Abstract: Applicants have produced a chromophore and a polymer that are highly sensitive to the presence of various agents, including organophosphates, pesticides, neurotoxins, metal ions, some explosives, and biological toxins. The detection is accomplished by detecting a change in the fluorescence characteristics of the chromophore or polymer when in the presence of the agent to be detected. The chromophore and polymer may be incorporated into sensors of various types, and they are adaptable for potential field use in areas where detection of these types of agents is desired.

Abstract: An apparatus and method controlling cellular automata containing a plurality of cascaded circuit cells having logic units. The cells are interleaved in groups toward supporting multiple directions, for example quad cells in which each cells of the quad is directed in a different directions separated by a fixed angle, such as 90 degrees (i.e., north, east, south, and west). These cells are triggered asynchronously as each cell is stabilized in preparation for receiving the trigger. The cells process data selectively based on the configuration of the cell and in response to receipt of data and trigger (or combined data and trigger) conditions from neighboring cells. The array can be utilized within a wide range of digital logic. As there is no need for distributing a global clock across the array of cells, the size of the array can be extended to any desired dimension.

Abstract: A system and method for performing and accelerating cluster analysis of large data sets is presented. The data set is formatted into binary bit Sequential (bSQ) format and then structured into a Peano Count tree (P-tree) format which represents a lossless tree representation of the original data. A P-tree algebra is defined and used to formulate a vertical set inner product (VSIP) technique that can be used to efficiently and scalably measure the mean value and total variation of a set about a fixed point in the large dataset. The set can be any projected subspace of any vector space, including oblique sub spaces. The VSIPs are used to determine the closeness of a point to a set of points in the large dataset making the VSIPs very useful in classification, clustering and outlier detection. One advantage is that the number of centroids (k) need not be pre-specified but are effectively determined.

Abstract: Polysiloxanes terminated with one or more hydroxy functional carbamate groups are provided. The polymers may have the formula (I) wherein R1, R2, R3, and R4 are independently hydrogen, C1-C10 alkyl, C1-C10 fluoro-substituted alkyl; cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, benzyl, toluoyl, xylyl and/or phenyl; R5 and R6 are linking groups; R15 and R16 are independently hydrogen, C1-C10 alkyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, benzyl, toluoyl, xylyl or phenyl; and L1 and L2 are linking groups. Typically, x is such that the polymer has a molecular weight of about 1,000 to 100,000. Other polymeric materials produced by reacting with an isocyanate functional compound or a lactone and coating compositions containing such polymeric materials are also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to solvent-containing two-component polyurethane moisture cured hybrid sol-gel coating formulation comprising 1) an epoxy-functional binder with carbamate functionality and 2) a blended curing component comprising at least one sol gel precursor and an amine crosslinker.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel aqueous coating compositions containing epoxy urethane (glycidyl carbamate) functional resin. An aqueous coating composition comprises a polyfunctional oligomer having at least two epoxy urethane functional groups and a polyalkylene oxide chain, a surfactant and water. The aqueous coating compositions of the invention can be dispersed in water with added surfactants to form a dispersion containing no volatile organic solvent. The invention provides a method for making aqueous coating compositions containing epoxy urethane functional resin as well. Water-dispersible epoxy urethane compounds of the aqueous coating compositions are also provided.

Abstract: Polyamine cross-linked polysiloxanes, such as functionalized polysiloxane cross-linked with a polyalkylenepolyamine are described herein. The polyamine cross-linked polysiloxanes may be used in an antifouling composition to prevent biological fouling in marine environments.

Abstract: Applicants have produced a chromophore and a polymer that are highly sensitive to the presence of various agents, including organophosphates, pesticides, neurotoxins, metal ions, some explosives, and biological toxins. The detection is accomplished by detecting a change in the fluorescence characteristics of the chromophore or polymer when in the presence of the agent to be detected. The chromophore and polymer may be incorporated into sensors of various types, and they are adaptable for potential field use in areas where detection of these types of agents is desired.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing Fusarium resistant tetraploid wheat by crossing a hexaploid Fusarium resistant wheat with a teraploid durum wheat.

Abstract: Systems and methods of classifying a subject data item based on a training set of pre-classified data items. A piecewise-linear approximation of a local boundary between different classes of data items is automatically computed. The local boundary is approximated by a neighborhood set of data items selected from the training set that have been pre-classified into different classes and have points similar to a point of the subject data item. A class is automatically assigned to the subject data item in accordance with a side of the local boundary on which the subject data item resides.

