Abstract: An ultra-low field pre-pulse Magnetic Resonance Imaging (PMRI) system for a head includes RF coils defining a bore for head access, a pre-pulse coil outside the RF coils, and a coil assembly including a main magnetic field coil and gradient coils outside the pre-pulse coil. The PMRI system includes a first cylindrical shield concentric with the RF coils and made from conductive materials. The first cylindrical shield partially encloses the RF coils and inside the pre-pulse coil for shielding the RF coils from environmental electromagnetic disturbances.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments concern a membrane electrode assembly or a proton exchange membrane fuel cell comprising a phosphoric acid-doped polymeric membrane comprising a cationic functional group, such as an assembly or fuel cell having an ion exchange capacity of 0.8 to 3 mmol/gram and an operating temperature range of from 80° C. to 220° C. The cationic functional group can be any suitable functional group, such as ammonium, imidazolium, guanidinium, phosphazenium, sulfonium, oxonium, and phosphonium, with working embodiments typically using quaternary ammonium cationic functional groups tethered to the polymeric core. The polymeric material may be any suitable polymeric material, such as a material selected from polyaryl polymers, polyarylamides, polyimides, polystyrenes, polysulfones, polyethers, polyether sulfones, polyketones, polyetherketones, polyarylethers, polyolefins, and polynitriles.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides peptoid-based chelating ligands, corresponding cyclic peptoids, and methods of making thereof. Functional groups may be tailored for high metal binding affinity and selectivity. The side chains of a cyclic peptoid according to the present disclosure may be selected based on, for example, high affinity for actinide or other metal ions, selectivity for actinide or other metal ions, the ability to recover a metal once it is bound to the peptoid, and whether the overall peptoid should be hydrophobic or hydrophilic. Unlike siderophores, peptoid-based chelating ligands of the present disclosure are not readily hydrolyzed under physiological conditions. Therefore, peptoid-based chelating ligands may be, for example, used to treat actinide (e.g., iron and lead) poisoning in vivo. Moreover, peptoid-based chelating ligands of the present disclosure may be used for medical imaging, chelation therapy, drug delivery, and separation technologies, for example.

Abstract: Micro-imaging may be performed with an ultra-sensitive atomic magnetometer (AM) and an array of flux guides (FGs). The array of FGs may be configured to act as a magnetic lens that expands microscopic magnetic distribution to match dimensions of the AM. A plurality of single channel AMs may be combined into an array, or the AM may include an array of photodetectors, to realize multi-channel operation.

Abstract: High-sensitivity multi-channel atomic magnetometers are described. Methods for operating multi-channel atomic magnetometers are also described. Moreover, devices incorporating a plurality of multi-channel atomic magnetometers are described. A multi-channel atomic magnetometer may use the spin-exchange relaxation-free (SERF) technique. A multi-channel atomic magnetometer may achieve multi-channel operation in a single module, reducing the cost of sensors. A multi-channel atomic magnetometer may be a 16-channel atomic magnetometer. A multi-channel atomic magnetometer may include a single large vapor cell including alkali-metal atoms and at least one buffer gas that restricts motion of atomic spins of the alkali-metal atoms, thereby making relatively small internal cell volumes act as a multiple independent local sensing channels.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for real-time visualization of particulate matter suspended in a static or flowing fluid and fluid flow patterns in a pipe, tube, conduit, or other container, are described. Ultrasonic scanning and detection of scattered sound from the particles in the fluid create a real-time image of the particles, or of flow patterns in the liquid. A mechanical wobbler directs a piezoelectric transducer over a chosen angle in an oscillatory manner. The transducer is operated in a pulse-echo mode wherein the same transducer detects the return signal from the target region through which particles are passing and/or a flow is present. The pulse-echo measurements are made rapidly and continuously during a single sweep of the transducer over the chosen angle. Received signals are processed in the ultrasound scanner electronics module and displayed as an image in real-time.

Abstract: Hydrophobic filter materials, methods of making them, and their use in various industrial applications are presented. In an example, thermally stable, gas permeable hydrophobic filters which maintain their integrity upon exposure to elevated temperature, radiation, acid, or all are described.

Abstract: A seismic switch (SS) that is able to detect and signal when internal faults have occurred within the SS is described. The SS provides safety class functionality to the detection of seismic activity. For example, the SS may detect earthquakes above a specified level, resulting in the disconnection of electrical power to a radioactive waste storage facility, which could result in the ignition of waste materials should the storage facility and/or storage container fail during a seismic event. By reducing the risk of fire under these circumstances, the possibility of offsite releases is significantly reduced.

Abstract: Techniques for using additive manufacturing (AM) to fabricate creep resistant ferritic/martensitic steel with improved high temperature strength are described. AM processing may be performed on Grade 91 steel powder. Beam powers from about 221 W to about 270 W may be used. Traverse rates from about 675 mm/s to about 825 mm/s may be used. Heat inputs ranging from about 55.7 J/mm3 to about 83.2 J/mm3 may be produced. Creep resistant ferritic/martensitic steel, produced according to the present disclosure, has improved strain yield strength and ductility as compared to wrought steel.

Abstract: Multiple bit values can be encoded on a single photon in a quantum key distribution (QKD) system using a plurality of sidebands of an optical carrier frequency. Computational and conjugate bases can be defined, and photons decoded based on a selected state from either basis. If n sidebands are available, as many as log2 n bits can be encoded on a single photon. Errors in detected bit values due to selection of an incorrect basis state or other errors can be at least partially corrected by bit distillation to identity bit strings for which a transmitter and a receiver record the same values, without insecure transmission of these values.

