Abstract: Methods, processes, and systems of nuclear reactor cores are provided. In one embodiment, the reactor core may comprise a nuclear fuel rod inserted into each of a plurality of moderator blocks in the reactor core; e.g., wherein the fuel comprises plutonium, carbon, hydrogen, zirconium and thorium. In some embodiments, the fuel may comprise hydrogen-containing glass microspheres, wherein the glass microspheres may be coated with a burnable poison, and other coating materials that may aid in keeping the hydrogen within the microsphere glass at relatively high temperature. The disclosed methods, processes and systems may aid in providing energy to remote areas.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method to synthesize ammonia at moderate conditions. The present invention also relates to a new chemical reactor configuration to achieve ammonia synthesis at moderate pressures and temperatures, and methods to make membranes for use in ammonia synthesis.

Abstract: An exoskeleton device and method of using the same is provided that helps rehabilitate limbs such has the lower arm. Embodiments of the exoskeleton device have multiple degrees of freedom so that a limb such as the lower arm may flex or rotate in multiple directions to establish or re-establish neural connections in the brain. With the lower arm example, a person may grasp a handle in the exoskeleton and then flex the lower arm about a pronation/supination axis, a flexion/extension axis, and/or an abductor/adductor axis. The exoskeleton device has several modes of operation where actuators can aid the person's motion, resist the person's motion, or passively allow free motion of the person's limb.

Abstract: A system and method for decoating a scrap coated metal in a leach solution uses direct measuring of the corrosion potential of the scrap metal in the system to determine the progress of the decoating process and end the process when the scrap is decoated. Corrosion potential measurements are made using a working electrode comprising more than one piece of scrap coated-metal within the system. The decoating system and method may include a system for recycling leach solution.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a solid oxide (or protonic ceramic) fuel cell, a cathode for a solid oxide (or protonic ceramic) fuel cell, and a method of making the same. More specifically, the cathode for a solid oxide (or protonic ceramic) fuel cell utilizes a phase-pure perovskite structure of the compound BaCo0.4Fe0.4Zr0.2?xYxO3??, where x is between about 0 and about 0.2. The cathode material may then be utilized in a SOFT or a PCFC as either a thin film porous cathode or as nanoparticles infiltrated into a cathode bone having a different structure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sulfation method which processes a rare earth containing material. The material is roasted and exposed to a sulfur gas, then an aqueous leach to produce an insoluble metal oxide and a soluble rare earth sulfide. The insoluble and soluble material are separated utilizing a solid/liquid separator. Advantageously, the process eliminates the need for additional steps to precipitate the metal oxide in order to separate the metal from the rare earth. A system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A multipass chirped pulse amplification system outfitted with a single-grating, simultaneous spatial and temporal focusing (SSTF) compressor platform is provided. Such a system provides the ability to vary the beam aspect ratio of an SSTF beam, and thus the degree of pulse-front tilt at a focus, while maintaining a net zero-dispersion system. The optical system may include a first optical element or set of optical elements that receives and then varies a pulse-front tilt of a light beam, and a second optical element or set of optical elements that focuses the light beam having the varied pulse-front tilt that is output by the first optical element or set of optical elements. The first optical element or set of optical elements includes an optical grating, two dihedrals, and a retroflector roof mirror.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a protonic ceramic fuel cell, a cathode for a protonic ceramic fuel cell, and a method of making the same. More specifically, the cathode for a protonic ceramic fuel cell utilizes a phase-pure perovskite structure of the compound BaCo0.4Fe0.4Zr0.2-xYxO3-?, where x is between about 0 and about 0.2. The cathode material may then be utilized in a PCFC as either a thin film porous cathode or as nanoparticles infiltrated into a cathode bone having a different structure.

Abstract: Spectral interferometric systems and methods to characterize lateral and angular spatial chirp to optimize intensity localization in spatio-temporally focused ultrafast beams are described. Interference between two spatially sheared beams in an interferometer leads to straight fringes if the wavefronts are curved. To produce reference fringes, one arm relative to another is delayed in order to measure fringe rotation in the spatially resolved spectral interferogram. Utilizing Fourier analysis, frequency-resolved divergence is obtained. In another arrangement, one beam relative to the other is spatially flipped, which allows the frequency-dependent beamlet direction (angular spatial chirp) to be measured. Blocking one beam shows the spatial variation of the beamlet position with frequency (i.e., the lateral spatial chirp).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a reversible solid oxide electrochemical cell that may operate in two modes: a discharge mode (power generation) and a charge mode (electrolytic fuel production). A thermal system that utilizes a SOFB and is inclusive of selection of operating conditions that may enable roundtrip efficiencies exceeding about 80% to be realized is disclosed. Based on leverage of existing solid oxide fuel cell technology, the system concept is applicable to energy storage applications on the kW to MW scale.

