Abstract: A flexible electronic device (SED) that can conform to a three-dimensional structure, and methods for manufacturing the SED, are disclosed herein. The SED comprises a flexible substrate which is modified in accordance with a folding pattern. The flexible substrate can be folded or unfolded along crease lines of the folding pattern, and the largest deformations of the substrate are localized at the crease lines. Various functional components of the SED are positioned on rigid regions of the substrate defined by the folding pattern. Such that the various functional components are protected from large deformations due to a folding or unfolding process, ensuring good performance of the functional components.

Abstract: A method for preparing optical fibers formed with high-particle-coated porous polymeric outer coating layer is provided. The method includes preparing a coating suspension solution by dispersing a plurality of particles into an organic solvent system, immersing one or more optical fibers into the coating suspension solution, removing the one or more optical fibers from the coating suspension solution to form high-particle-coated porous polymeric outer coating layer after drying. Concentrations and compositions of the particles in the coating suspension solution, concentrations and compositions of the organic solvent system, the period of time of immersing, or the external environment are adjusted such that the optical fibers is formed with high-particle-coated polymeric outer coating layers having desirable coating masses, coating thicknesses, or coating morphologies.

Abstract: Graphene oxide aerogel beads (GOABs) are formed that have a core/shell structure where a smooth shell covers a multi-layer core. The smooth shell and the layers of the multilayer core comprise graphene oxide or reduced graphene oxide. The GOABs can include a phase-change material encapsulated within the multi-layer core. The GOABs can be combined or decorated with Fe3O4 nanoparticles or MoS2 microflakes for various applications. The GOABs are formed from aqueous slurries of graphene oxide that is extruded as drops into an aqueous solution of a coagulant where GOABs are formed. The GOABs are washed and freeze dried, after which, the GOABs can be reduced as desired by chemical or thermal means. Impregnation can be carried out with the phase-change material.

Abstract: The antimicrobial coating material for surface coating is formed from encapsulated biocides. The biocides include at least one antimicrobial component. The biocides are encapsulated in inorganic-organic shells which are permeable to the biocides. The organic materials may include at least one nonionic polymer. The inorganic-organic shells encapsulate and contain the biocides to form capsule structures for storage and release of the biocides. The capsule structures may be single capsules or capsule-in-capsule structures. The inorganic materials may be present in a concentration of 0.5-95 wt % of the inorganic-organic shells. Alternatively, the inorganic materials may be present in a concentration of 5-60 wt %. The inorganic materials and the organic materials are each intermixed, with respect to one another, in structures of the inorganic-organic shells. These structures may be an attachment structure, a hybrid structure or a multi-layered structure.

Abstract: A method for treating cancer by using an agent which is capable of inhibiting the functionality of the MCM complex, a heterohexameric ring formed from six subunits, in the process of DNA replication and a method of screening for such agents by detecting the locations and functions of the MCM subunits, such as hMcm2 and hMcm6, in cells treated with candidate compounds.

Abstract: A shadow mask for patterned vapor deposition of an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) material includes a ceramic membrane under tensile stress with a plurality of through-apertures forming an aperture array through which a vaporized deposition material can pass. A multilayer peripheral support is attached to a rear surface with a hollow portion beneath the aperture array. A compressively-stressed interlayer balances the tensile stress of the ceramic membrane. A shadow mask module with multiple shadow masks is also provided and includes a rigid carrier having plural windows with a shadow mask positioned in each window. To make the module, shadow mask blanks are affixed to each carrier window followed by etching of apertures and support layers. In this way extremely flat masks with precise aperture patterns are formed.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a thick crack-free dielectric film on a wafer for device fabrication is disclosed herein. A stress-release pattern is fabricated in an oxide layer of the wafer, which surrounds a number of device regions. The stress-release pattern comprises a plurality of recessions, which are spaced periodically along at least one direction. The plurality of recessions interrupt the continuous film during the dielectric film deposition, to prevent cracks from forming in the dielectric film and propagating into the device regions. Such that, a thick crack-free dielectric film can be achieved in the device regions, which are formed by patterning the dielectric layer. Furthermore, conditions of the dielectric film deposition process can be tuned to ensure quality of the deposited dielectric film. Still further, a plurality of deposition runs may be performed to deposit the thick crack-free dielectric film.

Abstract: A VSR approach with temporal consistency using generative adversarial networks (VistGAN) that requires only the training HR video sequence to generate the HR/LR video frame pairs, instead of the pre-artificial-synthesized HR/LR video frame pairs, for training. By this unsupervised learning method, the encoder degrades the input HR video frames of a training HR video sequence to their LR counterparts, and the decoder seeks to recover the original HR video frames from the LR video frames. To improve the temporal consistency the unsupervised learning method provides a sliding window that explores the temporal correlation in both HR and LR domains. It keeps the temporal consistent and also fully utilizes high-frequency details from the last-generated reconstructed HR video frame.

Abstract: Provided herein are aggregation-induced emission luminogens, methods of preparation and use thereof, and devices and sensors comprising the same. The aggregation-induced emission luminogens can exhibit multi-stimuli responsive emissions.

Abstract: A system and methods are disclosed for precision placement or insertion of an object using robotic manipulation. A robotic tool includes at least three members, including a first member and a second member that grip the object between opposing faces and a third member that exerts a force on a proximate end of the object to push the object out of the robotic tool. A series of maneuvers is performed with the robotic tool in order to place the object on a surface or insert the object in a hole. The maneuvers include positioning the object against the surface, rotating the object around a contact point between the object and the surface, rotating the robotic tool around a contact point between the object and either the first or second member of the robotic tool, sliding the object horizontally along a surface, and tucking the object into a final desired position.

