Abstract: A method of manufacturing a substrate with reduced threading dislocation density is disclosed, which comprises: (i) at a first temperature, forming a first layer of wafer material on a semiconductor substrate, the first layer arranged to be doped with a first concentration of at least one dopant that is different to the wafer material; and (ii) at a second temperature higher than the first temperature, forming a second layer of the wafer material on the first layer to obtain the substrate, the second layer arranged to be doped with a progressively decreasing concentration of the dopant during formation, the doping configured to be decreased from the first concentration to a second concentration. The wafer material and dopant are different to silicon. A related substrate is also disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments related to electrodes comprising composite mixtures and related devices (e.g., convection batteries), systems, and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: Herein is provided a fiber length including a doped fiber core extending over the fiber length. First and second cladding regions radially surround the core. At least one pump light input site is arranged to accept input pump light into the first cladding region. A low-absorption length over which the first cladding region has a first cross-sectional geometry produces a first level of absorption of input pump light from the first cladding region to the core, extending from a pump light input site for an extent over which the doped core can absorb at least about 10% of input pump light from the first cladding region. A high-absorption section over which the first cladding region has a second cross-sectional geometry produces a second level of absorption of input pump light from the first cladding region to the core, greater than the first level of absorption of input pump light.

Abstract: Methods related to forming reaction products on surfaces are generally provided. Some methods comprise applying first and second polyelectrolytes in first and second polyelectrolyte carrier fluids to a surface. The first and second polyelectrolytes may be different, and the first and second carrier fluids may be the same or different. Some methods comprise forming a mixture of the first and second polyelectrolytes in a mixture carrier fluid that comprises the first and/or second carrier fluids. The first and second polyelectrolyte may be removed from the mixture carrier fluid to form a reaction product on the surface. In some embodiments, the mixture carrier fluid comprises a salt with a molecular weight of less than or equal to 1 kg/mol at a concentration within the mixture carrier fluid of from 0.01 M to 0.5 M. In some embodiments, the mixture carrier fluid has a turbidity of greater than or equal to 10 NTU and a viscosity of less than or equal to 1 Pa*s.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel dopamine D2 receptor ligands. The invention further relates to functionally-biased dopamine D2 receptor ligands and the use of these compounds for treating or preventing central nervous system and systemic disorders associated with dysregulation of dopaminergic activity.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing focused blind deconvolution of signals received by a plurality of sensors are disclosed. In some embodiments, this may include determining a cross-correlation of first and second signals, obtaining a cross-correlation of a first response function and a second response function based on the cross-correlation of the first and second signals and subject to a first constraint that the first and second response functions are maximally white, and obtaining the first and second response functions based on the cross-correlation of the first and second response functions and subject to a second constraint that the first and second response functions are maximally front-loaded.

Abstract: Some aspects provide genetic circuits to engineer complex and adaptive cellular behaviors. Methods of controlling expression of output sequence(s) are also provided herein using genetic circuits that employ catalytically inactive endonucleases.

Abstract: Devices comprising at least two electrodes with a layer disposed therebetween are disclosed. In some embodiments, the layer disposed therebetween may be an insulator. In some embodiments, the layer may be capable of being deformed. Deforming the layer may cause a change in one or more materials properties of the device, such as the electrical properties and/or the optical properties of the device.

Abstract: The invention, in some aspects relates to compositions and methods for altering cell activity and function and the introduction and use of light-activated ion channels.

Abstract: A tunable and iterative stereo mapping technique is provided, capable of identifying disparities at or substantially faster than real-time (e.g., frame-rate of 120 Hz). The method includes identifying a plurality of points in an image, determining disparity values for each of the points in the image and generating a piece-wise planar mesh based on the points and their respective disparity values. A disparity interpolation can be performed on candidate planes using estimated plane parameters for the candidate planes and a disparity image can be generated having a plurality of regions based on the disparity interpolation. Multiple iterations can be performed until the image is reconstructed with an appropriate resolution based on predetermined thresholds. The thresholds can be modified to provide a tunable system by changing the threshold values to either increase a resolution of a final reconstructed image and/or increase a computation speed of the tunable and iterative stereo mapping technique.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a Drosophila in vitro system which was used to demonstrate that dsRNA is processed to RNA segments 21-23 nucleotides (nt) in length. Furthermore, when these 21-23 nt fragments are purified and added back to Drosophila extracts, they mediate RNA interference in the absence of long dsRNA. Thus, these 21-23 nt fragments are the sequence-specific mediators of RNA degradation. A molecular signal, which may be their specific length, must be present in these 21-23 nt fragments to recruit cellular factors involved in RNAi. This present invention encompasses these 21-23 nt fragments and their use for specifically inactivating gene function. The use of these fragments (or chemically synthesized oligonucleotides of the same or similar nature) enables the targeting of specific mRNAs for degradation in mammalian cells, where the use of long dsRNAs to elicit RNAi is usually not practical, presumably because of the deleterious effects of the interferon response.

