Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include a scanning electron microscope (SEM) having an electron gun configured to generate an electron beam that is directed along an axis through a column of the SEM towards a sample stage. In some embodiments, the SEM includes a first backscattered electron (BSE) detector mounted along the axis. In some examples, the SEM further includes a second BSE detector mounted off the axis, where the second BSE detector wraps around a bottom portion of the column. The second BSE detector, in some examples, includes a plurality of blades having either a flat shape or an arc shape in a side view. Additionally, in some embodiments, the plurality of blades are arranged in a circular configuration in a top view.

Abstract: A data processing method implemented by a computer device, includes generating a target task including a buffer application task or a buffer release task, when the target task is the buffer application task, a first buffer corresponding to the buffer application task is used when the second task is executed, or when the target task is the buffer release task, a second buffer corresponding to the buffer release task is used when the first task is executed, obtaining a buffer entry corresponding to the target task after a preceding task of the target task is executed and before a successive task of the target task is executed, where the buffer entry includes a memory size of a buffer corresponding to the target task, a memory location of the buffer, and a memory address of the buffer, and executing the target task to apply for or release the buffer.

Abstract: An ignition method is provided for an internal combustion engine having an engine cylinder and a remote ignition chamber in fluid communication with the main combustion chamber via a tubing assembly. The remote ignition chamber and tube are charged with a first combustible charge gas. The main combustion chamber is charged with a second combustible charge gas. A plurality of high-voltage electrodes arranged along the tube are used to pretreat the first combustible charge gas to generate radicals therein. The pretreated first combustible charge gas is ignited to produce a deflagration flame. A plurality of high-energy discharge sparkplugs arranged along the tube are used to sense a property of the deflagration flame. When the sensed property of the deflagration flame is within predetermined threshold limits, at least one of the high-energy discharge sparkplugs is used to provide a transient high energy spark to the deflagration flame to stimulate deflagration-to-detonation transition.

Abstract: Systems and methods herein present a multi-modal model, or insight miner, for agricultural use. The model is used for generating actionable insights from time-series agricultural data. To do so, a control system of a farming machine includes the insight miner and a training module. The miner ingests agricultural information (e.g., time series field measurements), identifies trends in the time-series data (e.g., increasing, decreasing, etc.), and determines potential farming actions to take based on identified trends. To do so, the model generates visual representations of the time-series data, inputs the visual representations into a model to obtain a natural language description of that data, and enact farming actions based on the insights obtained. The training module trains the model by generating visual representation and natural language pairs, which are used to train the model.

Abstract: A target position determination of a single-slot collimating plate and a collimator assembly are disclosed. A first measurement signal is acquired based upon of the first instance of air scanning, when the single-slot collimating plate moves a predetermined distance from a starting position to a first position in a first direction of the Z axis. A second measurement signal is acquired based upon the second instance of air scanning, when the single-slot collimating plate moves a predetermined distance from the starting position to a second position in the direction opposite to the first direction. A composite measurement signal and a composite air calibration signal are determined based upon the first measurement signal and the second measurement signal. The composite measurement signal is calibrated using the composite air calibration signal. The target position of the single-slot collimating plate is determined based upon the calibrated composite measurement signal.

Abstract: Various arrangements of antenna systems are detailed herein. Such an antenna system can include first antenna connected to a printed circuit board. The antenna system further includes a second antenna connected to the printed circuit board. The antenna system further includes a decoupling structure connected to the printed circuit board at a location between the first antenna and the second antenna.

Abstract: Implementations are described herein for estimating aggregate trait values for agricultural plots. In various implementations, a plurality of images depicting crops in an agricultural plot may be processed using a feature extraction portion of aggregate trait estimation model to generate a corresponding plurality of embeddings. The plurality of embeddings may be combined to obtain a unified representation of the crops in the agricultural plot. Using a prediction portion of the aggregate trait estimation model, the unified representation of the crops may be processed to estimate, as a direct output of the aggregate trait estimation model, an aggregate trait value of the crops in the agricultural plot. Data indicative of the estimated aggregate trait value of the crops in the agricultural plot may be output at a computing device.

Abstract: Techniques are described herein for using artificial intelligence to predict crop yields based on observational crop data. A method includes: obtaining a first digital image of at least one plant; segmenting the first digital image of the at least one plant to identify at least one seedpod in the first digital image; for each of the at least one seedpod in the first digital image: determining a color of the seedpod; determining a number of seeds in the seedpod; inferring, using one or more machine learning models, a moisture content of the seedpod based on the color of the seedpod; and estimating, based on the moisture content of the seedpod and the number of seeds in the seedpod, a weight of the seedpod; and predicting a crop yield based on the moisture content and the weight of each of the at least one seedpod.

Abstract: This document describes a multimode high-isolation antenna system and associated methods and systems. The described antenna system is implemented on a generally-circular printed circuit board and can be used for wideband and ultra-wideband applications. The multimode high-isolation antenna system includes two orthogonal antennas separated by a decoupling structure. This arrangement provides high isolation between the antennas and enables five unique resonant modes of operation for the multimode high-isolation antenna system.

