Abstract: Laser light is confined in a hollow waveguide between two highly reflective mirrors. This waveguide cavity is used to conduct Cavity Ringdown Absorption Spectroscopy of loss mechanisms in the cavity including absorption or scattering by gases, liquid, solids, and/or optical elements.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed generally to gold/lanthanide nanoparticle conjugates, such as gold/gadolinium nanoparticle conjugates, nanoparticle conjugates including polymers, nanoparticle conjugates conjugated to targeting agents and therapeutic agents, and their use in targeting, treating, and/or imaging disease states in a patient.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for producing Palladium alloy composite membranes that are useful in applications that involve the need to separate hydrogen from a gas mixture. The method includes providing a substrate for supporting a palladium alloy film, seeding the support surface with palladium crystallites to produce an activated surface, first plating, over the activated surface, a palladium film, second plating, over the palladium film, an alloying material other than silver, and annealing the porous substrate, palladium film, and alloying material so that there is intermetallic diffusion of the alloying material into the palladium film to produce a palladium alloy film over the porous substrate.

Abstract: A system, method, and device for re-orienting and/or deforming cells and other objects is provided. The system, method, and device may include a high-throughput setup that facilitates the ability to orient, deform, analyze, measure, and/or tag objects at a substantially higher rate than was previously possible. A relatively large number of cells and other objects can be deformed, by optical forces for example, as the cells and other objects a flowed through the system.

Abstract: Methods to radiolabel natural organic matter by reduction with a hydrogen labeled reducing agent, and compositions, are provided.

Abstract: The invention provides thin, hydrogen-permeable, sulfur-resistant membranes formed from palladium or palladium-alloy coatings on porous, ceramic or metal supports. Also disclosed are methods of making these membranes via sequential electroless plating techniques, wherein the method of making the membrane includes decomposing any organic ligands present on the substrate, reducing the palladium crystallites on the substrate to reduced palladium crystallites, depositing a film of palladium metal on the substrate and then depositing a second, gold film on the palladium film. These two metal films are then annealed at a temperature between about 200° C. and about 1200° C. to form a sulfur-resistant, composite PdAu alloy membrane.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for detection of microorganisms in a sample. Methods and apparatus of the invention are based on the specificity that phage, for example bacteriophage, have for target microorganisms, for example bacterium. Typically, phage adsorption to target microorganisms act as signal, or a signal target, for the presence of the target microorganism. Typically, the phage are labeled with a detectable signal. Apparatus of the invention are directed toward concentrating the phage adsorbed microorganisms at a predetermined site for flag dependent observation.

Abstract: Methods to radiolabel natural organic matter by reduction with a hydrogen labeled reducing agent, and compositions, are provided.

Abstract: Ta2O5 and Al2O3 thin films were fabricated by pulsed plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) with simultaneous delivery of O2 and the metal precursor. By appropriately controlling the gas-phase environment self-limiting deposition at controllable rates (˜1 ?/pulse) was obtained. The process was insensitive to substrate temperature, with a constant deposition rate observed from 90-350° C. As-deposited Ta2O5 films under these conditions displayed good dielectric properties. Performance improvements correlate strongly with film density and composition as measured by spectroscopic ellipsometry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Pulsed PECVD eliminates the need for gas actuation and inert purge steps required by atomic layer deposition.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to a polymeric composition and a method for making and using the polymeric composition, more specifically to a polymeric composition and a method for making and using the polymeric composition in the form of a membrane.

Abstract: A system and method for determining a fluid property for a fluid flowing in a pipe may include sensing baseline vibrations when test fluids with known values for a fluid property (e.g., fluid density or fluid viscosity) flow through the pipe, or computer modeling the baseline vibrations. The baseline vibrations are analyzed via cross-correlation and/or deconvolution to separate the fluid filled pipe's baseline combined structural response from excitation and base coupling effects. During field or other operations, sensors may take vibrational readings along the pipe when an operational fluid (e.g., drilling fluid) flows through the pipe. The operational vibrations may be analyzed via cross-correlation and/or deconvolution to separate the operational combined structural response of the fluid filled pipe from excitation and base coupling effects. The baseline and operational structural responses may compared.

