Abstract: A method and a system for regenerating a body fluid, such as a peritoneal dialysis fluid. The body fluid is removed into an extracorporeal circuit comprising an electrofilter for removing charged ions from the body fluid, a nanofilter for removing large molecules, such as Dextran 40, and a reverse osmosis filter for concentrating the body fluid, for producing a synthetic urine to be discarded. The removed ions and large molecules are returned to the patient together with pure water from the reverse osmosis filter through an ultrafilter.

Abstract: The present invention provides a phenothiazine-derivative color-measuring method that can detect a phenothiazine-derivative color even at a wavelength longer than the wavelength that exhibits maximum absorption.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a molecular-based system for the optical detection, quantification and detoxification of hexavalent chromium (Cr6+) by reversible metal-substrate electron transfer. More particularly, the invention provides a Cr6+ sensor device comprising a divalent osmium (Os2+)-, iron (Fe2+)- or ruthenium (R2+)-based pyridyl complex capable of changing its oxidation state in response to a reduction of Cr6+ at the presence of H+, thereby causing a reversible and optically readable change in optical properties of said complex. The Os2+-, Fe2+- or R2+-based pyridyl complex used according to the invention can be used for selective detection and quantification of Cr6+, as well as for catalytic detoxification of Cr6+.

Abstract: An apparatus for estimating or supervising one or more internal mechanical properties of a metal alloy object with a known chemical composition based on the resistivity of the metal alloy object. The apparatus includes a device for measuring the resistivity of the metal alloy object, and a computation unit adapted to calculate the content of dissolved alloying elements in the metal alloy object based on the measured resistivity and the known chemical composition of the metal alloy, and based thereon to calculate at least one internal mechanical property of the metal alloy object.

Abstract: A rotary filter is provided with greatly expanded filter media area within the flow stream of material to be filtered due to use of a series of cylindrical filter cartridges consisting of a core and cylindrical filter media that are attached to and within a rotary disc, thus providing much greater filter area within the size constraints of the rotary disc and the flow channel. This allows removal of contaminating material in the flow stream. The retaining methods used for these cartridges restrains their movement within the flow stream thus allowing backflushing by reversing flow direction and venting the backflush material. The attachment and construction further allows easy removal and replacement of filter media and cartridges.

Abstract: The invention relates to a washing apparatus, including a First Region (1) to which a wash material (4) is supplied, a Second Region (2), in which the wash material (4) is washed, and a Third Region (3), in which the wash material (4) is melted and a flow resistance (6), which is provided between the Second Region (2) and the Third Region (3), a purification apparatus, a synthesis device, a method for purifying a wash material, and the use of a washing apparatus or a purification apparatus for purifying and then using the target product obtained by the purification.

Abstract: A filter system having a filter element ejection device is provided. Filter systems according to the present invention may include a filter element that includes an ejection receiver for receiving actuation action from an ejector of a filter housing. The ejector engages the ejection receiver when a user desires to eject the filter element from the filter housing. Typically, the ejector extends through the filter housing and axially ejects the filter element from the housing.

Abstract: A polysulfone-based blood treatment membrane that exhibits excellent antioxidant properties, excellent long-term storage stability, and a practical strength, and ensures high productivity, a polysulfone-based blood treatment membrane that exhibits excellent antioxidant properties and long-term storage stability, rarely allows endotoxins to enter a treatment liquid, exhibits a practical strength, and ensures high productivity, and a method of producing the same. A polysulfone-based blood treatment membrane includes a polysulfone-based resin, a hydrophilic polymer, and a lipophilic antioxidant, the membrane containing the lipophilic antioxidant in an amount of 30 to 76 mg per gram of the membrane, and the total amount of the lipophilic antioxidant present on the surface of the membrane being 4 to 25 mg per gram of the membrane.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for determination of magnesium content in aluminum alloy, including: dissolving an aluminum alloy sample, using one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of mercapto-containing compound, acetone cyanohydrin, ?-aminoethyl mercaptan, triethanolamine, tetraethylenepentamine, ethylene diamine and oxydol as masking agent, using eriochrome black T or methyl thymol blue as indicator, and using EDTA or CDTA to titrate the sample.

