Abstract: Fast simultaneous feasibility testing (SFT) for management of an electrical power grid is achieved through various innovations. The computation problem relates to evaluation of candidate solutions for external power flows into a power grid, with respect to predetermined constraints and contingencies. A perturbation approach with precomputation is extended to encompass grid states (e.g. time periods) in addition to contingencies. Advantages derive from: fewer factorizations or inversions of large matrices; decoupling of state-dependent and contingency-dependent perturbations, leaving relatively few perturbations jointly dependent on both state and contingency; or making approximations by discarding small jointly dependent terms. Significant computation reductions allow a single workstation to perform SFT for 36 hours of a day-ahead cycle.

Abstract: The invention relates to microbial growth. The invention provides a system and method for rapidly and reliably generating information for microbial growth for known and unknown microorganisms. Using sequence information of the microorganisms in a sample, the system and method identifies the microorganisms contained in the sample and generates growth recipes and conditions for each. The recipes are identified from a recipe database or alternatively created by taking into consideration the species, unique characteristics and growth requirements of the user-desired microbe.

Abstract: Methods are described for protecting a cyber-physical system against a potential attacker of the system. The methods include a method of generating a plurality of examples for a training data set and training a system model using the training data set to generate a decoy configured to generate a synthetic output that mimics historical outputs generated by the system for a given historical system context. Also described is a method including receiving a system context of a cyber-physical system; receiving an inquiry into the system by a potential attacker; applying a system model to the system context and the inquiry; obtaining from the system model a synthetic output that mimics how a component of the system would respond to the inquiry given the system context; and providing the synthetic output to the potential attacker.

Abstract: Systems for preparing butenes are provided. The systems can include a reactor inlet coupled to both a reactor and at least one reactant reservoir; at least one of the reactant reservoirs containing one or both of an aldehyde and/or ethanol; a catalyst within the reactor, the catalyst comprising a metal component and an acidic support material; and a reactor outlet operationally configured to convey a butene-rich reaction product to a product reservoir. Methods for preparing butenes are also provided. The methods can include exposing one or both of ethanol and/or an aldehyde to a catalyst comprising a metal component and an acidic support to form a butene-rich product that comprises one or both of 1-butene and/or 2-butene.

Abstract: Antenna assemblies and antenna systems are described. According to one aspect, a printed circuit board antenna system includes a dielectric substrate comprising first and second surfaces that are opposite to one another, first electrically conductive material of an antenna element adjacent to the first surface of the dielectric substrate, wherein the antenna element is configured to emit electromagnetic energy, and second electrically conductive material of a ground plane adjacent to the second surface of the dielectric substrate, wherein the ground plane is aligned with the antenna element and configured to reflect some of the electromagnetic energy in a direction towards the antenna element.

Abstract: A reactor irradiation method is provided that can include irradiating Np or Am spheres within a target assembly of a nuclear reactor to form reacted spheres comprising Pu. The target assembly can define a solid core within an exterior housing, and a void between the exterior housing and the solid core, wherein the spheres occupy at least a portion of the void. The irradiating can include exposing the spheres to a neutron energy spectrum while the spheres are in the void of the target assembly to form irradiated spheres.

Abstract: Systems and methods that directly image attenuation-based object grid, use a source grid to improve imaging of the object grid using a high-energy polychromatic source, and use a detector grid having gratings oriented substantially orthogonally to that of the object grid, can address artifacts and beam hardening effects that limit the quality and discriminatory power of high-energy x-ray imaging that includes phase contrast.

Abstract: Autoinjectors and methods of injection are described that feature release mechanisms and/or end-of-dose sound which can operate in conjunction with a powered plunger to efficiently inject a controlled dose from a syringe.

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: Electrolytes for lithium ion batteries with carbon-based, silicon-based, or carbon- and silicon-based anodes include a lithium salt; a nonaqueous solvent comprising at least one of the following components: (i) an ester, (ii) a sulfur-containing solvent, (iii) a phosphorus-containing solvent, (iv) an ether, (v) a nitrile, or any combination thereof, wherein the lithium salt is soluble in the solvent; a diluent comprising a fluoroalkyl ether, a fluorinated orthoformate, a fluorinated carbonate, a fluorinated borate, a fluorinated phosphate, a fluorinated phosphite, or any combination thereof, wherein the lithium salt has a solubility in the diluent at least 10 times less than a solubility of the lithium salt in the solvent; and an additive having a different composition than the lithium salt, a different composition than the solvent, and a different composition than the diluent. In some electrolytes, the nonaqueous solvent comprises an ester.

