Abstract: Compositions and articles including host polymers and chromophores and methods of producing the same are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, an article includes a host polymer with a host polymer refractive index. The article also includes a chromophore with a chromophore refractive index that is greater than the host polymer refractive index. The chromophore refractive index changes with changes in an electric field, and the chromophore is dissolved within the host polymer. The article has an article refractive index that is between the host polymer refractive index and the chromophore refractive index.

Abstract: Surface scattering antennas provide adjustable radiation fields by adjustably coupling scattering elements along a wave-propagating structure. In some approaches, the scattering elements are complementary metamaterial elements. In some approaches, the scattering elements are made adjustable by disposing an electrically adjustable material, such as a liquid crystal, in proximity to the scattering elements. Methods and systems provide control and adjustment of surface scattering antennas for various applications.

Abstract: A device containing a radio-frequency (RF) liquid crystal (RFLC) mixture with improved performance is disclosed. In one embodiment, the improved performance includes high RF tuning, broad thermal operating ranges and low viscosity. In one embodiment, the device comprises an antenna comprising: an antenna element array having a plurality of antenna elements and each antenna element having a liquid crystal (LC) structure, wherein the LC structure comprises a mixture of one or more of the following: laterally functionalized with one or more of at least a proton, a hydrogen (H), or a heteroatom.

Abstract: A device containing a radio-frequency (RF) liquid crystal (RFLC) mixture with improved performance is disclosed. In one embodiment, the improved performance includes high RF tuning, broad thermal operating ranges and low viscosity. In one embodiment, the device comprises an antenna comprising: an antenna element array having a plurality of antenna elements and each antenna element having a liquid crystal (LC) structure, wherein the LC structure comprises a mixture of one or more of the following: laterally functionalized with one or more of at least a proton, a hydrogen (H), or a heteroatom.

Abstract: Surface scattering antennas provide adjustable radiation fields by adjustably coupling scattering elements along a wave-propagating structure. In some approaches, the scattering elements are complementary metamaterial elements. In some approaches, the scattering elements are made adjustable by disposing an electrically adjustable material, such as a liquid crystal, in proximity to the scattering elements. Methods and systems provide control and adjustment of surface scattering antennas for various applications.

Abstract: Ice phobic coatings and substrates and methods of making and using them are described. Some embodiments provide for an ice-phobic coating including a hydrophobic entity bonded to a hydrophilic moiety, wherein the hydrophilic moiety is capable of lowering a freezing point of water. Some embodiments provide for an ice-phobic article including a substrate having the ice-phobic coating applied on the substrate. In some embodiments, a method of making an ice-phobic coating may include bonding the hydrophobic entity with the hydrophilic moiety. In some embodiments, a method of making an ice-phobic article includes applying the ice-phobic coating to a substrate. Some embodiments also provide for a kit for making an ice-phobic article. Such ice-phobic coatings may be used to coat or impregnate winter equipment, cloth, shoes, sporting equipment, road signs, traffic lights, sidewalks, aircrafts, vehicles, or the like.

Abstract: An adaptive sensing system is configured to acquire sensor data pertaining to objects in the vicinity of a land vehicle. The adaptive sensing system may be configured to identify objects that are at least partially obscured by other objects and, in response, the adaptive sensing system may be configured to modify the configuration of one or more sensors to obtain additional information pertaining to the obscured objects. The adaptive sensing system may comprise and/or be communicatively coupled to a collision detection module, which may use the sensor data acquired by the adaptive sensing system to detect potential collisions.

Abstract: Surface scattering antennas provide adjustable radiation fields by adjustably coupling scattering elements along a wave-propagating structure. In some approaches, the scattering elements are complementary metamaterial elements. In some approaches, the scattering elements are made adjustable by disposing an electrically adjustable material, such as a liquid crystal, in proximity to the scattering elements. Methods and systems provide control and adjustment of surface scattering antennas for various applications.

Abstract: Surface scattering antennas provide adjustable radiation fields by adjustably coupling scattering elements along a wave-propagating structure. In some approaches, the scattering elements are complementary metamaterial elements. In some approaches, the scattering elements are made adjustable by disposing an electrically adjustable material, such as a liquid crystal, in proximity to the scattering elements. Methods and systems provide control and adjustment of surface scattering antennas for various applications.

Abstract: An adaptive sensing system is configured to acquire sensor data pertaining to objects in the vicinity of a land vehicle. The adaptive sensing system may be configured to identify objects that are at least partially obscured by other objects and, in response, the adaptive sensing system may be configured to modify the configuration of one or more sensors to obtain additional information pertaining to the obscured objects. The adaptive sensing system may comprise and/or be communicatively coupled to a collision detection module, which may use the sensor data acquired by the adaptive sensing system to detect potential collisions.

Abstract: A cleaning system can include a noble gas, and one or more vessels configured to convert the noble gas into a supercritical fluid, and/or receive and clean an article of manufacture with the noble gas in the supercritical fluid state. A cleaning process can include converting a noble gas into a supercritical fluid state; and cleaning an article of manufacture with the noble gas in the supercritical fluid state so as to remove one or more contaminants from the article of manufacture. A cleaning composition can include a noble gas in a supercritical fluid state, and a textile article of manufacture having one or more contaminants located in the supercritical noble gas.

