Abstract: A solid-state method for recycling spent and/or scrap cathode material includes heating a cathode material comprising lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide in an oxygen-containing atmosphere at a temperature T1 for an effective period of time t1 to convert the cathode material to a solid precursor, combining the solid precursor with a lithium compound, and heating the solid precursor and the lithium compound in an oxygen-containing atmosphere at a temperature T2 for an effective period of time t2 to form a product comprising monocrystalline lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide having a formula LiNixMnyMzCo1-x-y-zO2, where M represents one or more dopant metals, x?0.33, 0.01?y<0.33, 0?z?0.05, and x+y+?z 1.0.

Abstract: A device for biological sample preparation and analysis is disclosed. The device includes a substrate and a plurality of spaced apart arrays disposed on an upper surface of the substrate. Each array includes a plurality of reaction vessels, each reaction vessel having a hydrophilic surface. A hydrophilic ring surrounds each array. Methods of making and using the device are also disclosed.

Abstract: An air interface plane (AIP) of a radio frequency (RF) aperture includes: a circuit board having a first side and a second side opposite the first side; and a matrix of tapered elements arranged on the first side of the circuit board and secured to the circuit board, the matrix of tapered elements cooperating to at least one of receive or transmit an over-the-air RF signal. Suitably, each tapered element of the matrix has: a central hub extending along a longitudinal axis from a hub base which is proximate to the first side of the circuit board to an apex of the tapered element which is distal from the first side of the first circuit board; and a plurality of arms extending from the central hub at the apex of the tapered element, each of the plurality of arms including a first portion that projects the arm radially away from the longitudinal axis and a second portion that projects the arm longitudinally toward the first side of the circuit board.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and apparatus for injecting a medicine, especially a highly viscous medicine. Conventional methods and apparatus for injecting viscous medicines suffers suffer from a variety of problems such as excessive force during the initial needle insertion and initial injection. In an inventive method, during the initial phase of the injection, energy is stored in a torsion spring that is subsequently released during a later stage of the injection. The present invention also provides for an improved autoinjector; especially via the use of a combination compression and torsion spring that powers the injection through controlling force applied to a plunger via a screw flange or nut having pins that ride in a prescribed path down the length of the autoinjector.

Abstract: The invention relates to control compositions for sequencing and for chemical analyses, such as analytical chemistry analyses. More particularly, the invention relates to control compositions for sequencing and for chemical analyses having at least one barcode sequence fragment and at least one universal sequence fragment, and to methods of their use.

Abstract: Imaging systems and associated methods are described. According to one aspect, an imaging system includes an antenna array having transmit and receive antennas, the transmit antennas emit electromagnetic energy from a plurality of different positions about a target imaging volume and the receive antennas receive reflections of the electromagnetic energy at the different positions, a transceiver configured to control the emission of the electromagnetic energy and to generate radar data that is indicative of the reflections of the electromagnetic energy received via the receive antennas; and processing circuitry configured to focus the radar data to provide first focused data in a first dimension, to focus the radar data in a second dimension to provide second focused data, and use the second focused data to focus the radar data in a third dimension to provide third focused data comprising an image of the target imaging volume.

Abstract: An electrolyte composition comprising a solution comprising an active salt; and a solvent portion that comprises a first solvent and a second solvent, wherein the first solvent is a hydrofluorocarbon compound having a structure of CxHyFz, wherein x is from 4 to 10, y is from 1 to 10, z is from 5 to 20, and the z:y ratio is from 2:1 to 10:1.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a polymer-functionalized particle for using in isolating and extracting solutes, such as rare earth metals, lithium, and the like. The polymer-functionalized particles exhibit strong resistance to agglomeration and degradation even in high ionic strength and/or temperature environments. A post-particle synthesis method for making the polymer-functionalized particle is disclosed, along with a magnetic separation device and that can be used in system embodiments to facilitate use and regeneration of the polymer-functionalized particles in solute extraction.

Abstract: Riveted assemblies are provided that can include a substrate extending between two ends to define opposing substrate surfaces having a first opening extending between the opposing substrate surfaces; a metal-comprising substrate extending between two ends to define opposing metal-comprising substrate surfaces having a second opening extending between the opposing metal-comprising substrate surfaces. The riveted assemblies can further provide that the first and second openings complement one another when the substrate and metal-comprising substrate are engaged; and a rivet shaft extends through the openings and engages the substrate with the rivet head and the metal-comprising substrate with the rivet stop head, at least a portion of the stop head being mixed with, and forming a metallurgical bond with the metal-comprising substrate. Assemblies are provided that can include a rivet stop head mixed with, and metallurgically bonded with a metal-comprising substrate.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for tapping serial communications and transforming the serial data into a format appropriate for routable networks are significant for purposes of security and troubleshooting, especially in critical infrastructure networks. Communication taps should be completely passive such that any failure would not interrupt the serial communications. Furthermore, automatic determination of unspecified serial protocol frames allow general implementation across various networks, or across devices within a single network, without the need to customize for each implementation.

