Abstract: An integrated process and corresponding apparatus that produces a relatively clean, delignified cellulose product from lignocellulosic biomass. The method includes treating a portion of the delignified cellulose itself as a substrate to produce on-site cellulolytic enzymes, including further treating the remaining delignified cellulose with the resulting cellulolytic enzymes for in situ enzymatic hydrolysis. The process and apparatus are useful to produce fermentable sugars for cost-effective manufacturing of fermentable sugars, fuels, bioproducts and chemicals.

Abstract: A permeable reactive barrier having two or more layers of a geotextile fabric inoculated with a bioremediation microbe is provided. The permeable reactive barrier further includes two or more layers of coarse-grained geological material separating the two or more layers of geotextile fabric such that any pair of adjacent layers of geotextile fabric is separated by a layer of coarse-grained geological material. The permeable reactive barrier includes a perforated metal casing surrounding and containing the layers of coarse-grained geological materials and geotextile fabric.

Abstract: A power generator or sensor apparatus is provided. In another aspect, a power generator is used for water wave energy harvesting. A further aspect provides a power generator including a buoyant, waterproof and/or enclosed outer shell, at least one enclosed inner shell located within the outer shell, a first plurality of balls located between the outer and inner shells, a second plurality of balls located within the inner shell, and spaced apart electrodes affixed to an interior surface of the outer shell. Moreover, an aspect of the present power generator uses fluid, such as water wave movement and wind blowing, to cause nested shells to move which moves multiple balls therein between spaced apart electrodes to generate triboelectric charges or energy for a variety of applications.

Abstract: A system and method leverages understanding of complex dribbling video clips by representing a video sequence with a single Dribble Energy Image (DEI) that is informative for dribbling styles recognition. To overcome the shortage of labelled data, a dataset of soccer video clips employs Mask-RCNN to segment out dribbling players and OpenPose to obtain joints information of dribbling players. To solve issues caused by camera motions in highlight soccer videos, the system registers a video sequence to generate a single image representation DEI and dribbling styles classification.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a control system of a buck converter, relating to the field of Internet of Things. The control system of a buck converter provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a first control module, a second control module, and a mode selector. The first control module is turned on and the second control module is turned off through an analog current sensor in the mode selector when an IoT device switches from a transmission mode to a sleep mode or a standby mode, so that the first control module outputs a first voltage pulse to the driving and level shifter module, wherein a frequency of the first voltage pulse is determined by a frequency of a first clock in the first control module, and a width of the first voltage pulse is determined by a frequency of a second clock in the first control module.

Abstract: A hybrid ID system for a medical practitioner and patient care includes a hybrid electronic ID/key having a transmitter device having circuitry for storing ID data and transmitting a signal containing the ID data, and a key having a predetermined shape on a surface of the hybrid electronic ID/key. A radio frequency receptor device having circuitry, storing location information, that detects the signal containing ID data, a matching detection section configured to match the predetermined shape of the key, and a movement tracking portion that tracks movement of the predetermined shape as the key is rotated. A computer system including a patient database is configured to receive the ID data in conjunction with the location information from the radio frequency receptor device when the predetermined shape is completely rotated to a final position, and store the ID data, location information, together with patient data associated with the location.

Abstract: A drilling tool is disclosed. The two ends of the drilling tool are respectively connected with an upper drilling tool and a drill bit. The drilling tool includes an axial striking part, a torsional striking part, and an auxiliary part. Under the combined action of a spring and a high-pressure drilling fluid, the hammer of the axial striking part generates an axial striking force to strike the upper housing; and the pendulum of the torsional striking part generates a torsional striking force to strike the lower housing. The reversing switch and the center tube are plugged together to simultaneously reverse torsion and axial striking forces, respectively. The high-pressure drilling fluid pushes the hammer and the pendulum to generate axial and torsional striking forces, respectively, to effectively increase the ROP and reduce the stick-slip phenomenon. The drilling tool is stable and reliable in a complex and changeable downhole environment.

Abstract: A multi-lumen arthroscopy cannula (MLAC) is described which may be used to contain and manage joint irrigation fluid as a means of improving the state of arthroscopic surgery. The MLAC includes an arrangement of components within a cannula housing. An internal passage (central lumen) through which surgical instruments may be inserted into the body includes a series of components which greatly reduce the leakage path of fluid through the central lumen while enabling manipulation of surgical instruments during arthroscopic procedures. A dual-tapered diaphragm seal grips the instruments as it is manipulated to prevent leakage. This works in concert with the consecutively placed multi-leaflet valves, which act to prevent internal leakage and maintain pressure within the surgical cavity. Unique features of this cannula, aside from the multiple valves and dual-tapered diaphragm seal, include bilateral lumens which provide infusion and withdrawal of irrigation inside the joint capsule.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for fabricating graphene workpieces. The present invention also provides for products produced by the methods of the present invention and for apparatuses used to perform the methods of the present invention.

Abstract: A sample containing particles having high-molecular-weight (HMW) DNA is entrapped in a gel matrix, and the gel matrix is exposed to a lysis reagent configured to release the HMW DNA from the particles. The HMW DNA may be purified by subjecting the gel matrix to an electrophoretic field that removes the HMW DNA from the particles, lysis reagents, and/or other sample constituents, from the gel matrix such that the HMW DNA remains. The gel matrix may be subjected with DNA cleavase reagents configured to cleave at specific DNA sequences within the HMW DNA to liberate defined segments of the DNA as fragments of reduced size. The gel matrix may also be subjected to an electrophoretic field, which moves and separates the DNA fragments from uncleaved DNA of the HMW DNA, which remains substantially immobile. The electrophoretically separated DNA fragments may be isolated from the gel matrix.

