Abstract: The present invention relates to a process of remediating wastewaters, preferably agricultural wastewaters resulting from animal production or contained animal feeding operation sites. The water is treated to promote assimilation of nutrients into algal biomass, which can be harvested and sold, and the resultant wastewater is then purified. According to the invention, short wavelength UV radiation (less than 280 nm wavelength) is used to pretreat wastewater, with the dose determined by absorbance of the water, not by bacterial load. Pretreated water exhibits changes in chromophoric dissolved organic matter that allows for improved and increased algae production by as much as 88%.

Abstract: A system may include a radio frequency chain configured to process a signal. The system may further include a reconfigurable antenna including multiple antenna feeds, each of the antenna feeds associated with a beam direction. The system may also include a beam selection network configured to couple the radio frequency chain to a first antenna feed of the multiple antenna feeds to generate a first beam in a first direction, and simultaneously couple the radio frequency chain to a second antenna feed of the multiple antenna feeds to generate a second beam in a second direction.

Abstract: A static volt-ampere reactive (VAR) compensator apparatus includes a capacitor electrically coupled between a phase conductor and a neutral conductor. The apparatus further includes a first switch electrically coupled between the phase conductor and an intermediate node. The apparatus also includes an inductor electrically coupled between the intermediate node and the neutral conductor in series with the first switch. The apparatus includes a second switch electrically coupled between the intermediate node and the neutral conductor in parallel with the inductor. The apparatus further includes a controller configured to transmit signals to the first switch and the second switch that cause the apparatus to modulate between a first state, in which the first switch is open and the second switch is closed, and a second state, in which the first switch is closed and the second switch is open.

Abstract: An optically activated device that includes an active material on a substrate with two electrodes electrically connected to the active material, the active material conducts current in the presence of light and does not conduct appreciable current in the absence of light. The optically activated device functions as a photodiode, a switch, and an optically gated transistor. The optically activated device conducts current in the presences of light. The active material may be layers of germanium selenide and germanium selenide and an element. Germanium selenide may be sputtered onto a substrate to create layers of material separated by layers of co-sputtered germanium selenide with the element. The active material may be deposited onto a flexible substrate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to chimeric protein vaccines and methods of use thereof in the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus. One embodiment of the present invention provides a method of generating an immune response in a mammal, that includes administering to the mammal, a composition having a chimeric protein having at least one of: a portion of a cholera toxin, a portion of a heat-labile toxin, and a portion of a shiga toxin; and an antigen having at least one of: an antigenic material from S. aureus and an antigenic material from a S. aureus-specific polypeptide.

Abstract: An actuation apparatus may include a magnetic shape memory (MSM) element configured to compress locally at a portion of the MSM element in response to a perpendicular concentrated portion of a magnetic field. The apparatus may further include a plurality of conductive coils laterally offset from the MSM element. Central axes of each conductive coil of the plurality of conductive coils may be substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the MSM element. The apparatus may also include at least one permanent magnet in proximity to the MSM element. The permanent magnet may generate a significant portion of the magnetic field. By successively applying, reversing, and reducing or eliminating electrical currents applied to the conductive coils, a position of the perpendicular concentrated portion of the magnetic field may be moved relative to the MSM element.

Abstract: A device may include a flexible substrate. The device may further include a flexible integrated circuit within the flexible substrate, the integrated circuit having at least one input electrode positioned on a surface of the flexible substrate. The device may also include an aerosol jet printed conductive ink layer disposed on the surface of the flexible substrate, the aerosol-jet printed conductive ink layer having a pattern that includes a first set of fingers interdigitated with a second set of fingers, the aerosol jet printed conductive ink layer in contact with the at least one input electrode.

Abstract: A micropump includes a body with an inlet and an outlet defined therein. A channel connects the inlet to the outlet. The micropump further includes a magnetic shape memory (MSM) alloy positioned within the channel. The MSM alloy selectively forms a barrier between the inlet and the outlet. The micropump also includes an electrode and/or a transparent window positioned along a surface of the channel. A cavity is selectively formed within a surface of the MSM alloy due to a magnetic field. The cavity is selectively moveable between a first position adjacent to the inlet, a second position adjacent to the electrode and/or the transparent window, and a third position adjacent to the outlet, by altering the magnetic field. By altering a magnetic field applied to the MSM alloy, a fluid may be pumped from the inlet to the electrode and/or the transparent window where the fluid may be analyzed. The fluid may be subsequently pumped to the outlet.

Abstract: A system may include a radio frequency chain configured to process a signal. The system may further include a reconfigurable antenna including multiple antenna feeds, each of the antenna feeds associated with a beam direction. The system may also include a beam selection network configured to couple the radio frequency chain to a first antenna feed of the multiple antenna feeds to generate a first beam in a first direction, and simultaneously couple the radio frequency chain to a second antenna feed of the multiple antenna feeds to generate a second beam in a second direction.

