Abstract: The present invention describes tunable methods of treating cellulosic materials with a composition that provides increased hydrophobicity and/or lipophobicity to such materials without sacrificing the biodegradability thereof. The methods as disclosed provide for binding of saccharide fatty acid esters on cellulosic materials, including that the disclosure provides products made by such methods. The materials thus treated display higher hydrophobicity, lipophobicity, barrier function, and mechanical properties, and may be used in any application where such features are desired.

Abstract: A method of constructing and assembling a floating wind turbine platform includes constructing pre-stressed concrete sections of a floating wind turbine platform base, assembling the floating wind turbine platform base sections to form the base at a first location in a floating wind turbine platform assembly area, and moving the base to a second location in the floating wind turbine platform assembly area. Pre-stressed concrete sections of floating wind turbine platform columns are constructed, and the column sections are assembled to form a center column and a plurality of outer columns on the base to define a hull at the second location in the floating wind turbine platform assembly area. The hull is then moved to a third location in the floating wind turbine platform assembly area. Secondary structures are mounted on and within the hull, and the hull is moved to a fourth location in the floating wind turbine platform assembly area.

Abstract: The invention relates to transgenic plants exhibiting dramatically enhanced growth rates, greater seed and fruit/pod yields, earlier and more productive flowering, more efficient nitrogen utilization, increased tolerance to high salt conditions, and increased biomass yields. In one embodiment, transgenic plants engineered to over-express both glutamine phenylpyruvate transaminase (GPT) and glutamine synthetase (GS) are provided. The GPT+GS double-transgenic plants of the invention consistently exhibit enhanced growth characteristics, with T0 generation lines showing an increase in biomass over wild type counterparts of between 50% and 300%. Generations that result from sexual crosses and/or selfing typically perform even better, with some of the double-transgenic plants achieving an astounding four-fold biomass increase over wild type plants.

Abstract: Methods and systems for attaching a device to a substrate for operation of the device under variable conditions includes attaching a device to a substrate, disposing a removable material over a first portion of the device, positioning a second portion of the device adjacent to the substrate, operably attaching a retainer to the substrate adjacent to the device with a part of the retainer disposed over the removable material, and removing the removable material to form a gap between the device and the retainer so that the device is retained on the substrate, and wherein the gap allows the device to move freely relative to the retainer and the substrate in response to changes in temperature.

Abstract: Methods and systems for performing ionization, including applying radio frequency energy to a chemical compound so that at least one ion of the compound or of a compound fragment is generated, and detecting at least one such ion.

Abstract: A hybrid composite panel suitable for forming a container includes a wood layer and a fiber-reinforced polymer composite layer having a sensor system embedded therein. The wood layer is laminated plywood that includes at least one of hard and soft wood, solid-sawn tongue-and-groove hardwood planks, and partially laminated solid-sawn hardwood.

Abstract: A floating buoy includes a buoy hull having a tower that extends outwardly from the hull. A plurality of sensors are mounted either on the buoy hull, within the buoy hull, and/or on the tower. The plurality of sensors includes at least one met-ocean sensor, at least one ecological sensor, and at least one wind speed measurement sensor. The floating buoy further includes an autonomous power system that is configured to provide electrical power to each of the plurality of sensors. The wind speed measurement sensor may be a Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) wind speed measurement sensor, a surface level wind speed sensor, an ultrasonic wind speed sensor, or SODAR.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that reduce or eliminate interference from non-target sensors in a wireless network. In some embodiments, the sensors contain a blocking device, such as a diode or a transistor, connected between the antenna and the transducer that blocks the cross-correlation response from being transmitted from non-target sensors while permitting an autocorrelation response from a target sensor to be transmitted.

Abstract: To improve the write performance of PCM, the disclosed technology, in certain embodiments, provides a new write scheme, referred to herein as two-stage-write, which leverages the speed and power asymmetries of writing a zero bit and a one bit. Writing a data block to PCM is divided into two separated stages, i.e., write-0 stage and write-1 stage. Without violating power constraints, during the write-0 stage, all zero bits in this data block are written to PCM at an accelerated speed; during the write-1 stage, all one bits are written to PCM, with more bits being written concurrently. In certain embodiments, the disclosed technology provides a new coding scheme to improve the speed of the write-1 stage by further increasing the number of bits that can be written to PCM in parallel.

Abstract: A scalable, energy efficient process for preparing cellulose nanofibers is disclosed. The process employs treating the cellulosic material with a first mechanical refiner with plates having a configuration of blades separated by grooves, and subsequently treating the material with a second mechanical refiner with plates having a configuration of blades separated by grooves different than the first refiner. The plate configurations and treatment operations are selected such that the first refiner produces a first SEL that is greater than the SEL of the second refiner, by as much as 2-50 fold. An exemplary high first SEL may be in the range of 1.5 to 8 J/m. Paper products made with about 2% to about 30% cellulose nanofibers having a length from about 0.2 mm to about 0.5 mm, preferably from 0.2 mm to about 0.4 mm have improved properties.

