Abstract: In one aspect, composite carbide compositions are described herein which can facilitate the efficient and/or economical manufacture of articles comprising SiC. Briefly, a composite carbide composition comprises silicon carbide (SiC) particles and a silica interparticle phase covalently bonded to the SiC particles.

Abstract: Silicon carbide (SiC) is an inert material with excellent biocompatibility properties. The biocompatibility is associated with the chemical inertness of the material. Tissue response to inert material is the formation of thin fibrous capsule. In some embodiments described herein, the conversion of SiC from inert material to bioactive material capable of stimulating cell function and making direct bond with tissue is described and the body response to bioactive materials is direct binding without any fibrous capsule.

Abstract: Various examples are provided related to diode clamped solid-state circuit breakers (SSCBs). Their configuration allows operation of the SSCB without dynamic voltage balancing issues. In one example, a diode clamped SSCB includes source-side switches and line-side switches connected between a DC source connection and a line-side connection. Clamping capacitors are connected at a common connection point between the source-side and line side switches and source-side and line-side clamping diodes are connected between the source-side switches and line-side switches and the clamping capacitors. Sequential switching of the source-side switches or line-side switches can avoid dynamic voltage balancing issues.

Abstract: Carbon dioxide and ash are two major waste by-products from coal fire production. Presented herein is are methods, material, and devices for storing carbon using high ash-content building material. The idea is to generate materials with commercial values to offset the cost for carbon capture. Ash with alkali activator (geopolymer) concrete has been studied extensively for its superior performance (higher strength) than ordinary Portland cement (OPC) concrete. However, most geopolymer concrete needs energy input in the forms of pressure and heat, which in turn are usually based on electricity produced through power plants.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for heterogeneous catalytic quenching of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in a water source are disclosed. An exemplary device includes a column containing a catalytic material. The catalytic material can include self-supported granules of Fe(III) oxide. Catalytic reactor systems incorporating the columns and methods of making and using the same are also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatic, customized radiation treatment plan generation for cancer are disclosed. According to an aspect, a method includes receiving data indicating anatomy information of a patient and radiation beam characteristics of a radiation therapy system. Further, the method includes determining energy levels for application of radiation beams to the patient.

Abstract: In one aspect, systems and methods for the efficient and cost-effective removal of bromide from wastewater streams are described herein. Briefly, a system for bromide removal comprises pretreatment apparatus operable for at least partial removal of background ionic species from the wastewater stream and/or dilution of the background ionic species in the wastewater stream. The system also comprises bromide capture apparatus operable for removal of bromide from the pretreated wastewater stream, wherein the system removes bromide from the wastewater stream at an efficiency of at least 80 percent. In some embodiments, bromide is recovered from the capture apparatus and reused in flue gas treatment applications.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are unique single stranded DNA oligonucleotide products identified as binding with high affinity and specificity to ovarian tumor cells that may be used in the delivery of therapy to and diagnosis of ovarian cancer.

Abstract: Apparatuses including power electronics circuitry are provided. The power electronics circuitry includes at least one power converter that is coupled to a DC bus. Moreover, in some embodiments, the at least one power converter is configured to regulate a voltage of the DC bus. Related methods of operating an apparatus including power electronics circuitry are also provided.

Abstract: Materials comprising metamaterials exhibiting form-induced birefringence and anisotropic optical properties are provided. The disclosed articles comprise structures with critical dimensions which are on the order of or smaller than the wavelength for the gigahertz and terahertz spectral range. Methods of preparing same using stereolithography are disclosed. In a further aspect, the disclosed methods pertain to spectroscopic ellipsometry methods comprising a biaxial (orthorhombic) layer homogenization approach is to analyze the terahertz ellipsometric data obtained at three different sample azimuth orientations. The disclosed articles and methods demonstrate provide an avenue to fabricate metamaterials for the terahertz spectral range and allows tailoring of the polarizability and anisotropy of the host material. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

Abstract: Various examples are provided for contactless wideband current sensing. A combination of magnetoresistive (MR) sensor and Rogowski coil outputs can be combined to provide current sensing from DC to 10 MHZ or more. In one example, a system includes a MR sensor that can provide an MR output voltage corresponding to a magnitude of the current through a trace; a Rogowski coil sensor that can provide a Rogowski output voltage corresponding to a magnitude of the current; and processing circuitry configured to generate an output current signal by aggregating the MR and Rogowski output voltages. In another example, a method includes conditioning an output from a MR sensor disposed adjacent to a trace carrying a current; conditioning an output from a Rogowski coil disposed adjacent to the trace; and aggregating the first and second conditioned signals to provide an output current signal corresponding to the current passing through the trace.

