Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for mixing cells and exogenous material for delivery of the exogenous material into cells using electroporation in a manner that preserves cell viability and integrity of the exogenous material. The exogenous material can be polynucleotides, peptides, proteins or other pharmaceutical molecules. It further provides a chamber that can be used to electroporate the contents of the chamber after mixing. In accordance with the invention, cell suspensions that may be contaminated with degrading enzymes are stored separately from water-based liquids that contain the exogenous material. Contact of the two water-based liquids (cell suspension and exogenous material) first occurs within the chamber. The chamber of the present invention has two or more inlet ports to allow separate entrance of water-based liquids. Two other ports are vent and exit ports.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for the delivery of polynucleotide cancer vaccines to increase T cell response and reduce pain due to long electric waveform application and muscle contractions. The method includes the steps of: (a.) administering a polynucleotide cancer vaccine into the skin at an administration site, (b.) applying a needle electrode to the skin in the vicinity of the administration site, and (c.) applying a sequence of at least three electrical waveforms to deliver the polynucleotide cancer vaccine into skin cells by electroporation. The sequence has at least one of the following characteristics {1} at least two of the waveforms differ in amplitude, {2} at least two of the waveforms differ in width, and (3) a first waveform interval for a first set of two of the waveforms is different from a second waveform interval for a second set of two of the waveforms.

Abstract: A multijunction (MJ) solar cell grown on an InP substrate using materials that are lattice-matched to InP. In an exemplary three-junction embodiment, the top cell is formed from In1-xAlxAs1-ySby (with x and y adjusted so as to achieve lattice-matching with InP, hereafter referred to as InAlAsSb), the middle cell from In1-a-bGaaAlbAs (with a and b adjusted so as to achieve lattice-matching with InP, hereafter referred to as InGaAlAs), and the bottom cell also from InGaAlAs, but with a much lower Al composition, which in some embodiments can be zero so that the material is InGaAs. Tunnel junctions (TJs) connect the junctions and allow photo-generated current to flow. In an exemplary embodiment, an InAlAsSb TJ connects the first and second junctions, while an InGaAlAs TJ connects the second and third junctions.

Abstract: A light emitting device including a transistor structure formed on a semiconductor substrate. The transistor structure having a source region, a drain region, a channel region between the source and drain regions, and a gate oxide on the channel region. The light emitting device including a plurality of nanocrystals embedded in the gate oxide, and a gate contact made of semitransparent or transparent material formed on the gate oxide. The nanocrystals are adapted to be first charged with first type charge carriers, and then provided second type charge carriers, such that the first and second type charge carriers form excitons used to emit light.

Abstract: A memory device. The memory device includes a substrate and an array of nanocrystals formed proximate to the substrate. The array of nanocrystals is electrically insulated to hold charge carriers therein. A presence of charge carriers within the array of nanocrystals represents a first logic state of the memory device. An absence of the charge carriers within the array of nanocrystals represents a second logic state of the memory device. The presence and the absence of the charge carriers is determinable via directing a beam of photons onto the array of nanocrystals and sensing an optical response.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for modulating light with an array of nanocrystals. First photons are directed onto an array of nanocrystals and at least a portion of the first photons ate directed by the array of nanocrystals. In one embodiment, the array of nanocrystals emit second photons. A wavelength of the second photons is modulated responsive to a signal. In one embodiment, dopants are formed proximate to the array of nanocrystals and energy from the absorbed portion of the first photons is coupled to the dopants to cause the to emit third photons. An intensity of the third photons is modulated responsive to a signal.

Abstract: A memory device. The memory device includes a substrate and an array of nanocrystals formed proximate to the substrate. The array of nanocrystals is electrically insulated to hold charge carriers therein. A presence of charge carriers within the array of nanocrystals represents a first logic state of the memory device. An absence of the charge carriers within the array of nanocrystals represents a second logic state of the memory device. The presence and the absence of the charge carriers is determinable via directing a beam of photons onto the array of nanocrystals and sensing an optical response.

Abstract: A video mail delivery system for generating and transmitting video mail between a sender computer and a receiver computer over a communications network, such as the Internet. A video mail file containing audio and video content is recorded in a standard audio video interleave format and is then reformatted and compressed into an advanced streaming format. A video mail message window on the sender computer display enables the addition of an electronic text message to the video mail. A hyperlink to the compressed video mail file is inserted automatically into the video mail message window. When the video mail message is sent, the compressed video mail file is transmitted to a video store and forward server that stores the video mail file until it is accessed by the destination receiver computer.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of articles such as heat exchangers, heat absorbers, thermal skins, rocket engine components and the like which method comprises providing a substrate or mold, etching or cutting cooling channels therein, filling said channels and processing to form a part which is then fabricated into the final article. In the production method a unique filler or core material comprising a strontium composition is utilized thus rendering a product of high quality and net-shape finish.

Abstract: This invention relates to superconducting magnetic storage (SMES) apparatus made of repetitious modular units or modules which support a superconducting electrical magnet and a fluid and which are capable of efficient load transfer and are mass producible. The invention also relates to a method for making a modular SMES apparatus.

