UT-BATTELLE, LLC Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20160121555 | METHOD OF FORMING A CARBON FIBER LAYUP - A manufactured component, method and apparatus for advanced manufacturing that includes a polymeric working material formed into a mandrel with a carbon fiber overlay formed in a continuation of the process. The mandrel build and the carbon fiber overlay of the component preferably take place at atmospheric temperatures. | 05-05-2016 |
20160102180 | MULTIFUNCTIONAL CURING AGENTS AND THEIR USE IN IMPROVING STRENGTH OF COMPOSITES CONTAINING CARBON FIBERS EMBEDDED IN A POLYMERIC MATRIX - A functionalized carbon fiber having covalently bound on its surface a sizing agent containing epoxy groups, at least some of which are engaged in covalent bonds with crosslinking molecules, wherein each of said crosslinking molecules possesses at least two epoxy-reactive groups and at least one free functional group reactive with functional groups of a polymer matrix in which the carbon fiber is to be incorporated, wherein at least a portion of said crosslinking molecules are engaged, via at least two of their epoxy-reactive groups, in crosslinking bonds between at least two epoxy groups of the sizing agent. Composites comprised of these functionalized carbon fibers embedded in a polymeric matrix are also described. Methods for producing the functionalized carbon fibers and composites thereof are also described. | 04-14-2016 |
20160032195 | CATALYTIC CONVERSION OF ALCOHOLS HAVING AT LEAST THREE CARBON ATOMS TO HYDROCARBON BLENDSTOCK - A method for producing a hydrocarbon blendstock, the method comprising contacting at least one saturated acyclic alcohol having at least three and up to ten carbon atoms with a metal-loaded zeolite catalyst at a temperature of at least 100° C. and up to 550° C., wherein the metal is a positively-charged metal ion, and the metal-loaded zeolite catalyst is catalytically active for converting the alcohol to the hydrocarbon blendstock, wherein the method directly produces a hydrocarbon blendstock having less than 1 vol % ethylene and at least 35 vol % of hydrocarbon compounds containing at least eight carbon atoms. | 02-04-2016 |
20150330883 | LIQUID SALT ENVIRONMENT STRESS-RUPTURE TESTING - Disclosed herein are systems, devices and methods for stress-rupture testing selected materials within a high-temperature liquid salt environment. Exemplary testing systems include a load train for holding a test specimen within a heated inert gas vessel. A thermal break included in the load train can thermally insulate a load cell positioned along the load train within the inert gas vessel. The test specimen can include a cylindrical gage portion having an internal void filled with a molten salt during stress-rupture testing. The gage portion can have an inner surface area to volume ratio of greater than 20 to maximize the corrosive effect of the molten salt on the specimen material during testing. Also disclosed are methods of making a salt ingot for placement within the test specimen. | 11-19-2015 |
20150293144 | Band Excitation Method Applicable to Scanning Probe Microscopy - Scanning probe microscopy may include a method for generating a band excitation (BE) signal and simultaneously exciting a probe at a plurality of frequencies within a predetermined frequency band based on the excitation signal. A response of the probe is measured across a subset of frequencies of the predetermined frequency band and the excitation signal is adjusted based on the measured response. | 10-15-2015 |
20150292119 | METHOD FOR THE PREPARATION OF CARBON FIBER FROM POLYOLEFIN FIBER PRECURSOR, AND CARBON FIBERS MADE THEREBY - Methods for the preparation of carbon fiber from polyolefin fiber precursor, wherein the polyolefin fiber precursor is partially sulfonated and then carbonized to produce carbon fiber. Methods for producing hollow carbon fibers, wherein the hollow core is circular- or complex-shaped, are also described. Methods for producing carbon fibers possessing a circular- or complex-shaped outer surface, which may be solid or hollow, are also described. | 10-15-2015 |
20150291833 | REACTIVE POLYMER FUSED DEPOSITION MANUFACTURING - Methods and compositions for additive manufacturing that include reactive or thermosetting polymers, such as urethanes and epoxies. The polymers are melted, partially cross-linked prior to the depositing, deposited to form a component object, solidified, and fully cross-linked. These polymers form networks of chemical bonds that span the deposited layers. Application of a directional electromagnetic field can be applied to aromatic polymers after deposition to align the polymers for improved bonding between the deposited layers. | 10-15-2015 |
20150273444 | Catalysts for Low Temperature Oxidation - The invention provides a composite catalyst containing a first component and a second component. The first component contains nanosized gold particles. The second component contains nanosized platinum group metals. The composite catalyst is useful for catalyzing the oxidation of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, oxides of nitrogen, and other pollutants at low temperatures. | 10-01-2015 |
20150267322 | METHOD FOR THE PREPARATION OF CARBON FIBER FROM POLYOLEFIN FIBER PRECURSOR, AND CARBON FIBERS MADE THEREBY - Methods for the preparation of carbon fiber from polyolefin fiber precursor, wherein the polyolefin fiber precursor is partially sulfonated and then carbonized to produce carbon fiber. Methods for producing hollow carbon fibers, wherein the hollow core is circular- or complex-shaped, are also described. Methods for producing carbon fibers possessing a circular- or complex-shaped outer surface, which may be solid or hollow, are also described. | 09-24-2015 |
20150252501 | ADVANCED OXIDATION METHOD FOR PRODUCING HIGH-DENSITY OXIDIZED POLYACRYLONITRILE FIBERS - Method for producing an oxidized PAN fiber (OPF) wherein a PAN fiber is subjected to an oxidation process in which reactive oxidizing species are maintained in close enough proximity to the PAN fiber during the oxidation process such that a core of the PAN fiber is converted to a crosslinked thermoset morphology before an oxidized shell of the PAN fiber becomes thick enough to substantially inhibit penetration of the reactive oxidizing species into the core. The resulting OPF possesses a density greater than 1.35 g/cm | 09-10-2015 |
20150238946 | HYDROTHERMALLY STABLE, LOW-TEMPERATURE NOX REDUCTION NH3-SCR CATALYST - A catalyst composition includes a heterobimetallic zeolite characterized by a chabazite structure loaded with copper ions and at least one trivalent metal ion other than Al | 08-27-2015 |
20150238944 | ZEOLITE-BASED SCR CATALYSTS AND THEIR USE IN DIESEL ENGINE EMISSION TREATMENT - A catalyst comprising a zeolite loaded with copper ions and at least one trivalent metal ion other than Al | 08-27-2015 |
20150233021 | METHOD FOR PRODUCTION OF CARBON NANOFIBER MAT OR CARBON PAPER - Method for the preparation of a non-woven mat or paper made of carbon fibers, the method comprising carbonizing a non-woven mat or paper preform (precursor) comprised of a plurality of bonded sulfonated polyolefin fibers to produce said non-woven mat or paper made of carbon fibers. The preforms and resulting non-woven mat or paper made of carbon fiber, as well as articles and devices containing them, and methods for their use, are also described. | 08-20-2015 |
20150232777 | IONIC LIQUIDS CONTAINING SYMMETRIC QUATERNARY PHOSPHONIUM CATIONS AND PHOSPHORUS-CONTAINING ANIONS, AND THEIR USE AS LUBRICANT ADDITIVES - An ionic liquid composition having the following generic structural formula: | 08-20-2015 |
20150232690 | OPTICALLY TRANSPARENT, SUPERHYDROPHOBIC, BIOCOMPATIBLE THIN FILM COATINGS AND METHODS FOR PRODUCING SAME - An optically transparent, hydrophobic coating, exhibiting an average contact angle of at least 100 degrees with a drop of water. The coating can be produced using low-cost, environmentally friendly components. Methods of preparing and using the optically transparent, hydrophobic coating. | 08-20-2015 |
20150229887 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR IMAGING INTERIOR SURFACES OF A TUBE OR THE LIKE - An exemplary device includes, on a longitudinal axis, an illumination-light source, an axicon (conic) mirror, an image sensor, and a tilted optical element. The light source provides illumination light propagating forwardly on the axis. The axicon mirror reflects the illumination light radially outward, relative to the axis, to the interior surface of a tube to produce reflected light propagating, from the illuminated interior surface, as imaging light back to the axicon, which reflects the imaging light rearwardly. The image sensor receives at least a portion of the imaging light rearwardly reflected by the axicon mirror. The tilted optical element, situated between the axicon mirror and the interior surface, moves a selected first portion of the imaging light away from being incident on the image sensor, while allowing a second portion of the imaging light to be incident on the image sensor. | 08-13-2015 |
20150229288 | SHIELDED MULTI-STAGE EMI NOISE FILTER - Electromagnetic interference (EMI) noise filter embodiments and methods for filtering are provided herein. EMI noise filters include multiple signal exclusion enclosures. The multiple signal exclusion enclosures contain filter circuit stages. The signal exclusion enclosures can attenuate noise generated external to the enclosures and/or isolate noise currents generated by the corresponding filter circuits within the enclosures. In certain embodiments, an output of one filter circuit stage is connected to an input of the next filter circuit stage. The multiple signal exclusion enclosures can be chambers formed using conductive partitions to divide an outer signal exclusion enclosure. EMI noise filters can also include mechanisms to maintain the components of the filter circuit stages at a consistent temperature. For example, a metal base plate can distribute heat among filter components, and an insulating material can be positioned inside signal exclusion enclosures. | 08-13-2015 |
20150221949 | SULFUR-CARBON NANOCOMPOSITES AND THEIR APPLICATION AS CATHODE MATERIALS IN LITHIUM-SULFUR BATTERIES - The invention is directed in a first aspect to a sulfur-carbon composite material comprising: (i) a bimodal porous carbon component containing therein a first mode of pores which are mesopores, and a second mode of pores which are micropores; and (ii) elemental sulfur contained in at least a portion of said micropores. The invention is also directed to the aforesaid sulfur-carbon composite as a layer on a current collector material; a lithium ion battery containing the sulfur-carbon composite in a cathode therein; as well as a method for preparing the sulfur-composite material. | 08-06-2015 |
20150213160 | LOCALLY ADAPTIVE SPATIALLY EXPLICIT POPULATION PROJECTION SYSTEM - A locally adaptive spatial system renders spatially explicit population projections. The system identifies selected land areas that are excluded from future development. It identifies potential growth areas that identify land areas that are projected to gain populations by modeling land variables. The system classifies the population projections as infill or sprawl based on the current local urbanization index and identifies potential loss surfaces that identify land areas that are projected to lose populations. The system spatially allocates population changes at a county level based on the infill, sprawl, and population loss designations. | 07-30-2015 |
20150206423 | SMOKE DETECTION - Various apparatus and methods for smoke detection are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of training a classifier for a smoke detector comprises inputting sensor data from a plurality of tests into a processor. The sensor data is processed to generate derived signal data corresponding to the test data for respective tests. The derived signal data is assigned into categories comprising at least one fire group and at least one non-fire group. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) training is performed by the processor. The derived signal data and the assigned categories for the derived signal data are inputs to the LDA training. The output of the LDA training is stored in a computer readable medium, such as in a smoke detector that uses LDA to determine, based on the training, whether present conditions indicate the existence of a fire. | 07-23-2015 |
20150161394 | DETECTION OF ANOMALOUS EVENTS - A system is described for receiving a stream of events and scoring the events based on anomalousness and maliciousness (or other classification). The system can include a plurality of anomaly detectors that together implement an algorithm to identify low-probability events and detect atypical traffic patterns. The anomaly detector provides for comparability of disparate sources of data (e.g., network flow data and firewall logs.) Additionally, the anomaly detector allows for regulatability, meaning that the algorithm can be user configurable to adjust a number of false alerts. The anomaly detector can be used for a variety of probability density functions, including normal Gaussian distributions, irregular distributions, as well as functions associated with continuous or discrete variables. | 06-11-2015 |
20150142802 | INDUSTRIAL GEOSPATIAL ANALYSIS TOOL FOR ENERGY EVALUATION - An industrial analytic system processes industrial data. A database engine provides access to a plurality of database management systems that serve energy consumption and product sales data. An input filter that selectively passes the filtered data streams that comprise energy sales data, location data, and a business classification code data in datasets by removing selected datasets that do not include energy information. A standard deviation filter removes datasets from the filtered data streams that fall outside of a predetermined variation from an average value. A computation module analyzes the correlation between electrical energy consumption within a standard industrial classification code represented in the datasets and a programmable criterion. | 05-21-2015 |
20150124244 | EMISSIVITY INDEPENDENT OPTICAL PYROMETER - Disclosed herein are representative embodiments of methods, apparatus, and systems for determining the temperature of an object using an optical pyrometer. Certain embodiments of the disclosed technology allow for making optical temperature measurements that are independent of the surface emissivity of the object being sensed. In one of the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein, a plurality of spectral radiance measurements at a plurality of wavelengths is received from a surface of an object being measured. The plurality of the spectral radiance measurements is fit to a scaled version of a black body curve, the fitting comprising determining a temperature of the scaled version of the black body curve. The temperature is then output. The present disclosure is not to be construed as limiting and is instead directed toward all novel and nonobvious features and aspects of the various disclosed embodiments, alone or in various combinations and subcombinations with one another. | 05-07-2015 |
20150106927 | REAL-TIME DETECTION AND CLASSIFICATION OF ANOMALOUS EVENTS IN STREAMING DATA - A system is described for receiving a stream of events and scoring the events based on anomalousness and maliciousness (or other classification). The events can be displayed to a user in user-defined groupings in an animated fashion. The system can include a plurality of anomaly detectors that together implement an algorithm to identify low probability events and detect atypical traffic patterns. The atypical traffic patterns can then be classified as being of interest or not. In one particular example, in a network environment, the classification can be whether the network traffic is malicious or not. | 04-16-2015 |
20150073692 | DRIVER FEEDBACK FOR FUEL EFFICIENCY - Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for providing feedback to a driver are provided herein. Vehicle speed or acceleration data can be received for a location on a route. A current acceleration value for the location is derived using the received vehicle speed or acceleration data. A preferred acceleration value for the location is determined based on a preferred speed or acceleration profile that is specific to the route. An indication of a correspondence between the preferred acceleration value for the location and the current acceleration value for the location is then provided. The indication can be, for example, a graphic comparing the preferred and current acceleration values. Based on the indication, a driver can adjust acceleration to conform to the preferred acceleration value. | 03-12-2015 |
