Abstract: A photonic integrated circuit and a method for its manufacture are provided. In an embodiment, an intermetal dielectric layer, for example, a silicon oxide layer, is contiguous between an upper metal layer and a lower metal layer on a substrate. One or more waveguides having top and bottom faces are formed in respective waveguide layers within the intermetal dielectric layer between the upper and lower metal layers. There is a distance of at least 600 nm from the upper metal layer to the top face of the uppermost of the several waveguides. There is a distance of at least 600 nm from the lower metal layer to the bottom face of the lowermost of the several waveguides. The waveguides are formed of silicon nitride for longer wavelengths and alumina for shorter wavelengths. These dimensions and materials are favorable for CMOS processing, among other things.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that provide for secure communications between a user device and an authentication system. The systems and methods create a dynamic identification for the device that is stored in both the device and authentication system.

Abstract: A method for depolymerizing a mixture of plastics is described. The method comprises (a) providing a composition comprising two of more plastics, (b) introducing a solvent comprising an ionic liquid (IL) or deep eutectic solvents (DES) and optionally water to the composition to form a solvent-plastic composition, such as an aqueous solvent-plastic composition, and (c) incubating the solvent-plastic composition for a period of time to produce a depolymerized composition such that at least portions of the two of more plastics are depolymerized into monomers. The produced monomers can be used as a carbon source for microbes to produce bioproducts.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to terpene synthases capable of producing terpenoids. In one instance, a transformed organism can include terpene synthases or vectors encoding such synthases. One method of employing such synthases and organisms includes protecting an algal culture, in which the produced terpenoid can act as a biocide.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a method to deconstruct a biomass: the method comprising: (a) introducing a solvent comprising a polyamine, or a mixture of polyamines, to a biomass to dissolve at least part of solid biomass in the solvent, wherein the polyamine is a Brønsted or Lewis base, and/or the polyamine is a hydrogen bond donor and/or acceptor; (b) optionally introducing an enzyme and/or a microbe to the solubilized biomass mixture such that the enzyme and/or microbe produces a sugar from the solubilized biomass mixture; (c) optionally separating the sugar from the solubilized biomass mixture; and (d) optionally separating the lignan from the solubilized biomass mixture.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods, apparatuses, and systems to measure one or more electrical signals from a cultured cell layer. In some embodiments, such electrical signals can be indicative of transport or lack of transport of an agent through the cell layer.

Abstract: Advanced Distribution Management Systems not generally optimize over the entire feeder because there are few high-fidelity distribution circuit models and real-time distribution-connected sensors are rare. The limited observability at the distribution level makes it difficult to globally optimize distribution operations and issue control setpoints to power systems equipment or Distributed Energy Resources (DER) to perform grid-support services. For example, setpoints can be issued to DER based on results from an optimization module that incorporates a static or time-series feeder simulation. Feeder simulation initial conditions are populated with photovoltaic (PV) and load forecasts, state estimation results, and/or digital twin measurements or state output. The real-time (RT) digital twin runs a model of the feeder to generate state estimation pseudo-measurements since there are limited live feeder measurements.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of user authentication is provided. The method comprises combining, by a computer system, a user recurrent neural network with a system recurrent neural network to form a unique combined recurrent neural network. The user recurrent neural network is configured to generate a unique user key, and the system recurrent neural network is configured to generate a system key. The computer system inputs a predetermined input into the combined recurrent neural network, and the combined recurrent neural network generates a unique combined key from the input, wherein the combined key differs from both the user key and system key. The computer system then associates the combined key with a unique access authorization to authenticate a user.

Abstract: Novel polymers are depolymerizable by metathesis of a cleavable unit. As an example, a series of linear and crosslinked polyurethanes were prepared that can be selectively depolymerized under mild conditions. Two unique polyols were synthesized bearing unsaturated units in a configuration designed to favor ring-closing metathesis to five- and six-membered cycloalkenes. These polyols were co-polymerized with toluene diisocyanate to generate linear polyurethanes and trifunctional hexamethylene- and diphenylmethane-based isocyanates to generate crosslinked polyurethanes. The polyol design is such that the ring-closing metathesis reaction cleaves the backbone of the polymer chain. Upon exposure to dilute solutions of Grubbs' catalyst under ambient conditions, the polyurethanes were rapidly depolymerized to low molecular weight, soluble products bearing vinyl and cycloalkene functionalities. These functionalities enabled further re-polymerization by traditional strategies for polymerization of double bonds.

