Abstract: A pixel for creating an optical phase change includes a transparent electrical insulator, a first electrical conductor disposed on the transparent electrical insulator, the first electrical conductor comprising an antenna component and a connector component, an electrical insulator disposed on the first electrical conductor, a transparent semiconductor disposed on the electrical insulator, and a second electrical conductor disposed on the transparent semiconductor. The transparent semiconductor is sufficiently thick to prevent plasmonic resonance from occurring at an interface between the transparent semiconductor and the second electrical conductor.

Abstract: An optical performance monitor comprises a first stage configured to receive a multiplexed optical signal. The first stage is tunable over a period. The first stage periodically filters the multiplexed optical signal over an optical channel to produce a fine filtered optical signal. A second stage is coupled to the first stage and has a second-stage transfer function. The second stage receives the fine filtered optical signal and produces one or a plurality of interfered optical signal pairs. A third stage is coupled to the second stage and has a third-stage transfer function. The third stage receives the optical signal pairs and demultiplexes the optical signal pairs to produce a plurality of demultiplexed optical signals. The combination of the second-stage transfer function and the third-stage transfer function is flatter over the optical channel than the third-stage transfer function.

Abstract: An optical performance monitor comprises a first stage configured to receive a multiplexed optical signal. The first stage is tunable over a period. The first stage periodically filters the multiplexed optical signal over an optical channel to produce a fine filtered optical signal. A second stage is coupled to the first stage and has a second-stage transfer function. The second stage receives the fine filtered optical signal and produces one or a plurality of interfered optical signal pairs. A third stage is coupled to the second stage and has a third-stage transfer function. The third stage receives the optical signal pairs and demultiplexes the optical signal pairs to produce a plurality of demultiplexed optical signals. The combination of the second-stage transfer function and the third-stage transfer function is flatter over the optical channel than the third-stage transfer function.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to the flow of analytes, particles or other materials. As consistent with one or more embodiments described herein, an apparatus includes a membrane having one or more pores in a membrane. First and second electrodes facilitate electrophoretic flow of analytes through the pore, and a third electrode controls movement of the particles in the pore by modulating the shape of an electric double layer adjacent sidewalls of pore. This modulation controls the strength of an electroosmotic field that opposes the electrophoretic flow of the analytes via the pore.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a nanopore at a particular location in a membrane includes controlling a dielectric strength of the membrane at a particular location on the membrane while applying one of an electric potential or an electric current to the membrane, monitoring an electrical property across the membrane while one of the electric potential or the electric current is being applied across the membrane, detecting an abrupt change in the electrical property across the membrane while one of the electric potential or the electric current is being applied across the membrane; and removing the electric potential or the electric current from the membrane in response to detecting the abrupt change in the electrical property.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is provided for conducting a hearing assessment of a patient. The method includes: presenting a plurality of objects on a display of a computing device, where each object produces an audio output in response to a stimuli from the patient and the audio output by the objects varies in frequency and intensity amongst the plurality of objects; prompting a patient with a visual cue to classify objects producing sound; receiving an input from the patient for each object in the plurality of objects, where the input indicates whether the audio output by a given object was perceptible to the patient; and generating an audiogram for the patient using the input received from the patient.

Abstract: A miniaturized imaging system is provided that operates in multiple modes, including a coherent anti-stokes Raman scattering (CARS) mode. The imaging system includes: a laser delivery subsystem that generates an excitation signal; a scanning mechanism configured to receive the excitation signal from the laser delivery subsystem and direct the excitation signal through an optics subsystem onto a sample, such that the optics subsystem compensates for chromatic aberration in the excitation signal; and a dichroic mirror that receives emission from the sample in a backward direction and directs the emission along a collection path to a detector. The light source for the laser delivery subsystem may be a single femtosecond pulse laser.

Abstract: An apparatus for the production of a bio-fuel or a bio-fuel additive from plant-derived oils, animal fats or a mixture thereof, suitable for use in a diesel engine is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a porous membrane for separating a reaction mixture from a permeate, the reaction mixture comprising an alcohol, a feedstock comprising plant-derived oils, animal fats or mixture thereof, and a catalyst for converting said feedstock to a bio-fuel or a bio-fuel additive, wherein said porous membrane is substantially impermeable to the feedstock and substantially permeable to said bio-fuel or bio-fuel additive. A method using said porous membrane in the production of a bio-fuel or a bio-fuel additive is also disclosed.

Abstract: A low-loss waveguide that can be curved aggressively, that is, curved with a radius of curvature that is substantially zero, in the plane of propagation, without radiating, is formed by a slab of dielectric material having four metal plates, two on each opposite surface of the slab and mutually spaced to define in the dielectric slab between the four metal plates a confinement zone. In use, electromagnetic radiation injected in one end of the zone by suitable input means will propagate throughout the zone to an extraction means. Lower loss and better confinement of the radiation may be obtained by providing plugs of dielectric material adjacent the inwardly-facing edge of each of the metal plates. Embodiments of the invention can be used to implement integrated optical devices and circuits for routing or processing light signals.

