Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for deep reinforcement learning-based irrigation control to maintain or increase crop yield and/or other desired crop status, and/or reduce water use. One or more computing devices can be configured to determine an amount of water to be applied to at least one crop in at least one of a plurality of irrigation management zones through execution of a deep reinforcement learning routine. Further, the computing devices can determine a start time and an end time to be applied to the at least one of the plurality of irrigation management zones based at least in part on the amount of water determined by the deep reinforcement learning module. Finally, the computing devices can instruct an irrigation system to apply irrigation to the at least one of the plurality of irrigation management zones in accordance with the start time and the end time.

Abstract: A method of electrochemical exfoliation, may include: electrochemically exfoliating a parent material comprising coke, wherein the electrochemically exfoliating comprises introducing the parent material into a porous chamber, applying pressure to the porous chamber to thereby compress the parent material in the porous chamber, and applying a potential bias to the parent material while at least a portion of the parent material is in contact with an electrolyte solution to produce a mixture of exfoliated material and unexfoliated parent material, wherein the exfoliated material comprises exfoliated graphene; and separating at least a portion of the exfoliated material from the unexfoliated parent material.

Abstract: An embolectomy device comprised of an expansion unit and a support unit is disclosed. The expansion unit can be actuated in response to one or more external stimuli, and the support unit, located proximately to the expansion unit, provides a force to hold the expansion unit in place and to further induce the expansion unit's radial expansion. The radial expansion of the expansion unit causes the expansion unit to physically contact a blood clot, enabling the blood clot to be removed. In some embodiments, the expansion unit can be fabricated from a shape memory polymer foam. In some embodiments the support unit can be fabricated from any elastic material including, without limitation, shape memory alloys.

Abstract: An embodiment includes a system comprising: an iodine containing thermoset open-cell shape memory polymer (SMP) foam that is x-ray visible; wherein (a) the SMP foam is configured to expand from a compressed secondary state to an expanded primary state in response to thermal stimulus, (b) the SMP foam is a poly(urethane-urea-amide). Other embodiments are described herein.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and composition including vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, polyclonal antibodies, chimeric molecule of an extracellular fibrinogen binding protein (Efb) and targeted agent delivery pharmaceutical composition comprising at least a portion of a modified N-terminus region, at least a portion of a modified C-terminus region, or both, wherein the modified extracellular fibrinogen binding protein results in inhibiting the fibrinogen binding, C3 binding, or both or administering to a subject a pharmacologically effective amount of a vaccine in a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, comprising a modified extracellular fibrinogen binding protein comprising at least a portion of a modified N-terminus region, at least a portion of a modified C-terminus region, or both, wherein the modified extracellular fibrinogen binding protein results in not shielding the staphylococcus bacterium from recognition by a phagocytic receptor.

Abstract: A system for monitoring one or more physiological parameters includes a plurality of patches positionable at a plurality of locations on a surface of a body, wherein the plurality of patches are electrically isolated from each other, wherein a first patch of the plurality of patches includes a transmitter configured to inject an electrical signal into the body at a first location on the surface of the body, and wherein a second patch of the plurality of patches includes a sensor configured to detect a bio-impedance signal at a second location on the surface of the body that is spaced from the first location, and wherein the bio-impedance signal is induced within the body by the electrical signal injected from the first patch which is electrically isolated from the second patch.

Abstract: A surgical device for identification of a surgical site of interest, such as a craniofacial or dental site (root apex of an identified tooth), and a method for using the device is provided. The device includes a perimeter bar and a plurality of intermediate cross bars arranged in a grid structure. The device can be used during a surgical procedure requiring enhanced precision, such as during an endodontic surgical procedure, by positioning the device next to a patient's tooth and capturing a CBCT image, the CBCT image being used to identify a drilling location. The device can be repositioned alongside the patient's tooth, and used to identify an accurate drilling position.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for cracking liquid hydrocarbon materials into light hydrocarbon fractions using a carrier gas including methane and hydrogen.

Abstract: A method for performing object occlusion is disclosed. The method includes capturing an image of a physical item, determining a location and an orientation of a first virtual item with an augmented reality registration function; generating an augmented reality image, wherein the augmented reality image comprises a rendering of the first virtual item in the image using a first rendering function to depict the location and orientation of the first virtual item in the image and a rendering of a second virtual item in the image with a second rendering function; displaying the augmented reality image, wherein occlusion of the first virtual item by the physical item is shown in the augmented reality image based on occlusion of the first virtual item by the second virtual item wherein the first virtual item depicts a next step in the step-by-step instructions for the assembly.

