Abstract: A system for testing an entity using ultrasonic signal transmission and reception is disclosed. The system can include a central node comprising a logic digital subsystem with memory that is capable of transmitting and receiving mixed analog and digital signals, at least one remote node that is capable of transmitting and receiving mixed analog and digital signals with the central node through a bus architecture, each remote node comprising a logic digital subsystem and memory, and at least one transmitter ultrasonic transducer operatively connected to the remote node, the transmitter ultrasonic transducer being capable of transmitting and receiving the mixed analog and digital signals. The central node is capable of addressing the ultrasonic transducer using the digital signals over the bus through the remote node and routing an ultrasonic driving signal originating in the central node and propagating through the bus to the addressed ultrasonic transducer.

Abstract: The embodiments disclose an ultrasonic transducer that can require a piezoelectric element attached to the transducer to be constantly under high pressure, and this required pressure can be provided and maintained by the transducer's design at all temperatures during its operation. The exemplary ultrasonic transducer can eliminate a failure of the bond between the piezoelectric element and a delay block by using the mechanical structure to hold all components in place while permitting the piezoelectric transducer to generate pulses of the desired frequency, frequency bandwidth, and pulse width without undesired echoes and/or attenuations.

Abstract: The embodiments disclose a pulsed power generator system that can include a cantilever comprising a cantilever tip disposed on a lower surface of a first end and a permanent magnet mounted on an upper surface of the first end, wherein the cantilever is connected to an electric circuit at a second end, an electromagnet generating a time varying periodic magnetic flux, wherein the magnetic flux interacts with the permanent magnet to generate a direction-changing mechanical force that drives oscillation in the cantilever, a conducting pad, disposed adjacent to the bottom surface of the first end of the cantilever and configured so that the cantilever tip can contact the conducting pad. An oscillation of the cantilever causes the cantilever tip to periodically contact the conducting pad forming an electrical switch suitable for pulse generation through the electric circuit.

Abstract: The embodiments disclose an LC-resonance sensor system for monitoring internal conditions of an enclosure. The system includes an LC temperature sensor, an LC pressure sensor, and an LC gas species sensor that each have an inductor and capacitor. The system uses a transmitting coil that transmits a wireless signal to each of the LC sensors, and receiving coils for each of the sensors that receive wireless signals from the LC sensors.

Abstract: The disclosure isolates and identifies a peptide PEP1 that regulates plant root development and a gene OsPEP1 encoding the same. Exogenous application of PEP1 could inhibit the plant root development. A recombinant expression vector containing the gene or part of the DNA of the gene is obtained, and a transgenic plant with altered root growth and development is obtained by transforming with the recombinant expression vector. Therefore, the peptide can be used as a plant growth regulator, and the gene encoding the same and precursor protein thereof can be used as a potential molecular breeding target for crop improvement, for example, improving crop yield by regulating the growth and development of crop roots.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to the application of a system and a signal processing method for data acquired from a Scanning Acoustic Microscope (SAM) to obtain a high axial resolution and enhanced imaging. The SAM is one of ultrasound imaging methods used for NDE. Embodiments may provide methods for decreasing or reducing the duration (width) of the pulses scattered/reflected by multiple objects/scatters. Such embodiments can accomplish this by eliminating, or at least partially eliminating, the background noise by deconvolving the system responses (i.e., reference signals) obtained from either theoretical modeling or experimental acquiring. In one embodiment, the method minimizes the pulse duration by using a regression technique to predict the spectra responses outside a frequency band.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for distributed physical parameter measurements of the surrounding environment is disclosed. The apparatus can include a waveguide with an elongated body configured with three gratings along the body where each of the three gratings is configured to fully or partially reflect an acoustic wave on the waveguide at a different frequency than the other gratings of the three gratings. Further, each of the three gratings can comprise discontinuities in the grating configured to reflect one or more frequencies of acoustic waves, and each of the discontinuities for each of the three gratings has an internal geometry configured according to fractions of an acoustic wave's frequency and corresponding wavelength.

