Abstract: Non-volatile memory devices with two stacked layers of chalcogenide materials comprising the active memory device have been investigated for their potential as phase-change memories. The devices tested included GeTe/SnTe, Ge2Se3/SnTe, and Ge2Se3/SnSe stacks. All devices exhibited resistance switching behavior. The polarity of the applied voltage with respect to the SnTe or SnSe layer was critical to the memory switching properties, due to the electric field induced movement of either Sn or Te into the Ge-chalcogenide layer. One embodiment of the invention is a device comprising a stack of chalcogenide-containing layers which exhibit phase-change switching only after a reverse polarity voltage potential is applied across the stack causing ion movement into an adjacent layer and thus “activating” the device to act as a phase-change random access memory device or a reconfigurable electronics device when the applied voltage potential is returned to the normal polarity.

Abstract: A method is provided for classifying nanoobjects having different electrical properties, such as conductivities and permittivities. The method includes: suspending nanoobjects having different electrical properties in a liquid medium; passing the liquid medium through a microchamber; and filtering nanoobjects having a first type of electrical property from the liquid medium by applying an electric field to the liquid medium in the microchamber.

Abstract: Novel, simple methods are presented directed to the synthesis of aligned nanofibers of polyaniline and substituted derivatives on a substrate. The production of these fibers is achieved via various methods by controlling the concentration of aniline monomer or substituted aniline derivatives or an oxidant in the reaction medium and maintaining said concentration at a level much lower than conventional polyaniline synthesis methods. Methods are disclosed relating to the use of a permeable membrane to control the release of a monomer and/or oxidant as well as a bulk polymerization method.

Abstract: A method and system that compensates for thermal induced stresses in structures composed of different materials fastened together. The system utilizes three compensation mounts made from a material with a coefficient of thermal expansion that is between that of the two materials being fastened together. These mounts can be linear or, for a thinner structure, the mounts are “C” shaped. The size of the “C” mounts and fastening locations are calculated based on the coefficient of thermal expansion for the two materials being fastened together and the “C” mount material. The geometry of the “C” mounts allows for fastening the two planar surfaces without introducing a large thickness increase to the structure. This system allows for materials to be fastened together, and when placed in an environment with temperature fluctuations, the system experiences zero, minimal or insignificant amounts of thermal induced stress.

Abstract: The invention provides a liquid crystal device and method thereof. Subsequent to applying a first electrical voltage on a liquid crystal to induce a reorientation of the liquid crystal, a second electrical voltage with proper polarity is applied on the liquid crystal to assist the relaxation of the reorientation that was induced by the first electrical voltage. The “switch-off” phase of the liquid crystal can therefore be accelerated or temporally shortened, and the device can exhibit better performance such as fast response to on/off signals. The invention can be widely used LCD, LC shutter, LC lens, spatial light modulator, telecommunication device, tunable filter, beam steering device, and electrically driven LC device, among others.

Abstract: Compositions, methods for forming compositions, and methods for using compositions for reducing tadpole shrimp populations in temporary pools using the hormone methyl farnesoate. Compositions can include a dry base having a bulk ingredient, a viscous additive having an oily compound, a saline solution, and preparation having an effective amount of phospholipid-encapsulated methyl farnesoate. The composition can be formed by combining the dry base and the viscous additive into a first mixture and adding all or a portion of the saline solution to form a crumbly consistency. Then, the methyl farnesoate preparation can be added. The composition may then be formed into a plurality of particles having shapes and sizes for consumption by the tadpole shrimp. In use, the particles may be dispensed prior to, or immediately after, the temporary pools are flooded with water. The particles may be formed such that they can withstand exposure to water for between about 4 to about 14 days.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for simulation and regeneration of a virtual environment. A simulation and regeneration system may record a simulation by reading out all information necessary to recreate the virtual environment to a simulation data file. In certain embodiments, the system may include an after action review mode. In the after action review mode, players may watch the recorded simulation in order to understand what happened during the simulation, why it happened, and what could be done to improve the result. A facilitator may provide feedback to the players during the after action review mode or during the simulation. A simulation may be regenerated based on data from the simulation data.

Abstract: A method of producing an alkyl ester of a carboxylic acid is provided, the method comprising: adding an alkanol and a mineral acid to a carboxylic acid salt to provide a carboxylic acid/alkanol solution and a precipitated mineral acid salt; separating the mineral acid salt from the carboxylic acid/alkanol solution; esterifying the carboxylic acid; and isolating an alkyl ester of the carboxylic acid.

Abstract: This invention relates to computer-assisted diagnostics and classification of prostate cancer. Specifically, the invention relates to segmentation of the prostate boundary on MRI images, cancer detection using multimodal multi-protocol MR data; and their integration for a computer-aided diagnosis and classification system for prostate cancer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a microchip for performing electrophoresis with pulsed amperometric detection (PAD) for the separation and detection of underivatized carbohydrates, amino acids, sulfur-containing antibiotics, etc. PAD allows for the direct detection of amines, thiols, alcohols and carbohydrates and therefore is a useful technique for the development of electrochemical detection for microchip electrophoresis.

