Abstract: Disclosed is a device for automated synthesis of homogenous slurry of metal nanoparticles operating under redox controlled conditions by wet chemical reaction method. Device comprises a three-layer reactor unit, multi-feed covering unit, an electric stirring unit system and ground fixing foundation unit.

Abstract: The invention provides a solid state dye laser and methods for preparing the solid state dye laser. The solid state dye laser includes a porous copolymer membrane of poly(vinylidenefloride-cohexafluoroproplyne (PVDF-HFP) and a laser dye. The laser dye is incorporated in pores of the copolymer membrane. The solid state dye laser is prepared using one of a phase inversion technique, a phase separation technique, and a breath figure technique.

Abstract: A thin film composite membrane includes an active layer on a support membrane, wherein the active layer includes at least two chemically distinct first and second crosslinked polyamide film sub-layers. The first film sub-layer includes a polyamide unit; and the second film sub-layer includes a copolyamide with two chemically distinct polyamide units. The first film sub-layer is closer to the support than is the second film sub-layer.

Abstract: A disposable screen-printed microchip based on an organic membrane sensitive layer is presented. The microchip is highly responsive for the determination of Lead(II). The microchip is composed of a composite sensitive material which comprises carbon nano-tubes “CNTs” and titanium (IV) oxide nano-particles embedded in a PVC membrane which was deposited on the surface of a plastic screen printed micro-electrode using a new methodology. The prepared disposable microchip provides a linear response for Pb2+ ions covering the concentration range of 1×10?6 to 1×10?1 mole L?1 with high sensitivity (49 mV), a long life span (>4 months) and short response time (10 s). The merits offered by the micro-sensor or microchip include small size, simple fabrication, mass production, integration feasibility and cost effectiveness and automation.

Abstract: Provided herein are substituted haloimidazole crystals, the substituted haloimidazole crystal comprising a substituted haloimidazole compound wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, an alkyl, and a halogen. The substituted haloimidazole crystals may further comprise second substituted haloimidazole. The substituted haloimidazole crystals may be piezoelectric, ferroelectric, flexible, or any combination thereof. Also provided herein are methods for preparing substituted haloimidazole crystals.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are nanoactuating rotaxanes comprising a threading component, the threading component comprising a oligoviologen, and at least two macrocylic components, wherein the oligoviologen is threaded through each of the macrocylic components. Also disclosed are methods for making and using the rotaxanes.

Abstract: A separation medium consisting of a cyclodextrin metal-organic framework (CD-MOF) for separating aromatic compounds and methods of preparing the same are presented. Bottom-up preparations include the following steps: (a) preparing a first mixture comprising a cyclodextrin, an alkali metal salt, water and an alcohol; (b) performing one of the following two steps: (i) stirring the first mixture; or (ii) adding an amount of a surfactant to the first mixture to form a second mixture; and (c) crystallizing the CD-MOF from the first mixture or the second mixture. Top-down preparations include the following steps: (a) preparing a first mixture comprising the cyclodextrin, an alkali metal salt, water and an alcohol; (b) crystallizing the CD-MOF from the first mixture; and (c) optionally performing particle size reduction of the crystallized CD-MOF. The CD-MOFs are amenable for use in methods for separating alkylaromatic and haloaromatic compounds from a mixture of hydrocarbons.

Abstract: Provided herein are rigid macrocycles comprising a first redox-active subunit and a second redox-active subunit, wherein the first redox-active unit and the second redox-active unit are different subunits. Also provided herein are methods of preparation of the rigid macrocycles and use thereof, for example, in the first of energy generation and storage.

Abstract: An electrochemical sensor for an analyte is provided. The electrochemical sensor includes CDMOF-2. The CDMOF-2 is capable of binding reversibly to CO2 as an analyte, thereby quantitatively detecting the analyte in a mixture. The CDMOF-2 is formed from reaction of ?-cyclodextrin with RbOH in the presence of methanol.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for embedding a watermark in a digital image and recovering the watermark from the digital image. The method includes representing the plurality of binary bits in the watermark using a plurality of symbols, wherein each symbol of the plurality of symbols represents at least two binary bits. The plurality of symbols are then transformed into a plurality of pseudo noise (PN) sequences, wherein a symbol transformed into a PN sequence represents one or more PN sequence vectors from a set of PN sequence vectors. Once the transformation is done, the plurality of PN sequences are embedded in the digital image to generate a watermarked image. During recovery, the watermark is recovered from the watermarked image by identifying the plurality of PN sequences in the watermarked image for recovering the corresponding plurality of symbols associated with the watermark.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for routing broadcast messages by managing a plurality of observation tables in a wireless ad-hoc network having a plurality of nodes. The method includes receiving one or more broadcast messages from one or more second nodes at a first node and stores information received from the broadcast messages pertaining to the one or more second nodes in one or more observation tables at the first node. A maximum aposteriori probability of connectivity is then computed for the one or more second nodes based on the information in the one or more observation tables maintained at the first node utilizing Bayesian approach. Thereafter, the first node transmits broadcast messages to the one or more second nodes based on the maximum aposteriori probability of connectivity computed for the one or more second nodes from the first node.