Abstract: Autonomous wireless sensors in subsurface environments can be charged while present in the subsurface environment to allow the sensors to measure and wirelessly transmit measurements. The sensors rely upon a contrast agent to provide a power flow path to the sensors.

Abstract: Curatives and their resulting thermosets and other crosslinked polymers can reduce thermal expansion mismatch between an encapsulant and objects that are encapsulated. This can be accomplished by incorporating a negative CTE moiety into the thermoset resin or polymer backbone. The negative CTE moiety can be a thermal contractile unit that shrinks as a result of thermally induced conversion from a twist-boat to chair or cis/trans isomerization upon heating. Beyond CTE matching, other potential uses for these crosslinked polymers and thermosets include passive energy generation, energy absorption at high strain rates, mechanophores, actuators, and piezoelectric applications.

Abstract: A battery cell comprising a composite water-responsive safety layer and/or composite water- and pH-responsive safety layer to protect against tissue damage and/or electrolysis, when the battery cell is exposed to aqueous solution or tissue, is provided. The composite water-responsive safety layer and/or composite water- and pH-responsive safety layer is adapted to change from a non-electronically conducting state to an electronically conducting state.

Abstract: A scalable point defect qubit control system may include a diamond waveguide array comprising one or more diamond waveguides and a microwave line disposed proximally to the diamond waveguide array. Each diamond waveguide in the diamond waveguide array may include one or more qubits encoded in point defect sites. The microwave line may be configured to receive a direct current (DC) signal configured to shift an energy level of each point defect qubit of the one or more point defect qubits based on a position of the point defect in the diamond waveguide array, and receive an alternating current (AC) signal configured to control a quantum state of a point defect qubit of the one or more point defect qubits, wherein one or more properties of the AC signal are based on the shift in the energy level induced by the DC signal.

Abstract: A method for removing a contaminant from a fluid is provided. A positively charged layered double hydroxide is combined with a negatively charged clay material to form adsorption material. The adsorption material is contacted with an aqueous solution containing the contaminant to adsorb the contaminant onto the adsorption material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to method for storing and transmitting information by employing a nucleic acid construct. The nucleic acid construct can include a lock region; a translation key region that corresponds to the identity of a key; and a message region including a nucleic sequence that corresponds to an encrypted message.

Abstract: A method and system for dispersing stored energy in an energy storage system to delay or arrest propagation of thermal runaway and thermally-induced cascading failures. The system includes a plurality of battery sub-assemblies and DC-DC converters connected to a shared DC bus through which energy may be exchanged. The system may be interfaced to an AC power grid or DC power system through an additional power converter. The method of dispersing stored energy uses this system to charge and discharge sub-assemblies such that the system is less susceptible to propagation of thermal runaway. The method determines, based on awareness of current system state, battery types, and electrical and thermal structure, the sequence of charging and discharging actions to best inhibit thermal runaway while preserving the system's ability to perform subsequent energy redistribution.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to multi-stage falling particle receivers and methods of falling particle heating. As the particles fall through the receiver, the particles are periodically collected and released by flow retarding devices. The periodic catch-and-release of the particles falling through the receiver reduces particle flow dispersion, increases particle opacity and solar absorption, and reduces erosion and damage to surfaces caused by direct particle impingement.

Abstract: A coating architecture is disclosed that includes a substrate having a surface finish Ra of 0.3? or finer, an intermediate layer overlying and in contact with the substrate; and a solid lubricant layer overlying and in contact with the intermediate layer. The test results of applying the coating architecture to a reciprocating hammer drill utilizing the coating is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for synthesizing a purified lithium (Li)+ anion binding agent (ABA-F)? salt and the corresponding Li+(ABA-F)? are disclosed. The method includes dissolving a boron-based acid in a polar solvent to form a solution. The solution is refluxed to form an anion binding agent. A stoichiometric amount of a small fluorinated salt, such as LiF, is added to the anion binding agent to form a mixture. The mixture is subsequently crystallized to obtain a substantially pure Li+(ABA-F)? salt. Example purified Li+(ABA-F)? salts include Ox-Li+(ABA-F), m-Li+(ABA-F), and BF3—Li+(ABA-F)?. These purified Li+(ABA-F)? salts provide the benefits of increased battery thermal safety without loss of electrochemical performance.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a genetically modified fungal host cell capable of producing prespatane and/or epi-isozizaene comprising prespatane synthase (PPS) and/or epi-isozizaene synthase (EIZS).