Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a microfluidic channel composition configured for establishing a liquid-liquid interface and a microfluidic platform comprising the microfluidic channel composition. More particularly, the present disclosure includes a microfluidic platform for analyzing oil-aqueous interface interactions and methods utilizing the platform, for instance to evaluate environmental settings where oil may be present.

Abstract: The corrosion of unprotected steel substrates causes damage that is costly to repair or replace. Current protective coatings predominately rely on environmentally harmful anticorrosive agents and toxic solvents to protect the underlying substrate. The use of lawsone (2-hydroxy-1,4-napthoquinone) together with a environmentally benign epoxy coating provides an environmentally-friendly alternative for common protective coatings. Microencapsulated lawsone embedded coatings allows the anticorrosive agent to remain dormant until released by damage and is then deposited directly onto the steel substrate. Both visual and electrochemical analysis shows that this self-protective scheme leads to 60% corrosion inhibition in a neutral salt water solution.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving, in a root tile of an accelerator device having a plurality of tiles, a message from a processor, the message comprising a register write request to a register of a first remote tile of the plurality of remote tiles; decoding, in an endpoint controller of the root tile, a system address of the message to identify a destination tile for the message, based at least in part on a base address register decode of the system address; and in response to identifying the first remote tile as the destination tile, updating a first portion of an address offset field of the system address to a predetermined value and directing the message to the first remote tile coupled to the root tile via a sideband interconnect. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A partially degradable polymeric fiber includes a thermally degradable polymeric core and a coating surrounding at least a portion of the core. The thermally degradable polymeric core includes a polymeric matrix including a poly(hydroxy-alkanoate), and a metal selected from the group consisting of an alkali earth metal and a transition metal, in the core polymeric matrix. The concentration of the metal in the polymeric matrix is at least 0.1 wt %. The partially degradable polymeric fiber may be used to form a microvascular system containing one or more microfluidic channels.

Abstract: An antenna system having at least one active element with a first end thereof for connection to a radio receiver, transmitter or transceiver and at least one electromechanical resonator connected in series with (i) at least portion of said at least one active element and at least another portion of said at least one active element or (ii) said at least one active element and said radio receiver, transmitter or transceiver. The at least one active element exhibits capacitive reactance at an intended frequency of operation and the at least one electromechanical resonator exhibits inductive reactance at the intended frequency of operation, the inductive reactance of the at least one electromechanical resonator offsetting or partially offsetting the capacitive reactance of the at least one antenna element at the intended frequency of operation.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes obtaining harvest data indicative of a prior harvesting operation on a field, identifying a region of the field having already-harvested crop plants based on the harvest data, detecting a characteristic of crop plants in a field in a path of an agricultural harvesting machine in a direction of travel, generating, based on the detected characteristic, a height metric representing a height of the crop plants on a particular area of the field, and generating a control signal to control the agricultural harvesting machine based on the height metric and the identified region.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a composition of matter comprising purified cyclic poly(phthalaldehyde) (cPPA) and a plasticizer. The composition enables thermal processing and molding in bulk quantities, and is designed to degrade when contacted by an acid or exposed to a high enough temperature. Photodegradable cPPA containing a photooxidant is disclosed. Methods of making and recycling the composition of matter are also provided.

Abstract: An assistive navigational system for deployment in a facility having a global frame of reference includes: a server including a memory storing: a plurality of anchor definitions each containing (i) an anchor position in the global frame of reference, and (ii) a feature set corresponding to physical characteristics of the facility at the anchor position; and a task definition containing (i) a task position defined relative to the anchor position, and (ii) task overlay data; the server further including a communications interface, and a processor configured to: select one of the anchor definitions for association with the task definition; and transmit the selected anchor definition and the task definition to a mobile computing device, the mobile computing device configured to receive the selected anchor definition and the task definition; the mobile computing device further configured to present the task overlay data on a display.

Abstract: A gaming system and method corresponding to a linked bingo tournament is described. The gaming system includes bingo gaming clients, a progressive prize, a tournament session, bingo game sessions, and a tournament prize. The tournament session includes predetermined bingo game sessions for each bingo gaming client. Each bingo game session for each bingo gaming client associates a random bingo outcome with a symbolic representation that is displayed on each bingo gaming client. The tournament prize is awarded to one or more bingo gaming clients displaying a highest point total upon completion of the tournament session. The progressive prize is awarded to each player at the completion of the game session when the random bingo outcome matches a progressive prize bingo pattern. The progressive prize is evenly split among two or more player when the two or more players achieve the progressive prize bingo pattern.

