Abstract: The formation of microporous surfaces through polymer induced phase separation in a photopolymer solvent mixture using photopolymerization via light self-focusing and self-trapping. The self-trapping of light sets fixed regions of brightness and darkness, sustained by the polymerization of light, and then wave guiding within the substrate. Phase separation occurs with the solvent phase separating in the regions of darkness and crosslinking in the regions of brightness. Upon removal of the solvent, precise and uniformly dispersed pores are created in the surface. The pore size and spacing may be tuned by adjusting the weight fraction of the photopolymer solvent mixture as well as through changes in the mask pattern.

Abstract: A system and method for automated detection of figure element reuse. The system can receive articles or other publications from a user input or an automated input. The system then extracts images from the articles and compares them to reference images from a historical database. The comparison and detection of matches occurs via a copy-move detection algorithm implemented by a processor of the system. The processor first locates and extracts keypoints from a submission image and finds matches between those keypoints and the keypoints from a reference image using a near neighbor algorithm. The matches are clustered and the clusters are compared for keypoint matching. Matched clusters are further compared for detectable transformations. The processor may additionally implement natural language processing to filter matches based on the context of the use of the submission image in the submission and a patch detector for removing false positive features.

Abstract: A method of detecting and quantifying human objects in a given environment by passively observing wireless signals in an interesting environment. Information pertaining to observed wireless signals, such as wireless physical layer data and metadata, encrypted or unencrypted data and metadata in the wireless media-access control layer, and channel state information are extracted from the observed wireless signals and used to detect and quantify human objects in a location. The signals that are observed can originate from a wireless object used by a target of interest, such as cellular phone or workstations, or from infrastructure devices, such as wireless access points, IoT devices, or other transceivers. The signals can also originate from other recognizable signal sources, such as electromagnetic interference introduced by equipment such as elevator motors or microwave ovens.

Abstract: An effective dried attractive toxic bait station that acts as a lure and kill device for Ae. aegypti and other mosquitoes. The bait station is a simulated refuge at least part of which is coated with a dried mixture of poison and sugar forming a dried toxic sugar-containing bait. The simulated refuge attracts Ae. aegypti and other mosquitoes to bait station and encourages them to land on the coated portion. Once a mosquito has landed, it detects the sugar in the dried mixture of sugar and poison and ingests some of it. Once ingested, the dried mixture of poison and sugar will eventually kill the mosquito.

Abstract: A system and method for estimating the state of charge, i.e., the amount of cooling remaining, in a latent heat thermal storage module of a local environmental control system. The local environmental control system stores cooling energy at night by freezing a latent heat phase change material (PCM), and then releasing the stored cooling energy by removing heat from room air flowing through the PCM during the day. Differential temperature sensors are used measure the air temperature drop across the latent thermals storage unit and the fan voltage, which is directly related to fan air flow rate, is sampled. A controller is programmed to determine the charging state from these measurements.

Abstract: Methods and systems for characterizing two or more nucleic acids in a sample. The method can include the steps of providing a hybrid machine learning approach that enables rapid and automated deconvolution of DNA mixtures of multiple contributors. The input is analyzed by an expert system which is implemented in the form of a rule set. The rule set establishes requirements based on expectations on the biology and methods used. The methods and systems also include a machine learning algorithm that is either incorporated into the expert system, or utilizes the output of the expert system for analysis. The machine learning algorithm can be any of a variety of different algorithms or combinations of algorithms used to perform classification in a complex data environment.

Abstract: An amorphous, optically transparent, colorless shape memory assisted self-healing coating for optical glassware applications that uses a combination of surface shape memory and self-healing properties to repair damaged sites on glass substrates when exposed to a thermal stimulus. The coating includes a miscible combination of a network polymer and a linear polymer having glass transition temperate between room temperature and about 40 degrees C. The coating can be used for corrective eyewear, for windshields and windows in automobiles and motorcycles, as well for as optical coatings wherever needed.

Abstract: A system configured to characterize a ratio of contributors to a DNA mixture within a sample, the system including: a sample preparation module configured to generate initial data about the DNA mixture within the sample; a processor comprising a ratio of contributors determination module configured to: (i) receive the generated initial data; (ii) analyze the generated initial data to determine the ratio of contributors to the DNA mixture within the sample; and an output device configured to receive the determined ratio of contributors from the processor, and further configured to output information about the received determined ratio of contributors.

Abstract: A bioinspired protein pore-based nanostructure that can provide selective, real-time sampling of protein-protein interactions at single-molecule resolution. This modular nanostructure relied on a single polypeptide chain that encompassed a heavily truncated outer membrane protein, a highly flexible connector, a protein receptor element, as well as a polypeptide adapter. The presence of a protein ligand analyte in solution produced reversible binding and release events, in the form of discrete and stochastic current transitions between open substates of the transmembrane pore, the nature of which depend on both the amount of protein ligand analyte and the strength of the transient PPIs in aqueous phase.

