Abstract: A light-trapping geometry enhances the sensitivity of strain, temperature, and/or electromagnetic field measurements using nitrogen vacancies in bulk diamond, which have exterior dimensions on the order of millimeters. In an example light-trapping geometry, a laser beam enters the bulk diamond, which may be at room temperature, through a facet or notch. The beam propagates along a path inside the bulk diamond that includes many total internal reflections off the diamond's surfaces. The NVs inside the bulk diamonds absorb the beam as it propagates. Photodetectors measure the transmitted beam or fluorescence emitted by the NVs. The resulting transmission or emission spectrum represents the NVs' quantum mechanical states, which in turn vary with temperature, magnetic field strength, electric field strength, strain/pressure, etc.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes a plurality of transmitters to generate a parallel transmission radio frequency (RF) pulse, an array of coils coupled to the plurality of transmitters to apply the parallel transmission RF pulse to a subject, and a decoupling system connected to the plurality of transmitters and the array of coils. The decoupling system includes a plurality of hybrid couplers, each hybrid coupler of the plurality of hybrid couplers being coupled to a respective pair of the plurality of transmitters and to a respective pair of the array of coils. The plurality of hybrid couplers are configured to diagonalize an impedance matrix of the plurality of coils.

Abstract: Various embodiments may provide an optical structure. The optical structure may include a substrate. The optical structure may also include a core layer configured to carry optical light. The core layer may include germanium. The optical structure may further include an intermediate layer separating the substrate and the core layer so that the substrate is isolated from the core layer. The intermediate layer may include one or more materials selected from a group consisting of III-V materials, dielectric materials, and chalcogenide materials. A width of the core layer may be smaller than a width of the intermediate layer. A refractive index of the core layer may be more than 4. A refractive index of the intermediate layer may be smaller than 3.6.

Abstract: Method and structure for reducing substrate fragility. In one embodiment, a substrate for metamorphic epitaxy of a material film is provided, the substrate comprising a passivation layer defining a growth window for the material film on a deposition surface of the substrate, the growth window being laterally spaced from an edge of the substrate.

Abstract: Provided herein are genetic circuits and encoded RNA transcripts that produce an output molecule in response to an RNA cleavage event that removes a degradation signal. In some embodiments, the genetic circuits described herein may be used for detecting RNA cleaver activities (e.g., in a cell). Methods of using the genetic circuits described herein in diagnostic or therapeutic applications are also provided.

Abstract: The disclosure provides methods using mixed substrate cofeeding for bioproduct synthesis, which enables faster, more efficient, and higher yield carbon conversion in various organisms.

Abstract: Disclosed are locational or positional methods concerning CRISPR-Cas systems, and apparatus therefor.

Abstract: Isolating or identifying a cell based on a physical property of said cell can include providing a cell suspension; passing said suspension through a microfluidic channel that includes a constriction; passing the cell suspension through the constriction; and, contacting said cell suspension solution with a compound. The constriction can be sized to preferentially deform a relatively larger cell compared to a relatively smaller cell.

Abstract: Methods and devices for manipulating one or more particles (e.g., cells) in three dimensions using surface acoustic waves is described. Methods and devices for printing or more biological cells onto a substrate using surface acoustic waves are also provided.

Abstract: A surface can be coated with a liquid repellent coating. Materials for making the liquid repellent coating (e.g., a fingerprint resistant coating) can be selected on the basis of surface energy considerations, such as a receding surface energy. The materials can include a polymer and a liquid repelling material, for example, poly(ethyl methacrylate) and a fluorinated silsesquioxane such as fluorodecyl POSS.

Abstract: Disclosed and claimed are mutation(s) or modification(s) of the CRISPR enzyme, for example a Cas enzyme such as a Cas9, which obtain an improvement, for instance a reduction, as to off-target effects of a CRISPR-Cas or CRISPR-enzyme or CRISPR-Cas9 system or complex containing or including such a mutated or modified Cas or CRISPR enzyme or Cas9. Methods for making and using and uses of such mutated or modified Cas or CRISPR enzyme or Cas9 and systems or complexes containing the same and products from such methods and uses are also disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: Surveillance systems and methods taught herein provide automated detection and classification of objects of interest in a submerged or underwater environment such as a body of water. The sonar systems and methods taught herein can detect and classify a variety of objects in echograms without feedback or instructions from a human operator. The sonar systems and methods taught herein include a data model that is partially trained using non-echogram image data and can associate geolocation information with detected objects of interest.