Abstract: A sintered porous cordierite-based glass-ceramic material is made using mainly three natural starting materials which are silica? sand, kaolin clay and magnesite in addition to little boric acid is described. Upon melting at 1400-1450° C., this combination of raw materials and boric acid forms transparent brown glass which after solidification by quenching is then crushed and reduced to powder having a median particle size diameter less than 65 microns. This brown glass powder is consolidated, for example by compaction, to form a green body for sintering. Sintering of the green body at temperatures between about 1000° C. and 1300° C. in the period from 1 min to 60 min to produce porous cordierite glass-ceramic material containing a 56% porosity. The said material have density, microhardness and CTE suitable for use in various technical fields such as light insulation refractor material and in filter for vehicle exhaust.

Abstract: Compounds are provided for the capture of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The compound is selected from formula (I) and formula (II): The compound includes a salt formed with a suitable counter anion.

Abstract: Homochiral metal organic framework (MOF) selected from a group consisting of (Sp)-P5A-MOF-1 and (Rp)-P5A-MOF-1 is provided. The homochiral MOFs are prepared from pure enantiomer struts of formula (I): The homochiral MOFs are suitable for separation of enantiomers from racemic mixtures.

Abstract: A differential polarization interferometer is provided. An interferometer performs direct measurement of phase shift of a light wave passed under an arbitrary angle through a sample composed of a transparent substrate holding a thin deposited test film, for metamaterial testing. An example apparatus has a laser source and a first polarizer, and two optically connected arms. A first arm creates orthogonally polarized components of a single output beam for a broadband non-polarizing beam splitter. A second arm has a controllable phase retarder to introduce a phase shift into one polarization component of the reflected single output beam, and a second polarizer to equalize and mix the polarization components of the reflected single output beam. This transforms the reflected single output beam into a beam resulting from interference of polarization components of the reflected single output beam. A photodetector transforms an intensity of the beam into an electric signal for output.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are nanoactuating rotaxanes comprising a threading component, the threading component comprising a oligoviologen, and at least two macrocylic components, wherein the oligoviologen is threaded through each of the macrocylic components. Also disclosed are methods for making and using the rotaxanes.

Abstract: There is provided a process and system for treating produced water. The process combines a vacuum tank process, an adsorption-desorption process, a heat-exchanger process, a membrane distillation-crystallization process. Also, the process may involve membrane separation and column distillation processes. The process allows for some level of efficiency with regard to energy consumption and operational and maintenance costs.

Abstract: There is provided a process for treating well water to produce drinking water. The process combines a vacuum tank process, an adsorption-desorption process, a heat-exchanger process, a membrane distillation-crystallization process. The process allows for some level of efficiency with regard to energy consumption and operational and maintenance costs.

Abstract: The invention provides a solid state dye laser and methods for preparing the solid state dye laser. The solid state dye laser includes a porous copolymer membrane of poly(vinylidenefloride-cohexafluoroproplyne (PVDF-HFP) and a laser dye. The laser dye is incorporated in pores of the copolymer membrane. The solid state dye laser is prepared using one of a phase inversion technique, a phase separation technique, and a breath figure technique.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a composition and a method to prepare a polymer nanoparticle using miniemulsion polymerization (MEP) comprising a monomer, a reactive co-stabilizer and a reactive surfactant. The reactive co-stabilizer as disclosed is a methacrylate containing perfluorinated or semifluorinated side chains like 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecyl methacrylate (H2F8MA). Further, the reactive stabilizer as used in the preparation is cetyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (CTAB). The polymer nanoparticle as formed has an enhanced stability and low VOC as compared to a pure polymer prepared by MEP.