Abstract: Compositions comprising an organic salt, an amine and water are described herein. The methods of using the compositions include the removal of an acid gas from a gas mixture.

Abstract: A vapor recovery system for an internal combustion engine is provided, the system having a fuel tank containing fuel and vapor that is in select fluid communication with an intake of the internal combustion engine, a compressor, a condensate tank, a condensate composition sensor, and an engine control unit. The engine control unit can be configured to select a desired operating mode for the internal combustion engine and to control the supply of condensate to the intake of the internal combustion engine based on the selected desired operating mode.

Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to metal or dielectric nanostructures of the subwavelength scale within the grating lines of optical diffraction gratings. The nanostructures have surface plasmon resonances or non-plasmon optical resonances. A linear photodetector array is used to capture the resonance spectra from one of the diffraction orders. The combined nanostructure super-grating and photodetector array eliminates the use of external optical spectrometers for measuring surface plasmon or optical resonance frequency shift caused by the presence of chemical and biological agents. The nanostructure super-gratings can be used for building integrated surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectrometers. The nanostructures within the diffraction grating lines enhance Raman scattering signal light while the diffraction grating pattern of the nanostructures diffracts Raman scattering light to different directions of propagation according to their wavelengths.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally pertain to passive cooling systems and methods for electronics. An exemplary passive cooling system for electronics has a circuit package and dielectric liquid. The circuit package has a cover positioned over a circuit element coupled to a substrate. The cover is attached to the substrate and creates a water-tight seal around the circuit element. The circuit package further has a porous media. The dielectric liquid directly contacts the circuit element, and heat from the circuit element is transferred to the dielectric liquid. As the liquid reaches its boiling point, vapor from the liquid is passed through the porous media for further cooling.

Abstract: A scope correction apparatus comprises at least one lens and is positioned on a weapon in front of a reticled scope. Such scope correction apparatus receives light from a scene that is located a relatively short distance from the scope such that, without the presence of the scope correction apparatus, the focal point of the light within the scope would not be overlaid with the scope reticle. The scope correction apparatus optically alters the light such that its focal point is overlaid with the scope reticle thereby correcting for optical aberrations caused by the short distance between the scene and the scope. Accordingly, the user is able to view through the scope clear images of both the scene and the reticle.

Abstract: Clathrate hydrates and methods of their production and separation are described herein. Methods of using the clathrate hydrates for energy storage are also described herein. Further described herein are hydrogen storage devices.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing vector control of grid-connected power electronic converters using a neural network are described herein. Optionally, the grid-connected power electronic converters can be used in renewable and electric power system applications. In order to improve performance and stability under disturbance conditions, integrals of error signals can be introduced as inputs to the neural network. Alternatively or additionally, grid disturbance voltage can be introduced to an output of a trained neural network.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining whether and/or when a patient is taking his or her medication and, when appropriate, providing reminders and/or alerts to the patient to improve adherence to a medication regimen. In some embodiments, a medication container is provided that includes a capacitance sensor for sensing the contents of the medication container (e.g., pill count or quantity of liquid medication). The capacitance sensor may include interleaved or interdigitated electrodes oriented vertically, horizontally, or angularly (e.g., diagonally) relative to an axis of the medication container. Reminders and/or alerts to the patient may be triggered based at least in part on the contents of the medication container, when a cap of the container was last opened and/or closed, the location of the medication container, and/or the container's surroundings.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for designing and fabricating contact-free support structures for overhang geometries of parts fabricated using electron beam additive manufacturing. One or more layers of un-melted metallic powder are disposed in an elongate gap between an upper horizontal surface of the support structure and a lower surface of the overhang geometry. The powder conducts heat from the overhang geometry to the support structure. The support structure acts as a heat sink to enhance heat transfer and reduce the temperature and severe thermal gradients due to poor thermal conductivity of metallic powders underneath the overhang. Because the support structure is not connected to the part, the support structure can be removed freely without any post-processing step.

