Abstract: Both single phase lead-free cubic pyrochlore bismuth zinc niobate (BZN)-based dielectric materials with a chemical composition of Bi1.5Zn(0.5+y)Nb(1.5?x)Ta(x)O(6.5+y), with 0?x<0.23 and 0?y<0.9 and films with these average compositions with Bi2O3 particles in an amorphous matrix and a process of manufacture thereof. The crystalline BZNT-based dielectric material has a relative permittivity of at least 120, a maximum applied electric field of at least 4.0 MV/cm at 10 kHz, a maximum energy storage at 25° C. and 10 kHz of at least 50 J/cm3 and a maximum energy storage at 200° C. and 10 kHz of at least 22 J/cm3. The process is a wet chemical process that produces thin films of Bi1.5Zn(0.5+y)Nb(1.5?x)Ta(x)O(6.5+y) without the use of 2-methoxyethanol and pyridine.

Abstract: Provided is a Schottky diode. The Schottky diode includes: a substrate; a core on the substrate; a metallic layer on the core; and a shell surrounding the core between the metallic layer and the substrate and adjusting a Fermi energy level of the core to form a Schottky junction between the core and the metallic layer.

Abstract: Disclosed are polymerizable mixtures comprising a functionalized ionic gemini surfactant and a thiol-ene crosslinking agent. The polymerizable mixtures that further comprise a polar solvent may be used to form the surfactant into a triply periodic multiply continuous lyotropic phase in the presence of the crosslinking agent. Upon crosslinking, the lyotropic phase morphology is substantially retained.

Abstract: A computer architecture allows for simplified recovery after mis-speculation during speculative execution by controlling speculation to occur within idempotent regions that may be recovered by re-execution of the region without the need for restoring complex state information from checkpoints. A compiler for increasing the size of idempotent regions is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present application provides Brassica INDEHISCENT1 (BIND) sequences.

Abstract: A method of growing carbon nanostructures on a conductive substrate without the need for a vacuum or low-pressure environment provides high electrical field strengths to generate the necessary carbon ions from a feedstock gas and to promote alignment and separation of the resulting structures. In one embodiment, substantially uniform “vertical” nanostructures may be formed around the periphery of an extended wire for use in corona discharge applications or the like. Growth on a planar substrate may provide use with a variety of apparatus requiring a high specific surface conductor such as capacitors, batteries, and solar cells.

Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for constructing power spectral density (PSD) maps representative of the distribution of radio frequency (RF) power as a function of both frequency and space (geographic location). For example, the disclosure describes techniques for construction PSD maps using non-parametric basis pursuit form of signal expansion.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to positioning for geophysical sensing and provide a method, system and apparatus for rotary laser positioning in geophysical sensing. In an embodiment of the invention, a geophysical sensing data processing system can be provided to include multiple laser energy sources disposed about a target scene, and a mobile sensor unit. The mobile sensor unit can include at least one laser energy source sensor coupled to a laser positioning system, and one or multiple geophysical sensor communicatively linked to the laser positioning system. In one aspect of the invention, the laser positioning system can be a Rotary Laser Positioning System (RLPS). Complementary positioning sensors further can be provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to hardware decoders that efficiently expand a small number of input bits to a large number of output bits, while providing considerable flexibility in selecting the output instances. One main area of application of the invention is in pin-limited environments, such as field programmable gates array (FPGA) used with dynamic reconfiguration. The invention includes a mapping unit that is a circuit, possibly in combination with a reconfigurable memory device. The circuit has as input a z-bit source word having a value at each bit position and it outputs an n-bit output word, where n>z, where the value of each bit position of the n-bit output word is based upon the value of a pre-selected hardwired one of the bit positions in the x-bit word, where the said pre-selected hardwired bit positions is selected by a selector address.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an organic semiconductor thin film includes coating an organic semiconductor solution on a substrate, and shearing the organic semiconductor solution in a direction that results in a shearing stress being applied to the organic semiconductor solution to form the organic semiconductor thin film, wherein a speed of the shearing is controlled such that an intermolecular distance of the organic semiconductor solution is adjusted.