Abstract: The technology of the invention relates to an ultrasonic characterization method for a flowstream to detect impurities that can include placing a first transducer and a second transducer aligned confocally to a flowstream, transmitting, from the first transducer, ultrasonic waveform signals into the flowstream, receiving, by the second transducer, the ultrasonic waveform signals, removing waveform signal reflections using a pitch-catch configuration of the first transducer and the second transducer, detecting waveform signals indicating impurities in the flowstream using induced nucleation of the impurities, detecting waveform signals indicating bubbles in the flowstream using nonlinear dynamic behaviors of the bubbles, and differentiating between the waveform signals of the impurities and the waveform signals of the bubbles using cavitation properties of the impurities and the bubbles.

Abstract: The disclosure isolates and identifies a peptide PEP1 that regulates plant root development and a gene OsPEP1 encoding the same. Exogenous application of PEP1 could inhibit the plant root development. A recombinant expression vector containing the gene or part of the DNA of the gene is obtained, and a transgenic plant with altered root growth and development is obtained by transforming with the recombinant expression vector. Therefore, the peptide can be used as a plant growth regulator, and the gene encoding the same and precursor protein thereof can be used as a potential molecular breeding target for crop improvement, for example, improving crop yield by regulating the growth and development of crop roots.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure relate to an ultrasonic characterization method for a flowstream to detect impurities that can include placing a first transducer and a second transducer aligned confocally to a flowstream, transmitting, from the first transducer, ultrasonic waveform signals into the flowstream, receiving, by the second transducer, the ultrasonic waveform signals, removing waveform signal reflections using a pitch-catch configuration of the first transducer and the second transducer, detecting waveform signals indicating impurities in the flowstream using induced nucleation of the impurities, detecting waveform signals indicating bubbles in the flowstream using nonlinear dynamic behaviors of the bubbles, and differentiating between the waveform signals of the impurities and the waveform signals of the bubbles using cavitation properties of the impurities and the bubbles.

Abstract: A system for testing an entity using ultrasonic signal transmission and reception is disclosed. The system can include a central node comprising a logic digital subsystem with memory that is capable of transmitting and receiving mixed analog and digital signals, at least one remote node that is capable of transmitting and receiving mixed analog and digital signals with the central node through a bus architecture, each remote node comprising a logic digital subsystem and memory, and at least one transmitter ultrasonic transducer operatively connected to the remote node, the transmitter ultrasonic transducer being capable of transmitting and receiving the mixed analog and digital signals. The central node is capable of addressing the ultrasonic transducer using the digital signals over the bus through the remote node and routing an ultrasonic driving signal originating in the central node and propagating through the bus to the addressed ultrasonic transducer.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer is disclosed. The ultrasonic transducer includes a stainless steel backing comprising a piezoelectric element mounted on a front face of the backing, wherein the stainless steel backing enables operation in high temperature and radiation applications. The ultrasonic transducer further includes a first enclosure comprising a threaded through hole and a second enclosure comprising an opening, wherein the first and second enclosure encapsulates the stainless steel backing, wherein the first enclosure and the second enclosure are joined together using a plurality of enclosure screws, wherein the first enclosure is configured to receive a set screw through the threaded through hole, and wherein the set screw upon being received is configured to make contact with a ceramic ball, and wherein tightening of the set screw pushes the piezoelectric element out of the opening in the second enclosure to make a contact with a work structure.

Abstract: The embodiments disclose a pulsed power generator system that can include a cantilever comprising a cantilever tip disposed on a lower surface of a first end and a permanent magnet mounted on an upper surface of the first end, wherein the cantilever is connected to an electric circuit at a second end, an electromagnet generating a time varying periodic magnetic flux, wherein the magnetic flux interacts with the permanent magnet to generate a direction-changing mechanical force that drives oscillation in the cantilever, a conducting pad, disposed adjacent to the bottom surface of the first end of the cantilever and configured so that the cantilever tip can contact the conducting pad. An oscillation of the cantilever causes the cantilever tip to periodically contact the conducting pad forming an electrical switch suitable for pulse generation through the electric circuit.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to the application of a system and a signal processing method for data acquired from a Scanning Acoustic Microscope (SAM) to obtain a high axial resolution and enhanced imaging. The SAM is one of ultrasound imaging methods used for NDE. Embodiments may provide methods for decreasing or reducing the duration (width) of the pulses scattered/reflected by multiple objects/scatters. Such embodiments can accomplish this by eliminating, or at least partially eliminating, the background noise by deconvolving the system responses (i.e., reference signals) obtained from either theoretical modeling or experimental acquiring. In one embodiment, the method minimizes the pulse duration by using a regression technique to predict the spectra responses outside a frequency band.

