Abstract: A method of treating contaminated water, such as wastewater, with carboxylated cellulose to remove ammonium and nitrogen-containing impurities is claimed. Carboxylated cellulose extracted by nitro-oxidation has negatively-charged functionality and forms an aggregate when exposed to positively-charged impurities in contaminated water. The aggregate, nitrogen-containing impurities, and by-products from the nitro-oxidation process can be isolated to provide a fertilizer or fertilizer component.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a solar power system for induction motor soft-starting and power compensation. The system includes an induction motor, a solar microinverter, and a relay system electrically coupling the induction motor and the solar microinverter to a power grid or line power supply. The relay system can operate in a soft-start state using solar power to start the induction motor with reduced peaks/transient behaviors, a continuous operation state using power grid line active power with reactive power compensation from the solar microinverter, and a renewable energy generation state using the solar microinverter to feed solar energy to the power grid when the induction motor is not in use.

Abstract: A microneedle array including a plurality of microneedles that include nanocellulose or a nanocellulose composite, methods of producing a microneedle array, a device including a microneedle array, and methods of extracting a dermal biofluid or subdermal biofluid by applying a microneedle array.

Abstract: An energy absorbing apparatus includes particles with nanopores in a liquid. A further aspect employs a reusable energy absorbing apparatus including gas-liquid interactions in nanopores. Another aspect of the present apparatus uses oversolubility of gas in a solution to enhance bubble nucleation in hydrophobic nanopores or nanochannels, which suppresses gas outflow while promoting liquid outflow from particles. Still another aspect includes anions within an aqueous electrolytic solution, containing nanoporous material therein.

Abstract: A thermochemical labyrinth reactor is disclosed. The reactor has a reoxidation zone and a reduction zone with electric heaters. A recuperation zone connects the reduction and reoxidation zones with first and second channels, the first channel adjoining the second channel, being separated by windows allowing an exchange of thermal radiation between channels while preventing gas exchange. The reactor also includes reactor plates composed of a reactive material, and a transit system running through the three zones, with the transit system configured to shuttle the plates between the reduction zone and the reoxidation zone, moving the plates along a circuit. The reactor also has a feedstock gas emitter to introduce a feedstock gas flowing opposite the movement of the plates. A gas extractor is configured to extract a product gas resulting from the feedstock gas being split by the oxidizing reactive material. All three zones are surrounded by an insulating housing.

Abstract: A technique to additively print onto a dissimilar material, especially ceramics and glasses (e.g., semiconductors, graphite, diamond, other metals) is disclosed herein. The technique enables manufacture of heat removal devices and other deposited structures, especially on heat sensitive substrates. It also enables novel composites through additive manufacturing. The process enables rapid bonding, orders-of-magnitude faster than conventional techniques.

Abstract: D-serine is effective for inhibiting neuron loss due to an immune response by glial cells to a brain injury. An example of a method includes artificially administering a composition including D-serine to brain cells after an injury thereto, the composition including an amount of D-serine effective to inhibit death of neurons.

Abstract: This patent document discloses novel compounds and methods of preventing or treating diseases or conditions related to Keap1-Nrf2 interaction activity by use of the novel compounds. As direct inhibitors of Keap1-Nrf2 interaction, the compounds disclosed herein are more specific and free of various undesirable effects than existing indirect inhibitors, and are potential dmg candidates of chemopreventive and therapeutic agents for treatment of various diseases or conditions involving oxidative stress and/or inflammation, including but not limited to cancers, diabetes, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and inflammatory bowel disease including ulcerative colitis.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and kits for quantifying the presence of a microorganism in a sample. Specifically, disclosed are methods for quantifying a pathogen in a sample, such as a food sample, to determine if the levels of pathogen present in the sample are within an acceptable range.

Abstract: A system and method for the collection of carbon dioxide is disclosed. The system includes a liquid sorbent that is a carbon dioxide sorbent, and a plurality of conduits. Each conduit has a hollow interior enclosed by a conduit wall. The conduit wall includes a membrane material that is both hydrophobic, trapping the liquid sorbent inside the hollow interior, and porous, allowing gaseous carbon dioxide to transfer from outside the conduit, through the conduit wall, and into the liquid sorbent. The system also includes a first manifold and a second manifold in fluid communication with the first manifold through the plurality of conduits and a riser. The liquid sorbent flows in a circuit, from the first manifold to the second manifold through the plurality of conduits, and from the second manifold to the first manifold through the riser.

Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for a dry-type lubricant for use in a dry product hopper to help improve dry product flow and to improve anti-jamming properties of the dry product. The example lubricant can comprise a hydrophilic fiber, such as cellulose, having a width to length aspect ratio that provides a thin fiber. A plurality of hydrophobic particles are deposited on the surface of the fiber, resulting in a fiber surface exhibiting amphiphobic properties. Further, the fiber can operably absorb water, and then releases the absorbed water to the surface of the fiber under mechanical stress, such as when mixed with a product in a hopper. This can result in the water being disposed on the surface of the fiber, to provide lubrication to a product in a hopper to improve flow and anti-jamming characteristics of the product in the hopper.

