Abstract: Described herein are biofilm bioreactors for synthesis at the interface between two liquids, and methods of using such bioreactors for the biotransformation of feedstocks into chemical products. Also contemplated is the extraction of such products.

Abstract: Various embodiments are disclosed for a stepped cambered planing hull for a boat including a swept back cambered planing surface having a non-linear distribution of camber. The non-linear distribution of camber along the swept back cambered planing surface may enable stepped cambered planing hulls having high deadrise (i.e., greater than 15 degrees). The stepped cambered planing hull may include a shaped hydrofoil that generates further hydrodynamic lift by piercing the free surface wake produced by the swept back cambered planing surface. The stepped cambered planing hull may have external bottom surfaces adapted at the after-body and transom to accommodate a distinctive profile of the free surface wake produced by the swept back cambered planing surface. The stepped cambered planing hull may include an adjustable interceptor blade to regulate hydrodynamic lift at low speeds or to ensure an optimal dynamic trim angle in a wide range of speeds.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrodynamic actuator that simultaneously produces a controlled linear combination of interstructural and inertial forces. Two coil pairs interact with radial or axial permanent magnets. The forces produced in the coil pairs acts between an end of the actuator and a common moveable mass. If the coil pair forces are equal and in the same direction they make the mass move and produce an inertial output force. If the coil pair forces are equal and in opposite directions the mass does not move and interstructural forces are produced between the two ends of the actuator. Combinations of inertial and interstructural forces are produced in a controlled manner by coordinating the electrical current through each coil pair. The actuator efficiency and the low frequency inertial force outputs are greatly improved compared to separate dedicated inertial and interstructural actuators.

Abstract: The disclosed invention is a slip ring assembly that provides electrical power transfer to centrifugal turbomachinery while minimizing or eliminating the presence of wires in the flow path. The device transfers electrical power through a set of wires connected to a plurality of brushes that are held rotationally stationary, but allowed to displace axially or radially through a set of springs. The brushes make contact with conductive busbar rings, transferring electricity to the busbar rings. The busbar rings rotate with the centrifugal turbomachine with a set of wires that connect the busbar rings to the blades or other aerodynamic surfaces of the centrifugal turbomachine.

Abstract: A computer-implemented character-string analysis method and associated device are provided for determining reliability of a communication network. The procedures include: assigning a priority to a message for sending by a signal carrier at the transmitting node; determining throughput of the signal carrier based on the priority; establishing latency of the message; calculating a packet error rate of the message; calculating dropout time between the transmitting and receiving nodes; and calculating a reliability index of the message. The latency represents delay between transmission time and reception time. The delay is affected by hardware, environment and distance between the transmitting and receiving nodes. The process accepts the message in response to the reliability index satisfying an acceptance threshold.

Abstract: A method for measuring fatigue on a metal or metal alloy structural part, which includes mounting a fatigue gage on a surface of the part, the fatigue gage being the same material as the part, applying electrical power on the gage and measuring the resistance of the fatigue gage, inspecting the fatigue gage at various time intervals by applying electric power on the gage and measuring the resistance of the fatigue gage; and analyzing the change of resistance of the fatigue gage at the various time intervals to determine fatigue on the part.

Abstract: The present invention is a device for measuring the surface energy of a material. The device includes a pulling mechanism and a clamp. A film, including an adhesive side, is attached to a surface to be measured. The film is clamped to surface energy measuring device. The device is placed flush on the surface. A pulling mechanism is pulled until a triangular piece of film tears and is removed from the surface. The device is then lifted off of the surface and a measurement is made at the pre-calibrated marking nearest the tip of the triangle torn into film.

Abstract: A method for comparing effects of equipment on a user's head mobility, which includes attaching a camera and a laser pointer on a user's head, the camera capturing the laser point and the trace of the laser pointer against a spatial reference, adjusting the laser pointer such that the laser pointer points outwardly in the direction of the line of sight of the user, configuring a work area such that the work area is constant, placing the user wearing the equipment the camera, and the laser pointer in the work area, scanning the full range of motion of the user wearing the equipment while recording the trace of the laser pointer via the camera, repeating the above listed acts with a different equipment configuration, and comparing and reviewing the recordings of the trace of the laser pointer for the equipment configurations to compare each configuration's effects on head mobility.

Abstract: System and method for detecting cloud shadows over water from ocean color imagery received from remote sensors.

