Abstract: The present disclosure relates, according to some embodiments, to enzymes, systems, compositions, methods, apparatus, and workflows for selectively cutting, cleaving, digesting and/or hydrolyzing duplex DNA strands or the DNA strand of a DNA/RNA hybrid.

Abstract: A method and compound includes mixing dichloroglyoxime with an alcohol containing an alkyne functional group in methanol to create a mixture; adding a salt compound and water to the mixture to create bis-isoxazole diol; and nitrating the bis-isoxazole diol to create 3,3?-bis-isoxazole-5,5?-bis-methylene dinitrate, which has the structural formula: The alcohol containing an alkyne functional group may include propargyl alcohol. The salt compound may include sodium bicarbonate. The method may include nitrating the bis-isoxazole diol with nitric acid. The nitric acid may include at least a concentration of 90% nitric acid in water. Alternatively, the method may include nitrating the bis-isoxazole diol with 100% nitric acid and acetic anhydride. The salt compound and the water may be added to the mixture over at least a six-hour period. The method may include mixing the mixture after adding the salt compound and the water for at least ten hours.

Abstract: A method and compound includes mixing dichloroglyoxime with an alcohol containing an alkyne functional group in methanol to create a mixture; adding a salt compound and water to the mixture to create bis-isoxazole diol; and nitrating the bis-isoxazole diol to create 3,3?-bis-isoxazole-5,5?-bis-methylene dinitrate, which has the structural formula: The alcohol containing an alkyne functional group may include propargyl alcohol. The salt compound may include sodium bicarbonate. The method may include nitrating the bis-isoxazole diol with nitric acid. The nitric acid may include at least a concentration of 90% nitric acid in water. Alternatively, the method may include nitrating the bis-isoxazole diol with 100% nitric acid and acetic anhydride. The salt compound and the water may be added to the mixture over at least a six-hour period. The method may include mixing the mixture after adding the salt compound and the water for at least ten hours.

Abstract: A portable x-ray computed tomography (CT) system may utilize algebraic reconstruction techniques (ART) to produce 3D volume images from tens of shots or less. The system may be deployed as desired where x-ray source and detector positions are not known beforehand. A fast, accurate matrix may be formed relating voxels to detector pixels via a modified ray tracing algorithm, eliminating artifacts caused by approaches using rough approximations. Masking or recombination may be performed to remove detector pixels that are not part of a region of interest (ROI) or lump the pixels together as one unknown, significantly reducing matrix size, and hence, computation time. The positions and orientations of the x-ray source and detector may be treated as unknowns and refined to optimize a volume image metric. For example, the optimized metric could be image contrast, image sparsity, or total variation.

Abstract: A portable x-ray computed tomography (CT) system may utilize algebraic reconstruction techniques (ART) to produce 3D volume images from tens of shots or less. The system may be deployed as desired where x-ray source and detector positions are not known beforehand. A fast, accurate matrix may be formed relating voxels to detector pixels via a modified ray tracing algorithm, eliminating artifacts caused by approaches using rough approximations. Masking or recombination may be performed to remove detector pixels that are not part of a region of interest (ROI) or lump the pixels together as one unknown, significantly reducing matrix size, and hence, computation time. The positions and orientations of the x-ray source and detector may be treated as unknowns and refined to optimize a volume image metric. For example, the optimized metric could be image contrast, image sparsity, or total variation.

Abstract: An optical assembly includes a light path and at least one optic to be positioned in the path. A support arrangement supports the optic having a foot arrangement including at least one foot that receives a direct manipulation with the foot slidingly engaged against a support surface to move the optic relative to the light path. Movement of the foot may move the optic along a predetermined path. The foot defines a footprint for engaging the support surface and receives the direct manipulation in a way which changes the footprint on the support surface to move the optic responsive to changes in the footprint. A movement arrangement may selectively bias the foot against the support surface during a movement mode, intended to permit movement of the foot against the support surface, and in a locked mode, intended to lock the foot against the support surface.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a concentrating solar energy collector, which tracks movements of the sun along one axis has a reflective trough, at least one solar receiver mounted above the reflective trough and configured so that incident sunlight striking the reflective trough is directed toward the at least one solar receiver, and a reflector extender coupled to a first end of the reflective trough and configured to capture and direct incident sunlight towards the at least one solar receiver. In another embodiment, one or more extended end reflectors is attached with a reflective trough of a solar energy collector.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a solar energy collection system that includes multiple longitudinally adjacent collectors is described. The collectors are coupled end to end to form a collector row. Each collector includes a reflector, one or more solar receivers and a support structure. There is a space between the support structures of adjacent collectors in the collector row, where the reflectors of the adjacent collectors extend beyond the underlying support structures to form a substantially continuous reflective surface over the space. A coupling device is positioned in the space between the tube assemblies. The coupling device connects and helps to rotate the support structures of the adjacent collectors. Some embodiments relate to various types of coupling devices and collector arrangements.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a solar energy collection system will be described that includes a collector row and at least one stand that supports the collector row. Multiple longitudinally adjacent collectors are arranged end to end along a longitudinal axis to form the collector row. Each collector includes a reflector, at least one solar receiver and a support structure. The support structure supports the solar receivers and the reflector. The reflectors of the collector row are configured to have a range of tilt angles that are at least ±70 degrees around the pivot axis. In various embodiments, the reflectors of the adjacent collectors are arranged to collectively form a substantially continuous reflective surface along the length of the collector row.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a solar energy collection system that includes multiple longitudinally adjacent collectors is described. The collectors are coupled end to end to form a collector row. The collector row extends along a longitudinal axis and is arranged to rotate about a pivot axis to track the sun in at least one dimension. Each collector includes a reflector, one or more solar receivers and a support structure. The support structure includes a tube assembly that underlies the reflector. The tube assemblies of the collector row are arranged end to end along the longitudinal axis. There is a space between the tube assemblies of adjacent collectors in the collector row, where the reflectors of the adjacent collectors extend beyond the underlying tube assemblies to form a substantially continuous reflective surface over the space. A coupling device is positioned in the space between the tube assemblies.