Abstract: An actuation apparatus may include a magnetic shape memory (MSM) element configured to contract locally at a portion of the MSM element in response to local exposure to a magnetic field distribution component that is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the MSM element. The apparatus may further include a plurality of conductive coils laterally offset from the MSM element. Central axes of each conductive coil of the plurality of conductive coils may be substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the MSM element.

Abstract: The present invention relates to chimeric protein vaccines and methods of use thereof in the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus. One embodiment of the present invention provides a method of generating an immune response in a mammal, that includes administering to the mammal, a composition having a chimeric protein having at least one of: a portion of a cholera toxin, a portion of a heat-labile toxin, and a portion of a shiga toxin; and an antigen having at least one of: an antigenic material from S. aureus and an antigenic material from a S. aureus-specific polypeptide.

Abstract: A method of treating cancer or metastasis is provided involving administering at least one oncostatin M (OSM) antagonist to a subject, wherein the subject has been diagnosed with cancer. Administration of an OSM antagonist such as a small molecule pharmaceutical is provided as well as an anti-OSM antibody, an anti-OSM aptamer, and an OSM mRNA antagonist. The OSM antagonists were found to inhibit or prevent tumor cell detachment, proliferation and metastasis in several cancer types.

Abstract: A system may include an actuation member having a first end and a second end. A length of the actuation member is greater than a width of the actuation member. The length extends from the first end to the second end along a longitudinal axis when the actuation member is undeformed. The actuation member may include a magnetic shape memory alloy. The system may further include an anchor retaining the first end of the actuation member. The second end of the actuation member may be free to move laterally to the longitudinal axis in response to a deformation of the actuation member. The system may also include a magnetic field source in proximity to the actuation member. The magnetic field source may be configurable to alter a magnetic field applied to the actuation member to adjust the extent of deformation of the actuation member.

Abstract: The present invention relates to chimeric protein vaccines and methods of use thereof in the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus. One embodiment of the present invention provides a method of generating an immune response in a mammal, that includes administering to the mammal, a composition having a chimeric protein having at least one of: a portion of a cholera toxin, a portion of a heat-labile toxin, and a portion of a shiga toxin; and an antigen having at least one of: an antigenic material from S. aureus and an antigenic material from a S. aureus-specific polypeptide.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for colorimetric detection schemes for detecting a variety of biomolecules. The compositions and methods employ DNA hybridization chain reaction for catalytic aggregation of gold nanoparticles. In this catalytic aggregation scheme, a single target DNA strand triggers the formation of multiple inter-particle linkages in contrast to the single linkage formed in conventional direct aggregation schemes.

Abstract: An apparatus may include two or more active antenna elements with a corresponding antenna pattern. The apparatus may further include a single radio frequency signal chain communicatively coupled with the two or more active antenna elements. The apparatus may also include multiple passive antenna elements in proximity to the two or more active antenna elements. The multiple passive antenna elements may alter the antenna pattern to form multiple simultaneous beams associated with the two or more active antenna elements.

Abstract: A method of imparting motion includes contracting a portion of a magnetic shape memory (MSM) element in response to a magnetic field to form an indentation on a surface of the MSM element. The method further includes retaining a protrusion from a surface of a movable part at the indentation. The method also includes moving the movable part by changing a position of the indentation in response to a change in the magnetic field.

Abstract: A method of treating cancer or metastasis is provided involving administering at least one oncostatin M (OSM) antagonist to a subject, wherein the subject has been diagnosed with cancer. Administration of an OSM antagonist such as a small molecule pharmaceutical is provided as well as an anti-OSM antibody, an anti-OSM aptamer, and an OSM mRNA antagonist. The OSM antagonists were found to inhibit or prevent tumor cell detachment, proliferation and metastasis in several cancer types.

Abstract: A variable resistance memory device may include a first electrode and a second electrode. The device may further include a chalcogenide glass layer between the first electrode and the second electrode. The chalcogenide glass layer may include a chalcogenide glass material co-deposited with a metal material. The metal material may include tin. The device may also include a metal ion source structure between the chalcogenide glass layer and the second electrode. The device may include a buffer layer between the first electrode and the chalcogenide glass layer.

Abstract: A variable resistance memory device may include a first electrode and a second electrode. The device may further include a chalcogenide glass layer between the first electrode and the second electrode. The chalcogenide glass layer may include a chalcogenide glass material co-deposited with a metal material. The device may also include a metal ion source structure between the chalcogenide glass layer and the second electrode. The device may include a buffer layer between the first electrode and the chalcogenide glass layer.