Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel device and method for the detection of lithium ions in a biological fluid. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a novel compound and a optical sensor which incorporates said compound for the detection of lithium ions. Additionally, the present invention provides a method of detecting lithium ions which comprises placing the novel optical sensor into communication with a biological fluid. Once the novel compound of the present invention encounters a lithium ion(s), a fluorescence is generated, the intensity of which is measured and allows for the determination of lithium ion concentration. The present invention provides a medical professional with the ability to selectively determine lithium ion concentration in a biological fluid thereby facilitating the treatment of various diseases, such as manic-depressive illness.

Abstract: Preferred embodiments of the present invention include methods that allow for casting alloys, and preferentially casting wrought alloys to circumvent problems such as, for example, hot tearing. Preferred embodiments of the present invention provide for alloys having predominantly spherical primary ?-aluminum grains in their microstructure (i.e., substantially free of dendrites) formed by mixing two liquids of differing compositions that are held at predetermined temperatures, such that when mixed they produce a predetermined alloy composition at a predetermined temperature that is inclined to solidify with a predominantly spherical grain structure that minimizes the alloy's tendency towards hot tearing.

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: The present invention relates to a composite gas separation module and to methods for fabricating a composite gas separation module. The present invention also relates to methods for selectively separating hydrogen gas from a hydrogen gas-containing gaseous stream. In one embodiment, the composite gas separation module includes a porous metal substrate; an intermediate porous metal layer, wherein the intermediate porous metal layer overlies the porous metal substrate; and a dense hydrogen-selective membrane, wherein the dense hydrogen-selective membrane overlies the intermediate porous metal layer. The intermediate porous metal layer can include palladium and a Group IB metal. For example, the intermediate porous metal layer can contain alternating layers of palladium and a Group IB metal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for curing a defect in the fabrication of a composite gas separation module and to composite gas separation modules formed by a process that includes the method. The present invention also relates to a method for selectively separating hydrogen gas from a hydrogen gas-containing gaseous stream. The method for curing a defect in the fabrication of a composite gas separation module includes depositing a first material over a porous substrate, thereby forming a coated substrate, wherein the coated substrate contains at least one defect. Then, the coated substrate can be selectively surface activated proximate to the defect, thereby forming at least one selectively surface activated region of the coated substrate. A second material can be then preferentially deposited on the selectively surface activated region of the coated substrate, whereby the defect is cured.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of signal analysis that determines the location of a transmitter and to devices that implement the method. The method includes receiving by at least three receivers, from a transmitter, a first continuous-time signal having a first channel. The first channel includes a first plurality of signal carriers having known relative initial phases and having known frequencies which are periodically spaced and which are orthogonal to one another within a first frequency range. The signal analysis method also includes determining the phase shifts of the carriers of the first channel resulting from the distance the carriers traveled in reaching the first receiver. Analysis of the phase shifts yields time difference of arrival information amongst the receivers, which is further processed to determine the location of the transmitter.

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: Multi-modal coils for coupling MRI RF signals from an anatomical region(s) to be imaged. The coil includes a segmented annular base ring conductor including a plurality of capacitances disposed between the segments, and at least one arcuate conductor symmetrically connected at each end to the base ring, one end terminating in direct contact with the base ring, the other end electrically connected to the base ring via two of the capacitive electrical connections. The RF coil is operable in multiple receiving modes in phase quadrature to establish a rotating magnetic field phasor orthogonal to the temporally constant uniform magnetic field of the magnetic resonance instrument. The RF coil can be combined with a second RF coil to simultaneously image two anatomical regions.

Abstract: A portable reconfigurable geolocation system is provided. The system includes a portable user node and one or more portable pseudolite nodes in communication one another and with the user node. Each of the user nodes and pseudolite nodes includes a transmitter that generates a signal on one or more carrier frequencies. Each signal is modulated with digital signals necessary to establish distances between the nodes and to convey data between the nodes. Each node also includes a receiver for receiving and demodulating the signals transmitted between the nodes, and a processor for receiving the demodulated signals, extracting data values and derived values from the demodulated signals and determining a three-dimensional position of each node in the system.

Abstract: An alloy solute sensor probe, measurement system and measurement method are disclosed for directly measuring solute concentration profiles in conductive material components at elevated processing temperatures. The disclosed device and method permit direct, real-time non-destructive measurement of solute concentration profiles in treated surfaces in alloy components. In disclosed embodiments, a novel concentric carbon sensor and rod-shaped carbon sensor are disclosed which employ AC frequencies for probing the subsurface region of alloy samples to determine carbon concentration profiles at steel surfaces from measurements of alloy resistivity profiles. Results of carbon profile measurements obtained with the disclosed device and method compare favorably with conventional destructive analytical measurements made on post-processed samples.

Abstract: A method for implementing an elliptic curve or discrete logarithm cryptosystem on inexpensive microprocessors is disclosed which provides for advantageous finite field computational performance on microprocessors having limited computational capabilities. The method can be employed with a variety of commercial and industrial imbedded microprocessor applications such as consumer smart cards, smart cards, wireless devices, personal digital assistants, and microprocessor controlled equipment. In one embodiment, a Galois Field (GF) implementation based on the finite field GF((28?17)17) is disclosed for an Intel 8051 microcontroller, a popular commercial smart card microprocessor. The method is particularly suited for low end 8-bit and 16-bit processors either with or without a coprocessor.

