Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to systems, apparatus and methods for characterizing evanescent coupling parameters of a waveguide coupled to a resonator through variation of their relative positions. Various embodiments extend a local coupling approach with novel fitting capabilities that robustly determine the bare resonator modes and coupling parameters with quantified residual error and coupling parameter uncertainty estimates.

Abstract: Systems and methods for trapping and holding airborne particles using an orienting hollow beam are disclosed. In the various embodiments, an optical trap comprises: a light source for generating a beam of light; optics and/or mechanics for forming and shaping the beam of light into an orienting hollow beam having unequal axisymmetry with a substantially hollow ring geometry cross-section and no angular momentum; an optical focusing element for focusing the orienting hollow beam; and a trapping region where an airborne particle can be present to be trapped and held at or near a focal point of the focused optical focusing element. In this arrangement, the particle is trapped at or near the focal point of the focused orienting hollow beam. In this arrangement, the particle is trapped at or near the focal point of the focused orienting hollow beam. The orienting hollow beam may be made rotatable in some embodiments.

Abstract: A nano-structured alloy material includes a nanoparticle; a matrix phase surrounding the nanoparticle; and an alkali/alkali Earth metal to alter (i) a material property of the nanoparticle. (ii) a material property of the matrix phase, and (iii) an interaction of the nanoparticle with the matrix phase.

Abstract: A multi-compartment mortar increment container (MIC) enables burning of two propellants to broaden the pressure-time curve providing additional energy and force behind a mortar shell while maintaining allowable pressures. During the ballistic cycle, the mortar increment container burns allowing the faster propellant to mix with the slower propellant. The slower propellant will burn later in the ballistic cycle generating higher pressure behind the projectile leading to higher velocity.

Abstract: A bullet tracking system comprising a sensor sub-system that generates bullet tracking data by tracking a position and range of a bullet discharged from a remote-controlled weapon and traveling to an intended target; a processor that processes the bullet tracking data to determine aim adjustments of the weapon for subsequent firing of bullets to compensate for tracked bullet ballistics to improve an accuracy of the bullets for reaching the intended target; and a control sub-system to make the aim adjustments of the weapon.

Abstract: A battery activation device uses ballistic pressure to directly activate a liquid reserve battery and simultaneously complete the battery ground circuit to the electronics system. The gas pressure generated during ballistic launch reacts upon a piston face that transforms the pressure directly into a linear force which is then applied to the liquid reserve battery for activation. An internal shear disc prevents unintentional battery activation from an accidental drop and if sufficient launch pressure has not been realized by device.

Abstract: A composition of matter and method includes Li1+x+zM(II)0.5?2x?zM(III)x+yM(IV)1.5?2y?z M(V)yM(V)zO4. M(II) includes any of Mg, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn. M(III) includes any of Al, Cr, Fe, Ga, and In. M(IV) includes any of Ti, Mn, and Ge. M(V) includes any of Nb, Ta, Sb, and Bi. Additionally, 0?x?0.25, 0?y?0.75, 0?z?0.5, and (x+z)>0.

Abstract: A subspace-based approach to synchrophasor estimation is provided. Embodiments described herein provide two improvements to subspace-based phasor measurement unit (PMU) algorithms based on estimation of signal parameters via rotational invariance techniques (ESPRIT) frequency estimation. The first is a dynamic, real-time thresholding method to determine the size of the signal subspace. This allows for accurate ESPRIT-based frequency estimates of the nominal system frequency as well as the frequencies of any out-of-band interference or harmonic frequencies. Since other frequencies are included in the least squares (LS) estimate, the interference from frequencies other than nominal can be excluded. This results in a near flat estimation error over changes in a) nominal system frequency, b) harmonic distortion, and c) out-of-band interference. Second, the computational burden of ESPRIT is reduced and the proposed algorithm runs in real time on resource-constrained platforms.

Abstract: Solid fuel pellets or particles are coated with a diamond-like and/or graphitic coating to impart increased resistance to oxidation or other forms of degradation. An apparatus and method for producing solid fuel pellets or particles or other comminuted or particulate material that are coated with diamond-like and/or graphitic coatings employ plasma coating of the particles or comminuted material in a plasma chamber that has provision for agitating and/or stirring the particles during the plasma coating process. The gas feed to the plasma chamber may contain at least one organic carbon source.

Abstract: A method of producing chemicals includes providing fermentative cells; co-feeding any of galacturonate and galacturonate polymers with carbohydrates to the fermentative cells; and producing a chemical from the fermentative cells. The fermentative cells may include any of Clostridium acetobutylicum and Clostridium saccharoperbutylacetonicum. The carbohydrates may include any of glucose, mannose, galactose, fructose, arabinose, xylose, sucrose, lactose, maltose, cellobiose, and starch. The method may include providing a substantially equal proportion of the any of galacturonate and galacturonate polymers and the carbohydrates for co-feeding to the fermentative cells. The method may include altering a proportion of the any of galacturonate and galacturonate polymers to the carbohydrates. The method may include modulating a production of the chemical by altering the proportion of the any of galacturonate and galacturonate polymers to the carbohydrates. The chemical may include any of acetate and butyrate.