Abstract: A reusable composite paramagnetic particle may comprise a paramagnetic core encased by a protective material to which is grafted a tendril layer comprising a plurality of polymeric chains. The polymeric chains may be designed to interact with a microorganism. The interaction between the microorganism and the polymeric chain may be electrostatic. The nanoparticle may be used in a method to isolate or recover microorganisms from solutions using an externally applied magnetic field.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for detecting low concentrations of bacteria in liquid solution that may or may not be complex liquid solutions. In one embodiment, immunomagnetic separation (IMS) is used to separate target bacterium that may be in a liquid mixture from other constituents in the mixture. A low concentration of a bacteriophage for the target bacteria is subsequently used to infect target bacterial cells that have been captured using the IMS technique. If at least a certain concentration of target bacterium are present, the bacteriophage will multiply to a point that is detectable. Matrix assisted laser desorption ionization/time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI/TOF-MS) is then used to produce a mass spectrum that is analyzed to determine if one or more proteins associated with the bacteriophage are present, thereby indirectly indicating that target bacterium were present in the liquid mixture.

Abstract: This invention provides fundamental science and novel device architectures for surface plasmon (SP)-based, complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS)-compatible, optical elements such as modulators, couplers, and switches. The primary focus of the work is on waveguides based on an ultra-long-range surface plasmon (ULRSP) waveguide mode recently discovered by our team. This mode exists at the metal-dielectric interfaces in a silicon-oxide-metal-silicon layer structure. While initial work focuses on noble metals to support the ULRSP, our analysis shows Si processing-compatible metals such as Cu and Al can also be used. Our modeling has also shown that variation in the thickness of the oxide layer can be used to give unprecedented propagation lengths in such structures. Electrically-induced free carrier modulation of the dielectric constant in the Si adjacent to the oxide can modulate the waveguide properties allowing novel Si-compatible electro-optic devices to be created.

Abstract: A method for simulating a partial differential equation to perform image and signal processing. The method utilizes quantum and classical lattice gas processes to simulate the partial differential equation. The lattice gas processes may be run on a type I quantum computer, type II quantum computer or a classical computer. A system for simulating and solving a partial differential equation comprising a quantum computer and a classical processor.

Abstract: The invention provides coatings to achieve the best accommodation of chemical, physical, and mechanical properties desired in high performance and reliable glass molding and forming tools. The substrate material can be any ordinary die or tool material such as cast iron, stainless steel, platinum, tungsten carbide and silicon. A simple coating architecture consisting of a titanium adhesion layer and a Ni—Al—N or Ti—B—C—N working layer is provided. A NiAl working layer can meet the requirements of wear resistance in which abrasive and/or erosive wear is relatively low, while a Ti—B—C—N working layer is sufficient for processes operating at relatively low temperature or in vacuum or a protective environment. The coating architectures, from the coating/substrate interface to the outer most surface of the coating include an inner adhesion layer, an outer working layer and, optionally, one or more functionally graded material layers. The invention also provides methods of making these coatings.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to elemental boron, particularly to elemental boron having a high purity level and to a method of recovering elemental boron by the electrolysis of a molten boron-containing electrolyte.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring recombination lifetime of a photoconductor or semiconductor material in real time and without physically contacting the material involving positioning the sample material between a transmitter and a receiver so that electromagnetic signals, preferably radio frequency signals, traveling from the transmitter to the receiver pass through the sample material. The electromagnetic signals are modulated as they pass through the sample material depending on the carrier density and conductivity of the sample material. The modulated electromagnetic signals received by the receiver are then analyzed to determine the carrier recombination lifetime of the sample material.

Abstract: The invention provides CVD-based methods for growing single-walled or multi-walled carbon nanotubes. In the methods of the invention, the nanotube growth environment is separated from the carbon-containing gas feed environment using a membrane which is substantially impermeable to gas flow but permits diffusion of carbon through the membrane. A catalyst for carbon nanotube growth is located on the growth side of the membrane while a catalyst for decomposition of carbon-containing gas is located on the feed side of the membrane. A path for diffusion of carbon through the membrane is provided between the growth and decomposition catalysts. Control of the size and shape of the carbon nanotube growth catalyst enables control over the nanotube structure formed.

Abstract: The methods provided use external fields such as light and electricity as a means of directing the crystallization of concentrated colloidal systems. Not only can nucleation be directed, crystal melting can be carefully controlled and light-induced crystal diffraction used as a means of directing light propagation. A number of factors play a significant role on the crystallization rate and location, including the intensity of the light field, the magnitude of the electric field, the colloid concentration, the colloid size, and the colloid composition. In varying these parameters, kinetics in these processes are extremely fast when compared to traditional colloidal crystallization approaches.