Abstract: Microbial disinfection is performed using continuous or intermittent lighting using one or more narrow wavelength light sources. The light sources illuminate with narrow wavelength characteristics. The lighting provides a sufficiently high intensity for rapid microbial disinfection process, while reducing the average energy consumption for microbial disinfection during the microbial disinfection process by targeting multiple cellular sites along different inactivation pathways.

Abstract: An ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) membrane has at least one nanoporous UHMWPE film, where each of the nanoporous UHMWPE film is biaxial oriented with a thickness of 0.1 to 12 ?m and pores that exclude particles in excess of 10 nm with a total porosity of 65 to 75 percent. The nanoporous UHMWPE film can be coated or laminated by a hydrophilic polymer to form a Janus membrane and can be made with a multilayer composite structure. The UHMWPE membrane can be used in a device for molecular distillation (MD), reverse osmosis (RO), or forward osmosis (FO).

Abstract: Provided are compositions and methods for controlled release of macromolecules (such as proteins and polypeptides). The composition comprises at least a first hydrogel forming polymer and at least a second hydrogel forming polymer. Also provided are methods for preparing and using the composition.

Abstract: The multilevel antimicrobial polymeric colloids as functional additives for latex coating are latex-based coatings with multilevel antimicrobial polymeric colloidal particles incorporated therein to provide antimicrobial properties. Each multilevel antimicrobial polymeric colloidal particle includes a polymer scaffold and at least one antimicrobial polymer carried on the polymer scaffold, such that the polymer scaffold and the at least one antimicrobial polymer form a hollow colloidal particle. As a non-limiting example, the polymer scaffold may be polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). As a further non-limiting example, the at least one antimicrobial polymer may be a combination of polyethyleneimine (PEI) and polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB). Each multilevel antimicrobial polymeric colloidal particle may also contain an antimicrobial core within the hollow colloidal particle.

Abstract: Frameworks and methods for generating early-warning indicators of impending nonlinear instabilities of a dynamical system are provided. In accordance with one aspect, the framework includes a data collector and a system identification (SI) modeler. The data collector is coupled to the dynamical system and collects pre-bifurcation data. The SI modeler predicts early-warning indicators of impending nonlinear instabilities using only the pre-bifurcation data and the SI modeler includes a means for extrapolating Fokker-Planck coefficients in response to the pre-bifurcation data to generate precursors to a Hopf bifurcation and/or to identify a type of the Hopf bifurcation and/or to forecast the limit-cycle oscillation (LCO) amplitudes of a post-bifurcation regime. In addition, the SI modeler predicts the locations of the Hopf bifurcation points, the type of the Hopf bifurcation and the LCO amplitudes of the post-bifurcation regime.

Abstract: Various tactile sensors and associated methods are enabled. For instance, a sensing apparatus comprises a photosensitive sensor. A compound-eye structure is on the photosensitive sensor and an elastomer layer is on the compound-eye structure. A reflective layer is on the elastomer layer, opposite the compound-eye structure and a light source emits light between the reflective layer and the compound-eye structure.

Abstract: Various foldable, or flexible, displays and associated methods are enabled. For instance, a screen comprises a first rigid display at a first end of a surface of a flexible substrate. A second rigid display is at a second end of the surface of the flexible substrate. A flexible display is on the surface of the flexible substrate, between the first rigid display and the second rigid display, wherein a first section of the flexible substrate underneath the flexible display is thicker than a second section of the flexible substrate underneath the first rigid display or the second rigid display, and the first rigid display and second rigid display, and flexible display are covered with a protective foldable layer.

Abstract: The present subject matter is directed to a luminogen exhibiting aggregation induced emission, wherein T1, T2, and T3 comprise one or more polyynes as a conjugated bridge. The present subject matter is also directed to an AIEgen comprising a hydrophilic pyridium group as a strong electron-withdrawing group; a piperazine group as an electron-donating group; and a ?-Cyanostilbene; wherein the AIEgen exhibits aggregation induced emission. The present subject matter is directed to a method of synthesizing an AIEgen and is further directed to a method of labeling comprising incubating a subject having cells with a conjugate formed by conjugating an AIEgen with an antibody; and selectively labeling desired cells by turn-on imaging, wherein labeling occurs when the desired cells are selectively stained by fluorescent emission of the AIEgen upon degradation of the antibody after cellular internalization of the conjugate through endocytosis.

Abstract: A multiport planar antenna system with digital reconfigurability to adjust a beam-steering function of the system is described herein. A substrate is provided and a grid of parasitic elements is printed on a surface of the substrate. One or more driven, radiating elements such as monopole or dipole antennas are printed on the substrate proximate the parasitic elements. Switching elements between adjacent parasitic elements are then configured to steer the radiation direction in a particular direction in the azimuth plane. The small form factor of the planar antenna system can be used in a multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) application used by fifth generation (5G) devices such as mobile phones, internet of things (IoT) devices, and vehicles.

Abstract: Provided herein are small molecular acceptor compounds containing thiophene end groups, methods for their preparation and intermediates used therein, the use of formulations containing the same as semiconductors in organic electronic devices, especially in organic photovoltaic and organic field-effect transistor devices, and to organic electronic and organic photovoltaic devices made from these formulations.