Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a substance comprising a direct analysis in real time apparatus; a neutral excluder; a mass spectrometer; and a vessel in. The apparatus may also comprise a separator, a gas, an alcohol, a filter, and a pump. The apparatus may also comprise electrodes in communication with the direct analysis in real time apparatus and the neutral excluder. A method for detecting a substance comprising contacting the substance with a direct analysis in real time apparatus ion stream; forming an ion and a neutral particle; flowing the ion and the neutral particle into a neutral excluder; contacting the ion and the neutral particle with a gas; and flowing the ion into a mass spectrometer.

Abstract: A modified version of the min-sum algorithm (“MSA”) which can lower the error floor performance of quantized LDPC decoders. A threshold attenuated min-sum algorithm (“TAMSA”) and/or threshold offset min-sum algorithm (“TOMSA”), which selectively attenuates or offsets a check node log-likelihood ratio (“LLR”) if the check node receives any variable node LLR with magnitude below a predetermined threshold, while allowing a check node LLR to reach the maximum quantizer level if all the variable node LLRs received by the check node have magnitude greater than the threshold. Embodiments of the present invention can provide desirable results even without knowledge of the location, type, or multiplicity of such objects and can be implemented with only a minor modification to existing decoder hardware.

Abstract: A material that can be formed into a porous prosthetic sleeve liner that provides particularly useful benefits for prosthetics. The material is breathable and sweat-absorbing, thus minimizing skin morbidity when used as a prosthetic liner. The material can include hydrophilic-lined continuous pores within a hydrophobic polymer, wherein the hydrophilic lining is crosslinked together with the hydrophobic polymer via non-degradable covalent interactions using chain crosslinkers.

Abstract: A DC bus is connected to a PV array, a battery or both, to power a grid connected inverter load on the bus. A system and method is described for controlling current flow on a DC bus regardless of the type of inverter. A converter receives a DC battery voltage. A switching module controls current flow through the converter. A current generator generates a reference current in response to a reference voltage. A comparator connected at the output of the current generator compares the reference current with a battery current and outputs a signal to a controller. The controller generates a reference value. A PWM generator modulates the switch module to control current flow and energy flow between the DC bus and the battery. The current from the DC bus to the inverter is controlled to allow proper grid-connected operation regardless of inverter type.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a substance comprising a direct analysis in real time apparatus; a neutral excluder; a mass spectrometer; and a vessel in. The apparatus may also comprise a separator, a gas, an alcohol, a filter, and a pump. The apparatus may also comprise electrodes in communication with the direct analysis in real time apparatus and the neutral excluder. A method for detecting a substance comprising contacting the substance with a direct analysis in real time apparatus ion stream; forming an ion and a neutral particle; flowing the ion and the neutral particle into a neutral excluder; contacting the ion and the neutral particle with a gas; and flowing the ion into a mass spectrometer.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a substance comprising a direct analysis in real time apparatus; a neutral excluder; a mass spectrometer; and a vessel in. The apparatus may also comprise a separator, a gas, an alcohol, a filter, and a pump. The apparatus may also comprise electrodes in communication with the direct analysis in real time apparatus and the neutral excluder. A method for detecting a substance comprising contacting the substance with a direct analysis in real time apparatus ion stream; forming an ion and a neutral particle; flowing the ion and the neutral particle into a neutral excluder; contacting the ion and the neutral particle with a gas; and flowing the ion into a mass spectrometer.

Abstract: An expanding anchor and/or pile system wherein an outer shell of the pile/anchor is split lengthwise into at least two pieces and can be placed or driven into a hole in the earth in a retracted state and can subsequently be expanded such that the two or more pieces are forced outwardly—away from one another, thus causing them to exert a lateral force against the sides of the hole and thereby resulting in greater axial load carrying capacity in tension or compression of the anchor/pile.

Abstract: A method for in situ production of antimicrobial filtration membranes that uses self-assembly of surfactants such as block copolymers as a template. The mesophase structure (for example hexagonal or lamellar) can be determined, and membrane pore size can be controlled in the nanometer range, by changing the block copolymer and the amounts of the components such as the block copolymer, aqueous solution, monomer, crosslinker, and initiator. The monomer phase cures in the template and there is no need for organic solvents and coagulation bath or other post-modification. As-synthesized membranes were found to have pore sizes with a narrow size distribution in the range of 3-4 nm with a molecular weight cutoff of 1500 g/mol and displayed both excellent fouling resistance and high permeance of water, vastly outperforming a conventional NIPS UF membrane. The monomer can comprise a quaternary ammonium group so that the membrane is antibacterial.

Abstract: Separation columns and methods for PFAS removal from water resources. Each column comprises perforated trays, level-controlled gates and air spargers placed on the top of each tray. Air bubbles of optimum size injected on the surface of each tray rise to the top of each tray, separating PFAS, thus creating a PFAS-enriched foam at the top. The amount of air or other gas injected at each stage of the column is optimally determined to increase the gas-water contact time and decrease enriched foam production. The foam is collected from the surface and undergoes a simple low-pressure evaporation process to break the bubbles. Multi-stage air injection using a sparger or distributer to inject air or other gas bubbles in each tray produces higher turbulence on each tray and more fresh and small bubbles of controlled size along the column height, thus enhancing contaminant removal and reducing operating costs.

Abstract: A method for in situ production of antimicrobial filtration membranes that uses self-assembly of surfactants such as block copolymers as a template. The mesophase structure (for example hexagonal or lamellar) can be determined, and membrane pore size can be controlled in the nanometer range, by changing the block copolymer and the amounts of the components such as the block copolymer, aqueous solution, monomer, crosslinker, and initiator. The monomer phase cures in the template and there is no need for organic solvents and coagulation bath or other post-modification. As-synthesized membranes were found to have pore sizes with a narrow size distribution in the range of 3-4 nm with a molecular weight cutoff of 1500 g/mol and displayed both excellent fouling resistance and high permeance of water, vastly outperforming a conventional NIPS UF membrane. The monomer can comprise a quaternary ammonium group so that the membrane is antibacterial.

