Abstract: An imaging method is provided that includes: (i) providing a microscope having a lens and an autofocusing camera positioned adjacent to the microscope; (ii) positioning an illumination source adjacent to the microscope; (iii) moving a sample to a predefined offset position and illuminating the sample; (iv) acquiring an image of the illuminated sample via the autofocusing camera; and (v) utilizing a convolution neural network to identify an in-focus position of the sample. The convolution neural network may further include an input layer, output layer, and at least one hidden layer situated between the input and output layers. The hidden layer(s) may be selected from a group consisting of a convolution layer, pooling layer, normalization layer, fully connected layer, and a combination thereof. The convolution neural network may be trained to accurately define the weight to be applied to the layer(s).

Abstract: A voltage detector (200) for monitoring an input signal and outputting a detection signal at an output when a voltage of the input signal meets a first threshold having: an input configured for receiving the input signal; a voltage reference circuit for receiving an input voltage and producing a reference voltage having a maximum value independent of the input voltage; and a trigger configured to compare the input signal and the reference voltage and to output a detection signal to the output when the voltage of the input signal reaches the first threshold. The voltage reference circuit comprises a reset input connected to either the input or the output and is configured to reduce the reference voltage when a predetermined reset signal is received.

Abstract: Thermal barrier coatings and methods to make such coatings present improved resistance to CMAS infiltration. The method for forming a thermal barrier coating includes applying a layer of the thermal barrier coating to a component having a surface, forming a plurality of first channels in the thermal barrier coating, and forming a plurality of second channels in the thermal barrier coating. The first channels extend through a thickness of the thermal barrier coating from an interface with the surface of the component to a free surface opposite the interface. The second channels are disposed between the free surface and the interface and extending lengthwise generally parallel to the free surface of the thermal barrier coating.

Abstract: A thermoelectric composition is provided that includes a nanocomposite comprising a copper selenide (Cu2Se) matrix having a plurality of nanoinclusions comprising copper metal selenide (CuMSe2) distributed therein. M may be selected from the group consisting of: indium (In), aluminum (Al), gallium (Ga), antimony (Sb), bismuth (Bi), and combinations thereof. The thermoelectric composition has an average figure of merit (ZT) of greater than or equal to about 1.5 at a temperature of less than or equal to about 850K (about 577° C.). Methods of making such a thermoelectric nanocomposite material by a sequential solid-state transformation of a CuSe2 precursor are also provided.

Abstract: A moving object localization system includes: a sensor that detects a moving object and measures positional information of the moving object; and a server that collects measured information from the sensor and calculates a position of moving object.

Abstract: A system and method of determining blood pressure includes measuring heart sounds, separating the measured heart sounds into a first heart sound (S1) and a second heart sound (S2), mathematically characterizing S1 and S2, and determining a blood pressure based on the characterization.

Abstract: Described herein are anticancer complexes suitable for oral administration comprising an anticancer prodrug moiety comprising (i) a caspase-cleavable peptide, attached directly or through a linker, to (ii) an anticancer chemotherapeutic agent; and (b) a bile acid moiety, wherein the bile acid moiety is non-covalently complexed to the anticancer prodrug moiety. Also described is the preparation of such anticancer complexes and their use in combination with a treatment that induces apoptosis (e.g., radiotherapy) for inducing amplified apoptosis of tumor cells and treating cancer.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and compositions of matter involving enzyme-mediated bioelectrocatalysis are disclosed and described. An enzyme electrode can include an electrode, a bioelectric material coupled to the electrode, the bioelectric material further including a water-permeable polymer matrix, a planar linker covalently coupled to the water-permeable polymer matrix and noncovalently coupled to the electrode, and electrochemically active oxidoreductase enzyme molecules functionally embedded in the water-permeable polymer matrix.

Abstract: The present invention provides for depositing a desired pattern (31) of magnetic material (30) on a non-magnetic substrate (20). Control of the deposition pattern (31) is achieved by use of a magnetised template (10) shaped to correspond to the desired deposition pattern. In use, the template (10) is placed behind the substrate (20). Subsequently, the front surface of the substrate (20) is exposed to a solution containing the magnetic material (30) to be deposited. The magnetic material (30) is attracted to the magnetised template (10) and consequently is deposited in a pattern (31) covering areas corresponding to the shape of the template (10).

Abstract: The invention pertains to a method for efficiently spitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using a nanocomposite that includes ((BiVO4)x—(TiO2)1-x, wherein x ranges from 0.08 to 0.12, and optionally silver nanoparticles; methods for making a nanocomposite used in this method by a simple solvothermal method; and to photoanodes and photoelectrochemical cells and devices containing the nanocomposites.

Abstract: A process for producing a radiation resistant nanocrystalline material having a polycrystalline microstructure from a starting material selected from metals and metal alloys. The process including depositing the starting material by physical vapor deposition onto a substrate that is maintained at a substrate temperature from about room temperature to about 850° C. to produce the nanocrystalline material. The process may also include heating the nanocrystalline material to a temperature of from about 450° C. to about 800° C. at a rate of temperature increase of from about 2° C./minute to about 30° C./minute; and maintaining the nanocrystalline material at the temperature of from about 450° C. to about 800° C. for a period from about 5 minutes to about 35 minutes. The nanocrystalline materials produced by the above process are also described. The nanocrystalline materials produced by the process are resistant to radiation damage.

