Abstract: A pressure applying system using a modular vise having a fixed base and an adjustable pusher assembly. The modular vise utilizes a bi-directional worm screw to apply a linear force from the pusher assembly to the working member relative to the fixed base. The fixed base is secured and located from below a bottom surface of the fixed base.

Abstract: Provided are maraging steel alloys having improved microstructures. Some variations provide maraging steel alloys including a base maraging steel alloy, a grain refiner, and optionally, a strengthening element. The base maraging steel alloy is surface-functionalized with the grain refiner. Other variations provide a method of method of manufacturing maraging steel including mixing a base maraging steel alloy with a grain refiner resulting in a maraging steel mixture, melting the maraging steel mixture, and solidifying the maraging steel mixture forming an equiaxed microstructure.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a methodology in which nanoparticle-coated microparticles are rapidly quality-checked for verification of surface functionalization of a commercial quantities of hierarchical powder. Some variations provide a method for inspecting surface-functionalized microparticles, comprising: selecting samples of hierarchical powders comprising microparticles and surface-coated nanoparticles; subjecting the hierarchical powders to a sample particle-size measurement; comparing the sample particle-size measurement to a baseline measurement; and determining the relative concentration of free nanoparticles, based on particle-size distributions. If the sample particle-size measurement is statistically equivalent to the baseline measurement, that is verification of complete surface functionalization.

Abstract: Some variations provide an aluminum (Al) alloy containing at least 0.1 at % zirconium (Zr) and/or at least 0.1 at % chromium (Cr), wherein the aluminum alloy is in the form of an additively manufactured object. Other variations provide an aluminum-containing powder comprising Al particles, Cr particles, and Zr particles, wherein at least some of the Cr particles as well as at least some of the Zr particles are physically and/or chemically assembled on surfaces of the Al particles, and wherein the aluminum-containing powder contains at least 0.1 at % Zr and at least 0.1 at % Cr. In this invention, the combination of surface functionalization and additive manufacturing has fundamentally created a new composition space of valuable aluminum alloys. The disclosed Al alloys are strong, thermally stable, and corrosion-resistant.

Abstract: Some variations provide an aluminum (Al) alloy containing at least 0.1 at % zirconium (Zr) and/or at least 0.1 at % chromium (Cr), wherein the aluminum alloy is in the form of an additively manufactured object. Other variations provide an aluminum-containing powder comprising Al particles, Cr particles, and Zr particles, wherein at least some of the Cr particles as well as at least some of the Zr particles are physically and/or chemically assembled on surfaces of the Al particles, and wherein the aluminum-containing powder contains at least 0.1 at % Zr and at least 0.1 at % Cr. In this invention, the combination of surface functionalization and additive manufacturing has fundamentally created a new composition space of valuable aluminum alloys. The disclosed Al alloys are strong, thermally stable, and corrosion-resistant.

Abstract: Provided are maraging steel alloys having improved microstructures. Some variations provide maraging steel alloys including a base maraging steel alloy, a grain refiner, and optionally, a strengthening element. The base maraging steel alloy is surface-functionalized with the grain refiner. Other variations provide a method of method of manufacturing maraging steel including mixing a base maraging steel alloy with a grain refiner resulting in a maraging steel mixture, melting the maraging steel mixture, and solidifying the maraging steel mixture forming an equiaxed microstructure.

Abstract: Some variations provide an aluminum alloy comprising aluminum and from 0.5 wt % to 60 wt % of an alloy element X selected from the group consisting of Zr, Ti, Hf, V, Ta, Nb, Cr, Mo, W, Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, and combinations or alloys thereof, wherein the alloy element X is present as an intermetallic precipitate containing Al and X. An exemplary intermetallic precipitate is Al3Zr. Some variations provide a feedstock powder comprising: from 80 wt % to 99 wt % of an aluminum-containing base powder with an average particle size from 10 microns to 500 microns; and, intimately mixed with the base powder, from 1 wt % to 20 wt % of an alloying powder with average particle size from 0.01 microns to 90 microns, containing an alloy element X or a hydride, carbide, oxide, nitride, boride, or sulfide thereof.

Abstract: A pressure applying system using a fixed vise and an adjustable vise. The fixed base utilizes strain gages to measure an amplitude of forces applied to the fixed base through a working member from the adjustable base. The adjustable base utilizes a bi directional worm screw to apply a linear force to the working member relative to the fixed base.

Abstract: An immunogenic reagent which produces an immune response which is protective against Bacillus anthracis, said reagent comprising one or more polypeptides which together represent up to three domains of the full length Protective Antigen (PA) of B. anthracis or variants of these, and at least one of said domains comprises domain 1 or domain 4 of PA or a variant thereof. The polypeptides of the immunogenic reagent as well as full length PA are produced by expression from E. coli. High yields of polypeptide are obtained using this method. Cells, vectors and nucleic acids used in the method are also described and claimed.

