Abstract:
A method for the assembly of a thin film containing highly anisotropic colloids that includes the steps of immersing a substrate in a first solution or dispersion comprising a first substance, wherein the first substance has an affinity for the substrate. Then, immersing the substrate in a second solution or dispersion comprising a second substance, wherein the second substance has an affinity for the first substance. A least one of the first substance and the second substance is a highly anisotropic colloid having at least one dimension differing from the others by a ratio of at least 1:1.5. The method incorporates highly anisotropic colloids using a layer-by-layer process that circumvents the tendency for separation of nanotubes at high nanotube loadings. Additionally, the method incorporates aligned highly anisotropic colloids and provides a method for carbon nanotube alignment, which among other advantages makes possible the preparation of unique criss-crossed composites.
Abstract:
A silt fence structure and method of controlling erosion are disclosed. The silt fence structure includes a water permeable fence, an apron having first and second edges, the first edge providing a buried apron toe, the second edge attaching to the water permeable fence, and at least one flow barrier attached to the water permeable fence and to the apron so as to impede lateral runoff flow along the water permeable fence.
Abstract:
A downdraft gasifier is disclosed. The gasifier has a biomass feeding unit, a combustion chamber, and a separator unit. The biomass feeding unit accepts raw biomass materials and selectively feeds the materials into the combustion chamber. The combustion chamber provides means to induce pyrolysis, tar cracking, and char gasification of the raw biomass materials to produce gases and ash. The separator unit accepts the gases and ash from the combustion chamber and separates the gases from the ash.
Abstract:
A method of polishing workpieces in a magnetic float polishing chamber comprising a lower chamber piece and an upper chamber piece which is removably receivable in the lower chamber piece and is connected to a powered spindle for rotating the upper chamber piece in the polishing operation. The method preferably comprises one or more of the steps of (a) geometrically aligning the upper chamber piece with the powered spindle by machining the upper chamber piece in-situ, (b) machining the contact surface of the upper chamber piece in-situ between various polishing runs, and (c) mounting the lower chamber piece in a manner effective for causing the lower piece to automatically self-align coaxially with the upper chamber piece.
Abstract:
According to a preferred aspect of the instant invention, there is provided a system and method of robust vibration suppression which might be used in many subject matters, but which is preferably used in connection with computer controlled electromechanical devices such as disk drive arms. In a first preferred embodiment, a Gaussian waveform is selected as a velocity profile, with its integral and derivatives providing position and acceleration/jerk profiles respectively. According to another preferred embodiment, the movement velocity profile will be selected to be a member of the prolate spheroid family of waveforms. This family of functions has certain optimal properties with respect to the frequency domain concentration of energy for a given time-domain length time series. The movement of a flexible arm that is performed according to the invention will be one that has minimal or reduced residual vibration after it has reached its destination.
Abstract:
A method for the layer-by-layer assembly of a free standing thin film includes the steps of preparing a support with a suitable substrate; forming a thin film having a plurality of layers onto the substrate utilizing a layer-by-layer assembly process; removing the substrate and thin film from the support; and separating the substrate from the thin film. Various compounds improving the strength, flexibility, tension and other mechanical properties may be included in the assembly to improve the structural quality of the film. Similar effect may also be achieved by cross-linking the applied layers.
Abstract:
A ruminant direct fed microbial composition of matter comprising an acidosis inhibiting effective amount of Propionibacterium P-63 is provided. Also disclosed is a process for reducing acidosis in ruminants or scours in swine by administration of the bacterium to the ruminant or swine. The microbial composition may be administered by itself, or combined with animal feed and/or lactic acid producing cultures.
Abstract:
A method for in-season macro and micronutrient application based on predicted yield potential and a nutrient response index. The inventive method includes the steps of: determining a nutrient response index for a field; determining the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) of an area to fertilize; determining a predicted crop yield for the area; determining an attainable crop yield for the area; determining the nutrient requirement for the area as the difference between the nutrient removal at the attainable yield minus the nutrient removal at the predicted yield, adjusted by the efficiency of nutrient uptake in the particular crop. In one preferred embodiment, processing requirements at the time of application of the nutrient are eased by generating a lookup table of nutrient requirement relative to measured NDVI prior to application of the nutrient.
Abstract:
The optically stimulated luminescence generated from a luminescent material having a relatively long lifetime of luminescence is measured by using short pulses of laser light stimulation and detecting luminescence only between pulses of light stimulation and after a certain delay following the stimulation pulse.
Abstract:
This patent document discloses a method of fabricating an electrically conductive fiber coated with polythiophene and a carbon material. The low-cost method is amenable to modifications to suit the practical needs in various applications.