Abstract: Thermoelectric (TE) nanocomposite material that includes at least one component consisting of nanocrystals. A TE nanocomposite material in accordance with the present invention can include, but is not limited to, multiple nanocrystalline structures, nanocrystal networks or partial networks, or multi-component materials, with some components forming connected interpenetrating networks including nanocrystalline networks. The TE nanocomposite material can be in the form of a bulk solid having semiconductor nanocrystallites that form an electrically conductive network within the material.

Abstract: A nanoparticle of a decomposition product of a transition metal aluminum hydride compound, a transition metal borohydride compound, or a transition metal gallium hydride compound. A process of: reacting a transition metal salt with an aluminum hydride compound, a borohydride compound, or a gallium hydride compound to produce one or more of the nanoparticles. The reaction occurs in solution while being sonicated at a temperature at which the metal hydride compound decomposes. A process of: reacting a nanoparticle with a compound containing at least two hydroxyl groups to form a coating having multi-dentate metal-alkoxides.

Abstract: A dunnage assembly has a plurality of dunnage sections removably attached to each other and includes a forwardmost dunnage section and an aftmost dunnage section. The forwardmost dunnage section has the longest length and the aftmost dunnage section has the shortest length. Each dunnage section has a plurality of tubes and a plurality of tube collars that support the tubes such that the tubes are substantially parallel to each other. Each tube of each dunnage section has an interior region sized to receive a longitudinally extending item and is substantially coaxially aligned with a tube of an adjacent dunnage section. Each tube collar has a plurality of thru-holes therein where each thru-hole is sized to receive a portion of a tube. Each dunnage section includes a tube collar removably attached to a tube collar of an adjacent dunnage section.

Abstract: A rapidly deployable structure that includes a first and second hub, a plurality of legs and a rod connected to the first hub. The first hub includes first recesses. The second hub includes second recesses and an alignment guide. Each leg is connected to the first hub and the second hub. The rod connected is to the first hub and includes pins that are movable between an extended state, where pins protrude from the rod, and a retracted state where the pins are retracted within the rod. The first hub is movable relative to the second hub between a first state in which the rod is disposed above the alignment guide in an axial direction defined by an opening in the alignment guide and a second state in which a portion of the rod comprising the pins is below the alignment guide in the axial direction.

Abstract: A detector for detecting optically undetectable sub-cm orbital debris. A ring detector comprising a current pulse transformer (CPT) in which a conducting wire coil is wrapped around a loop of high permeability material having a magnetic nanoparticle (MNP) core. Debris objects in low earth orbit become charged as they pass through local plasma. As each charged debris object passes through the coil-wrapped loop, its current generates an induced voltage pulse, which can be used to detect the presence of the debris object. By fielding such a detector on a satellite, a long duration survey of the debris distribution in the LEO region can be made as the satellite's altitude is systematically varied.

Abstract: A cathode emitter assembly includes a cathode tube having a gas feed portion and a plasma outflow portion; an outer annular cathode insert in the plasma outflow portion of the cathode tube; an inner cathode insert in the plasma outflow section of the cathode tube; and an annular plasma emission portion defined between an inner surface of the outer annular cathode insert and an outer surface of the inner cathode insert.

Abstract: A junctional tourniquet apparatus and related methods of use. An exemplary tourniquet has an inverted cone shape, wherein a narrower end has a mushroom shaped base that is pressed against a compression target and a broader end has a plurality of pass-through slots for straps. Another exemplary tourniquet has a broad plate component and a handle component. The handle component has a mushroom shaped base on a first end and a handle on a second end. The handle component passes through the center of the plate component with threads that allow the handle component to compress a target by twisting the handle.

Abstract: An optically-monitored and/or optically-controlled electronic device is described. The device includes at least one of a semiconductor transistor or a semiconductor diode. An optical detector is configured to detect light emitted by the at least one of the semiconductor transistor or the semiconductor diode during operation. A signal processor is configured to communicate with the optical detector to receive information regarding the light detected. The signal processor is further configured to provide information concerning at least one of an electrical current flowing in, a temperature of, or a condition of the at least one of the semiconductor transistor or the semiconductor diode during operation.

Abstract: A junctional tourniquet apparatus and related methods of use. An exemplary tourniquet has an inverted cone shape, wherein a narrower end has a mushroom shaped base that is pressed against a compression target and a broader end has a plurality of pass-through slots for straps. Another exemplary tourniquet has a broad plate component and a handle component. The handle component has a mushroom shaped base on a first end and a handle on a second end. The handle component passes through the center of the plate component with threads that allow the handle component to compress a target by twisting the handle.

Abstract: A novel family of cycloalkanes compounds having one or more allylidene functionalities which can be used to create cross-linked thermosets and thermoplastics having thermal stability. An example heptacyclo [6.6.0.02,6.03,13.04,11.05,9.010,14] tetradecane (HCTD) complex with terminal allylidene groups at the 7- and 12-positions (HCTD-7,12-diallylidene) was generated from norbornadiene via an efficient six-step synthesis. Thermal polymerization at temperatures ranging from 160 to 240° C. yielded a robust cross-linked material with thermal stability up to 485° C. in air, a glass transition temperature of 377° C., and a char yield (600° C.) of 56% in air. Applications include heat resistant composites utilized in the aerospace, electronic, automotive and textile industries.