20150069307 | MESOPOROUS METAL OXIDE MICROSPHERE ELECTRODE COMPOSITIONS AND THEIR METHODS OF MAKING - Compositions and methods of making are provided for treated mesoporous metal oxide microspheres electrodes. The compositions include microspheres with an average diameter between about 200 nanometers and about 10 micrometers and mesopores on the surface and interior of the microspheres. The methods of making include forming a mesoporous metal oxide microsphere composition and treating the mesoporous metal oxide microspheres by at least annealing in a reducing atmosphere, doping with an aliovalent element, and coating with a coating composition. | 03-12-2015 |
20150064580 | NITRIDE- AND OXIDE-MODIFIED ELECTRODE COMPOSITIONS AND THEIR METHODS OF MAKING - Compositions and methods of making compositions are provided for nitride- and/or oxide-modified electrode compositions. In certain embodiments, the nitride- and/or oxide-modified compositions have the general formula M | 03-05-2015 |
20150055820 | MODEL FOR MAPPING SETTLEMENTS - A programmable media includes a graphical processing unit in communication with a memory element. The graphical processing unit is configured to detect one or more settlement regions from a high resolution remote sensed image based on the execution of programming code. The graphical processing unit identifies one or more settlements through the execution of the programming code that executes a multi-instance learning algorithm that models portions of the high resolution remote sensed image. The identification is based on spectral bands transmitted by a satellite and on selected designations of the image patches. | 02-26-2015 |
20150047983 | CARBON COMPOSITION WITH HIERARCHICAL POROSITY, AND METHODS OF PREPARATION - A method for fabricating a porous carbon material possessing a hierarchical porosity, the method comprising subjecting a precursor composition to a curing step followed by a carbonization step, the precursor composition comprising: (i) a templating component comprised of a block copolymer, (ii) a phenolic component, (iii) a dione component in which carbonyl groups are adjacent, and (iv) an acidic component, wherein said carbonization step comprises heating the precursor composition at a carbonizing temperature for sufficient time to convert the precursor composition to a carbon material possessing a hierarchical porosity comprised of mesopores and macropores. Also described are the resulting hierarchical porous carbon material, a capacitive deionization device in which the porous carbon material is incorporated, as well as methods for desalinating water by use of said capacitive deionization device. | 02-19-2015 |
20150046875 | HIGH-EFFICACY CAPTURING AND MODELING OF HUMAN PERCEPTUAL SIMILARITY OPINIONS - A personalized human perceptual opinion capturing and modeling system includes a processor and memory. Logic stored in the memory renders a user interface on an electronic display. The user interface includes many active areas radially linking multiple peripheral image objects to a central image object where an image object is an object of an image or a visually represented entity. The multiple peripheral image objects are positioned around a curved path about the central image object. The active areas include impression characteristic objects associated with hyperlinks that render a second user interface. The second user interface displays a selected peripheral image object, the central image object, and a color mapping model or a visual feedback mechanism. A database stores user expressed perceptual opinion data representing the similarity of the selected peripheral image object to the central image object. A user's positional movements of a positional object rendered on the electronic display enable the user to visually express and represent the similarities between each of the plurality of peripheral image objects to the central image object through the impression characteristic objects, a visual heuristic object, and a spatial separation. | 02-12-2015 |
20140353511 | NEUTRON CAMERA EMPLOYING ROW AND COLUMN SUMMATIONS - For each photomultiplier tube in an Anger camera, an R×S array of preamplifiers is provided to detect electrons generated within the photomultiplier tube. The outputs of the preamplifiers are digitized to measure the magnitude of the signals from each preamplifier. For each photomultiplier tube, a corresponding summation circuitry including R row summation circuits and S column summation circuits numerically add the magnitudes of the signals from preamplifiers for each row and for each column to generate histograms. For a P×Q array of photomultiplier tubes, P×Q summation circuitries generate P×Q row histograms including R entries and P×Q column histograms including S entries. The total set of histograms include P×Q×(R+S) entries, which can be analyzed by a position calculation circuit to determine the locations of events (detection of a neutron). | 12-04-2014 |
20140329308 | PLATFORM FOR IMMOBILIZATION AND OBSERVATION OF SUBCELLULAR PROCESSES - A method of immobilizing matter for imaging that includes providing an array of nanofibers and directing matter to the array of the nanofibers. The matter is immobilized when contacting at least three nanofibers of the array of nanofibers simultaneously. Adjacent nanofibers in the array of nanofibers may be separated by a pitch as great as 100 microns. The immobilized matter on the array of nanofibers may then be imaged. In some examples, the matter may be cell matter, such as protoplasts. | 11-06-2014 |
20140322781 | CATALYTIC CONVERSION OF ALCOHOLS TO HYDROCARBONS WITH LOW BENZENE CONTENT - A method for converting an alcohol to a hydrocarbon fraction having a lowered benzene content, the method comprising: converting said alcohol to a hydrocarbon fraction by contacting said alcohol, under conditions suitable for converting said alcohol to said hydrocarbon fraction, with a metal-loaded zeolite catalyst catalytically active for converting said alcohol to said hydrocarbon fraction, and contacting said hydrocarbon fraction with a benzene alkylation catalyst, under conditions suitable for alkylating benzene, to form alkylated benzene product in said hydrocarbon fraction. Also described is a catalyst composition useful in the method, comprising a mixture of (i) a metal-loaded zeolite catalyst catalytically active for converting said alcohol to said hydrocarbon, and (ii) a benzene alkylation catalyst, in which (i) and (ii) may be in a mixed or separated state. A reactor for housing the catalyst and conducting the reaction is also described. | 10-30-2014 |
20140318532 | FLOW-THROUGH PRETREATMENT OF LIGNOCELLULOSIC BIOMASS WITH INORGANIC NANOPOROUS MEMBRANES - A process for the pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass is provided. The process generally includes flowing water through a pretreatment reactor containing a bed of particulate ligno-cellulosic biomass to produce a pressurized, high-temperature hydrolyzate exit stream, separating solubilized compounds from the hydrolyzate exit stream using an inorganic nanoporous membrane element, fractionating the retentate enriched in solubilized organic components and recycling the permeate to the pretreatment reactor. The pretreatment process provides solubilized organics in concentrated form for the subsequent conversion into biofuels and other chemicals. | 10-30-2014 |
20140273146 | ZEOLITIC CATALYTIC CONVERSION OF ALOCHOLS TO HYDROCARBONS - A method for converting an alcohol to a hydrocarbon, the method comprising contacting said alcohol with a metal-loaded zeolite catalyst at a temperature of at least 100° C. and up to 550° C., wherein said alcohol can be produced by a fermentation process, said metal is a positively-charged metal ion, and said metal-loaded zeolite catalyst is catalytically active for converting said alcohol to said hydrocarbon. | 09-18-2014 |
20140272943 | RAPID AND HIGHLY FIELDABLE VIRAL DIAGNOSTIC - The present invention relates to a rapid, highly fieldable, nearly reagentless diagnostic to identify active RNA viral replication in a live, infected cells, and more particularly in leukocytes and tissue samples (including biopsies and nasal swabs) using an array of a plurality of vertically-aligned nanostructures that impale the cells and introduce a DNA reporter construct that is expressed and amplified in the presence of active viral replication. | 09-18-2014 |
20140269151 | EMAT ENHANCED DISPERSION OF PARTICLES IN LIQUID - Particulate matter is dispersed in a fluid material. A sample including a first material in a fluid state and second material comprising particulate matter are placed into a chamber. The second material is spatially dispersed in the first material utilizing EMAT force. The dispersion process continues until spatial distribution of the second material enables the sample to meet a specified criterion. The chamber and/or the sample is electrically conductive. The EMAT force is generated by placing the chamber coaxially within an induction coil driven by an applied alternating current and placing the chamber and induction coil coaxially within a high field magnetic. The EMAT force is coupled to the sample without physical contact to the sample or to the chamber, by another physical object. Batch and continuous processing are utilized. The chamber may be folded within the bore of the magnet. Acoustic force frequency and/or temperature may be controlled. | 09-18-2014 |
20140266265 | Conductive Fabric Seal - Disclosed are several examples of a system and method for detecting if an article is being tampered with. Included is a covering made of a substrate that is coated with a layer of an electrically conductive material that forms an electrically conductive surface having an electrical resistance. The covering is configured to at least partially encapsulate the article such that the article cannot be tampered with, without modifying the electrical resistance of the electrically conductive surface of the covering. A sensing device is affixed to the electrically conductive surface of the covering and the sensing device monitors the condition of the covering by producing a signal that is indicative of the electrical resistance of the electrically conductive surface of the covering. A measured electrical resistance that differs from a nominal electrical resistance is indicative of a covering that is being tampered with and an alert is communicated to an observer. | 09-18-2014 |
20140265038 | MAGNETO-CARBONIZATION METHOD FOR PRODUCTION OF CARBON FIBER, AND HIGH PERFORMANCE CARBON FIBERS MADE THEREBY - Method for the preparation of carbon fiber from fiber precursor, wherein the fiber precursor is subjected to a magnetic field of at least 3 Tesla during a carbonization process. The carbonization process is generally conducted at a temperature of at least 400° C. and less than 2200° C., wherein, in particular embodiments, the carbonization process includes a low temperature carbonization step conducted at a temperature of at least or above 400° C. or 500° C. and less than or up to 1000° C., 1100° C., or 1200° C., followed by a high temperature carbonization step conducted at a temperature of at least or above 1200° C. In particular embodiments, particularly in the case of a polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fiber precursor, the resulting carbon fiber may possess a minimum tensile strength of at least 600 ksi, a tensile modulus of at least 30 Msi, and an ultimate elongation of at least 1.5%. | 09-18-2014 |
20140263034 | INORGANIC NANOPOROUS MEMBRANES FOR HIGH TEMPERATURE PRETREATMENT OF LIGNOCELLULOSIC BIOMASS - An inorganic membrane element and a pretreatment process are provided. The inorganic membrane element includes a tubular structure having an inner separating layer, an outer supporting layer, and at least one intermediate layer interposed between the separating and supporting layers, where the separating layer is nanoporous to selectively retain solutes while permitting the transfer of high-temperature solvents therethrough. The pretreatment process utilizes the inorganic membrane element to provide solubilized organics in concentrated form for the subsequent conversion into bio-fuels and other chemicals. | 09-18-2014 |
20140262810 | ELECTROCHEMICAL METHOD FOR SYNTHESIZING METAL-CONTAINING PARTICLES AND OTHER OBJECTS - The invention is directed to a method for producing metal-containing (e.g., non-oxide, oxide, or elemental) nano-objects, which may be nanoparticles or nanowires, the method comprising contacting an aqueous solution comprising a metal salt and water with an electrically powered electrode to form said metal-containing nano-objects dislodged from the electrode, wherein said electrode possesses a nanotextured surface that functions to confine the particle growth process to form said metal-containing nano-objects. The invention is also directed to the resulting metal-containing compositions as well as devices in which they are incorporated. | 09-18-2014 |
20140261901 | Heat Exchanger Life Extension Via In-Situ Reconditioning - A method of in-situ reconditioning a heat exchanger includes the steps of: providing an in-service heat exchanger comprising a precipitate-strengthened alloy wherein at least one mechanical property of the heat exchanger is degraded by coarsening of the precipitate, the in-service heat exchanger containing a molten salt working heat exchange fluid; deactivating the heat exchanger from service in-situ; in a solution-annealing step, in-situ heating the heat exchanger and molten salt working heat exchange fluid contained therein to a temperature and for a time period sufficient to dissolve the coarsened precipitate; in a quenching step, flowing the molten salt working heat-exchange fluid through the heat exchanger in-situ to cool the alloy and retain a supersaturated solid solution while preventing formation of large precipitates; and in an aging step, further varying the temperature of the flowing molten salt working heat-exchange fluid to re-precipitate the dissolved precipitate. | 09-18-2014 |
20140256010 | CATALYTIC CONVERSION OF ALCOHOLS TO HYDROCARBONS WITH LOW BENZENE CONTENT - A method for converting an alcohol to a hydrocarbon fraction having a lowered benzene content, the method comprising: converting said alcohol to a hydrocarbon fraction by contacting said alcohol, under conditions suitable for converting said alcohol to said hydrocarbon fraction, with a metal-loaded zeolite catalyst catalytically active for converting said alcohol to said hydrocarbon fraction, and contacting said hydrocarbon fraction with a benzene alkylation catalyst, under conditions suitable for alkylating benzene, to form alkylated benzene product in said hydrocarbon fraction. Also described is a catalyst composition useful in the method, comprising a mixture of (i) a metal-loaded zeolite catalyst catalytically active for converting said alcohol to said hydrocarbon, and (ii) a benzene alkylation catalyst, in which (i) and (ii) may be in a mixed or separated state. A reactor for housing the catalyst and conducting the reaction is also described. | 09-11-2014 |
20140255717 | SINTERED SILVER JOINTS VIA CONTROLLED TOPOGRAPHY OF ELECTRONIC PACKAGING SUBCOMPONENTS - Disclosed are sintered silver bonded electronic package subcomponents and methods for making the same. Embodiments of the sintered silver bonded EPSs include topography modification of one or more metal surfaces of semiconductor devices bonded together by the sintered silver joint. The sintered silver bonded EPSs include a first semiconductor device having a first metal surface, the first metal surface having a modified topography that has been chemically etched, grit blasted, uniaxial ground and/or grid sliced connected to a second semiconductor device which may also include a first metal surface with a modified topography, a silver plating layer on the first metal surface of the first semiconductor device and a silver plating layer on the first metal surface of the second semiconductor device and a sintered silver joint between the silver plating layers of the first and second semiconductor devices which bonds the first semiconductor device to the second semiconductor device. | 09-11-2014 |
20140246587 | ADAPTORS FOR RADIATION DETECTORS - Described herein are adaptors and other devices for radiation detectors that can be used to make accurate spectral measurements of both small and large bulk sources of radioactivity, such as building structures, soils, vessels, large equipment, and liquid bodies. Some exemplary devices comprise an adaptor for a radiation detector, wherein the adaptor can be configured to collimate radiation passing through the adapter from an external radiation source to the radiation detector and the adaptor can be configured to enclose a radiation source within the adapter to allow the radiation detector to measure radiation emitted from the enclosed radiation source. | 09-04-2014 |
20140238155 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR LASER ASSISTED SAMPLE TRANSFER TO SOLUTION FOR CHEMICAL ANALYSIS - Systems and methods are described for laser ablation of an analyte from a specimen and capturing of the analyte in a dispensed solvent to form a testing solution. A solvent dispensing and extraction system can form a liquid microjunction with the specimen. The solvent dispensing and extraction system can include a surface sampling probe. The laser beam can be directed through the surface sampling probe. The surface sampling probe can also serve as an atomic force microscopy probe. The surface sampling probe can form a seal with the specimen. The testing solution including the analyte can then be analyzed using an analytical instrument or undergo further processing. | 08-28-2014 |
