Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming vascular-like channels involves liquid-in-liquid 3D printing utilizing two polymer solutions used as a printing ink and a matrix. Anionic polyacrylamide (APAM) is one of the polymer solutions and acts as the matrix material. Chitosan is the other polymer solution and acts as the printing ink. The chitosan printing ink is extruded through a print nozzle of a 3D printer onto the APAM matrix which covers the bottom of a petri dish while the nozzle is moved in a desired pattern for the channels. The chitosan and APAM polymer complexes self-assemble on the ink-matrix interface, locking chitosan polymers inside the matrix before they can spread and causing the formation of soft elastic membranous walls. The chitosan ink and APAM matrix can be removed after the polymer complex self-assembly. The printed chamber with membranous walls allows for liquid infusion to work as fluidic channels.

Abstract: A hard optical film, a method for producing the same and use thereof. The film is an optical film with a nano-dual-phase structure, and features a regulable thickness, high visible light transmittance and hardness, a flat and uniform surface, and a great application prospect. The hard optical film is prepared on a surface of a substrate by magnetron sputtering, having high binding force between the obtained film and the substrate, such that the substrate has a very high hardness, a very strong abrasion resistance and certain corrosion resistance.

Abstract: A biokinetic energy collection apparatus and a fabrication method thereof are provided. The apparatus includes: a counter weight, configured to oscillate with a movement of a wearer, to convert a mechanical energy generated by the movement into kinetic energy of the counter weight; a rotating frame, mechanically coupled to the counter weight, and configured to receive the kinetic energy from the counter weight; a planetary gear train, mechanically coupled to the rotating frame, to rotate as the rotating frame moves; and a stator assembly and a rotor assembly, coupled to each other, where the stator assembly includes a coil, the rotor assembly includes a rotor and a third permanent magnet located on the rotor, and the rotor is mechanically coupled to the planetary gear train and receives the kinetic energy from the planetary gear train, to cause the third permanent magnet to rotate with the rotor.

Abstract: A method for learning-based point cloud geometry compression includes: given a source point cloud, regressing an aligned mesh that is driven by a set of parameters from a deformable template mesh, quantizing the set of parameters into a parameter bitstream, generating an aligned point cloud from the quantized parameters by mesh manipulation and mesh-to-point-cloud conversion, extracting features from both the source point cloud and the aligned point cloud based on sparse tensors including coordinates and features, the coordinates being encoded into a coordinate bitstream, warping the features of the aligned point cloud onto the coordinates of the source point cloud, obtaining residual features through feature subtraction, processing the residual features using an entropy model into a residual feature bitstream, and obtaining a reconstructed point cloud by processing the parameter bitstream, the coordinate bitstream and the residual feature bitstream.

Abstract: This invention provides parasitic millirobots that can effectively adapt to an unstructured environment and coherently interact with diverse objects in order to fulfil various application needs. Particularly, a minimalist millirobot construction strategy by splashing composited agglutinate magnetic spray (M-spray) is adopted, which is capable of self-turning multifarious milli-/centi-objects into parasitic millirobots on-demand. Through taking full advantage of the objects' inherent structure and a covered thin drivable film, the M-spray demonstrates superior handling (from 1-D to 3-D structures) and loading capabilities (up to thousand-fold and hundred-fold of its volume and weight, respectively) while with neglectable size increment (as low as 1%) to target.

Abstract: A wearable haptic modulation device for real-time simulation of texture properties of a material surface in mixed reality environments is provided. Particularly, it includes a U-shaped pneumatic actuator surrounds a user's fingertip, a finger-housing support creating a space for fingertip containment, a resonant actuator on the finger-housing support generating vibrotactile feedback to enhance perceived roughness on touched physical surfaces, and a pneumatic control system generating pneumatic actuation to reduce the perceived roughness on touched physical surface. Notably, the U-shaped pneumatic actuator allows direct contact of the user's fingerpad with the touched physical surface.

Abstract: An ammonium acetate selected from the group of pentylammonium acetate, phenylethylammonium acetate, 2-([1,1?-biphenyl]-4-yl) ethan-1-amine acetate, butanammonium acetate, hexylammonium acetate, octylammonium acetate, phenylbutanammonium acetate, and any combination thereof, is used to modify a perovskite layer in a perovskite solar cell. A perovskite solar cell includes a perovskite layer and an interface modification layer that is in contact with the perovskite layer and includes at least one ammonium acetate provided herein. A method of preparing the inverted perovskite solar cell.

Abstract: A method and system for generating a logarithmic non-uniform pseudo-random electromagnetic exploration signal including: constructing two or more basic unit signals, according to an exploration requirement, that are stairstep signals obtained by superposing in-phase periodic square wave signals, a frequency ratio between adjacent periodic square wave signals is 2, and the two or more basic unit signals meet the following requirement: if a lowest dominant frequency in a first basic unit signal is a fundamental frequency, lowest frequencies of the remaining basic unit signal are l×2m times the fundamental frequency, where l is an odd number except 1, and m is a natural number; and superposing the two or more basic unit signals to obtain a logarithmic non-uniform 2n sequence pseudo-random signal. A logarithmic non-uniform 2n sequence stairstep signal is constructed within a limited frequency interval, and requirements of prospectors for a higher frequency density within a specific frequency interval are met.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a stretchable and flexible sweat-activated graphene-coated Ni foam-based Mg—O2 battery capable of powering an intelligent and flexible electronics for health monitoring purposes with different biosensors.

