Abstract: A triple-point cathode coating and method wherein electrically conductive NEA diamond particles cast or mixed with the adhesive medium and electrically insulative NEA diamond particles are cast or mixed with the adhesive medium to form a plurality of exposed junctions between electrically conductive diamond particles and electrically insulative diamond particles to reduce any electrical charges on a structure coated with the coating.

Abstract: A method of separating scandium from a feedstock wherein a scandium enriched solution is produced from the feedstock and the scandium enriched solution is extracted to produce an organic phase of the scandium enriched solution. The organic phase of the scandium enriched solution is re-extracted to produce an aqueous phase including scandium chloride. The aqueous phase is precipitated and calcinated to produce scandium oxide powder.

Abstract: A method of producing high conductivity carbon material from coal includes subjecting the coal to a dissolution process to produce a solubilized coal material, and subjecting the solubilized coal material to a pyrolysis process to produce the high conductivity carbon material.

Abstract: A method for producing a coated powder including homogeneously mixing an electrochemically active material including electrochemically active particles with nanosize particles in a ratio determined by the surface area of the electrochemically active particles to form a homogeneous powder, adding a polymer and mixing to form a homogeneous solid mixture, adding a solvent to dissolve the polymer and form a viscous slurry, mixing the viscous slurry, and drying the viscous slurry to cause the nanosize particles to become localized adjacent to an outer surface of the electrochemically active particles with the polymer maintaining the proximity between the nanosize conductive particles and the outer surface of the electrochemically active particles.

Abstract: A handheld optical coherence tomography imaging and tissue sampling system and method of imaging and sampling a tissue is disclosed. The method includes inserting a catheter probe into a biopsy needle. The biopsy needle can be attached to a hand-held scanning and sampling device. The biopsy needle is maneuvered to an investigation site. A three-dimensional image of the tissue at the investigation site is captured with the catheter probe.

Abstract: An antimicrobial composition including low molecular weight dendrimers of formula (1): Q is an antimicrobial moiety in monomer or dendritic form, N is a nitrogen atom, L2 is a linker linking each Y1 molecular spacer to the nitrogen atom, Y1 is a molecular spacer spacing each antimicrobial moiety Q from the L2 linker, there are two or more chains of antimicrobial moieties and molecular spacers, X is a linker configured to covalently bond to surface functionalities of the substrate, and Y2 is a molecular spacer between the linker X and the nitrogen atom.

Abstract: A method for producing a coated powder including homogeneously mixing an electrochemically active material including electrochemically active particles with nanosize particles in a ratio determined by the surface area of the electrochemically active particles to form a homogeneous powder, adding a polymer and mixing to form a homogeneous solid mixture, adding a solvent to dissolve the polymer and form a viscous slurry, mixing the viscous slurry, and drying the viscous slurry to cause the nanosize particles to become localized adjacent to an outer surface of the electrochemically active particles with the polymer maintaining the proximity between the nanosize conductive particles and the outer surface of the electrochemically active particles.

Abstract: In a high power optical system, a thermal waveguide including an optical material having an index of refraction sensitive to changes in temperature, the rectangular optical material having a first dimension and a second dimension in a horizontal plane and a third dimension in a vertical plane, the third dimension being approximately ten times smaller than the first and second dimension, at least one heat sink thermally coupled to the optical material to establish a one-dimensional thermal gradient across the third dimension of the optical material, the thermal gradient having a parabolic profile across the rectangular optical material, and wherein the optical material is configured to act as a waveguide when a laser beam having a power of greater than one watt is incident upon the optical material.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting leaks from a gas pipeline or storage system includes a light source configured to emit a beam with at least one spectral component capable of interacting with pipeline gas, a reflector configured to reflect a portion of the beam, an optical detector configured to detect the reflected beam, a signal processing module coupled to the output of the optical detector configured to analyze the detected beam and output a measured concentration value that characterizes the amount of target gas in the beam path, and a statistical processing module coupled to the signal processing module configured to store and analyze the measured concentration value. The statistical processing module is further configured to compute a value based on statistical information associated with the stored plurality of concentration values and compare the computed value to a first predetermined threshold, and transmit a first alarm signal if the computed value is greater than the first predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A lightweight flexible patient litter includes, in one example, spaced compression longerons each foldable at spaced legs, a bed between the compression longerons, and a longitudinal truss structure on each side of the litter each including a longeron, its spaced legs, and one or more flexible tension members connected thereto. One or more lateral truss structures may each include opposing legs on each side of the litter and one or more flexible tension members connected thereto. A bed truss structure may include one or more tension members.