Abstract: A radiative cooling device, and a method of manufacturing the same, includes a reflective layer disposed on a substrate and responsible for reflecting sunlight having wavelengths corresponding to ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared regions; and a radiative cooling layer disposed on the reflective layer and responsible for absorbing sunlight having a wavelength corresponding to a mid-infrared region and emitting the sunlight as heat, wherein the radiative cooling layer includes a first radiation layer including an uneven pattern; and a second radiation layer disposed on the first radiation layer and having a refractive index different from that of the first radiation layer.

Abstract: In at least one illustrative embodiment, an electromagnetic filter may include a transfer pipe and multiple electromagnetic filter elements positioned in an interior volume of the pipe. Each electromagnetic filter element includes a support comb, a solenoid coupled to the support comb, and multiple magnetic members arranged in a planar array positioned within an opening of the support comb. Each magnetic member may rotate about an end that is coupled to the support comb. The magnetic members may be magnetostrictive sensors and may include a biorecognition element to bind with a target microorganism. A method for fluid filtration includes coupling the electromagnetic filter between a fluid source and a fluid destination, energizing the solenoids of each electromagnetic filter elements, and flowing a fluid media through the transfer pipe of the electromagnetic filter. The fluid media may be liquid food such as fruit juice. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: The subject invention concerns materials and methods for increasing and/or improving photosynthetic efficiency in plants, and in particular, C3 plants. In particular, the subject invention provides for means to increase the number of bundle sheath (BS) cells in plants, to improve the efficiency of photosynthesis in BS cells, and to increase channels between BS and mesophyll (M) cells. In one embodiment, a method of the invention concerns altering the expression level or pattern of one or more of SHR, SCR, and/or SCL23 in a plant. The subject invention also pertains to genetically modified plants, and in particular, C3 plants, that exhibit increased expression of one or more of SHR, SCR, and/or SCL23. Transformed and transgenic plants are contemplated within the scope of the invention.

Abstract: Method of increasing protein content in a eukaryotic cell comprising an NF-YC4 gene comprising modifying the transcriptional repressor binding site; method of producing a plant with increased protein content comprising crossing and selecting for increased protein content; method of increasing resistance to a pathogen or a pest in a plant cell or plant comprising an NF-YC4 gene comprising modifying the transcriptional repressor binding site, alone or in further combination with expressing QQS in the plant cell or plant; method for producing a plant with increased resistance to a pathogen or a pest comprising crossing and selecting for increased resistance to the pathogen or the pest; a cell, collection of cells, tissue, organ, or organism, such as a plant, in which the NF-YC4 gene comprises a promoter comprising a transcriptional repressor binding site that has been modified so that the transcriptional repressor cannot prevent transcription of the NF-YC4; plants and hybrids thereof; and seeds.

Abstract: Analyzing patterns in a volume of data and taking an action based on the analysis involves receiving data and training the data to create training examples, and then selecting features that are predictive of different classes of patterns in the data stream, using the training examples. The process further involves training in parallel a set of artificial neural networks (“ANNs”), using the data, based on the selected features, and extracting only active nodes that are representative of a class of patterns in the data stream from the set of ANNs. The process continues with adding class labels to each extracted active node, classifying patterns in the data based on the class-labeled active nodes, and taking an action based on the classifying patterns in the data.

Abstract: A redox flow battery includes a cathode, an anode, a charge-carrying electrolyte, and an (a) oxidized and a (b) reduced form of an active material. The active material has the following formula: (D)-(L)-(A)-[(L)-(A)]V-DZ(F1) or (D)-(L)-(A)-(L-D)X (F2). In these formulae, each D is covalently bonded to an L, each L is covalently bonded to an A, x is a number from 0 to 5, v is a number from 0 to 5 and z is 0 or 1. D is an electron donor compound, L is a linker, and A is an electron acceptor compound. Each of D, L, and A has a particular structure.

Abstract: A method of capturing CO2 and converting the captured CO2 into useful byproducts includes providing a material including a material matrix holding an ionic liquid, exposing the material to a source of thermal energy to capture CO2 within the material, removing the material from exposure to the source of thermal energy, and washing the material with a solution to convert the captured CO2 and wash the converted, captured CO2 from the material as filtrate. Materials and systems for capturing CO2 and converting the captured CO2 into useful byproducts are also provided.

Abstract: This invention relates to modified parvovirus inverted terminal repeats (ITRs) that do not functionally interact with wild-type large Rep proteins, synthetic Rep proteins that functionally interact with the modified ITRs, and methods of using the same for delivery of nucleic acids to a cell or a subject. The modifications provide a novel Rep-ITR interaction that limits vector mobilization, increasing the safety of viral vectors.

Abstract: A sensing device includes a sample loading chamber configured to receive a sample, a detection antibody drying or lyophilization chamber configured to receive a first portion of the sample, one or more substrate drying or lyophilization chambers configured to receive a second portion of the sample, and one or more reaction chambers connected to the detection antibody drying or lyophilization chamber and the one or more substrate drying or lyophilization chambers. The detection antibody drying or lyophilization chamber and one or more substrate drying or lyophilization chambers are placed in parallel between the sample loading chamber and the one or more reaction chambers.

Abstract: A method for treating autoimmune and/or inflammatory diseases includes a step of identifying a subject having a gastrointestinal autoimmune/inflammatory disease. A fasting mimicking diet (FMD) is administered to the subject for a first time period.