A physical assistive robotic device may include a frame including an upright support member, a lateral member slidably engaged with the... Show moreA physical assistive robotic device may include a frame including an upright support member, a lateral member slidably engaged with the upright support member, a handle slidably engaged with the lateral member, an elevation actuator coupled to the upright support member and the lateral member, and a lateral actuator coupled to the lateral member and the handle. The elevation actuator translates the lateral member and the lateral actuator translates the handle to transition a user between a standing position and a non-standing position. Sponsorship: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.; Illinois Institute of Technology United States Patent Show less
A system, method, and set of protocols for dynamic group communication are provided for enabling dynamic process migration and dynamic group... Show moreA system, method, and set of protocols for dynamic group communication are provided for enabling dynamic process migration and dynamic group membership management. A process in a group receives and distributes a migration signal. Group communication continues while the processes in the group asynchronously reach a global superstep and then a synchronization point. The processes then spawn a new process on a new device and update group membership information. The new process operates in continuous execution with the new group. Sponsorship: Illinois Institute of Technology United States Patent Show less
My thesis proposition is to design a center for yoga, meditation and spa. The idea is to engage architecture, hospitality and interior design... Show moreMy thesis proposition is to design a center for yoga, meditation and spa. The idea is to engage architecture, hospitality and interior design as a medium to create a space for an overall holistic experience. I am interested in the ethereal qualities in nature and their ability to tranquilize a person’s state of mind. Show less
Methods for producing small crystals on islands formed on specialized substrates by, inter alia, subjecting the substrate to a hydrophilic... Show moreMethods for producing small crystals on islands formed on specialized substrates by, inter alia, subjecting the substrate to a hydrophilic SAMs solution for self-assembling hydrophilic SAMs on certain portions of the substrate surface and subjecting the substrate to a hydrophobic SAMs solution for self-assembling hydrophobic SAMs on certain other portions of the substrate surface. Sponsorship: Illinois Institute of Technology United States Patent Primary US Patent Classification 430/324 International Patent Classification G03F 7/20 Show less
As Twitter becomes a more common means for officials to communicate with their constituents, it becomes more important that we understand just... Show moreAs Twitter becomes a more common means for officials to communicate with their constituents, it becomes more important that we understand just how that communication relates to other political activities. Using data from 411 members of Congress' Twitter activity during the summer of 2011, we examine relationships among the resulting conversation networks, language use, and political behavior. The social networks that result from their communications have surprisingly low density and high diameter, indicating a level of independence that is surprising for a group so tightly connected offline. Our findings also indicate that officials frequently use Twitter to advertise their political positions and to provide information but rarely to request political action from their constituents or to recognize the good work of others. Our analysis suggests strong relationships between anti-social behaviors indicated by the loosely connected network and low incidence of pro-social conversations and polarized or extreme Congressional voting records. Show less
The invention enables the digital management of large scale image databases, to efficiently classify and index image data independent of... Show moreThe invention enables the digital management of large scale image databases, to efficiently classify and index image data independent of language. Complex processing requirements are required only on reduced and operably small subsets of the entire collection, thereby effectively scaling large document collections. Embodiments of the present invention provide image-based classification and retrieval of documents based on image recognition, e.g., signatures, logos, stamps, or word-spotting; in documents within real time for large datasets such as in the millions of documents. Sponsorship: Illinois Institute of Technology United States Patent Show less
An apparatus for generating generally uniform compression forces over a film of a relatively low-viscosity liquid by passing the low-viscosity... Show moreAn apparatus for generating generally uniform compression forces over a film of a relatively low-viscosity liquid by passing the low-viscosity liquid through a porous plate, from an upstream face to a downstream face of the porous plate. The porous plate has a specified porosity and arrangement of the through holes or other pores that results in forming a uniform pressure through and uniform compression forces over a film of the low-viscosity liquid that is at or near the upstream face of the porous plate. The apparatus of this invention results in homogeneous deformation of a material, such as molten polymer, polymer solution, multiphase polymer systems, asphalts or foods. Sponsorship: Illinois Institute of Technology United States Patent Show less
Howell Mountain is a distinct and unique location in the heart of Napa Valley California. The 45 acres site rests on the mountain’s south west... Show moreHowell Mountain is a distinct and unique location in the heart of Napa Valley California. The 45 acres site rests on the mountain’s south west slopes and is planted with high quality grapes used in the production of red wine. When the fog rolls off the ocean and into the Napa Valley, the weather on Howell Mountain is generally sunny and cool. The appellation owes its distinctive climate to the fact that it is positioned high above the valley floor. The program includes both the wine production facilities and the hospitality facilities for visitors. The driving concept of the project is to merge those two, often opposing, programmatic elements. From west to east, the site has a 43% grade change. By designing a gravity flow winery, this facility can take advantage of that significant slope. Show less
North Carolina State University is one of the leading land grant institutions and public research universities in the country. However, its... Show moreNorth Carolina State University is one of the leading land grant institutions and public research universities in the country. However, its rapidly growing size and required travel distance in-between campuses necessitate drastically improved transit connections. Current plans are in place for the construction of a rapid transit corridor through campus along with commuter and light rail transit. The Master’s Project will focus on the main multimodal center for this transportation network, the North Carolina State University Rapid Transit Center. Show less