Abstract: A dual-modality apparatus for imaging of biological tissue includes a reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) imaging apparatus and an optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging apparatus. A first optical component reflects a first beam of light provided by a RCM imaging apparatus towards a sample and passes a second beam of light provided by an OCT imaging apparatus towards the sample, such that the first and second beam of lights share at least a portion of an imaging path.

Abstract: A laser and methods for providing a continuous wave output beam. The laser and method includes positioning a micro-plasma chip capable of creating micro-plasmas within a resonant cavity. A gas is input into the resonant cavity and flows around the micro-plasma chip. Micro-plasmas ignite and excite the gas to create metastables. The metastables are further excited by an optical pump having an energy sufficient to cause the metastables to lase.

Abstract: An apparatus for the concentration of suspended algae particles in an aqueous solution. The apparatus includes an electrolytic cell containing at least an anode and a cathode, and a filter. The electrolytic cell receives a solution containing suspended algae particles therein. A power supply is near the filter. A zone of depleted suspended algae particles is near the filter, formed under the influence of an applied electric field from the power supply.

Abstract: A laser and methods for providing a continuous wave output beam. The laser and method includes positioning a micro-plasma chip capable of creating micro-plasmas within a resonant cavity. A gas is input into the resonant cavity and flows around the micro-plasma chip. Micro-plasmas ignite and excite the gas to create metastables. The metastables are further excited by an optical pump having an energy sufficient to cause the metastables to lase.

Abstract: A method of operating a Tm:doped fiber amplifier including selecting a length of Tm:doped optical fiber to be less than one hundred meters, doping the optical fiber with active ions at a doping level of greater than one percent, optically pumping the doped optical fiber with a first laser beam having a wavelength longer than the wavelength where a maximum absorption cross section is provided by the active ions, and creating a population inversion between two active ion energy levels with the first laser beam, the active ions providing a gain to a second laser beam.

Abstract: The coal ash can be sorted into groups of substantially unburned carbon and substantially burned carbon. The substantially unburned carbon or the substantially burned carbon can be magnetically treated to cause separation into a substantially magnetic portion and a substantially non-magnetic portion. The substantially magnetic portion or the substantially non-magnetic portion can be filtered into a substantially course portion and a substantially fine portion. The substantially coarse portion or the substantially fine portion can be treated with a mineral acid to form an aqueous mineral acid solution. The aqueous mineral acid solution can be extracted to form an organic solution that includes the rare earth salts. The organic solution can be mixed with water to form an aqueous solution that includes the rare earth salts. The rare earth salts can be separated from the aqueous solution.

Abstract: A catalyst free method of igniting an ionic liquid is provided. The method can include mixing a liquid hypergol with a HAN-based ionic liquid to ignite the HAN-based ionic liquid in the absence of a catalyst. The HAN-based ionic liquid and the liquid hypergol can be injected into a combustion chamber. The HAN-based ionic liquid and the liquid hypergol can impinge upon a stagnation plate positioned at top portion of the combustion chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for the concentration of suspended algae particles in an aqueous solution. The apparatus includes an electrolytic cell containing at least an anode and a cathode, and a filter. The electrolytic cell receives a solution containing suspended algae particles therein. A power supply is near the filter. A zone of depleted suspended algae particles is near the filter, formed under the influence of an applied electric field from the power supply.

Abstract: A method of forming a metalized polymeric bubble in a space, microgravity environment is described. A liquid polymer bubble having a predetermined diameter is formed from a mixture comprising a liquid polymer and at least one of a UV curing material, a stabilizer, a UV absorber, or a surfactant. The liquid polymer bubble is cured with radiation to form a rigid polymer bubble. The rigid polymer bubble is then metalized with a metal to form the metalized polymeric bubble.

Abstract: An electrolytic filtration method and apparatus for the concentration and collection of suspended particulates from aqueous solutions is disclosed. The electrolytic cell contains at least an anode and a cathode, and in one embodiment contains a plurality of anodes and cathodes. The electrolytic cell also contains a filter, and in one embodiment the filter is a moving belt filter. While not bound by theory, the electrolytic filtration method and apparatus is based on the electrophoretic movement of algae particles suspended in an aqueous solution away from the filter under the influence of an electric field. In one embodiment the electric field is a pulsed waveform with unidirectional voltage or current pulses. In another embodiment, the electric field is a pulsed waveform with bidirectional voltage or current pulses.