Abstract: A method for preparing nanoparticles includes preparing a mixture containing an organic solvent, surfactant and water; adding a first quantity of a first silica precursor and ammonia to the mixture; adding a second quantity of the first silica precursor and a second silica precursor to the mixture; adding acetone to the mixture; removing silica nanoparticles from the mixture; and drying the silica nanoparticles.

Abstract: A method for producing aromatic compounds from fatty acid oils including heating a fatty acid oil to a temperature between about 100° C. to about 800° C. at a pressure between about vacuum conditions and about 200 psia for a time sufficient to crack the oil and produce a cracked fatty acid oil; removing undesired materials, unreacted oil, heavy ends, and light ends from the cracked fatty acid oil; heating the resulting purified cracked fatty acid oil to a temperature between about 100° C. to about 800° C. at a pressure between about vacuum conditions and about 200 psia for a time sufficient to reform alkenes and alkanes in the cracked fatty acid oil into aromatic compounds and produce a reformed fatty acid oil; and extracting components from the reformed fatty acid oil to produce a mixture of chemical products containing between 5% and 90% aromatic compounds by weight.

Abstract: A method for producing nanoparticles of a selected size includes selecting an organic solvent based upon a molar volume of the organic solvent, the selected nanoparticle size, and a known relationship between the molar volume and the selected nanoparticle size, and producing nanoparticles having the selected size in a water-in-oil microemulsion comprising the selected organic solvent.

Abstract: Optimized enzymatic conditions incorporate a single oxygen atom into digested peptides using a peptidase. The incorporation of a single oxygen atom is especially useful for proteolytic 18O labeling in comparative proteomics. The optimized proteolytic 18O labeling minimizes the generation of a mixture of isotopic isoforms of the peptides resulting from incorporation of either one or two 18O atoms. The outcome is accurate quantification of isotopically labeled peptides.

Abstract: A method for producing a mixture of short chain carboxylic acids from biomass includes adding biomass to a reactor vessel, heating the biomass to crack it, removing undesired and unreacted materials and light ends from the cracked biomass, and removing a mixture containing carboxylic acids having carbon chain lengths between C2 and C16. A composition includes a carboxyl group-containing compound derived by cracking biomass and having a carboxyl carbon chain length between C2 and C16.

Abstract: A method of removing pollutants from building materials using an externally applied adsorbent. The adsorbent has a high affinity to common pollutant chemicals. The pollutants are transferred from the contaminated microporous building materials onto the adsorbent until sufficient amounts of pollutant chemicals are reduced to make the building materials acceptable and safe to use. The adsorbent may be regenerated and reused or treated as a waste.

Abstract: Optimized enzymatic conditions incorporate a single oxygen atom into digested peptides using a peptidase. The incorporation of a single oxygen atom is especially useful for proteolytic 18O labeling in comparative proteomics. The optimized proteolytic 18O labeling minimizes the generation of a mixture of isotopic isoforms of the peptides resulting from incorporation of either one or two 18O atoms. The outcome is accurate quantification of isotopically labeled peptides.

Abstract: An airspace risk mitigation system includes a plurality of airspace input sources, an airspace data fusion and sensor coordination system, a communications link, and a risk mitigation support system. The airspace input sources includes a radar for generating radar data for an airspace, and an Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) receiver for generating additional data for the airspace. The airspace data fusion and sensor coordination system is configured to receive airspace data from the plurality of airspace input sources, correlating airspace data with new or known objects in the airspace, fusing airspace data into a common airspace data set, and generating target and system status information. The risk mitigation support system is configured to calculate a risk associated with aircraft operation in the airspace as a function of the target and system status information.

Abstract: In a method for producing high carbon content products from biomass, a biomass oil is added to a cracking reactor vessel. The biomass oil is heated to a temperature ranging from about 100° C. to about 800° C. at a pressure ranging from about vacuum conditions to about 20,700 kPa for a time sufficient to crack the biomass oil. Tar is separated from the cracked biomass oil. The tar is heated to a temperature ranging from about 200° C. to about 1500° C. at a pressure ranging from about vacuum conditions to about 20,700 kPa for a time sufficient to reduce the tar to a high carbon content product containing at least about 50% carbon by weight.

Abstract: A surveillance and guidance method and system for use with autonomously guided, man-on-the-loop or man-in-the-loop guided vehicles where the presence of obstacles must be considered in guiding the vehicle towards a target includes a navigation system configured to determine the position of the vehicle on which it is equipped. A communication system is configured for data exchange between the vehicle, neighboring vehicles and ground stations. A surveillance system is configured to detect and locate fixed or moving targets and obstacles. A computer is configured to track the position of targets and obstacles and to provide guidance commands or 4D flight paths to perform collision avoidance with respect to traffic regulations and procedures, and operational airspace restrictions. Additional computer tasks include station keeping or interception of targets. A command and control system is configured to interact with a user interface and control the vehicle's actuators.

