Abstract: Single-domain antibodies (SAbs) against three Yersinia pestis surface proteins (LcrV, YscF, and F1), nucleic acid sequences encoding the SAbs, and polypeptides comprising two or more SAbs capable of recognizing two or more epitopes and/or antigens. The present invention further includes methods for preventing or treating Y. pestis infections in a patient; methods for detecting and/or diagnosing Y. pestis infections; and devices and methods for identifying and/or detecting Y. pestis on a surface and/or in an environment.

Abstract: A boom cover for covering a refueling boom, particularly a flying boom, of a refueling aircraft. The boom has a closure which has a shield sized to cover the open end of the refueling boom, to prevent intrusion of debris, animals, etc. The closure has a hoop for circumscribing the boom and drawing the shield taut for remaining on the boom and flaccid for attachment to and removal from the boom. The closure may be attached to and removed from the boom by a longitudinally rotatable handle which is manipulated by a ground operator. Optionally the handle may be removable from the closure for use on subsequent aircraft or storage.

Abstract: In accordance with various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, a system and method is configured for scheduling and invoking power sharing among satellites within a constellation of satellites such that energy storage systems at a target satellite may by charged prior to the use of electric propulsion thrust activation or other high electricity demand operations (or such operations contemporaneously augmented) by power beams transmitted from other (source) satellites within the constellation.

Abstract: The invention relates to bis(aniline) compounds containing multiple arylethynyl, alkylethynyl, ethynyl groups or their combinations, processes of making such compounds and materials comprising such compounds. Such, bis(aniline) compounds preferably comprise multiple phenylethynyl (PE) groups, i.e. 2-4 PE moieties. Such compounds are useful monomers for the preparation of polyimides, polyamides and poly(amide-imides) whose post-fabrication crosslinking chemistry (i.e. reaction temperature) can be controlled by the number of PE per repeat unit as well as finding utility in thermosetting matrix resins, 3D printable resins, and as high-carbon-content precursors to carbon-carbon composites.

Abstract: A family of low-molecular-weight, main-chain thermotropic liquid-crystalline polyimides (TLC-PI) that are crosslinkable is disclosed. These all-aromatic TLC-PI are derived from (i) wholly aromatic and flexible diamine monomers, in which the linkage between the two aniline-ends contains a relatively high heat-tolerant but flexible chain constituted by two or more units of 1,4-phenoxy or 1,3-phenoxy or in combinations of both. Processes of making and using such all-aromatic TLC-PI is also provided.

Abstract: A disk engine and system configured to provide high power at a reduced axial length is disclosed herein. The disk engine includes a radial compressor, a compressor discharge manifold positioned circumferentially about compressor, a combustion chamber positioned within the discharge manifold and a radial turbine positioned radially inward of the combustion chamber.

Abstract: An extrusion printing process for conductive materials and a conductive material extrusion system. The process includes attaching a counter-electrode to a first side of a substrate. A drive voltage is applied to the counter-electrode and to a conductive material to be extruded onto a second side of the substrate, opposite the first side. The conductive material is extruded onto the second side of the substrate while the drive voltage is being applied to the counter-electrode and conductive material. The conductive material is selected from a metal having a melting point ranging from about ?20° C. to about 150° C.

Abstract: A method and system for cooling an engine and/or vehicle using energy separation is disclosed herein. An energy separation device is operable for separating a compressed gaseous coolant stream into a first relatively cooler coolant flow stream and a second relatively hotter coolant flow stream. The relative cooler coolant flow stream is directed to a first region requiring increased cooling and the relative hotter coolant flow stream is directed to a second region requiring lower cooling than the first region in the engine or vehicle.

Abstract: A method for depositing a monocrystalline or polycrystalline tin alloy layer on an amorphous or crystallographically mis-matched substrate. The method includes selecting tin halide as the tin source; selecting an alloying metal precursor from germanium precursors, silicon precursors, and mixtures of germanium and silicon precursors; selecting a substrate from amorphous substrates and crystallographically mis-matched substrates; generating an inert gas plasma in a remote plasma generation reactor; contacting the inert gas plasma with the tin halide to provide an activated tin halide flow stream; contacting the inert gas plasma with the alloying metal precursor to provide an activated alloying metal flow stream; directing the activated tin halide flow stream and activated alloying metal flow stream to an alloy deposition chamber physically remote from the plasma chamber; and depositing the monocrystalline or polycrystalline tin alloy layer on the substrate in the deposition chamber.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for generating, transmitting, and utilizing a composite radar and communication waveform are disclosed. The composite radar and communication waveform may facilitate radar detection and data communication operations and may be generated from a frequency modulated (FM) radar waveform and a communication signal. In an aspect, the composite radar and communication waveform may be generated by iteratively executing a shaping process against the FM radar waveform and the communication signal until a first stop criterion is satisfied to produce an initial composite radar and communication waveform having the communication signal embedded therein, and then iteratively executing an enhancement process against the initial composite radar waveform and the communication signal until a second stop criterion is satisfied to produce a final composite radar and communication waveform suitable for both radar detection and data communication operations.