Abstract: A through-the-earth (TTE) communication system has a transmitter that uses an electromagnetic antenna to propagate a magnetic communication signal through the earth. The antenna comprises a coil that is wrapped a core of magnetic material. The transmitter converts voice into a pulsed direct current (DC) signal that is applied to the coil of the antenna. The antenna transforms the pulsed DC signal into a pulsed DC magnetic field that propagates through the earth, and the DC magnetic field may pass through soil, water, or other substances within the earth. A receiver at the earth's surface or other location senses the pulsed magnetic field and converts the sensed magnetic energy into a voice signal.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally pertain to systems and methods for localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) sensing. A system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure comprises an optical fiber having a metallic dot array on a tip of the optical fiber, a light source coupled to the optical fiber via a light coupler, and a spectrometer coupled to the optical fiber via the coupler. The light source is configured to transmit light within a range of wavelengths along the optical fiber. When the light reaches the dot array, the light excites surface plasmons of the dot array and causes the surface plasmons of the dots to resonate. The dots are chemically functionalized to have a specific affinity for a particular substance, and the resonance frequency of the dots changes when the substance is present thereby changing an absorption peak of the light.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for enhancing the thermal stability of ionic compounds including ionic liquids, by immobilization on porous solid support materials having a pore diameter of between about 20-200 ?, wherein the solid support does not have a pore size of 90 ?.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining whether and/or when a patient is taking his or her medication and, when appropriate, providing reminders and/or alerts to the patient to improve adherence to a medication regimen. In some embodiments, a medication container is provided that includes a capacitance sensor for sensing the contents of the medication container (e.g., pill count or quantity of liquid medication). The capacitance sensor may include interleaved or interdigitated electrodes oriented vertically, horizontally, or angularly (e.g., diagonally) relative to an axis of the medication container. Reminders and/or alerts to the patient may be triggered based at least in part on the contents of the medication container, when a cap of the container was last opened and/or closed, the location of the medication container, and/or the container's surroundings.

Abstract: A weather forecasting system has weather forecasting logic that receives raw image data from a satellite. The raw image data has values indicative of light and radiance data from the Earth as measured by the satellite, and the weather forecasting logic processes such data to identify cumulus clouds within the satellite images. For each identified cumulus cloud, the weather forecasting logic applies interest field tests to determine a score indicating the likelihood of the cumulus cloud forming precipitation and/or lightning in the future within a certain time period. Based on such scores, the weather forecasting logic predicts in which geographic regions the identified cumulus clouds will produce precipitation and/or lighting within during the time period. Such predictions may then be used to provide a weather map thereby providing users with a graphical illustration of the areas predicted to be affected by precipitation within the time period.

Abstract: A fiber optic directional sensor has a substantially hemispherical dome surface and a substantially flat surface. The sensor is formed from a plurality of optical fibers fused to one another, and each optical fiber extends from the dome surface to the flat surface. One end of each optical fiber is substantially perpendicular to the sensor's dome surface, and the opposite end of the fiber is substantially perpendicular to the sensor's flat surface such that an end face of the fiber is substantially tangent to the dome surface, and another end face of the fiber is substantially tangent to the flat surface. Using the sensor, light from projectiles, such as missiles, bullets, and other weaponry, can be detected, and the locations of the projectiles can be determined.

Abstract: Disclosed are ionic liquids and methods of preparing ionic liquid compositions of active pharmaceutical, biological, nutritional, and energetic ingredients. Also disclosed are methods of using the compositions described herein to overcome polymorphism, overcome solubility and delivery problems, to control release rates, add functionality, enhance efficacy (synergy), and improve ease of use and manufacture.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a class of organometallic catalysts for both hydrogenation and water oxidation. The synthesis and the use of these catalysts for hydrogenation, hydrogen production and water oxidation reactions is also disclosed.

Abstract: A magnetic logic cell includes a first electrode portion, a magnetic portion arranged on the first electrode, the magnetic portion including an anti-ferromagnetic material or a ferrimagnetic material, a dielectric portion arranged on the magnetic portion, and a second electrode portion arranged on the dielectric portion.

Abstract: A micro-array surface that provides for drag reduction. In one aspect, an aerodynamic or hydrodynamic wall surface that is configured to modify a fluid boundary layer on the surface comprises at least one array of micro-cavities formed therein the surface. In one example, the interaction of the micro-cavities with the boundary layer of the fluid can delay transition of the fluid over an identical smooth surface without the micro-cavities.

Abstract: Disclosed are conductive composites prepared from ionic liquids, compositions for preparing the composites, and methods of making and using the composites.