Abstract: A method is described for distinguishing between cancerous and normal human cells. The method includes collecting cells; preparing cells for scanning; scanning of the prepared cells by means of atomic force microscopy; processing of the obtained images through specific algorithms; wherein the algorithms allowing one to identify whether the cell is cancerous or normal.

Abstract: A new instrument for electrical-mobility based size segregation of particles at high resolution is described. The instrument called the high-flow dual-channel differential mobility analyzer (HD-DMA) comprises of five flows: a polydisperse aerosol flow, a clean sheath flow, two monodisperse sample flows and a residual excess flow. High resolution measurements are possible because of the large sheath flowrates that are permissible in this instrument.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to producing ultras bright fluorescent silica particles by synthesizing large nanopore silica particles with self sealed channels/pores and then stopping the synthesizing before large nanopore silica particles have been formed, wherein said sintering solution has produced nanoparticles. The large nanopore silica particles are micron size. The synthesizing is stopped by diluting said synthesizing solution with a neutralizing medium such as an aqueous solution of definite acidity of pH7 and higher an exemplary value of pH11 (sodium hydroxide). The time range for stopping the synthesizing ranges from tens of seconds to ten of minutes.

Abstract: Various examples of systems, methods, and programs embodied in computer-readable mediums are provided for fingerprint liveness detection. Fingerprint liveness may be determined by evaluating pixels of a fingerprint image to identify pores along a ridge segment of the fingerprint image. A circular derivative operator can be used to identify the pores. Liveness of the fingerprint can be determined based upon features of the identified pores.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is concerned with a stimuli-responsive polymer membrane and method of making the same. The method and making the membrane is a new one The entire body of the responsive membrane is a gel. Gels are used as membranes because they are permeable-swollen network. This disclosure discusses a new combination of cylindrical pores in a swollen network. When the network swells or shrinks the cylindrical pores open or close. Thus, inside the network, one can introduce ligands, function groups which due to specific interaction with some signaling molecules in the surrounding environment can cause swelling or shrinking the membrane and this way they open or close pores. With cylindrical pores in a gel there is the ability to regulate pore size in a broad range and an ability to arrange response by adding some functional groups inside the gel body.

Abstract: A colloidal dispersion for chemical mechanical polishing comprising: (a) an abrasive component; and (b) from about 0.05% to about 10% by weight of the abrasive component, a water-soluble amphoteric polymer comprising at least one macromolecular chain B and a part A bonded to a single end of the at least one macromolecular chain B, wherein the macromolecular chain B is derived from one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers having quaternary ammonium groups or inium groups, and wherein the part A is a polymeric or nonpolymeric group comprising at least one anionic group; wherein the dispersion has a pH of between about 1.5 and about 6. The colloidal dispersion is capable of polishing a substrate comprising silicon nitride and silicon oxide with a reverse selectivity ratio of at least about 27, typically at least 50 the reverse selectivity ratio being the ratio of the rate of removal of the silicon nitride to the rate of removal of the silicon oxide.

Abstract: A method and system for tunable removal rates and selectivity of materials during chemical-mechanical polishing using a chemical slurry or solution with increased dissolved oxygen content. The slurry can optionally include additives to improve removal rate and/or selectivity. Further selectivity can be obtained by varying the concentration and type of abrasives in the slurry, using lower operating pressure, using different pads, or using other additives in the dispersion at specific pH values.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for forming compositions having a plurality of ultra-fine metallic particles, and the metallic composition produced therewith. Also provided is a substrate coated with the plurality of ultra-fine metallic particles obtained in accordance with the method of the present invention.

Abstract: A tube reactor having a substantially tubular body portion including a conical section, an entry port, an opposing exit port, and an axis extending between the ports through the body portion. The tubular body portion being rotatable about the axis. At least one reactant can be fed into the tubular body portion and directed toward the conical section. An inner surface of the tubular body portion receives the reactants from the conical section, and processes the reactants. An insert may be positioned within the tubular body portion to further process the reactants along the inner surface. A rotating reservoir having a damper can be coupled to the rotating tubular body portion. The damper receives the processed reactants from the inner surface of the tubular body portion, and guides the processed reactants into the rotating reservoir to minimize turbulence. The rotating reservoir then separates the processed reactants by density.

Abstract: A colorimetric reagent in the form of nanoparticles, composite nanoparticles, and nanoparticle coatings, including methods of use, methods of preparation, deposition, and assembly of related devices and specific applications. The colorimetric reagent comprises cerium oxide nanoparticles which are used in solution or immobilized on a solid support, either alone or in conjunction with oxidase enzymes, to form an active colorimetric component that reacts with an analyte to form a colored complex. The rate of color change and the intensity of the color are proportional to the amount of analyte present in the sample. Also described is the use of ceria and doped ceria nanoparticles as an oxygen storage/delivery vehicle for oxidase enzymes and applications in biocatalytic processes in anaerobic conditions of interest in biomedicine and bioanalysis.

Abstract: A drag reducing device utilizing sealed aft cavities designed to limit interference with existing truck and trailer designs is described. The invention comprises one or more sealed aft cavities affixed to the rear of a traditional commercial straight truck or trailer, or any other blunt (or mostly blunt) aft faced vehicle. A capability is provided by which the device is stowed to allow normal operation of the straight truck, trailer or vehicle. Drag is reduced by the streamlining of the rear of the vehicle, postponing and narrowing the flow separation downstream of the trailing edge as well as increasing the pressure on the back of the vehicle with the open to the rear, sealed aft cavity. The concept described focuses on the utilization of sealed aft cavities) to limit the effects of blunt body drag and the means for attachment and stowage for loading and unloading cargo.

