Abstract: A method for creating oil-filled porous anodic oxide coatings for stainless steel is disclosed. The coating has anti-corrosion and omniphobic properties to resist both atmospheric conditions, or other conditions with exposure to vapor, and wet conditions, in which the coating is exposed to and/or immersed in liquid. The anodic oxide coating of the present invention can be made by the steps of cleaning and/or electropolishing a steel substrate, applying anodic oxidation to the steel substrate, washing the steel substrate in an organic solvent, and annealing the substrate at high temperature. To fill the porous coating with an oil, a solvent exchange method may be applied.

Abstract: Filter media for treating contaminated water is produced from aluminum-based water treatment residuals (Al-WTR) commonly produced as a byproduct of water treatment plants. By processing the residuals into small granules, a superior green sorbent product is obtained with the functionality to adsorb contaminants, such as metals and certain nutrients in water. Biopolymers can be incorporated into the filter media to further enhance functionality and hydraulic characters.

Abstract: A method for creating oil-filled porous anodic oxide coatings for metallic surfaces is disclosed. The coating has anti-corrosion and omniphobic properties to resist both underwater and atmospheric conditions. To realize oil-impregnated three-dimensional bottle-shaped pores in the oxide layer in anodizing aluminum, the following steps may be taken. First, the target surface may be cleaned and electropolished. Then, a first anodizing step at a lower voltage is applied to create relatively small-diameter pores in the entrance (i.e., top) region of the oxide layer, followed by a second anodizing step at a higher voltage to subsequently create larger-diameter pores in the base (i.e., bottom) region of the oxide layer. Pore widening follows to enlarge the overall pore diameters. To fill the porous coating with an oil, a solvent exchange method may be utilized.

Abstract: A periodically poled microring resonator structure, a method for fabrication of the periodically poled microring resonator structure, and a method to achieve giant single-photon nonlinearity are disclosed. The strong single-photon nonlinearity in the microring resonator structure is achieved through its optimized design and fabrication procedures.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for secure computation and/or communication Entangled photons (118) are generated such that each participating party receives a series of optical pulses. Each party has private information (110, 112) which are ever transmitted through public or private communication channels Instead, each party converts their respective private information (110, 112) into measurement bases via an encryption process (114, 116) which are then applied to the entangled photons (118). After the measurement process, e.g., quantum frequency conversion (122, 124), reference indices are announced (124, 126) so that computation can be performed (128) without revealing the private information directly or indirectly.

Abstract: A nerve guidance conduit includes one or more guidance channels formed as porous polymeric structures. The guidance channels are within an outer tubular structure that includes randomly-oriented nanofibers. The guidance channels may have electrospun nanofibers on their inner and outer surfaces in a parallel alignment with the guidance channels. Such aligned nanofibers may also be present on the inner surface of the outer tubular structure. The outer surfaces of the guidance channels and the inner surface of the tubular structure define additional guidance channels. Such a nerve guidance conduit provides augmented surface areas for providing directional guidance and enhancing peripheral nerve regeneration. The structure also has the mechanical and nutrient transport requirements required over long regeneration periods.

Abstract: 3D native tissue-derived scaffolding materials are made in various formats, including but not limited to hydrogel, sponge, fibers, microspheres, and films, all of which function to better preserve natural extracellular matrix molecules and to recapitulate the natural tissue environment, thereby effectively guiding tissue regeneration. Tissue-derived scaffolds are prepared by incorporating a homogenized tissue-derived suspension into a polymeric solution of synthetic, natural, or hybrid polymers. Such tissue-derived scaffolds and scaffolding materials have a variety of utilities, including: the creation of 3D tissue models such as skin, bone, liver, pancreas, lung, and so on; facilitation of studies on cell-matrix interactions; and the fabrication of implantable scaffolding materials for guided tissue formation in vivo.

Abstract: Smart membranes (14) are integrated into a small, unmanned surface vessel (20) to enable the efficient, automated cleanup of oil spills. Such a vessel (20) has the potential to provide a low-cost, modular solution for day-to-day oil-spill cleanup operations, especially in confined aquatic areas, such as under piers and in the small spaces between marine vessels and piers. The smart membranes (14) are provided on the surface of a conveyor belt (34) that circulates the membranes (14) through the surrounding body of water (10) for oil collection, as well as through an internal reduction chamber (22) of the vessel (20) for oil release. The smart membranes (14) are adapted to attract and repel oil (12) in response to low-voltage commands applied across the conveyor belt (34), using a process that is repeatable for a number of cycles, offering high efficiency and long durability (FIG. 5).

Abstract: Flexible and stretchable electronics, including supercapacitors and pressure sensors, are made using carbon nanostructures produced by providing a first composite structure which includes a temporary substrate and an array of carbon nanotubes arranged in a stack on a surface of the temporary substrate such that the stack of carbon nanotubes is oriented generally perpendicular to the surface of the temporary substrate, which may include silicon dioxide. The stack of carbon nanotubes is transferred from the temporary substrate to another substrate, which includes a curable polymer, thereby forming another composite structure comprising the stack of carbon nanotubes and the cured polymer.

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented for monitoring brain pulsatility. A change in volume of the brain is estimated based at least in part on an output of a non-contact, surface measuring sensor (e.g., a distance sensor or a camera). A metric indicative of brain pulsatility is then calculated based at least in part on a ratio of the estimated change in volume of the brain relative to a change in arterial blood pressure.

