Abstract: Described herein are microfluidic devices and methods that can separate and concentrate particles in a sample.

Abstract: The invention is for a startup system for nuclear fusion engines in space. The combustion of hydrogen and oxygen produces heat that is used by a heat engine to produce electricity. This can be supplemented by electricity from other operating engines. The exhaust from the combustion is condensed and electrolyzed to produce hydrogen and oxygen once the engine is in operation. This provides a constant source of energy for future startups. The engine is started up at partial power in electricity generation mode and this power replaces the power from the combustion as it grows. The combustor uses the same heat engine as the nuclear engine uses for power generation.

Abstract: Described herein are devices and methods for high throughput purification of particles. In some cases, methods and devices described herein can be used to remove erythrocytes and purify leukocytes and raise the quality of umbilical cord blood and other transplant grafts, thereby significantly improving patient outcomes.

Abstract: Described herein are devices and methods for high throughput purification of particles. In some cases, methods and devices described herein can be used to remove erythrocytes and purify leukocytes and raise the quality of umbilical cord blood and other transplant grafts, thereby significantly improving patient outcomes.

Abstract: A system and method for reversibly controlling clustering of proteins around an engineered multivalent nucleus is disclosed. The system and method utilize clustering, which may be controlled by light activation or deactivation. The system and method enable the spatiotemporal control of protein supramolecular assemblies, including liquid-like droplets under some conditions, and solid-like gels under other conditions. The system and method can be utilized for segregating or locally concentrating desired proteins and/or RNA in cells or cell lysate, which may be useful for protein purification purposes, or for assembling single or multiple membraneless bodies within specific sub-regions of the cells. These synthetically assembled bodies may recruit both transgenic and endogenic proteins and other biomolecules, thus can be linked to affect and even trigger a plethora of cellular processes, including both physiological and pathological (e.g., protein aggregation) processes.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for measuring velocity of a fluid stream via deflection of a wire filament. Also disclosed is a process for measuring velocity of a fluid stream, requiring deflecting two or more wire filaments in a fluid stream, measuring two or more resistances, and equating the velocity of the fluid stream to the result of a function of the two or more resistances. In both the apparatus and method, one wire filament must have a length dimension longer than at least one of a dimension of the wire filament in the primary sensing or transverse direction, as well as a dimension of the wire filament in the primary sensing and/or transverse direction less than 50 ? ? U ? ? ? throughout a predetermined operating range.

Abstract: A system for time deferred usage of mobile data by a plurality of user devices each coupled to a network server and running one or more applications. The system includes a network measurement module, user profiling module and a price-optimization computational module located at the network server and a user interface module located at each user device. The network measurement module collects traffic data from each of the applications to generate the historical congestion data and current congestion data. The user profiling module is configured to receive user reaction data and determine how much mobile data for each application may be deferred to a later point in time to generate the predicted user reaction data.

Abstract: The invention provides an electrolyte composition which is adapted for use in a rechargeable alkaline electrochemical cell, and especially preferably adapted for use in a rechargeable manganese zinc electrochemical cell, which electrolyte composition imparts improved performance characteristics to the rechargeable alkaline electrochemical cell. The electrolyte composition includes an electrolyte composition in which contains a potassium hydroxide and lithium hydroxide in a concentration and a respective molar ratio of about 1 molar potassium hydroxide to 2.5-3.7 (preferably 1:3) molar lithium hydroxide (1 M KOH:2.5-3.7 M LiOH). Also provided are alkaline electrochemical cells and alkaline batteries comprising the electrolyte compositions. The resultant alkaline electrochemical cells and alkaline batteries exhibit improved performance characteristics, as the electrolyte composition significantly inhibits the passivation of Zn, and may also be useful in this role in other battery chemistries.

Abstract: A protein construct including a gene encoding a light-sensitive protein fused to at least one of either a low complexity sequence, an intrinsically disordered protein region (IDR), or a repeating sequence of a linker and another gene encoding a light-sensitive protein. Among the many different possibilities contemplated, the protein construct may also advantageously include cleavage tags. This protein construct may be utilized for a variety of functions, including a method for protein purification, which requires introducing the protein construct into a living cell, and inducing the formation of clusters by irradiating the construct with light. The method may also advantageously include cleaving a target protein from an IDR, and separating the clusters via centrifuge. A kit for practicing in vivo aggregation or liquid-liquid phase separation is also included, the kit including the protein construct and a light source capable of producing a wavelength that the light-sensitive protein will respond to.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are split inteins, fused proteins of split inteins, and methods of using split inteins to efficiently purify and modify proteins of interest.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to genetic engineering of bacteria. More particularly, the present disclosure describes genetic engineering of E. coli to create mutant O-antigen ligase, as well as novel lipopolysaccharide molecules resulting from that genetic engineering. Methods for using those novel molecules are also described.

