Abstract: A method for synthesis of MgH2/Ni nanocomposites includes balancing magnesium (Mg) powder in a ball milling container with helium (He) gas atmosphere; adding a plurality of nickel (Ni) milling balls to the container; introducing hydrogen (H2) gas to the container to form a MgH2 powder; milling the MgH2 powder using the Ni-balls as milling media to provide MgH2/Ni nanocomposites. The milling can be high-energy ball milling, e.g., under 50 bar of hydrogen gas atmosphere. The high-energy ball milling can be reactive ball milling (RBM). The method can be used to attach Ni to MgH2 powders to enhance the kinetics of hydrogenation/dehydrogenation of MgH2.

Abstract: The metallic glassy alloy powders for antibacterial coating are mechanically alloyed mixtures of copper, titanium, and nickel nanoparticles. The nanoparticles are alloyed by ball-milling to form glassy, metallic powders. The alloy preferably has a copper:titanium:nickel atomic percentage ratio of about 50:20:30, referred to herein as Cu50Ti20Ni30. The powdered alloy is applied to a suitable substrate, such as stainless steel medical instruments, by cold spray powder coating. The coated substrate exhibits antibacterial properties compared to an uncoated substrate.

Abstract: A method for synthesizing nanodiamonds includes high energy ball milling of graphite powder for a period of at least 52 hours at a rotation speed of about 400 rotations per minute to produce nanodiamonds. The ball milling can occur in an inert atmosphere at ambient pressure and room temperature. The nanodiamonds can have a spherical morphology and a particle size distribution ranging from about 1 nanometer to about 10 nanometers.

Abstract: The composition for hydrogen storage is a composite of MgH2 powder and a metallic glassy Zr70Ni20Pd10 powder. Preferably, the metallic glassy Zr70Ni20Pd10 powder forms about 5 wt % of the composition for hydrogen storage. The composition for hydrogen storage is prepared by mixing MgH2 powder and Zr70Ni20Pd10 powder to form a mixture, and then performing reactive ball milling on the mixture. Preferably, the reactive ball milling is performed under 50 bar of hydrogen gas atmosphere for a period of 50 hours.

Abstract: A gold nanoparticle-based colorimetric assay kit for hepatitis C virus RNA that detects unamplified HCV RNA in clinical specimens using unmodified AuNPs and oligotargeter polynucleotides that bind to HCV RNA. A method for detecting hepatitis C virus comprising contacting a sample suspected of containing hepatitis C virus with a polynucleotide that binds to hepatitis C virus RNA and with gold nanoparticles, detecting the aggregation of nanoparticles, and detecting hepatitis C virus in the sample when the nanoparticles aggregate (solution color becomes blue) in comparison with a control or a negative sample not containing the virus when nanoparticles do not aggregate (solution color remains red).

Abstract: A combustor system for use in a turbine engine is provided. The turbine engine includes turbine assembly that includes a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a combustion gas path defined therebetween. The combustor system includes a first combustor assembly and a second combustor assembly. The first combustor assembly is coupled to the turbine assembly for channeling a first flow of combustion gases through the turbine assembly. The first combustor assembly is oriented adjacent to the turbine assembly inlet to channel the first flow of combustion gases to the turbine assembly through the turbine assembly inlet. The second combustor assembly is coupled to the turbine assembly along the combustion gas path for channeling a second flow of combustion gases through the turbine assembly.

Abstract: A gold nanoparticle-based assay for the detection of a target molecule, such as Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) RNA in serum samples, that uses positively charged gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in solution based format. The assay has been tested on 74 serum clinical samples suspected of containing HCV RNA, with 48 and 38 positive and negative samples respectively. The developed assay has a specificity and sensitivity of 96.5% and 92.6% respectively. The results obtained were confirmed by Real-Time PCR, and a concordance of 100% for the negative samples and 89% for the positive samples has been obtained between the Real-Time PCR and the developed AuNPs based assay. Also, a purification method for the HCV RNA has been developed using HCV RNA specific probe conjugated to homemade silica nanoparticles. These silica nanoparticles have been synthesized by modified Stober method. This purification method enhanced the specificity of the developed AuNPs assay.

Abstract: A gold nanoparticle-based colorimetric assay kit for nucleic acids from viral, bacterial and other microorganisms that detects unamplified or amplified polynucleotides in clinical specimens using unmodified AuNPs and oligotargeter polynucleotides that bind to a pathogen's nucleic acids. A method for detecting a pathogen comprising contacting a sample suspected of containing microbes with a polynucleotide that binds to pathogen nucleic acid and with gold nanoparticles, detecting the aggregation of nanoparticles, and detecting pathogen polynucleotides in the sample when the nanoparticles aggregate (solution color becomes blue) in comparison with a control or a negative sample not containing the virus when nanoparticles do not aggregate (solution color remains red).

Abstract: A gold nanoparticle-based colorimetric assay kit for hepatitis C virus RNA that detects unamplified HCV RNA in clinical specimens using unmodified AuNPs and oligotargeter polynucleotides that bind to HCV RNA. A method for detecting hepatitis C virus comprising contacting a sample suspected of containing hepatitis C virus with a polynucleotide that binds to hepatitis C virus RNA and with gold nanoparticles, detecting the aggregation of nanoparticles, and detecting hepatitis C virus in the sample when the nanoparticles aggregate (solution color becomes blue) in comparison with a control or a negative sample not containing the virus when nanoparticles do not aggregate (solution color remains red).

Abstract: A combustor system for use in a turbine engine is provided. The turbine engine includes turbine assembly that includes a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a combustion gas path defined therebetween. The combustor system includes a first combustor assembly and a second combustor assembly. The first combustor assembly is coupled to the turbine assembly for channeling a first flow of combustion gases through the turbine assembly. The first combustor assembly is oriented adjacent to the turbine assembly inlet to channel the first flow of combustion gases to the turbine assembly through the turbine assembly inlet. The second combustor assembly is coupled to the turbine assembly along the combustion gas path for channeling a second flow of combustion gases through the turbine assembly.

Abstract: Methods are provided for preserving and restoring cranial bone flaps. In one aspect, the method to preserve a cranial bone flap includes cleaning a cranial bone flap, washing the cranial bone flap with a sterile saline solution including gentamycin, and washing the bone with a sterile saline solution including vancomycin. The cranial bone flap may be dried, wrapped, and packaged before being stored in a freezer. The fixing method may include removing the preserved cranial bone flap from a freezer and unwrapping the preserved cranial bone flap from any wrappings. A previous wound may be opened for insertion of the preserved cranial bone flap. The preserved cranial bone flap may be washed with a sterile saline solution including gentamycin and a sterile saline solution including vancomycin. The edges of the previous wound may be refreshed by nipping free margins to expose diploic spaces, and the preserved cranial bone flap may be fixed in place within the previous wound.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine system includes an intercooler coupled between a low-pressure compressor and a high-pressure compressor and configured to cool the compressed air exiting the low-pressure compressor. Liquid natural gas or a cooled intermediate working fluid is used in the intercooler to cool the compressed air exiting the low-pressure compressor. A mixture of fuel and compressed air from the high-pressure are combusted in a combustion chamber of an engine. A turbine is coupled to the engine and configured to expand combustion exhaust gas ejected from the engine to generate power. A heat exchanger is coupled to the turbine and the intercooler and configured to re-gasify the liquid natural gas. The exhaust air exiting the turbine or a heated intermediate working fluid is used to gasify the liquid natural gas in the heat exchanger.