Abstract: A method, using a photocatalyst, to accelerate the reduction of semivolatile organic chemicals absorbed into porous, solid materials. The porous, solid material having absorbed one or more semivolatile organic contaminants. The photocatalytic material located on the surface of the porous, solid material is exposed to a light source, under aerobic conditions, which excites the photocatalyst and results in the reduction of the absorbed semivolatile organic chemical contaminants.

Abstract: A method for producing products containing cyclic organic compounds from biomass oil includes adding a biomass oil to a vessel; heating the biomass oil to crack the biomass oil; removing undesired or unreacted materials, heavy ends, and light ends from the cracked biomass oil; and extracting components from the cracked biomass oil to produce a mixture of products containing between 5% and 90% cyclic organic compounds by weight. A method for producing a high-octane aviation fuel with low lead content includes cracking a biomass oil, separating a middle distillate mixture from cracked biomass oil, decarboxylating the middle distillate mixture to produce a mixture of products containing at least about 50% cyclic alkane and alkene compounds by weight, and blending the mixture of products with a fuel having an octane number below 95 to produce an aviation fuel having an octane number of at least 100.

Abstract: A Weather Information Network Enabled Mobile System for providing information to a user regarding an emergency event. The WINEMS system receives location data, such as from a GPS system, and correlates the location data with the emergency alert to display a map showing both a location of the WINEMS system and a location of the emergency event. Preferably, the locations are displayed on a digital map.

Abstract: Surfaces coated with a target-induced fluorescent compound are used to detect target elements, especially trace elements. The target-induced fluorescent compound does not fluoresce when excited at a specific wavelength until it has bound a target element. The use of these coated surfaces provides several benefits including reduced background for greater sensitivity and eliminating the need to separate target-induced fluorescent compound that has not bound target element from target-induced fluorescent compound that has bound target element. Coated nanoparticles are especially useful for detection of target elements.

Abstract: A method for oxidizing elemental mercury contained in flue gas uses a catalytic barrier filter. The method comprises directing the flue gas towards the catalytic barrier filter; passing the flue gas through the catalytic barrier filter in the presence of an oxidant; and outletting the flue gas from the catalytic barrier filter, wherein about 50 percent to about 99 percent of the elemental mercury is oxidized.

Abstract: A method and apparatus automates and accelerates the extraction and analysis of trace elements from biomass. The method and apparatus are especially useful at key segregation points in the food chain where speed and accuracy is necessary to separate agricultural cereals that are elevated in beneficial trace element content which provides higher value to the producer.

Abstract: A method of protecting an animal from infections with pathogens originating from Yersinia comprising administering an isolated or recombinant YscF protein to the animal is disclosed. The isolated or recombinant YscF protein may be administered as a vaccine. An isolated or recombinant YscF protein capable of conferring protection to an animal against a pathogen of a Yersinia origin is further disclosed. Nucleic acid molecules encoding the isolated or recombinant YscF protein are also disclosed. In other embodiments, antibodies generated against the isolated or recombinant YscF protein capable of conferring protection to an animal against a pathogen or a Yersinia origin and uses of the antibodies are described.

Abstract: A method and apparatus automates and accelerates the extraction and analysis of trace elements from biomass. The method and apparatus are especially useful at key segregation points in the food chain where speed and accuracy is necessary to separate agricultural cereals that are elevated in beneficial trace element content which provides higher value to the producer.

Abstract: A method for producing a mixture of short chain carboxylic acids from biomass includes adding biomass to a reactor vessel, heating the biomass to crack it, removing undesired and unreacted materials and light ends from the cracked biomass, and removing a mixture containing carboxylic acids having carbon chain lengths between C2 and C16. A composition includes a carboxyl group-containing compound derived by cracking biomass and having a carboxyl carbon chain length between C2 and C16.

Abstract: A method and system for animating a chemical mechanism begins with user selections of an initial chemical structure and an operation to be performed on the chemical structure via a graphical user interface. Based on these selections, an engine determines a resulting modified chemical structure and a chemical mechanism animation. The chemical mechanism animation includes the initial chemical structure, a modified chemical structure and one or more sequential transition frames illustrating a transition between the initial chemical structure and the modified chemical structure. The chemical mechanism is transmitted to a visual display or another readable medium.