Abstract: A method of updating software, performed by respective machines in a linear communication orbit includes, at a local server executed by a respective machine, receiving, via the linear communication orbit, update metadata. At an update module executed by the respective machine, an update module evaluates software version information using the update metadata to determine a set of one or more updates to be applied to one or more software programs. A patch module sends, via the linear communication orbit, requests for one or more software update files corresponding to the set of one or more updates, and receives the one or more software update files corresponding to the set of one or more updates. The update module then updates the one or more of the software programs by applying the received one or more software update files to the one or more of the software programs.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a novel method of 3D printing using frontal polymerization chemistry. This method enables the printing of tough, high quality thermosets in a short time with the option of adding fiber reinforcement. As such, it facilitates fabrication of mechanically robust 3D-printed devices and structures.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for hardware-accelerating various data processing operations in a rule-based decision-making system such as a business rules engine, an event stream processor, and a complex event stream processor. Preferably, incoming data streams are checked against a plurality of rule conditions. Among the data processing operations that are hardware-accelerated include rule condition check operations, filtering operations, and path merging operations. The rule condition check operations generate rule condition check results for the processed data streams, wherein the rule condition check results are indicative of any rule conditions which have been satisfied by the data streams. The generation of such results with a low degree of latency provides enterprises with the ability to perform timely decision-making based on the data present in received data streams.

Abstract: A harvesting head for a collection machine that harvests material. The head includes conveyor belts to transport material towards the collection machine, and blower heads to help prevent material from falling off the conveyor belts. The conveyor belts can include a feed belt that feeds material towards the collection machine, and a side belt that carries material towards the feed belt. Blower heads can blow across the side belt and towards the center of the feed belt. Blower heads can be located below the side belt. Blower heads can be located near the front of the feed belt and blow towards the collection machine. A feed drum can move material towards the collection machine, and blower heads can blow across the feed drum and towards the feed belt or collection machine. Blower heads can be movable, or have adjustable flow rate, velocity, direction or spread.

Abstract: A holographic antenna including a transmission line structure having a traveling wave mode along a length of the transmission line structure, and a plurality of reconfigurable radiating elements located along the length of the transmission line structure.

Abstract: A pipe rotator assembly includes a frame upon which a cylindrical pipe is supportable, and a wheel rotatably coupled to the frame and engageable with the pipe for imparting rotation thereto in response to rotation of the wheel. The pipe rotator assembly additionally includes a drive shaft coupled to the wheel for transferring torque thereto, causing the wheel to rotate, and a drive unit for providing torque to the drive shaft. The drive unit includes an electric motor and an onboard power source for powering the motor.

Abstract: An improved cryopreservation process and substances can involve a cellular collection (1) in a cryopreservation fluid (4) that has been conditioned or treated (7) to enhance the cryopreservation process by adding (18) energy (19) such as in the surface energy of a substance in the cryopreservation fluid (4) prior to reducing energy for that same cryopreservation media for freezing. This can offer enhanced-post-cryogenic viability of the cryopreserved structures or a more optimum cooling curve (22) for a specific cell type.

Abstract: An example system includes a controller configured to: receive pressure information indicative of a pressure level of the pressurized fuel between an electro-mechanical valve and an engine; based on the pressure level being below a first threshold pressure, send a first signal to open the electro-mechanical valve; determine, based on the pressure information, that the pressure level is increasing upon sending the first signal; in response to the pressure level increasing, send a second signal to activate a pump; determine that the pressure level has increased to a second threshold pressure; and provide information indicating that the engine is ready for operation.

Abstract: A system and method for a dual-polarized active artificial magnetic conductor (AAMC) is presented in this disclosure. An embodiment of the proposed system comprises an array of unit cells that reflects electromagnetic waves polarized parallel to a surface with a zero-degree phase shift. The array of unit cells has impedance elements connected to neighboring impedance elements with non-Foster circuits coupled in a crossover configuration, each impedance element being coupled to a ground with a conductive via.

Abstract: An assistive navigational system for deployment in a facility having a global frame of reference includes: a server including a memory storing: a plurality of anchor definitions each containing (i) an anchor position in the global frame of reference, and (ii) a feature set corresponding to physical characteristics of the facility at the anchor position; and a task definition containing (i) a task position defined relative to the anchor position, and (ii) task overlay data; the server further including a communications interface, and a processor configured to: select one of the anchor definitions for association with the task definition; and transmit the selected anchor definition and the task definition to a mobile computing device, the mobile computing device configured to receive the selected anchor definition and the task definition; the mobile computing device further configured to present the task overlay data on a display.