Abstract: Production of 2,4,6-triamino-1,3,5-trinitrobenzene (TATB) through a safer, less harmful process while yielding a superior product is disclosed. The biphasic production process may include mixing a solution of 1,3,5-trichloro-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (TCTNB) and a surfactant into a solvent in a sealed, heated vessel such that TATB is formed in a mixture. The biphasic production process may also include pressurizing the vessel with gaseous ammonia such that aqueous TATB is formed and separating the TATB from the mixture.

Abstract: Devices/apparatuses are disclosed that include a photoemitting component, a photosensitive component deposited on the photoemitting component, a charge collection component, and a hollow enclosure for housing the photoemitting component, the photosensitive component, the charge collection component, or combinations thereof. Methods for making and using the apparatuses are also disclosed.

Abstract: Improved, high count rate thermal neutron counters and electronics enabling new, higher measurement capabilities are disclosed. Next generation 3He and 10B tubes may include an electronics package capable of operating at higher count rates and in higher gamma fields and providing more efficient use of 3He gas. Conventional detector systems may also be upgraded, providing a possible solution to measure spent nuclear fuel with high neutron efficiency previously not possible in 235U fission counter systems. Switching the number of tubes per amplifier allows use of the measured nuclear material for a calibration standard for dead time correction, increasing accuracy of neutron measurements systems. An optimized detector geometry and advanced electronics with double pulse filtering and a dual channel readout may be provided. A bipolar shaper may improve dead time, provide efficient detector use, reduce double pulsing, facilitate high count rate measurements, and allow remote threshold setting.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are devices that include a top chamber including at least one port, a bottom chamber including at least one inlet and at least one outlet, wherein the opening of the at least one inlet is smaller than the opening of the at least one outlet, and a membrane located between the top chamber and the bottom chamber, wherein the membrane is fluidly coupled with the top chamber and the bottom chamber. Also disclosed herein are systems including the disclosed devices. The systems include liquid in one or more of the chambers of the device. Methods of using the devices and systems include producing a vacuum by flowing a liquid through the bottom chamber of the system. Due to the difference in size of the inlet and outlet in the bottom chamber, a vacuum is produced in the top chamber.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of magnetically controlled valve and pump systems that can be used to control and facilitate fluid flow in fluidic devices. Various types of magnetically controlled valves and pumps are described as well as methods of magnetically-controlling such valves and pumps.

Abstract: A ribonucleic acid (RNA) based modular regulatory element (MRE) for inhibiting translation of a target gene transcript in an organism (e.g. a pathogen) includes a first segment of RNA capable of forming a stem loop structure, a second segment of RNA downstream of the first segment of RNA and having a target sequence capable of binding to the target gene transcript (or polycistron lead gene transcript), and a third segment of RNA downstream of the second segment of RNA and being capable of forming a terminator hairpin downstream of the target sequence. Methods for assaying the role of a putative target gene in an organism include inhibiting expression of various target genes using the RNA-based MRE.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to improved methods for generating compositions comprising actinium-225.

Abstract: A tunable photocathode for use in vacuum electronic devices includes a nanostructured photoemission layer including quantum confined nanostructures, such as quantum dots. The quantum confined nanostructures can be tuned (e.g., prepared to have various characteristics or parameters) in order to independently optimize various characteristics of the electron beam emitted by the photocathode. For example, by changing the material composition, size and geometry of the quantum confined nanostructures, the energy levels of the quantum confined nanostructures in the photoemission layer can be tuned to provide a photocathode having a high quantum efficiency, low emittance, fast response time to incident light pulses, long operational lifetime, and increased environmental stability compared with conventional photocathodes and cathodes in vacuum electronic devices.

Abstract: A photocathode for use in vacuum electronic devices has a bandgap gradient across the thickness (or depth) of the photocathode between the emitting surface and the opposing surface. This bandgap gradient compensates for depth-dependent variations in transport energetics. When the bandgap energy EBG(z) is increased for electrons with shorter path lengths to the emitting surface and decreased for electrons with longer path lengths to the emitting surface, such that the sum of EBG(z) and the scattering energy is substantially constant or similar for electrons photoexcited at all locations within the photocathode, the energies of the emitted electrons may be more similar (have less variability), and the emittance of the electron beam may be desirably decreased. The photocathode may be formed of a III-V semiconductor such as InGaN or an oxide semiconductor such as GaInO.

