Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) jettison apparatus. The UAV jettison apparatus may comprise a payload bay, fairing, ejector plate, and releasable latch. The payload bay may be mounted beneath an aircraft and may have an inner space and a top plate attached therewith. The fairing may substantially cover the inner space of the payload bay and may have an opening positioned directly below the top plate. The ejector plate, which may be spring-loaded, may substantially cover the opening and may be used to mount the UAV. The releasable latch, which may be disposed between the top plate and the ejector plate, may releasably lock and hold the UAV in a stowed position and, upon release, may allow the ejector plate to move into a launch position, such that the UAV is released and jettisoned from a larger aircraft.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating nanocrystals are disclosed. Such methods may include providing copper sulfide core nanocrystals and providing a lead precursor. Moreover, the copper sulfide core nanocrystals may be reacted with the lead precursor to generate copper doped lead sulfide nanocrystals. Related nanocrystals and optoelectronic devices are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a firearm projectile capable of releasing a secondary payload mid-flight through a pyrotechnic timing mechanism. Once the firearm is fired, the powder in the casing pushes out the projectile as a typical round. In addition, the powder ignites the delay column. The formulation and amount of delay pyrotechnics determines the delay time. When the delay column is burned, the final portion ignites an expelling charge. The expelling charge builds pressure in the projectile casing and separates the base plug from the main projectile housing. The expelling assembly pushes out the secondary payload out the rear of the projectile. Although the payload exits the rear of the projectile at minimum velocity, the net velocity of the payload is still in the forward direction.

Abstract: A method of cooling a battery cell includes: atomizing a cooling fluid by driving it through a micro-nozzle at a pressure sufficient to create a jet of aerosolized liquid droplets while retaining sufficient momentum in flow of the fluid to travel from the nozzle to an outer surface of the battery cell; impinging the spray of the jet of aerosolized liquid droplets on an outer surface of the battery cell; partially evaporating the liquid droplets on the outer surface to conduct heat from the outer surface; and convecting heat from the outer surface of the battery via the cooling fluid.

Abstract: A method for radiating a co-located antenna including radiating the co-located antenna using a dual mode, where the co-located antenna has an inter-element spacing of about 1?, and the dual mode includes a TM11 mode and a TM21 mode. The TM11 mode is radiated to generate a TM11 far field pattern, where the TM11 mode has a broadside pattern characterized with a beam peak at broadside and the TM11 mode produces grating lobes in addition to the beam peak at broadside. The TM21 mode is radiated to generate a TM21 far field pattern orthogonal to the TM11 far field pattern, thereby causing the TM21 mode to produce a null at broadside to suppress the grating lobes produced by the TM11 mode.

Abstract: A pegylated, circularly permuted construct of the CapD enzyme (a gamma glutamyl transferase enzyme acting as a hydrolase specific to poly-?-D-glutamic acid) is used to treat anthrax and other bacterial infections, including but not limited to infection with strains that are resistant to available antibiotics.

Abstract: A quick-disconnect ball and socket joint includes a substantially spherical strain relief node configured to be coupled to an object, such as a cable. The system further comprises an end cap configured to capture the substantially spherical strain relief node, the end cap having a diameter that permits the substantially spherical strain relief node to pass therethrough when the system is in an open position. The system still further comprises a retaining element configured to retain the substantially spherical strain relief node in the end cap. The retaining element is attached to the end cap when the system is in a closed position and the object is prevented from being removed from capture by the end cap. However, in the open position, the retaining element may be removed from capture by the end cap by passing the substantially spherical strain relief node through a diameter of the end cap.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods related to improving environmental protection and waste collection from application of deposition material using portable systems that are easier for operators to use on surfaces such as ship hulls are provided. Embodiments include a portable and repositionable deposition material applicator enclosure and application system for applying deposition material on a substrate employing non-adherent deposition material waste removal and selective enclosure coupling and decoupling structures or systems employing magnetic and suction or differential pressure based forces.

Abstract: A sensitive and selective, in-line method to measure and validate the sulfur content at ppb levels in both the liquid and gas phase of an analyte. The method includes patterning graphene, for example to form a mesa structure comprising horizontal or vertical lines or an array of multidentate star features; functionalizing the patterned graphene and attaching nanoparticles to the functionalized graphene to form a device; exposing the device to an analyte in the gas or liquid phase; detecting a change in electrical response when sulfur is present in the analyte; and recovering the device for future use. Also disclosed is the related sulfur detector.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for quantitatively measuring strain in an optical fiber. An optical source comprising an optical beam generator and a pulse generator receives instructions from a controller and generates a pulsed optical beam in response to those instructions. The pulsed optical beam is directed into an optical fiber to generate a reflected beam from scattering centers within the optical fiber. A detector records a plurality of frames of data generated by the reflected beam, and the controller tracks an evolution of a speckle pattern carried by the reflected beam from the plurality of frames and calculates a strain induced in a section of the optical fiber from the evolution of the speckle pattern.

