Abstract: Caching of an immutable buffer that has its data and address prevented from changing during the lifetime of the immutable buffer. A first computing entity maintains a cache of the immutable buffer and has a strong reference to the immutable buffer. So long as any entity has a strong reference to the immutable buffer, the immutable buffer is guaranteed to continue to exist for the duration of the strong reference. A second computing entity communicates with the first computing entity to obtain a strong reference to the immutable buffer and thereafter read data from the immutable buffer. Upon reading the data from the cache, the second computing entity demotes the strong reference to a weak reference to the immutable buffer. A weak reference to the immutable buffer does not guarantee that the immutable buffer will continue to exist for the duration of the weak reference.

Abstract: A gold nanoparticle-based colorimetric assay kit for hepatitis C virus RNA that detects unamplified HCV RNA in clinical specimens using unmodified AuNPs and oligotargeter polynucleotides that bind to HCV RNA. A method for detecting hepatitis C virus comprising contacting a sample suspected of containing hepatitis C virus with a polynucleotide that binds to hepatitis C virus RNA and with gold nanoparticles, detecting the aggregation of nanoparticles, and detecting hepatitis C virus in the sample when the nanoparticles aggregate (solution color becomes blue) in comparison with a control or a negative sample not containing the virus when nanoparticles do not aggregate (solution color remains red).

Abstract: The invention provides a method for synthesizing platinum nanoparticles incorporated on silica. The method includes immobilizing dithiocarbamate functional group on a surface of the silica to form dithiocarbamate-silica. The method includes treating the dithiocarbamate-silica with platinic acid to form Platinum (II) [Pt (II)] dithiocarbamate complex on the silica and thereafter, reducing the Pt (II) dithiocarbamate complex.

Abstract: The invention provides an organic-inorganic porous membrane which includes metal organic silica nano-particles impregnated in a polymer. The polymer includes a property of generating porous membrane using a phase inversion technique. The invention also provides a method for preparing the organic-inorganic porous membrane.

Abstract: The reconfigurable radio direction finder system and method uses a reconfigurable antenna to electronically cycle through a plurality of different antenna configurations to determine a signal direction. Specifically, the reconfigurable antenna is cycled through N different antenna configurations, where N is an integer greater than one, where each antenna configuration has a pointing direction associated therewith defined by an elevation angle ?n of an n-th antenna configuration, where n is an integer between 1 and N, and an azimuthal angle ?n of the n-th antenna configuration. A received signal strength of the radio signal is measured for each of the antenna configurations as a power output of the n-th antenna configuration, Pn.

Abstract: The environment and use of an immutable buffer. A computing entity acquires data or generates data and populates the data into the buffer, after which the buffer is classified as immutable. The classification protects the data populated within the immutable buffer from changing during the lifetime of the immutable buffer, and also protects the immutable buffer from having its physical address changed during the lifetime of the immutable buffer. As different computing entities consume data from the immutable buffer, they do so through views provided by a view providing entity. The immutable buffer architecture may also be used for streaming data in which each component of the streaming data uses an immutable buffer. Accordingly, different computing entities may view the immutable data differently without having to actually copy the data.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for synthesizing platinum nanoparticles incorporated on silica. The method includes immobilizing dithiocarbamate functional group on a surface of the silica to form dithiocarbamate-silica. The method includes treating the dithiocarbamate-silica with platinic acid to form Platinum (II) [Pt (II)] dithiocarbamate complex on the silica and thereafter, reducing the Pt (II) dithiocarbamate complex.

Abstract: The invention provides an organic-inorganic porous membrane which includes metal organic silica nano-particles impregnated in a polymer. The polymer includes a property of generating porous membrane using a phase inversion technique. The invention also provides a method for preparing the organic-inorganic porous membrane.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and assembly for preparing a dry thermoplastic prepreg comprising reinforcing fiber spread tow (2) and airborne or melt-borne discrete thermoplastic fibers (4).

Abstract: An optical rotation sensor includes a Fabry Perot laser having an active gain medium for generating first and second light beams, a closed optical path through which the first and second light beams counter-propagate and first and second mirrors coupled to respective ends of the closed optical path. The first minor is a ring mirror having a complex valued reflectivity that varies with a rotation rate of a frame within which the optical rotation sensor is placed. A detector is coupled to an output of the Fabry Perot laser to measure an output intensity thereof.

Abstract: A gold nanoparticle-based assay for the detection of a target molecule, such as Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) RNA in serum samples, that uses positively charged gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in solution based format. The assay has been tested on 74 serum clinical samples suspected of containing HCV RNA, with 48 and 38 positive and negative samples respectively. The developed assay has a specificity and sensitivity of 96.5% and 92.6% respectively. The results obtained were confirmed by Real-Time PCR, and a concordance of 100% for the negative samples and 89% for the positive samples has been obtained between the Real-Time PCR and the developed AuNPs based assay. Also, a purification method for the HCV RNA has been developed using HCV RNA specific probe conjugated to homemade silica nanoparticles. These silica nanoparticles have been synthesized by modified Stober method. This purification method enhanced the specificity of the developed AuNPs assay.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for purifying lactoferrin, which is a pharmacologically important milk protein having various physiological activities, from a secretory fluid containing lactoferrin.