Abstract: Parallel storage systems are provided with a burst buffer appliance for storage of a partitioned key-value store across a plurality of storage tiers. The burst buffer appliance is configured to store key-value data on first and second storage tiers comprising respective disjoint subsets of storage. One or more servers in the partitioned key-value store provide (i) an interface between one or more local key-value stores and one or more additional storage architectures, and/or (ii) a key value interface that provides access to at least one hardware key-value store. The local key-values are optionally sorted both locally by the local store and globally by the overall MDHIM framework. The local and global sorting can be leveraged to provide batch input/output (IO) operations that aggregate multiple requests into batch operations on one or more sorted ranges.

Abstract: A framework is provided for modeling the activity surrounding user credentials and/or machine level activity on a computer network using computer event logs by viewing the logs attributed to each user as a multivariate data stream. The methodology performs well in detecting compromised user credentials at a very low false positive rate. Such a methodology may detect both users of compromised credentials by external actors and otherwise authorized users who have begun engaging in malicious activity.

Abstract: Neutron multiplicity detector control logic and firmware may control a neutron multiplicity detector such that higher count rates can be achieved by an order of magnitude of more over conventional control logic and firmware. Count rates of over 1,000,000 cps, and even over 1,500,000 cps, have been realized in some implementations.

Abstract: An ADCS module may be configured to use coordinate data from 2D photodiodes in one or more sun sensors to determine a sun vector. The ADCS module may then use the sun vector in reference to its own body faced (BF) coordinate system to calculate a change in the orientation of the space vehicle. The change in orientation mechanism may be accomplished by reaction wheels, ion thrusters, or other orientation altering mechanisms. A miniature, intelligent star tracker may be included that improves satellite attitude determination and pointing accuracy. An improved reaction wheel assembly may be included that is more robust and suitable for inclusion in small space vehicles.

Abstract: 3D information may be extracted from two 2D images by capturing a first image of a sample at a first orientation. The sample may be titled at a second or different orientation, resulting in a second image of the titled sample to be captured. Third dimension of information may be extracted from the images.

Abstract: According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a photocathode may include: a mesh having a first surface and a second surface facing away from the first surface, and including metallic, semiconductor or ceramic mesh grid with micron-sized openings in the mesh; a photosensitive film on the first surface of the mesh and extending at least partially into the openings of the mesh; and a graphene layer including one or more graphene sheets on the second surface of the mesh.

Abstract: Significant and aggregate user authentication activity may be analyzed across a population of users and computers in one or more networks to differentiate between authorized users and intruders in a network, and/or to detect inappropriate behavior by otherwise authorized users. Dynamic graphs and graph models over user and computer authentication activity, including time-constrained models, may be used for the purposes of profiling and analyzing user behavior in computer networks. More specifically, an edge-based breadth first search of graphs may be used that enforces time-constraints while maintaining traditional breadth first search computational complexity equivalence.

Abstract: A process for the production of saturated or unsaturated aliphatic alcohols and/or hydrocarbons includes condensing acetone and/or alcohol(s) to form one or more carbonyl compounds, and hydrogenating and/or hydrodeoxygenating at least one of the one or more carbonyl compounds to form the saturated or unsaturated alcohol(s) and/or hydrocarbons. In some embodiments, the condensation of acetone and/or alcohol(s) may be carried out in the presence of a solid acid catalyst and a transition metal catalyst. The saturated or unsaturated aliphatic alcohols and/or hydrocarbons may include one or more saturated linear C9 alcohols, C9 alkanes and/or one or more mono-unsaturated C9 alkenes.

Abstract: An explosive system for fracturing an underground geologic formation adjacent to a wellbore can comprise a plurality of explosive units comprising an explosive material contained within the casing, and detonation control modules electrically coupled to the plurality of explosive units and configured to cause a power pulse to be transmitted to at least one detonator of at least one of the plurality of explosive units for detonation of the explosive material. The explosive units are configured to be positioned within a wellbore in spaced apart positions relative to one another along a string with the detonation control modules positioned adjacent to the plurality of explosive units in the wellbore, such that the axial positions of the explosive units relative to the wellbore are at least partially based on geologic properties of the geologic formation adjacent the wellbore.

Abstract: In certain aspects the invention provides immunogenic compositions comprising CH848 HIV-1 envelopes and their use in methods to induce immune responses in subjects, e.g., human subjects.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, computer-readable medium, and computer-implemented method are provided for detecting anomalous behavior in a network. Historical parameters of the network are determined in order to determine normal activity levels. A plurality of paths in the network are enumerated as part of a graph representing the network, where each computing system in the network may be a node in the graph and the sequence of connections between two computing systems may be a directed edge in the graph. A statistical model is applied to the plurality of paths in the graph on a sliding window basis to detect anomalous behavior. Data collected by a Unified Host Collection Agent (“UHCA”) may also be used to detect anomalous behavior.