Abstract: A gas turbine having an annular flowpath defined between concentric inner radial and outer radial boundaries. A plenum is positioned just outboard of the outer radial boundary that wraps circumferentially in spaced relation thereto. The height of the plenum is defined radially between a floor and ceiling. The plenum includes an inlet formed through the ceiling at a first end and spaced outlet ports formed through the floor. The plenum includes a divider baffle that spans the width of the plenum and extends between the first end and the second end of the plenum so to divide the plenum into radially stacked first and second compartments. The first compartment connects directly to the inlet, while the second compartment connects directly to the outlet ports. The height of the first compartment tapers between a greater height at the first end and a lesser height at the second end of the plenum.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for vascular access, enabling repetitive vascular access while preventing damage to the blood vessel wall, reducing hematomas, improving flow in a vessel, preventing back-wall perforation, and enabling improved fistula maturation and care. The system includes an implanted conduit that is incorporated into surrounding fibrous tissue that can guide a needle and/or catheter from a puncture site on the skin to a vessel wall, which may be used to provide repetitive vascular access for persons requiring hemodialysis or chemotherapy.

Abstract: A vascular access device is disclosed including a needle insertion guide having a proximal end and a distal end a the guide including a needle insertion guide having a proximal end and a distal end and a vessel interface configured for attaching the distal end of the guide to a target on an unbroken outer wall of a blood vessel of a living subject and a skin interface configured for attaching the proximal end of the guide to a skin of the living subject. Optionally the vessel interface is connected to the guide by a flexible joint configured. Optionally two vascular access devices are connected by an electrically conductive connection. Optionally the vascular access device includes a sensor to determine when a needle enters the blood vessel. Optionally the vascular access device serves as a marker for a sensor determining a status of the blood vessel.

Abstract: A vascular access device is disclosed including a needle insertion guide having a proximal end and a distal end a the guide including a needle insertion guide having a proximal end and a distal end and a vessel interface configured for attaching the distal end of the guide to a target on an unbroken outer wall of a blood vessel of a living subject and a skin interface configured for attaching the proximal end of the guide to a skin of the living subject. Optionally the vessel interface is connected to the guide by a flexible joint configured. Optionally two vascular access devices are connected by an electrically conductive connection. Optionally the vascular access device includes a sensor to determine when a needle enters the blood vessel. Optionally the vascular access device serves as a marker for a sensor determining a status of the blood vessel.

Abstract: A turbine rotor blade that includes an interior cooling configuration having a section configuration that includes: a main channel divided into three non-overlapping segments in which an upstream segment connects to a downstream segment via a transition segment positioned therebetween; and one or more branching channels extending from the main channel via connections each makes to the transition segment. The transition segment includes a variable cross-sectional flow area that accommodates a main channel flow area reduction occurring between the upstream segment and the downstream segment. The one or more branching channels having a total branching channel flow area. The section configuration is configured according to a section channel ratio that is defined as the main channel flow area reduction divided by the total branching channel flow area, with the value of the section channel ratio being configured according a desired coolant flow characteristic.

Abstract: A gas turbine having an annular flowpath defined between concentric inner radial and outer radial boundaries. A plenum is positioned just outboard of the outer radial boundary that wraps circumferentially in spaced relation thereto. The height of the plenum is defined radially between a floor and ceiling. The plenum includes an inlet formed through the ceiling at a first end and spaced outlet ports formed through the floor. The plenum includes a divider baffle that spans the width of the plenum and extends between the first end and the second end of the plenum so to divide the plenum into radially stacked first and second compartments. The first compartment connects directly to the inlet, while the second compartment connects directly to the outlet ports. The height of the first compartment tapers between a greater height at the first end and a lesser height at the second end of the plenum.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for vascular access, enabling repetitive vascular access while preventing damage to the blood vessel wall, reducing hematomas, improving flow in a vessel, preventing back-wall perforation, and enabling improved fistula maturation and care. The system includes an implanted conduit that is incorporated into surrounding fibrous tissue that can guide a needle and/or catheter from a puncture site on the skin to a vessel wall, which may be used to provide repetitive vascular access for persons requiring hemodialysis or chemotherapy.

