Abstract: A method of using a magnetostrictive material to achieve a high magnetomechanical coupling factor comprising building an internal anisotropy energy into the magnetostrictive material and applying a tensile or compressive stress to the magnetostrictive material with the built-in internal anisotropy energy. The internal anisotropy energy is built into the magnetostrictive material by annealing the magnetostrictive material under an annealing stress or a suitable magnetic field. For a positive magnetostrictive material, when the annealing stress is compressive, the stress applied to the annealed material under operation is tensile, and when the annealing stress is the tensile, the stress applied to the annealed material under operation is compressive.

Abstract: A color switchable stress/fracture sensor in combination with a structure. The combination apparatus includes a structure requiring stress and/or fracture detection, and at least one elasto-mechanoluminescent material at least partially dispersed in and/or on the structure and/or in a coating on the structure. The combination apparatus further includes at least one fracto-mechanoluminescent material at least partially dispersed in and/or on the structure and/or in a coating on the structure, and at least one fiber optic cable positioned to receive and transmit sufficient light emitted from the elasto-mechanoluminescent material due to stress applied to the elasto-mechanoluminescent material and to receive and transmit sufficient light emitted from the fracto-mechanoluminescent material due to fracture of the fracto-mechanoluminescent material.

Abstract: A method of depositing rhenium onto a substrate comprising dissolving rhenium oxide in a hydrogen peroxide solution, immersing a negative and a positive electrode into the solution, immersing a substrate to be coated with rhenium into the solution next to the negative electrode or, alternatively, using the substrate to be coated as the negative electrode, and applying a current between the two electrodes.

Abstract: A method of forming a rhenium layer on a substrate, comprising: applying a solid rhenium-containing compound to a substrate; reducing at a temperature above ambient temperature the rhenium-containing compound so that a rhenium layer is formed on the substrate; and optionally, repeating applying additional rhenium-containing compound on at least a section of the rhenium layer, and reducing at a temperature above ambient temperature the additional rhenium-containing compound so that a thicker layer of rhenium is formed.

Abstract: An anode for use in a primary metal-air battery having an alkaline or neutral salt electrolyte, the anode comprising: a low molecular weight reactive metal substrate; a low molecular weight reactive metal powder; and at least a two-component electrolyte resistant polymer system; the first component is an ionic conductive linearized hydrogel, the second component is an inert structural polymer matrix, the reactive metal powder is dispersed and the first component is uniformly dispersed within the second component to form a material, and the reactive metal is selected from the group consisting of magnesium, aluminum, tin, mixtures of aluminum, tin and magnesium and alloys thereof.

Abstract: A method of detecting a defect on a surface of a material due to exposure of the material to incident ionizing radiation, the method comprising the step of: inspecting a solid material having an atomically flat surface by at least an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) or a Magnetic Force Microscope (MFM) for a defect in atomic structure on said surface due to exposure to ionizing radiation.

Abstract: A phase mixed thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer is provided for use in tranducers including underwater transducers, sonars and other electrostriction driven devices. The thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer includes an isocyanate, a butanediol, a polytetramethylene ether glycol, and a polyhydric alcohol.

Abstract: A phase mixed thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer is provided for use in tranducers including underwater transducers, sonars and other electrostriction driven devices. The thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer includes an isocyanate, a butanediol, a polytetramethylene ether glycol, and a polyhydric alcohol.

Abstract: Li2Mn4O8+z, with z greater than zero and less than one, is prepared from LiMnO4 and an appropriate complimentary compound, such as MnOOH, MnO2 or MnCO3 precursors. The Li2Mn4O8+z is useful in highly oxidized lithium manganospinels.

Abstract: There is provided a ceramic coating of zirconium diboride, silicon carbide, zirconium phosphate and silicon phosphate, that protects carbon-based materials from oxidation in high temperature oxidizing environments. The coating is applied at room temperature with a brush, roller, squeegee, doctor blade, spray gun, etc., and cured at room temperature. The cured material forms a hard, protective ceramic shell. The coating can be applied to various carbon based materials including, but not limited to, amorphous carbon foam, graphitic foam, monolithic graphite, and carbon-carbon composites. Alternative compositions of the coating can be the partial or complete substitution of hafnium diboride for zirconium diboride. Additional modifications of the coating can be accomplished by partial substitution of the borides or silicides of Ti, Ta, Cr, Nb, Ti, V, Re, for zirconium diboride.

Abstract: A series of polymeric compositions, methods of making the compositions and uses of the compositions are described. An exemplary composition is made by copolymerization of a trifunctional amine or hydroxy compound, a monofunctional amine or hydroxy compound and a polyisocyanate compound.