20140220724 | METHODS FOR PRODUCING COMPLEX FILMS, AND FILMS PRODUCED THEREBY - A method for producing a film, the method comprising melting a layer of precursor particles on a substrate until at least a portion of the melted particles are planarized and merged to produce the film. The invention is also directed to a method for producing a photovoltaic film, the method comprising depositing particles having a photovoltaic or other property onto a substrate, and affixing the particles to the substrate, wherein the particles may or may not be subsequently melted. Also described herein are films produced by these methods, methods for producing a patterned film on a substrate, and methods for producing a multilayer structure. | 08-07-2014 |
20140220248 | APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR THE SURFACE TREATMENT OF CARBON FIBERS - A method for surface treating a carbon-containing material in which carbon-containing material is reacted with decomposing ozone in a reactor (e.g., a hollow tube reactor), wherein a concentration of ozone is maintained throughout the reactor by appropriate selection of at least processing temperature, gas stream flow rate, reactor dimensions, ozone concentration entering the reactor, and position of one or more ozone inlets (ports) in the reactor, wherein the method produces a surface-oxidized carbon or carbon-containing material, preferably having a surface atomic oxygen content of at least 15%. The resulting surface-oxidized carbon material and solid composites made therefrom are also described. | 08-07-2014 |
20140216177 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR FORMATION AND WITHDRAWAL OF A SAMPLE FROM A SURFACE TO BE ANALYZED - A method and system for formation and withdrawal of a sample from a surface to be analyzed utilizes a collection instrument having a port through which a liquid solution is conducted onto the surface to be analyzed. The port is positioned adjacent the surface to be analyzed, and the liquid solution is conducted onto the surface through the port so that the liquid solution conducted onto the surface interacts with material comprising the surface. An amount of material is thereafter withdrawn from the surface. Pressure control can be utilized to manipulate the solution balance at the surface to thereby control the withdrawal of the amount of material from the surface. Furthermore, such pressure control can be coordinated with the movement of the surface relative to the port of the collection instrument within the X-Y plane. | 08-07-2014 |
20140213793 | METHODS FOR THE SYNTHESIS OF DEUTERATED VINYL PYRIDINE MONOMERS - Methods for synthesizing deuterated vinylpyridine compounds of the Formula (1), wherein the method includes: (i) deuterating an acyl pyridine of the Formula (2) in the presence of a metal catalyst and D | 07-31-2014 |
20140206539 | PLANT GROWTH PROMOTING RHIZOBACTERIUM - This disclosure presents the | 07-24-2014 |
20140205676 | METHOD OF TISSUE REPAIR USING A COMPOSITE MATERIAL - A composite biocompatible hydrogel material includes a porous polymer matrix, the polymer matrix including a plurality of pores and providing a Young's modulus of at least 10 GPa. A calcium comprising salt is disposed in at least some of the pores. The porous polymer matrix can comprise cellulose, including bacterial cellulose. The composite can be used as a bone graft material. A method of tissue repair within the body of animals includes the steps of providing a composite biocompatible hydrogel material including a porous polymer matrix, the polymer matrix including a plurality of pores and providing a Young's modulus of at least 10 GPa, and inserting the hydrogel material into cartilage or bone tissue of an animal, wherein the hydrogel material supports cell colonization in vitro for autologous cell seeding. | 07-24-2014 |
20140205577 | Treatment of Cardiovascular Disorders Using the Cell Differentiation Signaling Protein Nell1 - It has been identified in accordance with the present invention that Nell1 is essential for normal cardiovascular development by promoting proper formation of the heart and blood vessels. The present invention therefore provides therapeutic methods for treating cardiovascular disorders by employing a Nell1 protein or nucleic acid molecule. | 07-24-2014 |
20140205511 | SYSTEM TO CONTINUOUSLY PRODUCE CARBON FIBER VIA MICROWAVE ASSISTED PLASMA PROCESSING - A method for continuously processing carbon fiber including establishing a microwave plasma in a selected atmosphere contained in an elongated chamber having a microwave power gradient along its length defined by a lower microwave power at one end and a higher microwave power at the opposite end of the elongated chamber. The elongated chamber having an opening in each of the ends of the chamber that are adapted to allow the passage of the fiber tow while limiting incidental gas flow into or out of said chamber. A continuous fiber tow is introduced into the end of the chamber having the lower microwave power. The fiber tow is withdrawn from the opposite end of the chamber having the higher microwave power. The fiber to is subjected to progressively higher microwave energy as the fiber is being traversed through the elongated chamber. | 07-24-2014 |
20140203942 | SMART SMOKE ALARM - Methods and apparatus for smoke detection are disclosed. In one embodiment, a smoke detector uses linear discriminant analysis (LDA) to determine whether observed conditions indicate that an alarm is warranted. | 07-24-2014 |
20140202833 | Mitigated-Force Carriage for High Magnetic Field Environments - A carriage for high magnetic field environments includes a plurality of work-piece separators disposed in an operable relationship with a work-piece processing magnet having a magnetic field strength of at least 1 Tesla for supporting and separating a plurality of work-pieces by a preselected, essentially equal spacing, so that, as a first work-piece is inserted into the magnetic field, a second work-piece is simultaneously withdrawn from the magnetic field, so that an attractive magnetic force imparted on the first work-piece offsets a resistive magnetic force imparted on the second work-piece. | 07-24-2014 |
20140178602 | PULSE THERMAL PROCESSING OF SOLID STATE LITHIUM ION BATTERY CATHODES - A method of making a cathode for a battery includes the steps of depositing a precursor cathode film having a first crystallinity profile. The precursor cathode film is annealed by irradiating the precursor cathode film with from 1 to 100 photonic pulses having a wavelength of from 200 nm to 1600 nm, a pulse duration of from 0.01 μs and 5000 μs and a pulse frequency of from 1 nHz to 100 Hz. The photonic pulses are continued until the precursor cathode film has recrystallized from the first crystallinity profile to a second crystallinity profile. | 06-26-2014 |
20140163693 | REMOTE ACTUATED VALVE IMPLANT - Valve implant systems positionable within a flow passage, the systems having an inlet, an outlet, and a remotely activatable valve between the inlet and outlet, with the valves being operable to provide intermittent occlusion of the flow path. A remote field is applied to provide thermal or magnetic activation of the valves. | 06-12-2014 |
20140159824 | Orthogonally referenced integrated ensemble for navigation and timing - An orthogonally referenced integrated ensemble for navigation and timing includes a dual-polyhedral oscillator array, including an outer sensing array of oscillators and an inner clock array of oscillators situated inside the outer sensing array. The outer sensing array includes a first pair of sensing oscillators situated along a first axis of the outer sensing array, a second pair of sensing oscillators situated along a second axis of the outer sensing array, and a third pair of sensing oscillators situated along a third axis of the outer sensing array. The inner clock array of oscillators includes a first pair of clock oscillators situated along a first axis of the inner clock array, a second pair of clock oscillators situated along a second axis of the inner clock array, and a third pair of clock oscillators situated along a third axis of the inner clock array. | 06-12-2014 |
20140155522 | DURABLE SUPERHYDROPHOBIC COATINGS - A superhydrophobic coating including a plurality of particles and a resin. The particles covalently bond to the resin and the resin does not fill the pores of the superhydrophobic particles such that the three dimensional surface topology of the superhydrophobic particles is preserved. | 06-05-2014 |
20140147371 | CARBONATION OF METAL SILICATES FOR LONG-TERM CO2 SEQUESTRATION - In a preferred embodiment, the invention relates to a process of sequestering carbon dioxide. The process comprises the steps of: (a) reacting a metal silicate with a caustic alkali-metal hydroxide to produce a hydroxide of the metal formerly contained in the silicate; (b) reacting carbon dioxide with at least one of a caustic alkali-metal hydroxide and an alkali-metal silicate to produce at least one of an alkali-metal carbonate and an alkali-metal bicarbonate; and (c) reacting the metal hydroxide product of step (a) with at least one of the alkali-metal carbonate and the alkali-metal bicarbonate produced in step (b) to produce a carbonate of the metal formerly contained in the metal silicate of step (a). | 05-29-2014 |
20140142255 | ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE PLASMA PROCESSING OF POLYMERIC MATERIALS UTILIZING CLOSE PROXIMITY INDIRECT EXPOSURE - A plasma treatment method that includes providing treatment chamber including an intermediate heating volume and an interior treatment volume. The interior treatment volume contains an electrode assembly for generating a plasma and the intermediate heating volume heats the interior treatment volume. A work piece is traversed through the treatment chamber. A process gas is introduced to the interior treatment volume of the treatment chamber. A plasma is formed with the electrode assembly from the process gas, wherein a reactive species of the plasma is accelerated towards the fiber tow by flow vortices produced in the interior treatment volume by the electrode assembly. | 05-22-2014 |
20140141328 | NITROGEN-SULFUR-CARBON NANOCOMPOSITES AND THEIR APPLICATION AS CATHODE MATERIALS IN LITHIUM-SULFUR BATTERIES - The invention is directed in a first aspect to electron-conducting porous compositions comprising an organic polymer matrix doped with nitrogen atoms and having elemental sulfur dispersed therein, particularly such compositions having an ordered framework structure. The invention is also directed to composites of such S/N-doped electron-conducting porous aromatic framework (PAF) compositions, or composites of an S/N-doped mesoporous carbon composition, which includes the S/N-doped composition in admixture with a binder, and optionally, conductive carbon. The invention is further directed to cathodes for a lithium-sulfur battery in which such composites are incorporated. | 05-22-2014 |
20140134451 | IN-SITU COMPOSITE FORMATION OF DAMAGE TOLERANT COATINGS UTILIZING LASER - A coating steel component with a pattern of an iron based matrix with crystalline particles metallurgically bound to the surface of a steel substrate for use as disc cutters or other components with one or more abrading surfaces that can experience significant abrasive wear, high point loads, and large shear stresses during use. The coated component contains a pattern of features in the shape of freckles or stripes that are laser formed and fused to the steel substrate. The features can display an inner core that is harder than the steel substrate but generally softer than the matrix surrounding the core, providing toughness and wear resistance to the features. The features result from processing an amorphous alloy where the resulting matrix can be amorphous, partially devitrified or fully devitrified. | 05-15-2014 |
20140123348 | HIGH THROUGHOUT REPRODUCIBLE CANTILEVER FUNCTIONALIZATION - A method for functionalizing cantilevers is provided that includes providing a holder having a plurality of channels each having a width for accepting a cantilever probe and a plurality of probes. A plurality of cantilever probes are fastened to the plurality of channels of the holder by the spring clips. The wells of a well plate are filled with a functionalization solution, wherein adjacent wells in the well plate are separated by a dimension that is substantially equal to a dimension separating adjacent channels of the plurality of channels. Each cantilever probe that is fastened within the plurality of channels of the holder is applied to the functionalization solution that is contained in the wells of the well plate. | 05-01-2014 |
20140116944 | SUPER-SURFACE SELECTIVE NANOMEMBRANES PROVIDING SIMULTANEOUS HIGH PERMEATION FLUX AND HIGH SELECTIVITY - Superhydrophobic membrane structures having a beneficial combination of throughput and a selectivity. Methods of making and using the membrane structures. | 05-01-2014 |
20140113202 | ELECTROLYTE COMPOSITIONS FOR LITHIUM ION BATTERIES - The invention is directed in a first aspect to an ionic liquid of the general formula Y | 04-24-2014 |
20140113062 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IN-SITU DRYING INVESTIGATION AND OPTIMIZATION OF SLURRY DRYING METHODOLOGY - A method of drying casted slurries that includes calculating drying conditions from an experimental model for a cast slurry and forming a cast film. An infrared heating probe is positioned on one side of the casted slurry and a thermal probe is positioned on an opposing side of the casted slurry. The infrared heating probe may control the temperature of the casted slurry during drying. The casted slurry may be observed with an optical microscope, while applying the drying conditions from the experimental model. Observing the casted slurry includes detecting the incidence of micro-structural changes in the casted slurry during drying to determine if the drying conditions from the experimental model are optimal. | 04-24-2014 |
20140108089 | CYBERSPACE SECURITY SYSTEM FOR COMPLEX SYSTEMS - A computer implemented method monetizes the security of a cyber-system in terms of losses each stakeholder may expect to lose if a security break down occurs. A non-transitory media stores instructions for generating a stake structure that includes costs that each stakeholder of a system would lose if the system failed to meet security requirements and generating a requirement structure that includes probabilities of failing requirements when computer components fails. The system generates a vulnerability model that includes probabilities of a component failing given threats materializing and generates a perpetrator model that includes probabilities of threats materializing. The system generates a dot product of the stakes structure, the requirement structure, the vulnerability model and the perpetrator model. The system can further be used to compare, contrast and evaluate alternative courses of actions best suited for the stakeholders and their requirements. | 04-17-2014 |
20140106215 | HIGH ENERGY DENSITY SECONDARY LITHIUM BATTERIES - A lithium ion battery includes a positive electrode comprising carbon fibers, a binder composition with conductive carbon, and a lithium rich composition. The lithium rich composition comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of Li | 04-17-2014 |
20140106186 | LIPON COATINGS FOR HIGH VOLTAGE AND HIGH TEMPERATURE Li-ION BATTERY CATHODES - A lithium ion battery includes an anode and a cathode. The cathode includes a lithium, manganese, nickel, and oxygen containing compound. An electrolyte is disposed between the anode and the cathode. A protective layer is deposited between the cathode and the electrolyte. The protective layer includes pure lithium phosphorus oxynitride and variations that include metal dopants such as Fe, Ti, Ni, V, Cr, Cu, and Co. A method for making a cathode and a method for operating a battery are also disclosed. | 04-17-2014 |
20140104601 | IMAGING BASED REFRACTOMETERS - Refractometers for simultaneously measuring refractive index of a sample over a range of wavelengths of light include dispersive and focusing optical systems. An optical beam including the range of wavelengths is spectrally spread along a first axis and focused along a second axis so as to be incident to an interface between the sample and a prism at a range of angles of incidence including a critical angle for at least one wavelength. In some cases, the prism can have a triangle, parallelogram, trapezoid, or other shape. In some cases, the optical beam can be reflected off of multiple interfaces between the prism and the sample. An imaging detector is situated to receive the spectrally spread and focused light from the interface and form an image corresponding to angle of incidence as a function of wavelength. One or more critical angles are identified and corresponding refractive indices are determined. | 04-17-2014 |