Abstract: Provided is an interchangeable modular chamber system for a firearm. The system includes a firearm receiver, a barrel comprising lands and grooves, a chamber insert sleeve comprising lands and grooves, an index pin, a locking collar, and a recoil lug. The barrel is threaded into the receiver with the chamber insert sleeve positioned within the barrel. The chamber insert sleeve is indexed to align the lands and grooves of the chamber insert sleeve with those of the barrel. The locking collar and recoil lug are threaded onto the external threads of the barrel and are adjustable to optimize the headspace for different cartridges of the same caliber and to allow for the sacrificial replacement of the throat area of a barrel.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of irradiating a composition having water and hydrogen-terminated nanodiamonds with light that generates water-solvated electrons from the nanodiamonds. The method can be used to degrade fluoroalkyl compounds such as perfluorooctane sulfonate.

Abstract: A test fixture is provided for dropping an article from a height to a floor, with the article oriented in relation to the floor at a select angle. The fixture includes a column frame, an overhead beam, a carriage, first and second guy wires, first and second spools, and first and second chains. The frame supports first and second guide arms on opposing sides. The overhead beam has a distance span substantially parallel to the floor. The carriage is disposed substantially parallel to the floor and has first and second opposing guides separated by the span. The guy wires attach to the beam separated the span and pass through the guide arms. The first and second spools to receive the corresponding guy wires. The first and second chains suspend the article from the carriage above the floor. Upon release of the guy wires, the carriage falls until contact with the guide arms while the article contacts the floor.

Abstract: A mounting platform is provided for securing munitions. The platform includes a flat plate, a front block and a rear block. The plate includes a plurality of cutout holes. The front block has a first saddle disposed between first flanking ends and at least one extension at one of the flanking ends for inserting into a first opening of the cutouts. The rear block has a second saddle disposed between second flanking ends at least one extension for inserting into a second opening of the cutouts. The munitions are disposable atop the first and second saddles of the front and rear blocks. The munitions are restrained axially against a rear stop block and laterally by the saddles and straps.

Abstract: A diving helmet apparatus includes a diving helmet that is based on a 98th percentile anthropomorphic head form. The helmet is relatively smaller and lighter than convention diving helmets. The center-of-gravity and center-of-buoyancy of the helmet are co-located to reduce diver fatigue. The apparatus has unique neck dam latch devices that use cam mechanisms. The neck dam and the opening in the helmet that receives the diver's head both have a substantially oval shape that contributes to a significant reduction in the volume of the helmet. The apparatus also uses unique face mask latch devices. The neck dam and face mask latch devices allow a diver to easily secure and remove the helmet and face mask without the assistance of dive tenders.

Abstract: A hook assembly includes a first hook having a first open end and a second hook having a second open end. The first hook is parallel to the second hook where the first open end is adjacent to the second open end. Extensions extend from each of the first hook and the second hook. The extensions extend perpendicular to a hook plane of the first hook and the second hook members. The first hook is a mirror image of the second hook. A hinge connects the first hook to the second hook. The hinge is located at an opposite end of the hook from where the extensions are located. A resilient member exerts a constant force at the hinge to bias the first hook and the second hook toward an open position.

Abstract: A non-linear charge pump for phased lock loops. Furthermore, an auxiliary charge pump apparatus, comprising a positive switch electrically connected to a current source configured to supplement power to a charge pump, a negative switch electrically connected to a current sink configured to discharge power from the charge pump, a windowing comparator, further comprising an input signal received from a phase-locked loop, a first comparator configured to compare the input signal against a high voltage threshold, a second comparator configured to compare the input signal against a low voltage threshold, an AND logic gate configured to provide a window signal and an activation circuit electrically connected to the positive switch and negative switch. Additionally, a non-linear charge pump system and method for reacquiring frequency lock of a phase lock loop.

Abstract: The invention relates to cyanate ester resin blends containing resveratrol-based cyanate esters. At room temperature, the cyanate ester resin blend offers improved processability by remaining a liquid or forming a solid that melts at less than 70° C. The cyanate ester resin blend includes a resveratrol-based cyanate ester and a flexible cyanate ester having a configuration different than that of the resveratrol-based cyanate ester, where the resveratrol-based cyanate ester is no more than 80% of the total mass of the cyanate esters in the cyanate ester resin blend. A composite product can include the cyanate ester resin blend and a support material. When making the composite product, the support material is combined with the cyanate resin blend and cured at temperatures ranging from about 100° C. to about 300° C.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to direct impingement cook-off mitigation systems. As assembled, a munition fuzewell is torqued into the aft end of a munition. During a cook-off event, the expanding gases from the booster energetic will burn instead of detonating. The hot expanding booster gases are vented to the munition's main fill energetic causing the main fill energetic to burn concurrently with the booster energetic. The combined expanding gases from both the booster and main fill energetics are then vented through longitudinal vents.

Abstract: This disclosure concerns electrically conducting poly(pyrazoles). The concept of oligomerizing and polymerizing substituted aminopyrazole derivatives combined with a monomer activation procedure involving base-mediated conversion of the protonated pyrazole ring nitrogen to amine salt was developed. This disclosure concerns the specific chemistries needed for the synthesis of a pyrazole monomer used in the polymer synthesis. The procedure used for blending the novel polypyrazoles with other compounds needed for construction of solar cells for testing was developed. This disclosure concerns the concept of using these types of heteroatom-rich, electron-deficient oligomers or polymers as n-dopable or p-dopable electron acceptors in photovoltaic cells. This disclosure concerns synthesizing the starting monomer compounds and polypyrazoles.