Abstract: A droplet gripper for a polarizable droplet including a top plate formed of magnetically responsive material and movable in a defined sequence in response to a regionalized electromagnetic field. The gripper further has electret sheets downwardly depending from the top plate. The electret sheets are separated from each other and are chargeable to the same polarities so as to capture the droplet between them due to electret-induced polarization on droplet (EPD). The gripper may be included in a Multiphysics droplet robotic system for automatically manipulating and moving a liquid droplet. The system includes a programmable control matrix that generates a movable regionalized electromagnetic field through coils so as to engage the magnetic material on the top plate and move the EPD gripper and a captured polarizable drop in the defined sequence along a specific path as well as to achieve other microfluidic operations according to a control matrix program.

Abstract: Described herein are a novel concept of thermally stimulated delayed phosphorescence (TSDP) to harvest light emission from the higher energy triplet excited state via the up-conversion from the lowest-energy triplet excited state by efficient spin-allowed reverse internal conversion as well as the development of TSDP emitters, as exemplified by a novel class of gold(III) compounds with TSDP properties and methods of making and using said compounds. The gold(III) compound includes a triazine-containing cyclometalating tridentate ligand and one auxiliary ligand, both coordinated to a gold(III) metal center. The gold(III) compounds disclosed herein can be used as light-emitting material for fabrication of OLEDs.

Abstract: Vibration suppression handle structures for high-vibration handheld machines (e.g., jackhammers) are provided that offer improved vibration suppression. The handle structures of examples include two handles that are rotatably connected to X-shaped structures for vibration suppression. For instance, one side of each of the first and second handles is rotatably connected to one of the X-shaped structures, and the other side of each of the first and second handles is rotatably connected to the second X-shaped structure. The X-shaped structures of examples are adjustable in size and stiffness and thus can be adapted for different sized or shaped handheld machines. Jackhammers are further provided that include the vibration suppression handle structures.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for assessing the likelihood of effectiveness of aspirin-based chemoprotection against colorectal cancer among individuals as well as methods for improving aspirin-based chemoprotection against colorectal cancer. Kits useful for such methods are also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is a transparent electrode made of a polymer matrix having semi-embedded therein a sintered silver nanowire composite comprising silver nanowires and metal oxide nanoparticles.

Abstract: A BS sleeping strategy for a two-tier HeCN that consists of MaBS and MiBS. The approach involves strategically consolidating workloads distributed across the network onto fewer BSs. At the heart of the strategy is a Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (BLSTM) neural network, which predicts future traffic for each user. The predicted traffic data informs the proposed BS sleeping strategy, which shifts user connections from under-utilized MiBSs to other BSs, subsequently powering down the idle MiBSs, while MaBSs remain always on. This strategy is executed with utmost consideration for maintaining service quality, ensuring that the switch does not degrade each user's Signal-to-Interference-plus-Noise Ratio thresholds or traffic demand rate.

Abstract: One or more systems, methods and/or machine-readable mediums are described herein for allowing display and manipulation of surface-based 3D modelling on touchscreens being adjustable relative to one another. A method can comprise displaying, by a mobile device comprising a processor, a first part of virtual content via a first display screen portion of a pair of display screen portions and a second part of the virtual content via a second display screen portion of the pair of display screen portions. The first display screen portion and the second display screen portion are part of the mobile device and are pivotable relative to each other to define an angle between the first display screen portion and the second display screen portion. Displaying the first part of the virtual content comprises displaying a feature of the virtual content that is aligned along a first surface plane of the first display screen portion.

Abstract: An energy generation device Including: a surface for supporting movement of a work material, and an energy converter. The surface is operable to induce movement of the work material relative to the surface. The energy converter is arranged to generate electrical energy based on the induced movement of the work material relative to the surface.

Abstract: The present invention provides a vented individual negative pressure enclosure system for extracting potentially contaminated air from an individual. The system includes an adjustable assemblable and disassemblable frame structure configured to surround a bed, chair, or toilet. A vapor-impermeable sheet extends over the frame structure. An air purification system communicates with a plurality of extraction vents positioned on or in the frame structure. The air purification system may be a water-filtration-based air purification system including a particle growth tube for increasing the size of aerosol droplets to facilitate capture. The air purification system includes a pump and HEPA filter and, optionally, a UV sterilizer.

Abstract: Provided is a system for drug delivery utilizing hydrogel to deliver biologically active agents to stimulate mature intratumoral tertiary lymphoid structure formation and augment immune check point blockade. Provided herein is an injectable hydrogel that can stimulate the formation of immune structures within tumors, improving cancer prognosis and treatment response. Provided is a method of treating cancer. Also provided is a method of making the drug delivery system.

Abstract: A composite material comprising a substrate body having a mesoporous structure defined by a network of interconnected fibers; and a thermochromic material including a hydrogel complex filling the mesoporous network, the hydrogel complex including a first polymer being a thermoresponsive hydrogel; wherein the thermochromic material undergoes an increase or a decrease of transparency in response to an external temperature exceeding or falling below a critical transition temperature of the thermochromic material, thereby changing an overall transparency of the composite material. A method of preparing the composite material of some embodiments of the present invention. Use of the composite material of some of the embodiments of the present invention for forming an article. Also a window unit including the composite material of some of the embodiments of the present invention.