Abstract: A monolithically integrated, tunable infrared pixel comprises a combined broadband detector and graphene-enabled tunable metasurface filter that operate as a single solid-state device with no moving parts. Functionally, tunability results from the plasmonic properties of graphene that are acutely dependent upon the carrier concentration within the infrared. Voltage induced changes in graphene's carrier concentration can be leveraged to change the metasurface filter's transmission thereby altering the “colors” of light reaching the broadband detector and hence its spectral responsivity. The invention enables spectrally agile infrared detection with independent pixel-to-pixel spectral tunability.

Abstract: A hybrid-integrated series/parallel-connected photovoltaic diode array employs 10s-to-100s of single-wavelength III-V compound semiconductor photodiodes in an array bonded onto a transparent optical plate through which the array is illuminated by monochromatic light. The power-by-light system receiver enables high-voltage, up to 1000s of volts, optical transmission of power to remote electrical systems in harsh environments.

Abstract: A passive tube closure valve comprising an elongated body extending along a first axis made of a shape memory alloy with a threshold contraction along the first axis at a threshold temperature. The closure valve further comprises a passageway extending along a second axis different from the first axis shaped to surround a conduit line extending along the second axis. The closure valve further includes a first modifying structure on a first portion of the passageway and a second modifying structure on a second portion of the passageway opposite the first modifying structure. Contraction of the elongated body can cause the first modifying structure and the second modifying structure to move towards each other; where movement of at least one of the first modifying structure or the second modifying structures can be configured to modify the conduit line.

Abstract: The present invention relates to probes and primers beneficial for conducting amplification assays, such as those including loop-mediated isothermal amplification reactions. Also described herein are methods for detecting targets using such probes and/or primers.

Abstract: A system and corresponding method that achieves coherency and deterministic latency (CDL) autonomously upon power on is disclosed. The system, for example, a multi-channel RF system, may require CDL with respect to the digital-to-analog converters (DACs) and analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) assigned to the channels in the system. CDL is achieved through a timed combination of external reference and synchronization signals, resetting and disabling of various clock dividers, and enabling clock generation. In addition to synchronizing all of the clocks, the data acquisition sequence must be synchronized across all of the channels, whether they are on chips, cards, or chassis. Data acquisition synchronization may be implemented using an initiator/target or a wired OR mode configuration.

Abstract: A non-tracking solar sensor device and systems. The non-tracking solar sensor system includes a transparent hemispherical dome enclosure for receiving light. A diffuser is disposed with the enclosure for diffusing the light. A photodiode sensor array senses at least one discrete wavelength of the diffused light. A data acquisition module is configured to receive a sensor signal from the sensor array, the signal indicative of light quality at least one discrete wave band for processing via a processor module.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and engineered microbial hosts useful for treating lignin or a derivative thereof. In some embodiments, the host has one or more exogenous nucleic acid sequences that encode a ligninase (e.g., a laccase and/or a peroxidase).

Abstract: Both parallel-type and serial-type dual-mode oscillators employing stress compensated cut resonators having various configurations are disclosed. Both classes of dual-mode oscillators employ multiple tank circuits to pass one frequency of the resonator and block the other frequency. The tank circuits isolate the operation of the two oscillator sub-circuits that form the dual-mode oscillator from one another. The dual-mode oscillators may be implemented with either bipolar or CMOS transistors. The parallel-type dual-mode oscillators employ inverters to provide gain. The serial-type dual-mode oscillators employ a two (or three) stage design including a follower circuit first stage and an inverting amplifier/limiter circuit second stage, with an optional intervening transimpedance amplifier stage.

Abstract: A thermally sensitive ionic redox transistor comprises a solid channel, a solid reservoir layer, and a solid electrolyte layer disposed between the channel and the reservoir layer. A conductance of the channel is varied by changing the concentration of ions such as oxygen vacancies in the channel layer. Ionic conductivity of the gate, electrolyte, and channel layers increase with increasing temperature. Ion or vacancy transport between the channel and the reservoir layer across the electrolyte layer occurs in response to applying a voltage between the channel and the reservoir layer when the device is heated to an elevated temperature. When the device is cooled below the elevated temperature, the ions are trapped in one or more of the layers because the materials lose their ionic conductivity. A state of the redox transistor can be read by measuring the conductance of the channel.