Abstract: A solar energy collector suitable for use in a solar energy collection system that tracks movements of the sun along at least one axis may have a plurality of reflector panels, a support structure that supports the reflector panels in a manner that defines a pair of adjacent reflector troughs, each trough having a base, a pair of reflective side walls and a trough aperture suitable for receiving incident sunlight during operation of the solar energy collection system, a frame that is coupled to the support structure near the bases of the troughs to define a closed reflector support truss framework in cooperation with the support structure, wherein the reflector support truss framework is positioned behind the reflector troughs such that the reflector support truss framework does not shadow the reflector panels during normal operation of the solar energy collector, and a plurality of solar receivers.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a solar energy collection system that includes multiple longitudinally adjacent collectors is described. The collectors are coupled end to end to form a collector row. The collector row extends along a longitudinal axis and is arranged to rotate about a pivot axis to track the sun in at least one dimension. Each collector includes a reflector, one or more solar receivers and a support structure. The support structure includes a tube assembly that underlies the reflector. The tube assemblies of the collector row are arranged end to end along the longitudinal axis. There is a space between the tube assemblies of adjacent collectors in the collector row, where the reflectors of the adjacent collectors extend beyond the underlying tube assemblies to form a substantially continuous reflective surface over the space. A coupling device is positioned in the space between the tube assemblies.

Abstract: A variety of arrangements and methods relating to solar energy collectors and/or solar receivers are described. In one aspect of the invention, a solar receiver includes a photovoltaic cell and a conductive bar that is mounted on the photovoltaic cell. One or more protective covers are positioned over the conductive bar and the cell. Each of the protective covers includes a top and an opposing bottom surface and a side beveled surface. The top and bottom surfaces of the protective covers are substantially parallel to the face of the photovoltaic cell. The side beveled surface is positioned over the conductive bar and is arranged to reflect incoming sunlight towards a portion of the cell that is not covered by the conductive bar.

Abstract: A solar energy collector is provided having at least one reflector panel, a plurality of solar receivers, and a support structure that supports the at least one reflector panels in a manner that defines a reflector troughs having a trough base, a pair of reflective side walls and a trough aperture suitable for receiving incident sunlight during operation of the collector, wherein each reflective side wall has a curvature that approximates a quarter parabola segment to thereby concentrate incident solar radiation on the plurality of solar receivers.

Abstract: A solar receiver can have a base plate having a first surface and a second surface, a plurality of solar cells positioned over and supported by the first surface of the base plate, each solar cell having a cell face suitable for receiving solar radiation that faces away from the base plate, the plurality of solar cells being arranged in at least one string having a string axis, and a plurality of fins attached directly to the second surface of the base plate, wherein the fins extend outwardly from the second surface of the base plate in a direction that is generally perpendicular to both the string axis and the solar cell faces.

Abstract: A solar receiver can have a base plate having a first surface and a second surface, a plurality of solar cells positioned over and supported by the first surface of the base plate, each solar cell having a cell face suitable for receiving solar radiation that faces away from the base plate, the plurality of solar cells being arranged in at least one string having a string axis, and a plurality of fins attached directly to the second surface of the base plate, wherein the fins extend outwardly from the second surface of the base plate in a direction that is generally perpendicular to both the string axis and the solar cell faces.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a concentrating solar energy collector, which tracks movements of the sun along one axis has a reflective trough, at least one solar receiver mounted above the reflective trough and configured so that incident sunlight striking the reflective trough is directed toward the at least one solar receiver, and a reflector extender coupled to a first end of the reflective trough and configured to capture and direct incident sunlight towards the at least one solar receiver. In another embodiment, one or more extended end reflectors is attached with a reflective trough of a solar energy collector.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a solar energy collection system that includes an array of collectors to track movements of the sun, each collector having a plurality of reflector panels, a support structure that supports the reflector panels, wherein the support structure supports the reflector panels in a manner that defines a trough, a pair of reflective side walls and a trough aperture suitable for receiving incident sunlight during operation of the collector, a plurality of solar receivers, each solar receiver being positioned generally adjacent an edge of an associated trough and including at least one photovoltaic cell, wherein the reflector panels are arranged to direct incident sunlight towards the solar receivers using a single reflection during operation of the collector, and a tracking mechanism to rotate the collector about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis to track movements of the sun and direct incident sunlight along the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: An optical assembly includes a light path and at least one optic to be positioned in the path. A support arrangement supports the optic having a foot arrangement including at least one foot that receives a direct manipulation with the foot slidingly engaged against a support surface to move the optic relative to the light path. Movement of the foot may move the optic along a predetermined path. The foot defines a footprint for engaging the support surface and receives the direct manipulation in a way which changes the footprint on the support surface to move the optic responsive to changes in the footprint. A movement arrangement may selectively bias the foot against the support surface during a movement mode, intended to permit movement of the foot against the support surface, and in a locked mode, intended to lock the foot against the support surface.