Abstract: Aspects of the invention include a method of producing a cement material comprising step of: first reacting a calcium-bearing starting material with a first acid to produce an aqueous first calcium salt; second reacting the aqueous first calcium salt with a second acid to produce a solid second calcium salt; wherein the second acid is different from the first acid and the second calcium salt is different from the first calcium salt; and thermally treating the second calcium salt to produce a first cement material. Preferably, but not necessarily, during the second reacting step, reaction between the first calcium salt and the second acid regenerates the first acid.

Abstract: A lacrimal tear flow measurement device, and methods of manufacture and use, are described that includes a polymer microcapillary tube or similar structure having at least one end coated on the outside with soft silicone rubber and one end treated on the inside to be hydrophobic. The hydrophobic end keeps liquid from escaping or entering that end while allowing air to pass. The rest of the tube's insides may be hydrophilic or a neutral hydrophobe. As a Schirmer's test strip replacement, the entrance end of the device can be touched to the lacrimal lake of a patient's eye to collect suck up, or merely collect, tear fluid within the collection tube for weighing, volume measurement, or other analysis. Long-term collection devices for wear between doctors' visits can have a bypass channel allowing liquid to flow back onto the eye.

Abstract: A sample preparation module accepts a sample including a target analyte. The sample preparation module processes the sample through several reaction chambers and a solid phase column. Different reagents are present in the reaction chambers. The eluted analyte is then transferred to the amplification module, where it is further processed and amplified for optical analysis.

Abstract: Communication systems and methods in accordance with various embodiments of the invention utilize modulation on zeros. Carrier frequency offsets (CFO) can result in an unknown rotation of all zeros of a received signal's z-transform. Therefore, a binary MOCZ scheme (BMOCZ) can be utilized in which the modulated binary data is encoded using a cycling register code (e.g. CPC or ACPC), enabling receivers to determine cyclic shifts in the BMOCZ symbol resulting from a CFO. Receivers in accordance with several embodiments of the invention include decoders capable of decoding information bits from received discrete-time baseband signals by: estimating a timing offset for the received signal; determining a plurality of zeros of a z-transform of the received symbol; identifying zeros from the plurality of zeros that encode received bits by correcting fractional rotations resulting from the CFO; and decoding information bits based upon the received bits using a cycling register code.

Abstract: A process may obtain a design for an erodible support structure and a part. A process may use an additive manufacturing process to manufacture the part and the erodible support structure, wherein the erodible support structure is configured to mechanically support the part during the additive manufacturing process, and wherein the erodible support structure has elevated porosity compared to the part and is erodible by mechanical and chemical means.

Abstract: The application of a step function increase in acoustic pressure during ultrasound imaging using gas vesicle contrast, along with capturing successive frames of ultrasound imaging and extracting time-series vectors for pixels of the frames, allows for improved imaging down to even the cell level. Template vectors can be used to implement signal separation of the time-series vectors to improve detection.

Abstract: A computer-implemented, machine learning-based method of converting an unstructured technical report into a structured technical report includes obtaining an unstructured technical report, tokenizing the unstructured technical report into an n-gram array, identifying and filtering non-interesting n-grams from the first n-gram array based on common language usage of the non-interesting n-grams and a determination that the non-interesting n-grams do not appear on a confirmed technical entity database, generating and displaying a technical entity candidate list from the filtered n-gram array, displaying, obtaining, from a pattern matching model and/or a graphical user interface, an indication that a technical entity candidate is a technical entity of interest, appending the technical entity of interest to the confirmed technical entity database, generating and displaying a structured technical report with the confirmed technical entities and corresponding technical entity value parameters, and iterating the proc

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods of phase-sensitive compressed ultrafast photography (pCUP). In some embodiments, a pCUP system comprises: a dark-field imaging system, and a compressed ultrafast photography (CUP system). The dark-field imaging system may comprise a laser source configured to illuminate the subject with a laser pulse; and a beam block configured to pass laser light scattered by the subject as a first series of phase images and block laser light not scattered by the subject. The CUP system may comprise: a spatial encoding module configured to receive the first series of phase images and to produce a second series of spatially encoded phase images; and a streak camera configured to receive the second series of spatially encoded phase images, to deflect each spatially encoded phase image by a temporal deflection distance, and to integrate the deflected phase images into a single raw CUP image.

