Abstract: Systems and methods for tethering a fiber optic cable to an apparatus such as an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) or remotely operated vehicle (ROV). The cable is a bare or tight-buffered optical fiber surrounded by a braided sheath, and is constructed so that loads experienced by the cable are not transferred from the sheath to the optical fiber. This construction enables the cable to have good tensile strength but be sufficiently lightweight so that a commercial fishing reel or any similarly scaled lightweight/portable winch system can be used, instead of large specialized deployment equipment. A tube is inserted between the sheath and the optical fiber a certain distance from the end of the cable, and then the cable and tube are inserted into a housing which attaches to the apparatus and potted using an epoxy resin.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprises one or more of an article composed of a copolymer, a copolymer made from a process, and a process for the preparation of a copolymer composition by metal free enzyme ring-opening polymerization of a monomer composition comprising i) an ethylene brassylate monomer; ii) a 1-4 dioxan-2-one (DO); iii) lipase B from Candida antarctica (Novozyme® 435) and at an elevated temperature, processing the monomer reactants i) and ii) to a copolymer via ring-opening polymerization under solvent-free conditions and a nitrogen atmosphere in the absence of a metal and the presence of the lipase to produce a random EB-co-DO copolymer.

Abstract: A plasticized pyrotechnic material can be easily portioned and formed or molded into a desired shape and burns at a high temperature (>2000° C.) but does not detonate. The plasticized pyrotechnic material may preferably include a combination of about 70-99% by weight of a pyrotechnic composition and about 1-30% by weight of a plasticizer composition comprising various low to mid molecular weight polyisobutylenes. The pyrotechnic material comprises inorganic oxidizers (e.g. metal oxides, oxohalide salts, nitrates, nitrites, chlorates/perchlorates) and metal or metal oxides powders mixed intimately. The plasticizer may include a small amount of a fluoropolymer, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and may also include up to 1-2% by weight of a processed oil, such as a mineral oil or motor oil. Some embodiments may also include a biocide precursor molecule.

Abstract: The invention features a composition comprising a potent cytotoxic compound and a pH low insertion peptide, where, e.g., the cytotoxic compound cannot be used alone due to a lack of targeting. The pH low insertion peptide targets cytotoxic compounds to acidic diseased tissue, translocates cytotoxic compounds across plasma membranes into the cytosols of cells in acidic diseased tissues and induces cell death predominantly in the targeted acidic diseased tissue.

Abstract: Structures designed to mitigate implosion pressure spikes through the use of an external sacrificial confining structure. Such improved structures can, in some embodiments, completely surround the existing structures that are at a high risk of imploding. The improved structures can slow the rate at which the surrounding fluid media volume is consumed by providing resistance to flow into the enclosure.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides compounds, complexes, compositions, and methods for the detection of cancer. Specifically, the compounds, complexes, compositions of the present technology include pH (low) insertion peptides. Also disclosed herein are methods of using the complexes and compositions of the present technology in diagnostic imaging to detect cancer in a subject.

Abstract: The present invention provides a simple method for ablating a protective thin film on a bulk surface and roughening the underlying bulk. In an embodiment, silicon nitride thin films, which are useful as etch-stop masks in micro- and nano-fabrication, is removed from a silicon wafer's surface using a hand-held “flameless” Tesla-coil lighter. Vias created by a spatially localized electron beam from the lighter allow a practitioner to perform micro- and nano-fabrication without the conventional steps of needing a photoresist and photolithography. Patterning could be achieved with a hard mask or rastering of the spatially confined discharge, offering—with low barriers to rapid use—particular capabilities that might otherwise be out of reach to researchers without access to conventional, instrumentation-intensive micro- and nano-fabrication workflows.

Abstract: A piezoelectric polymer used as a piezocatalyst, and methods of manufacture and use therefor. A preferred piezoelectric polymer is poly(vinylidene difluoride) (PVDF) due to its piezoelectric response and good flexibility. The polymer can be doped with a metal, metal salt, metal carbonyl, metal oxide such as ZnO, Co2O3, or TiO2, or ion such as Cr3+, Co2+, or Zn2+. The dopant can be chosen so that when the polymer is PVDF the dopant increases the amount of ?-phase PVDF and/or ?-phase PVDF relative to ?-phase PVDF, thereby increasing the piezocatalytic response of the polymer. The compound to be decomposed can be adsorbed on the surface of the piezoelectric polymer. Applications include wastewater treatment, CO2 capture and reduction, hydroformylation, water splitting, and ammonia synthesis.

Abstract: The present application relates to compositions comprising and methods of using a liposome comprising a pHLIP polypeptide, wherein a lipid bilayer of the liposome is substantially free of the pHLIP polypeptide.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and related compositions for preparing an effective probiotic bacteria formulation that can be stored, transported and used for protecting a variety of marine organisms against infection by potential pathogens.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides compounds, complexes, compositions, and methods for the detection of cancer. Specifically, the compounds, complexes, compositions of the present technology include pH (low) insertion peptides. Also disclosed herein are methods of using the complexes and compositions of the present technology in diagnostic imaging to detect cancer in a subject.

