Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for dissolving ion exchange membranes to provide dissolved polymers, particularly at low temperatures and/or pressures, that can be recast to regenerate ion exchange membranes exhibiting reduced defects compared to the initial ion exchange membrane. In some aspects of the disclosure, the polymer exchange membranes include a perfluorosulfonic acid polymer. In some aspects of the disclosure, the method involves dissolving the membranes in one or more aprotic solvents, particularly at temperatures below 80° C.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a method for making jet fuel blendstocks that comprise partially hydrogenated carbocyclic compounds and which can be used to replace aromatic-containing fuels and that exhibit suitable seal swell properties. The disclosed method embodiments utilize catalysts and reaction conditions that facilitate partially hydrogenating carbocyclic compounds present in mixtures obtained from renewable sources, such as bio-based fermentation products. The reaction product mixtures obtained from the disclosed method can be blended with blendstocks to provide fuels that avoid soot formation caused by aromatic-containing fuels and that exhibit seal swelling that meet requirements in aviation systems.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and system for CO2 removal from a gas stream using a diamine solvent having a Formula I R1(R2)N-L1-NH—R3?? Formula I. With respect to Formula I, each of R1 and R2 independently is aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, or R1 and R2 together with the nitrogen to which they are attached, form a heterocyclyl ring; L1 is aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, or L1 and R1 together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form a heterocyclyl ring; and R3 is aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, cycloalkylalkyl, or alkoxyalkyl. And/or the compound may have a viscosity of less than 75 cP at a CO2-loading of 40 mol % and at a temperature of 40° C.

Abstract: A system that includes: (a) a liquid natural gas storage tank fluidly coupled to a first compressor, (b) a fuel cell having an inlet fluidly coupled to the first compressor and an H2 gas outlet fluidly coupled to a heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger receives compressed liquid natural gas from the first compressor; (c) an active magnetic regenerative refrigerator H2 liquefier that comprises at least one layer of a magnetic refrigerant material, wherein the active magnetic regenerative refrigerator H2 liquefier receives cooled H2 gas from the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A broadband RF imaging device includes a broadband RF aperture array, at least one RF receiver, and a computer. The at least one RF receiver has short RF connections with the broadband RF aperture array, e.g. length 10 meters or less. The computer has a digital data connection to the at least one RF receiver. Each RF receiver is configured to receive broadband RF signal data over a sampling time interval from the broadband RF aperture array, and to digitize the broadband RF signal data to generate digitized broadband RF signal data, and to store the digitized broadband RF signal data locally at the RF receiver. The computer receives the digitized broadband RF signal data stored locally at the at least one RF receiver, and is programmed to reconstruct an RF image from the digitized broadband RF signal data received from the at least one RF receiver.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of reducing muscle contraction in a diaphragm or peripheral muscle(s) of a patient sufficient to permit a surgical procedure. The methods may comprise the step of administering an oxime or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof to a subject in need thereof in an amount sufficient to achieve said reduced muscle contraction/neuromuscular blockade. Kits and articles of manufacture comprising a container having a label and a composition are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for scanning articles, such as footwear, to provide information regarding the contents of the articles are described. According to one aspect, a footwear scanning system includes a platform configured to contact footwear to be scanned, an antenna array configured to transmit electromagnetic waves through the platform into the footwear and to receive electromagnetic waves from the footwear and the platform, a transceiver coupled with antennas of the antenna array and configured to apply electrical signals to at least one of the antennas to generate the transmitted electromagnetic waves and to receive electrical signals from at least another of the antennas corresponding to the electromagnetic waves received by the others of the antennas, and processing circuitry configured to process the received electrical signals from the transceiver to provide information regarding contents within the footwear.

Abstract: An agricultural composition comprises living microorganisms encapsulated in polymer gel microbeads which are applied onto seeds. In another embodiment, an agricultural composition comprises living microorganisms encapsulated in polymer gel macroheads for planting with seeds in soil. In another embodiment, an agricultural composition comprises living microorganisms immobilized in a polymer gel matrix that is coated on a seed.

Abstract: Fissile target materials are provided. The fissile target materials can include a target substrate and a capturing layer operably interfacing with at least one surface of the target substrate. Fission fissile target materials are also provided that can include a target substrate comprising at least one fissile atom and a capturing layer operably interfacing with at least one surface of the target substrate. The capturing layer can include at least one fission product.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, devices and methods for detection, identification and sorting of cells and/or cellular-associated targets. The system comprises at least a microfluidic device and a Raman detection and identification unit. The microfluidic device comprises a junction structure aligned with the Raman detection and identification unit, wherein a cell confined at the junction structure is detected and analyzed by the Raman detection and identification unit and routed into a collection channel based on analysis of Raman spectra.

