Abstract: Provided is a method for monitoring a manufacturing process of an agricultural product. The method utilizes hyperspectral imaging and comprises scanning at least one region along a sample of agricultural product using at least one light source of a single or different wavelengths; generating hyperspectral images from the at least one region; determining a spectral fingerprint for the sample of agricultural product from the hyperspectral images; and comparing the spectral fingerprint so obtained to a spectral fingerprint database containing a plurality of fingerprints obtained at various points of the manufacturing process, using a computer processor, to determine which point in the manufacturing process the sample has progressed to.

Abstract: Provided is a method for monitoring a manufacturing process of an agricultural product. The method utilizes hyperspectral imaging and comprises scanning at least one region along a sample of agricultural product using at least one light source of a single or different wavelengths; generating hyperspectral images from the at least one region; determining a spectral fingerprint for the sample of agricultural product from the hyperspectral images; and comparing the spectral fingerprint so obtained to a spectral fingerprint database containing a plurality of fingerprints obtained at various points of the manufacturing process, using a computer processor, to determine which point in the manufacturing process the sample has progressed to.

Abstract: Provided is a method for blending of agricultural product utilizing hyperspectral imaging. At least one region along a sample of agricultural product is scanned using at least one light source of different wavelengths. Hyperspectral images are generated from the at least one region. A spectral fingerprint for the sample of agricultural product is formed from the hyperspectral images. A plurality of samples of agricultural product is blended based on the spectral fingerprints of the samples according to parameters determined by executing a blending algorithm.

Abstract: A method for removing foreign matter from an agricultural product stream of a manufacturing process. The method includes conveying a product stream past an inspection station; scanning a region of the agricultural product stream as it passes the inspection station using at least one light source of a single or different wavelengths; generating hyperspectral images from the scanned region; determining a spectral fingerprint for the agricultural product stream from the hyperspectral images; comparing the spectral fingerprint obtained in step (c) to a spectral fingerprint database containing a plurality of fingerprints using a computer processor to determine whether foreign matter is present and, if present, generating a signal in response thereto; and removing a portion of the conveyed product stream in response to the signal. A system for detecting foreign matter within a agricultural product stream is also provided.

Abstract: A system for grading an agricultural product employing hyper-spectral imaging and analysis. The system includes at least one light source for providing a beam of light, an interferometer or a prism array for dispersing electromagnetic radiation emitted from said agricultural product into a corresponding spectral image, a light measuring device for detecting component wavelengths within the corresponding spectral image and a processor operable to compare the detected component wavelengths to a database of previously graded agricultural products to identify and select a grade for the agricultural product. A method for grading an agricultural product via hyper-spectral imaging and analysis is also provided.

Abstract: An intermetallic or iron aluminide magnetically readable medium and a method of forming and reading the same are provided herein. Also provided is an identification card or tag, a key, an anti-counterfeiting measure, an anti-forging measure. The intermetallic or iron aluminide magnetically readable medium includes a magnetically readable surface, wherein the magnetically readable surface contains one or more first magnetically readable regions of the intermetallic or iron aluminide surrounded by one or more second magnetically readable regions. Additionally, the intermetallic or iron aluminide magnetically readable medium can be coated, encapsulated or concealed within a material.

Abstract: An intermetallic or iron aluminide magnetically readable medium and a method of forming and reading the same are provided herein. Also provided is an identification card or tag, a key, an anti-counterfeiting measure, an anti-forging measure. The intermetallic or iron aluminide magnetically readable medium includes a magnetically readable surface, wherein the magnetically readable surface contains one or more first magnetically readable regions of the intermetallic or iron aluminide surrounded by one or more second magnetically readable regions. Additionally, the intermetallic or iron aluminide magnetically readable medium can be coated, encapsulated or concealed within a material.

