Abstract: Solar cells fabricated from p-n junctions of boron nitride nanotubes alloyed with carbon are described. Band gaps of boron nitride carbon alloys are tailored by controlling carbon content in the boron nitride nanotubes. High efficiency solar cells can be fabricated by tailoring the band gap of boron nitride carbon alloy nanotubes, and using these nanotubes for fabricating solar cells u. Because boron nitride carbon alloy nanotubes are transparent to most wavelengths of light, the wavelengths not converted to electrons (i.e., absorbed) at a first p-n junction in a solar cell will pass through the stack to another p-n junction in the stack having a different band gap. At each successive p-n junction, each of which has a different band gap from the other p-n junctions in the stack, more wavelengths of light will be converted into electricity. This dramatically increases the efficiency of solar cells.

Abstract: This disclosure is generally directed to a microstrip phased array antenna with a switch line phase shifter to obtain steerable beam pattern. In an embodiment, the microstrip phased array antenna includes a plurality microstrip lines disposed/patterned on a substrate to form a relatively compact phase shifter network that can switchably introduce phase shifts into an RF signal. In particular, each phase shifter of the phase shifter network may be formed from a number of equal-length RF lines that extend from a common point and “loop” to form substantially circular paths. The common point from which each of the RF lines extend may include a VIA to couple to an antenna device. A plurality of switches, e.g., PIN diodes, may be disposed along the RF lines to switchably extend the overall length of each of the phase shifters, and more particularly each transmission line, to selectively introduce a target phase shift.

Abstract: A magnetic confinement system includes a magnetic minor device that includes a chamber to hold a target plasma and a coil arrangement to generate a magnetic field configuration in the chamber to confine the target plasma in cylindrically-symmetric form in the chamber, the magnetic field configuration having open ends. The magnetic confinement system further includes plasma guns to generate plasma pistons and project the plasma pistons at the open ends of the magnetic field configuration. In operation, the plasma pistons converge towards each other to close the open ends of the magnetic field configuration and to compress and heat the target plasma.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for generating data on the optimum number of storage-hops, the location of the storage-hops, and the bandwidth distributions of the storage-hops to construct a complete flow network for transmitting data from a sender to a receiver via a communication network. The flow network can potentially include hundreds of storage-hops, depending on the time and duration of the data flow. An algorithm is further provided for constructing an unbounded flow network from a bounded set of input parameters. Moreover, the complexity of the algorithm does not depend on the number of storage-hops, so the model is suitable for both crowd supported and data center supported transfers.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatus, and techniques are presented for maintaining cupolets in a state of mutual stabilization. A first cupolet and a second cupolet are generated. A first control code is applied to the first cupolet for a first time to produce a first visitation code. The first visitation code is transformed based on an exchange function to produce a second control code. The second control code is applied to the second cupolet to produce a second visitation code. The second visitation code is transformed based on the exchange function to produce the first control code. The first control code is applied to the first cupolet for a second time.

Abstract: A composition of a photocatalyst, a method of manufacturing the photocatalyst, and a method of chemically reducing carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide using the photocatalyst under visible-light irradiation is provided. The photocatalyst comprises a transition metal ion and graphitic carbon nitride and includes single metal sites on carbon nitride. Under visible light, the metal sites that are coordinated to nitrogen atoms get activated, without the use of additional ligands, to catalyze the reduction of carbon dioxide to selectively produce carbon monoxide. The photocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide is highly efficient, resulting a turnover number of more than 800 for carbon monoxide production in 2 hours. The composition is useful in converting carbon dioxide into useful chemicals and carbon-based fuels. A functional model of molecular catalysts for efficient carbon dioxide reduction is also present.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatus, and techniques are presented for maintaining cupolets in a state of mutual stabilization. A first cupolet and a second cupolet are generated. A first control code is applied to the first cupolet for a first time to produce a first visitation code. The first visitation code is transformed based on an exchange function to produce a second control code. The second control code is applied to the second cupolet to produce a second visitation code. The second visitation code is transformed based on the exchange function to produce the first control code. The first control code is applied to the first cupolet for a second time.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing boron nitride nanotubes and continuous boron nitride nanotube yarn or tapes is provided. The apparatus includes rotating reaction tubes that allow for continuous chemical vapor deposition of boron nitride nanotubes. The rotation of the reaction tubes allows the boron nitride nanotubes to be spun into yarns or made into tapes, without post process or external rotation or spinning of the gathered nanotubes. Boron nitride nanotube yarns or tapes of great length can be produced as a result, thereby providing industry with a readily useable format for this type of material. Dopants such as carbon can be added to engineer the band gap of the nanotubes. Catalysts may be formed outside or inside the reactor.

Abstract: Solar cells fabricated from p-n junctions of boron nitride nanotubes alloyed with carbon are described. Band gaps of boron nitride carbon alloys are tailored by controlling carbon content in the boron nitride nanotubes. High efficiency solar cells can be fabricated by tailoring the band gap of boron nitride carbon alloy nanotubes, and using these nanotubes for fabricating solar cells u. Because boron nitride carbon alloy nanotubes are transparent to most wavelengths of light, the wavelengths not converted to electrons (i.e., absorbed) at a first p-n junction in a solar cell will pass through the stack to another p-n junction in the stack having a different band gap. At each successive p-n junction, each of which has a different band gap from the other p-n junctions in the stack, more wavelengths of light will be converted into electricity. This dramatically increases the efficiency of solar cells.