Abstract: Various embodiments for determining a voltage rating of a solenoid in an electropneumatic valve are disclosed. A braking system controller comprises a power switch electrically connected to an associated first solenoid. The power switch provides a low current regulated voltage to the associated first solenoid. The current through the solenoid is converted to a voltage. The voltage is compared to a predetermined voltage range to determine the voltage rating of the associated first solenoid. In another embodiment, the control logic is capable of determining the voltage rating of multiple solenoids in each of the electropneumatic valves connected to the controller.

Abstract: Various embodiments for determining a voltage rating of a solenoid in an electropneumatic valve are disclosed. A braking system controller comprises a power switch electrically connected to an associated first solenoid. The power switch provides a low current regulated voltage to the associated first solenoid. The current through the solenoid is converted to a voltage. The voltage is compared to a predetermined voltage range to determine the voltage rating of the associated first solenoid. In another embodiment, the control logic is capable of determining the voltage rating of multiple solenoids in each of the electropneumatic valves connected to the controller.

Abstract: When detecting unacceptably large airgaps between wheel speed sensors and their exciter rings on wheel ends of a vehicle, wheel speed sensor output is filtered and monitored to detect signal amplitudes that correspond to the airgaps. When signal peak amplitude below a predetermined threshold is detected, the airgap is too large. Wheel ends having unacceptably large air gaps are indicated to the driver or technician via blink sequences (e.g., on an electronic stability program (ESP) indicator light or other suitable indicator), wherein each wheel end is associated with a unique blink sequence.

Abstract: An immunogenic reagent which produces an immune response which is protective against Bacillus anthracis, said reagent comprising one or more polypeptides which together represent up to three domains of the full length Protective Antigen (PA) of B. anthracis or variants of these, and at least one of said domains comprises domain 1 or domain 4 of PA ro a variant thereof. The polypeptides of the immunogenic reagent as well as full length PA are produced by expression from E. coli. High yields of polypeptide are obtained using this method. Cells, vectors and nucleic acids used in the method are also described and claimed.

Abstract: An immunogenic reagent which produces an immune response which is protective against Bacillus anthracis, said reagent comprising one or more polypeptides which together represent up to three domains of the full length Protective Antigen (PA) of B. anthracis or variants of these, and at least one of said domains comprises domain 1 or domain 4 of PA or a variant thereof. The polypeptides of the immunogenic reagent as well as full length PA are produced by expression from E. coli. High yields of polypeptide are obtained using this method. Cells, vectors and nucleic acids used in the method are also described and claimed.

Abstract: Spore coat-associated proteins from members of Bacillus genera, and in particular spore-coat associated protein N (CotN), have utilization as adjuvants in vaccine formulations. The vaccine formulations most likely contain a virulence factor of bacterial origin, which in the case of Bacillus genera is the protective antigen.

Abstract: An immunogenic reagent which produces an immune response which is protective against Bacillus anthracis, said reagent comprising one or more polypeptides which together represent up to three domains of the full length Protective Antigen (PA) of B. anthracis or variants of these, and at least one of said domains comprises domain 1 or domain 4 of PA or a variant thereof. The polypeptides of the immunogenic reagent as well as full length PA are produced by expression from E. coli. High yields of polypeptide are obtained using this method. Cells, vectors and nucleic acids used in the method are also described and claimed.

Abstract: Spore coat-associated proteins from members of Bacillus genera, and in particular spore-coat associated protein N (CotN), have utilisation as adjuvants in vaccine formulations. The vaccine formulations most likely contain a virulence factor of bacterial origin, which in the case of Bacillus genera is the protective antigen.

Abstract: An immunogenic reagent which produces an immune response which is protective against Bacillus anthracis, said reagent comprising one or more polypeptides which together represent up to three domains of the full length Protective Antigen (PA) of B. anthracis or variants of these, and at least one of said domains comprises domain 1 or domain 4 of PA or a variant thereof. The polypeptides of the immunogenic reagent as well as full length PA are produced by expression from E. coli. High yields of polypeptide are obtained using this method. Cells, vectors and nucleic acids used in the method are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A recombinant microorganism comprises an asporogenic Bacillus subtilis strain in which a gene encoding a protease enzyme has been downregulated or inactivated. In particular sigma factorspoIIAC is inactivated such that the strain is asporogenic. These strains are particularly useful as expression vehicles for proteins such as protective antigen (PA) of Bacillus anthracis.

Abstract: An illuminating-reflector system is provided for transmitting a frequency band in an dispersed beam and a substantially collimated beam. The system includes a secondary reflector configured to transmit a first portion of the frequency band to form the dispersed beam and to reflect a second portion of the frequency band; and a primary reflector configured to receive the second portion of the frequency band reflected from the secondary reflector and to reflect the second portion of the frequency band to form the substantially collimated beam.