Abstract: A disposable cartridge for performing an automatic sample preparation, said cartridge comprising: a barrel housing layer (L2) to host extruded barrels for housing liquids (reagents), each barrel being a piston actuated barrel sealed with a frangible seal, said barrel housing layer receiving and storing a blood sample to be tested; a puncturing layer (L4) to host needles in order to puncture said frangible seal upon receiving a force from its operative bottom side; a liquid flow channel layer (L5) with liquid flow channels and valves, for providing micro-channels for splitting, routing, and metering of said samples with reagents; a soft membrane (L6) to work as an interface for mixing liquids and for blocking fluidic channels to prevent flow of fluids in channels of choice; and an actuation layer (L8) to provide actuation force for closing or opening of said valves.

Abstract: Provided are techniques for operating a pipeline that include: determining, based on observed operational parameters of equipment of an upstream process facility, an indirect quality parameter for processed production fluid output from the process facility and routed into a pipeline; determining, based on characteristics of the processed production fluid output from the facility, a direct quality parameter for the processed fluid; determining a quality parameter for the processed fluid defined as the greater of the indirect and the direct quality parameter for the processed fluid; determining, based on the quality parameter for the processed fluid, a model of the pipeline that includes a cumulative water accumulation of a segment of the pipeline; determining, based on the cumulative water accumulation, a water remediation schedule for the segment; and conducting, in accordance with the schedule, a water remediation operation in the segment of the pipeline.

Abstract: A microfluidic impedance cytometry apparatus, for position determination and impedance measurement of particle/s in a fluid carrying particles, comprising: a microfluidic impedance flow channel for allowing flow of said fluid; an upstream section; a downstream section; a sensing region to receive said channeled fluid, to sense one or more parameters of said fluid, said sensing region comprising one or more sets of pairs of electrodes, each pair forming a current path from an operative top to an operative bottom, each of said pairs being formed by an operative top electrode and an operative bottom electrode, electric potential being applied on said operative top electrode/s, each electrode for a particular pair being parallel-aligned and being symmetric, with respect to each other, same positive electric potential being applied on each of said top electrodes and each of said bottom electrodes is virtually grounded, for a pair; and a configuration of amplifiers.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a microfluidic device comprising a set of micro-structured electrodes. The electrodes are made of a fusible alloy such as Field's Metal and are patterned on a layer of PDMS. The molten fusible alloy is poured over the patterned PDMA layer and a suction force is applied to ensure uniformity of flow of the molten metal. A second layer comprising a flow channel orthogonal to the direction of the micro-structured electrodes is disposed under the first layer to form the microfluidic device. The device shows enhanced sensitivity to RBC detection at high frequencies that are also bio-compatible (above 2 MHz). Multiple layers of the micro-structures electrodes can be sandwiched between layers of flow channels to provide a 3D microfluidic device.

Abstract: A system and a method for methanol production is described. The method includes gasifying coal to produce a coal gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide; transferring heat from the coal gas to a natural gas reforming mixture including water and methane; reforming the natural gas reforming mixture to form a reformed natural gas; mixing the coal gas, the reformed natural gas, and a recycled gas including hydrogen and carbon monoxide to form a synthesis gas; reacting the synthesis gas to form methanol and a waste gas; separating the methanol and the waste gas; removing hydrogen from the waste gas to produce a dehydrogenated waste gas; and subjecting the dehydrogenated waste gas to a water-gas shift reaction to produce the recycled gas.

Abstract: A prostate grasping morcellator device and a method of morcellating prostate tissue are described. The prostate grasping morcellator device includes a handpiece portion including a motor which rotates an internal sheath in an external sheath of a rod. The rod is connected to a second end of the handpiece portion. The prostate grasping morcellator device includes one or more retractable grasping nails connected to an end of the rod. The end is distal to the second end of the handpiece portion. The prostate grasping morcellator device includes a control button to control movement of the retractable grasping nails. The control button is mounted adjacent to the second end of the handpiece portion. The prostate grasping morcellator device includes one or more blades, rotated by the motor to morcellate tissue.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a microfluidic device comprising a set of micro-structured electrodes. The electrodes are made of a fusible alloy such as Field's Metal and are patterned on a layer of PDMS. The molten fusible alloy is poured over the patterned PDMA layer and a suction force is applied to ensure uniformity of flow of the molten metal. A second layer comprising a flow channel orthogonal to the direction of the micro-structured electrodes is disposed under the first layer to form the microfluidic device. The device shows enhanced sensitivity to RBC detection at high frequencies that are also bio-compatible (above 2 MHz). Multiple layers of the micro-structures electrodes can be sandwiched between layers of flow channels to provide a 3D microfluidic device.

Abstract: Zeinmersomes (ZMS) comprising zein, a phospholipid and a PEG-polymer are formulated to encapsulate a drug of interest. Olmesartan medoxomil (OM) is encapsulated in the ZMS (OM-ZMS) for oral administration and taken up by the liver where OM diffuses from the ZMS nanocarrier. OM concentrations in liver were at least 8 times higher than that measured in plasma. Established fibrosis was reversed in a thioacetamide-induced rat model of human chronic hepatic fibrosis. The OM-ZMS provides a hepatic drug delivery system that reduces the potential of side-effects caused by OM, including OM-associated sprue-like enteropathy, to treat chronic hepatic fibrosis and associated duodenal changes.

Abstract: Zeinmersomes (ZMS) comprising zein, a phospholipid and a PEG-polymer are formulated to encapsulate a drug of interest. Olmesartan medoxomil (OM) is encapsulated in the ZMS (OM-ZMS) for oral administration and taken up by the liver where OM diffuses from the ZMS nanocarrier. OM concentrations in liver were at least 8 times higher than that measured in plasma. Established fibrosis was reversed in a thioacetamide-induced rat model of human chronic hepatic fibrosis. The OM-ZMS provides a hepatic drug delivery system that reduces the potential of side-effects caused by OM, including OM-associated sprue-like enteropathy, to treat chronic hepatic fibrosis and associated duodenal changes.