Abstract: Reinforcement learning is coupled to a deep generative model based on a three-dimensional scaffold model to generate drug candidates targeting a particular protein, building up atom or functional groups from a starting core scaffold. A reward function can use parallel graph neural network models and take the particular protein into account when calculating reward based on criteria such as binding, synthetic accessibility, and the like. In an agent-critic reinforcement learning model, the agent learns to build molecules in three-dimensional space while optimizing the criteria.

Abstract: In an approach to non-destructive inspection of IC devices, one or more images of a Device Under Test (DUT) are received from one or more imaging devices. Observed features are detected in the one or more images and producing a first synthetic representation of a part design of the DUT that includes the observed features. The presence of one or more first unobserved features are inferred, where the one or more first unobserved features are inferred using a mapping and inference model (MIM). The one or more first unobserved features are added to the first synthetic representation of the part design of the DUT.

Abstract: Rechargeable batteries include a NiyFe1-y cathode where 0?y?1, an anode comprising a current collector, a porous separator positioned between the cathode and the anode, and an electrolyte comprising MAlX4, wherein M is Na, Li, K, or a combination thereof, and X is Cl, Br, I, or a combination thereof, and wherein the electrolyte is a solid at temperatures less than 50° C. The batteries are temperature activated. The electrolyte temperature is increased above its melting point while charging and reduced below the melting point for energy storage, such as seasonal energy storage. The electrolyte temperature is increased above the melting point again to discharge the battery.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) aperture includes an array of electrically conductive tapered projections arranged to define a curved aperture surface, such as a semi-cylinder aperture surface, or a cylinder aperture surface (which may be constructed as two semi-circular aperture surfaces mutually arranged to define the cylinder aperture surface). The RF aperture may further include a top array of electrically conductive tapered projections arranged to define a top aperture surface. The top aperture surface may be planar, and a cylinder axis of cylinder aperture surface may be perpendicular to the plane of the planar top aperture surface. The RF aperture may further include baluns mounted on at least one printed circuit board, each having a balanced port electrically connected with two neighboring electrically conductive tapered projections of the array and further having an unbalanced port.

Abstract: An air interface plane (AIP) of a radio frequency (RF) aperture includes: a circuit board having a first side and a second side opposite the first side; and a matrix of tapered elements arranged on the first side of the circuit board and secured to the circuit board, the matrix of tapered elements cooperating to at least one of receive or transmit an over-the-air RF signal. Suitably, each tapered element of the matrix has: a central hub extending along a longitudinal axis from a hub base which is proximate to the first side of the circuit board to an apex of the tapered element which is distal from the first side of the first circuit board; and a plurality of arms extending from the central hub at the apex of the tapered element, each of the plurality of arms including a first portion that projects the arm radially away from the longitudinal axis and a second portion that projects the arm longitudinally toward the first side of the circuit board.

Abstract: A device is described in which the shape of a resistive heater material is configured to provide rapid and strong heating of a small area. The resistive heating material is heated unevenly while efficiently using power.

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: Methods for separating Ra from Pb, Bi, and Th are provided, the methods can include: providing a first mixture comprising Ra, Pb, Bi, and/or Th; providing a system that can include: a first vessel housing a first media; a second vessel in fluid communication with the first vessel, the second vessel housing a second media; and a third vessel in fluid communication with the second vessel, the third vessel housing a third media; and exposing the first mixture to the first media within the first vessel then, through the fluid communication, exposing the first remainder to the second media in the second vessel, then, through fluid communication, exposing the next remainder to the third media in the third vessel, the exposing separating the Th and Bi from the Ra and Pb, and the Ra from the Pb. Methods for separating Ra from being associated with a media are also provided. The methods can include: exposing the Ra and media to a chelating agent to form a mixture comprising the Ra complexed with the chelating agent.

Abstract: Firearm discharge location systems and methods are described. According to one aspect, a firearm discharge location system includes a plurality of microphones spaced from one another, timing circuitry configured to generate a plurality of asynchronous timing references, wherein data capture operations with respect to the microphones of a first pair are synchronized with one another using a first of the timing references and data capture operations with respect to the microphones of a second pair are synchronized with one another using a second of the timing references, and processing circuitry configured to use outputs of the first and second pairs of the microphones to identify a location of a firearm discharge.