Abstract: An organic photovoltaic device comprises an anode and a cathode, an active layer positioned between the anode and the cathode, comprising a first donor material and a first acceptor material in a first ratio, and an interface layer positioned between the anode and the cathode, comprising a second donor material and a second acceptor material in a second ratio. A method of fabricating an organic photovoltaic device and an organic photovoltaic device produced with the disclosed methods are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: In part, the present disclosure relates methods for treating heterotopic ossification or one or more complications of heterotopic ossification. In particular, the disclosure provided methods for treating heterotopic ossification by administering to a patient in need thereof one or more TGF? antagonists, optionally in combination with one or more additional active agents or supportive therapies for treating heterotopic ossification. For example, in some embodiments, the disclosure provided methods for treating heterotopic ossifications by administering to a patient in need thereof an effective amount of a T?RII polypeptide.

Abstract: Techniques are presented for fabricating optoelectronic devices with integrated air bridges for improved efficiency. The optoelectronic device includes: a reflector disposed on the substrate; a spacer layer disposed on the reflector; and a thermophotovoltaic cell disposed on to the spacer layer, such that the spacer layer is arranged between the reflector and the thermophotovoltaic cell and the spacer layer includes a cavity which extends between the reflector and the thermophotovoltaic cell. Of note, the thermophotovoltaic cell is comprised of silicon material with one or more lateral p-n junctions formed therein.

Abstract: An approach for intelligent online scan sequence optimization to achieve uniform temperature distribution in LPBF using a control theoretic approach. The thermal dynamics of the LPBF process is modeled using the finite difference method and the next best feature (for example, stripe or island) that minimizes a thermal uniformity metric is found using a control theoretic approach. In simulations, the present approach yields up to 8.4 times improvement in thermal uniformity compared to existing heuristic approaches.

Abstract: A system for generating a concentrated product from a feedstock includes a reciprocating concentration system that includes first and second chambers to which the feedstock is alternately provided and from which the concentrated product is alternately removed, and a heat transfer system in thermal communication with the first and second chambers, the heat transfer system being configured to reversibly transfer heat between the first and second chambers such that the first chamber alternates between melting a frozen portion of the feedstock in the second chamber and having a frozen portion of the feedstock in the first chamber melted by the feedstock in the second chamber. The system further includes a heat dump system in thermal communication with the reciprocating concentration system, the heat dump system being configured to remove heat from the reciprocating concentration system.

Abstract: A device for DC-DC conversion includes a plurality of input ports to receive a set of DC voltage inputs, at least one DC voltage input being configured as a differential input, a plurality of input semiconductor switches, each input semiconductor switch being coupled to a respective input port of the plurality of input ports, an inductor coupled to each input semiconductor switch, a pair of output semiconductor switches coupled to the inductor, an output coupled to the inductor via the pair of output semiconductor switches, and a processor configured to generate input switch control signals for the plurality of input semiconductor switches to sequentially and selectively connect each DC voltage input to the inductor to charge the inductor and to generate an output switch control signal for the pair of output semiconductor switches to connect the inductor to the output to discharge the inductor via the output.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for applying ultrasound pulses into tissue or a medium in which the peak negative pressure (P?) of one or more negative half cycle(s) of the ultrasound pulses exceed(s) an intrinsic threshold of the tissue or medium, to directly form a dense bubble cloud in the tissue or medium without shock-scattering. In one embodiment, a microtripsy method of Histotripsy therapy comprises delivering an ultrasound pulse from an ultrasound therapy transducer into tissue, the ultrasound pulse having at least a portion of a peak negative pressure half-cycle that exceeds an intrinsic threshold in the tissue to produce a bubble cloud of at least one bubble in the tissue, and generating a lesion in the tissue with the bubble cloud. The intrinsic threshold can vary depending on the type of tissue to be treated. In some embodiments, the intrinsic threshold in tissue can range from 15-30 MPa.

Abstract: Provided herein are devices, systems, and methods for treating a kidney stone. In particular, provided herein are suction devices, laser systems, and related methods for use in treating a kidney stone.

Abstract: A fast and generalizable novel view synthesis method with sparse inputs is disclosed. The method may comprise: accessing at least a first input image with a first view of a subject in the first input image, and a second input image with a second view of the subject in the second input image using a computer system; estimating depths for pixels in the at least first and second input images; constructing a point cloud of image features from the estimated depths; and synthesizing a novel view by forward warping by using a point cloud rendering of the constructed point cloud.

Abstract: Low-profile radar reflectors are provided for reradiating when illuminated by a vertically-polarized incident wave generated by an automotive radar. One example reflector includes a ground plane, a substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface, and radiating elements positioned on the substrate. Each radiating element includes opposing vertical metallic side segments connected to the ground plane, and a horizontal metallic segment extending between the opposing vertical metallic side segments and along the top surface of the substrate. The horizontal metallic segment of each radiating element has a defined length such that, when the radiating element is illuminated by a vertically-polarized incident wave from an automotive radar, each radiating element is at its resonance causing currents in the opposing vertical metallic side segments to flow in the same direction and reradiates back to the automotive radar.

Abstract: A robot control system is presented for a monitored environment. The control system includes: a central computer; and a plurality of sensors in data communication with the central computer. Each sensor is at a fixed location in the monitored environment and is configured to detect location of objects in the monitored environment. A plurality of robots also resides in the monitored environment. Each robot is comprised of a wireless communication receiver, a regulator, an actuator and a power source, such that the regulator receives motion commands directly from the central computer via the wireless communication receiver. It is noted that the robots are not configured with sensors to help navigate the robot.

