Abstract: A PCSS comprises a photoconductive semiconductor block that exhibits electrically-conductive behavior when exposed to light of a predetermined wavelength; two or more electrodes fixed to the photoconductive semiconductor block and connectable to a power supply; a resonance cavity enveloping the photoconductive semiconductor block, the resonance cavity having a reflective outer surface to trap light within the resonance cavity and the photoconductive semiconductor block, the resonance cavity having a window through the reflective outer surface to admit light of the predetermined wavelength, the resonance cavity being transmissive to light of the predetermined wavelength within the reflective outer surface; and a light source directed toward the photoconductive semiconductor block and through the window, and emitting light at the predetermined wavelength. The photoconductive semiconductor block may include Si, GaAs, GaN, AlN, SiC, and/or Ga2O3.

Abstract: A method of detecting a presence of Francisella tularensis (F. tularensis). The method includes amplifying a first nucleic acid from said specimen using a first plurality of primers, said first plurality of primers comprising SEQ ID NO 4 and SEQ ID NO 5. When the first nucleic acid is detected, then the presence of F. tularensis is determined.

Abstract: Combination linear and rotary actuators are disclosed. The linear and rotary actuators have a housing defining a cylindrical interior space and a pair of pistons located inside the cylindrical interior space. An inner bearing cylinder is provided that has spaced-apart ball bearings arranged in a helical pattern on its surface that engage with a structure having an inner surface with helical grooves therein. The structure at least indirectly engages a linear drive piston that is slidably mounted in the housing, and provides rotational movement thereto. The linear drive piston has an input shaft that has ball bearings on its surface, and is inserted inside the output shaft of a revolution piston that has an inner surface with linear grooves. The actuators use hydrostatically charged integral bearing races that activate during operation to reduce friction. Combination linear and rotary actuators with double actuation output shafts are also provided.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method include a pump to deliver vapor including airborne contaminants including organic compounds including a target analyte; a collector to transfer the airborne contaminants by autonomous liquid extraction into a mobile organic liquid phase; a micro-fluidic chamber including immobilized biorecognition elements that bind to analytes delivered from the mobile organic liquid phase; a mechanism to introduce the mobile organic liquid phase to a buffer containing a plurality of substrates causing a series of biochemical reactions that create a change corresponding to a concentration of the target analyte; and a detector to perform real-time analysis that correlates to a concentration of the organic compounds to determine a presence of the target analyte.

Abstract: A biomarker diagnostic system includes a sensor to collect a sweat sample from a biological subject; a processor operatively connected to the sensor, wherein the processor is configured to perform metabolic and proteomic profiling of biomarkers in the sweat sample. The metabolic and proteomic profile is compared to a predetermined profile of the biomarkers and to determine a physiological status of the biomarkers. The system further includes a feedback unit operatively coupled to the sensor and the processor and configured to output physiological performance data based on the physiological status.

Abstract: A transmission filter apparatus is provided that includes: (i) a substrate to serve as a foundation for the apparatus; (ii) a layer containing resonant dielectric cavities separated by conductive regions. The dimensions and design of the dielectric cavities, thickness of the layer, and substrate, dielectric and conductive materials are chosen to achieve resonant transmission of selected wavelengths. In a particular one or more embodiments, the layer is one dimensional, i.e. you have dielectric cavities along one axis in the plane that are comparatively infinity long in the parallel plane. In a particular one or more embodiments, the layer is two dimensional, i.e. you have dielectric cavities along both axis in the plane. The dimensions in each plane may or may not be equal. In a specific one or more embodiments, the dielectric cavities are terminated on the top and/or bottom by thin metal films with small apertures or tapers.

Abstract: A method of performing heteroepitaxy comprises exposing a substrate to a carrier gas, a first precursor gas, a Group II/III element, and a second precursor gas, to form a heteroepitaxial growth of one of GaAs, AlAs, InAs, GaP, InP, ZnSe, GaSe, CdSe, InSe, ZnTe, CdTe, GaTe, HgTe, GaSb, InSb, AlSb, CdS, GaN, and AlN on the substrate; wherein the substrate comprises one of GaAs, AlAs, InAs, GaP, InP, ZnSe, GaSe, CdSe, InSe, ZnTe, CdTe, GaTe, HgTe, GaSb, InSb, AlSb, CdS, GaN, and AlN; wherein the carrier gas is Hz, wherein the first precursor is HCl, the Group II/III element comprises at least one of Zn, Cd, Hg, Al, Ga, and In; and wherein the second precursor is one of AsH3 (arsine), PH3 (phosphine), H2Se (hydrogen selenide), H2Te (hydrogen telluride), SbH3 (hydrogen antimonide), H2S (hydrogen sulfide), and NH3 (ammonia). The process may be an HVPE (hydride vapor phase epitaxy) process.