Abstract: Secure auditability of monitoring processing using public ledgers that are particularly useful for monitoring surveillance orders, whereby an overseeing enforcer (“E”) checks if law enforcement agencies and companies are respectively over-requesting or over-sharing user data beyond what is permitted by the surveillance order, in a privacy-preserving way, such that E does not know the real identities of the users being surveilled, nor does E get to read the users' unencrypted data. Embodiments of the present invention also have inbuilt checks and balances to require unsealing of surveillance orders at the appropriate times, thus enabling accounting of the surveillance operation to verify that lawful procedures were followed, protecting users from government overreach, and helping law enforcement agencies and companies demonstrate that they followed the rule of law.

Abstract: A hardware efficient implementation of a threshold modified attenuated min-sum algorithm (TAMSA”) and a threshold modified offset min-sum algorithm (“TOMSA”) that improve the performance of a low density parity-check (“LDPC”) decoder by reducing the bit error rate (“BER”) compared to the conventional attenuated min-sum algorithm (“AMSA”), offset min-sum algorithm (“OMSA”), and the min-sum algorithm (“MSA”). Embodiments of the present invention preferably use circuit optimization techniques, including a parallel computing structure and lookup tables, and a field-programmable gate array (“FPGA”) or application specific integrated circuit (“ASIC”) implementation.

Abstract: A self-localization method and system to estimate the position of a tethered quadcopter using only the onboard sensors. Embodiments of the invention are based on the dynamics of the tethered quadcopter and the principles of an accelerometer. The estimated orientation angles of the tether were used to estimate the location of the quadcopter with respect to the connecting point of the tether, which can be a ground vehicle. The results generated by both the software simulation and actual experiments reveal the effectiveness and accuracy of embodiments of the present invention.

Abstract: An expanding anchor and/or pile system wherein an outer shell of the pile/anchor is split lengthwise into at least two pieces and can be placed or driven into a hole in the earth in a retracted state and can subsequently be expanded such that the two or more pieces are forced outwardly—away from one another, thus causing them to exert a lateral force against the sides of the hole and thereby resulting in greater axial load carrying capacity in tension or compression of the anchor/pile.

Abstract: An adaptive self-centering device (ASCD) which uses one or more ratchet-pawl mechanisms. The hysteretic slip force of the ASCD preferably comes from a friction mechanism. The self-centering originates from the ratcheting of the pawl over the ratchet wheel and a self-centering device, in response to a force from an apparatus such as a spring. The nonlinear hardening of the apparatus, which conforms to the favorable adaptive behavior sought in modern day passive devices, stems from the mechanism of the lever within the apparatus that transforms the linear motion into rotatory motion.

Abstract: Surfaces of metals and alloys that exhibit hydrophilic, omniphilic or hydrophobic properties, and methods of preparation thereof. The surface is roughened by surface polishing, thermo-catalytic etching, and temperature gradient etching. This procedure produces a hierarchical micro-/nano-scale roughness in the surface which comprises grooves, micro-cavities, and nano-cavities. This greatly enhances the hydrophilic and omniphilic properties of the pure surface without the need for coatings or oxidation. A further step of immersing the roughened surface in a stearic acid solution makes the surface hydrophobic or superhydrophobic.

Abstract: A method of sending content comprising receiving a membership request from a client at an anonymizer, the membership request being encrypted with a public key of the anonymizer, generating a table from a prefix-free source coding scheme with a full binary tree, a pseudonym range, and a master key, sending the table, the pseudonym range, and the master key, all encrypted with a public key of the client, receiving a content request with an encoded content name, the content request being encoded using the table, a pseudonym from the pseudonym range, and the master key, decoding the content name of the content request using the pseudonym, the table, and the master key, retrieving content corresponding to the content name, and sending the content and the encoded content name. Secure information sharing is also provided for.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise altering the biosynthesis and accumulation of sucrose in legumes by transforming the plants with the sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) gene of maize, and closely related regulatory genes. Embodiments of the present invention further comprise altering the assimilation of nitrogen in legumes by transforming the plants with the glutamine synthetase (GS) gene of soybean, and closely related regulatory genes. Embodiments of the present invention further comprise transforming legume plants with both SPS and GS genes. In addition, embodiments of the present invention relate to enhancing expression of transgenes through the 5? UTR of the glycine max (soybean) cytosolic glutamine synthetase (Gmgln?1) gene.

Abstract: A novel one-pot solvothermal reaction based on urea hydrolysis to synthesize single crystals of the Zn(NH3)(CO3) inorganic helical framework and its applications in selective CO2 separation.

Abstract: A variable speed control moment gyroscope (VSCMG) having a desired offset between the center of mass of the gimbal frame and the center of mass of the flywheel. This gives the VSCMG a higher control authority than an otherwise identical VSCMG without the desired offset at identical gimbal and flywheel rotation rates. Thus the VSCMG generates more angular momentum and torque than an otherwise identical VSCMG without the desired offset at identical gimbal and flywheel rotation rates and per the same unit power consumption. The VSCMG can be operated without any control singularities in a map between the gimbal rate and/or the flywheel rate and the angular momentum or torque produced by the VSCMG. The desired offset is typically at least an order of magnitude greater than an offset between the center of mass of the gimbal frame and the center of mass of the flywheel occurring during manufacture of the VSCMG due to manufacturing tolerances.