Abstract: A dual-mode switchable liquid-crystal window can control both radiant energy flow and privacy. The modes are selected by using different voltage frequencies. A dichroic dye is doped to enable modulation of transmission of the window. In the absence of an applied voltage, the window is transparent without haze. When a high-frequency (e.g., 1 kHz) voltage is applied, the liquid crystal and doped dye molecules inside the window reorient uniformly under dielectric interactions. The material becomes optically absorbing. The transmittance decreases, but the haze does not change. In this mode, the window can control radiant energy flow through the window. When a low-frequency (50 Hz) voltage is applied, the liquid crystal and doped dye molecules are switched into a micron-sized polydomain structure under flexoelectric interactions. The material becomes optically scattering and absorbing. The scenery behind the window is blocked. In this mode, privacy can be controlled.

Abstract: A system includes a wearable device including a camera. The system further includes at least one processor that can identify objects from video data generated by the camera and monitor how an individual wearing the wearable device manipulates the objects according to predetermined micro-activities of interest to infer an action by the individual.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for serial femtosecond crystallography for reducing the vast amount of waste of injected crystals practiced with traditional continuous flow injections. A micrometer-scale 3-D printed water-in-oil droplet generator device includes an oil phase inlet channel, an aqueous phase inlet channel, a droplet flow outlet channel, and two embedded non-contact electrodes. The inlet and outlet channels are connected internally at a junction. The electrodes comprise gallium metal injected within the 3-D printed device. Voltage across the electrodes generates water-in-oil droplets, determines a rate for a series of droplets, or triggers a phase shift in the droplets. An external trigger generates the droplets based on the frequency of an XFEL utilized in droplet detection, thereby synchronizing a series of droplets with x-ray pulses for efficient crystal detection. The generated droplets can be coupled to an SFX with XFEL experiment compatible with common liquid injector such as a GDVN.

Abstract: Systems and methods for energy storage and energy recovery are provided. An electrical-to-electrical energy storage system includes a thermochemical energy storage device, a blower, a compressor, a turbine, and an electrical generator. The TCES device includes a vessel, a porous bed, and a heater. The porous bed is disposed within an interior volume of the vessel. The porous bed comprises a reactive material. The reactive material is configured to release oxygen upon being heated to a reduction temperature, and generate heat when exposed to oxygen. The heater is in thermal contact with the reactive material. The blower is configured to remove oxygen from the interior volume. The compressor is configured to flow oxygen into the interior volume. The turbine is configured to receive a heated, oxygen-depleted gas from the interior volume. The generator is configured to be powered by the turbine to generate electricity.

Abstract: A wearable clip system comprises a garment having a shoulder strap with a front portion comprising an upper section having two ends, wherein one end attaches to a back portion of the shoulder strap and a second end attaches to a first clip portion of a middle clip; a lower section having two ends, wherein one end attaches to a first clip portion of an end clip and a second end attaches to the first clip portion of the middle clip; and an additional strap section having two ends, wherein one end attaches to the back portion of the shoulder strap and a second end attaches to a second clip portion of the middle clip. The system further includes a second clip portion of the end clip that attaches to the garment and is configured to releasably engage with the first clip portion of the end clip.

Abstract: An articulating chair and a method of using same, include at least one actuator, a programmable controller, and movable upper back, lower back and seat bottom sections. In another aspect, an articulating wheelchair and a method of using same, include a seat bottom section, a lower frame to which the seat bottom section is coupled, floor-contacting wheels rotatably coupled to the lower frame, an upper back section, a lower back section, a back frame to which the upper back section and the lower back section are movably coupled, electromagnetic actuators coupled to the back sections, a battery mounted to at least one of the frames, and a programmable controller connected to the actuators and the battery.

Abstract: A robust and rapid detection assay for the subspeciation of Mycobacterium abscessus is provided. The assay allows for three subspecies of M. abscessus to be detected: (1) M. abscessus subsp. abscessus, M. abscessus subsp. massiliense, and M. abscessus subsp. bolletii. Molecular beacon probes and primers were developed to detect the subspecies, and also determine which strains are susceptible macrolides.

Abstract: The present invention describes a bio-based process to produce high quality protein concentrate (HQPC) by converting plant derived celluloses into bioavailable protein via aerobic incubation, including the use of such HQPC so produced as a nutrient, including use as a fish meal replacement in aquaculture diets.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Vaccinium plant named ‘NC4499’ is disclosed, characterized by attractive glaucous light blue-green foliage, and self-pollinating flowers developing into light blue fruit. Fruit is juicy and sweet. The new variety shows long-term survival under field conditions, and a heightened resistance to blueberry leaf rust. Plants are semi-evergreen in the Southeastern United States and maintain an attractive tidy shape long-term, including without pruning. Plants are suitable for pruning. The new variety is a Vaccinium, normally used as an ornamental garden or landscape plant.