Abstract: A motorized robotic walker is capable of moving automatically with the user through an algorithmic process using a 3D camera image processing system. The image processing system can measure relative motion of the user versus the robotic walker and a microprocessor can generate PWM signal to drive motors of the robotic walker so that the robotic walker can follow the user's motion automatically and provide assistance if needed.

Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed to a method of curing an ionic liquid epoxy mixture using an electromagnetic signal. First, an ionic liquid epoxy resin comprising ionic liquid epoxide monomers and, optionally, diluent epoxy resins and powdered fillers, is combined with a curing agent to form an ionic liquid epoxy mixture. The mixture is then applied as a coating onto a surface of a material. The coating is placed in contact with a second surface of the same material or a surface of another material. An electromagnetic signal, which in some instances is a microwave signal, is applied to the coating. Following application of the signal, the ionic liquid epoxide monomers polymerize and the mixture cures, adhering the surfaces together. Alternately, the epoxy mixture is applied to a surface and cured with microwaves to form a protective coating as in cladding or paint.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally pertains to systems and methods that utilize optical frequency discriminators based on fiber Bragg gratings. In some embodiments, an optical frequency discriminator has a polarization-maintaining fiber Bragg grating (PM-FBG), and an incoming polarized optical signal is reflected from the PM-FBG, which differentiates the two polarization modes in the incoming signal according its frequency relative to the two resonance peaks of the PM-FBG. The optical frequency discriminator then compares (e.g., subtracts) the reflected power in the two polarization modes to provide an output having an amplitude that varies linearly with the frequency of the incoming signal. This output may then be used to extract various information about the frequency of the incoming signal. As an example, the output may be used to recover data that has been frequency modulated onto the incoming signal or to characterize the frequency noise of the incoming signal.

Abstract: Methods and systems for producing a three-dimensional structure using electrochemical additive manufacturing are described herein. The methods can comprise injecting a growth control solution into an electrolyte comprising a metal salt to form a growth control region and applying an electric potential to a working electrode to thereby form a layer of metal at a location defined by the growth control region. The injecting and applying steps of the methods can be repeated for form the three-dimensional structure on a layer-by-layer basis.

Abstract: The invention relates to a current-compensating device able to be connected, in shunt configuration, between an electrical network and non-linear and linear electrical loads and downstream of at least one renewable-energy-generating power unit coupled to an energy-storing element, the compensating device including: a power converting unit including at least one voltage inverter able to generate an AC current; an output filtering unit, including one filter dimensioned to block the harmonic components due to the switching of the inverter; a control unit comprising a unit for computing reference currents and a switch driving device that controls the switching of the inverter as a function of the identification of the currents by the unit for computing the reference currents.

Abstract: A weather forecasting system has weather forecasting logic that receives weather data from a satellite or other source, such as radar. The weather forecasting logic processes such data to identify cumulus clouds. For each cumulus cloud identified, the weather forecasting logic applies interest field tests and feeds the results into formulas derived based on measurements from current and past weather events. The model determines a score indicating the likelihood of the cumulus cloud forming precipitation and a score indicating the likelihood of the cumulus cloud forming lightning in the future within a certain time period. Based on such scores, the weather forecasting logic predicts in which geographic regions the identified cumulus cloud will produce precipitation and/or lightning during the time period. The predictions of the weather forecasting logic may then be used to provide a weather map thereby providing users with a graphical illustration of the areas.

Abstract: A Hall effect thruster is provided having one or more components fabricated using additive manufacturing techniques. Additive manufacturing can be used to fabricate the propellant distributor and the discharge channel of the thruster. The propellant distributor can be separated from the anode of the thruster and can form the base of the discharge channel. The discharge channel can be detachably connected to the propellant distributor using one of a threaded connection or a snap-fit connection. The discharge channel can have an annular shape and electromagnets and magnetic poles can be placed in the surrounding areas of the discharge channel.

Abstract: Various implementations include an aeration device. The aeration device includes a venturi tube and an outlet tube. The venturi tube has an outlet port and an air intake port. The outlet tube has a first end coupled to the outlet port of the venturi tube, a second end opposite and spaced apart from the first end, and an intermediate portion disposed between the first and second ends of the outlet tube. The intermediate portion is helically shaped and extends around a helical axis of the intermediate portion. The intermediate portion extends at least one rotation about the helical axis.

Abstract: Methods for electrodeposition using aqueous electrolytes where water molecules are depleted are described herein. Methods of electrodepositing superconducting thin films from aqueous electrolytes where water molecules are depleted are also described herein.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for treating, reducing or preventing oxidative stress in a subject. The compositions can be chewable confectionaries comprising a chewable base, one or more unprocessed phytochemical ingredients, and a sweetener comprising allulose. The unprocessed phytochemical ingredients can include ground plant materials selected from cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, or combinations thereof. The chewable confectionary can exhibit a polyphenolic content of at least 100 ?g gallic acid equivalents (GAE) or greater, per gram of the chewable confectionary and an antioxidant capacity of at least 3,200 ?M Trolox equivalents per gram of the chewable confectionary, as determined by the oxygen radical absorbance (ORAC) assay. Kits, methods of making and using the chewable confectionary are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, apparatus and computer program product for radar-based communication and interpretation of sign languages such as American Sign language (ASL) comprising detecting, using a radar system comprising a computing device, sign language gestures, wherein said detected sign language gestures comprise radar data; analyzing the radar data using a trained neural network executing on the computing device to determine word or phrases intended by the sign language gestures; and outputting the determined words or phrases in a visible or audible format.