Abstract: Provided herein are novel methods for providing an enhanced audio signal adapter. The invention provides an in-line audio adapter that digitally enhances bi-directional radio communication for dismounted and mounted operators. The adapter may be customizable to the hearing ability of the radio user, and compatible with both standard military audio connectors and commercial audio connectors enhancing the operator's in-field capabilities to process, record, share, replay, and operate radio communications.

Abstract: A method of precoding the power of a channel of a ground terminal in communication with a satellite. The ground terminal is subject to limitations in terrestrial mobile network rates and other congestion conditions. An actual signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio is calculated and adjusted according to a desired signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio for a predetermined time epoch. The actual signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio is adjusted while considering the competing requirements of both: the energy of the difference between the successive actual/desired signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio levels and the energy of the control sequences. The actual signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio is autonomously converged with the desired with the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio, subject to the limitations in terrestrial mobile network rates and other congestion conditions, by dynamically minimizing covariance error and predicting gain for the epoch.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is a method and apparatus for designing combinational logics with resistance to hardware Trojan induced data leakage. The invention solves the untrustworthy fabrication risk problem by introducing a design method such that even when the design is entirely known to an attacker and a data leakage Trojan is injected subsequently, no useful information can be obtained. This invention contains several methods as shown in several embodiments. The methods include randomized encoding of binary logic, converting any combinational binary logic into one with randomized encoding, and partitioning a randomized encoded logic for split manufacturing.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to shape memory films that are tri-functionally crosslinked and that comprise multiple, non-terminal, phenylethynyl moieties. In addition, the present invention relates methods of fabricating such films. Due to the improved properties of such SMPS, the SMP designer can program in to the SMP mechanical property enhancements that make the SMP suitable, among other things, for advanced sensors, high temperature actuators, responder matrix materials and heat responsive packaging.

Abstract: A drone for delivering plural repeaters in a hostile environment and method of delivering plural repeaters from the drone. The drone is controllable from a remote base station and carries a payload of repeaters on a round tray. The tray has a dispensing hole, complementary to the geometry of the repeater for dispensing the repeaters as needed. Repeaters are consecutively dispensed at stations as determined by an operator. A central radial arm sweeps each repeater around the tray, in turn, until the hole is encountered and the repeater gravity drops to a surface below. The drone may have two or more vertically stacked trays to increase payload without increasing footprint.

Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for selective reshaping of nanoparticles in three dimensional articles, three dimensional articles produced by such processes, and methods of using such three dimensional articles. As a result of the aforementioned process, such three dimensional articles can have selective tuning that arises, at least in part, from the reshaped nanoparticles found in such articles. Such tuning provides the aforementioned articles with superior performance that can be advantageous in the areas including such as optical filters, multi-functional composites and sensing elements.

Abstract: Systems and methods for continuous real-time sweat sampling and analysis are disclosed. A sweat collection article and method of collecting sweat from a person's skin using the sweat collection article are provided. The sweat collection article includes: a sweat collecting tube placed adjacent to the person's skin, and at least one piece of flexible material that has an adhesive that adheres the article to the person's skin and is positioned to overlie one end of the tube. The second end of the sweat collecting tube is in fluid communication with an instrument such as a mass spectrometer that analyzes the sweat on a real-time basis. The systems and methods may further include a device for removing salt from the sweat that is arranged so that the sweat is transported to the device prior to being transported to the instrument for analyzing the sweat.

Abstract: Single-domain antibodies (SAbs) against three Yersinia pestis surface proteins (LcrV, YscF, and F1), nucleic acid sequences encoding the SAbs, and polypeptides comprising two or more SAbs capable of recognizing two or more epitopes and/or antigens. The present invention further includes methods for preventing or treating Y. pestis infections in a patient; methods for detecting and/or diagnosing Y. pestis infections; and devices and methods for identifying and/or detecting Y. pestis on a surface and/or in an environment.

Abstract: A method of classifying terrain, terrain activity and materials through panchromatic imagery a module programmed to provide such classification and aerospace vehicles comprising such module is provided. Panchromatic images of known materials terrains and terrain activities are taken and processed to form a multiband texture cube, that due it amount of data, is stored as a computer data base. New panchromatic images of unclassified materials, terrains and/or terrain activities are processed and compared via computer with such database that allows for inexpensive, quick and efficient classification of such new images.