Abstract: A method of localizing brain regions for the purpose of guiding placement of electrodes and related implants is disclosed. The inventive method involves effecting a pulse in a patient's brain, temporally aligning readings taken from an electrode at various depths, measuring local field potentials at each depth during interstimulus intervals, performing a coherence analysis comparing the local field potential measurements of the different depths, and determining a corresponding brain region for the depths compared.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for synthetically making an ultra-wide imaging bandwidth in millimeter-wave frequencies, resulting in improved image resolutions to values previously unattained. The synthetic approach sums up a number of available sub-bands to build an unavailable ultra-wideband system. Each sub-band contains a transceiver unit which is optimized for operation within that specific sub-band. The number and position of the sub-bands can be adjusted to cover any frequency range as required for the specific application.

Abstract: A device for generation of genuine random numbers, uses quantum stochastic processes in optical parametric nonlinear media. The dimensionality of the random numbers is varied from 2 to over 100,000. Their statistical properties, including the correlation function amongst random numbers, are tailored using linear and nonlinear optical circuits following the parametric nonlinear media. Both the generation and manipulation of random numbers are integrated on a single nanophotonics chip. By incorporating optoelectric effects, fast streams of random numbers are created in custom statistical properties, which are updated or reconfigured in real time, such as at 10 GHz speed. The unpredictability of the random numbers is quantifying by evaluating their min-entropy. The genuineness of quantum random numbers is tested using both statistical tools and independently verified by measuring the quantum entanglement between the photons in real time.

Abstract: A quantitative gait training and/or analysis system includes one or more footwear modules that may include a piezoresistive sensor, an inertial sensor and an independent logic unit. The footwear module functions to permit the extraction of gait kinematics and evaluation thereof in real time, or data may be stored for later reduction and analysis. Embodiments relating to calibration-based estimation of kinematic gait parameters are described.

Abstract: A system includes a device that is disposed within an environment and is adapted to communicate over a radio frequency communication link. The system also includes a wireless access point disposed within the environment, including a wireless transceiver in communication with the device over a radio frequency communication link using a plurality of channels, and recording a channel state information data set for the radio frequency communication link. The system also includes a monitoring device including a memory storing a plurality of activity profiles, each of which includes an activity and a channel state information profile corresponding to the activity, and a processor receiving, from the wireless access point, the channel state information data set and determining, based on a comparison of the channel state information data set to the channel state information profile of each of the plurality of activity profiles, the activity of the person in the environment.

Abstract: The described invention provides an ex vivo dynamic multiple myeloma cancer niche contained in a pumpless perfusion culture device. The dynamic multiple myeloma cancer niche includes (a) a three-dimensional tissue construct containing a dynamic ex vivo bone marrow niche, which contains a mineralized bone-like tissue containing viable osteoblasts self-organized into cohesive multiple cell layers and an extracellular matrix secreted by the viable adherent osteoblasts; and a microenvironment dynamically perfused by nutrients and dissolved gas molecules; and (b) human myeloma cells seeded from a biospecimen composition comprising mononuclear cells and the multiple myeloma cells. The human myeloma cells are in contact with osteoblasts of the bone marrow niche, and the viability of the human myeloma cells is maintained by the multiple myeloma cancer niche.

Abstract: Process and apparatus are disclosed for capturing and converting an ozone-depleting alkyl halide fumigant from a fumigant/air mixed stream (14) by absorbing it into a metal hydroxide-alcohol buffer solution (26) in an absorber/scrubber (12) to produce a fumigant-free air stream. The captured alkyl halide in aqueous alcohol solution can actively react with the metal hydroxide in alcohol solution to produce a value-added product, such as a precipitate metal halide, and another alcohol that further enhances absorption. The absorbing solution is well-mixed with make-up alcohol and alkali streams to maintain the concentration of the metal hydroxide in the desired buffer solution range. The solid precipitate metal halide is separated from the liquid stream, and the metal hydroxide-containing mixed alcohol stream is recycled to the absorber/scrubber (12).

Abstract: Smart membranes (14) are integrated into a small, unmanned surface vessel (20) to enable the efficient, automated cleanup of oil spills. Such a vessel (20) has the potential to provide a low-cost, modular solution for day-to-day oil-spill cleanup operations, especially in confined aquatic areas, such as under piers and in the small spaces between marine vessels and piers. The smart membranes (14) are provided on the surface of a conveyor belt (34) that circulates the membranes (14) through the surrounding body of water (10) for oil collection, as well as through an internal reduction chamber (22) of the vessel (20) for oil release. The smart membranes (14) are adapted to attract and repel oil (12) in response to low-voltage commands applied across the conveyor belt (34), using a process that is repeatable for a number of cycles, offering high efficiency and long durability (FIG. 5).

Abstract: A process includes means for depositing an anti-corrosion coating filled with liquid oil on an aluminum substrate. Aluminum is anodized and then treated with a thin hydrophobic sub-coating. The pores created through anodization are then impregnated with liquid oil. Oil penetration is maximized and residual air is minimized by first filling the pores with a filling solution, replacing the filling solution with an exchange fluid, and then replacing the exchange fluid with perfluorinated oil. The oil gives the surface coating anti-wetting properties and self-healing properties, thereby protecting the aluminum substrate underneath from corrosion.

Abstract: Smart membranes are integrated into a small, unmanned surface vessel to enable the efficient, automated cleanup of oil spills. Such a vessel has the potential to provide a low-cost, modular solution for day-to-day oil-spill cleanup operations, especially in confined aquatic areas (e.g., under piers or in the small spaces between marine vessels and piers). The membranes are provided on the surface of a conveyor belt that circulates the membranes through the surrounding body of water for oil collection, as well as through an internal reduction chamber of the vessel for oil release. The smart membranes are adapted to attract and repel oil in response to low-voltage commands applied across the conveyor belt, using a process that is repeatable for a number of cycles, offering high efficiency and long durability. Segments of the conveyor belt can be electrically isolated from one another to allow disparate electrical potentials to be imposed thereon.