Abstract: An energy storage system that includes a molten sodium-containing salt in contact with a layer disposed on a surface of a ??-alumina solid electrolyte, wherein the surface layer comprises a composite comprising carbon, a metal, and a metal oxide.

Abstract: A mixed-matrix composite integrated fiber-optic (FO) sensor system was developed that reliably operates as a detector for gas-phase and dissolved CO2. A mixed-matrix composite sensor coating on the FO sensor comprising plasmonic nanocrystals and zeolite embedded in a polymer matrix. The mixed-matrix composite FO sensor showed excellent reversibility/stability in a high humidity environment and sensitivity to gas-phase CO2 over a large concentration range. The sensor exhibited the ability to sense CO2 in the presence of other geologically relevant gases. A prototype FO sensor configuration which possesses a robust sensing capability for monitoring dissolved CO2 in natural water was demonstrated. Reproducibility was confirmed over many cycles, both in a laboratory setting and in the field.

Abstract: A mobile robot may include one or more driven wheels, one or more sensors, and a sample collector. The sample collector may include a collection medium holder, a plurality of collection mediums disposed within the collection medium holder, and a collection medium applicator configured to releasably couple to a respective collection medium disposed within the collection medium holder.

Abstract: Additive manufacturing methods and systems are disclosed for chemical modification of a build material through at least 300 nm of the depth of each deposited layer. The depth of penetration of chemical modification is brought about through formation parameters including increased pressure, decreased humidity, formation temperatures, etc. Formed build product properties are improved as compared to those formed by traditional bulk manufacturing methods as well as to those formed by previously known additive manufacturing methods.

Abstract: A method implemented by a software for a multimodal evaluation engine stored on a memory is provided herein. The software is executable by a processor coupled to the memory to cause the method. The method includes receiving multimodal signatures of an object of interest from inspection elements and processing the multimodal signatures to transform the multimodal signatures into formats. The method also includes generating data representations of the formats and detecting whether anomalies are present within the object of interest based on the data representations.

Abstract: Processing flows and related systems and methods are disclosed. A computing system includes one or more data interfaces, one or more other components, and a controller. The one or more data interfaces are configured to provide an interface to a data source. The one or more other components include one or more controller plugins, one or more processing nodes, or both the one or more controller plugins and the one or more processing nodes. The controller is configured to manage interactions between the one or more data interfaces and the one or more other components and enable a user to chain together the one or more data interfaces and the one or more other components according to one or more flows. The one or more controller plugins are configured to provide results of the one or more flows to one of a user interface and a system interface.

Abstract: A powder-bed fusion system, comprising: a laser-based heat source configured to direct laser beams to a powder bed within respective fields of views (FOVs); and a controller configured to: obtain information specifying predetermined paths over which the laser-based heat source is to direct the laser beams to form objects by fusing layers of powder disposed on the powder bed; create a first mapping between portions of the objects within overlapping FOVs and the laser beams associated with the overlapping FOVs; use the first mapping to determine a first distribution of the laser beams for forming the objects while balancing usage of the laser beams; and cause the laser-based heat source to direct the laser beams to locations on the powder bed in accordance with the first distribution.

Abstract: Methods for synthesizing single crystalline Ni-rich cathode materials are disclosed. The Ni-rich cathode material may have a formula LiNiXMnyMzCol1-x-y-zO2, where M represents one or more dopant metals, x?0.6, 0.01?y<0.2, 0?z?0.05, and x+y+z?1.0. The methods are cost-effective, and include methods for solid-state, molten-salt, and flash-sintering syntheses.

Abstract: The present disclosure based on the inventors' recognition that PAN domain containing proteins play important immune regulating functions. Disclosed herein are methods for modulating immune responses in plants and animals, improving in vitro fertilization efficiency, and inhibiting human cell division and cellular migration in cancer cells. Also disclosed herein are genetically modified plants that are resistant to pathogenic infections.

Abstract: A method for producing a bonded magnet, comprising: (i) low-shear compounding of a thermoplastic polymer and magnetic particles to form an initial homogeneous mixture thereof; (ii) feeding the initial homogeneous mixture into a plasticator comprising a low-shear single screw rotating unidirectionally toward a die orifice and housed within a heated barrel to result in heating of the initial homogeneous mixture until the thermoplastic polymer melts and forms a further homogeneous mixture, wherein said further homogeneous mixture is transported within threads of the single screw towards the die orifice and exits the die orifice as a solid pellet; (iii) conveying the solid pellet into a mold and compression molding the pellet in the mold, to form the bonded magnet, wherein the bonded magnet possesses a magnetic particle loading of at least 80 vol % and exhibits one or more magnetic properties varying by less than 5% throughout the bonded magnet.

