Abstract: The invention provides an omnidirectional treadmill system that uses an inner core which is inflated within a tread membrane. On the outside surface of the inflated inner core are ball casters which push outward against the interior of the membrane, resulting in a low friction barrier between the inner core and the inside surface of the tread membrane. The tread membrane rests on a sphere directly below the user in the center of the device. When the sphere is rotated it drives the tread around the stationary inner core. The sphere rotation is accomplished using a holonomic drive system such as motorized omni wheels. The device uses an enclosure which encircles the tread area. The enclosure serves two purposes: to enhance safety of the user and to provide a surface for image projection to the user in virtual reality applications.

Abstract: Provided herein are composite materials comprising a layup consisting of one or more surfacing sheets comingled with a carbon fiber non-woven mat. The surfacing sheet may comprise polyamide-6 and the carbon fiber non-woven mat may comprise carbon fibers that have been recycled. The surfacing sheets comprise sub-micron scale particles for reducing the thermal expansion coefficient of the surfacing sheets. The resulting layup is suitable for use in the formation of articles, particularly articles requiring a smooth finish absent of defects caused by underlying surfaces having irregular compositions or textures.

Abstract: A charged particle buncher includes a series of spaced apart electrodes arranged to generate a shaped electric field. The series includes a first electrode, a last electrode and one or more intermediate electrodes. The charged particle buncher includes a waveform device attached to the electrodes and configured to apply a periodic potential waveform to each electrode independently in a manner so as to form a quasi-electrostatic time varying potential gradient between adjacent electrodes and to cause spatial distribution of charged particles that form a plurality of nodes and antinodes. The nodes have a charged particle density and the antinodes have substantially no charged particle density, and the nodes and the antinodes are formed from a charged particle beam configured to hit the target.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein include methods of developing a metal oxo photoresist. In an embodiment, the method comprises providing a substrate with the metal oxo photoresist into a vacuum chamber, where the metal oxo photoresist comprises exposed regions and unexposed regions. In an embodiment, the unexposed regions comprise a higher carbon concentration than the exposed regions. The method may further comprise vaporizing a halogenating agent into the vacuum chamber, where the halogenating agent reacts with either the unexposed regions or the exposed regions to produce a volatile byproduct. In an embodiment, the method may further comprise purging the vacuum chamber.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for self-assembled monolayer (SAM) deposition are provided herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus for self-assembled monolayer (SAM) deposition includes: a chamber enclosing a processing volume; a substrate support disposed in the chamber and configured to support a substrate in the processing volume; a gas distribution system coupled to the chamber and configured to distribute a process gas into the processing volume; a first SAM precursor source fluidly coupled to the gas distribution system to provide a first SAM precursor as a part of the process gas; and a second SAM precursor source fluidly coupled to the gas distribution system to provide a second SAM precursor, different than the first SAM precursor, as a part of the process gas, wherein the first and second SAM precursor sources are independently controllable to control a relative percentage of the first and second SAM precursors in the process gas with respect to each other.

Abstract: In various example embodiments, a system and method for adjusting a user interface according to a cognitive mode is disclosed. In one example embodiment, a method includes receiving a plurality of user events based on a user interacting with a system, determining a cognitive operating mode of the user based on the user events, with the cognitive operating mode selected from a predefined set of cognitive operating modes, and modifying a user interface element according to the cognitive operating mode of the user.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the building industry and in particular to a block for use in automated building construction. In one aspect, the block comprises a generally cuboid body having a top and a base, a length extending between a pair of opposed ends, and a width extending between a pair of opposed sides; the body including a plurality of hollow cores extending from said top to said base, and arranged in a row between said opposed ends; wherein each core has a rectilinear cross-sectional shape; and wherein the thickness of the block between each pair of adjacent cores is at least double the thickness of the block on all other sides of each core, so that the block is divisible into a plurality of substantially identical block portions, each portion including four walls of substantially uniform wall thickness about its core.

Abstract: A dynamic acoustic system for use in connection with an indoor environment includes a plurality of elongated acoustic bars and a controller operably to each of the elongated acoustic bars. Each of the bars is operably coupled to a ceiling member of the indoor environment and includes an upper portion, a lower portion, a plurality of side surfaces extending between the upper and lower portions, an interior region at least partially defined by the upper portion, the lower portion, and the plurality of side surfaces, and at least one movable element movable between first and second positions. The controller selectively controls operation of the at least one movable element of a desired number of the plurality of elongated acoustic bars to alter an environmental characteristic of the indoor environment.

Abstract: A process for the production of hydrogen comprising the steps of subjecting a gaseous mixture comprising a hydrocarbon and steam and having a steam to carbon ratio of at least 2.6:1, to steam reforming in a gas-heated reformer followed by autothermal reforming with an oxygen-rich gas in an autothermal reformer to generate a reformed gas mixture, increasing the hydrogen content of the reformed gas mixture by subjecting it to one or more water-gas shift stages in a water-gas shift unit to provide a hydrogen-enriched reformed gas, cooling the hydrogen-enriched reformed gas and separating condensed water therefrom, passing the resulting de-watered hydrogen-enriched reformed gas to a carbon dioxide separation unit to provide a carbon dioxide gas stream and a crude hydrogen gas stream, and passing the crude hydrogen gas stream to a purification unit to provide a purified hydrogen gas and a fuel gas.