20140100404 | ZEOLITIC CATALYTIC CONVERSION OF ALCOHOLS TO HYDROCARBONS - A method for converting an alcohol to a hydrocarbon, the method comprising contacting said alcohol with a metal-loaded zeolite catalyst at a temperature of at least 100° C. and up to 550° C., wherein said alcohol can be produced by a fermentation process, said metal is a positively-charged metal ion, and said metal-loaded zeolite catalyst is catalytically active for converting said alcohol to said hydrocarbon. | 04-10-2014 |
20140099560 | MESOPOROUS METAL OXIDE MICROSPHERE ELECTRODE COMPOSITIONS AND THEIR METHODS OF MAKING - Compositions and methods of making are provided for treated mesoporous metal oxide microspheres electrodes. The compositions comprise (a) microspheres with an average diameter between 200 nanometers (nm) and 10 micrometers (μm); (b) mesopores on the surface and interior of the microspheres, wherein the mesopores have an average diameter between 1 nm and 50 nm and the microspheres have a surface area between 50 m | 04-10-2014 |
20140099559 | COATING COMPOSITIONS FOR ELECTRODE COMPOSITIONS AND THEIR METHODS OF MAKING - Compositions and methods of making are provided for coated electrodes and batteries comprising the same. The compositions may comprise a base composition having an active material selected from the group consisting of LiCoO | 04-10-2014 |
20140099547 | SURFACE MODIFICATIONS FOR ELECTRODE COMPOSITIONS AND THEIR METHODS OF MAKING - Compositions and methods of making are provided for surface modified electrodes and batteries comprising the same. The compositions may comprise a base composition having an active material capable of intercalating the metal ions during a discharge cycle and deintercalating the metal ions during a charge cycle, wherein the active material is selected from the group consisting of LiCoO | 04-10-2014 |
20140097792 | ELECTRIC VEHICLE RECHARGING AND OR SUPPLYING ELECTRICAL POWER - An electrical vehicle system recharges and sources electrical power in an electric vehicle. The electrical vehicle system includes a first drive and second drive unit electrically connected to a direct current bus. A converting circuit is serially connected to the first drive unit and the second drive unit and is electrically connected to a high voltage energy source and a low voltage energy source. The converting circuit electrically connects the high voltage energy source and the low voltage energy source through an inductive connection. | 04-10-2014 |
20140096624 | BALL ASSISTED DEVICE FOR ANALYTICAL SURFACE SAMPLING - A system for sampling a surface includes a sampling probe having a housing and a socket, and a rolling sampling sphere within the socket. The housing has a sampling fluid supply conduit and a sampling fluid exhaust conduit. The sampling fluid supply conduit supplies sampling fluid to the sampling sphere. The sampling fluid exhaust conduit has an inlet opening for receiving sampling fluid carried from the surface by the sampling sphere. A surface sampling probe and a method for sampling a surface are also disclosed. | 04-10-2014 |
20140094540 | SUPERHYDROPHOBIC POWDER COATINGS - A superhydrophobic coating, comprises a superhydrophobic powder with superhydrophobic particles having a three dimensional nanostructured surface topology defining pores, and a resin. The superhydrophobic particles are embedded within the resin and the resin does not fill the pores of the superhydrophobic particles such that the three dimensional surface topology of the superhydrophobic particles is preserved. A precursor powder for a superhydrophobic coating and a method for applying a superhydrophobic coating to a surface are also disclosed. | 04-03-2014 |
20140093572 | ACTIVE MATERIALS FOR PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF FOULED SURFACES - A method, composition and structure to treat fouling. In one embodiment, the method of treating fouling includes providing a structure including a first component of a base material and a second component of an energetically activated nanostructure, and applying a stimuli to the structure that effectuates an increase or decrease in the temperature of the energetically activated nanostructure. The increase or decrease in the temperature of the energetically activated nanostructure modifies the chemical and/or mechanical properties of the base material. The modifications to the chemical and/or mechanical properties of the base material obstruct fouling of the structure. | 04-03-2014 |
20140090751 | Hf-Co-B Alloys as Permanent Magnet Materials - An alloy composition is composed essentially of Hf | 04-03-2014 |
20140090617 | MITIGATING THE EFFECT OF SILOXANES ON INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES USING LANDFILL GASSES - A waste gas combustion method that includes providing a combustible fuel source, in which the combustible fuel source is composed of at least methane and siloxane gas. A sodium source or magnesium source is mixed with the combustible fuel source. Combustion of the siloxane gas of the combustible fuel source produces a silicon containing product. The sodium source or magnesium source reacts with the silicon containing product to provide a sodium containing glass or sodium containing silicate, or a magnesium containing silicate. By producing the sodium containing glass or sodium containing silicate, or the magnesium containing silicate, or magnesium source for precipitating particulate silica instead of hard coating, the method may reduce or eliminate the formation of silica deposits within the combustion chamber and the exhaust components of the internal combustion engine. | 04-03-2014 |
20140090578 | Method of Making Superhydrophobic/Superoleophilic Paints, Epoxies, and Composites - Superhydrophobic paints and epoxies comprising superoleophilic particles and surfaces and methods of making the same are described. The superoleophilic particles can include porous particles having a hydrophobic coating layer deposited thereon. superoleophilic particles. | 04-03-2014 |
20140080009 | LITHIUM SULFIDE COMPOSITIONS FOR BATTERY ELECTROLYTE AND BATTERY ELECTRODE COATINGS - Method of forming lithium-containing electrolytes are provided using wet chemical synthesis. In some examples, the lithium containing electrolytes are composed of β-Li | 03-20-2014 |
20140072485 | METHODS FOR SEPARATING MEDICAL ISOTOPES USING IONIC LIQUIDS - A method for extracting a radioisotope from an aqueous solution, the method comprising: a) intimately mixing a non-chelating ionic liquid with the aqueous solution to transfer at least a portion of said radioisotope to said non-chelating ionic liquid; and b) separating the non-chelating ionic liquid from the aqueous solution. In preferred embodiments, the method achieves an extraction efficiency of at least 80%, or a separation factor of at least 1×10 | 03-13-2014 |
20140065487 | FORMING GAS TREATMENT OF LITHIUM ION BATTERY ANODE GRAPHITE POWDERS - The invention provides a method of making a battery anode in which a quantity of graphite powder is provided. The temperature of the graphite powder is raised from a starting temperature to a first temperature between 1000 and 2000° C. during a first heating period. The graphite powder is then cooled to a final temperature during a cool down period. The graphite powder is contacted with a forming gas during at least one of the first heating period and the cool down period. The forming gas includes H | 03-06-2014 |
20140065368 | SUPERHYDROPHOBIC FILMS AND METHODS FOR MAKING SUPERHYDROPHOBIC FILMS - This disclosure relates to methods that include depositing a first component and a second component to form a film including a plurality of nanostructures, and coating the nanostructures with a hydrophobic layer to render the film superhydrophobic. The first component and the second component can be immiscible and phase-separated during the depositing step. The first component and the second component can be independently selected from the group consisting of a metal oxide, a metal nitride, a metal oxynitride, a metal, and combinations thereof. The films can have a thickness greater than or equal to 5 nm; an average surface roughness (Ra) of from 90 to 120 nm, as measured on a 5 μm×5 μm area; a surface area of at least 20 m | 03-06-2014 |
20140065290 | COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS OF USE FOR DETECTION AND IMAGING OF PRINTS BY SURFACE-ENHANCED SPECTROSCOPIC TECHNIQUES - The present invention relates to a print detection composition comprising nanoparticles having an aerogel metal oxide core covered by a layer of zerovalent noble metal, and optionally, a fluorescent organic dye, wherein the fluorescent organic dye is within an interacting distance of the plasmon resonance field of the layer of zerovalent noble metal. The invention is also directed to surface-enhanced spectroscopic methods for imaging a latent print, particularly a latent fingerprint, by use of the print detection composition. | 03-06-2014 |
20140058424 | NOVEL MICROFABRICATED INSTRUMENTS AND METHODS TO TREAT RECURRENT CORNEAL EROSIONS - In one embodiment, the present invention provides a device and method for treating recurrent corneal erosion. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of contacting an epithelium layer of a cornea with an array of glass micro-rods including a plurality of sharp features having a length that penetrates a Bowman's layer of the eye, wherein the plurality of sharp features of the array of glass micro-rods produces a plurality of punctures in the Bowman's layer of the eye that are of micro-scale or less. In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method and device for drug delivery. In one embodiment, the device includes an array of glass micro-rods, wherein at least one glass micro-rod of the array of glass micro-rods includes a sharp feature opposite a base of the array of glass micro-rods, wherein the sharp feature includes a treated surface for delivering a chemical compound to the eye. | 02-27-2014 |
20140048705 | MASS INDEPENDENT KINETIC ENERGY REDUCING INLET SYSTEM FOR VACUUM ENVIRONMENT - A particle inlet system comprises a first chamber having a limiting orifice for an incoming gas stream and a micrometer controlled expansion slit. Lateral components of the momentum of the particles are substantially cancelled due to symmetry of the configuration once the laminar flow converges at the expansion slit. The particles and flow into a second chamber, which is maintained at a lower pressure than the first chamber, and then moves into a third chamber including multipole guides for electromagnetically confining the particle. The vertical momentum of the particles descending through the center of the third chamber is minimized as an upward stream of gases reduces the downward momentum of the particles. The translational kinetic energy of the particles is near-zero irrespective of the mass of the particles at an exit opening of the third chamber, which may be advantageously employed to provide enhanced mass resolution in mass spectrometry. | 02-20-2014 |
20140045996 | LIGNIN-DERIVED THERMOPLASTIC CO-POLYMERS AND METHODS OF PREPARATION - The present invention relates to a crosslinked lignin comprising a lignin structure having methylene or ethylene linking groups therein crosslinking between phenyl ring carbon atoms, wherein said crosslinked lignin is crosslinked to an extent that it has a number-average molecular weight of at least 10,000 g/mol, is melt-processible, and has either a glass transition temperature of at least 100° C., or is substantially soluble in a polar organic solvent or aqueous alkaline solution. Thermoplastic copolymers containing the crosslinked lignin are also described. Methods for producing the crosslinked lignin and thermoplastic copolymers are also described. | 02-13-2014 |
20140043609 | METHOD FOR USING POLARIZATION GATING TO MEASURE A SCATTERING SAMPLE - Described herein are systems, devices, and methods facilitating optical characterization of scattering samples. A polarized optical beam can be directed to pass through a sample to be tested. The optical beam exiting the sample can then be analyzed to determine its degree of polarization, from which other properties of the sample can be determined. In some cases, an apparatus can include a source of an optical beam, an input polarizer, a sample, an output polarizer, and a photodetector. In some cases, a signal from a photodetector can be processed through attenuation, variable offset, and variable gain. | 02-13-2014 |
20140042373 | TRANSPARENT CONDUCTIVE NANO-COMPOSITES - The present invention, in one embodiment, provides a method of forming an organic electric device that includes providing a plurality of carbon nanostructures; and dispersing the plurality of carbon nanostructures in a polymeric matrix to provide a polymeric composite, wherein when the plurality of carbon nanostructures are present at a first concentration an interface of the plurality of carbon nanostructures and the polymeric matrix is characterized by charge transport when an external energy is applied, and when the plurality of carbon nanostructures are present at a second concentration the interface of the plurality of carbon nanostructures and the polymeric matrix are characterized by exciton dissociation when an external energy is applied, wherein the first concentration is less than the second concentration. | 02-13-2014 |
20140041031 | STATISTICAL FINGERPRINTING FOR MALWARE DETECTION AND CLASSIFICATION - A system detects malware in a computing architecture with an unknown pedigree. The system includes a first computing device having a known pedigree and operating free of malware. The first computing device executes a series of instrumented functions that, when executed, provide a statistical baseline that is representative of the time it takes the software application to run on a computing device having a known pedigree. A second computing device executes a second series of instrumented functions that, when executed, provides an actual time that is representative of the time the known software application runs on the second computing device. The system detects malware when there is a difference in execution times between the first and the second computing devices. | 02-06-2014 |
20140038034 | LIGNIN-BASED ACTIVE ANODE MATERIALS SYNTHESIZED FROM LOW-COST RENEWABLE RESOURCES - A method of making an anode includes the steps of providing fibers from a carbonaceous precursor, the carbon fibers having a glass transition temperature T | 02-06-2014 |
20140032539 | METHOD AND SYSTEM TO DISCOVER AND RECOMMEND INTERESTING DOCUMENTS - Disclosed are several examples of systems that can read millions of news feeds per day about topics (e.g., your customers, competitors, markets, and partners), and provide a small set of the most relevant items to read to keep current with the overwhelming amount of information currently available. Topics of interest can be chosen by the user of the system for use as seeds. The seeds can be vectorized and compared with the target documents to determine their similarity. The similarities can be sorted from highest to lowest so that the most similar seed and target documents are at the top of the list. This output can be produced in XML format so that an RSS Reader can format the XML. This allows for easy Internet access to these recommendations. | 01-30-2014 |
20140030182 | CARBON FILMS PRODUCED FROM IONIC LIQUID CARBON PRECURSORS - The invention is directed to a method for producing a film of porous carbon, the method comprising carbonizing a film of an ionic liquid, wherein the ionic liquid has the general formula (X | 01-30-2014 |
20140024836 | METHODS FOR THE SYNTHESIS OF DEUTERATED VINYL PYRIDINE MONOMERS - Methods for synthesizing deuterated vinylpyridine compounds of the Formula (1), wherein the method includes: (i) deuterating an acyl pyridine of the Formula (2) in the presence of a metal catalyst and D | 01-23-2014 |
20140023116 | CARBON NANOTUBE TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE SENSORS - The present invention, in one embodiment, provides a method of measuring pressure or temperature using a sensor including a sensor element composed of a plurality of carbon nanotubes. In one example, the resistance of the plurality of carbon nanotubes is measured in response to the application of temperature or pressure. The changes in resistance are then recorded and correlated to temperature or pressure. In one embodiment, the present invention provides for independent measurement of pressure or temperature using the sensors disclosed herein. | 01-23-2014 |
20140021809 | RELUCTANCE MOTOR - Some exemplary reluctance motors disclosed herein comprise a rotor having a plurality of radially outwardly projecting rotor poles and a plurality of generally U-shaped stator units positioned circumferentially around the rotor. Each stator unit is spaced circumferentially apart and magnetically isolated from adjacent stator units. Each stator unit comprises a circumferentially extending yoke and two stator poles extending radially inwardly from the yoke, such that the stator poles are positioned adjacent to the rotor poles. The motor further comprises a plurality of coils of electrical conductors, wherein each of the coils is coiled around a respective one of the yokes of the stator units. In some embodiments, non-magnetic stator supports are positioned between the stator units and configured to engage circumferential sides of the stator units to hold the stator units in radial and circumferential alignment with the rotor. | 01-23-2014 |