Abstract: Provided is a method for blending of agricultural product utilizing hyperspectral imaging. At least one region along a sample of agricultural product is scanned using at least one light source of different wavelengths. Hyperspectral images are generated from the at least one region. A spectral fingerprint for the sample of agricultural product is formed from the hyperspectral images. A plurality of samples of agricultural product is blended based on the spectral fingerprints of the samples according to parameters determined by executing a blending algorithm.

Abstract: A system for grading an agricultural product employing hyper-spectral imaging and analysis. The system includes at least one light source for providing a beam of light, an interferometer or a prism array for dispersing electromagnetic radiation emitted from said agricultural product into a corresponding spectral image, a light measuring device for detecting component wavelengths within the corresponding spectral image and a processor operable to compare the detected component wavelengths to a database of previously graded agricultural products to identify and select a grade for the agricultural product. A method for grading an agricultural product via hyper-spectral imaging and analysis is also provided.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting tobacco-specific nitrosamines. The method includes exposing at least one microcantilever beam to a medium, which may contain tobacco-specific nitrosamines, and measuring a deflection of the microcantilever beam, wherein the deflection indicates a presence of tobacco-specific nitrosamines in the medium. The at least one microcantilever beam can include a silicon base layer and a gold-coated receptor layer with a plurality of thiol molecules having a sulfur head and carboxyl-terminated group. The at least one microcantilever beam can include a silicon base layer and a metal or metal oxide coated receptor layer. Alternatively, the microcantilever beam can be formed by co-absorbing tobacco-specific nitrosamines and silane molecules on a silicon microcantilever surface, wherein the template molecules of tobacco-specific nitrosamines physically co-adsorb between the silane molecules.

Abstract: A high strength and creep resistant soft magnetic Fe—Co alloy includes, in weight %, Fe and Co such that the difference between the Fe and Co is at least 2%, at least 35% Co, and 2.5%?(V+Mo+Nb), wherein 0.4%?Mo and/or 0.4%?Nb. This alloy can further include B, C, W, Ni, Ti, Cr, Mn and/or Al. A vanadium-free high strength soft magnetic Fe—Co alloy includes in weight %, Fe and Co such that the difference between the Fe and Co is at least 2%, and at least 15% Co, the alloy further satisfying (0.1%?Nb and 0.1%?W) or 0.25%?Mn. This alloy can further include B, C, Ni, Ti, Cr and/or Al.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting tobacco-specific nitrosamines. The method includes exposing at least one microcantilever beam to a medium, which may contain tobacco-specific nitrosamines, and measuring a deflection of the microcantilever beam, wherein the deflection indicates a presence of tobacco-specific nitrosamines in the medium. The at least one microcantilever beam can include a silicon base layer and a gold-coated receptor layer with a plurality of thiol molecules having a sulfur head and carboxyl-terminated group. The at least one microcantilever beam can include a silicon base layer and a metal or metal oxide coated receptor layer. Alternatively, the microcantilever beam can be formed by co-absorbing tobacco-specific nitrosamines and silane molecules on a silicon microcantilever surface, wherein the template molecules of tobacco-specific nitrosamines physically co-adsorb between the silane molecules.

Abstract: Nanoparticles of intermetallic alloys such as FeAl, Fe3Al, NiAl, TiAl and FeCoV exhibit a wide variety of interesting structural, magnetic, catalytic, resistive and electronic, and bar coding applications. The nanosized powders can be used to make structural parts having enhanced mechanical properties, magnetic parts having enhanced magnetic saturation, catalyst materials having enhanced catalytic activity, thick film circuit elements having enhanced resolution, and screen printed images such as magnetic bar codes having enhanced magnetic properties. In contrast to bulk FeAl materials which are nonmagnetic at room temperature, the FeAl nanoparticles exhibit magnetic properties at room temperature.

Abstract: A system for detecting nitrates in a tobacco sample having a light source, and a detection device. The light source provides a beam of light incident to a tobacco sample, which is reflected from the tobacco sample to the detection device. A computing device computes the amount of nitrates within the tobacco sample based on data received from the detection device to correlate the amount of tobacco-specific nitrosamines within the tobacco sample.