Abstract: A process of hydrogen production comprising the steps of: subjecting a gaseous mixture comprising a hydrocarbon and steam, and having a steam to carbon ratio of at least 0.9:1, to adiabatic pre-reforming in a pre-reformer followed by autothermal reforming with an oxygen-rich gas in an autothermal reformer to generate a reformed gas mixture, optionally adding steam to the reformed gas mixture, increasing the hydrogen content of the reformed gas mixture by subjecting it to one or more water-gas shift stages in a water-gas shift unit to provide a hydrogen-enriched reformed gas, cooling the hydrogen-enriched reformed gas and separating condensed water therefrom, passing the resulting de-watered hydrogen-enriched reformed gas to a carbon dioxide separation unit to provide a carbon dioxide gas stream and a crude hydrogen gas stream, passing the crude hydrogen gas stream to a purification unit to provide a purified hydrogen gas and a fuel gas.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed that generate life scores for individuals based on various information associated with the individuals. For example, life scores may be based on data associated with several aspects of the individual's life, such as work, family, hobbies, education, etc. The life scores may be generated in realtime and/or periodically and provided to the individual and/or shared with others in various formats.

Abstract: Included are a demodulation unit 20 that demodulates a received OFDM modulation signal to acquire a demodulated constellation signal, an ideal constellation signal generation unit 312 that generates an ideal constellation signal from the demodulated constellation signal, a data extraction unit 313 that extracts signal data included in some symbol sections including a known reference symbol, among all symbol sections, from the demodulated constellation signal and the ideal constellation signal, a phase error calculation unit 314 that calculates the phase error of the demodulated constellation signal for the ideal constellation signal, with respect to the extracted signal data, a phase error characteristics estimation unit 315 that estimates the frequency characteristics of the phase error, and a phase error correction unit 316 that corrects the phase error of the demodulated constellation signal, based on the frequency characteristics of the phase error.

Abstract: Virtual firewalls may be established that enforce sets of policies with respect to computing resources maintained by multi-tenant distributed services. Particular subsets of computing resources may be associated with particular tenants of a multi-tenant distributed service. A tenant may establish a firewalling policy set enforced by a virtual firewall for an associated subset of computing resources without affecting other tenants of the multi-tenant distributed service. Virtual firewalls enforcing multiple firewalling policy sets may be maintained by a common firewalling component of the multi-tenant distributed service. Firewalling policy sets may be distributed at multiple locations throughout the multi-tenant distributed service. For a request targeting a particular computing resource, the common firewalling component may identify the associated virtual firewall, and submit the request to the virtual firewall for evaluation in accordance with the corresponding firewalling policy set.

Abstract: Various embodiments relate generally to data science and data analysis, computer software and systems, network communications to interface among repositories of disparate datasets and computing machine-based entities that seek access to the datasets, and, more specifically, to a computing and data storage platform configured to provide one or more computerized tools that facilitate data projects by providing an interactive, project-centric workspace interface that may include, for example, a unified view in which to identify data sources, generate transformative datasets, and/or disseminate insights to collaborative computing devices and user accounts.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a tracking system for tracking the position and orientation of an object in an environment, the tracking system including: (a) a tracking base positioned in the environment; (b) a tracking target mountable to the object, wherein in use the tracking base is linked to the tracking target by: (i) a bidirectional light beam transmitted therebetween; and, (ii) a unidirectional light beam transmitted therebetween, said unidirectional light beam parallel to the bidirectional light beam; and, (c) at least one controller configured to determine a roll angle of the tracking target relative to the tracking base, the roll angle determined at least in part by signals received from a sensor housed in at least one of the tracking base and the tracking target that detects the unidirectional light beam.

Abstract: A rear curbside door assembly includes a door frame, a door, and a support member. The door frame includes first and second side frame members, an upper frame member and at least one stair. The second side frame member is spaced from the first side frame member and is configured for releasable attachment to a D-pillar of a body of a vehicle. The upper frame member extends between the first and second side frame members. The at least one stair extends between the first and second side frame members and is spaced from the upper frame member. The door is pivotally coupled with the door frame. The support member is configured for releasable attachment to a body of a vehicle. The support member is releasably attached to the first side frame member. A vehicle including a rear curbside door assembly and methods thereof are also provided.

Abstract: A stand-alone modular removable rudder system for watercraft having a rudder comprising a steering handle coupled to a quick release mechanism adapted to releasably secure said steering handle to said watercraft in proximity to the operator, said system further comprising, a rudder mount adapted to be coupled to the rear of the watercraft by a quick release mechanism adapted to releasably secure said rudder mount to said watercraft, said rudder being carried by a rudder support pivotal about said rudder mount and cables operatively connecting said steering handle to said rudder mount whereby the steering handle can be operated to steer the rudder.

Abstract: The present invention provides vaccine compositions and methods of producing such compositions. Other embodiments of the invention include methods of treating a pathogen infection, methods of vaccinating a subject against a pathogen infection, and methods for treating an antibiotic-resistance bacterial infection in a subject in need thereof. In further embodiments, the invention includes methods of decreasing the level of a pathogen in a subject having a pathogen infection, methods of increasing the surviving rate of a subject having a pathogen infection, methods of reducing the level of pain associated with a pathogen infection, and methods of reducing the level of distress associated with a pathogen infection in a subject in need thereof. Novel scaffold compositions and opsonin-bound or lectin-bound pathogen compositions, and uses thereof, are also provided herein.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein include methods of depositing a metal oxo photoresist using dry deposition processes. In an embodiment, the method comprises forming a first metal oxo film on the substrate with a first vapor phase process including a first metal precursor vapor and a first oxidant vapor, and forming a second metal oxo film over the first metal oxo film with a second vapor phase process including a second metal precursor vapor and a second oxidant vapor.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a dispensing closure, method of using and making the same that can be filled with a material to be dispensed into a container and more particularly to a dispensing bottle cap that can be operated so the material inside would dispense into the container for mixing with liquid in the container while the container remains sealed. The Bottle cap then can be removed as one unit to open the container.