Abstract: A superadiabatic burner has a flame holder formed from a porous medium, a fuel inlet coupled to the flame holder, a fuel outlet coupled to the flame holder, a preheater comprising an inlet and an outlet coupled to the fuel inlet, and a radiating rod coupled to the porous medium. The porous medium comprises a first porous section and a second porous section. Methods of using the burner allow preheated air or other mixtures to be provided to the fuel inlet as part of a fuel air mixture for the burner.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides a method for producing biofuel from a feedstock that includes one or more coffee sources, such as green coffee beans, whole roasted coffee beans, ground coffee, or spent coffee grounds. Triglycerides and other materials, such as antioxidants, are extracted from the coffee source. In some example, the triglycerides are then transesterified to produce a fatty acid ester biofuel product. In further examples, the method includes obtaining spent coffee grounds from one or more sources, such as residences or businesses that generate spent coffee grounds. The present disclosure also provides biofuels produced using the disclosed method, including mixtures of such biofuels with other fuels, such as other biofuels or petroleum based fuels. Materials obtained from the disclosed method may be put to other uses, such as cosmetics, medicinal products, food products, or combustible materials.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method of making a ceramic material that contains boron and a metal. A metal source, an oxidizer, a boron source, and a fuel source are combined. These reactants are then heated at, or to, a temperature sufficient to initiate a combustion reaction. The combustion reaction produces a ceramic material that includes boron and the metal. The present disclosure also provides materials formed by the disclosed method, as well as methods and systems using such materials.

Abstract: The present invention relates to micro-cone targets for producing high energy and low divergence particle beams. In one embodiment, the micro-cone target includes a substantially cone-shaped body including an outer surface, an inner surface, a generally flat and round, open-ended base, and a tip defining an apex. The cone-shaped body tapers along its length from the generally flat and round, open-ended base to the tip defining the apex. In addition, the outer surface and the inner surface connect the base to the tip, and the tip curves inwardly to define an outer surface that is concave, which is bounded by a rim formed at a juncture where the outer surface meets the tip.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides, among other things, a system and process for drying a biosolid or sludge, such as wastewater sludge. The system and method include a fluidized bed dryer in which the sludge is dried. The fluidized bed includes bed media. In particular examples, the bed media is different than the sludge. The system and method can include additional features, such treating the sludge using a thermochemical process in a thermochemical reactor, such as a gasifier, to produce a fuel. The fuel is then combusted to produce energy and heat. The heat is recycled to the drier to help dry sludge. In particular examples, sludge input to the dryer is not first treated using a high-pressure dewatering technique. In some embodiments, the system and method include an anaerobic digester coupled to a combustion unit coupled to the dryer.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides a method for producing biofuel from a feedstock that includes one or more coffee sources, such as green coffee beans, whole roasted coffee beans, ground coffee, or spent coffee grounds. Triglycerides and other materials, such as antioxidants, are extracted from the coffee source. In some example, the triglycerides are then transesterified to produce a fatty acid ester biofuel product. In further examples, the method includes obtaining spent coffee grounds from one or more sources, such as residences or businesses that generate spent coffee grounds. The present disclosure also provides biofuels produced using the disclosed method, including mixtures of such biofuels with other fuels, such as other biofuels or petroleum based fuels. Materials obtained from the disclosed method may be put to other uses, such as cosmetics, medicinal products, food products, or combustible materials.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to oxidative decarbonylase enzymes, methods of making hydrocarbons with such enzymes, hydrocarbons produced therefrom and uses thereof. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to isolated polypeptide sequences that are cytochrome P450 enzymes with oxidative decarbonylase activity and methods of their use to generate hydrocarbon products, such as biofuels.

Abstract: In various embodiments, the present disclosure provides a method and enzyme for forming various compounds, such as monoterpenes and monoterpenoid compounds. In a specific example, the present disclosure provides a method for producing one or more of (?)-ipsdienol, (?)-ipsenol, ipsenone, and ipsdienone. The present disclosure also provides methods of using compounds formed from the disclosed method and enzyme.

Abstract: A general, computational-mathematical modeling method for the solution of large, boundary-coupled transport problems involving the flow of mass, momentum, energy or subatomic particles is disclosed. The method employs a modeling processor that extracts a matrix operator equation (or set of equations) from a numerical transport code (NTC). The outputs of software codes, available for modeling physical problems governed by conservation laws in the form of differential equations, can be processed into closed-form operator equations with the method. Included is a numerical transport code functionalization (NTCF) model which can be determined numerically, based on a system of solutions of an NTC, evaluating outputs for a given set of inputs. The NTCF model is a linear or nonlinear, multi-variable operator equation or set of such equations. The NTCF model defines relationships between general, time-variable inputs and outputs, some known and some unknown, considered as boundary values.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of detecting a chemical species with an oscillating cantilevered probe. A cantilevered beam is driven into oscillation with a drive mechanism coupled to the cantilevered beam. A free end of the oscillating cantilevered beam is tapped against a mechanical stop coupled to a base end of the cantilevered beam. An amplitude of the oscillating cantilevered beam is measured with a sense mechanism coupled to the cantilevered beam. A treated portion of the cantilevered beam is exposed to the chemical species, wherein the cantilevered beam bends when exposed to the chemical species. A second amplitude of the oscillating cantilevered beam is measured, and the chemical species is determined based on the measured amplitudes.