Abstract: A non-contact/non-destructive technique for determining the mechanical properties of coated drug tablets is presented. One method is to detect, monitor and characterize a drug tablet during compaction by means of transmitting and receiving acoustic waves into the powder core, as it is formed in a press (compactor), via transducers embedded in the compactor die and punches. An iterative computational procedure is shown that extracts the mechanical properties of the coated tablet from a subset of its measured resonance frequencies. Sensitivities of the resonance frequencies to changes in the tablet mechanical properties is illustrated and discussed. These non-destructive techniques require no physical contact with the tablet and operate in the microsecond time-scale. Therefore, they can be employed for rapid monitoring and characterization applications.

Abstract: A method of producing a natural gait by a patient using an ambulatory device having a patient positioned in the middle of the ambulatory device to allow for an upright trunk, minimizing abnormal lower extremities kinematics and weight bearing on arms. By having hinged corners with an adjustable friction the device allows reciprocal arm swing when unlocked. The use of four wheels permits a continuous stepping motion that does not disrupt normal gait kinematics. Having an adjustable height allows the ambulatory device to have an optimal height for placement of patient hands that minimizes weight bearing on arms.

Abstract: The invention of novel methods is described for efficient and accurate thermal simulation of a structure that can be primarily constructed using building blocks. These structures may include, but not limited to, semiconductor chips, photovoltaic/solar panels, battery packs, etc. The methods are formulated in hierarchical function spaces, rather than the physical space and provide three-dimensional (3D) steady-state and transient temperature profiles of the structure, which are as detailed as full-scale numerical simulation, using substantially less computational degrees-of-freedom (DOF). The number of DOF required is comparable to that of lumped thermal models, yet no ad-hoc modeling assumptions related to geometry, dimensions, temperature profiles, or heat flow paths are required. The methods can be applied to evaluate temperature profiles at different levels of granularity.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for forming compositions having a plurality of ultra-fine metallic particles, and the metallic composition produced therewith. Also provided is a substrate coated with the plurality of ultra-fine metallic particles obtained in accordance with the method of the present invention.

Abstract: A colloidal dispersion for chemical mechanical polishing comprising: (a) an abrasive component; and (b) from about 0.05% to about 10% by weight of the abrasive component, a water-soluble amphoteric polymer comprising at least one macromolecular chain B and a part A bonded to a single end of the at least one macromolecular chain B, wherein the macromolecular chain B is derived from one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers having quaternary ammonium groups or inium groups, and wherein the part A is a polymeric or nonpolymeric group comprising at least one anionic group; wherein the dispersion has a pH of between about 1.5 and about 6. The colloidal dispersion is capable of polishing a substrate comprising silicon nitride and silicon oxide with a reverse selectivity ratio of at least about 27, typically at least 50 the reverse selectivity ratio being the ratio of the rate of removal of the silicon nitride to the rate of removal of the silicon oxide.

Abstract: A colloidal dispersion for chemical mechanical polishing comprising: (a) an abrasive component; and (b) from about 0.05% to about 10% by weight of the abrasive component, a water-soluble amphoteric polymer comprising at least one macromolecular chain B and a part A bonded to a single end of the at least one macromolecular chain B, wherein the macromolecular chain B is derived from one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers having quaternary ammonium groups or inium groups, and wherein the part A is a polymeric or nonpolymeric group comprising at least one anionic group; wherein the dispersion has a pH of between about 1.5 and about 6. The colloidal dispersion is capable of polishing a substrate comprising silicon nitride and silicon oxide with a reverse selectivity ratio of at least about 27, typically at least 50 the reverse selectivity ratio being the ratio of the rate of removal of the silicon nitride to the rate of removal of the silicon oxide.

Abstract: A colorimetric reagent in the form of nanoparticles, composite nanoparticles, and nanoparticle coatings, including methods of use, methods of preparation, deposition, and assembly of related devices and specific applications. The colorimetric reagent comprises cerium oxide nanoparticles which are used in solution or immobilized on a solid support, either alone or in conjunction with oxidase enzymes, to form an active colorimetric component that reacts with an analyte to form a colored complex. The rate of color change and the intensity of the color are proportional to the amount of analyte present in the sample. Also described is the use of ceria and doped ceria nanoparticles as an oxygen storage/delivery vehicle for oxidase enzymes and applications in biocatalytic processes in anaerobic conditions of interest in biomedicine and bioanalysis.

Abstract: Theory and design of a new electrical-mobility based instrument for measurement of aerosol particle size distributions in real time is presented. Miniature Electrical Aerosol Spectrometer has a rectangular cross-section with two main regions: the Electrostatic Precipitator (ESP) and Classifier sections. The ESP section enables charged particle injection into the classifier section in a narrow range of streamlines at the desired location. The injected charged particles are then segregated based on their electrical mobility in the classifier section and collected on a series of plates that are connected to electrometers. Real-time particle size distribution measurements can be inferred from the electrometer signal strengths with the knowledge of the instrument transfer function.

Abstract: The invention is an apparatus and method including hardware and software, which allows collecting and analyzing data to obtain information about mechanical properties of soft materials in a much faster way. The apparatus can be used as a stand-alone deice or an add-on to the existing AFM device. The apparatus allows collecting dynamical measurements using a set of multiple frequencies of interest at once, in one measurement instead of sequential, one frequency in a time; measurements.