Abstract: Embodiments described herein include capped nanoparticles having a nanoparticle core and at least one capping agent including a biochemical constituent of wood or a woody plant or a derivative thereof functionally associated to the nanoparticle core. Some embodiments provide for wood products and wood treatment compositions including such capped nanoparticles, and methods for preparing and using such capped nanoparticles to produce treated wood or treated wood products.

Abstract: A programmable shape device is described. The device comprises a wire grid made from a shape memory material. The grid is embedded in a transparent polymer. Under normal conditions, the device can be folded into any shape. Upon actuation, the device reverts back to a programmed parent shape. Such a device can be made into one shape during its desired use and another shape during storage or transportation. Methods of making and using a programmable shape device are described.

Abstract: Separation layers, usable in devices for converting radiation energy to electrical energy, allow at least some of the components of the devices to be separated from one another for disposal thereof. A separation layer may be interposed between and bonded to adjoining layers, and when acted upon by application of an external source, may be degraded to release the layers from one another. Once released, the layers may be disposed of more efficiently and economically, including proper disposal of hazardous waste, and recycling of materials which may be re-usable.

Abstract: Systems and methods for processing materials for a recycling workstream are disclosed. The system may include one or more sorting surfaces on which sortable items may be placed. Illumination sources may be provided to illuminate both the items and the sorting surface(s). A variety of sensor systems may also be provided. The outputs of the sensor systems may be supplied to a computing system for determining the composition of the items and their location on the sorting surface(s). The computing system may also control the surface(s), illumination sources, and sensor systems. Additionally, the system may include one or more augmented reality interface devices used by sorters at the sorting facility. The computing system may communicate data streams to the augmented reality interfaces to provide the users augmented reality sensations. The sensations may give the users information and instructions regarding how to sort the items into one or more sorting bins.

Abstract: Preservation of cellulose based products, such as wood, may be accomplished in an environmentally friendly manner by esterification of the wood with rare saccharides, thereby rendering the wood unfavorable for microorganism based degradation.

Abstract: A system and method for identifying information related to an object. A radiation emitter is configured to direct radiation toward an object, the object including one or more diffraction gratings including encoded information related to the object. A detector is configured to receive modified radiation from the one or more diffraction gratings on the object and transfer the received modified radiation to a processing device operably connected to the detector. The processing device is configured to process the modified radiation and decode the information related to the object encoded in the one or more diffraction gratings.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes an anode containing calcium hexaboride, where the electrochemical device is an alkaline cell or an air cathode cell.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein include capped nanoparticles having a nanoparticle core and at least one capping agent including a biochemical constituent of wood or a woody plant or a derivative thereof functionally associated to the nanoparticle core. Some embodiments provide for wood products and wood treatment compositions including such capped nanoparticles, and methods for preparing and using such capped nanoparticles to produce treated wood or treated wood products.

Abstract: Technologies are generally described for a window and a method for cooling a room including a window. In some examples, the window may include a first pane and a second pane spaced from and in optical communication with the first pane defining a generator chamber. An evaporator chamber may be disposed in the window with a pressure so that the evaporator chamber is effective to receive heat from the room and boil a refrigerant to produce a first vapor. An absorber chamber may be effective to receive and condense the first vapor on an absorbent to produce a solution. The generator chamber may be effective to receive heat through the first pane, receive the solution and heat the solution to produce a second vapor. A condenser chamber may be effective to receive the second vapor and cool the second vapor to produce the refrigerant.

Abstract: Technologies are generally described for a component, a method to form a component and/or a system configured to form a component. In an example, the method to form a component may include placing a first layer including a conductive material on a support. The method may include placing a second layer, including the conductive material and oxygen, on the first layer. The method may include placing a third layer, including tellurium and oxygen, on the second layer. The method may include placing a fourth layer, including tin and tellurium, on the third layer. In an example, placing of the fourth layer on the third layer may include placing a fifth layer including tellurium on the fourth layer, placing a sixth layer including tin on the fifth layer, placing an seventh layer including tellurium on the sixth layer and annealing the fifth, sixth, and seventh layers to form the fourth layer.

Abstract: A process of covalently modifying a lignocellulosic material is provided. The process includes oxidizing a lignocellulosic material having hydroxyl groups with an oxidant to oxidize at least a portion of the hydroxyl groups to carboxylic acid groups, optionally activating the carboxylic acid groups with an activating agent to form activated carboxylic acid groups, and reacting the carboxylic acid groups or the activated carboxylic acid groups with a first nitrogen-containing reagent selected from amino acids, peptides, or protected derivatives thereof to provide a treated lignocellulosic material. The treated lignocellulosic materials thus prepared displays resistance to degradation.

Abstract: Technologies and implementations for graphene integrated energy storage devices having capacitive-like properties are generally disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus including an acoustic transducer configured to acoustically associate with at least a portion of a fluid cavity. The fluid cavity is configured as a resonator. The acoustic transducer is configured to create an acoustic wave in the at least a portion of the fluid cavity. The acoustic wave is selected to increase the concentration of at least one particulate in a location in the fluid cavity.

Abstract: A serum-free, synthetic tissue culture media is described which is completely defined chemically. The media do not require any supplementation with serum to support growth of cells. The media and methods described herein can also be used for growing all types of mammalian cell lines in culture without addition of transferrin protein. The media include a basal medium and an activator of iron uptake. The media also include a defined cell culture media that includes an iron-containing compound, which is capable of supporting the growth of mammalian cells in culture, increasing the level of expression of recombinant protein in cultured cells, and/or increasing virus production in cultured cells.

Abstract: A material sorting system is disclosed. The system has an electrical charge device arranged to produce electrical charging conditions for substantially all particles of a material sample such that an electrical charge at least partially dependent on particle capacitance is imparted to one or more particles, and a particle delivery device operably connected to the electrical charge device and arranged to cause the one or more particles to move along a flowpath. The system also has a deflection device arranged to cause each particle to deviate from the flowpath an amount at least partially dependent on the electrical charge imparted to the particle, and a collection device in fluid communication with the deflection device. The collection device is arranged to collect the one or more particles at one or more locations corresponding to the amount of deviation of the one or more particles from the flowpath. A corresponding method is also disclosed.

Abstract: PVC compositions, concrete composition including the PVC compositions, and reinforced concrete structures that contain the concrete compositions are described. Methods for manufacturing the reinforced concrete structures of the present technology, methods for repairing reinforced concrete structures having corroded rebar, and methods for reducing rebar corrosion in reinforced concrete structures are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for sorting cells is provided in which two or more cells are delivered along a flow path, the two or more cells including a first type of cells having a first mechanical stiffness and at least a second type of cells having a second mechanical stiffness different from the first mechanical stiffness. A reflection surface is provided across the flow path at an oblique angle relative to the flow path and configured to reflect the cells at different reflection angles relative to the flow path dependent on the mechanical stiffness of the cells.

Abstract: PVC compositions, concrete composition including the PVC compositions, and reinforced concrete structures that contain the concrete compositions are described. Methods for manufacturing the reinforced concrete structures of the present technology, methods for repairing reinforced concrete structures having corroded rebar, and methods for reducing rebar corrosion in reinforced concrete structures are also described.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes an anode containing calcium hexaboride, where the electrochemical device is an alkaline cell or an air cathode cell.

Abstract: A method includes directing an ion beam at a tissue. Ions of the ion beam can include positron emitters. The ions can ionize at least a portion of the tissue and the positron emitters can irradiate the at least a portion of the tissue.