Abstract: The “instant evolution” system was initially developed in E. coli, primarily because of the ease with which this organism can be genetically manipulated. Because many of the functionally important regions of rRNA are conserved among bacteria, drug leads developed against conserved targets in the E. coli system may produce broad-spectrum anti-infectives. However, in order the develop a system to product narrow-spectrum anti-infectives, herein we disclose method and compositions for screening Pseudomonas aeruginosa 16S rRNA in E. coli cells. In certain embodiments, a plasmid comprising the 16S rRNA gene from Pseudomonas aeruginosa t mutated to replace the natural helix 9 region with the corresponding region of the E. coli rRNA, is shown to form functional ribosomes in E. coli host cells. Li other embodiments, a plasmid, comprising the unmutated 16S rRNA from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, along with a plasmid containing the Pseudomonas aeruginosa S20 protein, can yield functional ribosomes in E. coli cells.

Abstract: Photovoltaic cells, including silicon solar cells, and methods and compositions for making such photovoltaic cells are provided. A silicon substrate having an n-type silicon layer is provided with a silicon nitride layer, a reactive metal in contact with said silicon nitride layer, and a non-reactive metal in contact with the reactive metal. This assembly is fired to form a low Schottky barrier height contact comprised of metal nitride, and optionally metal silicide, on the silicon substrate, and a conductive metal electrode in contact with said low Schottky barrier height contact. The reactive metal may be titanium, zirconium, hafnium, vanadium, niobium, and tantalum, and combinations thereof, and the non-reactive metal may be silver, tin, bismuth, lead, antimony, arsenic, indium, zinc, germanium, nickel, phosphorus, gold, cadmium, berrylium, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A cine imaging filter and method of use that includes a denoising image-filter based on the Karhunen-Loeve transform along the temporal direction to take advantage of the high temporal correlation among images. The cine imaging filter may further include the application of a simple formula describing the quantitative noise reduction capabilities of the KLT filter as a function of eigenimage cutoff. Additionally, the filter may validate its accuracy in numerical simulation and in in-vivo real time cine images. Furthermore, exemplary embodiments of the cine imaging filter may employ a technique to automatically select the optimal eigenimage cutoff to maximize noise reduction with minimal effect on image information.

Abstract: Systems and methods for extracting lipids of varying polarities from oleaginous material.

Abstract: A method for preparing nanoscale hydroxyapatite particles by combining an amount of a calcium ion source, which includes calcium acetate, and an amount of a phosphate ion source, wherein the amounts are sufficient to produce nanoscale hydroxyapatite particles and the amounts are combined under ambient conditions to produce the hydroxyapatite particles. Nanoscale hydroxyapatite particles are also presented.

Abstract: Biocompatible, bioresorbable polymers comprising a plurality of monomeric repeating units containing an amide group, wherein said amide groups are N-substituted and the N-substituent and degree of N-substitution are effective to lower the melt viscosity, the solution viscosity, or both, compared to the same polymer without N-substitution.

Abstract: There is a constant battle to break even between continuing improvements in DRAM capacities and the growing memory demands of large-memory high-performance applications. Performance of such applications degrades quickly once the system hits the physical memory limit and starts swapping to the local disk. We present the design, implementation and evaluation of Anemone—an Adaptive Network Memory Engine—that virtualizes the collective unused memory of multiple machines across a gigabit Ethernet LAN, without requiring any modifications to the either the large memory applications or the Linux kernel. We have implemented a working prototype of Anemone and evaluated it using real-world unmodified applications such as ray-tracing and large in-memory sorting. Our results with the Anemone prototype show that unmodified single-process applications execute 2 to 3 times faster and multiple concurrent processes execute 6 to 7.7 times faster, when compared to disk based paging.

Abstract: A membrane strip biosensor device using a fluid mobile conductive composition of ferromagnetic particles bound to a conductive polymer bound to a capture reagent is described. The biosensor device is designed to detect analytes at low concentrations in near real-time with an electronic data collection system and can be small. The device can be used to detect pathogens, proteins, and other biological materials of interest in food, water, and environmental samples.

Abstract: A high bandwidth multi-stage microjet actuator. The actuator can produce relatively large amplitude flow disturbances over a broad range of frequencies. The disturbance frequency can be varied by altering the geometry of the device, altering the pressure ratio(s) within the device, and combinations of the two. The actuator has many potential applications, including noise abatement for jet aircraft, and flow control over a moving airfoil.

Abstract: The subject invention concerns materials and methods for detecting the interaction of CFTR proteins. In one embodiment, the method can be used to determine whether one CFTR polypeptide interacts with a second CFTR polypeptide. The subject invention also concerns materials and methods for screening for drugs or compositions that can restore or enhance interaction of CFTR proteins containing mutation(s) that reduce or prevent dimerization of the proteins. The assay of the present invention can be used to screen a large number of compounds in a high throughput format. The subject invention also pertains to host cells useful in the methods of the invention. The subject invention also concerns compositions and methods for treating patients afflicted with cystic fibrosis.