Abstract: Secondary explosive materials, particularly nitramines, are recovered from an explosive composition containing a mixture of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and at least one secondary explosive by the steps of heating the explosive composition to melt the TNT, preferably using steam, separately collecting and recovering the melted TNT, treating the thus-separated secondary explosive with a material which is a solvent for TNT and a non-solvent for the secondary explosive to dissolve the TNT, removing the non-solvent from the secondary explosive, and recovering the secondary explosive.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a periodic table group III-IV HEMT/pHEMT field-effect transistor device. The disclosed fabrication arrangement uses a single metalization for ohmic and Schottky barrier contacts, employs selective etching with a permanent etch stop layer, employs a non-alloyed ohmic contact semiconductor layer and includes a permanent non-photosensitive secondary mask element. The invention includes provisions for both an all optical lithographic process and a combined optical and electron beam lithographic process These concepts are combined to provide a field-effect transistor device of reduced fabrication cost, increased dimensional accuracy and state of the art electrical performance.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for immunomagnetic separation and concentration of target biological materials is disclosed. The immunomagnetic separation is performed by a magnetic flow cell, or filter block, as part of an automated mostly continuous immunomagnetic assay system. The magnetic flow cell has two bundles of ferromagnetic rods or pins positioned inside an internal chamber so that a fluid sample flowing through the flow cell passes through the pins. A pair of cobalt magnets flank the flow cell so that the pins concentrate and sufficiently increase the magnetic fields so that even nanometer size magnetic beads can be captured. The overall system combines a reaction subsystem for reacting coated magnetic beads with a sample, a collection subsystem for capturing magnetic beads, a rinsing subsystem for removing debris and a filtering subsystem for removing captured magnetic beads from the collection subsystem. The new magnetic flow filter is the key component for the collection and filtering subsystems.

Abstract: A fluid filled variable power optical lens is described that includes a substantially tubular shaped housing having in one embodiment an optically transparent elastic membrane disposed over one end thereof and a transparent plate over the second end thereof and defining a chamber for containing an optically transparent fluid and in another embodiment an optically transparent elastic membrane disposed over each end thereof and defining a chamber containing the fluid, and pump assembly for inserting or withdrawing fluid from the chamber whereby each membrane is correspondingly selectively bulged outwardly or inwardly in the shape of a convex or concave lens.

Abstract: A broadband gigahertz frequency range radio receiver useful in electronic warfare and other applications for incoming signal detection and identification purposes. The receiver is based on Fourier transform examination of incoming signal characteristics and provides real time accomplishment of these tasks by way of using a simplified one-bit digital representation of the incoming signals and a resulting reduction of the computational load associated with the Fourier transform operation. The receiver precedes the Fourier transform operation with signal processing which may include, for example, a limiting amplifier and two bandpass filters. Two incoming signal accommodation is provided, a characteristic which is particularly improved over the characteristics of popular presently used receivers in this field.

Abstract: A method for controlling the interface in a titanium matrix composite between the titanium matrix material and a silicon carbide reinforcing filament or fiber which comprises treating such filament or fiber with a phosphorus-containing compound, and thereafter incorporating the treated fiber into a titanium matrix composite. The quantity of phosphorus remaining on the fiber, following treatment, can be miniscule, so long as at least a trace amount of phosphorus remains on the fiber.

Abstract: An improved process for the preparation of a pitch foam with a microcellular structure and a uniform pore size comprises the steps of (a) pressing a quantity of a pitch to provide a pressed article, (b) placing the pressed article in a pressure vessel, (c) introducing an inert gas into the pressure vessel under an elevated pressure of about 200 to 500 psi, (d) heating the pressed article within the pressure vessel to about 10.degree. to 40.degree. C.

Abstract: A heat transfer-based surface flow visualization method and device that uses a temperature sensitive material to detect advection along a substrate upon application of heat and air flow and thereby provides a surface flow pattern. The present invention includes the capability of providing surface flow patterns for positions of flow separation, reversal of flow and transition flow and is non-intrusive and more cost effective than known methods.

Abstract: An apparatus for coating a continuous fiber which comprises: (a) a coating composition container having an orifice in the bottom portion thereof, coating composition inlet means in the lower portion thereof and fluid inlet means in the upper portion thereof; (b) a furnace positioned above the coating container in axial alignment with the orifice in the coating composition container; (c) means for transporting a continuous fiber tow to be coated through the orifice, through the coating composition in the coating composition container, and through the furnace, including a source of continuous tow, a lower alignment and tensioning means, an upper alignment and tensioning means, and takeup means; (d) a catch vessel positioned below the lower alignment and tensioning means for collecting excess coating composition; and (e) means for removing coating composition from the catch vessel and passing the same to a surge vessel having an outlet in the lower portion thereof in fluid communication with the coating composit

Abstract: A process for treatment and disposal of wastewater having dissolved perchlorate salts is described and includes the steps of adding to the wastewater in a hydrogen gaslift recycle reactor a mixed bacterial culture containing the specific bacterium HAP1 for reducing the perchlorate ion to chloride in the wastewater; maintaining proper nutrient and environmental conditions for HAP1 to optimally reduce perchlorate in the wastewater; and discharging effluent wastewater from the gaslift reactor to an aerobic reactor and maintaining proper nutrient and environmental conditions for the optimal conversion of soluble organics to carbon dioxide and sludge.