Abstract: In exemplary implementations of this invention, an actuated fabricator deposits structural elements (e.g., tensile structural elements) in a 3D pattern over large displacements. The fabricator is supported by at least three elongated support members. It includes onboard actuators that translate the fabricator relative to the ends of the support members. The fabricator is configured, by actuating different translations along different support members, to translate itself throughout a 3D volume. In some implementations, each of the actuators use fusible material to fuse metal tapes together, edge-to-edge, to form a hollow structure that can be shortened or lengthened.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and compositions useful in targeting a payload to, or editing a target nucleic acid, where a governing gRNA molecule is used to target, optionally inactivate, a Cas9 molecule or a Cas9 molecule/gRNA complex.

Abstract: Various embodiments are disclosed for a stepped cambered planing hull for a boat including a swept back cambered planing surface having a non-linear distribution of camber. The non-linear distribution of camber along the swept back cambered planing surface may enable stepped cambered planing hulls having high deadrise (i.e., greater than 15 degrees). The stepped cambered planing hull may include a shaped hydrofoil that generates further hydrodynamic lift by piercing the free surface wake produced by the swept back cambered planing surface. The stepped cambered planing hull may have external bottom surfaces adapted at the after-body and transom to accommodate a distinctive profile of the free surface wake produced by the swept back cambered planing surface. The stepped cambered planing hull may include an adjustable interceptor blade to regulate hydrodynamic lift at low speeds or to ensure an optimal dynamic trim angle in a wide range of speeds.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present disclosure describes a flared antenna where the upper portions of the prongs are separated into a plurality of spaced apart parallel fins. The parallel fins disposed on the energized prong are energized by a common electrical feed, such as a coaxial transmission line that enters the energization region of the energized prong. The use of separate fins allows a wider range of tuning to gain greater BW and scan performance for a given equivalent design, since each fin pair may be designed independently from the other fin pairs in that flared antenna. The flared antenna may be a Vivaldi antenna, a stepped notch antenna or some other flared shape.

Abstract: In some implementations, scene depth is extracted from dual frequency of a cross-correlation signal. A camera may illuminate a scene with amplitude-modulated light, sweeping the modulation frequency. For each modulation frequency in the sweep, each camera pixel may measure a cross-correlation of incident light and of a reference electrical signal. Each pixel may output a vector of cross-correlation measurements acquired by the pixel during a sweep. A computer may perform an FFT on this vector, identify a dual frequency at the second largest peak in the resulting power spectrum, and calculate scene depth as equal to a fraction, where the numerator is the speed of light times this dual frequency and the denominator is four times pi. In some cases, the two signals being cross-correlated have the same phase as each other during each cross-correlation measurement.

Abstract: A light source may illuminate a scene with pulsed light that is pulsed non-periodically. The scene may include fluorescent material that fluoresces in response to the pulsed light. The pulsed light signal may comprise a maximum length sequence or Gold sequence. A lock-in time-of-flight sensor may take measurements of light returning from the scene. A computer may, for each pixel in the sensor, perform a Discrete Fourier Transform on measurements taken by the pixel, in order to calculate a vector of complex numbers for the pixel. Each complex number in the vector may encode phase and amplitude of incident light at the pixel and may correspond to measurements taken at a given time interval during the pulsed light signal. A computer may, based on phase of the complex numbers for a pixel, calculate fluorescence lifetime and scene depth of a scene point that corresponds to the pixel.

Abstract: Aminoalcohol lipidoids are prepared by reacting an amine with an epoxide-terminated compound are described. Methods of preparing aminoalcohol lipidoids from commercially available starting materials are also provided. Aminoalcohol lipidoids may be prepared from racemic or stereochemically pure epoxides. Aminoalcohol lipidoids or salts forms thereof are preferably biodegradable and biocompatible and may be used in a variety of drug delivery systems. Given the amino moiety of these aminoalcohol lipidoid compounds, they are particularly suited for the delivery of polynucleotides. Complexes, micelles, liposomes or particles containing the inventive lipidoids and polynucleotide have been prepared. The inventive lipidoids may also be used in preparing microparticles for drug delivery. They are particularly useful in delivering labile agents given their ability to buffer the pH of their surroundings.

Abstract: In exemplary implementations of this invention, a nozzle sprays foam, layer by layer, to fabricate a fabricated object according to a CAD model, and a subtractive fabrication tool removes material from the fabricated object according to a CAD model. The fabricated object comprises a mold or an interior form. The foam may be low-density, high strength and fast-curing. The foam may be used for large-scale 3D printing. For example, the foam may be used to 3D print molds for walls of homes. The foam molds may be left in place, after casting concrete in the molds, to serve as insulation. Or for example, the foam may be used to 3D print on site an internal form for a large wind turbine blade. The wind turbine blade may then be produced on site by depositing fiberglass on the outside of the internal form.