Abstract: A turbine rotor blade that includes an interior cooling configuration having a section configuration that includes: a main channel divided into three non-overlapping segments in which an upstream segment connects to a downstream segment via a transition segment positioned therebetween; and one or more branching channels extending from the main channel via connections each makes to the transition segment. The transition segment includes a variable cross-sectional flow area that accommodates a main channel flow area reduction occurring between the upstream segment and the downstream segment. The one or more branching channels having a total branching channel flow area. The section configuration is configured according to a section channel ratio that is defined as the main channel flow area reduction divided by the total branching channel flow area, with the value of the section channel ratio being configured according a desired coolant flow characteristic.

Abstract: User access to a protected resource is controlled by: intercepting a request from a client browser (80) directed to a server (50); requesting user credentials from the client browser (80); processing user credentials received from the client browser (80) to authenticate the user (20); redirecting the client browser (80) to an authorization server (70) configured to issue a token credential; intercepting an authorization request from the browser (80) to the authorization server (70), and inserting into the authorization request an HTTP header variable indicating the authentication status of the user (20). The authorization server (70) is arranged to issue a token credential, which may be used by the user (20) to obtain a token for indicating to a server (50) hosting the protected resource authorization of the user (20) to access the protected resource.

Abstract: User access to a protected resource is controlled by: intercepting a request from a client browser (80) directed to a server (50); requesting user credentials from the client browser (80); processing user credentials received from the client browser (80) to authenticate the user (20); redirecting the client browser (80) to an authorization server (70) configured to issue a token credential; intercepting an authorization request from the browser (80) to the authorization server (70), and inserting into the authorization request an HTTP header variable indicating the authentication status of the user (20). The authorization server (70) is arranged to issue a token credential, which may be used by the user (20) to obtain a token for indicating to a server (50) hosting the protected resource authorization of the user (20) to access the protected resource.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multi-electrode array comprising a plurality of electrodes, the electrodes being spaced apart from each other by spacer means, the electrodes being secured to the spacer means, the spacer means being encapsulated within a housing. The invention also relates to an implantable device comprising a multi-electrode array of the invention, a method of manufacturing electrodes for use in an array of the invention and a method for manufacturing a multi-electrode array of the invention. The invention also relates to a method for monitoring the effect of a test substance on a biological tissue using a multi-electrode array of the invention.

Abstract: Smart aerogel, an aerogel material doped with special bio-affinity compounds to providing means of unique collection, detection and identification of bioaerosols, including bacteria, viruses, toxins, and other bioaerosols. Aerogels, extremely low density and highly porous materials with a complex pore structure, are used as an intelligent detection material by incorporating specific bioaffinity pharmaceuticals directly into the matrix. The complex pore structure contains micropores, mesopores, and macropores in an open pore structure. The opening pore structure of the aerogel is used to create docking sites by linking high affinity pharmaceuticals that specifically bind only to certain bioaerosols. The high internal surface area of the aerogel and the extremely low density provides abundant receptor sites per unit mesopore for a high bioaerosol-receptor interaction, yet in a manner which will reduce possible damage and destruction to the bioaerosols captured.

Abstract: Atmospheric Samplers are disclosed using aerogel filter material. The samplers include one or more cascaded impact sample stations with discs of aerogel as the targets. Ambient air carrying particulate matter is introduced into the sampler and the particles are captured by the aerogel in its pore structure. In certain embodiments, the aerogel filter is next transported to a position where it is fragmented by a spray of water. The fragmented aerogel and the captured particles are transported in the fragmenting water from the sampler for analysis. In one embodiment, the sampler is segmented with alternate nozzle and filter segments for easy assembly, sampling and disassembly for analysis of the captured particles in aerogel filters positions below the nozzles.