Abstract: A system for using radio frequency (RF) communication signals to extract situational awareness information thorough deep learning. Pre-processing is performed to maximally preserve discriminating features in spatial, temporal and frequency domains. A specially designed neural network architecture is used for handling complex RF signals and extracting spatial, temporal and frequency domain information. Data collection and training is used so that the learning system desensitizes from features orthogonal to the underlying classification problem.

Abstract: Synthetic disaccharide hydrocarbons (DSHs) that reactive bacterials swarming motility and inhibit bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation. A library of DSHs were tested in several experiment for the impact on various Pseudomonas aeruginosa populations and compared against existing compounds to determine efficacy and utility. Certain DSHs were also to determine the ability to clear bacteria in a mouse pneumonia model.

Abstract: A cooling device for a heat source, such as an electronic component, has a single or set of nano- and/or micro-sized channel(s) connected to a single or multiple reservoir(s). The heat source causes nucleation within a channel, and a vapor bubble forms removing heat from the heat source via evaporation of liquid to vapor in the bubble and condensation of the generated vapor at the cooler ends of the bubble. Thus, the channel operates as a passive heat pipe and removes heat from the source by passively circulating the cooling fluid between the vapor bubble and the reservoir(s).

Abstract: A structural shape memory assisted self-healing polymer formed by laminating thin layers of an ionomer, such as a member of the poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS) family of ionomers, with a WEGP-type SMP, such as atactic poly(styrene) (PS) with molecular weight in the 200 kDa range (or alternatively poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)) in combination with polycyclooctene (PCO). The self-healing polymer may also comprise an interpenetrating, immiscible polymer network (IPN) based on a blend of polystyrene and polystyrene sulfonate (PSS).

Abstract: A quantum computing transducer having a dense, tunable superconducting metamaterial transmission line (SMTL) spectrum that can resonantly enhance sideband scattering. The resonant enhancement of scattering boosts the scattering rate, and hence also the microwave-to-optical-interface (MOQI) transduction efficiency. Moreover, the integration of mechanical elements with the SMTL to realize the MOQI yields a platform that can be readily interfaced on chip, such as in an integrated circuit, with superconducting-qubit architectures to facilitate the local implementation of two of the essential functionalities required for a quantum repeater, i.e., data egress/ingress and a quantum processing module.

Abstract: A system configured to characterize a ratio of contributors to a DNA mixture within a sample, the system including: a sample preparation module configured to generate initial data about the DNA mixture within the sample; a processor comprising a ratio of contributors determination module configured to: (i) receive the generated initial data; (ii) analyze the generated initial data to determine the ratio of contributors to the DNA mixture within the sample; and an output device configured to receive the determined ratio of contributors from the processor, and further configured to output information about the received determined ratio of contributors.

Abstract: A metallo-dielectric waveguide array used as an encapsulation material for silicon solar cells. The array is produced through light-induced self-writing combined with in situ photochemical synthesis of silver nanoparticles. Each waveguide comprises a cylindrical core consisting of a high refractive index polymer and silver nanoparticles homogeneously dispersed in its medium, all of which are surrounded by a low refractive index common cladding. These waveguide array films are processed directly over a silicon solar cell.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and compositions useful in the treatment and/or prevention of a disease or indication associated with accumulation of a bisretinoid, for example A2E. In many embodiments, the disclosed methods and compositions are useful in treating an eye disease, for example macular degeneration.

Abstract: The use of lipids in the taper junction or other metal on metal interface of a modular orthopedic implant to prevent fretting corrosion and increase the pull off load. The incorporation of lipids or a lipid-like substrate within the taper junction increases the onset load and decreases the amount of corrosion. The incorporation of lipids also increases the pull-off load necessary to separate the head from the neck. As a result, the use of lipids in the taper junction of an orthopedic implant should reduce the need for revisions of implants, such as such as knee and hip replacements, which are often needed because of fretting corrosion.

Abstract: A micro environmental control system that can remove or add 30W from or to the near range personal microenvironment of a user. For cooling, the ?X uses a micro vapor compression system during the un-occupied period to freeze a phase-change-material in a thermal storage module. A fan then moves air over the phase-change-material to deliver cooled air. Heating is delivered by a small electric heater integrated into a condensing unit. The resulting system is inexpensive to build and uses a limited amount of energy.

Abstract: A communication system that minimizes the transmission of pilot symbols while ensuring real-time channel tracking and symbol detection. The system employs a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) transmitter-receiver pair where there are many more receive antennas than transmit antennas. Communication occurs over a wide band RF channel via orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) that employs a large number of sub-carriers.