Abstract: Systems and methods for model-free safety control of robotic platforms in accordance with embodiments of the invention are illustrated. One embodiment includes a robot, including a set of one or more actuators, and at least one sensor. The robot further includes a controller including a set of one or more processors and a memory including a controller application, where the controller application configures the set of processors to control the robot by performing the steps of defining a safe set identifying positions where the robot is safe, determining a control barrier function (CBF) based on the safe set, computing a safe velocity based on the CBF and a current position of the robot such that the robot remains in the safe set, and instructing the robot to track to the safe velocity.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring characteristics of an electric energy device includes generating an external short from the electric energy device. The external short occurs at a known distance from a sensor and has at least one known external resistance. The received signal representing change in electromagnetic field due to the applied external short may be analyzed to determine a signal parameter that is then analyzed in comparison to a lookup table, based on the known conditions including distance, temperature and the external resistance. The output of this analyses in comparison with expected values may be utilized to identify a characteristic of the energy device.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to olefin metathesis catalyst compounds, to the preparation of such compounds, compositions comprising such compounds, methods of using such compounds, articles of manufacture comprising such compounds, and the use of such compounds in the metathesis of olefins and olefin compounds. The invention has utility in the fields of catalysts, organic synthesis, polymer chemistry, and industrial and fine chemicals industry.

Abstract: A ballistically launched foldable multirotor vehicle has a central body frame. A battery is located in an upper vertical location of the vehicle and positions a center of mass of the vehicle to provide aerodynamic stability during a launch. Fins are attached to the central body frame such that aerodynamic forces on the fins shift an aerodynamic center (AC) of the vehicle downward below the center of mass of the vehicle. Three or more foldable arms are attached to the central body frame via a hinge and exist in two states—a closed state where the foldable arms are parallel to a central body axis, and an open state (after launch) where the foldable arms extend radially outward perpendicular to the central body axis. Rotors mounted to each foldable arm are controlled by a motor to enable flight.

Abstract: Disclosed herein, inter alia, are compositions and methods for inhibiting DNA2.

Abstract: A sensor system including an optical fiber comprising a first spatial channel and a second spatial channel, wherein the spatial channels are coupled and electromagnetic radiation propagates with different group velocities in each of the spatial channels. The sensor system further includes a source inputting the electromagnetic radiation into the first spatial channel at an input; and a detection system coupled to an output of the fiber, the detection system including a detector detecting transmission of the electromagnetic radiation coupled into the second spatial channel at different positions along the fiber between the input to the output, and generating a signal in response thereto; and a computer processing the signal to obtain a localized measurement of a physical parameter at one or more of the different positions along the fiber.

Abstract: A macromolecular mechanophore platform that undergoes a mechanically gated chromogenic reaction in the presence of an extrinsic small molecule developing reagent is described, along with methods of synthesis and use thereof in different scenarios. The platform comprises a hetero-Diels Alder adduct embedded into a polymer, wherein the hetero-Diels Alder adduct masks an activated furan, and wherein the activated furan is released from the platform upon application of mechanical force, to react with the developing reagent comprising a secondary amine of choice to produce colored species with photoswitch capabilities. The platform can be used in solution or in solid state, and different colors can be obtained for the same platform, since the color of the generated product is determined by the choice of the developing reagent. Incorporating the platform into polymeric materials enables multicolor mechanical lithography by sequential application of mechanical force and different developing reagents.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides engineered enzymes and methods for preparing tyrosine and tyrosine analogs from a donor amino acid and phenols in a single step. Also disclosed are methods to engineer enzymes having such ‘tyrosine synthase’ activity, starting from the beta-subunit of a tryptophan synthase (TrpB).

Abstract: In some embodiments, a heat transfer device can include a case configured to receive at least one thermal element. The case can include an integrated oscillating heat pipe. The integrated oscillating heat pipe can be integrated into at least one wall of the case. The heat transfer device can further include a heatsink element. The heatsink element is in contact with at least one wall of the case. The integrated oscillating heat pipe can have two or more layers, and can extend in three dimensions.

Abstract: An actively controlled deployment mechanism with a plurality of centrally controlled rollers as well as outer rollers that are configured to apply a pressure across the compactable portion of the deployable structure. The active control can be implemented though control motors and control loops programed to control the rotation of the rollers. Additionally, the actively controlled deployment reduces the need for bulky and heavy booms with high tension guide wires for the deployment of the structure.

Abstract: Methods and alloy systems for non-Be BMG matrix composite materials that can be used to additively manufacturing parts with superior mechanical properties, especially high toughness and strength, are provided. Alloys are directed to BMGMC materials comprising a high strength BMG matrix reinforced with properly scaled, soft, crystalline metal dendrite inclusions dispersed throughout the matrix in a sufficient concentration to resist fracture.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to hydrosilyl amines and fluorosilyl amines and methods of making the same.