Abstract: An apparatus which includes a probe for detecting a resonance signal induced in a sample. The probe and the resonance signal each have a respective, corresponding Q, and the ratio, Q′, of the Q of the probe to the Q of the resonance signal is relatively large. Preferably, Q′ is greater than, or equal to, 1.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for screening samples to determine which samples include a target material. Generally, the samples are pre-screened to determine which of the samples have a piezoelectric resonance when irradiated with an electric field, to thereby indicate the presence of the target material. The samples that have the piezoelectric resonance are then further screened by a different process to confirm the presence of the target material. For example, samples that have the piezoelectric resonance are further screened for a specific nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR), a specific nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) or a specific visual characteristic, to confirm the presence of the target material in the sample. The apparatus and method can be used, for example, to search luggage at ports of entry for the presence of cocaine hydrochloride or heroin hydrochloride.

Abstract: A method for delivering encapsulated materials to a subsurface environment, for the treatment of the subsurface environment, has the steps of: (a) loading the lumen of hollow microtubules with an active agent selected for treating the subsurface environment, where the hollow microtubules are compatible with the subsurface environment; and (b) administering the hollow microtubules to the subsurface environment, permitting the controlled release of the active agent into the subsurface environment. This method may be practiced using a slurry of hollow microtubules, where the lumen of these microtubules is loaded with an agent for the treatment of petroleum well environments, and where these loaded microtubules are dispersed in a liquid phase carrier selected from aqueous carriers, non-aqueous carriers, and emulsions of aqueous and non-aqueous materials. This method may also be practiced using a pill made of a consolidated mass of tubules loaded with one or more active agents, typically bound with a binder.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to allow altimeter data sets from multiple altimeter satellites to be used together. The measurable portion of geographically correlated orbit error (GCOE) is removed from the altimeter data sets, thereby allowing the data sets to be combined consistently. The GCOE structure for a reference data set is estimated through crossover difference analysis. The unmeasurable portion of the GCOE is not removed, although the spatial structure of this portion is determined. A reference mean sea level (SL) is corrected for the measurable GCOE and is then used as a reference surface for estimating the GCOE structure for an independent altimeter data set. This is performed by examining crossover differences between the altimeter mean SL and the reference mean SL at the multimission crossover points. The change in sea surface height (SSH) between the input data set and the reference data set is determined.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for making a nanochannel glass (NCG) replica, having the steps of: coating a face of an etched NCG with a replica material (with or without an intervening buffer layer), where the etched NCG face has a plurality of channels arranged in a desired pattern, to form a replica coating on the NCG conforming to the pattern; and removing the replica coating from the etched NCG. The present invention is also the replica made by this process.

Abstract: An ultrasonic energy source is used to provide a variable force for measuring the binding forces between molecular entities and for sensing the presence of an analyte in a test sample. The device includes a surface that has a first binding member attached thereto and one or more particles that have a second binding member attached thereto. A reaction vessel is provided for exposing the surface to the particles whereby, if the first binding member has a binding affinity for the second binding member, a complex is formed between individual first binding members and individual second binding members and the particles thereby become immobilized with respect to the surface. The ultrasonic energy source is positioned for applying a variable ultrasonic force onto the surface, and the position of the particles is monitored as the intensity of the ultrasonic force is varied.

Abstract: A linear polymer has repeating units represented by the formula wherein (a) n is an integer greater than or equal to 0, (b) x is an integer greater than or equal to 1, and  represents an unconjugated acetylenic group when x is equal to 1 or conjugated acetylenic groups when x is greater than 1; (c) Ar is an aromatic group, and (c) R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7 and R8 are independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl, aryl, alkylaryl, haloalkyl, haloaryl and mixtures thereof. The linear polymer may be thermally cured to form a crosslinked polymer.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention is a method for storing tissues and cells (typically erythrocytes) having the step of (1) stabilizing the cells with a reversible stabilizing agent. This method typically will have the additional steps of (2) loading the cells with a cryoprotectant, and typically (3) storing the cells in liquid, frozen, or dry state. This method will also typically have the additional step of (4) prior to use, reversing the stabilization reaction. Preferably, the erythrocytes are pre-treated with CO to complex the hemoglobin with CO. It is anticipated that a practical method according to the invention will include reoxygenation of the erythrocytes, and also washing out reagents prior to in vivo use. Another aspect of the present invention is an erythrocyte that has had its shape stabilized by the reversible crosslinking of proteins in the erythrocyte, such as the structural proteins of the cytoskeleton.

Abstract: A biosensor has a micrometer sized antibody substrate surface which may include patterned single or multiple antibody substrates. The substrate is capable of detecting multiple chemical species simultaneously and/or continuously monitoring a single chemical species.