Abstract: 8-Substituted-2,6-methano-3-benzazocines of general structure I in which A is —CH2—OH, —CH2NH2, —NHSO2CH3, and Y is O, S or NOH are useful as analgesics, anti-diarrheal agents, anticonvulsants, antitussives and anti-addiction medications. 8-Carboxamides, thiocarboxamides, hydroxyamidines and formamides are preferred.

Abstract: In steady-state voltage stability analysis, as load increases toward a maximum, conventional Newton-Raphson power flow Jacobian matrix becomes increasingly ill-conditioned so power flow fails to converge before reaching maximum loading. A method to directly eliminate this singularity reformulates the power flow problem by introducing an AQ bus with specified bus angle and reactive power consumption of a load bus. For steady-state voltage stability analysis, the angle separation between the swing bus and AQ bus can be varied to control power transfer to the load, rather than specifying the load power itself. For an AQ bus, the power flow formulation is only made up of a reactive power equation, thus reducing the size of the Jacobian matrix by one. This reduced Jacobian matrix is nonsingular at the critical voltage point, eliminating a major difficulty in voltage stability analysis for power system operations.

Abstract: Methods for facilitating fabricating semiconductor structures are provided which include: providing a multilayer structure including a semiconductor layer, the semiconductor layer including a dopant and having an increased conductivity; selectively increasing, using electrochemical processing, porosity of the semiconductor layer, at least in part, the selectively increasing porosity utilizing the increased conductivity of the semiconductor layer; and removing, at least in part, the semiconductor layer with the selectively increased porosity from the multilayer structure. By way of example, the selectively increasing porosity may include selectively, anodically oxidizing, at least in part, the semiconductor layer of the multilayer structure.

Abstract: A therapeutic environmental light and image system and related methods are provided. A controller controls a lighting system and one or more images displayed on a display monitor to create a virtual window in a patient recovery room that simulates characteristics of a real window. Optionally, circadian full-spectrum light cycling is delivered via a prescriptively-selected circadian light cycle, which may or may not be configured based on the images provided on the display monitor. Additionally, ultraviolet light from an ultraviolet light source may be dosed to the patient to favorably impact biologic functions and other health aspects of the patient, to facilitate patient recovery.

Abstract: A smart lighting system and method that estimates occupancy using perturbation-modulated light and distributed non-imaging color sensors. A system is disclosed that includes a plurality of non-imaging color sensors; a plurality of color controllable lights; a system that perturbs the color controllable lights within a space; a system that collects resulting color information from the non-imaging color sensors, and builds a light transport model based on collected color information; a system that estimates an occupancy pattern or distribution within a space; and an adjustment module that adjusts the color controllable lights based on the light transport model and a predefined control strategy.

Abstract: Flash light-generating methods and systems are provided, which, in one aspect, include: obtaining one or more measurements of existing light on or around an illumination target; ascertaining a desired color attribute(s) for a combined light to be provided on the illumination target, the combined light including the existing light and a flash light to be generated; determining a flash light spectral power distribution of illumination which achieves a combined light spectral power distribution of illumination on the illumination target having the desired color attribute(s), the determining using, in part, the measurement(s) of existing light, and the desired color attribute(s) for the combined light; and generating the flash light with the determined flash light spectral power distribution of illumination to provide the combined light on the illumination target having the combined light spectral power distribution of illumination with the desired color attribute(s).

Abstract: Methods of making cathodes for lithium-sulfur batteries are disclosed, in addition to cathodes and batteries containing the cathodes. A method of making a cathode is disclosed which includes extracting lignosulfonate from brown liquor, pyrolyzing the lignosulfonate, carbonizing the pyrolyzed lignosulfonate to form a carbon-sulfur compound, and forming the carbon-sulfur compound into a cathode. A cathode for a lithium-sulfur battery is disclosed which includes pyrolized lignosulfonate recovered from brown liquor, and carbon. The pyrolized lignosulfonate and carbon are suspended in a matrix having a substantially homogenous distribution of sulfur. A battery is disclosed in which an anode including an electrolye, lithium, is provided along with a membrane separate and a carbon comprising a carbon-sulfur compound derived from lignosulfonates.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate generally to protein extraction and, more generally, to bone protein extraction methods that do not require demineralization. In one embodiment, the invention provides a method comprising: mixing a bone sample and a quantity of an extraction buffer comprising: ammonium phosphate dibasic; or ammonium phosphate dibasic and ammonium bicarbonate; or ammonium phosphate dibasic, ammonium bicarbonate, and guanidine HCl; or sodium phosphate dibasic and sodium bicarbonate; or sodium phosphate dibasic, sodium bicarbonate, and guanidine HCl; or potassium phosphate dibasic and potassium bicarbonate; or potassium phosphate dibasic, potassium bicarbonate, and guanidine HCl; and incubating the bone sample/extraction buffer mixture.

Abstract: Methods and systems of using X-ray radiation to irradiate X-ray sensitive biomolecules to allow for specific control over the behavior of cells via the X-ray irradiation are provided. The systems and methods are influenced by the field of optogenetics, which uses visible light instead of X-ray radiation. X-ray stimulation penetrates both bone and soft tissue with very little attenuation and can be performed without any physical contact with the sample. Image reconstruction methods using deep learning are also provided. A deep learning algorithm can be used to obtain a reconstructed image from raw data obtained via medical imaging, either with or without first performing a conventional algorithm.