Abstract: An image reconstruction algorithm system for hazardous source mapping. The algorithm system can be used to automate and optimize the search path of a movable vehicle (such as a UAV), equipped with detection capability. The algorithm allows the vehicle to localize hazardous sources in multiple scenarios effectively. Hazard mapping is formulated as an inverse problem and solved either with a deconvolution or a reconstruction algorithm, according to the problem complexity. The algorithms can use the Maximum a Posteriori (MAP) and the least square regression algorithm, respectively. However, alternative algorithms can be used as set forth herein. The source mapping algorithms are able to provide a quantitative estimation of the hazard source magnitude. A non-negative version of the least square algorithm is used to reconstruct the map at each step of the navigation algorithm of the vehicle. The navigation algorithm correctly located single and multiples simulated hazardous sources.

Abstract: A method of joining a first component and a second component that are made of dissimilar metals. In some embodiments, the method comprises applying friction between the first component and the second component sufficient to generate a layer of quasi-liquid metal and produce shear localization within the quasi-liquid metal at a dissimilar metal interface between the first component and the second component and terminating the application of friction at a predetermined time after generation of the quasi-liquid metal. In some embodiments, the method comprises applying amorphous metal between at least a portion of the first component and the second component at a dissimilar metal interface, heating the amorphous metal to a temperature between its glass transition temperature (Tg) and the lowest melting temperature of the components involved, and applying compression pressure to generate thermoplastic deformation of the amorphous metal.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to materials and methods for spatial detection of nucleic acid in a tissue sample or a portion thereof. In particular, provided herein are materials and methods for detecting RNA so as to obtain spatial information about the localization, distribution or expression of genes in a tissue sample. In some embodiments, the materials and methods provided herein enable detection of gene expression in a single cell.

Abstract: A communication system comprising a light source associated with a first item of interest; a visible light communications system operably coupled to the light source of the first item of interest, the visible light communications system configured to process information as an encoded signal and output the encoded signal via the light source; and a receiver associated with a second item of interest, the receiver configured to receive the encoded signal from the light source and process the encoded signal to obtain the information.

Abstract: A system includes a module configured to operate in accordance to a wireless protocol that is different than a WiFi protocol and emulate direct transmission and reception of WiFi signals to and from an unmodified WiFi device, without payload selection or precoding on the unmodified WiFi device. The module includes a receiver configured to receive, from the unmodified WiFi device, an unmodified first WiFi signal having an arbitrary data packet, and a transmitter configured to transmit, to the unmodified WiFi device, a second WiFi signal. The receiver includes a narrowband filter configured to extract portions of the spectrum of the unmodified first WiFi signal from the unmodified WiFi device, and a narrowband demodulator configured to convert the extracted portions of the unmodified first WiFi signal into a plurality of bits to allow the receiver to recover the data packet from the unmodified first WiFi signal.

Abstract: A phase-modulated approach for ultrabroadband Fourier transform electronic spectroscopy is presented. To overcome the bandwidth limitations and spatial chirp introduced by acousto-optic modulators (AOMs), pulses from a 1 ?m laser are modulated using AOMs prior to continuum generation. This phase modulation is transferred to the continuum generated in an Yttrium Aluminum Garnet crystal. Separately generated phase-modulated continua in two arms of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer interfere at the difference of their modulation frequencies, enabling physical under-sampling of the signal and the suppression of low-frequency noise. By interferometrically tracking the relative time delay of the continua, one can perform continuous, rapid-scanning Fourier transform electronic spectroscopy with a high signal-to-noise ratio and spectral resolution.

Abstract: A first-dimension-guided differential scaling algorithm of the contour plot in comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (2D GC) system is developed by incorporating both 1D and 2D chromatograms obtained by first and second detectors. This differential scaling method is shown to significantly improve 2D GC results in terms of retention time accuracy and consistency, peak width and hence peak capacity, and analyte quantification accuracy, which are inevitably affected by the modulation period and phase shift in modulation when the conventional contour plot reconstruction methods. Furthermore, the differential scaling method is shown to better handle the coelution and missing peak issues often encountered in the conventional methods. Finally, the differential scaling method exhibits high versatility in detector selection, which greatly broadens the 2D GC utility and can be easily adapted to other 2D chromatography systems.

Abstract: A durable solid and liquid repellant material is provided having an elastomeric matrix with a plurality of lubricating domains distributed therein formed by a partial crosslinking reaction between an elastomeric precursor having a first reactive functional group and a polyol having a second reactive functional group. The polyol has a limited solubility circle. The first reactive functional group is selected from the group consisting of: alkene, amine, carboxylic acid, hydroxyl, isocyanate, and combinations thereof and the second reactive group is selected from the group consisting of: amine, carboxylic acid, hydroxyl group, and combinations thereof. The partially crosslinked elastomeric matrix has a crosslink density of greater than or equal to about 200 mol/m3 and less than or equal to about 2,000 mol/m3. Methods for forming the durable solid and liquid repellant material are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides techniques for learning Mahalanobis distance similarity metrics from data for individually fair machine learning models. In one aspect, a method for learning a fair Mahalanobis distance similarity metric includes: obtaining data with similarity annotations; selecting, based on the data obtained, a model for learning a Mahalanobis covariance matrix ?; and learning the Mahalanobis covariance matrix ? from the data using the model selected, wherein the Mahalanobis covariance matrix ? fully defines the fair Mahalanobis distance similarity metric.