Abstract: A flexible wall bioreactor is described that uses a small droplet size mist unit, a lower rate ambient air flow rate, and a flexible wall culture chamber to provide an environment that allows for the growth of dense root matrix, shoot cultures, and 2 and 3 dimensional animal tissues.

Abstract: A self-governing fluidic variable inertia flywheel that can maintain a constant angular velocity is disclosed. The flywheel uses a movable member to separate a liquid filled chamber from a gas occupying chamber. In one embodiment, a self-governing fluidic variable inertia flywheel includes a container having an internal volume and a movable member disposed within the container such that the internal volume is separated into a first chamber and a second chamber containing a fluid. The movable member is responsive to changes in angular velocity of the fluid.

Abstract: The present invention is directed, at least in part, to methods for imagewise patterning of a surface. Such patterned surfaces can be used, e.g., in microfluidic devices. Accordingly, the present invention is also directed, at least in part, to nanopatterned devices which include a microchannel structure and methods for forming such devices.

Abstract: A velocity probe capable of measuring all the three components of a velocity vector simultaneously by correlating data from three or more thermocouples is shown and described.

Abstract: Methods and systems for configuring ad-hoc networks, especially a self-configuring wireless sensor networks, are described. The network has an initial number of anchors with known positions that broadcast a signal. The signals are received by distributed nodes whose position is not yet known. The nodes rank the received signal based on a Quality of Link (QoL; received signal strength) and compute a Quality of position Estimate (QoE) for the node. The node with the best QoE is elevated to anchor. This process gradually increases the number of available anchors in the network and hence the position accuracy for additional nodes. The system can be used for geolocation of soldiers in the indoor combat, tracking the location of firefighter and other emergency personnel in rescue missions, etc.

Abstract: A bioengineered skin substitute was developed that contains a microfabricated basal lamina analog that recapitulates the native microenvironment found at the dermal-epidermal junction (DEJ).

Abstract: The invention is directed to a device and method to prevent migration of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells (hMSCs) from a delivery site while allowing communication between the stem cells and native cardiomyocytes. The device is characterized by scaffold pore size, fiber diameter and biomaterial selection. The invention includes a two part polyurethane scaffold that prevents migration of stem cells, allows gap junction formation through pores and is packaged for minimally invasive delivery.

Abstract: In various aspects are provided a microfluidic and/or nanofluidic sensor that can provide an indication of the reliability of its measurement of the presence of an analyte in a sample under investigation, an analyte concentration in the sample under investigation, or both. The provided sensors, microfluidic devices, and methods of analyte detection, utilize two transduction mechanisms from the same molecule to determine analyte presence, analyte concentration, or both. An analyte sensing molecule is used that can provide both an optical signal and electrochemical signal when an analyte is recognized by an analyte binding portion of the sensing molecule.

Abstract: A system and method for image guided assisted medical procedures. The system and method may utilize MRI real time guidance during the above procedures.

Abstract: A physiologic data acquisition system includes an analog input, a sigma-delta front end signal conditioning circuit adapted to subtract out DC and low frequency interfering signals from and amplify the analog input before analog to digital conversion. The system can be programmed to acquire a selected physiologic signal, e.g., a physiologic signal characteristic of or originating from a particular biological tissue. The physiologic data acquisition system may include a network interface modulating a plurality of subcarriers with respective portions of an acquired physiologic signal. A receiver coupled to the network interface can receive physiologic data from, and send control signals and provide power to the physiologic data acquisition system over a single pair of wires. The network interface can modulate an RF carrier with the plurality of modulated subcarriers and transmit the resulting signal to the receiver across a wireless network.

Abstract: The present invention is based on the discovery of a two organism model system that can be used to identify virulence factors. The system is also useful in the process of drug delivery. More specifically, we have established valid fungal infection in caenorhabditis elegans with an invading pathogen, the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Because both species are genetic model organisms, the assay can be used to identify host and virulence factors involved in such interactions.

Abstract: Methods for generating small diameter tissue engineered blood vessels through direct cell seeding onto tubular templates or mandrels, such as fibrin microthreads or collagen-coated silicon tubes, are described.

Abstract: The invention provides an atomic force microscope-based bioassay, assisted by thermodynamic characterizations to quickly and accurately screen for compounds that disrupt cell-cell or cell-substrate interactions.

Abstract: Methods and an apparatus for producing stable crystal polymorphs are provided. Inner surfaces of glass vials with a concave bottom topography are coated with nonstick compounds to select for nucleation of stable polymorphs.

Abstract: Ultrasound imaging systems and methods are described that include a cableless front end having a UltraWideBand transceiver and a beamformer that transmit ultrasound data to a back end physically separated from the front end, with the back end having a UltraWideBand transceiver for receiving ultrasound data from the front end UltraWideBand transceiver via a peer-to-peer communication protocol. The back end unit can also receive and transmit commands to and from the front end unit to select an image mode and has a signal processor and scan converter that can convert ultrasound data into image data for display. An input device in the front end allows the operator to selectively display ultrasound data or patient data on an auxiliary worn display or the nearest local display.

Abstract: The present invention is a low-cost, easily deployed, degradable taggant that can be dispersed over a wide area to serve as a witness to activity in the area and for queuing of other sensors. The taggant enables nearly real-time change detection within the treated area using one or more simple optical sensing techniques.

Abstract: This invention relates to decontaminating water containing organic compounds by treating the contaminated water by adding solid phase zero valent iron (ZVI) and persulfate to destroy organic contaminants in water.

Abstract: Today, students are underperforming on the standardized testing. In an effort to better performance on these tests, software systems allow a student to practice different topics. These software systems, however, do not perform a longitudinal analysis of a student allowing the creation of an adaptable learning environment for the system. In contrast, the present invention provides a system that enables a student to answer one or more questions of a problem set. Next, the system stores information for each answer of the one or more questions over a period of time, analyzes the information for each student answer in a longitudinal manner, and identifies one or more deficiencies in learning of the student based on the longitudinal analysis. In this way, the system uses longitudinal analysis to identify student deficiencies, which allows a teacher or parent, using the analysis, to increase the quality of learning for the student.

Abstract: A method and system for removing organic contaminants from water by use of a panel of hydrophobic polymer membranes which resist degradation when exposed to aggressive oxidizing solutions and that can be used to decompose the organic contaminants while fostering selective-permeation by the organic contaminants are disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for determining the location of a transmitter by jointly and collectively processing the full sampled signal data from a plurality of receivers to form a single solution.