Abstract: Strong, light-weight composite laminates are made by impregnating layers of paper with a cellulose nanofiber (CNF) slurry, laying the coated papers up in a plurality of layers or stack, and subjecting the stack to pressure and heat for a period of time sufficient to cause the CNF to impregnate, reinforce, and bond the paper layers into a composite. The resulting composite has impressive mechanical strength and exhibits a substantially homogeneous composition throughout its depth. The composite should have good strength to weight properties, and be recyclable or compostable.

Abstract: A wind turbine platform configured to float in a body of water and support a wind turbine thereon includes a buoyant hull platform. A wind turbine tower is centrally mounted on the hull platform and a wind turbine is mounted to the wind turbine tower. An anchor is connected to the hull platform and to the seabed, and a weight-adjustable mass is suspended from the hull platform.

Abstract: A hybrid composite panel suitable for forming a container includes a wood layer and a fiber-reinforced polymer composite layer having a sensor system embedded therein. The wood layer is laminated plywood that includes at least one of hard and soft wood, solid-sawn tongue-and-groove hardwood planks, and partially laminated solid-sawn hardwood.

Abstract: A wind turbine platform is configured for floating in a body of water and includes a hull defining a hull cavity therein. The hull is formed from reinforced concrete. A tower is configured to mount a wind turbine and is also connected to the hull. An anchor member is connected to the hull and to the seabed.

Abstract: A floating wind turbine farm 230 includes a plurality of anchors 20/202/204/206/208 fixed in or on a bed of a body of water. A plurality of floating wind turbine platforms 10 is deployed in the body of water, each of the floating wind turbine platforms 10 having one or more mooring lines 200/212 that extend between, and are attached to, the floating wind turbine platform 10 and one of the anchors 20/202/204/206/208. Each anchor 20/202/204/206/208 is configured to receive two or more mooring lines 200/212, wherein each of the mooring lines 200/212 are from a different one of the plurality of floating wind turbine platforms 10.

Abstract: A method of assembling a floating wind turbine platform includes forming a base assembly of the floating wind turbine platform in a cofferdam or a graving dock built in water having a first depth, then flooding the cofferdam or graving dock and floating the assembled base assembly to an assembly area in water having a second depth. A center column and a plurality of outer columns are then either assembled or formed on the base assembly. A tower is either assembled or formed on the center column. The wind turbine is then assembled on the tower, thereby defining the floating wind turbine platform.

Abstract: A modified filler composition for use in composites, such as paper and paper board, which is produced by reacting a filler material with a binder and a reactant material. Also, a method to produce composites, such as paper and paperboard, produced containing the modified filler composition is disclosed.

Abstract: The invention is directed to methods and compositions for increasing a growth characteristic of a plant, increasing nutrient use efficiency of a plant, or improving a plant's ability to overcome stress comprising applying a composition comprising ketosuccinamate, a derivative thereof, or a salt thereof, to the plant or to a propagation material of the plant.

Abstract: The invention relates to transgenic plants exhibiting dramatically enhanced growth rates, greater seed and fruit/pod yields, earlier and more productive flowering, more efficient nitrogen utilization, increased tolerance to high salt conditions, and increased biomass yields. In one embodiment, transgenic plants engineered to over-express both glutamine phenylpyruvate transaminase (GPT) and glutamine synthetase (GS) are provided. The GPT+GS double-transgenic plants of the invention consistently exhibit enhanced growth characteristics, with T0 generation lines showing an increase in biomass over wild type counterparts of between 50% and 300%. Generations that result from sexual crosses and/or selfing typically perform even better, with some of the double-transgenic plants achieving an astounding four-fold biomass increase over wild type plants.

Abstract: A semi-submersible wind turbine platform is capable of floating on a body of water and supporting a wind turbine, and includes a keystone. At least three bottom beams extend radially outward of the keystone, and a center column extends perpendicularly from an upper surface of the keystone, a first axial end of the center column attached to the keystone; the center column configured to have a tower attached to a second axial end thereof. One of a plurality of outer columns ex-tends perpendicularly from an upper surface of each bottom beam, wherein first axial ends of the outer columns are attached to a distal end of each bottom beam. One of a plurality of top beams extends between a second axial end of each outer column and a second axial end of the center column, wherein the top beams are configured substantially not to resist bending moment of a tower attached to the center column.