Abstract: A method for extracting rare earth elements and critical minerals including adding an acid to a mixture comprising organically bound rare earth elements. The mixture is maintained at a pH of 0.25 to 4 for a period of time, resulting in a liquor and a leached mixture. The liquor is removed from the leached mixture to form a dewatered cake. The dewatered cake is washed to form a washing liquid. The washing liquid is recycled to create a second slurry comprising organically bound rare earth elements.

Abstract: The present subject matter provides various technical solutions to technical problems facing automated solutions in building energy audit applications. These solutions leverage heat loss quantification to improve a building's thermal performance and improve or optimize its energy usage. The technical solutions described herein provide various advantages. These solutions include application of deep-learning methods to segment large thermal imagery data sets from a drone. The technical solutions described herein provide improved building thermal efficiency determination using multiple stages of computations to quantify the heat loss for a building envelope.

Abstract: A compound for use in oil recovery includes a quantum dot and a zwitterionic surfactant. The quantum dot has a diameter no greater than 25 nm and the quantum dot is bonded to the zwitterionic surfactant. A nanofluid for use in oil recovery includes the compound described above and a fluid carrier. A method for recovering oil from a formation includes flooding the formation with a nanofluid. The nanofluid has a quantum dot diameter no greater than 25 nm bonded to a zwitterionic surfactant and a fluid carrier.

Abstract: A computer architecture for geolocation spoofing/meaconing detection is disclosed. According to some aspects, a computer accesses an incoming geolocation positioning signal. The computer determines, using a signal characteristics calculation subsystem, geolocation positioning signal characteristics for the incoming geolocation positioning signal. The computer provides, using a geolocation positioning spoofing/meaconing detection subsystem, the geolocation positioning signal characteristics as an input vector to a neural network, wherein the neural network determines whether the incoming geolocation positioning signal is legitimate or fake. If the incoming geolocation positioning signal is determined to be fake: the computer computes, using a Bayesian inference subsystem, a likelihood and a severity of a geolocation positioning technology based attack. The computer provides, as a digital transmission, an indication of whether the incoming geolocation positioning signal is legitimate or fake.

Abstract: A method of making cyclobutane-1,2-diacid building blocks includes using trans-cinnamic acid in its beta form (head to head packing) and photodimerizing the trans-cinnamic acid to create cis-cyclobutane-1,2-dicarboxylic acid (CBDA-4).

Abstract: Methods and compositions are described herein that inhibit FAK/ATK interactions. Such methods and compositions are useful for inhibiting cell adhesion and cancer metastasis.

Abstract: A polymer includes a plurality of repeated polymerized units according to scheme (2):

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to providing wireless power transfer and wireless communications between two electronic components, each having an inductive coil and a microwave antenna centered about a common central axis, thereby ensuring alignment with one another. Wireless power transfer can be performed using electromagnetic coupling between the inductive coils and/or the microwave antennae of the two electronic components. In some embodiments, the two electronic components are an implantable biomedical device and an external interface system for the implantable biomedical device. Power-receive and power-transmit controllers control operation of power transmission by the external interface system and power reception by the implantable biomedical device, respectively. In some embodiments, the microwave antenna has a resonance frequency that is configured by location of an electrical connection to a ground plane.

Abstract: The present subject matter provides various technical solutions to technical problems facing UAV detection, threat assessment, and mitigation purposes. UAV detection may be accomplished using a variety of UAV sensors and systems, which may be used in an Unmanned Aerial System Mitigation and Detection system to generate a UAV Automated Threat Assessment and a UAV mitigation solution. The UAV Automated Threat Assessment may be generated by combining input from various sensors and systems. For example, the UAV Automated Threat Assessment may selectively combine data received from geographically arranged sensors, assemble the input from those sensors using a user-adjustable artificial neural network (ANN), determine whether a potential intruding UAV is not a threat, is transiting, is loitering, or is attacking, and generates a mitigation solution output to an operator that includes an automated mitigation notification.

