the pulse duty cycle. The Hall current plasma source can provide propulsion for small spacecraft that either do not have sufficient power to accommodate a propulsion system or do not have available volume to incorporate the larger propulsion systems currently available. The present low-power Hall current plasma source can be used to provide energetic ions to assist the deposition of thin films in plasma processing applications.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to therapeutic compositions comprising recombinant bacteria. Further, the disclosure elaborates upon methods of utilizing the taught therapeutic compositions to treat autoimmune and inflammatory disease. The present teachings also relate to the disclosed recombinant bacteria and methods of producing the recombinant bacteria utilized in the compositions and methods. Further taught herein are dietary supplements and food additive compositions comprising the taught recombinant bacteria.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining information associated with a forming operation involving a manufacturing machine having a tool that contacts material. The method also includes simulating deformation of the material based on the information. Simulating the deformation of the material includes using discontinuity layout optimization to evaluate combinations of shear planes within an initial structure of the material, predict a mode of deformation comprising one or more of the shear planes along which the initial structure of the material will likely deform, and calculate a deformed shape of the material after an increment of deformation along the predicted mode of deformation. Simulating the deformation of the material also includes repeating the discontinuity layout optimization with the deformed shape of the material as the initial structure.

Abstract: Articles are provided for absorbing fluids. In embodiments, the articles of the present disclosure are modified to make them hydrophobic, thereby decreasing their affinity for water and similar liquids, while increasing their affinity for other hydrophobic materials, including oil. After use, the articles, in embodiments polyurethane sponges, may have their absorbed materials removed therefrom, and the articles may then be reused to absorb additional materials.

Abstract: The method of the present disclosure is directed towards the formation of a three-dimensional carbon structure and includes the steps of adding a radical initiator to an amount of carbon starting material, forming a mixture, placing the mixture in a mold, maintaining the mixture and the mold at an elevated temperature for a period of time to form a thermally cross-linked molded mixture and removing the thermally cross-linked molded mixture from the mold. The disclosure also includes a three-dimensional carbon structure, with that structure including a thermally cross-linked carbon base material in a predetermined formation.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for determining and evaluating the in vitro-in vivo activity relationship of the efficacy of families of compounds for infectious diseases such as tuberculosis. The validity of the methods can be confirmed by evaluation of the compounds in animal models, for example, in murine models of tuberculosis. Examples of families of antibacterial compounds that can be evaluated for in vivo efficacy using the in vitro methods described herein include benzimidazoles, pyridopyrazines, pteridines, diphenyl ethers, beta-lactams, PBP inhibitors, and compounds that are non-ribonucleic acid and protein synthesis inhibitors. The methods can be used to evaluate classes of small molecule compounds and inhibitors that may be effective against any bacterial pathogen.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a real-time baseline correction technique for infrared time-resolved photoluminescence are disclosed.

Abstract: D-serine is used to treat a neurological disorder, such as epilepsy, that cases seizures. A composition comprising D-serine is artificially administered to a patient in an effective amount by selectively contacting a region of the patient's brain with the composition. The region of the brain selectively contacted with the composition has cells expressing GluN3 subunit-containing triheteromeric NMDARs.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermoplastic block copolymer comprising at least one PA block and at least one PB block. The PA block represents a polymer block comprising one or more units of monomer A, and the PB block represents a polymer block comprising one or more units of monomer B. Monomer A is a vinyl, acrylic, diolefin, nitrile, dinitrile, acrylonitrile monomer, a monomer with reactive functionality, or a crosslinking monomer. Monomer B is a radically polymerizable triglyceride or mixtures thereof, typically in the form of a plant or animal oil. The present invention also relates to a method of preparing a thermoplastic block copolymer or novel thermoplastic statistical copolymers by polymerizing a radically polymerizable monomer with a radically polymerizable triglyceride or mixtures thereof via reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer polymerization (RAFT), in the presence of an free radical initiator and a chain transfer agent.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for fabricating buckypaper or similar sheets of nanostructures having relatively high aspect ratios. A dispersion of nanostructures such as nanotubes is subjected to fluid dynamics/forces which promote alignment of their axes of elongation while in suspension in the flow. An agglomeration of better aligned nanostructures is isolated from the carrier fluid into a useable form. In the case of nanotubes, one form is buckypaper. One example of alignment forces is Taylor-Couette flow shear forces. One example of isolation is filtering the flowing dispersion to collect better aligned nanostructures across the filter into a sheet or film. The degree of alignment can produce anisotropic material properties that can be beneficially used in application of the sheet or film.