Abstract: Three or more base optical materials are selectively combined into a trans-gradient index (GRIN) optical element (e.g., a lens). A wavelength-dependent index of refraction for light propagating perpendicular to the three or more optical materials equals: a volume fraction of a first optical material multiplied by a refractive index of the first optical material, plus a volume fraction of a second optical material multiplied by a refractive index of the second optical material, plus one minus the volume fraction of the first optical material and the volume of the second optical material all multiplied by the refractive index of a third optical material. The wavelength-dependent index of refraction distribution and a refractive index dispersion through the GRIN optical element may be independently specified from one another. A local refractive index at any point in the optical element is a fixed function of a refractive index of each individual optical material.

Abstract: A single layer of metamagnetic material with exchange bias comprising a single layer of FeRh, wherein the single layer of FeRh comprises ion irradiation, wherein the single layer of FeRh comprising ion irradiation is an exchange bias surface layer, and wherein the single layer of FeRh comprises an interface between a ferromagnetic (FM) region and an antiferromagnetic (AFM) region. A method to create a FM/AFM junction in a single layer of FeRh, comprising the steps of providing a layer of FeRh film, wherein the layer of FeRh film is an antiferromagnetic (AFM) film, implanting ions into the top portion of the FeRh film, creating via the step of implanting ions a ferromagnetic (FM) region in the top region, maintaining the antiferromagnetic (AFM) region of the bottom portion, and creating a FM/AFM junction in the single layer of FeRh.

Abstract: Disclosed is an extended range multi-caliber in-bore laser boresight system for sighting in a firearm. The device includes one or more hollow cartridge cases that resemble a standard firearm case lacking a bullet, a laser module, and an external electronic package. The laser module fits within the hollow cartridge case and is positioned within a firearm chamber. The laser exits the hollow cartridge through the firearm barrel to aid with zeroing a firearm sighting system. The laser diode is powerful enough to be visible at extended ranges in bright sunlight. The inventive boresight system can be used for zeroing any desired caliber, such as from 5.56 NATO to .50 BMG at extended range.

Abstract: A layer of nanopatterned phase separated block copolymers on an arbitrary surface comprising a first arbitrary substrate absent of chemical preparation, a layer of graphene on the first arbitrary substrate, and a layer of phase-separated block copolymers on the layer of graphene, wherein the layer of phase-separated block copolymers on the layer of graphene was formed on a second substrate and delaminated via water liftoff and wherein the nanopatterned phase separated block copolymers are utilized as a shadow mask for lithography on the first arbitrary substrate.

Abstract: The invention relates to concealing information within error correction codes of adaptive rate wireless communication systems. In some embodiments, the invention includes selecting a modulation and coding scheme with a more robust error correction capacity than needed by current channel conditions; encoding a hidden message with a pre-shared key that is known by a covert transmitter and a covert receiver, and after a standard message is encoded by a transmitting station of the wireless communication systems, replacing codeword parity bits of codewords in the encoded standard message with the encoded hidden message at designated locations. Before a receiving station of the wireless communication systems decodes the encoded standard message, a covert receiver extracts the embedded hidden message from the encoded standard message, replaces bit values of the embedded hidden message with zero at the designated locations, and decodes the extracted hidden message with the pre-shared key.

Abstract: A device and method are provided for determining whether a laminate is bonded or debonded from its substrate. The device and method provide simple, accurate, rapid, cost-effective, and reliable means for assessing the bonding state of a laminated substrate.

Abstract: Cyanophosphines other than P(CN)3 react with lithium dicyanamide to produce lithiated carbon phosphonitrides with mobile Li+ ions.

Abstract: The invention relates to strong hydrogen-bond acidic sorbents. The sorbents may be provided in a form that limits or eliminates intramolecular bonding of the hydrogen-bond acidic site between neighboring sorbent molecules, for example, by providing steric groups adjacent to the hydrogen-bond acidic site. The hydrogen bond site may be a phenolic structure based on a bisphenol architecture. The sorbents of the invention may be used in methods for trapping or detecting hazardous chemicals or explosives.

Abstract: An electrical network including a power source, a flyback converter, a microcontroller, a PID controller, a voltage boost converter, a pulse width modulator integrated circuit, and a battery. The power source produces a charge with a voltage ranging from about 0.1V to about 0.8V and a power ranging from about 0.3 mW to about 100 mW. The flyback converter functions in discontinuous current mode. The microcontroller monitors the power source voltage, calculates a voltage response, and outputs a control signal for the voltage. The PID controller is a digital PID controller, an analog PID controller, or a combination thereof. The voltage boost converter utilizes the power source voltage and power to provide higher voltage power to the electrical network. The pulse width modulator integrated circuit sets a duty cycle and frequency for the flyback converter. The battery stores excess charge produced by the power source.

Abstract: A mirror-mount platform is provided for securing a mirror surface to a substrate to mitigate distortion from thermal expansion. The platform includes an annular back plate as the substrate composed of a first material, a mirror structure having an obverse reflective surface and a reverse attach surface, and a plurality of bracket assemblies that connect the back plate to the reverse attach surface. Each bracket assembly is composed of a second material that has a higher coefficient of thermal expansion than the first material.