Abstract: An optical amplifier suitable for coherently amplifying surface plasmon-polariton waves with high gain and low noise over visible and infrared wavelengths. The optical amplifier is comprised of a thin strip of material having a complex permittivity with a negative real part, in contact on at least one side with an optical gain medium, where the strip has finite width and thickness such that optical radiation couples to the strip and propagates along its length as a surface plasmon-polariton wave. The surface plasmon-polariton amplifier can also be incorporated into a resonant cavity to form a plasmon-polariton laser.

Abstract: A mode-locked fiber laser system is presented with an improved optical cavity structure having a lower doped and longer gain medium. The laser system comprises: a laser source operable to produce a light beam; an optical cavity structure operable to amplify a light beam propagating therethrough; and a beam splitter operable to output the amplified light beam from the optical cavity. The optical cavity includes a single-mode fiber section and a gain fiber section doped with a lanthanide element, such as erbium or ytterbium, where the ratio between length of the gain fiber section to a total length of the cavity structure is greater than 1:5. By increasing length of the gain medium, peak power of the generated pulse is increased while keeping the nonlinear phase shift constant to avoid optical wave breaking.

Abstract: According to the present invention, an architecture of multiple agents is provided for setting up and enforcing policies within each site of a virtual network. A policy server represents the global policies of the site and each agent manages its own policies. Policies are dynamically downloaded from the policy server into agents that carry the responsibility to enforce them. Agents propagate their policies to the policy server to detect any conflict that may rise between agents during dynamic mapping and resource reservation. A negotiation mechanism is provided to resolve such conflicts. An authorization-based mechanism is also provided such that agents must request authorization before performing any action, in response to which a ticket is delivered to the requesting agent for accountability and security reasons.

Abstract: A method of detecting feature interaction conflicts between agents in response to events in a multi-agent system comprises posting said events as tuples and event requests as anti-tuples from said agents in said multi-agent system, receiving said events and said event requests in a tuple space, generating responses to each of said agents for said events which match said event requests of said agents, wherein feature interaction conflict is detected when more than one of said agents are to exert control over an event.

Abstract: An architecture of multiple agents is provided, based on a negotiating agents' approach to resolving feature interactions. An event-based model is used to detect feature interaction, and fuzzy constraints are applied to the policies that describe the system. A mechanism is established by which the user may add rules or provide the system with parameters that affect the outcome of any conflict that may occur, thereby giving real control over the conflict to the end user.

Abstract: Dendrimers were directly and covalently attached to solid supports via siloxy bonds. After complexation with transition metals, the dendrimers were used as catalysts. The supported dendrimers were stable and easily separated from the reaction mixture.

Abstract: An electrophoretic method for purifying a nucleic acid sample is disclosed. The method generally comprises the steps of (1) providing a nucleic acid sample comprising a desired nucleic acid and one or more contaminants, (2) providing an electrophoresis matrix having a loading well and a recovery well formed therein, (3) placing the nucleic acid sample into the loading well, (4) performing a first electrophoresis comprising electrophoresing the nucleic acid sample for a first time effective to transport the desired nucleic acid out of the loading well and into the electrophoresis matrix; and (5) performing a second electrophoresis comprising electrophoresing the nucleic acid sample for a second time effective to transport the desired nucleic acid out of the electrophoresis matrix and into the recovery well.

Abstract: The gene for the autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorder Spinal Muscular Atrophy has been mapped to a region of chromosome 5. The gene encodes a protein having homology with apoptosis inhibitor proteins of viruses so that the encoded protein has been labelled as a neuronal apoptosis inhibitor protein (NAIP). A deletion in the (NAIP) domain was identified in persons with Type I, II and III Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) and not in the normal non-SMA population.

Abstract: The present invention relates to film composite membranes for use as battery separators or coatings on electrodes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to film composite membranes for use as battery separators or coatings on electrodes.

Abstract: A method of enforcing a regular manganese dioxide cathode to become gradually and substantially rechargeable is described, where the cathode capacity is increased towards the theoretical capacity of the cathode. The method involves mixing 20-51 wt % MnO.sub.2, 5-25 wt % metallic bismuth and 30-70 wt % graphite powder to form a homogenous mixture, subjecting the mixture to a pressing force to form an electrode and subjecting the electrode to successive discharge/charge cycles at a rate where the cathode capacity becomes greater than 75% of the theoretical capacity after 4-7 cycles. The method provides for a simple and inexpensive way of forming a rechargeable manganese dioxide cathode without complex chemical synthesis.