Abstract: Several embodiments of the present technology are related to network-on-chip based integrated circuits with wireless interconnects. In one embodiment, a computing device includes a plurality of computing cores on a common substrate. The computing cores are organized into a plurality of subnets individually associated with a set of the computing cores, a communications hub associated with the set of the computing cores, and a plurality of conductive or semi-conductive connectors connecting the set of the computing cores into a small world network. The computing device further includes a plurality of wireless transceivers on the substrate, the wireless transceivers being individually associated with one of the communications hubs of a corresponding subnet.

Abstract: Systems and methods for voltage stability monitoring in power systems are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving data representing a set of system parameters of a power system having one or more power buses under a load condition. The method also includes estimating one or more sets of the system parameters under one or more additional load conditions based on the received data and topology information of the power system. The method further includes determining a voltage stability index for the power system based on both the received set of system parameters and the estimated one or more sets of the system parameters.

Abstract: Several mutated strains of Scheffersomyces stipitis are generated by repetitive culturing of the parent strain on two types of concentrated hydrolyzates and with ethanol-challenged xylose-fed continuous culture. Isolates collected from various enriched populations are screened and ranked based on relative xylose uptake rate and ethanol yield. Ranking on hydrolyzates with and without nutritional supplementation is used to identify those isolates with best performance across diverse conditions.

Abstract: A threshold logic element (TLE) is disclosed. The TLE includes a first input gate network, a second input gate network, and a differential sense amplifier. The first input gate network is configured to receive a first set of logical signals and the second input gate network configured to receive a second set of logical signals. The differential sense amplifier is operably associated with the first input gate network and the second input gate network such that the differential sense amplifier is configured to generate a differential logical output in accordance with a threshold logic function. To obfuscate the TLE, any number of obfuscated transmission gates can be provided in one or both of the input gate networks. The obfuscated transmission gates are obfuscated such that obfuscated transmission gates are incapable of effecting the threshold logic function of the TLE and thus hide the functionality of the TLE.

Abstract: Composite particles are disclosed comprising magnesium oxide, iron oxide, and biochar; and methods of making and using the composite particles. The composite particles may be used to recover solutes including phosphate, nitrate, ammonium, and organic compounds from aqueous solution, and the resulting solute-loaded particles may be used as a fertilizer to enhance plant growth. The composites be used to remove pollutants from agricultural runoff, wastewater, and surface water. The particles possess magnetic properties that enhance their recovery following solute adsorption.

Abstract: A photovoltaic power station includes, for example, a plurality of solar panels at a first location, the plurality of solar panels operable to provide a maximum power output, a controller operable to supply, from the plurality of solar panels, a predetermined power output less than the maximum power output to an electrical grid, and wherein the photovoltaic power station is operable to maintain, from the plurality of solar panels, a reserve power output to provide the reserve power output to the electrical grid, the reserve power output being the difference between the maximum power output and the predetermined power output.

Abstract: A robotic submersible includes a housing having a body and a tail. In another aspect, a pump and a pump tank adjust the buoyancy of a submersible housing. In a further aspect, a first linear actuator controls the pump and/or a buoyancy, and/or a second linear actuator controls a position of a battery and/or adjusts a center of gravity. Another aspect includes a pump and at least one linear actuator that control gliding movements of the housing. In still a further aspect, a motor couples a tail with a body, such that the motor controls the movements of the tail to create a swimming movement.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of making a polypeptide comprising an orthogonal functional group, said orthogonal functional group being comprised by an aliphatic amino acid or amino acid derivative, said method comprising providing a host cell; providing a nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide of interest; providing a tRNA-tRNA synthetase pair orthogonal to said host cell; adding an amino acid or amino acid derivative comprising the orthogonal functional group of interest, wherein said amino acid or amino acid derivative is a substrate for said orthogonal tRNA synthetase, wherein said amino acid or amino acid derivative has an aliphatic carbon backbone; and incubating to allow incorporation of said amino acid or amino acid derivative into the polypeptide of interest via the orthogonal tRNA-tRNA synthetase pair. The invention also relates to certain amino acids, and to polypeptides comprising same.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to consortia of bacteria strains and composition comprising one or more bacterial strains disclosed herein. These consortia of isolated bacteria cultures and compositions comprising said cultures, having greater activity than would be observed for the individual bacteria cultures and compositions. A composition of the disclosure may advantageously be used for enhancing the availability of soil phosphorus and other macronutrients and/or micronutrients to plants, and thereby enhancing their growth and yield.

Abstract: The present invention relates to magnetic random access memory (MRAM) storage devices based on multiferroic tunnel junctions in which ferroelectric polarization is used to control and manipulate the memory state. Invention methods include: (1) method of producing tunneling electroresistance (TER) effect in multiferroic tunnel junction (MFTJ) at finite bias; (2) method of controlling the TER effect in an MFTJ at infinite bias via the switching of the relative orientation of the ferromagnetic leads; (3) method of producing monotonous bias dependence of the tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) in a MFTJ; (4) method of controlling the size and direction of the parallel spin transfer torque (STT) component and the perpendicular STT component across the MFTJ; (5) method of producing a monotonous bias dependence of the perpendicular STT component across an MFTJ; and (6) method of controlling the size and sign of the interlayer exchange coupling in an MFTJ.

