Abstract: A system and method for synchronizing the phases and frequencies of devices in multi-user, wireless communications systems are provided. A primary beacon signal is transmitted by a destination node in a wireless communications network to a plurality of source nodes. Secondary beacon signals are also exchanged between the source nodes. Using the primary and secondary beacon signals, the nodes generate local phase and frequency estimates which are used to control local phases and frequencies of the source nodes. The source nodes then transmit common information to the destination at carrier frequencies based on the estimated local frequencies and phases, so that the phases and frequencies of the transmitted information are synchronized to facilitate coherent combining of the bandpass signals at the destination. Phase and frequency synchronization can be applied to wireless communications systems having any number of source nodes, and effects of Doppler shifts and moving platforms are accounted for.

Abstract: Systems and methods may be provided for cylindrical Hall thrusters with independently controllable ionization and acceleration stages. The systems and methods may include a cylindrical channel having a center axial direction, a gas inlet for directing ionizable gas to an ionization section of the cylindrical channel, an ionization device that ionizes at least a portion of the ionizable gas within the ionization section to generate ionized gas, and an acceleration device distinct from the ionization device. The acceleration device may provide an axial electric field for an acceleration section of the cylindrical channel to accelerate the ionized gas through the acceleration section, where the axial electric field has an axial direction in relation to the center axial direction. The ionization section and the acceleration section of the cylindrical channel may be substantially non-overlapping.

Abstract: A battery management system for use with a battery under test is disclosed. The system includes a container configured to hold the battery. The system also includes a stress/strain sensor. The container is configured to hold the battery in fixed relationship with respect to the stress/strain sensor. A processor is coupled to the stress/strain sensor, the processor being configured to measure the stress/strain on the battery and determine the state of health (SOH) of the battery based on the measured stress/strain and previously stored SOH relationship data for the battery. The processor may be configured to determine a state of charge (SOC) of the battery based on the measured stress/strain, the SOH of the battery and previously stored SOC relationship data for the battery.

Abstract: Printed electronic device comprising a substrate onto at least one surface of which has been applied a layer of an electrically conductive ink comprising functionalized graphene sheets and at least one binder. A method of preparing printed electronic devices is further disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for cancellation of RF interference in the optical domain. The system and method utilize two Mach-Zehnder electrooptic modulators biased for parallel counter-phase modulation. The method of signal subtraction is referred to as incoherent optical subtraction, since two independent laser sources serve as the optical carrier waves. The system has produced the broadband cancellation result while simultaneously recovering a 50 dBm signal which was initially “buried” under the broadband interference. The cancellation depths achieved by the system are due to the accurate channel tracking and precise time delays attainable with modern optical devices—unattainable with state-of-the-art electronic devices at the time of this writing.

Abstract: While gold wire grids have been used to polarize infrared wavelengths for over a hundred years, they are not appropriate for shorter wavelengths due to their large period. With embodiments of the present invention, grids with periods a few tens of nanometers can be fabricated. Among other things, such grids can be used to polarize visible and even ultraviolet light. As a result, such wire grid polarizers have a wide variety of applications and uses, such as, e.g., in the fabrication of semiconductors, nanolithography, and more.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for programming mammalian cells to perform desired functions. In particular, the present invention provides compositions and methods for programming stem cells to differentiate into a desired cell type. A quorum sensing systems that regulates the expression of cell fate regulators is introduced into mammalian host cells, such as stem cells. The quorum sensing systems generally comprises vectors that express the components of a bacterial quorum sensing pathway, including proteins which catalyze the synthesis of an autoinducer and a gene encoding a regulatory partner of the autoinducer, and vectors in which genes encoding cell fate regulators are operably linked to a promoter induced by the autoinducer/regulatory partner complex.

Abstract: Methods for forming a coating over a surface are disclosed. A method includes directing a first source of barrier film material toward a substrate in a first direction at an angle ? relative to the substrate, wherein ? is greater than about 0° and less than about 85°. Additionally, a method of depositing a barrier film over a substrate includes directing a plurality of N sources of barrier film material toward a substrate, each source being directed at an angle ?N relative to the substrate, wherein for each ?N, ? is greater than about 0° and less than about 180°. For at least a first of the ?N, ?N is greater than about 0° and less than about 85°, and for at least a second of the ?N, ?N is greater than about 95° and less than about 180°.

Abstract: Radio frequency transmission systems often suffer from the problem of co-site interference, where the frequency band of a strong radio transmitter overlaps with the frequency band of a co-located and/or remote radio receiver, such that the transmitter interferes with the ability of the receiver to detect a weak signal of interest. There is a need for a device that can process both the transmitted radio signal and the received radio signal to eliminate such interference. Previous attempts to solve this problem have been unable to cancel in-band interference in excess of 20 to 40 dB stronger than the signal of interest over a broad bandwidth, with large dynamic range, and with a high degree of linearity. Disclosed is a robust system and method for cancelling broadband in-band RF interference that operates in a dynamically changing multipath environment.