Abstract: A time-wavelength optical sampling system may be configured to determine a substance's composition based on variations in optical pulses caused by the substance's absorption of wavelengths of the pulse. A dispersion medium may disperse pulses to form stretched signal pulses that are incident on a substance under test. Optical gating is used to overlap each signal pulse with a portion of a reference pulse to generate a cross-correlation signal corresponding to a portion of the signal pulse, which may be detected by a slow detection speed detector. A controller controls delay introduced to the reference pulses so that different wavelength ranges are sampled for various signal pulses, thereby enabling the entire wavelength range for the signal pulses to be sampled over time without requiring an expensive high-speed optical detector. By analyzing absorption across the entire wavelength range as indicated by cross-correlation signals, the composition of the substance can be identified.

Abstract: Methods for extracting metabolites from mushroom comprising dispersing a sample of the mushroom; contacting the sample with a first solvent system at a temperature of 80° C. or greater to extract at least a first portion of metabolites from the sample; and contacting the sample with a second solvent system at a temperature of 80° C. or greater to extract at least a second portion of metabolites from the sample, wherein the combined first portion of metabolites and the second portion of metabolites include primary and secondary metabolites from the mushroom. A high-throughput process for establishing a metabolic profile of a mushroom, such as Amanita mushroom, can comprise extracting metabolites from mushroom and analyzing the extracted metabolites by automatic peak recognition or peak integration. Assay for identifying and/or assessing candidate metabolites extracted from Amanita mushroom are also disclosed.

Abstract: A coupling system can include an energy transfer device and a load mitigation system. The energy transfer device can include a shaft, gear, chain or piston-cylinder arrangement to transfer the energy from a power supply to an object to be moved. The load mitigation system can be used to limit or prevent the transfer of forces from the object to the drive unit as a result of external loads being applied to the object. The load mitigation system can be pre-loaded such that external loads on the object having an excessive impulsive or resonant cyclic force greater than the pre-load force on the load mitigation system are reduced and only partially transferred to the energy transfer device and power supply. The load mitigation system can dampen both resonant loads and impulsive impact loads occurring at the object thereby preventing damage and extending life.

Abstract: Described herein is a diffusion-based ex-situ group V element doping method in the CdCl2 heat-treated polycrystalline CdTe film. The ex-situ doping using group V halides, such as PCl3, AsCl3, SbCl3, or BiCl3, demonstrated a promising PCE of ˜18% and long-term light soaking stability in CdSe/CdTe and CdS/CdTe devices with decent carrier concentration>1015 cm?3. This ex-situ solution or vapor process can provide a low-cost alternative pathway for effective doping of As, as well as P, Sb, and Bi, in CdTe solar cells with limited deviation from the current CdTe manufacturing process.

Abstract: Provided herein are systems and methods for the detection, quantification, and/or monitoring of analytes in samples. The systems and methods can be used, for example, to track the deposition and electrochemical behavior of individual nanoparticles and nanoparticles clusters clusters in situ with high spatial and temporal resolution. The systems and methods can be used to track the deposition and oxidation of several hundreds to thousands of nanoparticles simultaneously and reconstruct their voltammetric curves at the single nanoparticle level.

Abstract: A weather forecasting system has a data processing system that receives weather data from one or more sources and processes such data in conjunction with a weather forecasting algorithm in order to forecast weather for one or more geographic regions. In this regard, the weather data is input into a machine learning algorithm, which applies learned weights and relationships to the inputs in order to calculate at least one score indicating a probability that precipitation or other weather event will occur in the future within a certain time period (e.g., within the next 1 hour or some other unit of time) in one or more geographic regions. For each such geographic region, the weather forecasting logic may also predict the extent to which rain or other precipitation, lightning, or other weather event will occur during the time period.

Abstract: Various implementations include an assistive hamstring device including a belt, knee sleeve, first elastic strap, second elastic strap, and third elastic strap. The first elastic strap extends between a first dorsal belt portion of the belt located adjacent a sagittal plane on a dorsal side of the person and a lateral knee portion of the knee sleeve located adjacent a lateral side of the knee. The second elastic strap extends between a side belt portion of the belt located adjacent a coronal plane of the person and a medial knee portion of the knee sleeve located adjacent a medial side of the knee. The third elastic strap extends between a second dorsal belt portion of the belt located between the first and side belt portion and an intermediate dorsal knee portion of the knee sleeve located between the lateral and medial knee portion, along the dorsal portion of the knee.

Abstract: A radiation detection system may include a mobile device having a flash memory. The device may monitor various characteristics of the flash memory to determine when damage to the flash memory has occurred from radiation exposure. The device may associate damage to the flash memory with a radiation dose, and determine a level of radiation to which the memory, and thus the device, has been exposed. The device also may determine a length of time and locations where the radiation exposure has occurred. If the device determines that the level of radiation exposure exceeds a threshold associated with a safe level of radiation exposure for a human user, the device may generate an alert to the user.

Abstract: An example device for simultaneous transfer of alternating current (AC) and directed current (DC) power includes a power converter or inverter circuit having a switch, a power magnetic device comprising a coupled winding, a DC power output loop for delivering DC power to a DC load, and an AC power output loop for delivering AC power to an AC load. The DC power can be a function of a direct current (DC) component of a current of the power inductor, and the AC power can be a function of an induced and/or switching alternating current (AC) ripple component of the current of the power inductor. In addition, the device can include a controller operably coupled to the power converter or inverter circuit. The controller can include a processing unit and a memory and can be configured to independently regulate the DC power and the AC power.