Abstract: Disclosed is a firearm barrel that includes a bore, a rifling pattern along a length of the bore, and a grooved gas-venting pattern along a length of the bore that exceeds an envelope of the rifling pattern. The rifling pattern imparts spin on a bullet to stabilize the bullet in flight, while the grooved gas-venting pattern allows expanding propellant gases to escape around the bullet as it travels down the bore, causing a reduction in internal pressure acting on the bullet and reducing bullet velocity. The inventive barrel can reduce bullet velocity of standard ammunition, such as 5.56×45 mm NATO or 7.62×51 mm NATO to a subsonic velocity, or approximately 1125 feet per second at sea level without the need for specialized ammunition.

Abstract: A wafer-scale method of making gallium nitride (GaN) device die is provided. In embodiments, the method includes: providing a GaN wafer including a GaN material layer, a non-crystalline substrate, and at least one etchable intermediate layer between the GaN material layer and the non-crystalline substrate; forming trenches through the GaN material layer and at least partially through the at least one etchable intermediate layer; forming one or more tether material layers on a first side of the GaN material layer and through portions of the trenches, thereby forming a set of tethers between the GaN material layer and the non-crystalline substrate; and removing the at least one etchable intermediate layer to expose a second side of the GaN material layer. In implementations, the resulting exposed second side of the GaN material layer has a surface roughness of less than 1 nanometers (nm) Root Mean Square (RMS).

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of preparing thymic emigrant cells in vitro, isolated or purified thymic emigrant cells prepared by the methods, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same. Further disclosed are methods of treating or preventing a condition in a mammal comprising administering the thymic emigrant cells or pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same to the mammal.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to apparatus and methods for dual comb spectroscopy with deterministic stepping and scanning of temporal pulse offset. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a novel dual-comb spectroscopy including mode locked robust Er-combs and digital phase-locking electronics for step scanning between the two frequency combs and applicable to any phase-locked dual-comb system. The tight phase control of the DCS source allows for the control of temporal offset between the two comb pulses during measurements.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for increasing infectivity of entomopathogenic nematodes in any target area for the purposes of insect control, said method comprising: (a) mixing an aqueous nematode infectivity increasing composition with (i) entomopathogenic nematodes to activate said entomopathogenic nematodes for increased infectivity prior to application of said entomopathogenic nematodes to said target area, or (ii) seeds to produce coated seeds, and (b) applying said entomopathogenic nematodes to said target area or planting said coated seeds in said target area; wherein said aqueous nematode infectivity increasing composition is produced by methods disclosed herein.

Abstract: Disclosed is a synthetic T cell receptor (TCR) having antigenic specificity for an HLA-A2-restricted epitope of thyroglobulin (TG), TG470-478. Related polypeptides and proteins, as well as related nucleic acids, recombinant expression vectors, host cells, and populations of cells are also provided. Antibodies, or an antigen binding portion thereof, and pharmaceutical compositions relating to the TCRs of the invention are also provided. Also disclosed are methods of detecting the presence of cancer in a mammal and methods of treating or preventing cancer in a mammal.

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 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: 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 temporal magnification spectrometer includes a dual-chirp comb source, a signal leg, a local oscillator leg, an optical detector, and a temporal magnification analyzer. The dual-chirp comb source produces optical carrier laser light. A signal comb having signal linearly chirped waveforms interacts with a sample to produce a transmitted signal comb. The local oscillator leg produces a local oscillator comb having local oscillator linearly chirped waveforms. The optical detector receives the transmitted signal and local oscillator combs and produces an RF domain signal. The analyzer receives and Fourier transforms the RF domain signal to produce an RF comb, which is sampled to produce sampled RF comb lines, which are normalized to produce temporally magnified sample frequency domain data. Intermediate sample temporal data are normalized to produce a steady-state sample spectral response.