Abstract: The process for fabricating ceramic bodies which comprises providing a particulate ceramic powder such as Si.sub.3 N.sub.4, and adding a sintering aid such as SiO.sub.2 and/or Y.sub.2 O.sub.3, and providing an aqueous solution of a water soluble plastic binder, particularly poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline), and which can include auxiliary components, e.g. a surfactant. The ceramic powder including sintering aids is dispersed in the aqueous solution containing binder, and stirring is continued until the dispersion becomes viscous. The resulting viscous dispersion is then dried to form a mixture of the particulate ceramic material and the binder, and the dried mixture is injection molded, e.g. at temperature of about 400.degree. to 500.degree. F. in an argon atmosphere. The injection molded product is then stripped of the binder by heating at temperature ranging from about 700.degree. to about 850.degree. F., without causing any stripping defects.

Abstract: A superconducting magnetic energy storage apparatus comprising a cylindrical superconducting coil; a cylindrical coil containment vessel enclosing the coil and adapted to hold a liquid, such as liquefied helium; and a cylindrical vacuum vessel enclosing the coil containment vessel and located in a restraining structure having inner and outer circumferential walls and a floor; the apparatus being provided with horizontal compression members between (1) the coil and the coil containment vessel and (2) between the coil containment vessel and the vacuum vessel, compression bearing members between the vacuum vessel and the restraining structure inner and outer walls, vertical support members (1) between the coil bottom and the coil containment vessel bottom and (2) between the coil containment vessel bottom and the vacuum vessel bottom, and external supports between the vacuum vessel bottom and the restraining structure floor, whereby the loads developed by thermal and magnetic energy changes in the apparatus can

Abstract: There are provided superplastic alloys formed by electrodeposition of the alloy onto a cathode from an electrolyte containing a first metal ion, which is iron, nickel or cobalt, and a second constituent different from the first, which is iron, nickel, cobalt, tungsten or molybdenum, or a colloidal dispersoid. The products formed are fine-grain deposits free of intergranular embrittling films, and exhibit grain boundary flow at a superplastic temperature below a recrystallization temperature of the deposit. Nickel-cobalt alloys are preferred, and are deposited from halide-free sulfamate baths, with care being taken to eliminate all anode oxides from the system. In a complex structure, the approximate initial hardware contour is formed by electrodeposition, and the final structure formed by superplastic forming.

Abstract: A process of preparing ceramic powders for sintering comprises the steps of dispersing ceramic powders and sintering aids in a low-boiling dispersing liquid to form a suspension, ultrasonically vibrating the suspension to defloculate agglomerates which may have formed, and continuing the ultrasonic vibration until the dispersing liquid is evaporated.

Abstract: Metal matrix composite materials are formed from a reinforcing, submicron-particle material, such as SiC, which is not easily wettable by a matrix metal, such as Al, and therefore cannot be uniformly dispersed in the matrix because the particles agglomerate. A coating 12 of material, such as Si, easily wettable by the matrix metal, is placed on the surface of the particles 10 before mixing the reinforcing particles in the matrix metal.

Abstract: A method for healing surface cracks 10, especially in metals, by scanning a high-energy, diffused, pulsed electron-beam past a crack 10 in a slowly moving specimen object 12. The crack 10 moves laterally with respect to the beam so that the beam pattern 14 is a sawtooth pattern comprising a series of overlapping circles 22, each comprising one pulse of diffused energy.

Abstract: A salt system having a reduced rate of corrosion comprises a salt selected from the group consisting of KNO.sub.3,NaNO.sub.3 and mixtures thereof, and a minor amount of a corrosion inhibitor selected from the group consisting of Li.sub.2 O, Na.sub.2 O, CuO, Mgo, NiO, CaO, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3, SiO.sub.2, Mn.sub.3 O.sub.4, Ti.sub.2 O.sub.3, Y.sub.2 O.sub.3, Na.sub.2 CrO.sub.4, Na.sub.2 Cr.sub.2 O.sub.7, K.sub.2 CrO.sub.4, K.sub.2 Cr.sub.2 O.sub.7, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of electrodeposited nickel-cobalt comprises immersing an anode and a cathode into an electrolyte solution comprising a predetermined Ni.sup.++ /Co.sup.++ ratio, passing a current from the anode to the cathode, and agitating the electrolytic solution in the area of the cathodic surface so as to prevent cathodic starvation and thereby eliminate the independent variables of current density and agitation.

Abstract: There are provided fiber reinforced structures formed of one or more layers of reinforcing fibers contained in an electroformed, superplastic, nickel-cobalt matrix.

Abstract: A process for fabricating character bands 22 for computer printers and the product generated thereby. The process comprises the steps of electrodepositing a binary or ternary nickel alloy onto a cylindrical cathodic mandrel 20, preferably machining away excess backing material 36 so as to leave a smooth surface 38, and separating character band 22 from mandrel 20.