Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for conditioning and adapting an individual to real-world environments through computer simulations. The subject is fully or partially immersed in a computer-simulated environment for a time-limited session. Real-time monitoring of the human subject is performed for a change in a sensor-derived, quantified sensory load level. Responsive to an increase in sensory load level, the computer-simulated environment modulates the sensory complexity of one or more features of the simulation wherein the human subject adapts to increasingly complex environments.

Abstract: A method for preparing a light sensitive particle that uses at least one metal precursor material and at least one dopant precursor material mixed in solution absent a surfactant. Upon an optional adjustment of pH to about 3 to about 6, a light-sensitive particle comprising a metal-dopant material may be formed and separated from the solution. The light-sensitive particle may comprise a Q-dot particle. Also described are the particles themselves.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are microfluidic systems with recirculation of fluid and computer-implemented methods of calculating conditions within the microfluidic systems. The microfluidic systems include a computing device and a microfluidic device having first and second reservoirs, at least one chamber, and a fluid path connecting the first reservoir, the chamber, and the second reservoir. The methods for calculating conditions include receiving a first reservoir fluid volume, a second reservoir fluid volume, a first concentration, and a second concentration. The methods further include receiving a time-dependent imposed pressure difference between the first reservoir and the second reservoir, then determining a hydraulic pressure difference and an effective pressure difference. The effective pressure difference is used to account for reactions occurring within the microfluidic device and to determine the value of the condition within the microfluidic device.

Abstract: An optical display system includes an information display (image-generating) component, a polarization rotator, a polarization dependent optical element, an input holographic coupler, a light guide and an output holographic coupler. By controlling the polarization of the displayed light through the polarization rotator, the polarization dependent optical element changes the viewable content to different distances from the viewer. This enables the generation of a proper light field which will then be coupled into the light guide through the input holographic coupler, and finally go through the output holographic coupler to a user's eye.

Abstract: Systems and methods for harvesting tissue from a donor site include first and second conduits through which a flexible saw component is guided. Certain embodiments include a mechanism which facilitates insertion of a flexible cutting member component parallel to a transverse plane and slicing a graft parallel to the coronal plane to extract the graft.

Abstract: One or more cameras capture objects at a higher resolution than the human eye can perceive. Objects are segmented from the background of the image and scaled to human perceptible size. The scaled-up objects are superimposed over the unscaled background. This is presented to a user via an augmented reality display whereby the process selectively amplifies the size of the objects' spatially registered retinal projection while maintaining a natural (unmodified) view in the remainder of the visual field.

Abstract: In various embodiments, the present invention provides an improved system and method for motion estimation and motion compensation in cone beam computer tomography (CBCT). The present invention utilizes a method for alternating minimization between volume and motion sub-iterations and results in an improved system and method for motion estimation and compensation in CBCT.

Abstract: A multicore fiber-to-single core fiber adapting device, also referred a fan-in/fan-out (FIFO) device. More specifically, an optical fiber system comprising a multicore fiber, a tapered glass device that it is configured to connect a multicore fiber to a multiple single core fiber, and/or single mode fibers, advantageously having one or more protective layers to protect the tapered device. Associated methods of manufacture.

Abstract: One type of plasmonic organic electrochemical transistor (POECT) includes a channel comprising an organic semiconductor, a gate electrode comprising at least one of: an ensemble of nanoparticles and an array of nanostructures, wherein each of the at least one of: an ensemble of nanoparticles and an array of nanostructures comprises localized plasmonic material, an analyte formed at least one of: (a) over the at least one of: the ensemble of nanoparticles and the array of nanostructures and (b) around the at least one of: the ensemble of nanoparticles and the array of nanostructures, wherein an electrolyte is configured to be formed at least one of: between the channel and the gate electrode and over the channel and the gate electrode, a source electrode electrically connected to a first end of the channel; and a drain electrode electrically connected to a second end of the channel which is opposite the first end.

Abstract: An input coupler component, optical display system and electronics apparatus are disclosed. The input coupler component, comprisesing: an input polarization volume grating, which is disposed to deflect an. input polarized electromagnetic wave into a waveguide in a total internal reflection manner and an input polarization management layer, which. adjusts the polarization.

Abstract: A method for preparing a light sensitive particle that uses at least one metal precursor material and at least one dopant precursor material mixed in solution absent a surfactant. Upon an optional adjustment of pH to about 3 to about 6, a light-sensitive particle comprising a metal-dopant material may be formed and separated from the solution. The light-sensitive particle may comprise a Q-dot particle. Also described are the particles themselves.

Abstract: A method comprising initializing, by a processor, a field identification (FID) field and a file type field in a memory encryption counter block associated with pages for each file of a plurality of files stored in a persistent memory device (PMD), in response to a command by an operating system (OS). The file type field identifies whether each file associated with FID field is one of an encrypted file and a memory location. The method includes decrypting data of a page stored in the PMD, based on a read command by a requesting core. When decrypting, determining whether the requested page is an encrypted file or memory location. If the requested page is an encrypted file, performing decryption based on a first encryption pad generated based on the file encryption key of the encrypted file and a second encryption pad generated based on a processor key of the secure processor.