Abstract: A system for providing cardiac support to a patient and for promoting myocardial repair and recovery, comprises a device for connecting to a vasculature of the patient and a control module. The device includes a pump, defining a blood-receiving volume, and a cannula, in fluid communication with the blood-receiving volume, for anatomizing to the vasculature of the patient such that the blood-receiving volume may receive blood from and return blood to the vasculature of the patient through the cannula. The control module is for controlling the device and includes a means for establishing user-defined parameters, and a means for operating the pump of the device, which is in communication with the means for establishing user-defined parameters such that the operation of the pump is in response to the established user-defined parameters.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of treating a metal to improve the metal's corrosion resistance. In one such method, the method is carried out by applying, to the surface of the metal, a coating which includes magnesium powder and a UV-curable or other radiation-curable binder. In another such method, the method is carried out by applying, to the surface of the metal, a coating which includes magnesium powder and an inorganic binder. In another such method, a coating that includes a magnesium alloy powder and a binder is applied to the surface of the metal. The magnesium alloy powder is selected such that it has a corrosion potential that is from about 0.01 volt to about 1.5 volt more negative than the metal's corrosion potential. Also disclosed are methods of treating a ferrous metals and magnesium alloys to improve the corrosion resistance of these materials.

Abstract: An anti-fouling material useful to prevent fouling of structure exposed to a water environment includes a copolymer having a carbon and/or silicone backbone with a pendant biocidal group and, optionally, a pendant fouling release group.

Abstract: The invention provides a polymer of formula I: wherein A, B, D, E, R1, and R2 have any of the values defined in the specification, as well as electrical devices comprising such polymers.

Abstract: A Convergent-Divergent-Convergent nozzle apparatus for direct-write applications is described. The tip apparatus includes at least three nozzles concentrically positioned in series. In a non-limiting embodiment, a first nozzle has a converging taper, a second nozzle extends from the first nozzle with a diverging taper, and a third nozzle extends from the second nozzle and has a converging taper. The nozzles are positioned in series and are coaxial, and can be formed from either separate components or a monolithic structure. Such an arrangement has permitted direct writing of aerosolized particle streams in line widths from 3.7-8 ?m in width prior to sintering. Further refinements to the apparatus and processing parameters may result in line widths of 1 ?m or less. Aerosolized particles may comprise conductor or semiconductor precursors that may be processed into microelectronic conductors or semiconductors, respectively. The particles may also comprise nanostructures or nanoparticles.

Abstract: A dual cell Electrochemical Impedance System (EIS) testing apparatus and method for measuring coating integrity on various substrates. The counter reference electrode is in a first cell in electrical contact with the coating. The working electrode is in a second cell in electrical contact with the coating instead of the substrate material acting as the working electrode. Voltage is applied at the working electrode at varying frequencies and current is measured at the combined reference/counter electrode. From the known voltage and the measured current, the impedance of the coating is calculated. Coatings on non-metallic substrates can be measured with this apparatus. In one embodiment, the EIS cells are in the form of vacuum cups containing an electrolyte gel for testing non-horizontal coatings in the field. Also, known current can be applied to the working electrode and voltage measured at the counter reference electrode can be used to calculate coating impedance.

Abstract: Polyaminofunctional alkoxy polysiloxanes which exhibit antineoplastic activity are disclosed. Pharmaceutical compositions including an effective amount of a polyaminofunctional alkoxy polysiloxane and/or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof are also disclosed. The application also describes methods of suppressing the growth of neoplastic cells and treating neoplastic conditions.

Abstract: A structural health monitoring circuit apparatus and method are based on electrical impedance variations of a piezoelectric patch, which is attached to a structure to be monitored. The circuit compares a known good sweep of frequency-impedance pairs with a contemporaneous sweep to generate an alarm when an error bound is exceeded. The impedance of the piezoelectric patch is determined though adjustment of a variable reactance in a bridge configuration. By suitable design of the bridge elements, the electrical impedance of the piezoelectric patch may be directly measured. A microprocessor controlled version of this device consumes less than 2 W of power, which may be further reduced by further large scale integration or reduction to a state machine on a programmable gate array. Ultimately, this device may give personnel warnings to aircraft, automobiles, bridges, elevated roads, buildings, or home structural failures.

Abstract: The invention provides composites, methods for their preparation, composites prepared according to the methods, and methods for using the composites.

Abstract: An exemplary signal processing system determines vector mismatch between a plurality of signal paths. Advantageously, the system can determine mismatch across a range of frequencies. A signal generator of the system can provide a periodic calibration signal having a plurality of frequency components. The system frequency can translate the calibration signal to provide a first set of observed samples. The first sample set can be compared to a second set of samples, which can be modeled by a function of parameters including an estimated vector mismatch and a plurality of basis functions. A value of vector mismatch can then be determined (at least to an estimate) that minimizes the difference between the first sample set and the second sample set. Methods and other systems with different advantageous configurations are also described.