Abstract: In various aspects, the present invention provides substantially monolayer thick molecular films with photoresponsive wettability, the molecules of said films comprising a photochromic molecule coordinated to a metal atom, which is coordinated to an organic tethering molecule, surface coupling group, or both, having a group for attachment to a surface of a substrate. In various aspects, the present inventions also provide photochromic articles comprising said films, methods of forming said films, and methods of manufacturing photochromic articles using said films. In various embodiments, provided are molecular films where the photoconversion between configurations of the photochromic molecule is substantially reversible by irradiation with light. In various embodiments, provided are films where the photoconversion is substantially irreversible by irradiation with light.

Abstract: Tunable pull-through energy attenuator and decelerator devices is disclosed which provide for variable force-time profiles, deceleration and kinetic energy attenuation of moving objects so as to prevent damage or injury to impacting objects, vehicles or persons. The device employs either consumable inelastic or reusable, viscoelastic deforming elements, such as tubes, rods, plates or strips, which absorb substantial amounts of energy through repeated inelastic or viscoelastic deformation when the deforming element is pulled-through a tunable array of rigid pins having a variety of configurations and settings. The disclosed devices provide for variable force-time profiles which control the cumulative deformation and thereby the amount of energy absorbed and rate of deceleration of impacting objects.

Abstract: Preferred embodiments of the present invention provide methods of forming a photolithographic pattern by patternwise imaging each of two or more different modalities of light onto a multiphoton-specific photoinitiator material to form a photolithographic pattern on the surface where each of the patterns of the two or more different wavelengths of light overlap. In various embodiments, the invention provides a method of semiconductor fabrication capable of permitting the formation of an imaged feature having a dimension smaller than ?/(2 NA), where ? is the smallest wavelength of imaging light, and NA is the numerical aperture of the imaging system.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a family of cyclic peptide monomers and supramolecular cyclic peptide structures comprising chromophore residues which possess electronic and electro-optic properties for producing molecular scale electronic and photonic devices made from such materials. More particularly, this invention provides for cyclic peptide nanotube structures formed from a plurality of stacked cyclic peptides comprising chromophore residues that provide molecular scale electronic conductivity and non linear optical behavior. The stackable cyclic peptide is represented by the general formula where R1 is H, CH3 or alkyl; where at least one R2 is a chromophore; where R3 is H, CH3 or a polar or non-polar organic functional group used for controlling peptide stacking and solubility; where n equals 1 or 2; where m equals 4 or 6; and where a first adjacent amino acid residue has an ?-carbon chirality of L and a second adjacent amino acid residue has an ?-carbon chirality of D.

Abstract: Self-assembled monolayers and multilayer thin film structures were assembled from multiple components that were linked non-covalently by metal-ligand complexation. Non-covalently assembled multicomponent films assembly my the present method obviate problems associated with the covalent assembly of SAMs and multilayer thin film structures from large molecules. In one preferred embodiment, the disclosed film structures comprise 2,6 pyridinedicarboxylate ligands attached to an alkanethiol, which form a self-assembled monolayer on gold. The SAM is subsequently functionalized by sequential deposition of metal ions and ligands, allowing incorporation of one or more chromophores, photooxiding compounds or photoreducing to form multilayer film structures. Transition metals, lanthanide metals and other metals of varying charge may be employed in complexing with with 2,6 pyridinedicarboxylate ligands to form stable ordered structures.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of nanostructured materials in high phase purities using cavitation is disclosed. The method comprises mixing a metal containing solution with a precipitating agent and passing the mixture into a cavitation chamber. The chamber consists of a first element to produce cavitation bubbles, and a second element that creates a pressure zone sufficient to collapse the bubbles. The process is useful for the preparation of mixed metal oxide catalysts and materials for piezoelectrics and superconductors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for curing a defect in the fabrication of a composite gas separation module and to composite gas separation modules formed by a process that includes the method. The present invention also relates to a method for selectively separating hydrogen gas from a hydrogen gas-containing gaseous stream.

Abstract: A composite gas separation module includes a porous metal substrate; an intermediate layer that includes a powder having a Tamman temperature higher than the Tamman temperature of the porous metal substrate and wherein the intermediate layer overlies the porous metal substrate; and a dense hydrogen-selective membrane, wherein the dense hydrogen-selective membrane overlies the intermediate layer. In another embodiment, a composite gas separation module includes a porous metal substrate; an intermediate powder layer; and a dense gas-selective membrane, wherein the dense gas-selective membrane overlies the intermediate powder layer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the development of compact, coherent sources emitting in the terahertz frequency region using interface phonons. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, a semiconductor heterostructure light emitting device includes a quantum cascade structure having at least an upper lasing level and a lower lasing level. The system uses heterostructure interface phonon bands to depopulate the lower lasing level of at least a three level semiconductor device. The device includes multiple coupled quantum well modules. In alternate preferred embodiments, the device includes quantum dot layers and/or, quantum wire structures, and/or mini-bands in a superlattice, for example, GaAs/AlGaAs superlattice. The phonons in the device improve efficiency, decrease the threshold current and result in system temperatures that are as high as room temperature. The semiconductor device provides emission of terahertz radiation.