Abstract: Disclosed herein are transgenic cells expressing a heterologous nucleic acid encoding a prephenate dehydrogenase (PDH) protein, a heterologous nucleic acid encoding a homogentisate solanesyl transferase (HST) protein, a heterologous nucleic acid encoding a deoxyxylulose phosphate synthase (DXS) protein, or a combination of two or more thereof. In particular examples, the disclosed transgenic cells have increased plastoquinone levels. Also disclosed are methods of increasing cell growth rates or production of biomass by cultivating transgenic cells expressing a heterologous nucleic acid encoding a PDH protein, a heterologous nucleic acid encoding an HST protein, a heterologous nucleic acid encoding a DXS protein, or a combination of two or more thereof under conditions sufficient to produce cell growth or biomass.

Abstract: A preferred compact particle accelerator can include a cell arranged along a longitudinal axis along which a particle beam is accelerated. The preferred cell can include a first plate disposed substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis and a second plate disposed substantially parallel to the first plate. The preferred cell can also include a first set of rods connecting the first plate to the second plate and disposed at a first radius about the longitudinal axis. Preferably, the first set of rods each defines an elliptical cross section. The preferred cell can also include a second set of rods connecting the first plate to the second plate and each disposed at least at a second radius greater than the first radius. Optimized geometry of the elliptical rods and the periodicity of the rods in the lattice provide improved wakefield suppression and allow for significant gains in frequency and output.

Abstract: Methods for real-time, continuous measurements of the composition and other properties of individual phases of petroleum, water and gas mixtures during the oil production process, without requiring test separators, test lines, with associated valving and instrumentation, are described. Embodiments of the present invention direct ultrasonic sound transmission through a flowing multiphase fluid in three frequency ranges: low frequencies, gas bubble resonance frequencies, and high frequencies, wherein certain sound propagation measurements, including sound speed, sound attenuation and sound scattering, are made in one or more of the three separate frequency regions, from which the multiphase composition and other properties are extracted without having to separate the multiphase fluid or the gas from the flowing stream.

Abstract: Creation of new edges in a network may be used as an indication of a potential attack on the network. Historical data of a frequency with which nodes in a network create and receive new edges may be analyzed. Baseline models of behavior among the edges in the network may be established based on the analysis of the historical data. A new edge that deviates from a respective baseline model by more than a predetermined threshold during a time window may be detected. The new edge may be flagged as potentially anomalous when the deviation from the respective baseline model is detected. Probabilities for both new and existing edges may be obtained for all edges in a path or other subgraph. The probabilities may then be combined to obtain a score for the path or other subgraph. A threshold may be obtained by calculating an empirical distribution of the scores under historical conditions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to peptides and compositions suitable for use in inducing anti-HIV-1 antibodies. The compositions comprise HIV-1 gp41 membrane proximal external region (MPER) peptide-liposome conjugates for induction of broadly reactive anti-HIV-1 antibodies. The invention also relates to methods of inducing neutralizing anti-HIV-1 antibodies using such compositions.

Abstract: This disclosure concerns methods for formation of a novel PBI asymmetric hollow fiber membrane and its application for gas separations, gas/vapor separations, gas/liquid separations (i.e., pervaporation), and liquid separations including solute molecule removal from organic solvents and water.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for removing heat from an object for the purpose of cooling or for the purpose of generating electrical power are disclosed. In an embodiment, at least two field-effect transistors (FETs) are operated under inversion. While the FETs are being operated, heat is conducted from the object through body portions of said FETs to an element configured for dissipating the conducted heat.

Abstract: A modular space vehicle chassis may facilitate convenient access to internal components of the space vehicle. Each module may be removable from the others such that each module may be worked on individually. Multiple panels of at least one of the modules may swing open or otherwise be removable, exposing large portions of the internal components of the space vehicle. Such chassis architectures may reduce the time required for and difficulty of performing maintenance or modifications, may allow multiple space vehicles to take advantage of a common chassis design, and may further allow for highly customizable space vehicles.

Abstract: Random number generators include a thermal optical source and detector configured to produce random numbers based on quantum-optical intensity fluctuations. An optical flux is detected, and signals proportional to optical intensity and a delayed optical intensity are combined. The combined signals can be electrical signals or optical signals, and the optical source is selected so as to have low coherence over a predetermined range of delay times. Balanced optical detectors can be used to reduce common mode noise, and in some examples, the optical flux is directed to only one of a pair of balanced detectors.

Abstract: Energetic materials that are photoactive or believed to be photoactive may include a conventional explosive (e.g. PETN, nitroglycerine) derivatized with an energetic UV-absorbing and/or VIS-absorbing chromophore such as 1,2,4,5-tetrazine or 1,3,5-triazine. Absorption of laser light having a suitably chosen wavelength may result in photodissociation, decomposition, and explosive release of energy. These materials may be used as ligands to form complexes. Coordination compounds include such complexes with counterions. Some having the formula M(L)n2+ were synthesized, wherein M is a transition metal and L is a ligand and n is 2 or 3. These may be photoactive upon exposure to a laser light beam having an appropriate wavelength of UV light, near-IR and/or visible light. Photoactive materials also include coordination compounds bearing non-energetic ligands; in this case, the counterion may be an oxidant such as perchlorate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to anionic exchange polymers including a poly(phenylene) structure. The structure can include any useful cationic moiety. Methods and uses of such structures and polymers are also described herein. In one instance, such polymers are employed to form a solid membrane.