20140020797 | MAGNETIC FIELD ANNEALING FOR IMPROVED CREEP RESISTANCE - The method provides heat-resistant chromia- or alumina-forming Fe-, Fe(Ni), Ni(Fe), or Ni-based alloys having improved creep resistance. A precursor is provided containing preselected constituents of a chromia- or alumina-forming Fe-, Fe(Ni), Ni(Fe), or Ni-based alloy, at least one of the constituents for forming a nanoscale precipitate MaXb where M is Cr, Nb, Ti, V, Zr, or Hf, individually and in combination, and X is C, N, O, B, individually and in combination, a=1 to 23 and b=1 to 6. The precursor is annealed at a temperature of 1000-1500° C. for 1-48 h in the presence of a magnetic field of at least 5 Tesla to enhance supersaturation of the M | 01-23-2014 |
20140020474 | CARBON NANOTUBE TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE SENSORS - The present invention, in one embodiment, provides a method of measuring pressure or temperature using a sensor including a sensor element composed of a plurality of carbon nanotubes. In one example, the resistance of the plurality of carbon nanotubes is measured in response to the application of temperature or pressure. The changes in resistance are then recorded and correlated to temperature or pressure. In one embodiment, the present invention provides for independent measurement of pressure or temperature using the sensors disclosed herein. | 01-23-2014 |
20140020471 | CARBON NANOTUBE TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE SENSORS - The present invention, in one embodiment, provides a method of measuring pressure or temperature using a sensor including a sensor element composed of a plurality of carbon nanotubes. In one example, the resistance of the plurality of carbon nanotubes is measured in response to the application of temperature or pressure. The changes in resistance are then recorded and correlated to temperature or pressure. In one embodiment, the present invention provides for independent measurement of pressure or temperature using the sensors disclosed herein. | 01-23-2014 |
20140020141 | MODE-SYNTHESIZING ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPY AND MODE-SYNTHESIZING SENSING - A method of analyzing a sample that includes applying a first set of energies at a first set of frequencies to a sample and applying, simultaneously with the applying the first set of energies, a second set of energies at a second set of frequencies, wherein the first set of energies and the second set of energies form a multi-mode coupling. The method further includes detecting an effect of the multi-mode coupling. | 01-16-2014 |
20140016671 | CARBON NANOTUBE TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE SENSORS - The present invention, in one embodiment, provides a method of measuring pressure or temperature using a sensor including a sensor element composed of a plurality of carbon nanotubes. In one example, the resistance of the plurality of carbon nanotubes is measured in response to the application of temperature or pressure. The changes in resistance are then recorded and correlated to temperature or pressure. In one embodiment, the present invention provides for independent measurement of pressure or temperature using the sensors disclosed herein. | 01-16-2014 |
20140013862 | Wearable Ground Reaction Force Foot Sensor - Disclosed are several examples of a ground reaction force sensor for an article having an upper force plate for contacting the article, a lower force plate for contacting the ground, a vertical load cell disposed between the plates for measuring the force acting on the cell in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the surface, a horizontal load cell disposed between the plates for measuring the force acting on the cell in a direction that is substantially parallel to the surface, and with the load cells being mounted between the plates in a configuration that is substantially insensitive to off-axis forces imposed on them for improved load cell measurement accuracies. Various other features and benefits are provided. | 01-16-2014 |
20140008564 | MAGNETIC FILTRATION PROCESS, MAGNETIC FILTERING MATERIAL, AND METHODS OF FORMING MAGNETIC FILTERING MATERIAL - The present invention provides magnetically responsive activated carbon, and a method of forming magnetically responsive activated carbon. The method of forming magnetically responsive activated carbon typically includes providing activated carbon in a solution containing ions of ferrite forming elements, wherein at least one of the ferrite forming elements has an oxidation state of +3 and at least a second of the ferrite forming elements has an oxidation state of +2, and increasing pH of the solution to precipitate particles of ferrite that bond to the activated carbon, wherein the activated carbon having the ferrite particles bonded thereto have a positive magnetic susceptibility. The present invention also provides a method of filtering waste water using magnetic activated carbon. | 01-09-2014 |
20140008559 | MESOFLUIDIC DIGITAL VALVE - A mesofluidic scale digital valve includes a valve body including a bore aligned along a longitudinal axis, a solenoid disposed substantially adjacent to the valve body and extending along the longitudinal axis, a poppet carried within the bore and configured to translate a fixed distance in response to a magnetic field generated by the solenoid, an orifice carried within valve body and configured to cooperate with the poppet in response to the magnetic field generated by the solenoid, and a bias element carried within the valve body and configured to encourage the poppet to engage the orifice to form a seal. | 01-09-2014 |
20140003466 | SINGLE-CONTACT TUNNELING THERMOMETRY | 01-02-2014 |
20130340125 | BAND EXCITATION METHOD APPLICABLE TO SCANNING PROBE MICROSCOPY - Scanning probe microscopy may include a method for generating a band excitation (BE) signal and simultaneously exciting a probe at a plurality of frequencies within a predetermined frequency band based on the excitation signal. A response of the probe is measured across a subset of frequencies of the predetermined frequency band and the excitation signal is adjusted based on the measured response. | 12-19-2013 |
20130338389 | IONIC LIQUIDS FOR SEPARATION OF OLEFIN-PARAFFIN MIXTURES - The invention is directed to an ionic liquid comprising (i) a cationic portion containing a complex of a silver (I) ion and one or more neutral ligands selected from organoamides, organoamines, olefins, and organonitriles, and (ii) an anionic portion having the chemical formula | 12-19-2013 |
20130331949 | FREEFORM FLUIDICS - A robotic, prosthetic or orthotic member includes a body formed of a solidified metallic powder. At least one working fluid cylinder is formed in the body. A piston is provided in the working fluid cylinder for pressurizing a fluid in the cylinder. At least one working fluid conduit receives the pressurized fluid from the cylinder. The body, working fluid cylinder and working fluid conduit have a unitary construction. A method of making a robotic member is also disclosed. | 12-12-2013 |
20130330464 | METHOD OF MAKING SELF-CLEANING SKIN-LIKE PROSTHETIC POLYMER SURFACES - An external covering and method of making an external covering for hiding the internal endoskeleton of a mechanical (e.g., prosthetic) device that exhibits skin-like qualities is provided. The external covering generally comprises an internal bulk layer in contact with the endoskeleton of the prosthetic device and an external skin layer disposed about the internal bulk layer. The external skin layer is comprised of a polymer composite with carbon nanotubes embedded therein. The outer surface of the skin layer has multiple cone-shaped projections that provide the external skin layer with superhydrophobicity. The carbon nanotubes are preferably vertically aligned between the inner surface and outer surface of the external skin layer in order to provide the skin layer with the ability to transmit heat. Superhydrophobic powders may optionally be used as part of the polymer composite or applied as a coating to the surface of the skin layer to enhance superhydrophobicity. | 12-12-2013 |
20130328239 | METHOD OF MAKING SELF-CLEANING SKIN-LIKE PROSTHETIC POLYMER SURFACES - An external covering and method of making an external covering for hiding the internal endoskeleton of a mechanical (e.g., prosthetic) device that exhibits skin-like qualities is provided. The external covering generally comprises an internal bulk layer in contact with the endoskeleton of the prosthetic device and an external skin layer disposed about the internal bulk layer. The external skin layer is comprised of a polymer composite with carbon nanotubes embedded therein. The outer surface of the skin layer has multiple cone-shaped projections that provide the external skin layer with superhydrophobicity. The carbon nanotubes are preferably vertically aligned between the inner surface and outer surface of the external skin layer in order to provide the skin layer with the ability to transmit heat. Superhydrophobic powders may optionally be used as part of the polymer composite or applied as a coating to the surface of the skin layer to enhance superhydrophobicity. | 12-12-2013 |
20130325858 | PERSONALIZED PROFESSIONAL CONTENT RECOMMENDATION - A personalized content recommendation system includes a client interface configured to automatically monitor a user's information data stream transmitted on the Internet. A hybrid contextual behavioral and collaborative personal interest inference engine resident to a non-transient media generates automatic predictions about the interests of individual users of the system. A database server retains the user's personal interest profile based on a plurality of monitored information. The system also includes a server programmed to filter items in an incoming information stream with the personal interest profile and is further programmed to identify only those items of the incoming information stream that substantially match the personal interest profile. | 12-05-2013 |
20130325704 | SOCIAL MEDIA AND SOCIAL NETWORKS FOR EVENT CREDENTIALING - Event management includes enrolling prospective participants by associating each participant with a profile. The profile includes the participant's attributes which are vetted automatically or by social networking means. A token is assigned to each profile which enables access to the profiles. An event is created and associated with event access control rules which correspond to various attributes. Access to the event involves scanning the token, accessing a participant's profile and testing attributes in the profile relative to the access control rules. The token can be re-used at different events having different access control rules. | 12-05-2013 |
20130320940 | POWER FLOW CONTROL USING DISTRIBUTED SATURABLE REACTORS - A magnetic amplifier includes a saturable core having a plurality of legs. Control windings wound around separate legs are spaced apart from each other and connected in series in an anti-symmetric relation. The control windings are configured in such a way that a biasing magnetic flux arising from a control current flowing through one of the plurality of control windings is substantially equal to the biasing magnetic flux flowing into a second of the plurality of control windings. The flow of the control current through each of the plurality of control windings changes the reactance of the saturable core reactor by driving those portions of the saturable core that convey the biasing magnetic flux in the saturable core into saturation. The phasing of the control winding limits a voltage induced in the plurality of control windings caused by a magnetic flux passing around a portion of the saturable core. | 12-05-2013 |
20130319950 | SELECTIVE OXOANION SEPARATION USING A TRIPODAL LIGAND - The present invention relates to urea-functionalized crystalline capsules self-assembled by sodium or potassium cation coordination and by hydrogen-bonding water bridges to selectively encapsulate tetrahedral divalent oxoanions from highly competitive aqueous alkaline solutions and methods using this system for selective anion separations from industrial solutions. The method involves competitive crystallizations using a tripodal tris(urea) functionalized ligand and, in particular, provides a viable approach to sulfate separation from nuclear wastes. | 12-05-2013 |
20130317628 | SELF-ALIGNING PROSTHESIS WITH HYDRAULIC ACTUATORS - A hydraulic device includes a first plate that pivots in a first direction, a second plate that pivots in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, a first hydraulic system comprising a first cylinder and piston, a second cylinder and piston and, channels connecting the first cylinder to the second cylinder, the first hydraulic system filled with hydraulic fluid, wherein the transfer of fluid between the first cylinder and second cylinder pivots the first plate, and a second hydraulic system comprising a third cylinder and piston, a fourth cylinder and piston and, channels connecting the third cylinder to the fourth cylinder, the second hydraulic system filled with hydraulic fluid, wherein the transfer of fluid between the third cylinder and fourth cylinder pivots the second plate. | 11-28-2013 |
20130310861 | RETINAL INSTRUMENT - In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of removing scar tissue from an eye that includes inserting a device including an array of micro-rods into an eye, wherein at least one glass micro-rod of the array of glass micro-rods includes a sharp feature; contacting a scar tissue with the array of micro-rods; and removing the array of micro-rods and the scar tissue from the eye. In another embodiment, the present invention provides a medical device for engaging a tissue including and an array of glass micro-rods, wherein at least one glass micro-rod of the array of glass micro-rods includes a sharp feature opposite a base of the array of glass micro-rods that is connected to the cannula, wherein the sharp feature of the at least one micro-rod is angled from a plane that is normal to a face of the base of the array of glass micro-rods. | 11-21-2013 |
20130298364 | CLAD FIBER CAPACITOR AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME - A clad capacitor and method of manufacture includes assembling a preform comprising a ductile, electrically conductive fiber; a ductile, electrically insulating cladding positioned on the fiber; and a ductile, electrically conductive sleeve positioned over the cladding. One or more preforms are then bundled, heated and drawn along a longitudinal axis to decrease the diameter of the ductile components of the preform and fuse the preform into a unitized strand. | 11-14-2013 |
20130295469 | LITHIUM SULFIDE COMPOSITIONS FOR BATTERY ELECTROLYTE AND BATTERY ELECTRODE COATINGS - Method of forming lithium-containing electrolytes are provided using wet chemical synthesis. In some examples, the lithium containing electrolytes are composed of β-Li | 11-07-2013 |
20130294966 | Nano-Composite Stainless Steel - A composite stainless steel composition is composed essentially of, in terms of wt. % ranges: 25 to 28 Cr; 11 to 13 Ni; 7 to 8 W; 3.5 to 4 Mo; 3 to 3.5 B; 2 to 2.5 Mn; 1 to 1.5 Si; 0.3 to 1.7 C; up to 2 0; balance Fe. The composition has an austenitic matrix phase and a particulate, crystalline dispersed phase. | 11-07-2013 |
20130283893 | SENSOR SYSTEM FOR FUEL TRANSPORT VEHICLE - An exemplary sensor system for a fuel transport vehicle can comprise a fuel marker sensor positioned between a fuel storage chamber of the vehicle and an access valve for the fuel storage chamber of the vehicle. The fuel marker sensor can be configured to measure one or more characteristics of one or more fuel markers present in the fuel adjacent the sensor, such as when the marked fuel is unloaded at a retail station. The one or more characteristics can comprise concentration and/or identity of the one or more fuel markers in the fuel. Based on the measured characteristics of the one or more fuel markers, the sensor system can identify the fuel and/or can determine whether the fuel has been adulterated after the marked fuel was last measured, such as when the marked fuel was loaded into the vehicle. | 10-31-2013 |
20130270919 | ABOVE RESONANCE FREQUENCY OPERATION FOR WIRELESS POWER TRANSFER - A wireless power transmission system includes a primary circuit and a secondary circuit, which are coupled through coupling coils. The primary circuit includes an alternating current (AC) power supply source that provides an alternating current signal through a series connection of a primary capacitor and a primary coil. The secondary circuit includes a parallel connection of a secondary coil, a secondary capacitor, and a load. The resonance frequency f | 10-17-2013 |