Abstract: Control of humidity in chemical reactors, and associated systems and methods, are generally described. In certain embodiments, the humidity within gas transport conduits and chambers can be controlled to inhibit unwanted condensation within gas transport pathways. By inhibiting condensation within gas transport pathways, clogging of such pathways can be limited (or eliminated) such that transport of gas can be more easily and controllably achieved. In addition, strategies for purging condensed liquid from chemical reactor systems are also described.

Abstract: The invention, in some aspects relates to compositions and methods for altering cell activity and function and the introduction and use of light-activated ion channels.

Abstract: A carrier gas is directed through a humidification chamber in a humidifier, where the carrier gas flow is directly contacted with a feed liquid to humidify the carrier gas with water evaporated from the feed liquid, producing a humidified gas flow. The humidified gas flow is then compressed in a compressor and then directed through a dehumidification chamber in a dehumidifier, where the compressed humidified gas flow is dehumidified to condense water from the compressed humidified gas flow. The dehumidified gas flow is then expanded in an expander, wherein the expansion of the dehumidified gas flow generates motion (e.g., rotation of a shaft), and wherein the motion generated in the expander is transferred to the compressor, where the motion compresses the humidified gas flow. Heat is also removed from the expanded dehumidified gas flow and transferred to compressed dehumidified gas flow upstream from the expander.

Abstract: Origami robots, and associated systems, methods of treatment, and methods of manufacture are provided. A system includes an origami robot encapsulated for ingestion by a patient, such as in a biocompatible material that is dissolvable or meltable within the gastrointestinal tract. A method of treatment includes delivering an origami robot in a folded position into a gastrointestinal tract of a patient, causing the origami robot to unfold within the gastrointestinal tract, and directing the origami robot to a site requiring treatment in the gastrointestinal tract.

Abstract: Camera images may be analyzed to identify perceptual control axes for a lighting system. These control axes may correspond to how human users perceive lighting scenes. A camera may capture high-dynamic-range images of a new room under various lighting conditions. Dimensionality-reduction may be applied to the images to create an image-based map. In this map, each datapoint may correspond to one of the images. The map may be transformed to align it with how human users perceive lighting scenes in the new room. The transformed map may be employed as a control space for the lighting system. In some cases, the map is created without gathering user ratings of lighting scenes for the new room. In other cases, creating the map involves gathering user ratings for as few as three lighting scenes for the new room.

Abstract: Described embodiments provide sidelobe cancellation for Simultaneous Transmit and Receive systems. The sidelobe cancellation system includes an array having a primary aperture and an auxiliary array. The auxiliary array includes a plurality of antenna elements disposed adjacent to at least one side of the primary aperture. Each element of the auxiliary array is coupled to a variable attenuator, a variable phase shifter or a variable true time delay unit. A controller tunes the auxiliary array to cancel sidelobes of the primary aperture by adaptively selecting an attenuation value of the variable attenuator, a phase shift value of the variable phase shifter and a time delay value of the variable true time delay unit for each element of the auxiliary array. The auxiliary array operates as an adaptive finite-impulse response (FIR) filter with each antenna element of the auxiliary array operating as an adaptive tap of the adaptive FIR filter.

Abstract: Ultrastable lasers serve as the backbone for advanced scientific experiments and enable atomic spectroscopy and laser interferometry at high levels of precision. But is not clear how to realize an ultrastable laser that is compact and portable for field use. An ultrastable laser source should be insensitive to both short- and long-term fluctuations in temperature, which ultimately broaden the laser linewidth and cause drift in the laser's center frequency. Fortunately, using a large mode-volume optical resonator, which suppresses the resonator's fast thermal fluctuations, together with the stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) optical nonlinearity presents a powerful combination that enables the ability to lase with an ultra-narrow linewidth of 20 Hz. The laser's long-term temperature drift is compensated by using the narrow Brillouin line to sense minute changes in the resonator's temperature (e.g., changes of 85 nK).

Abstract: Methods of forming crystals including, for example, methods of forming crystals using a nanoporous matrix, and associated materials, articles, and systems are generally provided. Advantageously, in some embodiments, the methods of forming crystals described herein provide crystal formation of a target molecule from a solution initially at an undersaturated state with respect to the target molecule. In some embodiments, a method involves obtaining a solution of a target molecule, where in some cases the solution is at an undersaturated state with respect to the target molecule; and exposing the solution to a functionalized nanoporous matrix under conditions that promote crystal formation of the target molecule. In some cases, the nanoporous matrix is functionalized with an antisolvent group.

Abstract: Methods and systems for generating electricity from a fuel are generally described. In some embodiments, a first container is used to house a fluid that is capable of reacting to form a fuel, and a second container is used to house a reactant capable of reacting with the fluid to form the fuel. In some embodiments, valves are used to control the flow of fluid between the first container and the second container. In some embodiments, the valve(s) can be configured such that fluid is only transported between the first container and the second container when the pressure within the second container is below a threshold level.