Abstract: A contactor system includes a plurality of contactor panels. Each contactor panel includes a frame member and a membrane array adapted to be received within the frame member. The membrane array defines a first end portion, a second end portion, and a plurality of hollow fibers. The contactor system also includes a first manifold in selective fluid communication with the first end portion of the membrane array of each contactor panel. The contactor system further includes a second manifold in direct fluid communication with the second end portion of the membrane array of each contactor panel. The contactor system includes a controller configured to provide selective fluid communication between the first manifold and the first end portion of the membrane array of each contactor panel.

Abstract: A contactor module for a contactor panel includes a frame member and a contactor media coupled to the frame member. The contractor module defines a first side and a second side. The contactor media includes at least one first membrane array including a plurality of first hollow fibers extending along a first fiber axis. The at least one first membrane array defines a first axis. Further, the contactor module includes at least one second membrane array including a plurality of second hollow fibers extending along a second fiber axis. The at least one second membrane array defines a second axis. The at least one first membrane array and the at least one second membrane array is disposed such that a first inclination angle is defined between the first axis and the second axis. Moreover, the first inclination angle is greater than zero degree and less than 180 degrees.

Abstract: A direct to chip cooling film for two-phase cooling. The film includes a dielectric layer having a first surface for attachment to a cold plate or circuits and having a second surface. A metal layer is on the second surface of the dielectric layer with a pattern of features on a side opposite the dielectric layer. This surface pattern provides increased surface area and multiple nucleation sites for bubbles formation for two-phase cooling. The features can also include metal nodules to further enhance the nucleation.

Abstract: A wetness sensor includes a substrate that carries a tuned RF circuit. The circuit includes a conductive pattern applied to the substrate, a capacitor, and a jumper all disposed on a same side of the substrate. The conductive pattern includes an inductive coil, and an inner and outer terminus. The jumper electrically couples the inner terminus to the outer terminus. The jumper also includes a frangible link which, when contacted by a target fluid, produces a drastic change in the operation of the RF circuit. The drastic change can be interpreted by a remote reader as a “wet” condition. Contact of the frangible link by the target fluid may change the impedance or resistance of the RF circuit by at least a factor of 5, 10, 100, or more, and/or may cause the frangible link to disintegrate to produce an open circuit, and/or may substantially render the RF circuit inoperative.

Abstract: A wetness sensor includes a self-supporting substrate and an electrically conductive trace carried by the substrate. The trace is patterned to provide at least a portion of a tuned RF circuit, which may be disposed on only one side of the substrate and characterized by an impedance or resistance. The trace is not self-supporting. The substrate is adapted to dissolve, swell, or otherwise degrade when contacted by a target fluid. Such degradation produces a drastic change in the operation of the RF circuit, which can be interpreted by a remote reader as a “wet” condition. Contact of the substrate by the target fluid may change the impedance or resistance of the RF circuit by at least a factor of 5, 10, 100, or 1000, and/or may cause the trace to disintegrate so as to provide the RF circuit with an open circuit, and/or may substantially render the RF circuit inoperative.

Abstract: A wetness sensor includes a self-supporting substrate and an electrically conductive trace carried by the substrate. The trace is patterned to provide at least a portion of a tuned RF circuit, which may be disposed on only one side of the substrate and characterized by an impedance or resistance. The trace is not self-supporting. The substrate is adapted to dissolve, swell, or otherwise degrade when contacted by a target fluid. Such degradation produces a drastic change in the operation of the RF circuit, which can be interpreted by a remote reader as a “wet” condition. Contact of the substrate by the target fluid may change the impedance or resistance of the RF circuit by at least a factor of 5, 10, 100, or 1000, and/or may cause the trace to disintegrate so as to provide the RF circuit with an open circuit, and/or may substantially render the RF circuit inoperative.

Abstract: A method of treating porous particles, each porous particle having an external surface and a multiplicity of pores with interior pore surfaces, by contacting the external surface with a hydrophobic agent while causing the interior pore surfaces to remain substantially free of the hydrophobic agent. In certain illustrative embodiments, treating the external surfaces of the porous particles includes exposing the porous particles to at least one of water vapor, methanol vapor, or ethanol vapor; and subsequently exposing the porous particles to a second vapor comprising a reactive organosilane compound which reacts to form the hydrophobic agent. In some particular illustrative embodiments, at least a portion of the external surface of the treated porous particle includes hydrophobic groups, the hydrophobic groups selected from at least one of alkyl or aryl groups optionally substituted with fluorine, and siloxanes having alkyl groups, aryl groups, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A wetness sensor includes a substrate that carries a tuned RF circuit. The circuit includes a conductive pattern applied to the substrate, a capacitor, and a jumper all disposed on a same side of the substrate. The conductive pattern includes an inductive coil, and an inner and outer terminus. The jumper electrically couples the inner terminus to the outer terminus. The jumper also includes a frangible link which, when contacted by a target fluid, produces a drastic change in the operation of the RF circuit. The drastic change can be interpreted by a remote reader as a “wet” condition. Contact of the frangible link by the target fluid may change the impedance or resistance of the RF circuit by at least a factor of 5, 10, 100, or more, and/or may cause the frangible link to disintegrate to produce an open circuit, and/or may substantially render the RF circuit inoperative.