Abstract: Provided is a sensor platform that includes a substrate, a plurality of nanochannels disposed on the substrate, and a plurality of electrodes, a waveguide disposed on the substrate and an analysis chamber and a reference chamber disposed on the substrate. Each electrode extends substantially across a width of the plurality of nanochannels. At least one analysis optical resonator is disposed in the analysis chamber and is optically coupled to at least a portion of the waveguide. The at least one analysis optical resonator is in fluid communication with at least one of the plurality of nanochannels. At least one reference optical resonator is disposed in the reference chamber and is optically coupled to at least a portion of the waveguide. The at least one reference optical resonator is in fluid communication with at least one other of the plurality of nanochannels.

Abstract: A centrifuge force microscope module for use within a bucket of a centrifuge in measuring a characteristic of a sample under a centrifugal force and/or in monitoring a sample under a centrifugal force. The centrifuge force microscope module includes an electronics module and an optical module. The electronics module includes a housing removably disposable in the bucket of the centrifuge, and at least one of a power source and a connector operably connectable to a power source for powering the electronics module. The optical module is operable to receive and direct light from the sample. The optical module is releaseably connectable to the housing of the electronics module.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for generating a data set are provided. One method includes generating a data set based on input data using a plurality of brokers. The method further includes receiving a request from a user and determining whether the request can be fulfilled using data currently in the data set. When the request can be fulfilled using data currently in the data set, the data is accessed using broker(s) configured to provide access to data within the data set. When the request cannot be fulfilled using data currently in the data set, at least one new broker is spawned using existing broker(s) and additional data needed to fulfill the request is added to the data set using the new broker. The method further includes generating a response to the request using one or more of the plurality of brokers.

Abstract: A method of increasing production of fatty acids comprising introducing into a host and expressing therein an acyl-acyl carrier protein (ACP) thioesterase (TE) from Bryantella formatexigens or a mutant thereof; a method of making a mutant B. formatexigens acyl-ACP TE; a method of making a chimeric Cuphea viscosissima acyl-ACP TE; a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a mutant acyl-ACP TE or a chimeric Cuphea viscosissima acyl-ACP TE; a host comprising the nucleic acid molecule; a mutant acyl-ACP TE or chimeric Cuphea viscosissima acyl-ACP TE; a method of altering the specificity of a plant acyl-ACP TE for at least one of its substrates comprising introducing into the plant acyl-ACP TE a substrate specificity-altering mutation; and a method of altering the level of activity of a plant acyl-ACP TE.

Abstract: A bonding element, a bonding element matrix and composite materials with a wide range of attractive properties that may be optimized, including, but not limited to, mechanical properties, thermal properties, magnetic properties, optical properties and nuclear properties, as a result of a first layer and second layer structure or core, first layer, and second layer structure of the bonding elements, as well as methods for making the bonding elements and the corresponding ceramic and/or composite materials.

Abstract: A thermal receiver, such as a solar flux thermal receiver, is disclosed comprising a modular arrangement of arrayed microchannels or micropins to heat a working fluid by heat transfer. Disclosed solar receivers provide a much higher solar flux and consequently a significant reduction in thermal losses, size, and cost, relative to known receivers. Unit cell receivers can be numbered up and combined in parallel to form modules, and modules combined to form full scale receivers.

Abstract: A system including at least first and second wearable mobile devices and optionally one or more smartphones or other computing devices for allowing a wearable mobile device wearer, an on-site observer, and a remote observer to research and test usability of products in mobile settings, mobile applications, mobile devices, and wearable mobile devices, desktop usability settings, and other settings and devices. The devices nm a software application for generating first-person video and third-person video, transmitting the video to the other devices, marking the videos with time stamps, and allowing the remote observer to send messages and other information to the other devices.

Abstract: A direct-electrochemical-oxidation fuel cell for generating electrical energy includes a cathode provided with an electrochemical-reduction catalyst that promotes formation of oxygen ions from an oxygen-containing source at the cathode, a solid-state reduced metal, a solid-state anode provided with an electrochemical-oxidation catalyst that promotes direct electrochemical oxidation of the solid-state reduced metal in the presence of the oxygen ions to produce electrical energy, and an electrolyte disposed to transmit the oxygen ions from the cathode to the solid-state anode. A method of operating a solid oxide fuel cell includes providing a direct-electrochemical-oxidation fuel cell comprising a solid-state reduced metal, oxidizing the solid-state reduced metal in the presence of oxygen ions through direct-electrochemical-oxidation to obtain a solid-state reducible metal oxide, and reducing the solid-state reducible metal oxide to obtain the solid-state reduced metal.

Abstract: A photonic structure can include in one aspect one or more waveguides formed by patterning of waveguiding material adapted to propagate light energy. Such waveguiding material may include one or more of silicon (single-, poly-, or non-crystalline) and silicon nitride.

Abstract: Membranes are provided for energy efficient purification of alcohol by pervaporation. Such membranes include a nanofibrous scaffold in combination with a barrier layer. The membranes also include zeolites in the barrier layer. The membranes may, in embodiments, also include a substrate.