20130266477 | Alumina Forming Iron Base Superalloy - An austenitic stainless steel alloy, consists essentially of, in weight percent 2.5 to 4 Al; 25 to 35 Ni; 12 to 19 Cr; at least 1, up to 4 total of at least one element selected from the group consisting of Nb and Ta; 0.5 to 3 Ti; less than 0.5 V; 0.1 to 1 of at least on element selected from the group consisting of Zr and Hf; 0.03 to 0.2 C; 0.005 to 0.1 B; and base Fe. The weight percent Fe is greater than the weight percent Ni. The alloy forms an external continuous scale including alumina, and contains coherent precipitates of γ′—Ni | 10-10-2013 |
20130264747 | SELF-ASSEMBLY PATTERNING OF ORGANIC MOLECULES ON A SURFACE - The embodiments disclosed herein include all-electron control over a chemical attachment and the subsequent self-assembly of an organic molecule into a well-ordered three-dimensional monolayer on a metal surface. The ordering or assembly of the organic molecule may be through electron excitation. Hot-electron and hot-hole excitation enables tethering of the organic molecule to a metal substrate, such as an alkyne group to a gold surface. All-electron reactions may allow a direct control over the size and shape of the self-assembly, defect structures and the reverse process of molecular disassembly from single molecular level to mesoscopic scale. | 10-10-2013 |
20130256561 | PULSE AMPLITUDE MODULATED CHLOROPHYLL FLUOROMETER - Chlorophyll fluorometry may be used for detecting toxins in a sample because of changes in micro algae. A portable lab on a chip (“LOAC”) based chlorophyll fluorometer may be used for toxin detection and environmental monitoring. In particular, the system may include a microfluidic pulse amplitude modulated (“PAM”) chlorophyll fluorometer. The LOAC PAM chlorophyll fluorometer may analyze microalgae and cyanobacteria that grow naturally in source drinking water. | 10-03-2013 |
20130254217 | RECOMMENDING PERSONALLY INTERESTED CONTENTS BY TEXT MINING, FILTERING, AND INTERFACES - A personalized content recommendation system includes a client interface device configured to monitor a user's information data stream. A collaborative filter remote from the client interface device generates automated predictions about the interests of the user. A database server stores personal behavioral profiles and user's preferences based on a plurality of monitored past behaviors and an output of the collaborative user personal interest inference engine. A programmed personal content recommendation server filters items in an incoming information stream with the personal behavioral profile and identifies only those items of the incoming information stream that substantially matches the personal behavioral profile. The identified personally relevant content is then recommended to the user following some priority that may consider the similarity between the personal interest matches, the context of the user information consumption behaviors that may be shown by the user's content consumption mode. | 09-26-2013 |
20130244099 | SOLID LITHIUM ION CONDUCTING ELECTROLYTES AND METHODS OF PREPARATION - A composition comprised of nanoparticles of lithium ion conducting solid oxide material, wherein the solid oxide material is comprised of lithium ions, and at least one type of metal ion selected from pentavalent metal ions and trivalent lanthanide metal ions. Solution methods useful for synthesizing these solid oxide materials, as well as precursor solutions and components thereof, are also described. The solid oxide materials are incorporated as electrolytes into lithium ion batteries. | 09-19-2013 |
20130242115 | IMAGING BASED REFRACTOMETER FOR HYPERSPECTRAL REFRACTIVE INDEX DETECTION - Refractometers for simultaneously measuring refractive index of a sample over a range of wavelengths of light include dispersive and focusing optical systems. An optical beam including the range of wavelengths is spectrally spread along a first axis and focused along a second axis so as to be incident to an interface between the sample and a prism at a range of angles of incidence including a critical angle for at least one wavelength. An imaging detector is situated to receive the spectrally spread and focused light from the interface and form an image corresponding to angle of incidence as a function of wavelength. One or more critical angles are identified and corresponding refractive indices are determined. | 09-19-2013 |
20130241389 | VACUUM FIELD EMISSION DEVICES AND METHODS OF MAKING SAME - A field emission device includes a substrate and a plurality of wires embedded in the substrate. The plurality of wires has at least a field emitter cathode wire; a control grid wire array; and a collector anode array. The field emitter cathode wire, control grid wire array, and collector anode array are embedded in and extend through a nonconductive substrate matrix. A method for making a vacuum field emission device is also disclosed. | 09-19-2013 |
20130240242 | ELECTRICALLY ISOLATED, HIGH MELTING POINT, METAL WIRE ARRAYS AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME - A method of making a wire array includes the step of providing a tube of a sealing material and having an interior surface, and positioning a wire in the tube, the wire having an exterior surface. The tube is heated to soften the tube, and the softened tube is drawn and collapsed by a mild vacuum to bring the interior surface of the tube into contact with the wire to create a coated wire. The coated wires are bundled. The bundled coated wires are heated under vacuum to fuse the tube material coating the wires and create a fused rod with a wire array embedded therein. The fused rod is cut to form a wire array. A wire array is also disclosed. | 09-19-2013 |
20130233038 | BIOCHAR PRODUCTION METHOD AND COMPOSITION THEREFROM - The invention is directed to a method for producing an oxygenated biochar material possessing a cation-exchanging property, wherein a biochar source is reacted with one or more oxygenating compounds in such a manner that the biochar source homogeneously acquires oxygen-containing cation-exchanging groups in an incomplete combustion process. The invention is also directed to oxygenated biochar compositions and soil formulations containing the oxygenated biochar material. | 09-12-2013 |
20130224470 | METHOD OF IMPROVING ADHESION OF CARBON FIBERS WITH A POLYMERIC MATRIX - A functionalized carbon fiber having covalently bound on its surface a partially cured epoxy or amine-containing sizing agent, wherein at least a portion of epoxide or amine groups in the sizing agent are available as uncrosslinked epoxide or amine groups, which corresponds to a curing degree of epoxide or amine groups of no more than about 0.6. Composites comprised of these functionalized carbon fibers embedded in a polymeric matrix are also described. Methods for producing the functionalized carbon fibers and composites thereof are also described. | 08-29-2013 |
20130224082 | Hydrothermally Stable, Low-Temperature NOx Reduction NH3-SCR Catalyst - A catalyst composition includes a heterobimetallic zeolite characterized by a chabazite structure loaded with copper ions and at least one trivalent metal ion other than Al | 08-29-2013 |
20130214591 | WIRELESS POWER CHARGING USING POINT OF LOAD CONTROLLED HIGH FREQUENCY POWER CONVERTERS - An apparatus for wirelessly charging a battery of an electric vehicle is provided with a point of load control. The apparatus includes a base unit for generating a direct current (DC) voltage. The base unit is regulated by a power level controller. One or more point of load converters can be connected to the base unit by a conductor, with each point of load converter comprising a control signal generator that transmits a signal to the power level controller. The output power level of the DC voltage provided by the base unit is controlled by power level controller such that the power level is sufficient to power all active load converters when commanded to do so by any of the active controllers, without generating excessive power that may be otherwise wasted. | 08-22-2013 |
20130214442 | METHOD FOR PRODUCTION OF CARBON NANOFIBER MAT OR CARBON PAPER - Method for the preparation of a non-woven mat or paper made of carbon fibers, the method comprising carbonizing a non-woven mat or paper preform (precursor) comprised of a plurality of bonded sulfonated polyolefin fibers to produce said non-woven mat or paper made of carbon fibers. The preforms and resulting non-woven mat or paper made of carbon fiber, as well as articles and devices containing them, and methods for their use, are also described. | 08-22-2013 |
20130213263 | Band Gap Tuning in Transition Metal Oxides by Site-Specific Substitution - A transition metal oxide insulator composition having a tuned band gap includes a transition metal oxide having a perovskite or a perovskite-like crystalline structure. The transition metal oxide includes at least one first element selected from the group of Bi, Ca, Ba, Sr, Li, Na, Mg, K, Pb, and Pr; and at least one second element selected from the group of Ti, Al, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ru, Rh, Pd, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Os, Ir, and Pt. At least one correlated insulator is integrated into the crystalline structure, including REMO | 08-22-2013 |
20130210649 | PLATFORM FOR IMMOBILIZATION AND OBSERVATION OF SUBCELLULAR PROCESSES - A method of immobilizing matter for imaging that includes providing an array of nanofibers and directing matter to the array of the nanofibers. The matter is immobilized when contacting at least three nanofibers of the array of nanofibers simultaneously. Adjacent nanofibers in the array of nanofibers may be separated by a pitch as great as 100 microns. The immobilized matter on the array of nanofibers may then be imaged. In some examples, the matter may be cell matter, such as protoplasts. | 08-15-2013 |
20130210610 | METHOD OF PREPARING PRECIOUS METAL NITRIDE NANOPARTICLE COMPOSITIONS - A method of preparing a precious metal nitride nanoparticle composition, includes the step of ionizing nitrogen in the gas phase to create an active nitrogen species as a plasma. An atomic metal species of the precious metal is provided in the gas phase. The active nitrogen species in the gas phase is contacted with the atomic metal species of the precious metal in the gas phase to form a precious metal nitride. The precious metal nitride is deposited on the support. Precious metal nanoparticle compositions are also disclosed. | 08-15-2013 |
20130210071 | CONSOLIDATED BIOPROCESSING METHOD USING THERMOPHILIC MICROORGANISMS - The present invention is directed to a method of converting biomass to biofuel, and particularly to a consolidated bioproces sing method using a co-culture of thermophilic and extremely thermophilic microorganisms which collectively can ferment the hexose and pentose sugars produced by degradation of cellulose and hemicelluloses at high substrate conversion rates. A culture medium therefor is also provided as well as use of the methods to produce and recover cellulosic ethanol. | 08-15-2013 |
20130209897 | MESOPOROUS METAL OXIDE MICROSPHERE ELECTRODE COMPOSITIONS AND THEIR METHODS OF MAKING - Compositions and methods of making are provided for mesoporous metal oxide microspheres electrodes. The mesoporous metal oxide microsphere compositions comprise (a) microspheres with an average diameter between 200 nanometers (nm) and 10 micrometers (μm); (b) mesopores on the surface and interior of the microspheres, wherein the mesopores have an average diameter between 1 nm and 50 nm and the microspheres have a surface area between 50 m | 08-15-2013 |
20130205911 | REVERSAL BENDING FATIGUE TESTING - Embodiments for apparatuses for testing reversal bending fatigue in an elongated beam are disclosed. Embodiments are configured to be coupled to first and second end portions of the beam and to apply a bending moment to the beam and create a pure bending condition in an intermediate portion of the beam. Embodiments are further configured to cyclically alternate the direction of the bending moment applied to the beam such that the intermediate portion of the beam cyclically bends in opposite directions in a pure bending condition. | 08-15-2013 |
20130196155 | APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR THE SURFACE TREATMENT OF CARBON FIBERS - A method for surface treating a carbon-containing material in which carbon-containing material is reacted with decomposing ozone in a reactor (e.g., a hollow tube reactor), wherein a concentration of ozone is maintained throughout the reactor by appropriate selection of at least processing temperature, gas stream flow rate, reactor dimensions, ozone concentration entering the reactor, and position of one or more ozone inlets (ports) in the reactor, wherein the method produces a surface-oxidized carbon or carbon-containing material, preferably having a surface atomic oxygen content of at least 15%. The resulting surface-oxidized carbon material and solid composites made therefrom are also described. | 08-01-2013 |
20130195708 | Metal-Bonded Graphite Foam Composites - A metal-bonded graphite foam composite includes a ductile metal continuous phase and a dispersed phase that includes graphite foam particles. | 08-01-2013 |
20130192870 | Ultra High Performance Connectors for Power Transmission Applications - Disclosed are several examples of an apparatus for connecting the free ends of two electrical power transmission lines having conductor strands disposed around a central, reinforcing core. The examples include an inner sleeve having a body defining an inner bore passing through an axially-extending, central axis, an outer rim surface disposed radially outward from the central bore, and one or more axially-extending grooves penetrating the body at the outer rim surface. Also included is an outer splice having a tubular shaped body with a bore passing coaxially through the central axis, the bore defining an inner rim surface for accepting the inner sleeve. The inner bore of the inner sleeve accepts the reinforcement cores of the two conductors, and the grooves accept the conductor strands in an overlapping configuration so that a majority of the electrical current flows between the overlapped conductor strands when the conductors are transmitting electrical current. | 08-01-2013 |
20130186269 | MEMBRANE BASED APPARATUS FOR MEASUREMENT OF VOLATILE PARTICLES - A vapor particle separator including a temperature controlled chamber for desorbing vapors from the particulates of an exhaust gas and a separation chamber including a micro porous membrane. The micro porous membrane provides an interface between at least one particle passageway and at least one vapor passageway through the separation chamber. The particle passageway extends from an entrance to the separation chamber to a particle exit from the separation chamber. The vapor passageway extends from the micro-porous membrane to a vapor exit from the separation chamber that is separate from the particle exit from the separation chamber. | 07-25-2013 |
20130185009 | HIGH SPEED HIGH DYNAMIC RANGE HIGH ACCURACY MEASUREMENT SYSTEM - A measuring system includes an input that emulates a bandpass filter with no signal reflections. A directional coupler connected to the input passes the filtered input to electrically isolated measuring circuits. Each of the measuring circuits includes an amplifier that amplifies the signal through logarithmic functions. The output of the measuring system is an accurate high dynamic range measurement. | 07-18-2013 |
20130183511 | MESOPOROUS CARBON MATERIALS - A conductive mesoporous carbon composite comprising conductive carbon nanoparticles contained within a mesoporous carbon matrix, wherein the conductive mesoporous carbon composite possesses at least a portion of mesopores having a pore size of at least 10 nm and up to 50 nm, and wherein the mesopores are either within the mesoporous carbon matrix, or are spacings delineated by surfaces of said conductive carbon nanoparticles when said conductive carbon nanoparticles are fused with each other, or both. Methods for producing the above-described composite, devices incorporating them (e.g., lithium batteries), and methods of using them, are also described. | 07-18-2013 |
20130174968 | HIGH QUALITY LARGE SCALE SINGLE AND MULTILAYER GRAPHENE PRODUCTION BY CHEMICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION - Systems and methods for synthesizing continuous graphene sheets are provided. The systems and methods include passing a catalyst substrate through a heated chemical vapor deposition chamber and exposing the substrate to a reaction gas mixture of hydrogen and hydrocarbon at a preselected location within the chamber. The reaction gas mixture can include hydrogen having a partial pressure of between about 0 Torr and 20 Torr, hydrocarbon having a partial pressure of between about 20 mTorr and about 10 Torr, and one or more buffer gases. The buffer gases can include argon or other noble gases to maintain atmospheric pressure within the chemical deposition chamber. The resulting graphene can be made with continuous mono and multilayers (up to six layers) and have single crystalline hexagonal grains with a preselected nucleation density and domain size for a range of applications. | 07-11-2013 |
