Abstract: A device for analyzing biological samples comprises first, second, third, and fourth layers. The first layer comprises a sample chamber in which a sample is positioned. The second layer comprises first, second, and third channels. A third, porous layer is positioned between the first layer and the second layer. A fourth layer composed of a substantially liquid-impermeable material is positioned between the second layer and the third layer. The fourth layer includes first and second pass-through channels that are aligned with the first and second channel, respectively. Fluids that flow in the first and second channels pass through the pass-through channels and diffuse into the sample chamber, establishing a chemical concentration gradient therein. A gas in the sample chamber can diffuse through the third and fourth layers and interact with a fluid flowing in the third channel, establishing a gas concentration gradient in the sample chamber.

Abstract: Polymerization-induced phase separation enables fine control over thermoset network morphologies, yielding heterogeneous structures with domain sizes tunable over 1-100 nm. However, the controlled chain-growth polymerization techniques exclusively employed to regulate morphology at these length scales are unsuitable for most thermoset materials typically formed through step-growth mechanisms. By employing binary mixtures in place of the classic constituents of phase-separating thermosets—resin, curing agent, and secondary polymer—facile tunability over morphology can be achieved through a single compositional parameter. Indeed, this method yields morphologies spanning nano-scale to macro-scale, controlled by the relative reactivities and thermodynamic compatibility of the network components. Due to the connection between chain dynamics and microstructure in these materials, the tunable morphology enables exquisite control over glass transition and other physical and mechanical properties.

Abstract: A multichannel transistor is provided. In the transistor, a plurality of gate fingers overlie a substrate and extend laterally across the substrate from a gate manifold. The gate manifold has a curved edge, and each of the gate fingers projects radially from the curved manifold edge.

Abstract: Various technologies pertaining to forming a very high instantaneous bandwidth (IBW) radar signal based upon several radio frequency (RF) signals that have sub-bands of the frequency band of the radar signal are described herein. A radar system is configured to address local oscillator leakage across multiple transmit channels of the radar system, such that the radar signal has a relatively constant or other desired amplitude and phase across frequencies of the radar signal. In addition, the radar system is configured to compute a correction signal that pre-distorts each of the sub-frequency channels such that upon combining enables the generation of desired amplitude and phase response across a transmitted pulse.

Abstract: A maze-based switch generally having three functional blocks is disclosed. The first functional block handles communications by accepting an entered maze pattern from an external system controller and outputting the entered maze pattern (and optionally its directional complement) to the second functional block. The second functional block stores the maze pattern (and optionally its directional complement) to a permanent storage element and outputs the stored, entered maze pattern and its directional complement to a series of transistors in the third functional block. The third functional block is an electronic maze in which a correct maze pattern and its directional complement must be received by the transistors for the transistors to pass electrical power through the electronic maze to a connected element. The third functional block may alternatively be implemented with optical elements, optoelectronic elements, microelectromechanical elements, or elements formed by other microsystem technologies.

Abstract: A system or method for a magnetic self-aligning coupling device for a fiber optic cable. The device includes a first end coupling comprising a first magnet and a second magnet. Both magnets include a mating surface and an annular ring defining an axial aperture. The aperture receives a distal end of a segment of fiber optic cable in a tight fit. The fiber optic cable has an exterior sleeve and a fiber core. The fiber core of the first segment and the second segment of the fiber optic cable are axially aligned by magnetic force in the first and second apertures to create a continuous fiber optic path. A method for detecting a security breach of a door using the self-aligning couplings is also described.

Abstract: A chemical upgrading of two high-yield fermentation products to produce a novel biofuel with properties desirable for use in internal combustion engines produces a C7 to C22 alkoxyalkanoate corresponding to formula (I): wherein R2 and R1 are alkyl groups independently selected to have 2 to 18 carbon atoms; wherein the R3 group is a C1 to C5 group divalent alkyl group. The alkoxyalkanoate can be used as a neat fuel or blend with biodiesel, diesel, gasoline, ethanol or other fuels. The alkoxyalkanoates have improved cloud point properties over diesel fuels. A method for making the alkoxyalkanoate from a biomass source is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and corresponding apparatus are provided for measuring neutron spin precession in an electric field with high sensitivity suitable for practical applications in non-destructive testing, imaging, and the like. Production of a neutron beam with a polarization vector P is followed by transmitting the spin-polarized neutron beam through a sample region in which there is a target generating an electric field, polarization-analyzing the transmitted neutron beam with an analyzing direction orthogonal to P, detecting an intensity of the polarization-analyzed neutron beam; and mapping the detected neutron-beam intensity to a field-strength value for the target electric field.

Abstract: Systems and methods for hybrid integration of ultra-low loss waveguide photonic circuits with various efficient on-chip elements are described. The photonic circuits can integrate various elements including (but not limited to): gain, modulation, detection, and nonlinear optical elements. The integrated photonic chips can be manufactured in a flexible, reconfigurable, 3D heterogeneous platform. The integrated photonic chips can cover wavelength ranges from the visible wavelength to infrared wavelength.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for ionic liquid processing of biomass.