Abstract: A construct includes a core comprising an external surface and a plurality of pores, a cargo disposed in a pore of the plurality of pores, the cargo comprising a CRISPR Cas9 component or a nucleic acid sequence encoding a CRISPR Cas9 component; and a coating coupled to the core, wherein the coating comprises a cationic lipid, a pegylated lipid, a zwitterionic lipid, and a sterol. The coating may comprise a molar ratio of about 1 cationic lipid to 1 zwitterionic lipid to 0.9 sterol to 0.15 PEGylated lipid, wherein each molar ratio optionally varies by about plus or minus 10%. A method of treatment is also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to novel high entropy alloys, including refractory high entropy alloys, and methods of selecting high entropy alloys and refractory high entropy alloys with select nuclear application predetermined properties.

Abstract: Detecting anomalies with a spiking neural network is provided. An input layer receives a number of inputs and converts them into phase-coded spikes, wherein each input is contained within a number of progressively larger neighborhoods of surrounding inputs. From the phase-coded spikes, a median value of each input is computed for each size neighborhood. An absolute difference of each input from its median value is computed for each size neighborhood. A median absolute difference (MAD) of each input is computed for each size neighborhood. For each input, an adaptive median filter (AMF) determines if a MAD for any size neighborhood exceeds a respective threshold. If one or more neighborhoods exceeds its threshold, the AMF outputs the median value of the input for the smallest neighborhood. If none of the neighborhoods exceeds the threshold, the AMF outputs the original value of the input.

Abstract: A hermetically-sealed edge-connect header that can withstand high temperatures, high pressures (or high vacuum levels), and high vibration environments, along with two corresponding connectors are disclosed. After brazing the edge-connect header components, the assembly is machined to form a slot with a portion of each of a plurality of electrical conductors removed in the machining process, resulting in a header with a high pin density. During the process of mating the first connector design to the edge-connect header, a plurality of wipers in the connector deflect, thereby causing the wipers to extend from the connector and contact the corresponding electrical conductors in the header. During the process of mating the second connector design to the edge-connect header, each of a plurality of wipers formed of low-mass, compliant metal wool, forms multiple contact points with a corresponding electrical conductor in the header.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a device and method to engineer the superconducting transition width by suppressing the phonon populations responsible for the Cooper-pair decoherence below the superconducting transition temperature via phononic bandgap engineering. The device uses phononic crystals to engineer a phononic frequency gap that suppresses the decohering thermal phonon population just below the Cooper-frequency, and thus the normal conduction electron population. For example, such engineering can relax the cooling requirements for a variety of circuits yielding higher operational quality factors for superconducting electronics and interconnects.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to towerless vertical-axis wind turbines with pre-tensioned rotors. The present disclosure is further directed to a vertical-axis wind turbine (VAWT) with supported blade ends (e.g., Darrieus type) which replaces the center tower with tensioned supports, such as tensioned guy wires, and blade pre-load.

Abstract: In a method of atomic precision advanced manufacturing (APAM), an atomic or molecular resist layer on a substrate surface is selectively depassivated by locally exciting the substrate surface with an optical beam effective to eject adsorbed atoms or molecules from the substrate surface. The substrate surface is further processed by exposing it to a precursor gas, decomposing the precursor gas to release a dopant, and incorporating the dopant into the substrate surface.

Abstract: The present invention provides for an Aspergillus niger host cell comprising a gene of interest operatively linked to an ecm33 promoter of an ascomycete fungi, wherein the gene of interest is heterologous to the ecm33 promoter and/or to Aspergillus niger. In some embodiments, the gene of interest is a glycoside hydrolase enzyme. In some embodiments, the glycoside hydrolase enzyme is a glucosidase.

Abstract: A method for increasing a speed or energy efficiency at which a computer is capable of modeling a plurality of random walkers. The method includes defining a virtual space in which a plurality of virtual random walkers will move among different locations in the virtual space, wherein the virtual space comprises a plurality of vertices and wherein the different locations are ones of the plurality of vertices. A corresponding set of neurons in a spiking neural network is assigned to a corresponding vertex such that there is a correspondence between sets of neurons and the plurality of vertices, wherein a spiking neural network comprising a plurality of sets of spiking neurons is established. A virtual random walk of the plurality of virtual random walkers is executed using the spiking neural network, wherein executing includes tracking how many virtual random walkers are at each vertex at a given time increment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for controlling the phase shifts produced in a binary corporate tree network of the kind, e.g., that can drive a phased array for steering an optical beam. The method employs a novel phase-wrapping technique in which an entire layer of the binary tree is disabled when the phase added in that layer reaches 2?. With that technique, it is possible to economize on electrical control lines and on the use of electric power, while still maintaining the ability to produce arbitrary phases at the output of the tree network.

Abstract: The present invention relates to tunable microresonators, as well as methods of designing and tuning such resonators. In particular, tuning includes applying an electrical bias to the resonator, thereby shifting the resonant frequency.