Abstract: Elongated noble-metal nanoparticles and methods for their manufacture are disclosed. The method involves the formation of a plurality of elongated noble-metal nanoparticles by electrochemical deposition of the noble metal on a high surface area carbon support, such as carbon nanoparticles. Prior to electrochemical deposition, the carbon support may be functionalized by oxidation, thus making the manufacturing process simple and cost-effective. The generated elongated nanoparticles are covalently bound to the carbon support and can be used directly in electrocatalysis. The process provides elongated noble-metal nanoparticles with high catalytic activities and improved durability in combination with high catalyst utilization since the nanoparticles are deposited and covalently bound to the carbon support in their final position and will not change in forming an electrode assembly.

Abstract: The invention relates to porous films comprising crosslinked electrospun hydrogel fibers. Viable microbes are encapsulated within the crosslinked electrospun hydrogel fibers. The crosslinked electrospun hydrogel fibers are water insoluble and permeable. The invention also relates to methods of making and using such porous films.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for enriching methyl-CpG sequences from a DNA sample. The method makes use of conversion of cytosine residues to uracil under conditions in which methyl-cytosine residues are preserved. Additional methods of the invention enable to preservation of the context of me-CpG dinucleotides. The invention also provides a recombinant, full length and substantially pure McrA protein (rMcrA) for binding and isolation of DNA fragments containing the sequence 5?-CMeCpGG-3?. Methods for making and using the rMcrA protein, and derivatives thereof are provided.

Abstract: Optoelectronic devices and thin-film semiconductor compositions and methods for making same are disclosed. The methods provide for the synthesis of the disclosed composition. The thin-film semiconductor compositions disclosed herein have a unique configuration that exhibits efficient photo-induced charge transfer and high transparency to visible light.

Abstract: A radiation detection and counting system (2) includes a radiation detector element (5) for outputting a signal related to an energy of a radiation event received thereby and an amplifier (8) for amplifying the signal output by the detector element (5). A gain equalization circuit (10) adjusts the gain of the amplified output signal and a plurality of comparators (12) compare the gain adjusted amplified output signal to a like plurality of different valued threshold signals that are independently adjustable of each other A plurality of counters (20) is operative whereupon only the counter associated with the one comparator (12) that changes state in response to the peak of the gain adjusted amplified output signal exceeding the value of the trigger threshold signal thereof is incremented. A storage (24) stores the incremented value of each counter (20) accumulated over a sample time interval and data output logic circuit (26) transfers the stored accumulated counts out of the storage.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to low toxicity boronated compounds and methods for their use in the treatment, visualization, and diagnosis of tumors. More specifically, the present invention is directed to low toxicity carborane-containing porphyrin compounds with halide, amine, or nitro groups and methods for their use particularly in boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT), X-ray radiation therapy (XRT), and photodynamic therapy (PDT) for the treatment of tumors of the brain, head and neck, and surrounding tissue. The invention is also directed to using these carborane-containing porphyrin compounds in methods of tumor imaging and/or diagnosis such as MRI, SPECT, or PET.

Abstract: A long-range method and a system for reliably detecting and identifying special nuclear materials is provided that relies on the emission of delayed neutrons present in the decay of fission products (delayed neutron precursors) as a unique signature for the special nuclear materials, such as highly enriched uranium (235/238U). The method relies on a time-of-flight measurement in the first 1 ?s after the inducing radiation pulse, and pulse height data analysis for both neutrons and gamma rays that can be done at a much higher data rate than in traditional pulse processing systems. The thermal neutron fission within the time regime of 100-500 ?s provides a unique signature of special nuclear materials such as the highly enriched uranium.

Abstract: The disclosed Quark matter card game and methods of playing with cards represent elementary particles which provides first-hand, fun, attractive and enjoyable experience for laypersons such as for example, children, students and researchers to have a hands-on experience of particle and high energy heavy ion or nuclear physics using simple and inexpensive tools. Anyone who knows the colors, red, green, blue, black and white, can start to play one of the games described herein. According an embodiment, the disclosed card game is directed to a deck for playing an educational game, the deck comprises a plurality of card-like devices having a face bearing a representation of an elementary particle.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) Trench detector and a method for fabricating the detector are disclosed. The 3D-Trench detector includes a bulk of semiconductor material that has first and second surfaces separated from each other by a bulk thickness, a first electrode in the form of a 3D-Trench, and a second electrode in the form of a 3D column. The first and second electrodes extend into the bulk along the bulk thickness. The first and second electrodes are separated from each other by a predetermined electrode distance, and the first electrode completely surrounds the second electrode along essentially the entire distance that the two electrodes extend into the bulk such that the two electrodes are substantially concentric to each other. The fabrication method includes doping a first narrow and deep region around the periphery of the bulk to form the first electrode, and doping a second narrow and deep region in the center of the bulk to form the second electrode.

Abstract: A particle therapy gantry for delivering a particle beam to a patient includes a beam tube having a curvature defining a particle beam path and a plurality of superconducting, variable field magnets sequentially arranged along the beam tube for guiding the particle beam along the particle path. In a method for delivering a particle beam to a patient through a gantry, a particle beam is guided by a plurality of variable field magnets sequentially arranged along a beam tube of the gantry and the beam is alternately focused and defocused with alternately arranged focusing and defocusing variable field magnets.

