Abstract: This disclosure provides techniques and systems for evaluating the performance and learning of neuronal cell cultures. This is done with a collection of reference environments that provide reinforcement learning tasks. A neuronal cell culture is communicatively connected to a conventional electronic computing device that provides inputs and measures outputs. The connection may be implemented, for example, with a multi-electrode array (MEA). A reinforcement learning “gym” is created from multiple reinforcement learning tasks that can be provided to a neuronal cell culture in a standardized way. The neuronal cell cultures are trained to perform the tasks by use of rewards. This provides a standardized framework to evaluate biological learning in neuronal cell cultures so that different types of neuronal cell cultures can be compared. Standardized and reproducible techniques for evaluating the learning of neuronal cell cultures aids the development of neuronal cell cultures as compute substrates.

Abstract: This disclosure provides techniques and systems for using neuronal cell cultures such as organoids as a testing platform for drug development. The neuronal cell cultures are trained to perform goal-oriented behavioral tasks. The ability of the neurons to perform a task is identified through connections to a computing device that provides inputs and measures outputs from the neurons. The neuronal cell culture is then exposed to a potential drug while evaluating its ability to perform the task. The performance of the neuronal cell culture in the presence and absence of the drug is compared and this provides the basis for evaluating the effects of the drug. Better performance on the task may indicate efficacy of the drug while decreased competency decreased competency may indicate toxicity. Personalized testing can be provided by using induced pluripotent stem cells generated from a patient's own somatic cells.

Abstract: This disclosure provides techniques and systems for using a neuronal cell culture such as an organoid as a compute substrate. The cell culture is communicatively connected to an electronic computing device that provides input signals and receives output signals from the cell culture. The connection may be implemented, for example, with a multi-electrode array (MEA). The neuronal cell culture may function as a reservoir in reservoir computing. The neuronal cell culture when functioning as a reservoir provides a fixed, non-linear system that receives inputs and generates outputs. The neuronal cell culture may also function as a spiking neural network (SNN) where the neurons are nodes and the activation potentials are spikes. Neuronal cell cultures provide compute substrates that are energy efficient, cost-effective to manufacture, biodegradable, and adaptable.

Abstract: The techniques disclosed herein enable a realistic, inclusive sense of physical presence for videoconference participants that is comparable to in-person communication. Multiple users are simultaneously provided with an immersive experience without the need for head-mounted displays or other wearable technology. Specifically, a real-time three-dimensional model of a scene at the remote end of the videoconference is received. At the same time, the location and perspective of each local participant is determined. Each local participant is then individually provided with a spatially correct stereoscopic view of the model. The sense of physical presence is created by changing what each local participant sees in response to a change in their perspective. The sense of physical presence is enhanced by enabling direct eye contact, clear communication of emotional state and other non-verbal cues, and a shared visual experience and audio ambience across locations.

Abstract: Cryogenic removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, or CryoDAC (Cryogenic Direct Air Capture), uses extremely low temperatures to convert atmospheric CO2 into a frozen solid while other components of air such as oxygen and nitrogen remain as gases. Air from the atmosphere is passed through a recuperative heat exchanger to cool the air to a temperature slightly above the deposition point of CO2. The cooled air is then passed over a deposition surface chilled to a temperature below the deposition point of CO2. Carbon dioxide in the air transitions from gas to solid form upon contact with the deposition surface. The frozen CO2 is collected and stored. The cold air with CO2 removed is passed back through the recuperative heat exchanger to cool incoming air and is then returned to the atmosphere. The deposition surface may be cooled by a cryogenic refrigerator.

Abstract: In a system including a processor and a computer-readable medium in communication with the processor, the computer-readable medium includes executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to control the system to perform receiving, from a remote system via a communication network, a first remote field of view (FOV) of a remote subject; causing, based on the received first remote FOV, a camera orienting unit to orient a camera in a first orientation, wherein the camera oriented in the first orientation has a first local FOV corresponding to the first remote FOV received from the remote system; upon orienting the camera in the first orientation, causing an image capturing unit to capture a first local image through a display; and transmitting, to the remote system via the communication network, the captured first local image.

Abstract: Aspects extend to methods, systems, and computer program products for predicting solid state drive reliability. Aspects of the invention can be used to predict and/or to configure a data center to minimize one or more of: SSD capacity degradation (how much storage an SSD has left), SSD performance degradation (reduced read/write latency/throughput), and SSD failure. Models and data center considerations can be based on device level SSD related operations, such as, for example, read, write, erase. Operations decisions can be made for a data center based on SSD specific features, such as, for example, remaining capacity, write amplification factor, etc. Dependence and/or causality of various different data center factors can be leveraged. The impact of the various data center factors on different SSD failure modes and capacity/performance degradation can be quantified to drive SSD design, SSD provisioning, and SSD operations.

Abstract: Aspects extend to methods, systems, and computer program products for predicting solid state drive reliability. Aspects of the invention can be used to predict and/or to configure a data center to minimize one or more of: SSD capacity degradation (how much storage an SSD has left), SSD performance degradation (reduced read/write latency/throughput), and SSD failure. Models and data center considerations can be based on device level SSD related operations, such as, for example, read, write, erase. Operations decisions can be made for a data center based on SSD specific features, such as, for example, remaining capacity, write amplification factor, etc. Dependence and/or causality of various different data center factors can be leveraged. The impact of the various data center factors on different SSD failure modes and capacity/performance degradation can be quantified to drive SSD design, SSD provisioning, and SSD operations.