Abstract: A hair straightening apparatus having two arms pivotably coupled together and arranged to receive hair within a cavity formed between them is disclosed. A plenum in at least one arm includes an air inlet for receiving airflow from a fan unit and an air outlet for emitting airflow towards hair within the cavity. The air outlet extends along the inner wall of at least one of the first arm and the second arm and is adapted to direct airflow towards a lower edge of the arms.

Abstract: A temperature plug assembly includes a plug base having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and an intermediate portion extending between the first end and the second end; and a temperature indicator disposed along the first end of the plug base.

Abstract: Systems and methods for training photonic neural networks in accordance with embodiments of the invention are illustrated. One embodiment includes a method for training a set of one or more optical interference units (OIUs) of a photonic artificial neural network (ANN), wherein the method includes calculating a loss for an original input to the photonic ANN, computing an adjoint input based on the calculated loss, measuring intensities for a set of one or more phase shifters in the set of OIUs when the computed adjoint input and the original input are interfered with each other within the set of OIUs, computing a gradient from the measured intensities, and tuning phase shifters of the OIU based on the computed gradient.

Abstract: Systems and methods for assessing the resilience of an infrastructural system. The system includes a computer program product stored on non-transitory machine-readable media. The media includes machine executable instructions for implementing a method for assessing the resilience of an infrastructural system. The method includes receiving, from an interface, scenario specific data regarding conditions for the infrastructural system; processing the scenario specific data to determine a vulnerability metric for a probability of failure for a component of the infrastructural system; determining, based on the vulnerability metric, an in-situ failure risk of the infrastructural system incorporating a complexity of environmental conditions; determining, based on the vulnerability metric, a recommended maintenance task for the component of the infrastructural system; and providing the in-situ failure risk of the infrastructural system and the recommended maintenance task for the component to the interface.

Abstract: The present technology provides rechargeable alkali metal-sulfur galvanic cells and batteries incorporating such cells as well as methods of using such cell and batteries. The present galvanic cells provide high specific energy and high power at lower cost than conventional alkali metal-sulfur cells.

Abstract: A method of dynamic speed modulation in extended braking applications in a battery-powered electric vehicle is disclosed. The method includes determining a sensed parameter of the battery, and determining a parameter threshold of the battery. If the sensed parameter of the battery is the same or exceeds the parameter threshold, decreasing the groundspeed of the vehicle to a predetermined safe speed. If the sensed parameter of the battery is below the parameter threshold, determining the change in the parameter which would be caused by the regenerative braking system at the current groundspeed of the vehicle. If the change in the parameter would cause the sensed parameter to remain, reach or exceed the parameter threshold, correspondingly decreasing or increasing the groundspeed of the vehicle to cause the sensed parameter to approximate but not exceed the parameter threshold of the battery. A controller and electric vehicle capable of same, are also disclosed.

Abstract: New dual temperature electrochemical methods and systems for the production of sodium metal from sodium polysulfides have been discovered. The technology provides high conductivity for sodium ions and extended service life for the electrochemical cell.

Abstract: Improved training of optical neural networks is provided. In one example: 1) we choose input and target vectors, we program those into an input vector generator and a measurement unit, respectively, we turn on the optical input source power, and we monitor the electrical signal representing the cost function. 2) we can then modulate two or more controllable elements inside the optical network at different frequencies and look for the size and sign of the corresponding distinct AC variations in the measured cost function, simultaneously giving us the gradients with respect to each element.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for the detection of structural variations and/or repair events in chromosomes by labeling of single-stranded chromatids with probes, which in illustrative embodiments are of different colors. The hybridization pattern of the labeled probes produces a spectral pattern that provides high-resolution detection of structural variations and/or repair events, which for example can facilitate distinction of benign structural variations from deleterious structural variations. Further, the spectral pattern provides information regarding complex structural variations where more than one rearrangement of chromosomal segments may have occurred. Spectral information can be used to generate data tables upon which nodal analysis can be applied to identify structural features of interest.