Abstract: A wireless biological signal communication terminal is provided with: a sensor unit which detects a biological signal; an A/D converting unit which performs A/D conversion of the biological signal in accordance with a set sampling frequency to obtain biological signal data; a recording unit which records a plurality of items of A/D converted biological signal data; a control unit which processes the plurality of items of biological signal data recorded by the recording unit in a prescribed period of time; a wireless module unit and an antenna which wirelessly transmit the result of the processing performed by the control unit to an external device; and a power supply unit which supplies power to drive the devices.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for reducing the level of nornicotine and N?-nitrosonornicotine (NNN) in Nicotiana plants and plant parts thereof are provided. The compositions comprise isolated polynucleotides and polypeptides for cytochrome P450s that are involved in the metabolic conversion of nicotine to nornicotine in these plants. Expression cassettes, vectors, plants, and plant parts thereof comprising inhibitory sequences that target expression or function of the disclosed cytochrome P450 polypeptides are also provided. Methods for the use of these novel sequences to inhibit expression or function of cytochrome P450 polypeptides involved in this metabolic conversion are also provided. The methods find use in the production of tobacco products that have reduced levels of nornicotine and its carcinogenic metabolite, NNN, and thus reduced carcinogenic potential for individuals consuming these tobacco products or exposed to secondary smoke derived from these products.

Abstract: A lithium ion battery for vehicles is provided. The battery includes a substrate, a positive electrode auxiliary layer disposed on the substrate and including at least one of platinum, gold, palladium, silver or combinations thereof, a positive electrode disposed on the positive electrode auxiliary layer and including an active material selected from at least one of LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4, LiCoPO4, LiMnPO4, or combinations thereof, an electrolyte layer disposed on the positive electrode, and a negative electrode disposed on the electrolyte layer.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a far-field optical super-resolution microscopy method, and particularly relates to an optical super-resolution microscopy method for micro-structures on the surface of a sample. The present invention measures the vibration modes of different micro-samples via a laser interference vibrometer, and utilizes different eigen-vibration frequencies of the micro-structures on the surface of the sample to render, under the cooperation of a sub-nanometer two-dimensional displacement scanning translation stage, a high-resolution spatial position, an excitation frequency vibration spectrum and an image pattern, thus realizing super-resolution microscopy imaging. Since the present invention utilizes the different vibration frequencies of the micro-structures on the surface of the sample to perform marking, and adopts a laser to excite and detect the vibration of the micro-structures, the method has the characteristics of causing no mark, no damage and no contamination to the sample.

Abstract: A device for protecting an umbilical stump-catheter interface, includes: a shield having a wall that defines a cavity for accommodating an umbilical stump, wherein the shield further includes a base for attachment to a patient; and an opening at the shield for allowing an umbilical catheter to extend therethrough. A method for protecting an umbilical stump-catheter interface, includes: providing a device having a shield with a wall that defines a cavity for accommodating an umbilical stump, wherein the shield further includes a base for attachment to a patient, and wherein the device further includes an opening at the shield; shielding the umbilical stump from an environment using the shield; and accommodating an umbilical catheter using the opening at the shield.

Abstract: The present invention is generally related to separators for use in lithium metal batteries, and associated systems and products. Certain embodiments are related to separators that form or are repaired when an electrode is held at a voltage. In some embodiments, an electrochemical cell may comprise an electrolyte that comprises a precursor for the separator.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of methods that utilize dry adhesion tuning of a composite structure to adhere substrates. In some embodiments, the disclosed methods utilize dry adhesion between a composite structure and a substrate and further dynamically control the resulting dry adhesion strength through a heating step, which facilitates rigidity tuning of a core component of the composite structure and/or facilitates thermal control of the interface between the substrate and the composite structure. Also disclosed herein are array devices and other products comprising the disclosed composite structures.

Abstract: The concepts and technologies disclosed herein are directed to parallelism for virtual network functions (“VNFs”) in service function chains (“SFCs”). According to one aspect, a packet processing system can receive instructions to process, in parallel, at least a portion of a plurality of data packets associated with an SFC including a plurality of VNFs. The system can create a copy of at least the portion of the data packets. The system can send the copy of at least the portion of the data packets to at least two VNFs. The at least two VNFs can process, in parallel, the copy of at least the portion of the data packets. The system can receive, from the at least two VNFs, processed packets including the copy of at least the portion of the data packets and processed, in parallel, by the at least two VNFs. The system can combine the processed packets.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a prosthesis that may be used to replace standard prosthetic material used in osteo-odonto-keratoprosthesis (OOKP) surgery. The disclosed prosthesis is not prepared from tissue removed from a patient's tooth and jaw bone, but rather is a synthetic prosthesis. The synthetic prosthesis typically includes a solid part for supporting an optical cylinder and a porous part that facilitates bio-integration of the implanted prosthesis into the patient's eye.