Abstract: A berry harvesting berries system including a mobile platform and a tendon-driven gripper having fingers made of a compliant material, which prevents unwanted damage to the berries.

Abstract: Embodiments pertain to a computer-implemented method of identifying at least one facial micro-expression pattern of a face of a subject by (1) receiving a plurality of images of the face of the subject, where the plurality of images represent consecutive images of the face of the subject taken sequentially during a period of time; (2) feeding the plurality of images into a machine-learning algorithm, where the machine-learning algorithm includes a diagonal micro attention (DMA) module that identifies at least one facial micro-movement between the plurality of images and correlates the facial micro-movement to at least one facial micro-expression pattern; and (3) outputting the facial micro-expression pattern of the face of the subject. Additional embodiments pertain to computing devices for identifying at least one facial micro-expression pattern of a face of a subject in accordance with the aforementioned processes.

Abstract: A system that uses autonomous robots for 3D manufacturing an object where the robots have different tool heads for performing different manufacturing operations.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to covalently crosslinked colloidal cellulose nanocrystals (xCNC) and methods of preparation and use thereof. The colloidal cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are covalently crosslinked in aqueous suspension to generate a network showing tunable physicochemical properties. The xCNC structures are tunable in terms of their physicochemical properties and arrangement within the hydrogel network. The covalent crosslinking of solitary sulfonated (—OSO3) CNCs can be accomplished without prior hydroxyl replacement or functionalization.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to covalently crosslinked colloidal cellulose nanocrystals (xCNC) and methods of preparation and use thereof. The colloidal cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are covalently crosslinked in aqueous suspension to generate a network showing tunable physicochemical properties. The xCNC structures are tunable in terms of their physicochemical properties and arrangement within the hydrogel network. The covalent crosslinking of solitary sulfonated (—OSO3) CNCs can be accomplished without prior hydroxyl replacement or functionalization.

Abstract: A rice cultivar designated CLL18 is disclosed herein. The present invention provides seeds, plants, and plant parts derived from rice cultivar CLL18. Further, it provides methods for producing a rice plant by crossing CLL18 with itself or another rice variety. The invention also encompasses any rice seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by the methods disclosed herein, including those in which additional traits have been transferred into CLL18 through the introduction of a transgene or by breeding CLL18 with another rice cultivar.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to cellulose nanocrystal-based emulsions that can serve as a spray adjuvant for improved agrochemical application efficiency. More particularly, the cellulose nanocrystal-based emulsions are nanocellulose-stabilized Pickering emulsions having a semi-liquid formulation of colloidal cellulose nanocrystals and biopolymers that can substitute currently used surfactants and drift reducing agents in agrochemicals. The cellulose nanocrystal-based emulsions are suitable with both water soluble and oil soluble active ingredient chemistries, and the shear characteristics of the emulsions make them suitable for oil in water-based spray applications. Droplet size distribution can be tuned by changing the ingredient concentrations, thus helping control particle drift. Moreover, a stable cross-linked network formation facilitates the entrapment and encapsulation of volatile agrochemical chemistries, thus preventing their volatilization and reducing vapor drift.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a sensing device for DNA sequencing and biomolecule characterization including the steps of fabricating a microelectrode chip having a silicon substrate and a silicon nitride diaphragm, attaching a monolayer graphene sheet to the silicon nitride diaphragm, dicing a portion of the monolayer graphene sheet to form a graphene microribbon, converting the graphene microribbon to a graphene nanoribbon, and converting the graphene nanoribbon to a carbyne. A sensing device for DNA sequencing and biomolecule characterization is also disclosed. The sensing device includes a silicon substrate, a cavity in the silicon substrate covered by a silicon nitride layer, microelectrodes attached to the silicon nitride layer, graphene covering the microelectrodes, and carbyne attached to a portion of the silicon nitride layer covering said cavity.