Abstract: The invention relates, in part, to methods to identify compounds to treat a phytoparasitic nematode infection and/or reduce phytoparasitic nematode contamination, and to methods and compositions to treat phytoparasitic nematode infections and to reduce phytoparasitic nematode contamination of a substrate such as, but not limited to: a plant, agricultural medium, or soil.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are presented comprising one or more sensors or cameras configured to rotate about a central motor. In some examples, the motor is configured to travel at a constant linear speed while the one or more cameras face downward and collect a set of images in a predetermined region of interest. The apparatus and method are configured for image acquisition with non-sequential image overlap. The apparatus and method are configured to eliminate gaps in image detection for fault-proof collection of imagery for an underwater survey. In some examples, long baseline (LBL) is utilized for mapping detected images to a location. In some examples, ultra-short baseline (USBL) is utilized for mapping detected images to a location. The apparatus and method are configured to utilize a simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) approach.

Abstract: The invention relates, in part, to methods to identify compounds to treat a phytoparasitic nematode infection and/or reduce phytoparasitic nematode contamination, and to methods and compositions to treat phytoparasitic nematode infections and to reduce phytoparasitic nematode contamination of a substrate such as, but not limited to: a plant, agricultural medium, or soil.

Abstract: A composition and method of preparation of mixed valence manganese oxide, nickel-doped mixed valence manganese oxide and cobalt-doped mixed valence manganese oxide nanoparticles as well as tri-manganese tetroxide, nickel-doped tri-manganese tetroxide and cobalt-doped tri-manganese tetroxide nanoparticles for use as electrodes for aqueous energy storage devices.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing boron nitride nanotubes and continuous boron nitride nanotube yarn or tapes is provided. The apparatus includes rotating reaction tubes that allow for continuous chemical vapor deposition of boron nitride nanotubes. The rotation of the reaction tubes allows the boron nitride nanotubes to be spun into yarns or made into tapes, without post process or external rotation or spinning of the gathered nanotubes. Boron nitride nanotube yarns or tapes of great length can be produced as a result, thereby providing industry with a readily useable format for this type of material. Dopants such as carbon can be added to engineer the band gap of the nanotubes. Catalysts may be formed outside or inside the reactor.

Abstract: A technique for estimating a whole object surface area and volume of a micro-scale three-dimensional model with a partially visible surface includes receiving a single-view stereoscopic image of an object of interest and an unconstrained three-dimensional point cloud of the object, generating a constrained three-dimensional point cloud using the image, the unconstrained three-dimensional point cloud, and a digital elevation model (DEM) of the object generated from the image, generating, using the constrained three-dimensional point cloud, a three-dimensional mesh representing an estimate of the surface of the object, calculating a partial surface area and/or partial volume of the object using the three-dimensional mesh, estimating an extent of a visible surface of the object, and calculating a whole surface area and/or a whole volume of the object based on the partial surface area of the object and the estimated extent of the visible surface of the object.

Abstract: A system that avoids dead-end states during a real-time heuristic search. While transitioning from a previous state to a current state, the system may perform lookahead to populate a state-space with potential states. The system may identify safe states using a safety predicate and only select potential states that are ancestors of safe states, providing a clear path to safety when needed. In addition, the system may determine a distance-to-safety function that indicates a number of state transitions between each potential state and a nearest safe state.

Abstract: A high power diode laser system selects the central wavelength and narrows the spectral bandwidth by employing one or more atomic line filters (ALFs) as the wavelength selective element in the external cavity to optimize high power multi-mode operation. The high power diode laser system may include multiple diode laser sources, such as multiple diode laser bar stacks, providing multiple output beams. In an “in-line” or “straight through” configuration, a partially reflective surface terminates the external cavity to feed beam power back through the external cavity and to provide one or more output beams. In a “splitter” or “power divider” configuration, a highly reflective surface terminates the external cavity and one or more beam splitters between the diode laser source(s) and the ALF are used to provide one or more output beams. An afocal telescope may be used to image the diode laser source(s) at the reflective surface terminating the external cavity.

Abstract: A system and method for colorimetric calibration is described herein. A system for performing color calibration is described, comprising at least one broad spectrum light emitting diode, at least one light diffuser plate, at least one interference filter, and a camera, the camera comprising at least one sensor for detection of colors, wherein a spectral response within 5% error of a ground truth method can be achieved. A method for performing color calibration is described, comprising transmitting light from at least one broad spectrum light emitting diode, scattering light with at least one light diffuser plate, filtering light with at least one interference filter, detecting light at a camera sensor, mapping an intensity value for each pixel of the camera sensor, and creating a quantum efficiency curve for each of red, green, and blue channels.

Abstract: A sensor-equipped laryngoscope may be used in a system and method for quantifying intubation performance. The level of experience of health care professionals (HCPs) plays a role in the application of force and torque applied to the laryngoscope during endotracheal intubation on an airway simulator, such as a manikin or animal model (e.g., a ferret). A sensor-equipped laryngoscope may provide data that differentiates the mechanics applied by subject matter experts (SMEs) (e.g., neonatologists) from those by novices or trainees during intubation, particularly on infant or neonatal airway simulators. A laryngoscope may be equipped with one or more sensors (e.g., force/torque sensors, accelerometers, and gyroscopes) to record force, torque, and/or three-dimensional motion during endotracheal intubation. The sensor-equipped laryngoscope may then be used to record intubation mechanics (e.g., during an infant airway simulated intubation) for both SMEs and trainees.

Abstract: An auxetic structure consistent with the present disclosure may include a core cell, capable of rotation, including a plurality of first rib sections, and a plurality of second rib sections. The first rib sections may be transverse to a longitudinal axis of the auxetic structure and at least one of the first rib sections may extend from the core cell. The second rib sections may be transverse to a transverse axis of the auxetic structure and at least one of the second rib sections may extend from the core cell.