Abstract: The airlift pump with helical flow pattern includes a nozzle body having a fluid passage therethrough. A plurality of air or gas injector nozzles surrounds the central passage. The outward side of each nozzle is tangent to the fluid passage wall through the body to produce circumferential flow in the fluid passage. Each of the air injector nozzles is also inclined in the direction of flow through the body, the tangential inclination resulting in a helical flow pattern through the body. The centrifugal force generated by the circumferential and helical flow through the body results in a pressure decrease through the core of the fluid passage, thereby enhancing entrainment of fluid into the device to increase its efficiency. The fluid passage through the nozzle body is devoid of any structure, and the inlet end of the passage is smoothly radiused to further increase the efficiency of the device.

Abstract: A gold nanoparticle-based colorimetric assay kit for nucleic acids from viral, bacterial and other microorganisms that detects unamplified or amplified polynucleotides in clinical specimens using unmodified AuNPs and oligotargeter polynucleotides that bind to a pathogen's nucleic acids. A method for detecting a pathogen comprising contacting a sample suspected of containing microbes with a polynucleotide that binds to pathogen nucleic acid and with gold nanoparticles, detecting the aggregation of nanoparticles, and detecting pathogen polynucleotides in the sample when the nanoparticles aggregate (solution color becomes blue) in comparison with a control or a negative sample not containing the virus when nanoparticles do not aggregate (solution color remains red).

Abstract: A technique for estimating the location of a wireless terminal at an unknown location in a geographic region is disclosed. The technique is based on the recognition that there are location-dependent traits of electromagnetic signals. In environments where multiple antennas are radiating the same signal, as in the case of distributed antennas or host-repeater configurations, one or more possible locations of the wireless terminal can be designated as improbable based on i) a measure of the propagation delay of a signal traveling between a) a base station and b) the wireless terminal or an infrastructure antenna, or ii) the maximum distance at which a signal is detectable by the wireless terminal. Additionally, the applicable set of values for the location-dependent traits is selected based on similar criteria.

Abstract: The sensor for two-phase flow measurements is installed between two sections of pipe, providing an accurate measurement of radial temperature gradient in a two-phase flow. The sensor includes a heated tube having axially opposed first and second open ends. An annular sensor mount is secured about the first end thereof. First and second annular flanges are mounted to the heated tube for fluid-tight connection with the pair of pipe sections such that a two-phase fluid flowing through the pair of pipe sections continuously flows through the heated tube and a circular opening defined by the annular sensor mount. A central temperature sensor is suspended centrally within the circular opening for measuring a central temperature of the two-phase fluid. At least one peripheral temperature sensor is mounted on the annular sensor mount adjacent an inner annular wall thereof for measuring the peripheral temperature of the two-phase fluid.

Abstract: Caching of an immutable buffer that has its data and address prevented from changing during the lifetime of the immutable buffer. A first computing entity maintains a cache of the immutable buffer and has a strong reference to the immutable buffer. So long as any entity has a strong reference to the immutable buffer, the immutable buffer is guaranteed to continue to exist for the duration of the strong reference. A second computing entity communicates with the first computing entity to obtain a strong reference to the immutable buffer and thereafter read data from the immutable buffer. Upon reading the data from the cache, the second computing entity demotes the strong reference to a weak reference to the immutable buffer. A weak reference to the immutable buffer does not guarantee that the immutable buffer will continue to exist for the duration of the weak reference.

Abstract: The environment and use of an immutable buffer. A computing entity acquires data or generates data and populates the data into the buffer, after which the buffer is classified as immutable. The classification protects the data populated within the immutable buffer from changing during the lifetime of the immutable buffer, and also protects the immutable buffer from having its physical address changed during the lifetime of the immutable buffer. As different computing entities consume data from the immutable buffer, they do so through views provided by a view providing entity. The immutable buffer architecture may also be used for streaming data in which each component of the streaming data uses an immutable buffer. Accordingly, different computing entities may view the immutable data differently without having to actually copy the data.

Abstract: The multistage pulsating airlift pump includes a lowermost air injector stage and at least air injector stage above the lowermost stage installed in a lift pipe. Each stage includes a multifunction timer. The stages above the lowermost stage have sensors along the lift pipe communicating with the respective timers of those stages. The timers are adjusted to provide time delays in accordance with a number of parameters, e.g., the height of the pipe, pressure head, etc. When a sensor detects a rising gas slug, the sensor sends a signal to its timer to start an elapsed delay time. When the delay time has elapsed, the timer opens a control valve to send another volume of gas into the injector in the pipe. The sequentially spaced series of gas slugs rising in the pipe provide constant lifting for the liquid to a much greater height than using a single-stage airlift pump.

Abstract: A technique for estimating the location of a wireless terminal at an unknown location in a geographic region is disclosed. The technique is based on the recognition that there are location-dependent traits of electromagnetic signals. In environments where multiple antennas are radiating the same signal, as in the case of distributed antennas or host-repeater configurations, one or more possible locations of the wireless terminal can be designated as improbable based on i) a measure of the propagation delay of a signal traveling between a) a base station and b) the wireless terminal or an infrastructure antenna, or ii) the maximum distance at which a signal is detectable by the wireless terminal. Additionally, the applicable set of values for the location-dependent traits is selected based on similar criteria.