Abstract: A method of making Cu, Zn, and/or Cu/Zn alloy nanoparticles subjects one or more targets to laser energy to form a vapor and condenses the vapor to form nanoparticles having an average particle size of less than 20 nm. The optional application of an electric field results in nanoparticles with aspect ratios greater than 1.0. The target(s) can be a single target or separate targets comprising a mixture of copper, zinc, and/or copper/zinc. When separate targets are used, the laser beam can be split to form two separate beams each of which is made incident upon one of the targets. The nanoparticles can be formed in a chamber having an inert atmosphere or a reactive atmosphere and a convection current is created in the chamber by maintaining the top plate at a lower temperature than the bottom plate.

Abstract: A local magnetic susceptibility unit is adapted to measure the AC magnetic susceptibility of a surface region of a sample. The unit comprises a sensing element and one or more balancing elements arranged in a circuit. When a sample is placed proximate to the sensing element the sample induces an imbalance voltage in the circuit.

Abstract: A high strength and creep resistant soft magnetic Fe—Co alloy includes, in weight %, Fe and Co such that the difference between the Fe and Co is at least 2%, at least 35% Co, and 2.5%?(V+Mo+Nb), wherein 0.4%?Mo and/or 0.4%?Nb. This alloy can further include B, C, W, Ni, Ti, Cr, Mn and/or Al. A vanadium-free high strength soft magnetic Fe—Co alloy includes, in weight %, Fe and Co such that the difference between the Fe and Co is at least 2%, and at least 15% Co, the alloy further satisfying (0.1%?Nb and 0.1%?W) or 0.25%?Mn. This alloy can further include B, C, Ni, Ti, Cr and/or Al.

Abstract: A cracking tube includes a lining of a fouling resistant and corrosion resistant iron aluminide alloy. The iron aluminide alloy can include 14-32 wt. % Al, at least 2 vol. % transition metal oxides, 0.003 to 0.020 wt. % B, 0.2 to 2.0 wt. % Mo, 0.05 to 1.0 wt. % Zr, 0.2 to 2.0 wt. % Ti, 0.10 to 1.0 wt. % La, 0.05 to 0.2 wt. % C., balance Fe, and optionally ≦1 wt. % Cr, and the coefficient of thermal expansion of the iron aluminide alloy is substantially the same as the coefficient of thermal expansion over the temperature range of ambient to about 1200° C. of an outer metal layer. A cracking tube utilizing the iron aluminide alloy can be formed from powders of the iron aluminide alloy by consolidation methods including cold isostatic pressing (CIP), hot isostatic pressing (HIP), reaction synthesis, spraying techniques, or co-extrusion with a second material of the cracking tube.

Abstract: A bulk amorphous alloy includes the approximate composition Fe(100-a-b-c-d-e-f)YaMbTcAldSneBf wherein: M comprises at least one of the group consisting of: Zr, Hf, Pb, Ti, Nb, Mo and W; T comprises at least one of the group consisting of Co, Ni and Cr; a is an atomic percentage, and a<5; b is an atomic percentage, and 2≦b≦25; c is an atomic percentage, and 1≦c≦16; d is an atomic percentage, and d<5; e is an atomic percentage, and e<5; and f is an atomic percentage, and 11≦f≦22.

Abstract: Nanoparticles of intermetallic alloys such as FeAl, Fe3Al, NiAl, TiAl and FeCoV exhibit a wide variety of interesting structural, magnetic, catalytic, resistive and electronic, and bar coding applications. The nanosized powders can be used to make structural parts having enhanced mechanical properties, magnetic parts having enhanced magnetic saturation, catalyst materials having enhanced catalytic activity, thick film circuit elements having enhanced resolution, and screen printed images such as magnetic bar codes having enhanced magnetic properties. In contrast to bulk FeAl materials which are nonmagnetic at room temperature, the FeAl nanoparticles exhibit magnetic properties at room temperature.