Abstract: A microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and integrated circuit (IC) based biosensor capable of sensing or detecting various ionic molecules and macromelecules (DNA, RNA or protein). The MEMS based biosensor utilizes a hybridization and enzyme amplification scheme and an electrochemical detection scheme for sensitivity improvement and system miniaturization. The biosensor or biosensors are incorporated on a single substrate. Preferably, the biosensor system includes at least two electrodes. The electrodes includes a working electrode, a reference electrode and a counter (auxiliary) electrode. The biosensor or biosensors also provide an apparatus and method for confinement of reagent and/or solution in the biosensor or biosensors using surface tension at small scale. The confinement system provides controlled contacts between the reagent(s) and/or solution(s) with the components (i.e., electrodes) of the biosensor or biosensors using controllable surface properties and surface tension forces.

Abstract: A digital radio frequency memory (DFRM) which converts an incoming analog radio frequency signal to a fourteen bit digital signal allowing for digital signal processing and then retransmitted as an analog RF signal. The DFRM provides a time delay for RF signals by storing the signal. The DFRM also changes the signal frequency in the range of plus or minus 100,000 KHz which places a doppler on the signal. The signal phase is changed in a range of 0 to 359 degrees by the DFRM.

Abstract: A supplemental fluid adjustable depth air sparging system which is used to remediate contaminants from groundwater within the soil. An adjustable depth air injection point injects compressed air mixed with a chemical oxidizer or nutrient into saturated or groundwater regions of the soil's subsurface to remove contaminants including chlorinated solvents from the soil's subsurface.

Abstract: The present invention can be generally described as a backplane test device that provides the possible flexibility of being operationally resident on a standard card form factor, and thereby, potentially able to provide a testing capability that does not require the use of hardware or software not residing on the card form factor. Moveover, since the test device may be operationally inserted into a backplane, the present invention may be effectively used in a variety of environments including, but not limited to, those constrained by space considerations, and/or to those that are subject to vibrations due to their operational nature. This may provide a technician with greater flexibility, and could possibly allow a backplane to be tested, and possibly repaired, while the platform is operational.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method to initiate a detonation utilizing an impact switch. A nose assembly is mounted upon a missile or other kind of explosive device. Within the nose assembly conductive elements are separated from one another. The conductive elements are electrically connected to a fuze within the weapon. Upon an impact, the conducting elements within the assembly are forced together thereby completing a circuit in the fuze and initiating a detonation. A method of initiating a detonation utilizes an impact switch within which forcing conducting elements together initiates a detonation.

Abstract: The present invention provides microwave attenuating, filled composite materials which contain a polymer or ceramic matrix and metallic tubules and processes for making the same and devices which contain such materials.

Abstract: The present invention provides microwave attenuating, filled composite materials which contain a polymer or ceramic matrix and metallic tubules and processes for making the same and devices which contain such materials.

Abstract: An environmentally friendly picric acid explosive comprising, providing a nitromalondialdehyde, providing a dinitroketone, reacting the nitromalondialdehydes with the dinitroketone to produce a mixture, and subjecting the mixture to a cyclodehydrative mechanism to produce environmentally friendly picric acid explosive. Embodiments of the present invention include the picric acid explosive produced by the methods of described above.

Abstract: An improved system and method for using polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a processing fluid additive for safely and effectively treating water-wet hogout propellant as well as any other water-wet propellants, explosives and hazardous wastes (solids and liquids) to make them compatible with the MSO process. The method includes the step of applying liquid PEG to the hazardous waste to create a slurry or feedstock that when fed directly into the MSO reactor vessel prevents the occurrence of smelt-water explosions due to the accumulation of dangerous levels of sodium chloride, and/or sodium sulfide in the molten salt bath. The PEG possesses special qualities that make it ideal for this purpose. It is a low cost, low viscosity, commercially available, non-hazardous (per OSHA standards), water soluble, low toxicity chemical that burns cleanly leaving little or no residue.

Abstract: The present invention provides microwave attenuating, filled composite materials which contain a polymer or ceramic matrix and metallic tubules and processes for making the same and devices which contain such materials.

Abstract: A laser-activated semiconductor switching device has a semiconductor structure housed in a semiconductor structure housing, and a laser array assembly directly connected to the semiconductor structure housing. The laser array assembly houses a plurality of laser diodes and diode control circuitry which energizes the laser diodes to emit light directly onto a surface of the semiconductor structure, which can be the cathode or anode surface, or both, to cause the semiconductor structure to generate current carriers which enable passage of current through the semiconductor structure. The surfaces of the semiconductor structure can be covered with metal layers having openings which permit the passage of the laser light into the semiconductor structure. The metal layers are reflective to the laser light and prevent the laser light that has passed into the semiconductor structure from exiting the structure to improve current carrier generation.