Abstract: There is disclosed a method for producing metal oxide nanoparticles that are capped or otherwise encapsulated with conducting polymers. There is further disclosed a method for using metal oxide nanoparticles that are capped or encapsulated with conducting polymers in batteries and other energy storage devices. There is further disclosed a battery or other energy storage device having a cathode made from metal oxide nanoparticles capped or encapsulated with conducting particles. More particularly the battery is a secondary lithium battery.

Abstract: There is disclosed a cathode/fuel formulation used for primary cells (batteries) or even for semi-fuel cells. More particularly, there is disclosed an air-breathing cathode semi-fuel cell having an anode and a cathode formulation, wherein the anode comprises a formulation of metals and alloys selected from the group consisting of Li, Mg, Ca, Al, and combinations thereof, and the cathode formulation comprises components (a) an aromatic nitro compound as a fuel, (b) a binder agent, and (c) and a conductive particle composition, wherein the three components are mixed together and pressed onto a scaffold to form a cathode, wherein the cathode formulation further comprises oxygen or openings to allow for air to circulate.

Abstract: The invention includes a method of simultaneously detecting the presence or absence of more than one microbe class (e.g., bacteria, yeast, and mold) in a sample. The method can include the step of applying a sample suspected of containing more than one microbe class to a growth medium, optionally fragmenting the sample, associating the sample with a labeling agent, and simultaneously detecting the presence or absence of each microbe class by detection of the labeling agent.

Abstract: A method for the detection of microorganisms in a sample comprising contacting said sample with a biosensor concentration module, allowing microorganisms to grow for a first period of time and detecting growth of discrete microorganisms as an indication of the presence of said microorganisms.

Abstract: A system for the rapid detection of microbial contamination in a fluid sample such as water, involving the use of a filter material having a surface adapted to receive the sample in order to retain substantially all microbes from the sample on the filter surface under conditions that minimize the potential for contamination from sources other than the sample itself, and in a manner that permits the filter surface to be incubated in order to grow viable microbes contained thereon, in combination with a growth medium and an analytic instrument to permit analysis of the filter surface, within a predetermined incubation period, in order to determine whether the growth onset of viable microbes that may be present on the surface has begun.

Abstract: A method for the detection of microorganisms in a sample comprising contacting said sample with a biosensor concentration module, allowing microorganisms to grow for a first period of time and detecting growth of discrete microorganisms as an indication of the presence of said microorganisms.

Abstract: The invention includes a method of detecting the presence or absence of mold in a sample. The method can include the step of applying a sample suspected of containing the mold to a growth medium, optionally fragmenting the sample, associating the sample with a labeling agent, and detecting the presence or absence of the mold by detection of the labeling agent. The invention can also include a medium for growing mold that includes a stimulation agent.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods for reducing background fluorescence in cell detection and measurement systems. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, cell-impermeant chemical agents are used to modify the fluorescent probes that reside outside the cells to be detected. The chemical agents can chemically modify one or more functional groups in the probes, thereby reducing or eliminating the fluorescence of the probes. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, Acid Black 48 is used to reduce background fluorescence produced by fluorescent probes such as SYTO 62.

Abstract: A method for the detection of microorganisms in a sample comprising contacting said sample with a biosensor concentration module, allowing microorganisms to grow for a first period of time and detecting growth of discrete microorganisms as an indication of the presence of said microorganisms.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus employ the use of arrays (301, 902) of two or more electronically-discrete electrodes (1, 2, 3 . . . ) to facilitate high-throughput preparation and testing of materials comprising two or more elements. High rates of deposition, synthesis and/or analysis of materials are achieved with the use of arrays of electrodes whereby desired materials are developed. The high rate synthesis and/or analysis of an array of materials uses deposition control techniques in conjunction with the electrode array to develop a meaningful array of materials and to analyze the materials for desired characteristics to develop one or more materials with desired characteristics. The use of an array of electrodes enables high-throughput development of materials having scientific and economic advantages.