Abstract: A method for performing time resolved imaging, spectroscopy or diffraction techniques involving a sample held in an analytical device. The method generally includes supporting a sample within an analytical device with a sample holder, conveying a light beam through an internal conduit of a sample holder body of the sample holder and directing the light beam between the sample holder body and the sample with a first light beam positioner of a sample support member of the sample holder, such that the light beam and an energy pulse emitted by an energy source of the analytical device converge on the sample supported by the sample holder within the analytical device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for analog-to-digital conversion. An Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) includes M ADCj, j=1, 2, . . . , M. Each ADCj comprises a number of cells each of which comprises a first switch, a second switch, a current sink and an inverter. An inverter of a cell in an ADCj changes state in response to a current associate with an input signal of the ADCj exceeding a threshold, thus switching on the next cell. Each ADCj is enabled to perform analog-to-digital conversion on a residual current of a previous ADCj-i after the previous ADCj-1 has completed its analog-to-digital conversion and has been disabled.

Abstract: A method of forming and processing of graphene is disclosed based on exposure and selective intercalation of the partially graphene-covered metal substrate with atomic or molecular intercalation species such as oxygen (O2) and nitrogen oxide (NO2). The process of intercalation lifts the strong metal-carbon coupling and restores the characteristic Dirac behavior of isolated monolayer graphene. The interface of graphene with metals or metal-decorated substrates also provides for controlled chemical reactions based on novel functionality of the confined space between a metal surface and a graphene sheet.

Abstract: The invention relates to platinum-metal oxide composite particles and their use as electrocatalysts in oxygen-reducing cathodes and fuel cells. The invention particularly relates to methods for preventing the oxidation of the platinum electrocatalyst in the cathodes of fuel cells by use of these platinum-metal oxide composite particles. The invention additionally relates to methods for producing electrical energy by supplying such a fuel cell with an oxidant, such as oxygen, and a fuel source, such as hydrogen.

Abstract: Vapor-liquid-solid growth of nanowires is tailored to achieve complex one-dimensional material geometries using phase diagrams determined for nanoscale materials. Segmented one-dimensional nanowires having constant composition display locally variable electronic band structures that are determined by the diameter of the nanowires. The unique electrical and optical properties of the segmented nanowires are exploited to form electronic and optoelectronic devices. Using gold-germanium as a model system, in situ transmission electron microscopy establishes, for nanometer-sized Au—Ge alloy drops at the tips of Ge nanowires (NWs), the parts of the phase diagram that determine their temperature-dependent equilibrium composition. The nanoscale phase diagram is then used to determine the exchange of material between the NW and the drop. The phase diagram for the nanoscale drop deviates significantly from that of the bulk alloy.

Abstract: A cross-domain network resource reservation scheduler configured to schedule a path from at least one end-site includes a management plane device configured to monitor and provide information representing at least one of functionality, performance, faults, and fault recovery associated with a network resource; a control plane device configured to at least one of schedule the network resource, provision local area network quality of service, provision local area network bandwidth, and provision wide area network bandwidth; and a service plane device configured to interface with the control plane device to reserve the network resource based on a reservation request and the information from the management plane device. Corresponding methods and computer-readable medium are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to low toxicity boronated compounds and methods for their use in the treatment, visualization, and diagnosis of tumors. More specifically, the present invention is directed to low toxicity carborane-containing porphyrin compounds with halide, amine, or nitro groups and methods for their use particularly in boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT), X-ray radiation therapy (XRT), and photodynamic therapy (PDT) for the treatment of tumors of the brain, head and neck, and surrounding tissue. The invention is also directed to using these carborane-containing porphyrin compounds in methods of tumor imaging and/or diagnosis such as MRI, SPECT, or PET.

Abstract: A novel Magnéli phase nanomaterial with carbon coating is disclosed. The present Magnéli phase material, which can form a nanowire, a nanobelt, a nanoparticle, a nanocrystal, or a nanosheet, includes at least a Magnéli phase core having a substoichiometric composition of titanium oxide having a formula TinO2n-1, where n is between 4 and 10, and at least a carbon-based outer shell surrounding the Magnéli phase core. The shape-features of the carbon-coated Magnéli phase material of the present invention ensure that at least one dimension of it is nanoscale, and therefore has a high surface area. By having the high surface area, the Faradaic reaction can be processed more efficiently, and consequently attain higher capacity, higher power-density, and cycling stability. The present disclosure further encompasses a method of synthesizing these nanoscale Magnéli phase materials.

Abstract: In some embodiments of the invention, encapsulated semiconducting nanomaterials are described. In certain embodiments the nanostructures described are semiconducting nanomaterials encapsulated with ordered carbon shells. In some aspects a method for producing encapsulated semiconducting nanomaterials is disclosed. In some embodiments applications of encapsulated semiconducting nanomaterials are described.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for synthesis and treatment of electrocatalyst particles in batch or continuous fashion is provided. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a sonication bath and a two-compartment chamber submerged in the sonication bath. The upper and lower compartments are separated by a microporous material surface. The upper compartment comprises a cover and a working electrode (WE) connected to a Pt foil contact, with the foil contact connected to the microporous material. The upper chamber further comprises reference counter electrodes. The lower compartment comprises an electrochemical cell containing a solution of metal ions. In one embodiment, the method for synthesis of electrocatalysts comprises introducing a plurality of particles into the apparatus and applying sonication and an electrical potential to the microporous material connected to the WE.