STRETCHABLE HYDROPHOBIC MATERIALS AND METHODS FOR MAKING THE SAME
Hydrophobic materials, processes for their production, and uses thereof are described. The materials can be made with silica or polytetrafluoroethylene particles embedded into a liquid polymer. The hydrophobic materials are stretchable.
Systems and Methods for Monitoring Organisms Within an Aquatic Environment
Systems and methods for monitoring organisms within an aquatic environment are described. According to one aspect, an injectable acoustic transmission device includes a body configured to be injected inside of an organism, a transducer within the body and configured to convert a plurality of electrical signals into a plurality of data transmissions which are transmitted externally of the body and the organism, a plurality of circuit components within the body and configured to use electrical energy from a power source to generate the electrical signals which are provided to the transducer, and wherein the transducer defines an internal volume and at least one of the circuit components is provided within the internal volume of the transducer.
Selective CO methanation catalysis
Carbon monoxide (CO) is selectively reacted with hydrogen (H2) over a ruthenium (Ru) on alumina catalyst at a temperature of about 210 to about 290° C. To be a viable option for micro catalytic fuel processing devices, highly active, selective, and stable catalysts must be demonstrated with as large a temperature window for feasible operation as possible. We have studied the effects of metal loading, preparation method, pretreatment conditions, and choice of support on the performance of Ru-based catalysts for such applications. Catalyst testing results and catalyst characterization using XRD and BET are discussed. In one example, operating at a gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) of 13,500 hr−1, a 3% Ru/Al2O3 catalyst yielded CO outputs less than 100 ppm in a temperature range from 240° C. to 285° C., while not exceeding a hydrogen consumption of 10%. This catalyst was further successfully demonstrated in a microchannel device.
Feedstock Composition and Method of Using Same for Powder Metallurgy Forming of Reactive Metals
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SEPARATING COMPONENTS OF A MIXTURE (iEdison No. 0685901-23-0076)
Here we disclose a particle separator or fractionator. This separator/fractionator works by driving particles into the bottom of a conduit or pipe with flow obstacles in the upper portion of the pipe. After the obstacles (which may block particles directly or divert particles due to flow patters), the flow can be divided with the larger particles in the lower stream and the particle depleted flow exiting the upper stream. The attached manuscript in the publications section presents images of the proof of principle flow obstacles tested under high throughput conditions. Although the precise details of the separation mechanism require further effort to confirm, two mechanisms may be operative. First, the modular inline particle fractionator may work by driving all large particles into the express lane with no recovery of the larger particles back into the rest of the flow stream. Second, the modular inline particle fractionator may work by laminarizing the flow into the express. When the flow re-expands there is a vertical upward flow that may compete with the gravitational force on the particles to set their position or distribution of positions within the flow streams. This later mechanism opens up the potential to determine the cutoff location. Likely both mechanisms have some influence that may vary with flow rate. (Please note that these flow obstacles are distinctive from those of the mesofluidic separators that were disclosed and on which patent applications have been filed.) In essence, these separators are analogous to asymmetric flow field flow fractionation (AFFFF) in which particles in the flow are driven to one side of a flow channel and then the flow field is changed allowing the smaller particles to diffuse away from the side of the channel first and then the larger particle so that progressively larger particles exit the separator. Here in this flow through design, the temporal dimension is exchanged for a spatial dimension so that the degree of separation varies as a function of distance from the end of the flow obstacles with smaller particle exiting on top and larger particles preferentially exiting closer to the express lane.
Enhanced two phase flow in heat transfer systems
A family of structures and designs for use in devices such as heat exchangers so as to allow for enhanced performance in heat exchangers smaller and lighter weight than other existing devices. These structures provide separate flow paths for liquid and vapor and are generally open. In some embodiments of the invention, these structures can also provide secondary heat transfer as well. In an evaporative heat exchanger, the inclusion of these structures and devices enhance the heat transfer coefficient of the evaporation phase change process with comparable or lower pressure drop.
FRICTION EXTRUSION OF POLMER COMPOSITES WITH HIGH FILLER CONTENT (iEdison No. 0685901-23-0111)
We describe a novel approach for manufacturing polymer composites using friction predicated processes such as friction extrusion, friction processing, and shear assisted processing and extrusion (ShAPETM) technology. Existing techniques for manufacturing polymer composites, specifically thermoplastic based materials, are unable to incorporate high volume/weight fraction of additives beyond 60 wt.% uniformly in the composite microstructure. However, there is a great benefit in manufacturing polymer composites with 80-90 wt.% filler content since they typically demonstrate enhanced performance at considerably lower costs. We describe a low carbon pathway for manufacturing polymer composites with high additive content without the need for external heating that demonstrate similar or better performance than existing market equivalents at lower costs
Building environment data collection systems
Building environment data collection systems and methods are described. According to one aspect, a system includes a plurality of sensor devices which store different types of environment data, a base system comprising a plurality of interface devices configured to receive the environment data from the sensor devices, storage circuitry configured to store the environment data, and communications circuitry configured to implement communications, and a user interface apparatus comprising communications circuitry configured to communicate with the communications circuitry of the base system, a user interface configured to receive user inputs during installation of the sensor devices, and processing circuitry configured to control the user interface to generate the displayed information and to process the user inputs received via the user interface, and wherein different ones of the sensor devices are configured to generate the different types of environment data as a result of the user inputs.
Biomarkers for Liver Fibrosis
Methods and systems for diagnosing or prognosing liver fibrosis in a subject are provided. In some examples, such methods and systems can include detecting liver fibrosis-related molecules in a sample obtained from the subject, comparing expression of the molecules in the sample to controls representing expression values expected in a subject who does not have liver fibrosis or who has non-progressing fibrosis, and diagnosing or prognosing liver fibrosis in the subject when differential expression of the molecules between the sample and the controls is detected. Kits for the diagnosis or prognosis of liver fibrosis in a subject are also provided which include reagents for detecting liver fibrosis related molecules.