Abstract: The present invention provides tissue scaffolds, methods of generating such scaffolds, and methods of use of such scaffolds to generate aligned and functional neural tissues for use in methods including regenerative medicine, wound repair and transplantation.

Abstract: An implantable medical device (IMD) configured to communicate with an external device (ED). The ED supports two way RF communications and has a light source. The IMD includes a processor coupled to an optical detector, the processor is configured to verify that light is being received from the ED light source and that the ED is a trusted device, establishing a unidirectional optical channel from the ED to the IMD. An RF transceiver is coupled to the processor, the processor being configured permit two way RF communications with the ED only under a condition that the ED is verified as a trusted device. The processor may be configure to wake up periodically or aperiodically to check for the presence of light from the ED light source. The processor may be configured to detect a multi-bit message from the ED via the unidirectional optical channel. The multi-bit message may include a key.

Abstract: The invention includes microfluidic methods and devices that allow for the continuous production of microfibers with embedded droplets aligned along the length of the fiber at specific positions. The invention allows for formation of single or multiple emulsions within a fiber. The various phases comprised within the fiber can vary in terms of in terms of hydrophobic/hydrophilic character, solid/fluid, or gel crosslink density, which allows for the introduction of heterogeneous microenvironments within the fiber, each of which with distinct solubility characteristics, permeability, and mechanical properties. Various compounds and materials can be encapsulated in the different microcompartments of the fiber for storage and delivery applications, as well as to provide multifunctionality to the fiber structure.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the use of Deterministic Lateral Displacement in the preparation of cells and compositions for therapeutic uses.

Abstract: A magnetometer for use with a sample including an atomic vapor includes a cell containing the sample such as a multipass cell including a first mirror element and a second mirror element configured so that an incoming light beam injected into the container will reflect multiple times between the first mirror element and the second mirror element. A polarized pump light source is configured to transmit pump light through the cell and pump the sample. A polarized probe light source configured to transmit probe light through the cell and probe the sample. A detector configured to detect a polarization angle or intensity of the probe light transmitted through the sample. A processor may be configured to calculate a precession frequency of the sample based on a first probe light pulse and a frequency correction based on a second probe light pulse.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine is disclosed and includes a main cylinder and main piston that are relatively axially displaceable along a main axis to define a variable volume main working chamber. At least one valve is configured to admit air and fuel into the working chamber forming an air/fuel mixture. The main cylinder is configured to cause the air/fuel mixture in the main cylinder to spin rapidly enough to cause a substantive change in the heat capacity of the air/fuel mixture creating a spinning air/fuel mixture. The main cylinder and main piston are configured to compress the spinning air/fuel mixture to create an ignitable spinning air/fuel mixture. The spinning air/fuel mixture is ignited and the main cylinder and main piston are configured to extract mechanical energy from the ignited spinning air/fuel mixture. An exhaust valve is configured to exhaust combustion products from the main working chamber.

Abstract: A noninvasive mid-infrared in vivo glucose sensor for use in connection with the skin of a test subject is disclosed. The sensor includes a mid-infrared light source configured to deliver a light beam to the skin of the test subject, a collector element configured to collect backscattered light from the skin and direct it to the detector, and a detector element configured to measure the collected backscattered light from the skin. The mid-infrared light source may be a quantum cascade laser. The sensor may include optical fibers configured to deliver the light beam to the skin of the test subject. The collector element may be an integrating sphere or a bundle of two or more optical fibers. The sensor may also include a probe containing or connecting to optical fibers coupled to the mid-infrared light source and configured to be placed on the skin to take glucose level readings.

Abstract: The present invention includes biomimetic nerve conduits that can be used as nerve regeneration pathways. The present invention further provides methods of preparing and using biomimetic nerve conduits. The disclosed compositions and methods have a broad range of potential applications, for example replacing a missing or damaged section of a nerve pathway of a mammal.

Abstract: A fully confined dual frequency optical resonator configured for optical coupling to light having a first frequency ?1. The dual frequency optical resonator includes a plurality of alternating layer pairs configured in a grating configuration, each layer pair having a first layer formed of a first material and a second layer formed of a second material, the first material and second material being different materials. Each layer having a thickness different than a thickness of an adjacent layer to provide thereby aperiodic layer pairs, the thicknesses of adjacent layers being selected to create, via wave interference with each layer, optical resonances at the first frequency ?1 and a second frequency ?2 which is a harmonic of ?1, and to ensure a maximum spatial overlap between confined modes over the materials such that an overall quality factor Q of at least 1000 is achieved.