Abstract: Provided herein are compositions and methodologies for identifying microbes in biofilms and adhered to biotic and abiotic surfaces, utilizing enzymes that degrade biofilms and disperse aggregated clusters of microorganisms. Utilizing enzymes such as CAase to degrade biofilms, organisms released from biofilms are identified more readily than from untreated biofilms. Biofilms from a variety of sources, both biotic and abiotic, can be analyzed utilizing the present disclosure.

Abstract: Provided in one embodiment is a method of making, comprising: exposing a raw material having a first viscosity to a first pressure and a first temperature such that the raw material after the exposure has a second viscosity, wherein the raw material comprises particles comprising at least one electrically conductive material, and wherein the second viscosity is sufficiently low for the raw material to be adapted for a hydrodynamic cavitation process; and subjecting the raw material having the second viscosity to the hydrodynamic cavitation process to make a product material having a third viscosity. Apparatus employed to apply the method and the exemplary compositions made in accordance with the method are also provided.

Abstract: A flow-through electrochemical detection system determines if a target nucleic acid polymer is present in a sample. This system contains, at a minimum, an assay reaction chamber that contains a porous working electrode to which target nucleic acid polymer capturing molecules are bound. As a sample passes through the working electrode, any target nucleic acid polymer present in the sample binds to the target nucleic acid polymer capturing molecules. After the sample passes through the flow-through electrochemical detection system, target nucleic acid polymer detectors are placed inside the assay reaction chamber and bind to any target nucleic acid polymer present. The target nucleic acid polymer detectors contain a means for generating an electric current when exposed to a chemical or an enzyme. A potentiostat connected to the working electrode measures the generated current, thereby detecting the presence and quantity of the target nucleic acid polymer in the sample.

Abstract: Provided in one embodiment is a method of making paste for solar cells. The method can include forcing silver through a feed tube coupled to a hydrodynamic cavitation chamber using an air-driven piston. The method can include subjecting the silver to hydrodynamic cavitation in the hydrodynamic cavitation chamber by using a hydraulic pump to pass the silver sequentially through a primary orifice, a secondary orifice, and a final orifice within the hydrodynamic cavitation chamber to produce the paste for the solar cells. The silver can include up to three unique silver powders having a total particle size distribution from 0.1 microns to 10 microns. A first silver powder can have a first average particle size of 1.5 um, a second silver powder having a second average particle size of 0.5 um, and a third silver powder having a third average particle size of 0.2 um.

Abstract: Provided in one embodiment is a method of making paste for solar cells. The method can include forcing silver through a feed tube coupled to a hydrodynamic cavitation chamber using an air-driven piston. The method can include subjecting the silver to hydrodynamic cavitation in the hydrodynamic cavitation chamber by using a hydraulic pump to pass the silver sequentially through a primary orifice, a secondary orifice, and a final orifice within the hydrodynamic cavitation chamber to produce the paste for the solar cells. The silver can include up to three unique silver powders having a total particle size distribution from 0.1 microns to 10 microns. A first silver powder can have a first average particle size of 1.5 um, a second silver powder having a second average particle size of 0.5 um, and a third silver powder having a third average particle size of 0.2 um.

Abstract: A flow-through electrochemical detection system determines if an analyte is present in a sample. This system contains, at a minimum, an assay reaction chamber that contains a porous working electrode to which analyte capturing molecules are bound. As a sample passes through the working electrode, any analyte present in the sample binds to the analyte capturing molecules. After the sample passes through the flow-through electrochemical detection system, analyte detectors are placed inside the assay reaction chamber and bind to any analyte present. The analyte detectors contain a means for generating an electric current when exposed to a chemical or an enzyme. A potentiostat connected to the working electrode measures that generated current, thereby detecting the presence and quantity of the analyte in that sample.

Abstract: A single macroscopic magnetic capture device may be functionalized and utilized to query a volume of liquid for a particular target analyte. The magnetic capture device may be rotated to create a vortex to enhance the efficiency of capture. The magnetic capture device may include a ferromagnetic element and a bioactive coating affixed to the surface of the ferromagnetic element, the bioactive coating being configured to capture the target analyte. In some embodiments, a capture container may be utilized together with the magnetic capture device, the geometries of the magnetic capture device and capture container being predetermined to effect a desired fluid dynamic system within the capture container. A customizable kit for allowing a user to create a custom magnetic capture device is also contemplated.

Abstract: Provided in one embodiment is a method of making, comprising: exposing a raw material having a first viscosity to a first pressure and a first temperature such that the raw material after the exposure has a second viscosity, wherein the raw material comprises particles comprising at least one electrically conductive material, and wherein the second viscosity is sufficiently low for the raw material to be adapted for a hydrodynamic cavitation process; and subjecting the raw material having the second viscosity to the hydrodynamic cavitation process to make a product material having a third viscosity. Apparatus employed to apply the method and the exemplary compositions made in accordance with the method are also provided.

Abstract: A system for disposing of one or more radioactive components from a nuclear reactor may include a first receptacle configured to receive the one or more radioactive components, a frame configured to support the first receptacle in the nuclear reactor, and a device configured to separate the one or more radioactive components into two or more portions during lowering of the one or more radioactive components into the first receptacle. A method for disposing of one or more radioactive components from a nuclear reactor may include assembling a system for disposing of the one or more radioactive components, and moving the assembled system to an area of a reactor core. A method for disposing of one or more radioactive components from a nuclear reactor may include assembling a system for disposing of the one or more radioactive components in an area of a reactor core.