Abstract: Apparatus for generating accurate 3-dimensional images of objects immersed in liquids including optically opaque liquids which may also have significant sound attenuation, is described. Sound pulses are caused to impinge on the object, and the time-of-flight of the reflected sound is used to create a 3-dimensional image of the object in almost real-time. The apparatus is capable of creating images of objects immersed in fluids that are optically opaque and have high sound attenuation at resolutions less than about 1 mm. The apparatus may include a piezoelectric transducer for generating the acoustic pulses; a high-density polyethylene compound acoustic lens, a 2-dimensional segmented piezoelectric detecting array positioned behind the lens for receiving acoustic pulses reflected by the object, the electric output of which is directed to digital signal processing electronics for generating the image.

Abstract: Methods for detecting and monitoring changes in mechanical structures and in walls of pipes, vessels and storage tanks, using muitimode acoustic signal propagation and detection, are described. Acoustic signals having chosen amplitude-time-frequency characteristics excite multiple modes in the structure under investigation, are generated and received at a small number of accessible locations, such as the ends of pipes and the tops and bottoms of vessels and storage tanks, with the inspection region between transmit and receive transducers. Small mechanical changes lead to acoustic scattering and attenuation among the various modes, which are detectable as changes in received signal intensity. Such changes may include material loss, material conversion and material addition. Once the structure is characterized in a known condition, the present method may be used to monitor the structure at a later time to determine whether changes have taken place.

Abstract: Disclosed below are representative embodiments of methods, apparatus, and systems for generating electrons. For example, certain embodiments comprise a charge gating diamond QED based electron source, which can be suspended within the RF cavity of an electron injection system in a superconducting radiofrequency (SRF) electron accelerator. Embodiments of the disclosed technology are capable of producing low temperature (cold) electron beams, where “temperature” refers to the transverse energy in the extracted electron beam (or beam emittance). Embodiments of the disclosed technology can also exhibit enhanced charge replenishment capabilities by virtue of the material selected to suspend the electron source within the RF cavity of the electron injection system.

Abstract: Multiple bit values can be encoded on a single photon in a quantum key distribution (QKD) system using a plurality of sidebands of an optical carrier frequency. Computational and conjugate bases can be defined, and photons decoded based on a selected state from either basis. If n sidebands are available, as many as log2n bits can be encoded on a single photon. Errors in detected bit values due to selection of an incorrect basis state or other errors can be at least partially corrected by bit distillation to identity bit strings for which a transmitter and a receiver record the same values, without insecure transmission of these values.

Abstract: A process for preparing a lithium-rich antiperovskite electrolyte film involves forming a composite target of precursor metal oxide(s) and metal halide(s), and exposing the target to a pulsed laser beam under conditions suitable for depositing a film of lithium-rich antiperovskite on a surface. In some embodiments the process is used to prepare a film of Li3OCl from a target largely composed of Li2O and LiCl. Exposure of the target to a pulsed laser beam deposits antiperovskite electrolyte Li3OCl on a substrate. In another embodiment, sputtering may be used to prepare films of lithium-rich antiperovskites using the composite target of precursor metal oxide(s) and metal halide(s).

Abstract: Ultrasound tomography imaging methods for imaging a tissue medium with one or more ultrasound transducer arrays comprising a plurality of transducers, wherein said transducers comprise source transducers, receiving transducers. The methods include assigning a phase value or time delay to source transducers, exciting the transducers and calculating a search direction based on data relating to the excited transducers.

Abstract: Synthetic-aperture ultrasound tomography systems and methods using scanning arrays and algorithms configured to simultaneously acquire ultrasound transmission and reflection data, and process the data for improved ultrasound tomography imaging, wherein the tomography imaging comprises total-variation regularization, or a modified total variation regularization, particularly with edge-guided or spatially variant regularization.

Abstract: Random number generators include a thermal optical source and detector configured to produce random numbers based on quantum-optical intensity fluctuations. An optical flux is detected, and signals proportional to optical intensity and a delayed optical intensity are combined. The combined signals can be electrical signals or optical signals, and the optical source is selected so as to have low coherence over a predetermined range of delay times. Balanced optical detectors can be used to reduce common mode noise, and in some examples, the optical flux is directed to only one of a pair of balanced detectors.

Abstract: Creation of new edges in a network may be used as an indication of a potential attack on the network. Historical data of a frequency with which nodes in a network create and receive new edges may be analyzed. Baseline models of behavior among the edges in the network may be established based on the analysis of the historical data. A new edge that deviates from a respective baseline model by more than a predetermined threshold during a time window may be detected. The new edge may be flagged as potentially anomalous when the deviation from the respective baseline model is detected. Probabilities for both new and existing edges may be obtained for all edges in a path or other subgraph. The probabilities may then be combined to obtain a score for the path or other subgraph. A threshold may be obtained by calculating an empirical distribution of the scores under historical conditions.