20130157008 | ANTI-FINGERPRINT COATINGS - An article having a nanostructured surface and a method of making the same are described. The article can include a substrate and a nanostructured layer bonded to the substrate. The nanostructured layer can include a plurality of spaced apart nanostructured features comprising a contiguous, protrusive material and the nanostructured features can be sufficiently small that the nanostructured layer is optically transparent. A continuous layer can be adhered to a plurality of surfaces of the nanostructured features to render the plurality of surfaces of the nanostructured features both hydrophobic and oleophobic with respect to fingerprint oil comprising eccrine secretions and sebaceous secretions, thereby providing an anti-fingerprinting characteristic to the article. | 06-20-2013 |
20130146469 | Low Temperature Electrolytes for Solid Oxide Cells Having High Ionic Conductivity - Some embodiments of the present invention provide solid oxide cells and components thereof having a metal oxide electrolyte that exhibits enhanced ionic conductivity. Certain of those embodiments have two materials, at least one of which is a metal oxide, disposed so that at least some interfaces between the domains of the materials orient in a direction substantially parallel to the desired ionic conductivity. | 06-13-2013 |
20130141172 | Orthogonally Referenced Integrated Ensemble for Navigation and Timing - An orthogonally referenced integrated ensemble for navigation and timing includes a dual-polyhedral oscillator array, including an outer sensing array of oscillators and an inner clock array of oscillators situated inside the outer sensing array. The outer sensing array includes a first pair of sensing oscillators situated along a first axis of the outer sensing array, a second pair of sensing oscillators situated along a second axis of the outer sensing array, and a third pair of sensing oscillators situated along a third axis of the outer sensing array. The inner clock array of oscillators includes a first pair of clock oscillators situated along a first axis of the inner clock array, a second pair of clock oscillators situated along a second axis of the inner clock array, and a third pair of clock oscillators situated along a third axis of the inner clock array. | 06-06-2013 |
20130129920 | ROBUST CARBON MONOLITH HAVING HIERARCHICAL POROSITY - A carbon monolith includes a robust carbon monolith characterized by a skeleton size of at least 100 nm, and a hierarchical pore structure having macropores and mesopores. | 05-23-2013 |
20130124574 | SCENARIO DRIVEN DATA MODELLING: A METHOD FOR INTEGRATING DIVERSE SOURCES OF DATA AND DATA STREAMS - A system and method of integrating diverse sources of data and data streams is presented. The method can include selecting a scenario based on a topic, creating a multi-relational directed graph based on the scenario, identifying and converting resources in accordance with the scenario and updating the multi-directed graph based on the resources, identifying data feeds in accordance with the scenario and updating the multi-directed graph based on the data feeds, identifying analytical routines in accordance with the scenario and updating the multi-directed graph using the analytical routines and identifying data outputs in accordance with the scenario and defining queries to produce the data outputs from the multi-directed graph. | 05-16-2013 |
20130119296 | Methods for Providing Surface Treatments in a Magnetic Field - The invention relates to methods for creating metal oxide coatings on one or more surfaces employing a magnetic field, and articles containing those coatings. Such methods involve contacting the surfaces to be treated with a metal compound, and converting the metal compound to metal oxide for example by heating the surfaces to the desired temperature in the presence of a magnetic field. The magnetic field dramatically improves, in some embodiments, the characteristics of the metal oxide coating. | 05-16-2013 |
20130116383 | LIGNIN-DERIVED THERMOPLASTIC CO-POLYMERS AND METHODS OF PREPARATION - The present invention relates to a crosslinked lignin comprising a lignin structure having methylene or ethylene linking groups therein crosslinking between phenyl ring carbon atoms, wherein said crosslinked lignin is crosslinked to an extent that it has a number-average molecular weight of at least 10,000 g/mol, is melt-processible, and has either a glass transition temperature of at least 100° C., or is substantially soluble in a polar organic solvent or aqueous alkaline solution. Thermoplastic copolymers containing the crosslinked lignin are also described. Methods for producing the crosslinked lignin and thermoplastic copolymers are also described. | 05-09-2013 |
20130115413 | FABRICATION AND USE OF ELEVATED OPTICAL NANOANTENNAS - A nanostructure including a pair of pointed metallic tips in proximity to each other. The pair of pointed metallic tips protrudes from a planar top surface of a substrate by a pair of pillar structures. The pair of pointed metallic tips can enhance optical scattering of materials placed therebetween through plasmonic electromagnetic field effects induced by the proximity of the pair of pointed metallic tips. Perturbation or interference from the substrate can be minimized through the increased distance from the substrate. The pair of pointed metallic tips can be formed by patterning a pair of adhesion material portions on a substrate, by vertically and laterally recessing regions that are not covered by the adhesion material portions, and by depositing a metal on the pair of adhesion material portions. | 05-09-2013 |
20130111636 | NON-LINEAR INTERACTION IMAGING AND SPECTROSCOPY | 05-02-2013 |
20130108776 | AQUEOUS PROCESSING OF COMPOSITE LITHIUM ION ELECTRODE MATERIAL | 05-02-2013 |
20130108502 | Multi-Component Solid Solution Alloys having High Mixing Entropy | 05-02-2013 |
20130102475 | Composite Biaxially Textured Substrates Using Ultrasonic Consolidation - A method of forming a composite sheet includes disposing an untextured metal or alloy first sheet in contact with a second sheet in an aligned opposing position; bonding the first sheet to the second sheet by applying an oscillating ultrasonic force to at least one of the first sheet and the second sheet to form an untextured intermediate composite sheet; and annealing the untextured intermediate composite sheet at a temperature lower than a primary re-crystallization temperature of the second sheet and higher than a primary re-crystallization temperature of the first sheet to convert the untextured first sheet into a cube textured sheet, wherein the cube texture is characterized by a φ-scan having a FWHM of no more than 15° in all directions, the second sheet remaining untextured, to form a composite sheet. | 04-25-2013 |
20130096987 | CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT FOR ENERGY EFFICIENT COMMUNITIES - An analytic system includes a communication interface that connects to a client device. A front-end cluster acquires user billing and consumption data from one or more utility database machines and acquires geographic information system data. A geocoding server converts selected data rendered by the front-end cluster into geographic coordinates. The front-end cluster is configured to render comparisons of a user's utility usage to peer group usages. | 04-18-2013 |
20130091086 | GRAPH-THEORETIC ANALYSIS OF DISCRETE-PHASE-SPACE STATES FOR CONDITION CHANGE DETECTION AND QUANTIFICATION OF INFORMATION - Data collected from devices and human condition may be used to forewarn of critical events such as machine/structural failure or events from brain/heart wave data stroke. By monitoring the data, and determining what values are indicative of a failure forewarning, one can provide adequate notice of the impending failure in order to take preventive measures. This disclosure teaches a computer-based method to convert dynamical numeric data representing physical objects (unstructured data) into discrete-phase-space states, and hence into a graph (structured data) for extraction of condition change. | 04-11-2013 |
20130089401 | Mitigated-Force Carriage for High Magnetic Field Environments - A carriage for high magnetic field environments includes a first work-piece holding means for holding a first work-piece, the first work-piece holding means being disposed in an operable relationship with a work-piece processing magnet having a magnetic field strength of at least 1 Tesla. The first work-piece holding means is further disposed in operable connection with a second work-piece holding means for holding a second work-piece so that, as the first work-piece is inserted into the magnetic field, the second work-piece is simultaneously withdrawn from the magnetic field, so that an attractive magnetic force imparted on the first work-piece offsets a resistive magnetic force imparted on the second work-piece. | 04-11-2013 |
20130084455 | METHOD FOR THE PREPARATION OF CARBON FIBER FROM POLYOLEFIN FIBER PRECURSOR, AND CARBON FIBERS MADE THEREBY - Methods for the preparation of carbon fiber from polyolefin fiber precursor, wherein the polyolefin fiber precursor is partially sulfonated and then carbonized to produce carbon fiber. Methods for producing hollow carbon fibers, wherein the hollow core is circular- or complex-shaped, are also described. Methods for producing carbon fibers possessing a circular- or complex-shaped outer surface, which may be solid or hollow, are also described. | 04-04-2013 |
20130081679 | MULTIJUNCTION HYBRID SOLAR CELL INCORPORATING VERTICALLY-ALIGNED SILICON NANOWIRES WITH THIN FILMS - A low-cost method is provided for forming a photovoltaic device, which is a high-performance nanostructured multijunction cell. The multiple P-N junctions or P-I-N junctions are contiguously joined to form a single contiguous P-N junction or a single contiguous P-I-N junction. The photovoltaic device integrates vertically-aligned semiconductor nanowires including a doped semiconductor material with a thin silicon layer having an opposite type of doping. This novel hybrid cell can provide a higher efficiency than conventional photovoltaic devices through the combination of the enhanced photon absorptance, reduced contact resistance, and short carrier transport paths in the nanowires. Room temperature processes or low temperature processes such as plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) and electrochemical processes can be employed for fabrication of this photovoltaic device in a low-cost, scalable, and energy-efficient manner. | 04-04-2013 |
20130079554 | METHODS FOR THE SYNTHESIS OF DEUTERATED ACRYLATE SALTS - A method for synthesizing a deuterated acrylate of the Formula (1), the method comprising: (i) deuterating a propiolate compound of Formula (2) to a methyne-deuterated propiolate compound of Formula (3) in the presence of a base and D | 03-28-2013 |
20130078691 | Microorganisms Having Enhanced Resistance To Acetate And Related Compositions And Methods of Use - The present invention provides isolated or genetically modified strains of microorganisms that display enhanced resistance to acetate as a result of increased expression of a sodium proton antiporter. The present invention also provides methods for producing such microbial strains, as well as related promoter sequences and expression vectors. Further, the present invention provides methods of producing alcohol from biomass materials by using microorganisms with enhanced resistance to acetate. | 03-28-2013 |
20130077728 | STORAGE, TRANSPORTATION AND DISPOSAL SYSTEM FOR USED NUCLEAR FUEL ASSEMBLIES - An integrated storage, transportation and disposal system for used fuel assemblies is provided. The system includes a plurality of sealed canisters and a cask sized to receive the sealed canisters in side by side relationship. The plurality of sealed canisters include an internal basket structure to receive a plurality of used fuel assemblies. The internal basket structure includes a plurality of radiation-absorbing panels and a plurality of hemispherical ribs generally perpendicular to the canister sidewall. The sealed canisters are received within the cask for storage and transportation and are removed from the cask for disposal at a designated repository. The system of the present invention allows the handling of sealed canisters separately or collectively, while allowing storage and transportation of high burnup fuel and damaged fuel to the designated repository. | 03-28-2013 |
20130075631 | ADAPTORS FOR RADIATION DETECTORS - Described herein are adaptors and other devices for radiation detectors that can be used to make accurate spectral measurements of both small and large bulk sources of radioactivity, such as building structures, soils, vessels, large equipment, and liquid bodies. Some exemplary devices comprise an adaptor for a radiation detector, wherein the adaptor can be configured to collimate radiation passing through the adapter from an external radiation source to the radiation detector and the adaptor can be configured to enclose a radiation source within the adapter to allow the radiation detector to measure radiation emitted from the enclosed radiation source. | 03-28-2013 |
20130071659 | FIBER-BASED ADSORBENTS HAVING HIGH ADSORPTION CAPACITIES FOR RECOVERING DISSOLVED METALS AND METHODS THEREOF - A fiber-based adsorbent and a related method of manufacture are provided. The fiber-based adsorbent includes polymer fibers with grafted side chains and an increased surface area per unit weight over known fibers to increase the adsorption of dissolved metals, for example uranium, from aqueous solutions. The polymer fibers include a circular morphology in some embodiments, having a mean diameter of less than 15 microns, optionally less than about 1 micron. In other embodiments, the polymer fibers include a non-circular morphology, optionally defining multiple gear-shaped, winged-shaped or lobe-shaped projections along the length of the polymer fibers. A method for forming the fiber-based adsorbents includes irradiating high surface area polymer fibers, grafting with polymerizable reactive monomers, reacting the grafted fibers with hydroxylamine, and conditioning with an alkaline solution. High surface area fiber-based adsorbents formed according to the present method demonstrated a significantly improved uranium adsorption capacity per unit weight over existing adsorbents. | 03-21-2013 |
20130061503 | COOLING OF WEAPONS WITH GRAPHITE FOAM - Disclosed are examples of an apparatus for cooling a barrel | 03-14-2013 |
20130042948 | Decorative Steel Composition Having a Textured Cyrstalline Surface - A decorative steel article having a textured crystalline surface includes a steel alloy, single crystal or large, macroscopic grained crystal body. The steel alloy includes iron and at least one element selected from the group of nickel and chromium. The steel article has a surface characterized by a decorative, macroscopic, martensitic phase surface feature. The decorative steel article is suitable for sundry applications where an enhanced visual appearance is desirable. | 02-21-2013 |
20130031944 | Method of Forming Magnesium Alloy Sheets - A machine for asymmetric rolling of a work-piece includes pair of rollers disposed in an arrangement to apply opposing, asymmetric rolling forces to roll a work-piece therebetween, wherein a surface of the work-piece is rolled faster than an opposite surface of the work-piece; and an exit constraint die rigidly disposed adjacent an exit side of the pair of rollers so that, as the work-piece exits the pair of rollers, the work-piece contacts the exit constraint die to constrain curling of the work-piece. | 02-07-2013 |
20130026387 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRAPPING AND MEASURING A CHARGED PARTICLE IN A LIQUID - A system and method for trapping a charged particle is disclosed. A time-varying periodic multipole electric potential is generated in a trapping volume. A charged particle under the influence of the multipole electric field is confined to the trapping volume. A three electrode configuration giving rise to a 3D Paul trap and a four planar electrode configuration giving rise to a 2D Paul trap are disclosed. | 01-31-2013 |
20130024059 | WIRELESS POWER TRANSFER ELECTRIC VEHICLE SUPPLY EQUIPMENT INSTALLATION AND VALIDATION TOOL - A non-contacting position sensing apparatus includes at least one vehicle-mounted receiver coil that is configured to detect a net flux null when the vehicle is optimally aligned relative to the primary coil in the charging device. Each of the at least one vehicle-mounted receiver coil includes a clockwise winding loop and a counterclockwise winding loop that are substantially symmetrically configured and serially connected to each other. When the non-contacting positing sensing apparatus is located directly above the primary coil of the charging device, the electromotive forces from the clockwise winding loop and the counterclockwise region cancel out to provide a zero electromotive force, i.e., a zero voltage reading across the coil that includes the clockwise winding loop and the counterclockwise winding loop. | 01-24-2013 |