Abstract: A method of post-processing an actuator element is presented. The method begins by receiving a fabricated actuator element including a metallic layer contacting a substrate, sacrificial layer proximate the metallic layer, and a first dielectric layer on the sacrificial layer. The metallic layer has an end proximal to and contacting at least part of the substrate and a distal end extending over the first dielectric layer. A second dielectric is deposited on a portion of the metallic layer at the distal end. And, the sacrificial layer is removed.

Abstract: A method of peritoneal removal of electrolytes and inflammatory mediators. The method begins with infusing a treatment solution into the peritoneal cavity of a patient by way of a catheter. The treatment solution is drained from the peritoneal cavity by way of the catheter. During the draining, the treatment solution is filtered for removing electrolytes and inflammatory mediators.

Abstract: The systems and methods provided herein are directed to a surgical retractor which is optimized for production by additive manufacturing systems in situations where external medical supplies are interrupted or unavailable.

Abstract: A material testing system that uses at least one hydraulic grip is improved with cable clips that are attachable to a respective lateral side of each hydraulic grip wedge. Each cable clip has another end that extends to engage a cable(s) extending from a corresponding wedge retention spring hole. The cable(s) enable manual extension of a wedge retention spring for engagement and disengagement from the hydraulic grip wedge. The cable clip maintains the cable in a noninterfering position during operational use of the material testing system.

Abstract: A waveguide flange adapter includes a plate; an aperture positioned through the plate; and a plurality of holes arranged in a pattern in the plate and around the aperture. The plate is configured to operatively connect a first waveguide to a second waveguide such that the first waveguide and the second waveguide have a different pattern of holes on the waveguide flanges to one another. The pattern of the plurality of holes may be configured to align with connecting holes in each of the first waveguide and the second waveguide. At least some of the plurality of holes may extend through an entire thickness of the plate. The plate may include electrically-conductive material. The size and shape of the aperture may be complementary to a size and shape of each of the first waveguide and the second waveguide. At least some of the plurality of holes may be tapped or untapped.

Abstract: A digital speckle pattern interferometer (DSPI) is provided for long-range measurement of displacement of materials within a hazardous environments. A test arm of a portion of coherent beam from a laser is aimed at a selected angle to traverse a distance to a test surface. An input collimator has a lens wide enough to receive a reflected beam from the test surface and is focused at a corresponding distance. The reflected beam is combined with a reference beam split from the coherent radiation onto a camera for measuring displacement of the test surface based on an electronic speckle pattern interferometer (ESPI).

Abstract: A composite material for dissipating the kinetic energy of an impacting object includes a strike face oriented to receive the impacting object and a protected face oriented to be proximate a user or a protected item. A first portion includes at least a first woven fabric layer and at least a Non-Newtonian Fluid (NNF) sheet. The first portion is disposed adjacent the strike face. A second portion includes at least a second woven fiber layer, and the second portion is disposed adjacent the protected face.

Abstract: A morphing airfoil includes a dynamic flexible skin system that is capable of carrying high level aerodynamic (or fluid) pressure loads over a structural surface. The structural surface can morph and bend in response to control inputs to change a lift force without separate movable control surfaces. A plurality of standoff mounts are attached to an inner surface of anisotropic skin. The standoff mounts include through apertures for receiving a flexible stringer. The anisotropic skin is attached to underlying structure through the flexible stringers. The flexible stringers interface with actuated position control ribs and passive compliant support ribs. A control system causes the underlying support structure to move to a desired location which in turn causes the skin to bend and/or flex without exceeding a stress threshold and thus vary the lift and drag distributions along a span of the airfoil without separate control surfaces.

Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for making macromolecular networks, macromolecular networks made by such processes, and methods of using such macromolecular networks. Such process employs a low amount of amine compound as a reaction accelerant. The rates of chemical reaction are thereby easily controlled over several orders of magnitude, permitting efficient catalysis and control of reaction conditions needed to produce thermochemically stable macromolecular networks.

Abstract: An apparatus for air dropping equipment and supplies from an aircraft is disclosed herein. The apparatus includes a canister having a rotor system configured to slow the descent at a predetermined altitude to a desired landing speed via auto-rotation and/or with motor assist. The rotor system is configured to prevent the container from spinning about its longitudinal axis during the descent.

Abstract: An active attestation apparatus verifies at runtime the integrity of untrusted machine code of an embedded system residing in a memory device while it is being run/used with while slowing the processing time less than other methods. The apparatus uses an integrated circuit chip containing a microcontroller and a reprogrammable logic device, such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA), to implement software attestation at runtime and in less time than is typically possible with comparable attestation approaches, while not requiring any halt of the processor in the microcontroller. The reprogrammable logic device includes functionality to load an encrypted version of its configuration and operating code, perform a checksum computation, and communicate with a verifier. The checksum algorithm is preferably time optimized to execute computations in the reprogrammable logic device in the minimum possible time.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of improving a mass spectrometer, a module for improving a mass spectrometer and an improved mass spectrometer. The aforementioned method employs a calibration correction module that calibrates the mass spectrometer so timely, more precise and accurate data can be obtained. In particular, real time, accurate mass determinations of low analyte quantity samples can be obtained.

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.