Abstract: The present invention includes vinyl ether functional oligomers and methods for their preparation, the method including alternating free radical copolymerization of a dialkyl maleate or dialkyl fumerate monomer with a multifunctional vinyl ether monomer in the presence of a solvent with a high chain transfer constant. Also within the scope of the invention are uses for the vinyl ether functional oligomers compositions of this invention, including radiation curable coatings, adhesives, printing inks and composites.

Abstract: Methods for fabricating radiation-detecting structures are presented. The methods include, for instance: fabricating a radiation-detecting structure, the fabricating including: providing a semiconductor substrate, the semiconductor substrate having a plurality of cavities extending into the semiconductor substrate from a surface thereof; and electrophoretically depositing radiation-detecting particles of a radiation-detecting material into the plurality of cavities extending into the semiconductor substrate, where the electrophoretically depositing fills the plurality of cavities with the radiation-detecting particles. In one embodiment, the providing can include electrochemically etching the semiconductor substrate to form the plurality of cavities extending into the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: Systems and methods for X-ray phase-contrast imaging (PCI) are provided. A quasi-periodic phase grating can be positioned between an object being imaged and a detector. An analyzer grating can be disposed between the phase grating and the detector. Second-order approximation models for X-ray phase retrieval using paraxial Fresnel-Kirchhoff diffraction theory are also provided. An iterative method can be used to reconstruct a phase-contrast image or a dark-field image.

Abstract: Provided is a phosphor-functionalized nanoparticle that includes an inorganic nanoparticle core; surface polymer brushes that include a plurality of long-chain polymers bonded to the surface of the inorganic nanoparticle core, said long-chain polymers each having molecular weight greater than 500, and a plurality of short-chain polymers bonded to the surface of the inorganic nanoparticle core, said short-chain polymers each having molecular weight less than 0.5 times the average molecular weight of the long-chain polymers; and one or more organic phosphors bonded to at least one of the inorganic nanoparticle core and one or more of the plurality of short-chain polymers. Graft density of the short-chain polymers on the surface of the inorganic nanoparticle core (?SC) is greater than graft density of the long-chain polymers on the surface of the inorganic nanoparticle core (?LC). Also provided are polymer matrices, LED's, optical systems, lighting devices, and fixtures that include the inventive nanoparticle.

Abstract: Cell culture devices, and related methods and kits, for modeling isotropic-to-anisotropic cellular transitions are provided. The devices can include a substrate having an isotropic film surface with one or more regions of aligned fibers dispersed thereon.

Abstract: A light fixture includes a light source, a wavelength-conversion material, and a reflector. The light source is configured to emit a first radiation, and has a front surface and a back surface. The wavelength-conversion material is arranged under the front surface and configured to convert the first radiation to a second radiation which has a first portion not able to reach the reflector and a second portion able to reach the reflector. The reflector is arranged over the back surface and configured to reflect the second portion away from the light source without passing through the wavelength-conversion material. The reflector has an end distant from the light source and is arranged in an elevation different from that of the wavelength-conversion material.

Abstract: Light-emitting diode (LED) driver systems that are scalable and can be used for N-color LED systems are provided. An LED system having N LED strings of different color can be efficiently driven with independently controllable constant current sources for each string from a single power source. The driver system can include a power converter having an inductor.

Abstract: Imaging methods and imaging systems are provided. Methods and systems of the subject invention can include linearly translating a source and a detector. The source and the detector can be moved in opposite or approximately opposite directions. Acquired data can be used to reconstruct a tomographic image by using, for example, a compressive sensing technique.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a composite polymer/nanoporous film system and methods of fabrication of tunable nanoporous coatings on flexible polymer substrates. The porosity of the nanoporous film can be tuned during fabrication to a desired value by adjusting the deposition conditions. Experiments show that SiO2 coatings with tunable porosity fabricated by oblique-angle electron beam deposition can be deposited on polymer substrates. These conformable coatings have many applications, including in the field of optics where the ability to fabricate tunable refractive index coatings on a variety of materials and shapes is of great importance.

Abstract: 8-Substituted-2,6-methano-3-benzazocines of general structure I in which A is —CH2—OH, —CH2NH2, —NHSO2CH3, and Y is O, S or NOH are useful as analgesics, anti-diarrheal agents, anticonvulsants, antitussives and anti-addiction medications. 8-Carboxamides, thiocarboxamides, hydroxyamidines and formamides are preferred.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a down-conversion substrate for use in a light system includes forming a first crystallography layer including one or more phosphor materials and, optionally, applying at least one activator to the crystallography layer, heating the crystallography layer at high temperature to promote crystal growth in the crystallography layer, and drawing out the crystallography layer and allowing the crystallography layer to cool to form the down-conversion substrate. A light system includes an excitation source for emitting short wavelength primary emissions; and a down-conversion substrate disposed in the path of at least some of the primary emissions from the excitation source to convert at least a portion of the primary emissions into longer-wavelength secondary emissions, wherein the substrate includes one or more crystallography layers, wherein each crystallography layer includes one or more phosphor materials, and optionally at least one activator.