Abstract: The present invention provides a swarm manufacturing platform, based on a swarm 3D printing and assembly (SPA) platform as a model for future smart factories, consisting of thousands of IoT-based mobile robots performing different manufacturing operations with different end effectors (e.g., material deposition, energy deposition, pick and place, removal of materials, screw driving, etc.) and real-time monitoring. The swarm manufacturing platform transforms a 1-D factory into a 2-D factory with manufacturing robots that can move across the 2-D factory floor, work cooperatively with each other on the same production jobs, and re-configure in real-time (i.e., the manufacturing robots can be digitally controlled to move, re-group, calibrate, and work on a new job in real-time).

Abstract: A microelectronic device and method of making the same including a substrate and at least one expansion layer that adds stress to the substrate when said substrate expands.

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: As anode having an anode material, a current collector, a graphene-based material, and the graphene-based material covers the anode material.

Abstract: A soybean cultivar designated UA54i19GT is disclosed herein. The present invention provides seeds, plants, and plant parts derived from soybean cultivar UA54i19GT. Further, it provides methods for producing a soybean plant by crossing UA54i19GT with itself or another soybean variety. The invention also encompasses any soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by the methods disclosed herein, including those in which additional traits have been transferred into UA54i19GT through the introduction of a transgene, through mutagenesis, or by breeding UA54i19GT with another soybean cultivar.

Abstract: A 3-D printing system comprising a plurality of printers. The printers are motorized to allow movement in X and Y directions or to rotate freely. Each printer may have one or more printheads. Also provided is a surface independent from said printers adapted to receive a printed object.

Abstract: A fluazifop-resistant sorghum cultivar designated ‘21534_ACCase-R’ and plants comprising a polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 39 are disclosed herein. The present invention provides seeds, plants, and plant parts derived from sorghum cultivar ‘21534_ACCase-R’ and those including SEQ ID NO: 39. Further, it provides methods for producing a sorghum plant by crossing ‘21534_ACCase-R’ with itself or another sorghum variety. The invention also encompasses any sorghum seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by the methods disclosed herein, including those in which additional traits have been transferred into ‘21534_ACCase-R’ through the introduction of a transgene or by breeding ‘21534_ACCase-R’ with another sorghum cultivar.

Abstract: An integrated circuit on a chip may include a plurality of capacitors that are connected in series and generate an AC noise signal. A selected bandwidth of the AC noise signal transmits through the series of capacitors as a first AC power signal. Respective rectifiers are positioned for receiving a positive cycle of the first AC power signal and a negative cycle of the first AC power signal. Output terminals are connected to the respective rectifiers and configured for connection to an off chip circuit. The capacitors may be fixed or variable gap capacitors.

Abstract: An object having a plurality of negative curvatures comprising a plurality of planar sections adjoined together by locking segments.

Abstract: Technology related to blockchain cybersecurity solutions and a blockchain applicability framework is disclosed. In one example of the disclosed technology, a system is configured to receive parameters for a blockchain candidate application and evaluate the parameters to determine a recommendation for types of blockchain to apply to the candidate application. The recommendation may be based on an evaluation of the parameters to determine a level of applicability of blockchain usage, a level of applicability of one or more blockchain privacy types, and a level of applicability of one or more blockchain consensus types. The system may be configured to calculate an overall percentage distribution of the levels of applicability and to output an indication of the overall percentage distribution.

Abstract: A bilayer electrospun membranes for treating hydraulic fracking wastewater via membrane distillation, and more particularly to bilayer electrospun membranes having an omniphobic layer to prevent low-surface tension solution wicking and an oleophobic antifouling surface to prevent foulant depositing on the membrane. Nanoparticles are decorated on the omniphobic surface through electrochemical interaction, which is coated with a fluorine monomer on the nanoparticles. A zwitterionic co-polymer is grafted using self-assembly between hydroxy groups on the antifouling surface generated by alkaline treatment and anchor segment epoxy groups on zwitterionic co-polymer.

Abstract: Description and specifications of a new and distinct cultivar of blackberry plant named ‘APF-409T’ which originated from seed produced by a hand-pollinated cross of Arkansas selections ‘A-2504T’ (an unpatented breeding selection) x ‘APF-295T’ (an unpatented breeding selection) is provided. This new cultivar of blackberry plant can be distinguished by its excellent plant health, thornless canes, strong primocane-fruiting tendency, and early season of fruit ripening on both floricanes and primocanes.