Abstract: Laminar co-flow methods for the extraction and separation of highly pure Mg(OH)2 and other minerals from complex ionic mixtures by precipitation are disclosed herein. Mineral precipitates prepared according to methods disclosed herein demonstrated exceptional purity, and faster separation compared to conventional bulk methods. LCM mineral extractions were driven by non-equilibrium concentration gradients present at the interface between source and reactant solutions, allowing the methods to operate practically on industrial scale.

Abstract: Methods of mapping a subterranean formation using imploding particles are described. In some cases, the particles contain a material that generated a gas which passes through a water-insoluble coating to create a void within the particle. In some aspects, the implosive particles have a coating that dissolves in the subterranean formation.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a modular armored vehicle system that includes a plurality of armored components removably affixed to a vehicle frame, wherein the plurality of armored components includes an armored roof component comprising a forward roof section, a middle roof section, and a rear roof section, wherein each of the plurality of armored components comprise a plurality of bends to form-fit onto the vehicle frame. The modular armored vehicle system further includes a first side armored component of the plurality of armored components removably affixed to the vehicle frame, wherein the first side armored component comprises a flange portion to overlap the armored roof component. Further, the modular armored vehicle component further includes a side pillar armored component of the plurality of armored components removably affixed to the vehicle frame.

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 for electrical stimulation may comprise a plurality of electrodes and a processor. The processor may be configured to: define a region of interest (ROI) for electrode activation via a first subset of the plurality of electrodes; and define a second subset of electrodes, wherein each electrode within the second subset of electrodes are positioned away from the ROI such that the average distance between each electrode and the ROI is maximized. The second group of electrodes may be defined via low-discrepancy sequences or an equidistributed sequence. The plurality of electrodes may be part of a wearable garment or an implantable device. The system may be for muscle stimulation or neural simulation.

Abstract: Systems for determining GW/SW interaction are provided. The systems can include: a sensing assembly comprising sensors for pressure, fluid conductivity, temperature, and transfer resistance; processing circuitry operatively coupled to the sensing assembly and configured to receive data from the sensing assembly and process the data to provide a GW/SW interaction, wherein the data includes pressure, fluid conductivity, temperature, transfer resistance data. Methods for determining GW/SW interaction are provided. The methods can include: receiving real time data including pressure, fluid conductivity, temperature, and transfer resistance; from at least some of the data received simulating the SW/GW interaction; and fitting the real time data with the simulated data to provide actual SW/GW interaction.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for a market-based control framework to coordinate a group of autonomous thermostatically controlled loads (TCL) to achieve system-level objectives with pricing incentives is disclosed. In one example of the disclosed technology, a method of providing power to a load via a power grid by submitting bids to a coordinator includes determining an energy response relating price data for one or more energy prices to quantity data for power to be consumed by the load, sending a bid for power for a finite time period based on the energy response to the coordinator, and receiving a clearing price based on: the bid, on bids received from a plurality of additional loads, and a feeder power constraint. In some examples, the energy response is based at least in part on an equivalent thermal parameter model and a control policy indicating one or more power states for the load.

Abstract: An autoinjector and method of injection are described. A power spring causes rotation of a drive nut about the central axis of the autoinjector that, in turn, causes a middle screw to rotate in the same direction as the drive nut and also to move in the distal direction while pushing a center screw in the distal direction that pushes the syringe and needle. The center screw also pushes a plunger that pushes the fluid out of the syringe. After injection, a locked retract screw is freed and rotates in the same direction as the middle screw causing the syringe to retract the syringe into the housing.

Abstract: Computing system operational methods and apparatus are described. According to one aspect, a computing system operational method includes accessing user information regarding a user logging onto a computing device of the computing system, processing the user information to determine if the user information is authentic, as a result of the processing determining that the user information is authentic, first enabling the computing device to execute an application segment, and as a result of the processing determining that the user information is authentic, second enabling the application segment to communicate data externally of the computing device via one of a plurality of network segments of the computing system.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and systems for proteome analysis that are at least partially automated and/or performed robotically. In some aspects, the methods and systems described herein can rapidly and efficiently provide protein identification of each of the proteins from a proteome, or a complement of proteins, obtained from extremely small amounts of biological samples. The identified proteins can be imaged quantitatively over a spatial region. Automation and robotics facilitates the throughput of the methods and systems, which enables protein imaging and/or rapid proteome analysis.