Abstract: System and methods are provided for automated system design. The system receives input requirements and applies an algorithm to automatically identify hardware components that satisfy the requirements. The recommended components are presented in a graphical user interface. If there are no hardware components to satisfy the design, then the system presents error messages.

Abstract: A remote inspection vehicle for inspecting a plant for early drought stress and a neural network model for calculating a score corresponding to a level of early drought stress in the plant. The inspection vehicle may be equipped with an inspection camera having a radiometric infrared sensor and a red, green, and blue light sensor to capture plant images. Image data from the inspection vehicle, as well as soil moisture and calculated CWSI scores, can be used to train the neural network model, deriving weights and biases therefrom using a plurality of neural network layers. Using a plant canopy temperature value, a red raster value, a green raster value, a blue raster value, and a soil moisture value, the trained neural network model can generate a score which can be used to assess the level of early drought stress in a plant.

Abstract: A firm but pliable medical device for use as a bone graft substitute or bone graft extender retains its shape without the requirement of a containment device, such as a syringe. Because the device is solid, it is easy to locate or position in-vivo and, in the moist environment of the body, it will hold its shape well, for an extended time. Because the lyophilized pliable medical device is porous, it adsorbs blood and other beneficial cells containing body fluids, such as bone marrow, contributing to its superior bone repair efficacy in comparison to an analogous putty that has not been lyophilized. In addition these lyophilized pliable medical devices are easier to terminally steam sterilize than the analogous putty because there is no moisture present to boil and “blow-out” of the containment device (syringe). The glycerin that is present in the formulation lends pliability but has a low vapor pressure.

Abstract: An etch rate of a nitride liner layer is improved relative to an etch rate of a nitride cap layer. The nitride liner layer is located at an exposed portion of a substrate adjacent to a stacked structure also located atop the substrate. The nitride cap layer is located atop the stacked structure. An oxide spacer is formed along sidewalls of the stacked structure. The nitride liner layer is patterned and etched to form at least one opening therein to the substrate while the nitride cap layer remains substantially intact.

Abstract: An etch rate of a nitride liner layer is improved relative to an etch rate of a nitride cap layer. The nitride liner layer is located at an exposed portion of a substrate adjacent to a stacked structure also located atop the substrate. The nitride cap layer is located atop the stacked structure. An oxide spacer is formed along sidewalls of the stacked structure. The nitride liner layer is patterned and etched to form at least one opening therein to the substrate while the nitride cap layer remains substantially intact.

Abstract: A thin film deposition method comprises the steps of preparing a magnetron sputtering system having a magnetic field generation unit for changing a magnetic field, mounting, as a target, a composite material on a cathode of the magnetron sputtering system, providing a to-be-processed substrate on an anode of the magnetron sputtering system, evacuating a chamber of the magnetron sputtering system and thereafter filling the chamber with inert gas, and applying, onto the cathode, one of DC power and RF power and, at the same time, an alternating magnetic field from a lower portion of the target, thereby controlling a cycle and intensity of the alternating magnetic field to change a ratio of the not less than two components of the thin film in a film thickness direction of the thin film.

Abstract: Oral compositions such as toothpastes, mouthwashes and the like containing specific organic peroxyacids which prevent stain or remove stain rapidly and effectively and processes for preventing or removing stain using said compositions.