Abstract: A wetness sensor includes a substrate that carries a tuned RF circuit. The circuit includes a conductive pattern applied to the substrate, a capacitor, and a jumper all disposed on a same side of the substrate. The conductive pattern includes an inductive coil, and an inner and outer terminus. The jumper electrically couples the inner terminus to the outer terminus. The jumper also includes a frangible link which, when contacted by a target fluid, produces a drastic change in the operation of the RF circuit. The drastic change can be interpreted by a remote reader as a “wet” condition. Contact of the frangible link by the target fluid may change the impedance or resistance of the RF circuit by at least a factor of 5, 10, 100, or more, and/or may cause the frangible link to disintegrate to produce an open circuit, and/or may substantially render the RF circuit inoperative.

Abstract: A wetness sensor includes a self-supporting substrate and an electrically conductive trace carried by the substrate. The trace is patterned to provide at least a portion of a tuned RF circuit, which may be disposed on only one side of the substrate and characterized by an impedance or resistance. The trace is not self-supporting. The substrate is adapted to dissolve, swell, or otherwise degrade when contacted by a target fluid. Such degradation produces a drastic change in the operation of the RF circuit, which can be interpreted by a remote reader as a “wet” condition. Contact of the substrate by the target fluid may change the impedance or resistance of the RF circuit by at least a factor of 5, 10, 100, or 1000, and/or may cause the trace to disintegrate so as to provide the RF circuit with an open circuit, and/or may substantially render the RF circuit inoperative.

Abstract: A wetness sensor includes a substrate that carries a tuned RF circuit. The circuit includes a conductive pattern applied to the substrate, a capacitor, and a jumper all disposed on a same side of the substrate. The conductive pattern includes an inductive coil, and an inner and outer terminus. The jumper electrically couples the inner terminus to the outer terminus. The jumper also includes a frangible link which, when contacted by a target fluid, produces a drastic change in the operation of the RF circuit. The drastic change can be interpreted by a remote reader as a “wet” condition. Contact of the frangible link by the target fluid may change the impedance or resistance of the RF circuit by at least a factor of 5, 10, 100, or more, and/or may cause the frangible link to disintegrate to produce an open circuit, and/or may substantially render the RF circuit inoperative.

Abstract: A porous particle with a non-polymeric masking powder on at least a portion of its outer surface is disclosed. The non-polymeric masking powder is not attached to the outer surface of the porous particle with a polymeric binder, and the masked porous particle is hydrophobic. Absorbent articles, for example, diapers and sanitary napkins, and absorbent components of absorbent articles that include a plurality of the masked porous particles are also disclosed. A method of making the masked porous particle is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of treating porous particles, each porous particle having an external surface and a multiplicity of pores with interior pore surfaces, by contacting the external surface with a hydrophobic agent while causing the interior pore surfaces to remain substantially free of the hydrophobic agent. In certain illustrative embodiments, treating the external surfaces of the porous particles includes exposing the porous particles to at least one of water vapor, methanol vapor, or ethanol vapor; and subsequently exposing the porous particles to a second vapor comprising a reactive organosilane compound which reacts to form the hydrophobic agent. In some particular illustrative embodiments, at least a portion of the external surface of the treated porous particle includes hydrophobic groups, the hydrophobic groups selected from at least one of alkyl or aryl groups optionally substituted with fluorine, and siloxanes having alkyl groups, aryl groups, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to devices and methods for analyzing a sample (and preferably preparing a sample), which is particularly used in analysis, such as analysis of a sample for a bacterium of interest.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, the invention relates to methods of capturing bacterial whole cells that includes the use of two or more antibodies having antigenic specificities for two or more distinct analytes characteristic of the specific bacterium. In certain embodiments, the invention relates to methods of analyzing a sample for a bacterium of interest. In particular, the methods are useful for detecting one or more analytes characteristic of a bacterium of interest, such as components of cell walls that are characteristic of a bacterium, particularly Staphylococcus aureus.