Abstract: Localization methods and methods for localizing a light source using multivariate statistical analysis. In particular, a multi-variate distribution, such as a multi-variate normal distribution, may be used to localize photons originating from a light source and, in particular, may be used to analyze photon position maps acquired by Photon Event Distribution Sampling (PEDS). The multi-variate distribution assigned to each of the photons in the photon position map may be summed to predict a most probable location for the light source.

Abstract: The invention provides materials and methods for making anisotropic solids which may be in the form of films, layers, shaped elements, and other shaped articles. The methods provide anisotropic solids without the need for rolling, rubbing, or stretching to impart orientational alignment of the molecules of the solid. The methods employ organic or organometallic compounds which are soluble orienting molecules. The solvent or solvent system must be sufficiently volatile to be removed without disruption of the molecular orientation. The soluble orienting molecules include those containing one or more hydrophilic and/or ionic groups and the solvent or solvent system can be a polar organic solvent or solvent system or an aqueous solvent or solvent system. The invention also provides novel compounds having quaterrylene, perylene and naphthalene ring systems carrying one or more hydrophilic and/or ionic groups.

Abstract: A method for preparing an ?-halo enal or enone from an unprotected propargyl alcohol and an electrophilic halogen source catalyzed by the combination of a gold catalyst complex and a metal co-catalyst complex is disclosed. The method can be further enhanced by addition of an additive that facilitates suppression of a des-halo derivative.

Abstract: Magnetorheological materials having a supramolecular polymer gel as a component of the carrier are disclosed. Useful supramolecular polymers for gels include those having bipyridine or terpyridine ligands which can participate in metal coordination bonding. The magnetizable particles of magnetorheological materials can have supramolecular surfactant-polymer coatings.

Abstract: In particular embodiments, the present disclosure provides targets including a metal layer and defining a hollow inner surface. The hollow inner surface has an internal apex. The distance between at least two opposing points of the internal apex is less than about 15 ?m. In particular examples, the distance is less than about 1 ?m. Particular implementations of the targets are free standing. The targets have a number of disclosed shaped, including cones, pyramids, hemispheres, and capped structures. The present disclosure also provides arrays of such targets. Also provided are methods of forming targets, such as the disclosed targets, using lithographic techniques, such as photolithographic techniques. In particular examples, a target mold is formed from a silicon wafer and then one or more sides of the mold are coated with a target material, such as one or more metals.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for the detection, prevention, or treatment of anthrax or other infectious diseases. In one aspect, the present invention provides methods for immunizing humans or animals against Bacillus anthracis or other capsulated pathogens. The methods include administering a capsular polypeptide of a pathogen of interest and a CD40 agonist to a human or animal. The capsular polypeptide or the CD40 agonist is administered in such an amount or frequency that an immunoprotective response can be elicited in the human or animal against the pathogen of interest. In another aspect, the present invention provides methods of using passive immunization with anti-capsular polypeptide antibodies to prevent or treat infections caused by Bacillus anthracis or other pathogens. In yet another aspect, the present invention provides methods useful for diagnosis of anthrax by detection of capsular polypeptide in serum or other biological samples.

Abstract: In various embodiments, the present disclosure provides a method of treating a subject using laminin or a composition that includes laminin. In one embodiment, the method is used to enhance muscle regeneration, maintenance, or repair in a subject. In another embodiment, the method is used to promote wound healing. The method, in yet another embodiment, is used to prevent or reduce muscle damage or injury. In specific implementations of these methods, the laminin or composition that includes laminin is administered in a therapeutically effective amount. In some implementations, the laminin is a complete laminin protein. In other implementations, the laminin is a laminin fragment, a laminin derivative, or a laminin analogue.

Abstract: Locations of the origins of the photons are acquired from a scanned sample with reference to a scan frame. The location on the sample from which a photon was emitted is inferred from the location of the scan as commanded by a scan drive signal, a feedback signal related to the position of the scan device, or alternatively by the point in time during a scan at which the photon is detected. A position function, e.g., photon probability density, is associated with a photon position. Summing or other processing of photon probability density functions can require fewer photons to converge to an ideal density distribution associated with an image feature than are required using conventional pixel binning. Stored data can be mapped into pixels or voxels of a display or otherwise processed. Original data remains available in the digital storage for post-hoc analysis. Imprecision introduced by the display process need not adversely affect the precision of the collected data.

Abstract: A coordinated joint control system for controlling a coordinated joint motion system, e.g. an articulated arm of a hydraulic excavator blends automation of routine tasks with real-time human supervisory trajectory correction and selection. One embodiment employs a differential control architecture utilizing an inverse Jacobian. Modelling of the desired trajectory of the end effector in system space can be avoided. The disclosure includes image generation and matching systems.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for amplifying an energy beam such as a beam of laser light or a charged particle beam. An exemplary method includes providing a liner having a first end, a second end, a liner axis, and a lumen extending along the liner axis and being bound by interior reflective walls of the liner. An energy beam is introduced into the first end of the liner. The beam propagates through the lumen from the first end to the second end as the beam reflects multiple times from the interior walls of the liner. Meanwhile, an implosive force is applied to the liner. The implosive force compresses the interior walls implosively toward the liner axis in a manner that amplifies the beam as the beam propagates through the lumen of the imploding liner. The amplified energy beam can be used for any of various purposes including ignition of a fusion target.