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1. Multiplexing Robot Experiments: Theoretical Underpinnings, Conditions for Existence, and Demonstrations

   https://doi.org/10.1109/ICRA48506.2021.9561015  

   Moan, Rachel A.; Shell, Dylan A.; O'Kane, Jason M. (May 2021, IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation)

   Scores of papers show, given some robots, how to improve the useful work they perform. Continuing this line, we consider the efficiency of robot experiments by examining the feasibility of conducting several experiments simultaneously, interleaving execution and sharing resources between them. This paper lays theoretical groundwork for that concept and demonstrates its feasibility and utility. 

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2. Block Matrix and Tensor Randomized Kaczmarz Methods for Linear Feasibility Problems

   https://doi.org/10.1007/s44007-025-00163-z  

   Zhang, Minxin; Haddock, Jamie; Needell, Deanna (May 2025, La Matematica)

   Abstract The randomized Kaczmarz methods are a popular and effective family of iterative methods for solving large-scale linear systems of equations, which have also been applied to linear feasibility problems. In this work, we propose a new block variant of the randomized Kaczmarz method, B-MRK, for solving linear feasibility problems defined by matrices. We show that B-MRK converges linearly in expectation to the feasible region. Furthermore, we extend the method to solve tensor linear feasibility problems defined under the tensor t-product. A tensor randomized Kaczmarz (TRK) method, TRK-L, is proposed for solving linear feasibility problems that involve mixed equality and inequality constraints. Additionally, we introduce another TRK method, TRK-LB, specifically tailored for cases where the feasible region is defined by linear equality constraints coupled with bound constraints on the variables. We show that both of the TRK methods converge linearly in expectation to the feasible region. Moreover, the effectiveness of our methods is demonstrated through numerical experiments on various Gaussian random data and applications in image deblurring. 

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3. Tactile Sensing at Cryogenic Temperatures Using MichTac Sensors Based on GaN Nanopillar LEDs

   https://doi.org/10.1364/CLEO_SI.2024.SF1A.3  

   Dvořák, Nathan; Ku, Pei-Cheng (January 2024, Optica Publishing Group)

   Experiments successfully established the feasibility of a nanopillar-LED-based tactile sensor showing tactile perception at extremely cold temperatures. 

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4. Inverse Problems in Variational Inequalities by Minimizing Energy

   Hao, D. N; Khan, A. A; Sama, M; Tammer, C. (July 2019, Pure and applied functional analysis)

   This work is dedicated to developing an abstract framework for parameter estimation in elliptic variational inequalities. Differentiability of the parameter to solution map in the optimization problems are studied using a smoothing of the penalty map. We derived necessary optimality conditions for the optimization problems under consideration. The feasibility of the approach is tested through numerical experiments. 

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5. Microbially Induced Calcite Precipitation via Microbial Organic Acid Oxidation

   https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784485330.030  

   Shepherd, Trent A; Gomez, Michael G (February 2024, American Society of Civil Engineers)

   Microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP) or biocementation is a bio-mediated process that can be used to improve the engineering properties of granular soils through calcium carbonate precipitation. Although most commonly this process is accomplished using microbial urea hydrolysis, other microbial metabolic pathways can be used to enable biocementation with the potential to eliminate ammonium byproducts. Microbial organic acid oxidation presents one alternative pathway by which increases in solution carbonate species can be generated to enable calcium carbonate mineral formation. While past studies have considered the potential of this microbial pathway to enable biocementation for surficial applications, to date few studies have examined the feasibility of this pathway for subsurface applications wherein dissolved oxygen is more limited. In this study, 18 small-scale batch experiments were performed to investigate the ability of microbial organic acid oxidation to enable biocementation soil improvement. Experiments investigated the feasibility of using both acetate and citrate oxidation to mediate biocementation as well as the effect of differences in techniques used to supply dissolved oxygen, the effect of supplied growth factors, bicarbonate salt additions, and solution sampling frequency. Results suggest that aerobic oxidation of acetate and citrate can be used to enable calcium carbonate biocementation, though ensuring dissolved oxygen availability appears to be critical towards enabling this process. 

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