Abstract: Methods for detection, monitoring, and determination of location of changes in rigid structures with arbitrarily complex geometries are described. Implementations include locating acoustic transducers that generate and receive acoustic signals at multiple locations along a surface of the rigid structure, wherein longitudinal spacing between the transducer locations define measurement zones. Acoustic signals with chosen amplitude-time-frequency characteristics excite multiple vibration modes in the structure within each zone. Small mechanical changes in the inspection zones lead to scattering and attenuation of broadband acoustic signals, which are detectable as changes in received signal characteristics as part of a through-transmission technique. Additional use of short, narrowband pulse acoustic signals as part of a pulse-echo technique allows determination of the relative location of the mechanical change within each zone based on the differential delay profiles.

Abstract: Message authenticators for quantum-secured communications facilitate low-latency authentication with assurances of security. Low-latency message authenticators are especially valuable in infrastructure systems where security and latency constraints are difficult to satisfy with conventional non-quantum cryptography. For example, a message transmitter receives a message and derives an authentication tag for the message based at least in part on an authenticator that uses one or more quantum keys. The message transmitter outputs the message and its authentication tag. A message receiver receives a message and authentication tag for the message. The message receiver derives a comparison tag for the message based at least in part on an authenticator that uses one or more quantum keys. The message receiver checks whether the message is authentic based on a comparison of the authentication tag and the comparison tag. In example implementations, the authenticator uses stream-wise cyclic redundancy code operations.

Abstract: Techniques for framing data in various data transmission contexts are described. A data framing technique may include a transmitter sending a data stream including repeating bits in alternating forward and reverse order. A receiver of the data stream may fold the data stream, and correlate portions of the folded data stream for purposes of validating the data stream and/or identifying an ID in the data stream. In at least some instances, once the receiver validates the data stream, the receiver may accept payload accompanying the data stream.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a coated type-I quantum dot comprising a core and a shell, and a silica layer, and a method for making the quantum dot. The quantum dot may be a thick-shelled quantum dot. Also disclosed are embodiments of a composition comprising one or more coated quantum dots and a polymer. The composition may be a luminescent solar concentrator. Device comprising the composition are disclosed. The device may comprise the composition, such as a luminescent solar concentrator, applied to a substrate, such as glass. The device may be a window or a solar module. Also disclosed is a method of applying the composition to the substrate to form a thin film luminescent solar concentrator.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are media for culture of cells, tissues, and/or organs. The media formulations disclosed herein can be used to support growth, viability, and/or function of one or more than one cell type, tissue, or organ. In some embodiments, one or more cell types, tissues, organ devices, and/or organs are contacted with a disclosed culture medium under conditions sufficient to support growth, viability, and/or function of the cell types, tissues, and/or organs. The disclosed media can be used in methods of culturing multiple cell types, and in some examples, is used in a platform device including one or more organ devices, for example, by circulating the medium through the one or more organ devices in the platform.

Abstract: A method for extracting vibrational modes of a structure includes: receiving a plurality of video frames, each of the video frames including a plurality of pixels; decomposing each of the video frames on a plurality of spatial scales in accordance with complex steerable pyramid filters to obtain a filter response for each of the spatial scales; computing a plurality of local phases of the pixels of each frame; removing a temporal mean from each frame to obtain a plurality of factored vibration motion functions; performing principal component analysis on the factored vibration motion functions to obtain principal components; blind source separating the principal components to compute a plurality of modal coordinates; computing frequency and damping ratios in accordance with the modal coordinates; and outputting the computed frequency and damping ratios.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a method for producing thorium-226. The method comprises separating thorium-226 from uranium-230 to produce a solution of thorium-226 in a solvent, such as a chelating buffer, suitable for direct labeling by a chelate. The thorium-226 may be separated from the uranium-230 using extraction chromatography. The extraction may be repeated multiple times as additional thorium-226 is produced by uranium-230 decay.

Abstract: A method of producing uranium nitride (e.g., uranium mononitride) and/or uranium-containing intermediates that can be used to further produce uranium nitride includes reacting a reaction mixture comprising uranium carbide with a gas comprising hydrogen and nitrogen, cooling the reaction mixture to a temperature suitable to produce a phase comprising U2N3, and heating the reaction mixture to a temperature suitable to convert the phase comprising U2N3 to a phase comprising UN. The method produces highly purified UN, is insensitive to excess carbon reactants, and can be readily integrated into existing uranium production facilities as part of a continuous process.

Abstract: Random number generators include a thermal optical source and detector configured to produce random numbers based on quantum-optical intensity fluctuations. An optical flux is detected, and signals proportional to optical intensity and a delayed optical intensity are combined. The combined signals can be electrical signals or optical signals, and the optical source is selected so as to have low coherence over a predetermined range of delay times. Balanced optical detectors can be used to reduce common mode noise, and in some examples, the optical flux is directed to only one of a pair of balanced detectors.

Abstract: A compact particle accelerator can include two or more cavities disposed along an axis of the particle accelerator, each of which is coupled to two or more drivers. The accelerator can also include a power supply coupled to the two or more drivers such that a particle beam traveling along the axis is accelerated. The power supply can be an interface with a commercial power outlet, battery power, or a combination thereof depending upon the use case. Example configurations of the accelerator include hand held or mobile devices that are capable of delivering up to and greater than a 1 MeV electron beam.