Abstract: Articles and methods in which an electric field is used to actuate a material are generally described. Provided in one embodiment is a method including applying an electric field to a ceramic material. Applying the electric field to the ceramic material can transform the ceramic material from a first solid phase to a second distinct solid phase. The applied electric field is less than a breakdown electric field of the ceramic material, according to certain embodiments.

Abstract: A two-dimensional heterostructure is synthesized by producing a patterned first two-dimensional material on a growth substrate. The first two-dimensional material is patterned to define at least one void through which an exposed region of the growth substrate is exposed. Seed molecules are selectively deposited either on the exposed region of the growth substrate or on the patterned first two-dimensional material. A second two-dimensional material that is distinct from the first two-dimensional material is then grown from the deposited seed molecules.

Abstract: Transparent displays enable many useful applications, including heads-up displays for cars and aircraft as well as displays on eyeglasses and glass windows. Unfortunately, transparent displays made of organic light-emitting diodes are typically expensive and opaque. Heads-up displays often require fixed light sources and have limited viewing angles. And transparent displays that use frequency conversion are typically energy inefficient. Conversely, the present transparent displays operate by scattering visible light from resonant nanoparticles with narrowband scattering cross sections and small absorption cross sections. More specifically, projecting an image onto a transparent screen doped with nanoparticles that selectively scatter light at the image wavelength(s) yields an image on the screen visible to an observer. Because the nanoparticles scatter light at only certain wavelengths, the screen is practically transparent under ambient light.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to immunoglobulins with reduced aggregation and compositions, methods of generating such immunoglobulins with computational tools and methods of using such immunoglobulins particularly in the treatment and prevention of disease.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to methods and compositions for the production of heterogeneous tissue from human induced pluripotent stem (hiPS) cells.

Abstract: A method of altering intercellular interactions between a combination of microorganisms includes contacting a combination of different species of microorganisms with at least one mucin. Isolated compositions include a combination of microorganisms and at least one mucin. One microorganism of the combination inhibits cell growth or promotes cell death of at least one other microorganism of a different species in the combination. The combination of microorganisms with the mucin results an increase in cell growth or a reduction in cell death, respectively, of the at least one other microorganism.

Abstract: System for visualization of conformal contact. The system visualizes conformal contact between a patterned stamp and a transparent impression surface. A patterned stamp is provided that includes a fluorescent structure for contact with the impression surface. A source of UV light is provided for transmission through the transparent impression surface to interact with the fluorescent structure to generate visible light re-emitted by the fluorescent structure. An imaging system captures the visible light to form a high-contrast image of an area of conformal contact between the patterned stamp and the impression surface. The high-contrast image comprises bright and dark regions representing contact and no contact respectively.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus and corresponding method according to an embodiment of the present invention enables high-resolution, wide-field-of-view, high sensitivity imaging. An embodiment of the invention is a camera system that utilizes motion of an optical element, such as a spatial filtering mask or of the camera itself, to apply different spatial filtering functions to a scene to be imaged. Features of a spatial filtering mask implementing the different filtering functions are adjacent along an axis of the spatial mask, and a pitch of the features of the mask is smaller than a pitch of the sensor elements. An imaging reconstructor having knowledge of the filtering functions can produce a high-resolution image from corresponding low-resolution coded imaging data captured by the imaging system. This approach offers advantages over conventional high-resolution, wide-field imaging, including an ability to use large-pitch, lower cost sensor arrays, and transfer and store much less data.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are novel methodologies of treating fragile X syndrome and related disorders by inhibiting mG1u5-relevant signaling pathways via the reduction of ?-arrestin2 protein levels or the diminution of mG1u5 and ?-arrestin2 protein interactions.

Abstract: Expression cassettes comprising promoter and terminator combinations are provided and can be used to tune gene expression. Synthetic yeast promoters and methods of making them also are provided.

Abstract: According to some aspects, an apparatus for converting electromagnetic radiation into electric power is provided, comprising a first layer comprising a first semiconductor material, an absorber in contact with the first layer, a second layer comprising a second semiconductor material, the second layer being in contact with the absorber, and a reflector to reflect at least a portion of electromagnetic radiation passing through the second layer. According to some aspects, a method of forming an apparatus for converting electromagnetic radiation into electric power is provided, comprising forming a reflector on a substrate, forming a first layer in contact with the reflector, the first layer comprising a first semiconductor material, forming an absorber in contact with the first layer, and forming a second layer in contact with the absorber, the second layer comprising a second semiconductor material.