Abstract: A sensor system that combines the sensing application of surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensor and sensor signal transfer though the enclosure wall via acoustic means. The sensor system includes SAW sensor placed inside the enclosure and at least one pair of bulk acoustic wave (BAW) transducers, one mounted inside and second outside the enclosure wall, allowing the interrogation of SAW sensor from outside the enclosure. The external BAW transducer converts interrogation electrical pulse into acoustic pulse which travels though the enclosure wall to the internal BAW transducer. The internal BAW transducer converts the interrogation electrical pulse to electrical pulse and transfers it to SAW sensor. The response of the SAW transducer containing series of electric pulses is converted to the series of acoustic pulses by internal BAW transducer which propagates though enclosure wall.

Abstract: The embodiments disclose an ultrasonic transducer that can require a piezoelectric element attached to the transducer to be constantly under high pressure, and this required pressure can be provided and maintained by the transducer's design at all temperatures during its operation. The exemplary ultrasonic transducer can eliminate a failure of the bond between the piezoelectric element and a delay block by using the mechanical structure to hold all components in place while permitting the piezoelectric transducer to generate pulses of the desired frequency, frequency bandwidth, and pulse width without undesired echoes and/or attenuations.

Abstract: An acoustic sensor for sensing environmental attributes within an enclosure is disclosed. The acoustic sensor may include a bulk acoustic wave (BAW) transducer configured to be installed outside the enclosure. The BAW transducer may generate an acoustic wave pulse and receive a reflected acoustic wave pulse. The acoustic sensor may further a waveguide assembly configured to be installed inside the enclosure. The waveguide assembly configured to receive the acoustic wave pulse from the BAW transducer. The acoustic sensor may further include a sensing device, wherein the sensing device may determine a change in one or more acoustic wave propagation parameters, based on the generated acoustic wave pulse and the reflected acoustic wave pulse. The sensing device may further determine one or more environmental attributes within the enclosure, based on the change in the one or more acoustic wave propagation parameters.

Abstract: An acoustic sensor for sensing environmental attributes within an enclosure is disclosed. The acoustic sensor may include a bulk acoustic wave (BAW) transducer configured to be installed outside the enclosure. The BAW transducer may generate an acoustic wave pulse and receive a reflected acoustic wave pulse. The acoustic sensor may further a waveguide assembly configured to be installed inside the enclosure. The waveguide assembly configured to receive the acoustic wave pulse from the BAW transducer. The acoustic sensor may further include a sensing device, wherein the sensing device may determine a change in one or more acoustic wave propagation parameters, based on the generated acoustic wave pulse and the reflected acoustic wave pulse. The sensing device may further determine one or more environmental attributes within the enclosure, based on the change in the one or more acoustic wave propagation parameters.

Abstract: A sensor system that combines the sensing application of surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensor and sensor signal transfer though the enclosure wall via acoustic means. The sensor system includes SAW sensor placed inside the enclosure and at least one pair of bulk acoustic wave (BAW) transducers, one mounted inside and second outside the enclosure wall, allowing the interrogation of SAW sensor from outside the enclosure. The external BAW transducer converts interrogation electrical pulse into acoustic pulse which travels though the enclosure wall to the internal BAW transducer. The internal BAW transducer converts the interrogation electrical pulse to electrical pulse and transfers it to SAW sensor. The response of the SAW transducer containing series of electric pulses is converted to the series of acoustic pulses by internal BAW transducer which propagates though enclosure wall.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer is disclosed. The ultrasonic transducer includes a stainless steel backing comprising a piezoelectric element mounted on a front face of the backing, wherein the stainless steel backing enables operation in high temperature and radiation applications. The ultrasonic transducer further includes a first enclosure comprising a threaded through hole and a second enclosure comprising an opening, wherein the first and second enclosure encapsulates the stainless steel backing, wherein the first enclosure and the second enclosure are joined together using a plurality of enclosure screws, wherein the first enclosure is configured to receive a set screw through the threaded through hole, and wherein the set screw upon being received is configured to make contact with a ceramic ball, and wherein tightening of the set screw pushes the piezoelectric element out of the opening in the second enclosure to make a contact with a work structure.