Abstract: An alloy anode for a seawater based aqueous battery and a universal strategy for preparing anodes for use in seawater based aqueous batteries. Zn-M alloys (where M can be manganese or other transition metal) were prepared by co-electrodeposition in the presence of hydrogen bubble formation to produce a porous nanostructured alloy that can serve as an anode for a seawater based aqueous battery. Exemplary Zn—Mn alloy anodes achieved stability over thousands of cycles even under harsh electrochemical conditions, including testing in seawater-based aqueous electrolytes and using a high current density of 80 mA cm?2. The anode design strategy allows for the production of durable electrodes for aqueous batteries and other applications.

Abstract: A method and associated apparatus for generating instantaneous and uniform total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) excitation. An annular fiber bundle and is used with spatially incoherent light to provide appropriate illumination matched to parameters of the back focal plane of an oil-immersion or in-air imaging objective lens, enabling quantitative shadowless TIRF imaging.

Abstract: A small-scale thermoelectric power generator and combustion apparatus, components thereof, methods for making the same, and applications thereof. The thermoelectric power generator can include a burner including a matrix stabilized combustion chamber comprising a catalytically enhanced, porous flame containment portion. The combustion apparatus can include components connected in a loop configuration including a vaporization chamber; a mixing chamber connected to the vaporization chamber; a combustion chamber connected to the vaporization chamber; and a heat exchanger connected to the combustion chamber. The combustion chamber can include a porous combustion material which can include a unique catalytic material.

Abstract: A method for forming a biological microdevice includes applying a biocompatible coarse scale additive process with an additive device and a biocompatible material to form an object. The coarse scale is a dimension not less than about 100 ?m. The method also includes applying a biocompatible fine scale subtractive process with a subtractive device to the object. The fine scale is a dimension not greater than about 1000 ?m. The method also includes moving the object between the additive device and the subtractive device. A system is also provided for performing the above method and includes the additive device, the subtractive device, a means for transporting the object between the additive device and subtractive device and a processor with a memory including instructions to perform one or more of the above method steps.

Abstract: A thermal barrier coated component, such as a turbine blade formed from a superalloy substrate, includes a thermal barrier coating applied onto the substrate. A metallic bond coat layer is on the substrate and includes rare-earth luminescent dopants. A ceramic top coat layer is on the bond coat layer. A temperature sensing thermally grown oxide (TGO) layer is formed at the interface of the bond coat layer and ceramic top coat layer. The temperature sensing TGO layer includes grown rare-earth luminescent ions migrated from the metallic bond coat layer in an amount sufficient to enable luminescence sensing of the TGO layer for real-time phosphor thermometry temperature measurements at the TGO layer.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for mitigating transverse mode instabilities (TMI) in high power fiber amplifiers that does not depend on active feedback loops. The apparatus and method involve the modulation of the amplitude and/or phase of selected spatial mode components of an input signal beam to increase the TMI threshold of the amplifier. Once the desired modal adjustments are made, the beam is input to a mode multiplexer whereupon an optimized output beam can be input to the active fiber of the amplifier system. By increasing the TMI threshold of the amplifier, the amplifier can be operated at higher power before TMI sets in. A control stage of the fiber amplifier system includes (a) a (seed) beam splitting section; (b) an amplitude and phase control component; and (c) a mode multiplexer that maps multiple individual signal beams to different fiber modes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a presence of a microorganism in a sample is provided. The method includes storing electrophysiological and/or impedance signatures of a plurality of microorganisms in a memory of a processor. The method also includes obtaining a sample and generating an electrophysiological and/or impedance signature of the sample. The electrophysiological and/or impedance signature of the sample is compared with the electrophysiological and/or impedance signatures in the memory. A presence of one of the plurality of microorganisms in the sample is then identified based on a correlation between the electrophysiological and/or impedance signature of the sample and the electrophysiological and/or impedance signature of the one of the plurality of microorganisms. A method is also provided for determining a growth stage of a microorganism in a sample.

Abstract: Energized composites include vertically aligned graphene on carbon fibers (VGCF). The VGCF enhances surface area available for charge storage, acts as templates for depositing other charge storing materials and provides stability for a minimum of 100,000 discharge cycles. The final storage device is in the order of high strength carbon fiber matrix with active material, glass fiber separator with polymer electrolyte and another carbon fiber matrix with active material. To achieve higher voltage or current, devices can be connected in series or parallel, respectively. The whole structure is made into a structural component by infusing epoxy resin. An alternating pattern of energy storage devices allows for the epoxy resin to seep through the whole structure and strongly bind them to make a monolith multifunctional composite.