Abstract: Systems and methods for activation in an optical circuit in accordance with embodiments of the invention are illustrated. One embodiment includes an optical activation circuit, wherein the circuit comprises a directional coupler, an optical-to-electrical conversion circuit, a time delay element, a nonlinear signal conditioner, and a phase shifter. The directional coupler receives an optical input and provides a first portion to the optical-to-electrical conversion circuit and a second portion to the time delay element, the time delay element provides a delayed signal to the phase shifter, and the optical-to-electrical conversion circuit converts an optical signal from the directional coupler to an electrical signal used to activate the phase shifter to shift the phase of the delayed signal.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for designing an analog computer that implements a trained recurrent neural network. A computer simulates a wave-based physical system including a wave propagation domain, a boundary layer that approximates a boundary condition, a source of waves, probes for measuring properties of propagated waves, a material within a central region of the wave propagation domain. The simulation also includes a discretized numerical model of a differential equation describing dynamics of wave propagation in the physical system.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for encoding and retrieving data into nucleic acid memory for storage. More specifically, data is encoded into spatial locations within a nucleic acid architecture, which allows the data to be retrieved using super resolution microscopy. The data is then interrogated for errors, the errors corrected, and the data is then decoded.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a system and method for using a pressurized oxy-fired configuration to conduct metal reduction. The invention discloses a process for production of metal from metal oxide ore through reduction, comprising: (a) feeding a mixture of metal oxide ore, fuel and supply of oxygen into the inlet of a metallization reactor, (b) heating the mixture of metal oxide ore, oxygen and fuel in a primary reduction zone of the metallization reactor at a pressure exceeding ambient pressure to produce a product mixture; and (c) separating the product mixture in a gas separation unit at the bottom or downstream of the metallization reactor.

Abstract: A method of dynamic speed modulation in extended braking applications in a battery-powered electric vehicle is disclosed. The method includes determining a sensed parameter of the battery, and determining a parameter threshold of the battery. If the sensed parameter of the battery is the same or exceeds the parameter threshold, decreasing the groundspeed of the vehicle to a predetermined safe speed. If the sensed parameter of the battery is below the parameter threshold, determining the change in the parameter which would be caused by the regenerative braking system at the current groundspeed of the vehicle. If the change in the parameter would cause the sensed parameter to remain, reach or exceed the parameter threshold, correspondingly decreasing or increasing the groundspeed of the vehicle to cause the sensed parameter to approximate but not exceed the parameter threshold of the battery. A controller and electric vehicle capable of same, are also disclosed.

Abstract: New dual temperature electrochemical methods and systems for the production of sodium metal from sodium polysulfides have been discovered. The technology provides high conductivity for sodium ions and extended service life for the electrochemical cell.

Abstract: The present technology provides rechargeable alkali metal-sulfur galvanic cells and batteries incorporating such cells as well as methods of using such cell and batteries. The present galvanic cells provide high specific energy and high power at lower cost than conventional alkali metal-sulfur cells.

Abstract: Systems and methods for training photonic neural networks in accordance with embodiments of the invention are illustrated. One embodiment includes a method for training a set of one or more optical interference units (OIUs) of a photonic artificial neural network (ANN), wherein the method includes calculating a loss for an original input to the photonic ANN, computing an adjoint input based on the calculated loss, measuring intensities for a set of one or more phase shifters in the set of OIUs when the computed adjoint input and the original input are interfered with each other within the set of OIUs, computing a gradient from the measured intensities, and tuning phase shifters of the OIU based on the computed gradient.

Abstract: Systems and methods for activation in an optical circuit in accordance with embodiments of the invention are illustrated. One embodiment includes an optical activation circuit, wherein the circuit comprises a directional coupler, an optical-to-electrical conversion circuit, a time delay element, a nonlinear signal conditioner, and a phase shifter. The directional coupler receives an optical input and provides a first portion to the optical-to-electrical conversion circuit and a second portion to the time delay element, the time delay element provides a delayed signal to the phase shifter, and the optical-to-electrical conversion circuit converts an optical signal from the directional coupler to an electrical signal used to activate the phase shifter to shift the phase of the delayed signal.

Abstract: A head up display system includes first and second optical waveguides. A bracket holds the optical waveguides in a spaced-apart fixed relationship to one another such that their optical axes are separated by a distance of 63.5-65 millimeters. The optical waveguides are angularly disposed with respect to one another to produce a binocular image whose focal plane is located out at a distance of 2-4 meters. The bracket also specifically positions the optical waveguides adjacent to a transparent face plate of a dive helmet or dive mask.

Abstract: A head up display system includes first and second optical waveguides. A bracket holds the optical waveguides in a spaced-apart fixed relationship to one another such that their optical axes are separated by a distance of 63.5-65 millimeters. The optical waveguides are angularly disposed with respect to one another to produce a binocular image whose focal plane is located out at a distance of 2-4 meters. The bracket also specifically positions the optical waveguides adjacent to a transparent face plate of a dive helmet or dive mask.