Abstract: A method for regulating color of a hard coating, including the following steps: providing an amorphous alloy layer; forming an amorphous metal oxide layer on a surface of the amorphous alloy layer to stack the amorphous metal oxide layer on the amorphous alloy layer, so that the amorphous metal oxide layer and the amorphous alloy layer together form the hard coating, wherein a band gap of the amorphous metal oxide layer is in a range from 2 eV to 5 eV, and the color of the hard coating is capable of varying within the visible light spectrum depending on thickness of the amorphous metal oxide layer; and controlling the thickness of the amorphous metal oxide layer in the formation of the amorphous metal oxide layer to obtain the amorphous metal oxide layer of a predetermined color. A hard coating and a method for preparing the same are also provided.

Abstract: A computed tomography (CT) machine system and a state monitoring method are described. The CT machine system comprises a drum-shaped component, a 3D camera, and a control system. The drum-shaped component comprises a cylindrical body, with the center of the cylindrical body being provided with a hollow portion which is rotationally symmetrical about the central axis of the cylindrical body, a rotating component disposed in the cylindrical body rotating about the central axis, a plurality of trigger marks arranged in the rotating component, and a window provided in the cylindrical body. The 3D camera generates image data that is transferred to the control system, from which the control system determines state data of the CT machine. The 3D camera captures an image of the trigger marks through the window to generate marked image data.

Abstract: A triboelectric nanogenerating device is configured for providing an electric power to an electronic device and the triboelectric nanogenerating device includes at least one scaly triboelectric membrane configured for providing the electric power to the electronic device by frictional electrification. The at least one scaly triboelectric membrane includes a keratin and a polyvinyl alcohol, the at least one scaly triboelectric membrane has a first triboelectric surface, and the first triboelectric surface of the at least one scaly triboelectric membrane includes a plurality of scaly layers. Each of the scaly layers is arranged in order and extends along an orienting direction. A distal end of each of the scaly layers has a plurality of saw-tooth structures.

Abstract: In the spark plug heat rating measurement method and system based on spark discharge current active heating, the spark plug is installed in a constant-temperature water jacket cooling chamber with a specific torque. A constant spark discharge current control module is connected to the high-voltage terminal of the spark plug, to provide real-time controlled discharge current to heat up the high-voltage central electrode of the spark plug. During the spark discharge process, the temperature change of the high-voltage central electrode and the surrounding ceramic insulator are measured by a temperature detection module and used to determine the heat rating of the spark plug. By real time adjusting the discharge current level of the spark plug, or providing a same amount of spark energy to the spark gap, the heat ratings of spark plugs with different ceramic insulation structures can be evaluated through the temperature changes during discharge or after discharge.

Abstract: Disclosed are approaches to acquiring a “disease fingerprint” from biosamples by collecting large data sets of physicochemical interactions to a sensor array composed of organic color center-modified carbon nanotubes. Array responses from subjects may be used to train and validate machine learning models to differentiate diseases and healthy individuals. The trained learning models may be used to subsequently classify patients based on nanosensor array emission data.

Abstract: Described herein are biomarkers for HPV-associated pre-cancers and cancers such as cervical cancer and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. The RNA binding protein (RBP) and long-noncoding RNA (lnc-RNA) biomarkers can be detected and used to diagnose HPV-associated pre-cancers and cancers. In addition, early diagnosis of HPV-associated pre-cancers and cancers can facilitate therapeutic intervention in patients, particularly in the pre-cancer stage which can delay or prevent progression to cancer.

Abstract: A dual-mode antenna array receives RF signaling for AoA analysis, and includes a substrate, a ground plane disposed at a first side and a pair of radiating elements disposed at a second side. Each radiating element of the pair includes conductive material arranged in a modified rectangular shape having a first slot at a first side, a second slot at a second side, a third slot at a third side, and a fourth slot at a fourth side. The antenna array further includes a feed probe disposed adjacent to the pair of radiating elements and a pair of feedlines, each feedline conductively connected, at a first end, to the feed probe and connected, at a second end, to each of a first feed point and a second feed point of a corresponding radiating element.

Abstract: Implementations are described herein for normalizing counts of plant-parts-of-interest detected in digital imagery to account for differences in spatial dimensions of plants, particularly plant heights. In various implementations, one or more digital images depicting a top of a first plant may be processed. The one or more digital images may have been acquired by a vision sensor carried over top of the first plant by a ground-based vehicle. Based on the processing: a distance of the vision sensor to the first plant may be estimated, and a count of visible plant-parts-of-interest that were captured within a field of view of the vision sensor may be determined. Based on the estimated distance, the count of visible plant-parts-of-interest may be normalized with another count of visible plant-parts-of-interest determined from one or more digital images capturing a second plant.

Abstract: Techniques and apparatuses are described that implement a metal structure for steering and broadening millimeter-wave (mmWave) antenna coverage. A user device includes at least one mmWave antenna that produces a near-field radiation region and a far-field radiation pattern. Disposed within the near-field radiation region is the metal structure comprising one or more metal pieces. The metal pieces are able to reflect energy associated with the far-field radiation pattern or produce another far-field radiation pattern based on currents induced in the metal pieces by the near-field radiation region in such a way that the far-field radiation pattern from the mmWave antenna is positively affected (e.g., steered and/or broadened). In this way, the far-field radiation pattern can be effectively steered and/or broadened with a simple cost and space-effective design.

Abstract: This document describes a multimode high-isolation antenna system and associated methods and systems. The described antenna system is implemented on a generally-circular printed circuit board and can be used for wideband and ultra-wideband applications. The multimode high-isolation antenna system includes two orthogonal antennas separated by a decoupling structure. This arrangement provides high isolation between the antennas and enables five unique resonant modes of operation for the multimode high-isolation antenna system.