Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods of fabricating a porous structure, such as a porous silicon carbide structure. The methods can include a step of providing a structure to be rendered porous, and a step of providing an etching solution. The methods can also include a step of electrochemically etching the structure to produce pores through at least a region of the structure, resulting in the formation of a porous structure. The morphology of the porous structure can be controlled by one or more parameters of the electrochemical etching process, such as the strength of the etching solution and/or the applied voltage.

Abstract: A fluid pump includes a housing defining a fluid chamber and a piezoelectric membrane located within the chamber and attached to the housing. The piezoelectric membrane may divide the fluid chamber into a first fluid cavity and a second fluid cavity such that the application of an electric field to the piezoelectric membrane and its resulting displacement may provide a force that drives fluid through the pump, e.g., from an inlet of the fluid chamber into the first fluid cavity and from the second fluid cavity to an outlet of the fluid chamber.

Abstract: A mechanically and piezoelectrically anisotropic polymer thin film is formed from a crystallizable polymer and an additive configured to interact with the polymer to facilitate chain alignment and, in some examples, create a higher crystalline content within the polymer thin film. The polymer thin film and its method of manufacture may be characterized by a bimodal molecular weight distribution where the molecular weight of the additive may be less than approximately 5% of the molecular weight of the crystallizable polymer. Example polymers may include vinylidene fluoride, trifluoroethylene, chlorotrifluoroethylene, hexafluoropropylene, and vinyl fluoride. Example additives may occupy up to approximately 60 wt. % of the polymer thin film. The polymer thin film may be characterized by a piezoelectric coefficient (d31) of at least approximately 5 pC/N or an electromechanical coupling factor (k31) of at least approximately 0.1.

Abstract: A polymer thin film includes polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and is characterized by a Young's modulus along an in-plane dimension of at least 4 GPa, an electromechanical coupling factor (k31) of at least 0.1 at room temperature. A method of manufacturing such a polymer thin film may include forming a polymer composition into a polymer thin film, applying a tensile stress to the polymer thin film along at least one in-plane direction and in an amount effective to induce a stretch ratio of at least approximately 5 in the polymer thin film, and applying an electric field across a thickness dimension of the polymer thin film. Annealing and poling steps may separately or simultaneously accompany and/or follow the act of stretching of the polymer thin film.

Abstract: A system for tracking airborne organisms includes an imager, a backlight source (such as a retroreflective surface) in view of the imager, and a processor configured to analyze one or more images captured by the processor to identify a biological property of an organism.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods of fabricating a porous structure, such as a porous silicon carbide structure. The methods can include a step of providing a structure to be rendered porous, and a step of providing an etching solution. The methods can also include a step of electrochemically etching the structure to produce pores through at least a region of the structure, resulting in the formation of a porous structure. The morphology of the porous structure can be controlled by one or more parameters of the electrochemical etching process, such as the strength of the etching solution and/or the applied voltage.

Abstract: A method includes attaching a clip array to opposing edges of a polymer thin film, the clip array having a plurality of first clips slidably disposed on a first track located proximate to a first edge of the polymer thin film and a plurality of second clips slidably disposed on a second track located proximate to a second edge of the polymer thin film, applying a positive in-plane strain to the polymer thin film along a transverse direction by increasing a distance between the first and second clips, and decreasing an inter-clip spacing amongst the first clips and amongst the second clips along a machine direction while applying the in-plane strain to form an optically anisotropic polymer thin film. During stretching, a strain rate of the thin film may be decreased and/or a temperature of the thin film may be increased.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods of fabricating a porous structure, such as a porous silicon carbide structure. The methods can include a step of providing a structure to be rendered porous, and a step of providing an etching solution. The methods can also include a step of electrochemically etching the structure to produce pores through at least a region of the structure, resulting in the formation of a porous structure. The morphology of the porous structure can be controlled by one or more parameters of the electrochemical etching process, such as the strength of the etching solution and/or the applied voltage.

Abstract: A fiber scanning system includes a fiber optic element having an actuation region and a motion actuator mechanically coupled to the fiber optic element. A continuous bond line is present between the actuation region and the motion actuator. The fiber scanning system also includes a retention collar mechanically coupled to the motion actuator.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods of fabricating a porous structure, such as a porous silicon carbide structure. The methods can include a step of providing a structure to be rendered porous, and a step of providing an etching solution. The methods can also include a step of electrochemically etching the structure to produce pores through at least a region of the structure, resulting in the formation of a porous structure. The morphology of the porous structure can be controlled by one or more parameters of the electrochemical etching process, such as the strength of the etching solution and/or the applied voltage.

Abstract: A system for tracking airborne organisms includes an imager, a backlight source (such as a retroreflective surface) in view of the imager, and a processor configured to analyze one or more images captured by the processor to identify a biological property of an organism.

Abstract: A system for tracking airborne organisms includes an imager, a backlight source (such as a retroreflective surface) in view of the imager, and a processor configured to analyze one or more images captured by the processor to identify a biological property of an organism.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods of making a transition metal dichalcogenide. The methods can include a step of depositing a transition metal onto a substrate to form an epitaxial transition metal layer. The methods can also include a step of depositing a chalcogen onto the epitaxial transition metal layer, and a step of reacting the chalcogen with the epitaxial transition metal layer to form a transition metal dichalcogenide. In some instances, the chalcogen is reacted with the epitaxial transition metal layer at a temperature of between about 300° C. and 600° C., between about 300° C. and 550° C., between about 300° C. and 500° C., between about 300° C. and 450° C., or between about 300° C. and 400° C.

Abstract: A system for tracking airborne organisms includes an imager, a backlight source (such as a retroreflective surface) in view of the imager, and a processor configured to analyze one or more images captured by the processor to identify a biological property of an organism.

Abstract: A system for tracking airborne organisms includes an imager, a backlight source (such as a retroreflective surface) in view of the imager, and a processor configured to analyze one or more images captured by the processor to identify a biological property of an organism.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods of making a transition metal dichalcogenide. The methods can include a step of depositing a transition metal onto a substrate to form an epitaxial transition metal layer. The methods can also include a step of depositing a chalcogen onto the epitaxial transition metal layer, and a step of reacting the chalcogen with the epitaxial transition metal layer to form a transition metal dichalcogenide. In some instances, the chalcogen is reacted with the epitaxial transition metal layer at a temperature of between about 300° C. and 600° C., between about 300° C. and 550° C., between about 300° C. and 500° C., between about 300° C. and 450° C., or between about 300° C. and 400° C.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to devices, methods and systems that may be used to collect insect salivary glands. In some embodiments, the devices, methods, and systems may be used to collect salivary glands from a mosquito.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and systems that may be used to alter the permeability of a biological object. In some embodiments, the methods and systems may be used to alter the permeability of a non-human embryo. In some embodiments, the methods and systems may be used to alter the permeability of an insect embryo. In some embodiments, the methods and systems may be used to alter the permeability of a mosquito embryo.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to devices, systems, and methods that may be used to dissect insects. In some embodiments, the systems, devices, and methods may be used to isolate insect salivary glands. In some embodiments, the systems, devices, and methods may be used to isolate mosquito salivary glands. In some embodiments, the systems, devices, and methods may be used to collect mosquito salivary glands.

Abstract: A system for tracking airborne organisms includes an imager, a backlight source (such as a retroreflective surface) in view of the imager, and a processor configured to analyze one or more images captured by the processor to identify a biological property of an organism.