Abstract: An adaptive sensing system is configured to acquire sensor data pertaining to objects in the vicinity of a land vehicle. The adaptive sensing system may be configured to identify objects that are at least partially obscured by other objects and, in response, the adaptive sensing system may be configured to modify the configuration of one or more sensors to obtain additional information pertaining to the obscured objects. The adaptive sensing system may comprise and/or be communicatively coupled to a collision detection module, which may use the sensor data acquired by the adaptive sensing system to detect potential collisions.

Abstract: Ice phobic coatings and substrates and methods of making and using them are described. Some embodiments provide for an ice-phobic coating including a hydrophobic entity bonded to a hydrophilic moiety, wherein the hydrophilic moiety is capable of lowering a freezing point of water. Some embodiments provide for an ice-phobic article including a substrate having the ice-phobic coating applied on the substrate. In some embodiments, a method of making an ice-phobic coating may include bonding the hydrophobic entity with the hydrophilic moiety. In some embodiments, a method of making an ice-phobic article includes applying the ice-phobic coating to a substrate. Some embodiments also provide for a kit for making an ice-phobic article. Such ice-phobic coatings may be used to coat or impregnate winter equipment, cloth, shoes, sporting equipment, road signs, traffic lights, sidewalks, aircrafts, vehicles, or the like.

Abstract: Surface scattering antennas provide adjustable radiation fields by adjustably coupling scattering elements along a wave-propagating structure. In some approaches, the scattering elements are complementary metamaterial elements. In some approaches, the scattering elements are made adjustable by disposing an electrically adjustable material, such as a liquid crystal, in proximity to the scattering elements. Methods and systems provide control and adjustment of surface scattering antennas for various applications.

Abstract: An adaptive sensing system is configured to acquire sensor data pertaining to objects in the vicinity of a land vehicle. The adaptive sensing system may be configured to identify objects that are at least partially obscured by other objects and, in response, the adaptive sensing system may be configured to modify the configuration of one or more sensors to obtain additional information pertaining to the obscured objects. The adaptive sensing system may comprise and/or be communicatively coupled to a collision detection module, which may use the sensor data acquired by the adaptive sensing system to detect potential collisions.

Abstract: An adaptive sensing system is configured to acquire sensor data pertaining to objects in the vicinity of a land vehicle. The adaptive sensing system may be configured to identify objects that are at least partially obscured by other objects and, in response, the adaptive sensing system may be configured to modify the configuration of one or more sensors to obtain additional information pertaining to the obscured objects. The adaptive sensing system may comprise and/or be communicatively coupled to a collision detection module, which may use the sensor data acquired by the adaptive sensing system to detect potential collisions.

Abstract: An adaptive sensing system is configured to acquire sensor data pertaining to objects in the vicinity of a land vehicle. The adaptive sensing system may be configured to identify objects that are at least partially obscured by other objects and, in response, the adaptive sensing system may be configured to modify the configuration of one or more sensors to obtain additional information pertaining to the obscured objects. The adaptive sensing system may comprise and/or be communicatively coupled to a collision detection module, which may use the sensor data acquired by the adaptive sensing system to detect potential collisions.

Abstract: A cleaning system can include a noble gas, and one or more vessels configured to convert the noble gas into a supercritical fluid, and/or receive and clean an article of manufacture with the noble gas in the supercritical fluid state. A cleaning process can include converting a noble gas into a supercritical fluid state; and cleaning an article of manufacture with the noble gas in the supercritical fluid state so as to remove one or more contaminants from the article of manufacture. A cleaning composition can include a noble gas in a supercritical fluid state, and a textile article of manufacture having one or more contaminants located in the supercritical noble gas.

Abstract: A cleaning system can include a noble gas, and one or more vessels configured to convert the noble gas into a supercritical fluid, and/or receive and clean an article of manufacture with the noble gas in the supercritical fluid state. A cleaning process can include converting a noble gas into a supercritical fluid state; and cleaning an article of manufacture with the noble gas in the supercritical fluid state so as to remove one or more contaminates from the article of manufacture. A cleaning composition can include a noble gas in a supercritical fluid state, and a textile article of manufacture having one or more contaminates located in the supercritical noble gas.

Abstract: Crosslinked cellulosic polymers, crosslinked cellulosic polymer hydro-gels, and methods for their synthesis and use are described. The crosslinked cellulosic polymers include one or more cellulosic polymers and a one or more crosslinkers that crosslinks the one or more cellulosic polymers together. The crosslinking can be facilitated with a crosslinking agent capable of linking with a monomer the cellulosic polymer and crosslinking the cellulosic polymer intermoleculerly and/or intramolecularly. Crosslinked cellulosic polymers are well adapted for use in cell and tissue growth in vivo and in vitro. The crosslinked cellulose polymers may also be used as wound care devices.