Abstract: An amino acid-specific binder selectively binds to a binding amino acid. A binder complex selectively identifies the binding amino acid and includes an adjunct attached to the amino acid-specific binder. The adjunct includes a taggant, protein, substrate, or chemical modifier. Selectively identifying an N-terminal amino acid includes anchoring a C-terminal end; contacting an N-terminal amino acid of the anchored analyte with the binder complex; selectively binding when the N-terminal amino acid includes the binding amino acid; producing, by the taggant of the tagged complex, a taggant signal; detecting the taggant signal; and identifying the N-terminal amino acid based on the taggant signal.

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: Disclosed herein are recombinant enzymes derived from various rubber-producing plants and the use of those enzymes in the production of natural rubber outside of plant tissues. Systems and methods for the utilization of these enzymes in the production of natural rubber are also provided.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a system and method for detecting biological material on surfaces after decontamination with UV-C and with high sensitivity and having low detection limits while providing rapid and efficient response to accommodate high turnover. Embodiments of the present invention monitor the disinfection process by detecting changes in the electrical properties of surface-confined biological thin films photodegraded with UV-C radiation using microwaves (MW). MW sensing provides noninvasive, real-time detection of the electromagnetic properties of biological materials via concentrated electromagnetic fields, for which advantages include wide bandwidth, small size, and cost-effective fabrication.

Abstract: The contamination sanitation inspection system (CSIS) allows a user to capture an image of a large scene (such as a food processing line, a food service facility, a food products storage area, or a plant production area/facility) and identify contamination within the scene and preferably represent the contamination on a spatially accurate map (or floorplan) so that contamination within the inspection map area is clearly identified and recorded for subsequent treatment. In an alternative embodiment, the CSIS also includes a decontamination system to sanitize any identified contamination.

Abstract: Apparatus in accordance with embodiments of the present invention provide torque realization via electrical measurements traceable to the revised International Standard of Units (SI). Torque can be realized via a conversion of linear mechanism of a Kibble balance to a rotational mechanism. Embodiments of the present invention relates to an electronic torque realization apparatus including a rotor for holding permanent magnets and an encoder scale ring and for coupling to a torque device, a stator for characterizing physical aspects of a torque tool and for generating the torque on rotor in conjunction with the permanent magnets, a base plate for mounting a first end of rotor and stator, a cantilever for supporting a second end of rotor and for maintaining axial alignment, a bearing assembly for supporting the motion of rotor, and encoder for recording the angular position of rotor.

Abstract: Embodiments of a recombinant Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) F ectodomain trimer stabilized in a prefusion conformation are provided. Also disclosed are nucleic acids encoding the RSV F ectodomain trimer and methods of producing the RSV F ectodomain trimer. Methods for inducing an immune response in a subject are also disclosed. In some embodiments, the method can be a method for treating or preventing a RSV infection in a subject by administering a therapeutically effective amount of the recombinant RSV F ectodomain trimer to the subject.

Abstract: The invention relates to antigenic polypeptides derived from a naturally occurring R. microplus protein, and nucleic acids encoding such polypeptides. The polypeptides elicit an immune response which, in turn, produces detrimental effects in R. microplus feeding on vaccinated cattle. Thus, the present disclosure provides novel vaccines to protect cattle from R. microplus infestation.

Abstract: A method for improving a system by detecting faulty components is described herein. The method includes calculating a baseline state of a component, calculating a current state of the component, and detecting a component fault based on the time series of new observed data. Computing the baseline state of a component includes converting a time series of observed data from the component into a sequence of graphs, computing an adjacency matrix and a normalized Laplacian matrix for each graph, computing summary values for each graph, and computing the baseline state of the component. Computing the current state of the component includes converting a time series of new observed data from the component into a sequence of graphs, computing an adjacency matrix and a normalized Laplacian matrix for each graph, and computing summary values for each graph.

Abstract: A system and method for analyzing the cybersecurity risk of a computer network. The system and method may feature a computer network analyzer configured to obtain information about the computer network, scoring logic for assessing the cybersecurity risk of the computer network, and a graphic module for displaying the evaluation results. The computer network analyzer may be configured to score the computer network based on the computer network's protection capabilities and recovery capabilities. The computer network analyzer may be configured to use item response theory to score, evaluate, and analyze the computer network's protection capabilities and recovery capabilities.