Abstract: Systems and methods for fulfilling an order for a product placed by a customer in which the product is stored and transported within reusable containers. A method includes receiving from a customer an order for an amount of a product; selecting a primary container for holding the amount of the product; selecting a shipping container for holding the selected primary container; charging a product fee to an account, the product fee based on the amount of product ordered; determining a container rental fee based on the selected primary container and the selected shipping container; placing a hold on the account for an amount equal to the container rental fee; filling the selected primary container with the amount of the product from a bulk supply of the product; placing the filled selected primary container in the selected shipping container; and shipping the selected shipping container to the customer.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed that enable writing data on, and reading data of, multi-state elements having greater than two states. The elements may be made of magnetoplastic and/or magnetoelastic materials, including, for example, magnetic shape-memory alloy or other materials that couple magnetic and crystallographic states. The writing process is preferably conducted through the application of a magnetic field and/or a mechanical action. The reading process is preferably conducted through atomic-force microscopy, magnetic-force microscopy, spin-polarized electrons, magneto-optical Kerr effect, optical interferometry or other methods, or other methods/effects. The multifunctionality (crystallographic, magnetic, and shape states each representing a functionality) of the multi-state elements allows for simultaneous operations including read&write, sense&indicate, and sense&control.

Abstract: An actinyl-selective polymer detects the presence of actinide ions in a solution. An electrode or FET gate surface of a sensor element may be coated or otherwise made to include the actinyl-selective polymer, which preferably includes chelating molecules selective to ions having the general formula MO2X, where M represents any metal in the actinide group and X represents 1+, 2+, or any other charge state, including uranium ions (UO22+), plutonium ions (PuO22+, PuO21+), and thorium ions (ThO21+) and others. The chelating polymer is preferably made by first polymerizing a selected monomer and then derivatizing the polymer with a calix[n]arene rings (where n=4-10) compound, resulting in a high density of chelating molecules on the surface of the polymer, where they are accessible to the solutions being testing and cleansing or rejuvenating solutions.

Abstract: A method of electrochemical deposition uses microdroplets of electrolytic solution over a targeted small circuit element. Only the targeted circuit element is electrically biased so that deposition occurs on the surface of that element, underneath the microdroplet, and nowhere else unless it is under other microdroplet(s). The invented method achieves extremely accurate and selective electrochemical deposition with a tiny amount of electrolytic solution, compared to conventional submersive and/or immersive methods, and eliminates the need for masking or etching, reducing the costs of manufacture and amount of waste electrolytic solution produced.