Abstract: Example photoconductive devices and example methods for using photoconductive devices are described. An example method may include providing a photoconductive device having a metal-semiconductor-metal structure. The method may also include controlling, based on a first input state, illumination of the photoconductive device by a first optical beam during a time period, and controlling, based on a second input state, illumination of the photoconductive device by a second optical beam during the time period. Further, the method may include detecting an amount of current produced by the photoconductive device during the time period, and based on the detected amount of current, providing an output indicative of the first input state and the second input state. The example devices can be used individually as discrete components or in integrated circuits for memory or logic applications.

Abstract: Apparatuses including power electronics circuitry are provided. The power electronics circuitry includes at least one power converter that is coupled to a DC bus. Moreover, in some embodiments, the at least one power converter is configured to regulate a voltage of the DC bus. Related methods of operating an apparatus including power electronics circuitry are also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to significantly improving the adiabatic shear banding susceptibility of pure refractory metals as well as overcoming the physical dimension limitations when making kinetic energy penetrators. These improvements may be achieved by arranging interlayers between plasticly deformed refractory metal material layers. Disclosed herein are methods of making material for kinetic energy penetrator applications, the methods comprising: severely plasticly deforming a refractory metal material until the grain size of the refractory metal material is within one of ultrafine grain and nanocrystalline regimes; arranging an interlayer material adjacent the refractory metal material; and diffusion bonding the interlayer material to the refractory metal material.

Abstract: A system and method for testing firearm operating characteristics are provided using a force testing apparatus coupled to all or a portion of the firearm. Of significance, the system and method are configured to test the interaction(s) of multiple firearm components during operation without a live round such that firearm component defects, manufacturing tolerance problems, misalignments, and the like can be discovered during or subsequent to manufacture and prior to use.

Abstract: The description provides a molecular switch comprising at least two nanoparticles, wherein a first nanoparticle comprises DNA and/or RNA oligonucleotides, and a second nanoparticle which is complementary to the first nanoparticle comprises reverse complementary DNA and/or RNA oligonucleotides of the first nanoparticle; wherein the complementary nanoparticles interact under physiological conditions leading to thermodynamically driven conformational changes in the first and second nanoparticles leading to their re-association to release one or more duplexes comprising said DNA and/or RNA oligonucleotides and the reverse complementary DNA and/or RNA oligonucleotides, and wherein the nanoparticles are not rings and have no single stranded toeholds.

Abstract: In one aspect, methods of treating lignocellulosic materials are described herein. In some embodiments, a method of treating a lignocellulosic material comprises degrading lignin of the lignocellulosic material with at least one fungus and hydrolyzing cellulose of the lignocellulosic material with at least one microorganism.

Abstract: In one aspect, single-sided microfluidic devices are described herein. In some embodiments, a single-sided microfluidic device comprises a substrate, a photoconductive layer positioned over the substrate, electrical contacts in electrical communication with the photoconductive layer, and a dielectric assembly positioned over the photoconductive layer. The dielectric assembly comprises a hydrophobic surface for receiving a liquid. In some embodiments, the dielectric assembly has an effective capacitance of about 10 ?F/m2 to about 10,000 ?F/m2 and/or an average thickness between about 20 nm and about 2000 nm.

Abstract: Electronic nondestructive inspection tools for timber distribution poles are provided herein. An electronic nondestructive inspection tool includes a vibration sensor configured to perform a vibration measurement of a timber distribution pole. In some embodiments, the electronic nondestructive inspection tool includes a processor configured to perform operations including estimating decay of the timber distribution pole, using the vibration measurement and a physics model of the timber distribution pole; and outputting an indication of the decay of the timber distribution pole. Related methods are also provided.

Abstract: A photodetector focal plane array system having enhanced sensitivity and angle-of-view, including: a substrate including a plurality of photosensitive regions; and a microcomponent disposed adjacent to each of the plurality of photosensitive regions operable for receiving incident radiation from a relatively wider area and directing the incident radiation into a relatively smaller area of the associated photosensitive region by, in part, one or more of waveguiding and scattering; wherein each of the microcomponents is centered with respect to a photodetector mesa of each of the plurality of photosensitive regions. Each of the microcomponents includes one of a microcone, a microcuboid, a micropillar, a core-shell micropillar, a microtubule, a pyramid, an inverted pyramid, and an arbitrary shape microcomponent—with a top surface having a a selected or arbitrary cross-sectional shape and a selected or arbitrary profile.