Abstract: The present invention includes a new type of bait for wood-targeting pest baiting systems and methods of obtaining the bait. Certain embodiments of the present invention include a blue-stained wood either treated with a solution that includes blue-stain fungi or wood naturally infected with blue-stain fungi. Additional embodiments of the present invention include a blue-stained solution that may be applied to a wood substrate or to a non-wood bait matrix.

Abstract: A system for automatically determining a thickness of a wall of an artery of a subject includes an ECG monitoring device that captures an electrocardiogram (ECG) signal from the subject, and an ultrasound video imaging device, coupled to the ECG monitoring device, that receives the ECG signal from the ECG monitoring device, and captures a corresponding ultrasound video of the wall of the artery of the subject. The system produces a plurality of frames of video comprising the ultrasound video of the wall of the artery of the subject and an image of the ECG signal. A processor is configured to select a subset of the plurality of frames of the ultrasound video based on the image of the (ECG) signal, locate automatically a region of interest (ROI) in each frame of the subset of the plurality of frames of the video using a machine-based artificial neural network and measure automatically a thickness of the wall of the artery in each ROI using the machine-based artificial neural network.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to flexible thermoelectric devices. In some embodiments, such devices can comprise a flexible substrate with a first conductive component and a second, different conductive component deposited thereon so as to form a plurality of electrical junctions. The flexible substrate can be a fabric, and the conductive component can be deposited by methods such as stitching of conductive yarns or deposition of conductive inks. The present disclosure further relates to methods of preparing flexible thermoelectric devices and methods of utilizing flexible thermoelectric devices for producing electrical current from waste heat.

Abstract: Implantable passive engineered mechanisms and a method for implanting such devices in a subject are described. The implantable passive engineered mechanism may be made of or comprise a biocompatible material and is appropriately sized for implantation in a subject. Exemplary implantable passive engineered mechanisms may be selected from a strut, a pulley, a lever, a compliant mechanism, a scissor lift, a tendon network, springs, planetary gears, rigid or soft hydraulics, a linkage system, a cam/clutch system, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments the system comprises plural inserts, such as pulleys, levers, and/or tendon networks. Plural inserts may be arranged hierarchically to distribute force differentially from an input to one or more outputs.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compounds of formula I: and salts thereof. Also disclosed are compositions comprising of compounds of formula I and methods using compounds of formula I.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a spiral shaped element and wavy suture are disclosed for use in a shock mitigating material to dissipate the energy associated with the impact of an object. The shock mitigating material can be used in helmets, bumpers, bulletproof vests, mats, pads, military armor, and other applications. One embodiment, among others, is a shock mitigating material having spiral shaped elements, each having a circular cross section and each being tapered from a large outside end to a small inside end but also having a suture or sutures that can induce shear waves to mitigate the shock pressure and impulse. Another embodiment is a shock mitigating material having sutures (wavy gaps or wavy materials). In this embodiment when the material is impacted, the wavy gap or material will induce a mechanism in shear to dissipate the impact energy.

Abstract: A splash prevention apparatus is disclosed. The splash prevention apparatus may be placed on a surface to capture satellite droplets that would result from a liquid impinging upon the surface. The splash prevention device is designed to be particularly effective when used inside a urinal to capture impinging urine. In embodiments, a splash prevention device includes a planar base pad, which may be designed to either fit the shape of the base of a urinal or to resemble other easily recognizable shapes. In embodiments, a pillar array extends from the planar base pad and the pillars may be made of a material that will bend when impinged upon by a stream of urine. Both the base pad and pillar array of a splash prevention device may be formed from rigid or deformable material. The pillar array may be arranged in a Cartesian or non-Cartesian pattern.

Abstract: Some embodiments include a method. The method can include: providing a carrier substrate; forming a first device material over the carrier substrate; and after forming the first device material over the carrier substrate, transforming the first device material into a second device material. Meanwhile, the transforming the first device material into the second device material can include: causing a cationic exchange in the first device material; and causing an anionic exchange in the first device material. The causing the cationic exchange in the first device material and the causing the anionic exchange in the first device material can occur approximately simultaneously. Other embodiments of related methods and systems are also disclosed.