Abstract: A tilting apparatus for supporting and restraining a non-human primate animal while conducting research. The tilting apparatus is provided with a table for supporting the animal reclining face down thereon. The table is supported by support means for rotation about a first axis between a horizontal position and a head-down position and about a second axis between the head-down position and a head-up position. Locking means are provided for releasably locking the table in a selected horizontal, head-down or head-up positions. Suitable restraining means are provided which are intersecurable between the animal and the table and function to support and restrain the animal. The animal, while remaining restrained to the tilting apparatus, has free range of motion to feed itself from a water and feeding station. The water and feeding station is supported by an accessory pole. A waste collection system is provided which is connected to the table and which functions for collecting animal waste.

Abstract: High surface area Mo.sub.2 N or MoN electrodes for use in high energy density energy storage devices, and processes for fabricating the electrodes, are described wherein a precursor molybdenum solution is applied to a metallic foil substrate which is heated to produce a MoO.sub.3 coating on the substrate, which coating is converted to Mo.sub.2 N and MoN by reaction with ammonia. Mo.sub.2 N and MoN electrodes are also produced in a chemical vapor deposition process in which molybdenum pentachloride carried by an inert gas and ammonia are the reaction gases for producing Mo.sub.2 N and MoN films.

Abstract: A new apparatus and method for irrigating wounds and for performing gastric lavage utilizes a novel connector that has a spiked end shaped to mate with the self-sealing outlet of a compressible bag of sterile irrigation fluid and a nozzle end having the shape of a syringe tip. The spiked end of the connector is spiked into the bag of irrigation fluid and an intravenous (IV) catheter attached to the nozzle end. The bag of irrigation fluid is held and squeezed to direct a stream of irrigation fluid through the IV catheter and into the wound. For gastric irrigation, a nasogastric tube is attached to the nozzle end and the bag of irrigation fluid held and squeezed to force irrigation fluid into the stomach.

Abstract: New lithium ion conducting materials comprise phthalocyanine rings. These materials function as sites through which the lithium ion passes. In one aspect of the invention, an electrolyte composition consists essentially of a major amount of a lithium phthalocyanine and a minor amount of a polymer binder. In another aspect, an electrolyte composition consists essentially of aligned and spaced lithium phthalocyanine rings, wherein alignment and spacing of the phthalocyanine rings is achieved through the use of ladder type polymers, comb-like polymers, or crystalline polymers.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a gradient index optical filter comprising a thin film having a low refractive index contrast and a specific reflectance function structured using the phase of the refractive index profile as a variable to permit closed form, constrained optimization of rugate filters.

Abstract: A new apparatus and method for dynamically absorbing resonant vibration in jet engine blades and other rotating turbomachine components over all engine speeds is disclosed. A distributed pendulum (a pendulum having its axis of motion inside its body instead of at an end) is mounted inside a jet engine blade to function as a centrifugal pendulum. A centrifugal pendulum can be tuned so that its natural frequency linearly tracks the rotational speed of the engine or other turbomachine in which it is mounted and can absorb resonant vibrations from turbomachine components whenever the frequency of a source of vibratory excitation from a so-called speed line of the turbomachine coincides with a resonant frequency of the component. The equations of motion of a distributed pendulum are derived to show that a distributed pendulum small enough to fit inside a turbomachine component can be tuned to track a turbomachine speed line by adjusting its mass distribution about its axis of motion.

Abstract: An instrument and method for optically calibrating and balancing low level luminances of lighted instrument panel displays within the operator station of a vehicle is described which comprises a self-contained, calibrated luminance source and a beamsplitter for combining and juxtaposing an image of the calibrated luminance source with an image of the luminance from a lighted instrument panel display to be calibrated or balanced, whereby the images may be compared in luminance, the lighted instrument panel display being adjustable in intensity using the vehicle instrument panel light trim capability.

Abstract: A method for the quantitative determination of dissolved oxygen in a liquid fuel includes the steps of doping a sample of the fuel with a preselected concentration of a probe material including a luminophor which exhibits luminescence of wavelength which is quenched by oxygen dissolved in the fuel, illuminating the fuel with light from a coherent light source, such as a laser, of a wavelength which induces the luminescence in the luminophor, and thereafter measuring the change with time of the luminescence from the luminophor in the fuel and determing from the change with time of the luminescence the concentration of oxygen in the fuel.

Abstract: The present invention provides a realization of a real-time, high frequency Fourier transformation using a single binary-bit kernel function which reduces the mathematical operation mechanizations needed to generate a Fourier transformation from multiplication and associated dense, complex hardware to simple addition and subtraction associated hardware components. The single binary-bit kernel function Fourier transformation generated produces a constant peak amplitude regardless of the number of bits in the input data and is most useful for applications where input data is composed of 1 and 2 binary bits.

Abstract: An aircraft electrical energy supply bus supplementing arrangement based on large capacitor or super capacitor storage of electrical energy for bus supplementation. Supplying of bus energy to the large capacitor is addressed in the invention. In this supplying energy is removed from the aircraft bus during quiescent conditions under the control of a energy coupling circuit which has a plurality of different energy removal rates, rates which are selected in response to the yet needed amount of capacitor charging and in a time-constant-controlled manner. Feedback control of this charging time constant selection is employed along with passive electrical device dissipation of major fractions of the time constant apparatus energy losses.