20130023959 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING ISCHEMIC DISEASES - The present invention relates to the treatment of ischemic diseases, and more particularly, to treatment of diabetic retinopathy and ischemia of the retinal and choroidal tissues. The treatment, which will work in vitrectomized eyes as well as non-vitrectomized eyes, is based on selective and fractional electrolysis of the vitreous humor to produce oxygen and optionally active chlorine while simultaneously controlling pH. Oxygen or active chlorine can suppress or reverse the onset of diabetic retinopathy, other retinovascular diseases, and choroidal neovascularization. | 01-24-2013 |
20130021168 | WIRELESS POWER TRANSFER ELECTRIC VEHICLE SUPPLY EQUIPMENT INSTALLATION AND VALIDATION TOOL - A transmit pad inspection device includes a magnetic coupling device, which includes an inductive circuit that is configured to magnetically couple to a primary circuit of a charging device in a transmit pad through an alternating current (AC) magnetic field. The inductive circuit functions as a secondary circuit for a set of magnetically coupled coils. The magnetic coupling device further includes a rectification circuit, and includes a controllable load bank or is configured to be connected to an external controllable load back. The transmit pad inspection device is configured to determine the efficiency of power transfer under various coupling conditions. In addition, the transmit pad inspection device can be configured to measure residual magnetic field and the frequency of the input current, and to determine whether the charging device has been installed properly. | 01-24-2013 |
20130020877 | GRAPHENE-COATED COUPLING COIL FOR AC RESISTANCE REDUCTION - At least one graphene layer is formed to laterally surround a tube so that the basal plane of each graphene layer is tangential to the local surface of the tube on which the graphene layer is formed. An electrically conductive path is provided around the tube for providing high conductivity electrical path provided by the basal plane of each graphene layer. The high conductivity path can be employed for high frequency applications such as coupling coils for wireless power transmission to overcome skin depth effects and proximity effects prevalent in high frequency alternating current paths. | 01-24-2013 |
20130020862 | REGULATION CONTROL AND ENERGY MANAGEMENT SCHEME FOR WIRELESS POWER TRANSFER - Power transfer rate at a charging facility can be maximized by employing a feedback scheme. The state of charge (SOC) and temperature of the regenerative energy storage system (RESS) pack of a vehicle is monitored to determine the load due to the RESS pack. An optimal frequency that cancels the imaginary component of the input impedance for the output signal from a grid converter is calculated from the load of the RESS pack, and a frequency offset f* is made to the nominal frequency f | 01-24-2013 |
20120329112 | Microorganisms Having Enhanced Tolerance To Inhibitors and Stress - The present invention provides genetically modified strains of microorganisms that display enhanced tolerance to stress and/or inhibitors such as sodium acetate and vanillin. The enhanced tolerance can be achieved by increasing the expression of a protein of the Sm-like superfamily such as a bacterial Hfq protein and a fungal Sm or Lsm protein. Further, the present invention provides methods of producing alcohol from biomass materials by using the genetically modified microorganisms of the present invention. | 12-27-2012 |
20120322332 | ADVANCED OXIDATION METHOD FOR PRODUCING HIGH-DENSITY OXIDIZED POLYACRYLONITRILE FIBERS - Method for producing an oxidized PAN fiber (OPF) wherein a PAN fiber is subjected to an oxidation process in which reactive oxidizing species are maintained in close enough proximity to the PAN fiber during the oxidation process such that a core of the PAN fiber is converted to a crosslinked thermoset morphology before an oxidized shell of the PAN fiber becomes thick enough to substantially inhibit penetration of the reactive oxidizing species into the core. The resulting OPF possesses a density greater than 1.35 g/cm | 12-20-2012 |
20120322162 | GENERATION OF MONODISPERSE DROPLETS BY SHAPE-INDUCED SHEAR AND INTERFACIAL CONTROLLED FUSION OF INDIVIDUAL DROPLETS ON-DEMAND - A microfluidic device for generation of monodisperse droplets and initiating a chemical reaction is provided. The microfluidic device includes a first input microchannel having a first dimension and including a first phase located therein. The device also includes a second input microchannel having a second dimension and including a second phase located therein. In accordance with the present disclosure, the second dimension is different from the first dimension and the first phase is immiscible in the second phase. A microchannel junction is also present and is in communication with the first input microchannel and the second input microchannel. The device further includes an output channel in communication with the microchannel junction and set to receive a monodisperse droplet. In the present disclosure, the difference in the first dimension and the second dimension creates an interfacial tension induced force at the microchannel junction which forms the monodisperse droplet. | 12-20-2012 |
20120321841 | ARRAY OF ALIGNED AND DISPERSED CARBON NANOTUBES AND METHOD OF PRODUCING THE ARRAY - An array of aligned and dispersed carbon nanotubes includes an elongate drawn body including a plurality of channels extending therethrough from a first end to a second end of the body, where the channels have a number density of at least about 100,000 channels/mm | 12-20-2012 |
20120318993 | HIGH SPATIAL RESOLUTION PARTICLE DETECTORS - Disclosed below are representative embodiments of methods, apparatus, and systems for detecting particles, such as radiation or charged particles. One exemplary embodiment disclosed herein is particle detector comprising an optical fiber with a first end and second end opposite the first end. The optical fiber of this embodiment further comprises a doped region at the first end and a non-doped region adjacent to the doped region. The doped region of the optical fiber is configured to scintillate upon interaction with a target particle, thereby generating one or more photons that propagate through the optical fiber and to the second end. Embodiments of the disclosed technology can be used in a variety of applications, including associated particle imaging and cold neutron scattering. | 12-20-2012 |
20120314831 | Light Water Reactor TRISO Particle-Metal-Matrix Composite Fuel - A metal matrix, microencapsulated nuclear fuel component includes an integral metal matrix having an outer buffer region and an inner fuel containing region; a multiplicity of nuclear fuel capsules embedded in the fuel containing region of the matrix for encapsulating a nuclear fuel particle and products resulting from nuclear and chemical reactions; and a nuclear fuel particle encapsulated in each of the nuclear capsules. | 12-13-2012 |
20120309632 | FACETED CERAMIC FIBERS, TAPES OR RIBBONS AND EPITAXIAL DEVICES THEREFROM - A crystalline article includes a single-crystal ceramic fiber, tape or ribbon. The fiber, tape or ribbon has at least one crystallographic facet along its length, which is generally at least one meter long. In the case of sapphire, the facets are R-plane, M-plane, C-plane or A-plane facets. Epitaxial articles, including superconducting articles, can be formed on the fiber, tape or ribbon. | 12-06-2012 |
20120301347 | CAST ALUMINA FORMING AUSTENITIC STAINLESS STEELS - An austenitic stainless steel alloy consisting essentially of, in terms of weight percent ranges 0.15-0.5C; 8-37Ni; 10-25Cr; 2.5-5Al; greater than 0.6, up to 2.5 total of at least one element selected from the group consisting of Nb and Ta; up to 3Mo; up to 3Co; up to 1W; up to 3Cu; up to 15Mn; up to 2Si; up to 0.15B; up to 0.05P; up to 1 total of at least one element selected from the group consisting of Y, La, Ce, Hf, and Zr; <0.3Ti+V; <0.03N; and, balance Fe, where the weight percent Fe is greater than the weight percent Ni, and wherein the alloy forms an external continuous scale comprising alumina, and a stable essentially single phase FCC austenitic matrix microstructure, the austenitic matrix being essentially delta-ferrite free and essentially BCC-phase-free. A method of making austenitic stainless steel alloys is also disclosed. | 11-29-2012 |
20120298858 | METHODS OF ANALYZING COMPOSITION OF AEROSOL PARTICLES - An aerosol particle analyzer includes a laser ablation chamber, a gas-filled conduit, and a mass spectrometer. The laser ablation chamber can be operated at a low pressure, which can be from 0.1 mTorr to 30 mTorr. The ablated ions are transferred into a gas-filled conduit. The gas-filled conduit reduces the electrical charge and the speed of ablated ions as they collide and mix with buffer gases in the gas-filled conduit. Preferably, the gas filled-conduit includes an electromagnetic multipole structure that collimates the nascent ions into a beam, which is guided into the mass spectrometer. Because the gas-filled conduit allows storage of vast quantities of the ions from the ablated particles, the ions from a single ablated particle can be analyzed multiple times and by a variety of techniques to supply statistically meaningful analysis of composition and isotope ratios. | 11-29-2012 |
20120293667 | INTRINSIC FEATURE-BASED POSE MEASUREMENT FOR IMAGING MOTION COMPENSATION - Systems and methods for generating motion corrected tomographic images are provided. A method includes obtaining first images of a region of interest (ROI) to be imaged and associated with a first time, where the first images are associated with different positions and orientations with respect to the ROI. The method also includes defining an active region in the each of the first images and selecting intrinsic features in each of the first images based on the active region. Second, identifying a portion of the intrinsic features temporally and spatially matching intrinsic features in corresponding ones of second images of the ROI associated with a second time prior to the first time and computing three-dimensional (3D) coordinates for the portion of the intrinsic features. Finally, the method includes computing a relative pose for the first images based on the 3D coordinates. | 11-22-2012 |
20120291854 | HIGH THROUGHPUT PARALLEL BACKSIDE CONTACTING AND PERIODIC TEXTURING FOR HIGH-EFFICIENCY SOLAR CELLS - Disclosed are configurations of long-range ordered features of solar cell materials, and methods for forming same. Some features include electrical access openings through a backing layer to a photovoltaic material in the solar cell. Some features include textured features disposed adjacent a surface of a solar cell material. Typically the long-range ordered features are formed by ablating the solar cell material with a laser interference pattern from at least two laser beams. | 11-22-2012 |
20120285629 | HARVESTING CONTAMINANTS FROM LIQUID - Disclosed are examples of apparatuses for evaporative purification of a contaminated liquid. In each example, there is a vessel for storing the contaminated fluid. The vessel includes a surface coated with a layer of superhydrophobic material and the surface is at least partially in contact with the contaminated liquid. The contaminants do not adhere to the surface as the purified liquid evaporates, thus allowing the contaminants to be harvested. | 11-15-2012 |
20120280589 | MULTI-WINDING HOMOPOLAR ELECTRIC MACHINE - A multi-winding homopolar electric machine and method for converting between mechanical energy and electrical energy. The electric machine includes a shaft defining an axis of rotation, first and second magnets, a shielding portion, and a conductor. First and second magnets are coaxial with the shaft and include a charged pole surface and an oppositely charged pole surface, the charged pole surfaces facing one another to form a repulsive field therebetween. The shield portion extends between the magnets to confine at least a portion of the repulsive field to between the first and second magnets. The conductor extends between first and second end contacts and is toroidally coiled about the first and second magnets and the shield portion to develop a voltage across the first and second end contacts in response to rotation of the electric machine about the axis of rotation. | 11-08-2012 |
20120267585 | VOLUME-LABELED NANOPARTICLES AND METHODS OF PREPARATION - Compositions comprising nanosized objects (i.e., nanoparticles) in which at least one observable marker, such as a radioisotope or fluorophore, is incorporated within the nanosized object. The nanosized objects include, for example, metal or semi-metal oxide (e.g., silica), quantum dot, noble metal, magnetic metal oxide, organic polymer, metal salt, and core-shell nanoparticles, wherein the label is incorporated within the nanoparticle or selectively in a metal oxide shell of a core-shell nanoparticle. Methods of preparing the volume-labeled nanoparticles are also described. | 10-25-2012 |
20120255599 | NANOCONE-BASED PHOTOVOLTAIC SOLAR CELLS - A photovoltaic structure including a nanocone-based three-dimensional interdigitated p-n junction is provided in the present invention. The three-dimensional p-n junction is at the interface between n-type oxide semiconductor nanocones and a p-type semiconductor material that functions as a matrix embedding the nanocones. The nanocone-based three-dimensional p-n junction allows efficient minority carriers being extracted from photo-absorber and crossing across the p-n junction, and generates completely-depleted regions throughout the nanocones and the matrix around the nanocones for efficient charge collection. Further, the bandgap energies of the p-doped semiconductor material can be tuned to match the solar light spectrum by mixing related elements. Further, the high temperature pulses can be used to remove defects in the junction interfaces and sintering nanoparticle matrix. | 10-11-2012 |
20120240563 | RECLAMATION OF POTABLE WATER FROM MIXED GAS STREAMS - An apparatus for separating a liquid from a mixed gas stream can include a wall, a mixed gas stream passageway, and a liquid collection assembly. The wall can include a first surface, a second surface, and a plurality of capillary condensation pores. The capillary condensation pores extend through the wall, and have a first opening on the first surface of the wall, and a second opening on the second surface of the wall. The pore size of the pores can be between about 2 nm to about 100 nm. The mixed gas stream passageway can be in fluid communication with the first opening. The liquid collection assembly can collect liquid from the plurality of pores. | 09-27-2012 |
20120237096 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF DISEASE USING RETINAL IMAGE CONTENT AND AN ARCHIVE OF DIAGNOSED HUMAN PATIENT DATA - A method for diagnosing diseases having retinal manifestations including retinal pathologies includes the steps of providing a CBIR system including an archive of stored digital retinal photography images and diagnosed patient data corresponding to the retinal photography images, the stored images each indexed in a CBIR database using a plurality of feature vectors, the feature vectors corresponding to distinct descriptive characteristics of the stored images. A query image of the retina of a patient is obtained. Using image processing, regions or structures in the query image are identified. The regions or structures are then described using the plurality of feature vectors. At least one relevant stored image from the archive based on similarity to the regions or structures is retrieved, and an eye disease or a disease having retinal manifestations in the patient is diagnosed based on the diagnosed patient data associated with the relevant stored image(s). | 09-20-2012 |
20120234695 | CARBON COMPOSITION WITH HIERARCHICAL POROSITY, AND METHODS OF PREPARATION - A method for fabricating a porous carbon material possessing a hierarchical porosity, the method comprising subjecting a precursor composition to a curing step followed by a carbonization step, the precursor composition comprising: (i) a templating component comprised of a block copolymer, (ii) a phenolic component, (iii) a dione component in which carbonyl groups are adjacent, and (iv) an acidic component, wherein said carbonization step comprises heating the precursor composition at a carbonizing temperature for sufficient time to convert the precursor composition to a carbon material possessing a hierarchical porosity comprised of mesopores and macropores. Also described are the resulting hierarchical porous carbon material, a capacitive deionization device in which the porous carbon material is incorporated, as well as methods for desalinating water by use of said capacitive deionization device. | 09-20-2012 |