Abstract: A hybrid extreme ultraviolet (EUV) imaging spectrometer includes: a radiation source to: produce EUV radiation; subject a sample to the EUV radiation; photoionize a plurality of atoms of the sample; and form photoions from the atoms subject to photoionization by the EUV radiation, the photoions being desorbed from the sample in response to the sample being subjected to the EUV radiation; an ion detector to detect the photoions: as a function of a time-of-arrival of the photoions at the ion detector after the sample is subjected to the EUV radiation; or as a function of a position of the photoions at the ion detector; an electron source to: produce a plurality of primary electrons; subject the sample to the primary electrons; and form scattered electrons from the sample in response to the sample being subjected to the primary electrons; and an electron detector to detect the scattered electrons: as a function of a time-of-arrival of the scattered electrons at the electron detector after the sample is subjected

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a method for determining the dynamic viscoelastic properties of cells, more particularly to a method for rapidly determining the dynamic viscoelastic properties of healthy and unhealthy cells by determining the phase shift be the application of a modulating force to the cells and the cells' response to the modulating force.

Abstract: The direct integration of light and optical control into microfluidic systems presents a significant hurdle to the development of portable optical trapping-based devices. A simple, inexpensive fiber-based approach is provided that allows for easy implementation of diode-bars for optical particle separations within flowing microfluidic systems. Models have also been developed that demonstrate the advantages of manipulating particles within flow using linear geometries as opposed to individually focused point traps as traditionally employed in optical-trapping micromanipulation.

Abstract: A method for evaluating a blood product of an individual are provided. Specifically, a method to utilize a microfluidic flow assay, which includes a substrate surface comprising lipid coated particles and microfluidic channels through which a blood product can flow. The lipid coated particles comprise functional molecules that can induce or inhibit the coagulation cascade.

Abstract: The present invention relates to semiconductor materials that include a silicon-based quantum dot; and a conjugated organic ligand connected to the silicon-based quantum dot to obtain a functionalized quantum dot. An additional aspect of the present invention is to provide methods that include providing a silicon-based quantum dot; and connecting a conjugated organic ligand connected to the silicon-based quantum dot to obtain a functionalized quantum dot.

Abstract: The present invention relates to acoustic wavefields produced using sources appropriately delayed in time and focused at known positions and times in a heterogeneous medium. Seismoelectric conversion occurs if the acoustic focus point coincides with a discontinuity in electrical and hydrological medium properties, thus generating a current density. The current generates a potential difference, which can be observed at a distance by an array of monitoring electrodes. Since the acoustic wavefield is precisely located at a position and time, this electrical source behaves like a controlled virtual electrode whose properties depend on the strength of the acoustic wavefield and on the medium properties. This procedure can be used to increase the robustness and resolutions of electrical resistivity tomography and to identify hydrological parameters at various points in the medium by scanning the medium by changing the position of the acoustic focus.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to liquid boron compounds for use in scintillation. The present disclosure further relates to liquid boron compounds for admixture to plastic and liquid scintillators.

Abstract: A microfluidic-based flow assay and methods of manufacturing the same are provided. Specifically, the microfluidic flow assay includes a substrate surface comprising lipid coated particles and microfluidic channels through which a blood product can flow. The lipid coated particles comprise functional molecules that can induce or inhibit the coagulation cascade.

Abstract: An objective function is disclosed that extracts the velocity error information directly in the image domain without computing common-image gathers. Because of the dimensionality of the problem, gradient-based methods (such as the conjugate-gradient algorithm) are used in the optimization procedure. In order to include the full complexity of the wavefield in the velocity estimation algorithm, a two-way (as opposed to one-way) wave operator is considered, where the imaging operator is not linearized with respect to the model parameters (as in linearized wave-equation migration velocity analysis), and the gradient of the objective function is determined using the adjoint-state method. The velocity estimation methodology is illustrated with a few synthetic examples.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for pumping solid-state lasers and amplifiers. More specifically, to a method and apparatus for pumping solid-state lasers and amplifiers using Light Emitting Diode (LED) arrays. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a gain medium, a plurality of LEDs in optical communication with the gain medium to excite the gain medium, the plurality of LEDs arranged in an LED array, a driving circuit to energize the LED array, and a thermoelectric cooler to reduce the temperature of the LED array, wherein the gain medium is pumped by the LED array to emit a laser light.