Abstract: In an automated methodology for carrying out in vivo cell patch clamping, a cell patch clamping device is automatically moved into position and targeted to a neuron. Neuron contact is determined by analyzing the temporal series of measured resistance levels at the cell patch clamping device as it is moved. The difference between successive resistance levels is computed and compared to a threshold, which must be exceeded for a minimum number of computations before neuron contact is assumed. Pneumatic control methods are used to achieve gigaseal formation and cell break-in, leading to whole-cell patch clamp formation. An automated robotic system capable of performing this methodology automatically performs patch clamping in vivo, automatically detecting cells by analyzing the temporal sequence of electrode impedance changes.

Abstract: In exemplary embodiments of this invention, one or more I/O devices accept input from a human user. The input is indicative of a value for each control variable in a set of separate control variables. A computer analyzes the input and outputs control signals to specify a set of separate setpoints. Dimmers adjust the intensity or color of a set of luminaires according to the setpoints. The number of separate control variables is much less than the number of separate setpoints. Having a human control a small number of control variables, in order to control a much larger number of separate luminaire setpoints of luminaires, has at least two advantages: control is faster and control is more intuitive. In illustrative implementations, the luminaire setpoints that are being controlled are not functions of each other.

Abstract: An Active Ankle Foot Orthosis (AAFO) is provided where the impedance of an orthotic joint is modulated throughout the walking cycle to treat ankle foot gait pathology, such as drop foot gait. During controlled plantar flexion, a biomimetic torsional spring control is applied where orthotic joint stiffness is actively adjusted to minimize forefoot collisions with the ground. Throughout late stance, joint impedance is minimized so as not to impede powered plantar flexion movements, and during the swing phase, a torsional spring-damper (PD) control lifts the foot to provide toe clearance. To assess the clinical effects of variable-impedance control, kinetic and kinematic gait data were collected on two drop foot participants wearing the AAFO. It has been found that actively adjusting joint impedance reduces the occurrence of slap foot, allows greater powered plantar flexion, and provides for less kinematic difference during swing when compared to normals.

Abstract: Electrospraying systems and associated methods are generally described.

Abstract: An electro-optic modulator imparts the information contained in an electrical signal traveling along a transmission line onto an optical carrier by using signal-related variations in the electrical signal's voltage to modulate the refractive index or absorption in an electro-optic material through which the optical carrier propagates. For optimal bandwidth and modulation efficiency, the microwave and optical waves should be matched in velocity. However, conventional microwave transmission lines have a microwave velocity that is somewhat higher than the optical group velocity in typical optical waveguides. Tuning a microwave transmission line's capacitance reduces the microwave velocity, but also reduces the impedance below the 50? impedance of most microwave components. Conversely, tuning the microwave transmission line's inductance makes it possible to match the microwave velocity to the optical group velocity over bandwidths of 100 GHz or greater while maintaining a microwave impedance of 50?.

Abstract: High power output may be obtained from a photovoltaic (PV) system by controlling each photovoltaic cell of a solar array individually to operate at its maximum power point. Each cell may have associated power electronics and control circuitry that may be integrated together on a chip which may be advantageously implemented in CMOS, enabling reductions in cost and size. A perturb and observe algorithm may be used to find the maximum power point by measuring the power produced at different operating points, and modifying the operating point in the direction of increased power production. In one aspect, performance of a perturb and observe algorithm may be improved in the presence of noise.

Abstract: An aqua-robotic pollutant removing device includes a buoyant body, an electromechanical housing coupled to the buoyant body, and a pollutant absorbing belt coupled to the electromechanical housing and extending outward from the buoyant body. The electromechanical housing is constructed and arranged to rotate the pollutant absorbing belt.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention is directed to a method of characterizing a mechanism of action of a combination of agents. The method comprises contacting a plurality of populations of cells with a combination of agents to be assessed, wherein each population of cells have one gene of interest targeted by a small hairpin RNA (shRNA) and wherein the gene of interest regulates cell death and a plurality of genes that regulate cell death are targeted in the plurality of populations of cells. A responsiveness of each population of cells to the combination of agents is determined, thereby obtaining an shRNA signature of the combination of agents so as to identify one or more genes that mediate a response to the combination of agents, thereby characterizing the mechanism of action of the combination of agents.

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.