Abstract: Techniques for treating subjects with an injected agent include applying vacuum pressure to tissue adjacent the injection and optionally electroporating said tissue. A device for applying such treatment includes a housing defining a receptacle and an opening into the receptacle. A port extends through the housing remote from the opening and is connectable to a vacuum source, such that the port can communicate vacuum pressure from the vacuum source to the receptacle. The device includes an insert that is receivable within the receptacle and that defines an internal chamber, which is in communication with the vacuum source when the insert resides in the receptacle. The insert includes at least one electrode positioned within the chamber and configured to deliver one or more electroporation pulses to a targeted portion of tissue extending through the at least one opening and at least momentarily held in the chamber responsive to the vacuum pressure.

Abstract: A “partial activation” method of magnetostrictive guided wave testing of a structure. A coil-wrapped magnetostrictive strip is acoustically coupled to the surface of the structure. A permanent magnet is placed over a portion of the strip, such that the permanent magnet covers all or most of the width of the strip but only a portion of its length. A pulsed alternating current source activates the magnetostrictive strip, thereby producing magnetostrictive vibrations in the magnetostrictive strip, and thereby resulting in guided waves in the structure. Response signals are received, then the permanent magnet is moved to a next position along the length of the magnetostrictive strip. As the magnet is moved along the strip, the strip is activated and response signals are received, thereby testing a desired portion of the structure under the strip. The response signals are analyzed to determine the presence of anomalies in the structure.

Abstract: Modular active surface devices for microfluidic systems and methods of making the same including adhesive-free assembly are disclosed. In some embodiments, the presently disclosed modular active surface devices and methods provide adhesive-free assembly processes, such as, but not limited to, laser beam welding (LBW) processes, ultrasonic welding processes, heat welding processes, chemical bonding processes, mechanical compression processes, and the like. In some embodiments, the modular active surface devices and methods provide a reagent hopper or well that is out-of-plane with the reaction chamber.

Abstract: A method of testing for defects in welds of a structure, such as a pipeline or plate structure. One or more ultrasonic guided wave transducers are placed against a wall of the structure. The orientation of the transducer(s) is such that guided waves are directed toward a weld at an angle to the weld. The transducer(s) are used to deliver guided waves and to receive reflection signals, which are then processed to indicate if a defect is present in the weld.

Abstract: Inordinately slow crystallization at rate controlled evaporative cooling of terephthalic acid from liquid phase aqueous solutions also containing from 500 to 6,000 ppm p-toluic acid based on dissolved terephthalic acid at temperatures in the range of 400.degree. to 550.degree.F. can be overcome by more rapid continuous flash evaporation of solvent in two or more stirred crystallization zones to obtain a terephthalic acid product having 150 ppm or less p-toluic acid. Such product is readily separated from mother liquor by continuous centrifuge.