Abstract: A polymer includes a plurality of repeated polymerized units according to scheme (2):

Abstract: A method for removing recalcitrant organic compounds from water includes exposing water to an oxidizing agent, thereby reducing an amount of at least some classes of dissolved organic matter in the water and adsorbing at least some of the remaining dissolved organic matter in the water onto a porous adsorbent, resulting in adsorbed organic matter on the porous adsorbent. The method includes thermally treating the adsorbed organic matter on the porous adsorbent to remove and degrade the adsorbed organic matter.

Abstract: A polymer is made from polymerization of CBDA monomers. The resulting polymer is thermally cleavable, making it recyclable when heated and degraded. The resulting intermediate material can be hydrolyzed back to initial starting material for synthesizing CBDA monomers.

Abstract: A method of making cyclobutane-1,2-diacid building blocks includes using trans-cinnamic acid in its beta form (head to head packing) and photodimerizing the trans-cinnamic acid to create cis-cyclobutane-1,2-dicarboxylic acid (CBDA4).

Abstract: A dielectric substrate made from sunflower seed shells has good moldabiltiy and low water adsorption for use in creating antenna or other devices. The dielectric substrate is made by pyrolizing sunflower seed shells or husks and collecting the resulting tar to create the substrate.

Abstract: A system and method include an encryptor, a decryptor, and a communication link. The encryptor includes a first processor and a first memory, and the decryptor includes a second processor and a second memory. The encryptor and the decryptor communicate data via the communication link. The encryptor and the decryptor are configured to: exchange public messages comprising keying materials, and calculate a common key based on the keying materials, first private modular integers known only to the encryptor, and second private modular integers known only to the decryptor. The keying materials disclosed in the public messages form an under-determined system of equations in variables of the first and the second private modular integers.

Abstract: A method of making a porous three-dimensional graphene mesh includes combining a graphene-containing material and a polymer having a plurality of hydroxyl groups in an alcohol solvent to form a mixture, adding a salt to the mixture, heating the mixture to form a gel, and washing the gel with water to remove the salt from the gel, leaving behind stable pores to form a scaffold. A three-dimensional porous graphene mesh includes a graphene-containing material and a polymer. The polymer is crosslinked with the graphene-containing material such that the Young's Modulus of the mesh is at least about 5 GPa.

Abstract: A method of making a porous three-dimensional graphene mesh includes combining a graphene-containing material and a polymer having a plurality of hydroxyl groups in an alcohol solvent to form a mixture, adding a salt to the mixture, heating the mixture to form a gel, and washing the gel with water to remove the salt from the gel, leaving behind stable pores to form a scaffold. A three-dimensional porous graphene mesh includes a graphene-containing material and a polymer. The polymer is crosslinked with the graphene-containing material such that the Young's Modulus of the mesh is at least about 5 GPa.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to providing wireless power transfer and wireless communications between two electronic components, each having an inductive coil and a microwave antenna centered about a common central axis, thereby ensuring alignment with one another. Wireless power transfer can be performed using electromagnetic coupling between the inductive coils and/or the microwave antennae of the two electronic components. In some embodiments, the two electronic components are an implantable biomedical device and an external interface system for the implantable biomedical device. Power-receive and power-transmit controllers control operation of power transmission by the external interface system and power reception by the implantable biomedical device, respectively. In some embodiments, the microwave antenna has a resonance frequency that is configured by location of an electrical connection to a ground plane.

Abstract: A method of making a porous three-dimensional graphene mesh includes combining a graphene-containing material and a polymer having a plurality of hydroxyl groups in an alcohol solvent to form a mixture, adding a salt to the mixture, heating the mixture to form a gel, and washing the gel with water to remove the salt from the gel, leaving behind stable pores to form a scaffold. A three-dimensional porous graphene mesh includes a graphene-containing material and a polymer. The polymer is crosslinked with the graphene-containing material such that the Young's Modulus of the mesh is at least about 5 GPa.

Abstract: A process for producing activated carbon includes carbonizing an organic material to produce a charcoal, heating the charcoal in a chamber in the presence of oxygen at a temperature in the range of 400 to 500° C. for a duration of time sufficient to produce the activated carbon, and removing the charcoal from the heat once the activated carbon is formed.