Abstract: A DC bus collection system for a wind farm reduces the overall required number of converters and minimizes the energy storage system requirements. The DC bus collection system implements a power phasing control method between wind turbines that filters the variations and improves power quality. The phasing control method takes advantage of a novel power packet network concept with nonlinear power flow control design techniques that guarantees both stable and enhanced dynamic performance.

Abstract: A hybrid inertial navigation system and method are provided. The system includes a conventional inertial measurement unit (with a three-axis accelerometer and a three-axis gyroscope operating at a high data rate and low sensitivity), light pulse atom interferometer accelerometer and gyroscope (operating at a low data rate and high sensitivity), and a processing system. The method of the hybrid inertial navigation system includes precisely determining an acceleration and an angular velocity and allowing light pulse atom interferometry operation under dynamic environments. A processing system of the hybrid inertial navigation system performs feedforward correction operations on the light-pulse atom interferometer accelerometer and gyroscope of the hybrid inertial navigation system. The processing system determines one or more control signals based on the inertial information from the conventional inertial measurement unit, a light pulse atom interferometer model, and the feedforward algorithm.

Abstract: A method for detecting a change in an environment is disclosed. The method includes forming a test acoustic signal based on time-reversal of a baseline acoustic signal after the baseline acoustic signal has traversed the environment while the environment is in a baseline condition. The method also includes detecting the test acoustic signal after the test acoustic signal has traversed the environment while the environment is in an unknown condition. The method includes determining whether there has been a change in the environment by comparing the baseline acoustic signal with the detected test acoustic signal after the test acoustic signal has traversed the environment while the environment is in the unknown condition.

Abstract: The present invention relates, in part, to systems for characterizing force (e.g., friction, and wear). In one embodiment, a tribometer allows for wear testing of samples in a high throughput manner. A counterface is used to apply force on the surface of the sample. A carousel provides for the rapid exchange of new for old counterfaces in the tribometer test head, thereby enabling the use of a new counterface for each new wear test without the need for operator interaction.

Abstract: Various technologies pertaining to optical measurement of cross-wind are described herein. A beam of light is emitted along a trajectory through a shooting space from a location of a shooter to a target using a laser. The beam is reflected by the target, and the beam is received at two optical detectors. Due to changes in the index of refraction of air along the path of the beam, an envelope signal atmospherically encoded on the beam is received at each of the two apertures at different times. A signal analyzer receives a signal from each of the detectors and outputs data indicative of an average speed of the cross-wind along the trajectory in the shooting space based upon a time delay between the signals.

Abstract: A system and method for visual alignment of Reflective Particle Tags (RPT) includes creating a three-dimensional digital model of a reticle; processing a plurality of features based on the digital model; generating an Augmented Reality application; and deploying the Augmented Reality application on a camera platform. The augmented reality alignment system includes processors and memory devices having instructions that, when executed by the processors, cause the processors to perform operations of creating a three-dimensional digital model of a reticle; processing a plurality of features based on the digital model; generating an Augmented Reality application; and deploying the Augmented Reality application on a camera platform. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, cause the processors to create a model of a reticle; process features based on the model; generate an Augmented Reality application; and deploy the application on a camera.

Abstract: A micro-structured device that can improve sensitivity and signal-to-noise for electronic sensor materials is embedded in electrically resistive materials. The technology includes a three-dimensional embedded electrode structure and fabrication methods for making the device for electronic sensing in bulk resistive materials. Embedded electrode structures address issues in conventional sensors by allowing independent control of sensitive material thickness, area, electric field intensity, and field direction.

Abstract: An aluminum-scandium (Al—Sc) etch stop that is both CMOS compatible and highly conductive, and a method for forming the same are disclosed. The low volatility of Sc in Cl and strong covalent bond between Al—Sc leads to an increase in resistance to NaCl corrosion and makes it difficult to dry etch in Cl-based chemistries, resulting in an excellent etch stop material, especially when used in conjunction with an overlying aluminum nitride (AlN) or aluminum scandium nitride (AlScN) piezoelectric layer. When deposited at high deposition temperatures or when subsequently annealed at >600° C., the Al—Sc has a low resistivity, enabling corresponding device operation at temperatures up to at least 500° C. While Al3Sc is the preferred composition, Al1-xScx with x between 5 and 100 atomic percent provides many of these same benefits but comes at the cost of increased electrical resistivity and etch resistance with increasing Sc content due to Sc oxidation.

Abstract: Various embodiments described herein provide for a balloon-borne aeroseismometer that can detect infrasonic signals and concurrent vibrations caused by the infrasonic signals. Through a set of motion sensors that can detect acceleration in three planes, the aeroseismometer can determine the direction of vibration and thus determine a travel path of the infrasonic signal relative to the aeroseismometer. The aeroseismometer can also translate the direction of the source from a reference frame of the aeroseismometer to an external reference frame, such as a planetary coordinate system, in order to identify potential locations of a source of the infrasonic signals.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an isolated or purified antibody, or a fragment thereof, having a binding domain that binds to a coronavirus (e.g., SARS-COV-2) or a portion thereof. In other embodiments, the antibody includes a binding domain that competes with binding to angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) or a portion thereof. Methods of using such antibodies are also described herein, such as methods of treating or delaying the progression of a disease associated with a coronavirus.