Abstract: One embodiment of this method involves using an acoustic device (including devices that emit acoustic waves at subsonic, sonic, and ultrasonic frequencies) that induces pressure changes at high frequencies. Those pressure changes could be induced across a large area from a single device location. Thus, one acoustic device located in one wellbore can desorb gas from a large volume of coal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to moving microorganisms to a surface, where they are grown in the presence and absence of antimicrobials, and by monitoring the growth of the microorganisms over time in the two conditions, their susceptibility to the antimicrobials can be determined. The microorganisms can be moved to the surface through electrophoresis, centrifugation or filtration. When the movement involves electrophoresis, the presence of oxidizing and reducing reagents lowers the voltage at which electrophoretic force can be generated and allows a broader range of means by which the target can be detected. Monitoring can comprise optical detection, and most conveniently includes the detection of individual microorganisms. The microorganisms can be stained in order to give information about their response to antimicrobials.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods for reducing background fluorescence in cell detection and measurement systems. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, cell-impermeant chemical agents are used to modify the fluorescent probes that reside outside the cells to be detected. The chemical agents can chemically modify one or more functional groups in the probes, thereby reducing or eliminating the fluorescence of the probes. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, Acid Black 48 is used to reduce background fluorescence produced by fluorescent probes such as SYTO 62.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus employ the use of arrays (301, 902) of two or more electronically-discrete electrodes (1, 2, 3 . . . ) to facilitate high-throughput preparation and testing of materials comprising two or more elements. High rates of deposition, synthesis and/or analysis of materials are achieved with the use of arrays of electrodes whereby desired materials are developed. The high rate synthesis and/or analysis of an array of materials uses deposition control techniques in conjunction with the electrode array to develop a meaningful array of materials and to analyze the materials for desired characteristics to develop one or more materials with desired characteristics. The use of an array of electrodes enables high-throughput development of materials having scientific and economic advantages.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus employ the use of arrays of two or more electronically discrete electrodes to facilitate high-throughput preparation and testing of materials with two or more elements. High rates of deposition, synthesis and/or analysis of materials are achieved with the use of arrays of electrodes whereby desired materials are developed. The high rate synthesis and/or analysis of an array of materials uses deposition control techniques in conjunction with the electrode array to develop a meaningful array of materials and to analyze the materials for desired characteristics to develop one or more materials with desired characteristics. The use of an array of electrodes enables high throughput development of materials having scientific and economic advantages.

Abstract: A biocompatible flow cytometry system such that low levels of bacteria or other particles in a sample will not adsorb onto the system's surfaces. The biocompatible flow cytometry system comprises an upper chamber assembly. The upper chamber comprises a biocompatible input system, a means for retaining and adjusting the biocompatible system, a sheath fluid input port, and a means of interfacing with a glass tube. The interface between the biocompatible system and a glass tube allows for the low level contaminants to be irradiated with a laser source selected to interact with marked bacteria and cause them to fluoresce at a wavelength that can be detected.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a refractive index detector for a dynamic liquid sample having a fiber optic filament of a predetermined diameter with an unclad sensor region, wherein the sensor region comprises a longitudinally tapered zone wherein the diameter continuously decreases from the predetermined diameter to a minimum diameter.The invention finds use as a detector for high performance liquid chromatography and capillary zone electrophoresis.

Abstract: Adhesion between carbon fibers and thermoplastic matrix materials, used in carbon fiber composite materials, is promoted by the use of a bridging agent. The composite material includes: a plurality of carbon fibers; a thermoplastic matrix material intermingled among the plurality of carbon fibers; and a bridging agent adhering the plurality of carbon fibers to the thermoplastic matrix material. The bridging agent includes compounds having multifunctional groups that are capable of chemically bonding with a functional group of the carbon fiber and a functional group of the thermoplastic matrix material; but it excludes multifunctional amine compounds having metal-oxygen bonds.

Abstract: Via holes are etched in an alumina layer using an etchant bath of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid at a pH above 9.