Abstract: A projectile-launched aircraft system includes a projectile launcher including a triggering mechanism, a rotary-wing, hover-capable aircraft including a rotor assembly that includes at least one rotor blade, wherein the rotor blade includes a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration that is circumferentially spaced from the stowed configuration about a pivot axis, wherein, upon actuation of the triggering mechanism, the projectile launcher is configured to launch the aircraft along a flightpath.

Abstract: Vaccine compositions including a yeast comprising an immunostimulatory polypeptide and optionally an antigenic polypeptide are provided herein. The immunostimulatory polypeptide and the antigenic polypeptide are expressed or displayed on the surface of the yeast vaccine composition. Methods of using the vaccine composition to vaccinate subjects are also provided.

Abstract: An embodiment includes a system comprising: a substrate of a medical device; an un-foamed polyurethane coating directly contacting the substrate and fixedly attached to the substrate; a thermoset polyurethane shape memory polymer (SMP) foam, having first and second states, which directly contacts the polyurethane coating and fixedly attaches to the polyurethane coating; wherein the polyurethane coating fixedly attaches the SMP foam to the substrate. Other embodiments are described herein.

Abstract: Vaccine vectors and methods of using the vaccine vectors to enhance the immune response to an Apicomplexan parasite and reduce the morbidity or mortality associated with subsequent infection are provided herein. The vaccine vectors include a polynucleotide encoding a Rhomboid polypeptide and optionally include an immune-stimulatory polypeptide suitably expressed on the surface of the vaccine vector.

Abstract: Systems and methods for removing heavy metals such as selenium from wastewater with zero valent iron media. Air may be introduced directly into a reaction zone of a fluidized bed reactor filled with the media to catalyze treatment.

Abstract: A method and system for decoding low density parity check (“LDPC”) codes. An LDPC code decoder includes LDPC decoding circuitry comprising a Q message generator and a P sum adder array. The Q message generator combines an R message from a previous iteration with a P message to produce a Q message. The P sum adder array adds the P message to a difference of an R message from a current iteration and the R message from the previous iteration to produce an updated P message.

Abstract: A hydro-electrochemical power generator includes an interlayer having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, a first electrode in contact with the first end of the interlayer, wherein the first electrode includes a first material that is a corrodible metallic material, a second electrode in contact with the second end of the interlayer, wherein the second electrode includes a second material that is a corrodible metallic material, and at least one heat source coupled to one of the first electrode and the second electrode and configured to apply a temperature gradient across the first end and the second end of the interlayer, and wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are configured to output a non-zero electrical voltage in response to the application of the temperature gradient.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a first data frame and a second data frame from a communication channel; decoding the first data frame using a first portion of an extended parity-check matrix (PCM); and decoding the second data frame using a second portion of the extended PCM. The first portion is a subset of the second portion.

Abstract: A coating for protecting a substrate from corrosion includes a first layer having a first composition applied on the substrate. The coating has a thickness of at least 0.5 ?m. The first composition includes an intercalated mixture of a polymer and a clay according to a formula of (Px/C1-x)v, where v comprises a volume of the intercalated mixture applied to the substrate.

Abstract: A vehicular warning system includes a plurality of input devices. A computing unit is electrically coupled to the input system. An input preprocessing classifies signals received from the plurality of input devices into Vehicle information, Roadway information, Traffic information, and eXogenous information (“VRT-X”) data structure. The early warning processing unit observes the VRT-X signal provided by the input preprocessing unit corresponding to an environment surrounding a vehicle, predicts future changes in the environment over a dynamically-configured range, and determines signal properties in both time and frequency domain over a moving window. Based on defined early warning classification rules, the computing unit assigns a threat level to the VRT-X signal corresponding to the environment surrounding the vehicle.

Abstract: ‘TAES 5701’ is an F1 hybrid bluegrass with exceptional turfgrass quality, establishment rate, seasonal color, shoot density, fine leaf texture, and ability to persist under a range of environmental stresses typically encountered in the southern United States.