Abstract: Compounds, methods for producing them and methods for varying the morphology of plants are disclosed. More particularly, a SUN gene can be used to alter the shape of fruit in a plant such as a tomato plant.

Abstract: An algorithm is disclosed for constructing nonlinear models from high-dimensional scattered data. The algorithm progresses iteratively adding a new basis function at each step to refine the model. The placement of the basis functions is driven by a statistical hypothesis test that reveals geometric structure when it fails. At each step the added function is fit to data contained in a spatio-temporally defined local region to determine the parameters, in particular, the scale of the local model. The proposed method requires no ad hoc parameters. Thus, the number of basis functions required for an accurate fit is determined automatically by the algorithm. The approach may be applied to problems including modeling data on manifolds and the prediction of financial time-series. The algorithm is presented in the context of radial basis functions but in principle can be employed with other methods for function approximation such as multi-layer perceptrons.

Abstract: A photolithography method of patterning photoresist involves disposing a two-dimensional array of focusing particles of spherical or other shape on the photoresist and illuminating the particles on the photoresist to generate deep, sub-wavelength patterns on the photoresist. When developed, a positive photoresist layer generates a two-dimensional array of micro- or nano-holes on the developed photoresist. When developed, a negative photoresist layer generates a two-dimensional array of micro- or nano-pillars on the developed photoresist.

Abstract: Systems and methods for signal analysis are described. The method can include digitizing a signal modulated by a pseudo noise (PN) sequence, dividing the digitized signal into a plurality of sample blocks, and estimating a PN phase embedded in a sample block of the plurality of sample blocks using an iterative message passing algorithm (iMPA) executed on a redundant graphical model.

Abstract: Structural join mechanisms provide efficient query pattern matching. In one embodiment, tree-merge mechanisms are provided. In another embodiment, stack-tree mechanisms are provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for three-dimensional (3-D) acoustic imaging of a scattering structure using information from a two-dimensional (2-D) image. The system uses a characterized sensor array to emit a signal from the sensor array into an object of interest to generate at least one 2-D representation of the object of interest. The 2-D representation comprises a plurality of x and y coordinate pairs and at least one candidate scattering structure. The candidate scattering structure comprises a shape defined by at least one pair of x and y coordinates. The candidate scattering structure shape is restricted to at least one pair of x and y coordinates. The pair of x and y coordinates of the candidate scattering structure shape are then compared with a first coordinate-dependent response function to assign an x, y, and z position of a scattering structure in 3-D space.

Abstract: A method of producing an acrylic block copolymer comprising hydrophobic poly (lower alkyl methacrylate), hydrophilic poly (lower alkyl methacrylic acid), and hydrophobic poly (lower alkyl methacrylate) is disclosed.

Abstract: Methods of treating an injured vertebrate spinal cord are described. In one aspect of the invention, a method of treating an injured vertebrate spinal cord includes contacting the spinal cord with a biomembrane fusion agent such as a polyalkylene glycol, especially polyethylene glycol. In alternative embodiments of the invention, methods of treating an injured vertebrate spinal cord include contacting the cord with a biomembrane fusion agent and a potassium channel blocker. Other aspects of the invention include compositions for treating a vertebrate nervous system. A preferred composition includes a biomembrane fusion agent, such as a polyalkylene glycol, and a potassium channel blocker, such as an amino-substituted pyridine.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for manipulating small dielectric particles. The apparatus and method involves use of a diffractive optical element which receives a laser beam and forms a plurality of light beams. These light beams are operated on by a telescope lens system and then an objective lens element to create an array of optical traps for manipulating small dielectric particles.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of altering organ mass, controlling fertility and enhancing asexual reproduction in plants through the modulation of plant growth and cell proliferation. The methods involve producing transgenic plants comprising a recombinant expression cassette containing an ANT nucleic acid linked to a plant promoter.