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: Stabilized porous silicon particles are disclosed. The particles include a porous silicon particle comprising a plurality of interconnected silicon nanoparticles and (i) a heterogeneous layer comprising a discontinuous SiC coating that is discontinuous across a portion of pore surfaces and across a portion of an outer surface of the porous silicon particle, and a continuous carbon coating that covers outer surfaces of the discontinuous SiC coating, and remaining portions of the pore surfaces and the outer surface of the porous silicon particle, or (ii) a continuous carbon coating on surfaces of the porous silicon particle, including the outer surface and pore surfaces. Methods of making the stabilized porous silicon particles also are disclosed.

Abstract: This invention addresses the need for efficient dry skin electrodes. Robust, flexible Mixed Ionic Electronic Conductor (MIEC) electrodes were prepared by an aqueous solution route resulting in electrically conductive networks of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and ionically conductive elastic matrix. The flexible electrode was characterized in terms of conductivity, ionic charge transfer resistance, and water uptake. The flexible electrode maintained low resistance even after multiple cycles of 50% extension and contraction.

Abstract: A system for decontamination of patient care equipment and a system for decontamination of an interior space. In some embodiments, a decontaminant distributor is provided in an enclosure and coupled to a decontaminant generator system. The decontaminant generator system may include a decontaminant generator removably coupled to the decontaminant distributor at an exterior of the enclosure for allowing the decontaminant generator to be removed and connected to another decontaminant distributor associated with another system for decontamination of patient care equipment. An air agitation system may be provided in the enclosure for agitating air and decontaminant in the enclosure. In some embodiments, a portable system may be transported to an interior space for decontaminating the items in the space using hot-air decontamination.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides regenerative sorbent membranes and membrane assemblies for direct air capture (DAC) systems for CO2 capture, wherein the sorbent membranes have a conductive film disposed thereon. The conductive film provides a means for direct heating of the sorbent membrane to desorb captured CO2 and regenerate the membrane. The conductive films are comprised of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and a polymeric binder. Methods of making a regenerative sorbent membrane for direct air capture systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a method and system for converting ethanol to para-xylene. The method also provides a pathway to produce terephthalic acid from biomass-based feedstocks. In some embodiments, the disclosed method produces p-xylene with high selectivity over other aromatics typically produced in the conversion of ethanol to xylenes, such as m-xylene, ethyl benzene, benzene, toluene, and the like. And, in some embodiments, the method facilitates the ability to use ortho/para mixtures of methylbenzyaldehyde for preparing ortho/para xylene product mixtures that are amendable to fractionation to separate the para- and ortho-xylene products thereby providing a pure feedstock of para-xylene that can be used to form terephthalic anhydride and a pure feedstock of ortho-xylene that can be used for other purposes, such as phthalic anhydride.

Abstract: Nickel alloys, methods of making nickel alloys, articles including the nickel alloys, uses of the alloys, and methods of treating nickel alloys are described. The inventive heat resistant structural materials are suitable for applications requiring high yield stress at room temperature and good creep strength at high temperatures, such as in gas turbines, steam turbines, fossil energy boilers, aero engines, power generation systems using fluids such as supercritical carbon dioxide (e.g., advanced ultra-supercritical power plants), concentrated solar power plants, nuclear power plants, molten salt reactors: turbine blades, casings, valves, heat exchangers and recuperators.

Abstract: Methods and structures are disclosed for creating a physical linkage between two or more viral particles, which can covalently link the viral particles together. The methods and structures described herein are designed for purposes of improving efficiency and effectiveness of vector delivery into cells and tissues for purposes of gene therapy. Methods for linking two or more viral vectors comprise functionalizing a first vector with a first surface moiety and functionalizing a second vector with a second surface moiety. Thereafter, the first functionalized vector and second functionalized vector are combined so that the two surface moieties can react. During this reaction, the first surface moiety and the second surface moiety form a covalent linkage, thereby resulting in the physical linkage of both vectors to each other.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are aspects of a system for coupling electrochemical marine carbon capture with photosynthesis. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the system comprises an electrochemical cell that converts saline water into (i) a base stream, (ii) an at least partially deionized water stream, and (iii) an acid stream. In some aspects, the system further comprises a biomass cultivation unit in fluid communication with the acid stream, the biomass cultivation unit comprising a photosynthetic organism. The acid stream catalyzes release of CO2 in a growth medium for the photosynthetic organism to accelerate growth of the photosynthetic organism relative to growth without the acid stream and facilitates CO2 storage by the photosynthetic organism. Also disclosed herein are aspects of a method for coupling electrochemical marine carbon capture with photosynthesis.