Abstract: An optoelectronic device apparatus using active, frequency-selective metasurfaces to achieve retroreflection at a pre-determined single frequency and optionally provide signal modulation on the reflected light beam. The apparatus may use several active, frequency-selective metasurfaces to replace traditional optical lens and mirrors.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of an energetic compound and methods of making and using the same. Energetic compound embodiments disclosed herein exhibit physical and chemical properties that facilitate their use in various applications, such as high energy propellant plasticizers, melt-castable explosives, and the like. Efficient and safe method embodiments for making the disclosed energetic compound embodiments are described herein.

Abstract: A thermal energy storage (TES) device includes a thermoelectric cooler; and a metallic phase change material (PCM) within the thermoelectric cooler. The PCM may include any of gallium or its alloys, low temperature fusible alloys, and solid metal shape memory alloys. A thermoelectric effect within the PCM is to transport heat in the thermoelectric cooler. The TES device may include a graded oxide layer adjacent to the PCM to serve as a distributed electrical junction in the thermoelectric cooler to create a hot side thermoelectric junction in a bulk volume of the PCM. The graded oxide layer may include ?-IGZO. The TES device may include a high-thermopower corrugated metal foil layer comprising barrier oxides patterned therein. The high-thermopower metal foil layer may be adjacent to the graded oxide layer. The TES device may include a dielectric layer adjacent to the high-thermopower corrugated metal foil layer.

Abstract: A biofabrication method for producing cellulose-based materials. The method includes providing active cellulose-producing bacteria such as Gluconacetobacter and culturing media in a container; combining organic additives or inorganic additives with the active cellulose-producing bacteria in the container to produce a cellulose hydrogel matrix composed of entangled bacteria-produced cellulose nanofibers; controlling a concentration of the additives in the cellulose hydrogel matrix; and exposing the cellulose hydrogel matrix in selected thermal environment to create a biofabricated functional material.

Abstract: Disclosed are compounds, compositions, and methods relating to epitope-targeted immunostimulants (EPIs), which comprise a synthetic peptide ligand and an antibody-recruiting moiety. The peptide ligand binds an epitope on a target and the antibody-recruiting moiety recruits antibodies to the target when the EPI is bound to the epitope on the target. Also disclosed are compositions comprising any of the disclosed EPIs. Also disclosed are methods of stimulating an immune reaction to a microorganism or other pathogen in a subject where an EPI is administered to the subject. Also disclosed are methods of identifying the peptide ligand by using multi-omic analysis.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing personal protection equipment or devices comprising an enclosure body having an air-inflatable support structure that receives an air-transferable chemical and air to maintain a substantially rigid structural integrity; a nozzle connected to the air-inflatable support structure, wherein the nozzle releases air and the air-transferable chemical from the air-inflatable support structure into the interior of the enclosure body for a selected period of time as a concentration of the air-transferable chemical in the interior of the enclosure body is at a steady state of uniformity; and a panel integrated into the enclosure body that passively releases air from the enclosure body.

Abstract: A topological material includes a lattice crystalline structure; and a material defect in the lattice crystalline structure that is treatable by hydrogen passivation that chemically mitigates an electronic charge associated with the material defect. The lattice crystalline structure includes dangling bonds in an atomic arrangement of the material defect of the lattice crystalline structure, and the hydrogen passivation may apply hydrogen to chemically passivate the dangling bonds of the material defect. The hydrogen passivation may be achieved by diffusing hydrogen into common materials of the lattice crystalline structure. The hydrogen passivation may chemically and/or electrostatically neutralize an electronic activity associated with the material defect.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for detecting and characterizing a pulse sequence using a finite impulse filter to determine a pulse width (PW) of pulses within the pulse sequence. The method and apparatus may also apply a histogram to the filtered pulses to determine the pulse rate interval (PRI) of pulses in the pulse sequence.

Abstract: A process for the rapid fabrication of a sorbent hollow fiber membrane (HFM) with a very high metal organic framework (MOF) content as well as the apparatus to contain such fibers for the purposes of sequestering and separating chemicals is described. Herein we developed a process to rapidly prototype meters long HFM batches with a high MOF content for sequestering and filtration. The HFM produced herein can be tailored to precisely sequester chemical of a hazardous nature which may include chemical warfare agents (CWA) or toxic industrial chemicals (TIC). The HFM are comprised of a polymer-based material that includes a polymeric binder; and one or more porous active materials that adsorb, chemisorb, decompose, or a combination thereof, a hazardous chemical.

Abstract: A method of determining a tool path for an additive deposition on a surface, the method including receiving primary edges data of the surface of a three-dimensional (3D) object; calculating a number of raster lines for applying an additive deposition on the surface; mapping a raster pattern to the surface of the 3D object; calculating surface normal and rotational angles along the raster lines; calculating a nozzle velocity of an additive application used for producing the additive deposition on the surface; identifying curvature effects of the 3D object; and establishing an order of performing passes of the additive deposition on the surface based on a selected direction for performing the additive deposition and a consideration of a residual stress profile of a resulting deposit.