Abstract: Nano-graphene oxide sheets or nano-graphene sheets having a maximum average lateral dimension of about 50 nm and methods of making nano-graphene oxide sheets and nano-graphene sheets.

Abstract: An apparatus for the imaging of gaseous fluid motion is disclosed. The apparatus includes a sub-nanosecond pulsed laser. The sub-nanosecond pulsed laser is configured to cause a particle species to fragment and for the recombining fragments subsequently to fluoresce. The apparatus also includes a gaseous fluid comprised of particle species. The apparatus also includes a time gated camera. The time gated camera configured to capture at least one image of the fluorescence from the recombining particle fragment species displaced after a specific time lapse following the laser pulse. Additionally, a fluid velocity can be calculated from a comparison of the image of the displaced particle species to an initial reference position and the time lapse. A Femtosecond Laser Electronic Excitation Tagging (FLEET) method of using the disclosed apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to various embodiments of an environmentally beneficial method for reducing carbon dioxide. The methods in accordance with the invention include electrochemically or photoelectrochemically reducing the carbon dioxide in a divided electrochemical cell that includes an anode, e.g., an inert metal counterelectrode, in one cell compartment and a metal or p-type semiconductor cathode electrode in another cell compartment that also contains an aqueous solution of an electrolyte and a catalyst of one or more substituted or unsubstituted aromatic amines to produce therein a reduced organic product.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are cobalt complexes containing terdentate pyridine di-imine ligands and their use as efficient and selective dehydrogenative silylation and crosslinking catalysts.

Abstract: Nanochannel arrays that enable high-throughput macromolecular analysis are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of preparing nanochannel arrays and nanofluidic chips. Methods of analyzing macromolecules, such as entire strands of genomic DNA, are also disclosed, as well as systems for carrying out these methods.

Abstract: Nanocomposite materials comprising a metal oxide bonded to at least one graphene material. The nanocomposite materials exhibit a specific capacity of at least twice that of the metal oxide material without the graphene at a charge/discharge rate greater than about 10 C.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for interfacing nanofluidic and microfluidic components suitable for use in performing high throughput macromolecular analysis. Diffraction gradient lithography (DGL) is used to form a gradient interface between a microfluidic area and a nanofluidic area. The gradient interface area reduces the local entropic barrier to nanochannels formed in the nanofluidic area. In one embodiment, the gradient interface area is formed of lateral spatial gradient structures for narrowing the cross section of a value from the micron to the nanometer length scale. In another embodiment, the gradient interface area is formed of a vertical sloped gradient structure. Additionally, the gradient structure can provide both a lateral and vertical gradient.

Abstract: Methods of transferring a metal and/or organic layer from a patterned stamp, preferably a soft, elastomeric stamp, to a substrate are provided. The patterned metal or organic layer may be used for example, in a wide range of electronic devices. The present methods are particularly suitable for nanoscale patterning of organic electronic components.

Abstract: A system and method for synchronizing the phases and frequencies of devices in multi-user, wireless communications systems are provided. A primary beacon signal is transmitted by a destination node in a wireless communications network to a plurality of source nodes. Secondary beacon signals are also exchanged between the source nodes. Using the primary and secondary beacon signals, the nodes generate local phase and frequency estimates which are used to control local phases and frequencies of the source nodes. The source nodes then transmit common information to the destination at carrier frequencies based on the estimated local frequencies and phases, so that the phases and frequencies of the transmitted information are synchronized to facilitate coherent combining of the bandpass signals at the destination. Phase and frequency synchronization can be applied to wireless communications systems having any number of source nodes, and effects of Doppler shifts and moving platforms are accounted for.

Abstract: An elastomeric stamp is used to deposit material on a non-planar substrate. A vacuum mold is used to deform the elastomeric stamp and pressure is applied to transfer material from the stamp to the substrate. By decreasing the vacuum applied by the vacuum mold, the elasticity of the stamp may be used to apply this pressure. Pressure also may be applied by applying a force to the substrate and/or the stamp. The use of an elastomeric stamp allows for patterned layers to be deposited on a non-planar substrate with reduced chance of damage to the patterned layer.

Abstract: Organic light emitting devices are described wherein the emissive layer comprises a host material containing an emissive molecule, which molecule is adapted to luminesce when a voltage is applied across the heterostructure, and the emissive molecule is selected from the group of phosphorescent organometallic complexes, including cyclometallated platinum, iridium and osmium complexes. The organic light emitting devices optionally contain an exciton blocking layer. Furthermore, improved electroluminescent efficiency in organic light emitting devices is obtained with an emitter layer comprising organometallic complexes of transition metals of formula L2MX, wherein L and X are distinct bidentate ligands. Compounds of this formula can be synthesized more facilely than in previous approaches and synthetic options allow insertion of fluorescent molecules into a phosphorescent complex, ligands to fine tune the color of emission, and ligands to trap carriers.