Abstract: Systems and methods for improved stereolithographic (SLA) three-dimensional printing are provided. The systems and methods utilize an array-lens to produce kaleidoscopic imaging patterns, which in turn are used to direct the curing of resin to produce a three-dimensional object. The array-lens can be used to replicate, superposition, and/or overlap or otherwise reconstruct an image received by the array-lens, onto a resin that is used to form the desired object. The systems and methods can further use an optical diffuser, with a distance between the optical diffuser and the array-lens being adjustable to provide a desired kaleidoscopic imaging pattern on the resin. Additional features and methods for use with the provided SLA three-dimensional printing systems and methods are also provided.

Abstract: Some embodiments include bacterial species for use in treatment of one or more autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and/or schizophrenia symptoms in a subject in need thereof. The bacterial species can include Bacteroides (e.g., B. fragilis, B. thetaiotaomicron, and/or B. vulgatus), and/or Enterococcus (e.g., E. faecalis, E. faecium, E. hirae, E. avium, E. durans, E. gallinarum, or E. casseliflavus). Upon treatment, one or more ASD-related behaviors can be improved in the subject.

Abstract: A way to design a codebook for estimating the type of a molecule at a particular location in a fluorescence microscopy image makes use of one or both of (1) knowledge of the non-uniform prior distribution of molecule types (i.e., some types are known a priori to occur more frequently than others) and/or knowledge of co-occurrence of molecule types at close locations (e.g., in a same cell); and (2) knowledge of a model of the (e.g., random) process that yields the intensities that are expected at a location when a molecule with a particular subset of markers (i.e., a molecule of a type that has been assigned a codeword that defines that subset) is present at that location. The codebook design may provide experimental efficiency by reducing the number of images that need to be acquired and/or improve classification or detection accuracy by making the codewords for different molecule types more distinctive.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a flexible robotic limb. The design may include a backbone with rolling-contact joints connected to one another by pulley structures and corresponding cord loops engaged with the pulley structures. One or more flexible actuators may be used to control a length between adjacent links of the rolling contact joints to control articulation of the flexible robotic limb while still permitting passive reconfiguration of the flexible robotic limb when it is not being actively articulated.

Abstract: Provided are a method for preparing an organic/inorganic hybrid thermally conductive and insulating two-component adhesive and a method for using the same. The purpose is to solve the problem that thermally conductive adhesives in the prior art cannot meet the requirements of thermal conductivity, good bonding performance and insulation characteristics at the same time. The method includes: 1. preparing an organic phase aluminum dihydrogen phosphate; 2. treating a diamond thermally conductive filler; 3. modifying polyurethane compatible with aluminum dihydrogen phosphate; and 4. preparing an organic/inorganic hybrid insulating two-component adhesive. The use method includes: coating the adhesive onto a surface of a material to be bonded, and bonding; and subjecting a resulting member to be bonded to defoaming, heating, and holding.

Abstract: A monolithic, three-dimensional (3D) integrated circuit (IC) device includes a sensing layer, a memory layer, and a processing layer. The sensing layer includes a plurality of carbon nanotube field-effect transistors (CNFETs) that are functionalized with at least 50 functional materials to generate data in response to exposure to a gas. The memory layer stores the data generated by the plurality of CNFETs, and the processing layer identifies one or more components of the gas based on the data generated by the plurality of CNFETs.

Abstract: The invention relates, in part, to methods and systems with which to combine methods of determining an activity of a gene of interest and the gene's sequence, thereby allowing the genotype and associated phenotype to be determined in a single sequencing step.

Abstract: A dc-dc converter can include a plurality of switches, a piezoelectric resonator (PR) for power stage energy storage, and a means for controlling one or more switching sequences. The switches operate in accordance with the switching sequences to transfer energy from the input to the output via the PR while providing low-loss resonant soft-charging of the PR's capacitance. The switching sequences include: connected stages in which a first and second PR terminals are both connected to one of the input, the output, or the other PR terminal; and open stages in which at least one of the first or second PR terminal is not connected by a closed switch to one of the input, the output, or the other PR terminal.

Abstract: Described are structures and techniques for providing high-efficiency, high-power-density piezoelectric resonators (PRs) for use in power converters. In some embodiments, a power converter can include a PR for energy transfer, where the PR substantially satisfies geometry conditions disclosed herein for achieving high-efficiency and high-power-density. The geometry conditions can be defined in terms of the converter's specified (e.g., rated) voltage and power level.

Abstract: A method of producing inductive sensors, including LVDTs and inductive encoders, manufactured by plotting fine wire onto a planar substrate. A sensor is constructed using a computer-controlled machine to place wire onto a planar adhesive substrate. This substrate forms a predictable and uniform surface to deposit each turn of wire, and so the placement accuracy is considerably better than conventional coil winding. This planar substrate can then be manipulated into a desired three-dimensional shape (e.g., by folding, rolling, corrugating, winding, etc.), carrying the wire along with it. In particular, the same CNC machine used to place the wire can be used to cut, crease, score, or otherwise pattern the substrate to facilitate the three-dimensional arrangement.