Abstract: Temperature measurements are critical in gas turbine engine design but difficult to obtain due to the extreme environment. Temperature indicating paints (thermal paints) have been used for decades to map maximum temperature fields on superalloy components but have numerous weaknesses. Disclosed herein are novel glass ceramic thermal paints that undergo viscous flow sintering to indicate temperatures up to 1000° C., with high resolution (±5° C.), by an optical transition. Disclosed paint formulations are designed to adhere to Nickel-based superalloys or SiC—SiC ceramic matrix composites (CMC) by closely matching coefficients of thermal expansion and may function for times above 60 hours. By utilizing automation and a UV:VIS spectrometer, quantitative temperature maps can be generated for easy comparison to theoretical models. A transient sintering energy model is disclosed to recover full thermal history information.

Abstract: The present subject matter provides compounds, compositions, and methods for identifying, monitoring, treating, and removing diseased tissue. Compounds, compositions, and methods for identifying, monitoring, and detecting circulating fluids such as blood are also provided.

Abstract: The present subject matter provides compounds, compositions, and methods for identifying, monitoring, treating, and removing diseased tissue. Compounds, compositions, and methods for identifying, monitoring, and detecting circulating fluids such as blood are also provided.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for highly sensitive detection of analytes using redox reactions. A library of heat reactions of analytes of interest with a variety of catalysts at a variety of temperatures is prepared. An array of sensors with low thermal mass heating elements is prepared, depositing the same or different catalysts, such as metal oxide catalysts that have multiple oxidation states, on each heating element. The low thermal mass heating elements are preferably not in thermal contact with a substrate, or a low mass substrate is used. The array is exposed to a sample at various temperatures. The sign and magnitude of the heat effect of the redox reaction of compounds in the sample or their decomposition products with each catalyst is measured and compared with the library. The catalysts and temperatures are chosen so that the desired analytes have a unique pattern of heat effect signs and magnitudes when reacted with those catalysts at those temperatures.

Abstract: An accelerated life testing (ALT) system for the pressurization of corrosive media, such as seawater, at high pressures and at elevated temperatures (up to about 70° C.) for extended periods of time. The interior of a pressure vessel is coated in an inert ceramic/epoxy coating that provides adequate corrosion protection from the corrosive media. A fabric reinforced nitrile diaphragm separates the corrosive media from hydraulic actuating media, such as oil. The hydraulic actuating media is pressurized, which deforms the diaphragm into the corrosive media, thereby increasing the pressure. The diaphragm and supplementary flouroelastomer seals isolate the corrosive media from pressure generating, monitoring, and safety equipment. The temperature of the entire vessel and contents is maintained by complete immersion in a heated, filtered water bath. The system is particularly useful for ALT experiments on components intended for sea floor and long term deep ocean environment operations at about 6000 psi (41.4 MPa).

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a unique, two-part, water-soluble polymer matrix material and a method of application that immobilizes a wide variety of loose powder or crystalline hazardous materials and renders them “safe” or at least “safer” for handling and transport. The polymer matrix material is a two-part polymer material comprising a liquid cross-linking polymer and a cross-linking agent, initiator, or biocide contained in a solution. The cross-linking agent functions to cross-link the polymer and cause it to harden in place.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for detecting in impedance change in a transmission line, such as a line in a computer bus. A CMOS-compatible time domain reflectometer circuit comprising a comparator is embedded in one or more chips and connected to the transmission line. The circuit measures the impedance inhomogeneity pattern (IIP) of the transmission line prior to use, and then repeatedly measures the HP during operation of the transmission line to detect a change in IIP, without Interfering with data transfer through the transmission line. The present invention can detect and locate wire-tapping magnetic probing or snooping, and Trojan and cold boot attacks on interconnecting buses between computer chips or integrated circuits in a computer system, such as on external memory buses.

Abstract: The invention provides a mild procedure for the functionalization of cellulose and other substrates with a detection reagent such as N-(1-naphthyl)ethylenediamine and is able to achieve much higher functionalization density than previously reported. A paper-based device created using cellulose functionalized according to the invention allowed for much lower detection limits for nitrite in various kinds of water samples than have been seen using paper-based devices. In addition, grafting of N-(1-naphthyl)ethylenediamine to cellulose improved the stability of the N-(1-naphthyl)ethylenediamine in the presence of moisture and light.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for using the impedance inhomogeneity pattern (IIP) of a transmission line, or one or more segments thereof, to verify the identity of the transmission line and/or detect whether or not the transmission line has been altered or tampered with. Because the impedance inhomogeneity pattern of a transmission line is unique, unpredictable, and uncontrollable, it can be used as a physical unclonable function (PUF). The IIP can be obtained by a method such as frequency domain reflectometry or time domain reflectometry, and is then compared with a previously stored intrinsic IIP obtained from a transmission line (or segment(s)) prior to first use through the use of, for example, correlation or coherence functions. The method can be used on any transmission line, including electrical, optical and acoustic transmission lines.