Abstract: A sensor assembly for determining an operating characteristic of a nuclear reactor. The sensor assembly includes a solid-state lasing media and an optical fiber. The solid-state lasing media is doped with a fissile species. The solid-state lasing media is disposable within a core of the nuclear reactor and is configured to generate laser light. An output of the laser light is based at least in part by the fissile species. The optical fiber is operably coupled to the solid-state lasing media and configured to receive the laser light generated by the solid-state lasing media. The optical fiber is configured to extend out of the core of the nuclear reactor to a control system of the nuclear reactor.

Abstract: Methods and systems for producing feedstock powders, suitable for use in laser-based additive manufacturing, use laser ablation to vaporize a source material, which may be in bulk solid or solid coarse grain form. The source material is vaporized by a laser (or other focused energy source) in a vaporization chamber that is temperature controlled to provide a vertical thermal gradient. The vertical thermal gradient may be controlled to, in turn, control the nucleation, coagulation, and agglomeration of the vaporized molecules, enabling formation of microparticles that may then be used as feedstock powders in laser-based additive manufacturing. The produced feedstock powder particles may be of uniform composition, of uniform shape (e.g., substantially spherical), and of uniform phase or homogeneously mixed phases.

Abstract: A synesthesia-based encryption system and method (referred to as a system) includes a camera that captures an image and a transceiver communicatively coupled to the camera and a video-only network. The system includes a sensor that monitors a location and generates a sensor message. The sensor message include information that represents a state, a measurement, and/or a detection at that location. The system's processor maps colors to characters from the sensor message to generate a replacement image. In some systems, the sensor is encrypted first. The processor integrates the replacement image within the original image or some or all of the video frames captured by the camera to form a combined image(s) and causes a transceiver to transmit the combined image(s) across the video-only network to a destination.

Abstract: Shear-assisted extrusion processes for forming extrusions of a desired composition from a feedstock material are provided. The processes can include applying a rotational shearing force and an axial extrusion to the same location on the feedstock material. Devices for this can include a die tool defined by a die face extending from a rim of the die face inwardly at an angle greater than zero in relation to a sidewall of the die tool in at least one cross section; and/or a die tool defining an opening configured to receive feedstock material for extrusion and further defining a die face defining a recess within the die face and contiguous with the opening. Shear-assisted extrusion processes are also provided that can mix different portions of the feedstock material within a recess about the opening prior to feedstock material entering the opening; and extruding the mixed portions.

Abstract: A resilient security agent determines a cyber and/or physical health of a control system by, inter alia, communicating cyber-physical key data through cyber-physical control paths of the system, and determining error introduced by the communication. The resilient security agent may be further configured to verify the integrity of acquired cyber-physical state information. The cyber health of the control system may be evaluated by comparing the acquired cyber state information to one or more cyber state profiles. The physical health of the control system may be evaluated by comparing the acquired physical state information to one or more physical state profiles.

Abstract: A compositionally graded alloy construction for separating a low oxygen content corrosive environment from a high oxygen content oxidizing environment includes a wall having a wall thickness and a first surface segment for contacting the low oxygen content corrosive environment, and a second surface segment for contacting the high oxygen content oxidizing environment. The alloy comprises, in weight percent: 0 to 5 Al; 5 to 30 Cr; 0 to 20 Co; 0 to 70 Fe; 0 to 2 Nb; 0 to 2 Ta; 0 to 3 Ti; 0 to 1 Si; 0 to 1 V; 0 to 2 Mn; 0 to 5 Cu; 0 to 30 Mo; 0 to 30 W; 0 to 0.1 P; 0 to 1 Zr; 0 to 1 Hf; 0 to 0.1 Y; 0.05 to 0.5 C; 0 to 0.1 N; and balance Ni.

Abstract: A positive electrode for a sodium ion battery is provided. The positive electrode includes a sodium metal vanadium fluorophosphate having a formula according to Formula I: Na3V2-xMxOy(PO4)2F3-y??I; wherein 0<x?1, 0?y?1, and M is one or more additional metals.

Abstract: A vapor compression heat transfer system includes an evaporator assembly, an ice-prone surface, and an ultrasonic energy source. The ultrasonic energy source when energized vibrating the ice-prone surface at a frequency of from 30 kHz to 60 kHz. The ultrasonic energy source can be a piezoelectric transducer. The piezoelectric transducer can be operated in an ice sensing mode and a deicing mode and can also verify the removal of ice. A method of conducting one of heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) is also disclosed.

Abstract: A modified electrode includes a conductive substrate and a crosslinked branched polymer disposed on at least a portion of a surface of the conductive substrate. The crosslinked branched polymer comprises a plurality of tertiary amino groups and a plurality of carboxylic acid groups, carbonyl groups, hydroxyl groups, or any combination thereof. The electrode is useful in a battery, such as a redox flow battery.

Abstract: A test capsule for measuring at least one property of a material exposed to nuclear radiation comprises a lattice structure configured to exhibit a change in at least one property responsive to exposure to nuclear radiation. The lattice structure comprises a first strut and a second strut connected to the first strut at a node. Related test capsules and methods are also described.