Abstract: Disclosed is a new 3D bioprinting method of soft polymeric material such as a hydrogel or elastomer and/or cells for scaffolds or devices with structures. The method utilizes in one aspect extrusion based printing of polymer solutions, hydrogels and cells referred as direct ink writing (DIW) or BioPlotting that is modified to offer break-through advantages. The method may utilize sequential printing of a photocurable polymer solution or matrix material, and a functional hydrogel and/or cells. Printing within or inside of a viscous non-cured layer is accomplished by printing cells directly into the functional hydrogel. The viscous layer does not need to be shear thinning and thus allows use of a wide variety of bioinks never before allowed because of shear thinning and recovery requirement of commonly utilized extrusion based embedded bioprinting approach. Complex printing patterns never before allowed for bioinks are now possible utilizing this new printing method.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments in desalination by direct contact membrane distillation present a cylindrical cross-flow module containing high-flux composite hydrophobic hollow fiber membranes. The present embodiments are directed to a model that has been developed to describe the observed water production rates of such devices in multiple brine feed introduction configurations. The model describes the observed water vapor production rates for different feed brine temperatures at various feed brine flow rates. The model flux predictions have been explored over a range of hollow fiber lengths to compare the present results with those obtained earlier from rectangular modules which had significantly shorter hollow fibers.

Abstract: An omnidirectional ghost imaging system based on a mechanism of bio-inspired retina-like includes a projection system, a collimating lens, a spectroscope, a curved mirror, a bucket detector, a data acquisition card and an arithmetic system. According to the application, the logarithmic polar mapping characteristic of the bio-inspired retina-like structure is utilized to generate an annular pattern sequence of the bio-inspired retina-like, and the pattern sequence is utilized to modulate a light source. After being reflected by the target around the curved mirror, the light is projected onto the curved mirror and diffusely reflected. According to the reversible characteristics of the optical path, the light after diffuse reflection is reflected to the original light source by the half mirror and half lens, and the reflected light intensity with target information is received by the bucket detector.

Abstract: An oscillator comprising, a cavity wherein the cavity comprises an electrical conductor. The oscillator comprising an electrical insulator disposed on a surface of the cavity; and a heterostructure disposed on a surface of the electrical insulator and having a first end and a second end, the heterostructure comprising one or more spin current source layers and one or more magnetic material layers. In response to an electrical current passed through the spin current source, an oscillation occurs in a plurality of magnetic domains of the magnetic material, wherein the oscillations have substantially the same phase.

Abstract: A learning control system for a nano-precision motion stage comprises a closed-loop feedback section including a motion trajectory generator, a feedback controller, a motion stage, and a first Fourier transformer; and a feedforward section including a second Fourier transformer, a learning controller, an iteration backward shift operator, and a Fourier inverse transformer. An iteration experiment count j is initialized as j=1, and a j-th frequency domain feedforward signal is initialized to 0; the system is run to collect a frequency domain error signal and a frequency domain position measurement signal; a (j+1)-th frequency domain feedforward signal is updated; and an iteration experiment count j is incremented by 1. The present disclosure can effectively suppress the influence of external noise and disturbances, and improve convergence performance.

Abstract: An epoxy resin laminate reinforced by carbon-basalt hybrid fibers and a manufacturing method therefor are provided. The manufacturing method includes: brushing an epoxy resin mixture by using a manual laying method, and laying carbon fiber felts and basalt fiber felts according to components and superposing modes to obtain superposed fiber felts after laying; placing the superposed fiber felts after laying into a vacuum bag, and evacuating air; and placing the superposed fiber felts after laying in a vulcanizing machine, heating the superposed fiber felts to a temperature required for a crosslinking reaction between epoxy resin and a curing agent by using a preset heating method, applying pressure by an upper die and a lower die to ensure that interiors of the superposed fiber felts are compact and surfaces are smooth, and keeping the temperature and the pressure to obtain the epoxy resin laminate reinforced by the carbon-basalt hybrid fibers.

Abstract: An ingestible device may include one or more deployable limbs configured to orient the ingestible device in a desired orientation. The one or more limbs may be attached to body of the device and wrap around the device in an initial configuration (e.g., prior to deployment of the one or more limbs). The one or more limbs may be configured to deploy when exposed to a predetermined condition. Once the predetermined condition is met, the one or more limbs may extend outwards away from the body such that the one or more deployed limbs serve to orient the ingestible device.

Abstract: Articles such as dual-barrel injectors are generally described. Associated systems and methods are also described. In some embodiments, the articles are useful for injecting viscous fluids, such as concentrated drug formulations. In certain embodiments, the article comprises a first conduit (e.g., for transporting a viscous fluid) and a second conduit (e.g., for transporting a lubricating fluid). In some embodiments, the fluid from the second conduit (e.g., a lubricating fluid) lubricates the flow of the fluid from the first conduit (e.g., a viscous drug) by surrounding the fluid from the first conduit, and the lower viscosity of the fluid from the second conduit allows the fluid from the first conduit to flow more easily through the system.

Abstract: A device including a chip including a photonic integrated circuit comprising an external cavity for a source of electromagnetic radiation; the source of electromagnetic radiation attached to a top surface of the chip, the source comprising a semiconductor active region comprising, or coupled to, an output for the electromagnetic radiation, wherein the output is oriented to emit the electromagnetic radiation into the top surface in an emission direction that is inclined with respect to a plane of propagation of the electromagnetic radiation in the external cavity; and a coupler coupling the active region to the external cavity via the top surface to integrate the external cavity with the active region. The coupler partially couples the electromagnetic radiation outputted from the active region to the external cavity, and feedback from the external cavity to the active region.

Abstract: A system and method provide two-qubit gates and quantum computing circuits built therefrom. Pairs of qubits are inductively or capacitively coupled using a coupler that is driven using an off-resonant microwave drive. By controlling the drive, the ZZ interaction between the qubits can be precisely controlled. In particular, the interaction may be selectively reduced or suppressed, thereby isolating the qubits from each other, or the interaction may be increased to provide fast, controlled-Z, two-qubit gates with high fidelity. Moreover, qubits and couplers may be arranged according to their resonant frequencies into unit cells and replicated to arbitrary size, thereby forming a quantum computer.