Abstract: Provided in one embodiment is a method of making, comprising: exposing a raw material having a first viscosity to a first pressure and a first temperature such that the raw material after the exposure has a second viscosity, wherein the raw material comprises particles comprising at least one electrically conductive material, and wherein the second viscosity is sufficiently low for the raw material to be adapted for a hydrodynamic cavitation process; and subjecting the raw material having the second viscosity to the hydrodynamic cavitation process to make a product material having a third viscosity. Apparatus employed to apply the method and the exemplary compositions made in accordance with the method are also provided.

Abstract: Provided in one embodiment is a method of making, comprising: exposing a raw material having a first viscosity to a first pressure and a first temperature such that the raw material after the exposure has a second viscosity, wherein the raw material comprises particles comprising at least one electrically conductive material, and wherein the second viscosity is sufficiently low for the raw material to be adapted for a hydrodynamic cavitation process; and subjecting the raw material having the second viscosity to the hydrodynamic cavitation process to make a product material having a third viscosity. Apparatus employed to apply the method and the exemplary compositions made in accordance with the method are also provided.

Abstract: A piezoelectric microcantilever for sensing compounds or molecules. The piezoelectric microcantilever, may include at least one electrode, an insulation layer, a receptor, an immobilization layer, a non-piezoelectric layer and a piezoelectric layer The sensor is capable of self actuation and detection. The piezoelectric layer may be constructed from a highly piezoelectric thin lead magnesium niobate-lead titanate film, a highly piezoelectric thin zirconate titanate film, a highly piezoelectric lead-free film. Methods of using the sensors and flow cells and arrays including the sensors are also described.

Abstract: Provided in one embodiment is a method of making, comprising: exposing a raw material having a first viscosity to a first pressure and a first temperature such that the raw material after the exposure has a second viscosity, wherein the raw material comprises particles comprising at least one electrically conductive material, and wherein the second viscosity is sufficiently low for the raw material to be adapted for a hydrodynamic cavitation process; and subjecting the raw material having the second viscosity to the hydrodynamic cavitation process to make a product material having a third viscosity. Apparatus employed to apply the method and the exemplary compositions made in accordance with the method are also provided.

Abstract: A piezoelectric microcantilever for sensing compounds or molecules. The piezoelectric microcantilever, may include at least one electrode, an insulation layer, a receptor, an immobilization layer, a non-piezoelectric layer and a piezoelectric layer The sensor is capable of self actuation and detection. The piezoelectric layer may be constructed from a highly piezoelectric thin lead magnesium niobate-lead titanate film, a highly piezoelectric thin zirconate titanate film, a highly piezoelectric lead-free film. Methods of using the sensors and flow cells and arrays including the sensors are also described.

Abstract: A piezoelectric microcantilever for sensing compounds or molecules. The piezoelectric microcantilever, may include at least one electrode, an insulation layer, a receptor, an immobilization layer, a non-piezoelectric layer and a piezoelectric layer. The sensor is capable of self actuation and detection. The piezoelectric layer may be constructed from a highly piezoelectric thin lead magnesium niobate-lead titanate film, a highly piezoelectric thin zirconate titanate film, a highly piezoelectric lead-free film. Methods of using the sensors and flow cells and arrays including the sensors are also described.

Abstract: A system for disposing of one or more radioactive components from a nuclear reactor may include a first receptacle configured to receive the one or more radioactive components, a frame configured to support the first receptacle in the nuclear reactor, and a device configured to separate the one or more radioactive components into two or more portions during lowering of the one or more radioactive components into the first receptacle. A method for disposing of one or more radioactive components from a nuclear reactor may include assembling a system for disposing of the one or more radioactive components, and moving the assembled system to an area of a reactor core. A method for disposing of one or more radioactive components from a nuclear reactor may include assembling a system for disposing of the one or more radioactive components in an area of a reactor core.

Abstract: A method for determining the dissociation constant (Kd) by plotting resonance frequency shift as a function of time for various target analyte concentrations. From this graph, the fraction of saturation, i.e. equilibrium fraction of bound binding sites out of all available binding sites on the sensor surface may be estimated by taking the ratio of the equilibrium resonance frequency shift at a selected concentration to the equilibrium frequency shift of the sensor. The dissociation constant is the inverse slope of the line produced by graphing the fraction of saturation as a function of concentration. This method is particularly useful for the study of protein-protein and protein-mRNA interactions.

Abstract: A novel, economical electrical insulation method for the production of ultra-thin insulation layers using a solution coating method. Thin hydrophobic self-assembled bi-functional layers of less than 10 nm thick were deposited by a simple solution method and demonstrated to electrically insulate micro-/nano-devices for in-water detection applications. The insulation layer includes a hydrophobic group which repels water and permits superb insulation properties of the ultra-thin layers. The insulation layer has the additional advantages that it binds to a metal or metal oxide surface and to sensing receptors by covalent bonding using standard silane chemistry.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention relates to a headset that includes an element that generates energy in response to forces. The headset includes at least one vibratable piezoelectric element; a first circuit element in electrical communication with the at least one vibratable piezoelectric element; and a signal processing element, the signal processing element disposed within the headset and at least partially energized by mechanical changes in the vibratable piezoelectric element.

Abstract: A method for detecting one or more immunological response factors that is expressed in response to a therapeutic treatment and/or disease using a piezoelectric microcantilever sensor (PEMS) to assess a patient's immunological response. The method involves measuring a frequency shift of the PEMS caused by binding the immunological response factors to one or more receptors on the PEMS. The method may be used to determine the effectiveness of a prescribed therapeutic treatment and/or monitor the progress of a disease.