Abstract: A field flow fractionator to separate particles contained within an injected sample aliquot is described. As required, said fractionator may be used to capture, for subsequent removal, specific predefined classes of such particles. Based upon the cross flow or asymmetric flow field flow fractionators, the fractionator disclosed contains means to vary the applied transverse flows at a plurality of locations along the length of its separating channel. A plurality of separated compartments, each lying below a distinct and corresponding membrane supporting permeable frit segment, are provided individual means to control the localized flow through the membrane section thereabove. A corresponding concentric compartment implementation achieves the same type of compartmentalized cross flow when integrated with a hollow fiber fractionator.

Abstract: A system and method for tagging, tracking, locating and identifying people and vehicles transporting people using Perfluorocarbon tracers. An on-going problem faced by military as well as law enforcement personnel is that of friendly fire incidents. To prevent possible friendly-fire incidents, troops would separate the two layers of the uniform patch, thereby releasing a controlled release of the Perfluorocarbon vapors. Other “friendly” troops, equipped with sensors tuned to the specific perfluorocarbon characteristics would thus be able to literally view a plume around the tagged person or object. The system may conversely be used to tag enemies. Formulations of mixed perfluorocarbons may be used to provide coding of emissions.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes devices useful for microscale fluid purification, separation, and synthesis devices. Generally, such devices comprise a fluid membrane that separates two or more fluids flowing through plural microchannels operatively associated with the membrane. The fluids can both be liquids, gases, or a liquid and a gas, such as may be used for gas absorption into a liquid. Often, the membrane is a semipermeable membrane, such as might be used with a filtration device, such as a dialyzer. Devices of the present invention can be combined with other microscale devices to make systems. For example, the devices may be coupled with one or more microchemical microfactories, one or more micromixers, one or more microheaters; etc. Examples of devices made according to the present invention included an oxygenator, a dialzyer, microheat exchangers, etc. Particular materials had to be developed for use with certain embodiments of the device disclosed herein.

Abstract: This invention relates to microchannel apparatus that includes microchannels with interior surface features for modifying flow; processes utilizing this microchannel architecture, and methods of making apparatus having these features.

Abstract: In particular, Compounds of Formula I or Formula II, generally known as calix[4]arenes, may be prepared. The compounds may be used to test samples for the presence of Hg2+ by fluorescence quenching. The compounds may also be used to selectively detect Hg2+ in samples containing other mono- or divalent metals.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing a high flux, high salt rejection cellulose acetate desalination membrane. In this method, cellulose acetate polymer is dissolved in a first solvent such as methylene chloride or 2-methyltetrahydrofuran to produce a solution. Further steps involve stirring the solution, and thereafter permitting the solution to settle, for a time sufficient for a majority of the cellulose acetate to precipitate out of the solution to form a cellulose acetate precipitate. Next, the cellulose acetate precipitate is stirred into an excess methanol. Thereafter, the cellulose acetate is filtered out and used in making the desalination membrane.

Abstract: A process of determining whether a patient with a disease or disorder will be responsive to a drug, used to treat the disease or disorder, including obtaining a test spectrum produced by a mass spectrometer from a serum produced from the patient. The test spectrum may be processed to determine a relation to a group of class labeled spectra produced from respective serum from other patients having the or similar clinical stage same disease or disorder and known to have responded or not responded to the drug. Based on the relation of the test spectrum to the group of class labeled spectra, a determination may be made as to whether the patient will be responsive to the drug.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of compounds as new chiral selectors for separating the optical or enantiomeric isomers of a compound, wherein the chiral selector comprises at least one compound of formula (I): and at least one metal ion, for example Cu2+, Ni2+, Zn2+, Cd2+ or Co2+.

Abstract: Various methods for forming dyed microspheres are provided. One method includes attaching a hydrophilic dye to chemical groups to form a bubble. The bubble includes the chemical groups surrounding the hydrophilic dye and an aqueous solution. The chemical groups are soluble in aqueous and organic solvents. The method also includes disposing the bubble and a microsphere to be dyed in a solvent such that the bubble is incorporated into the microsphere thereby dyeing the microsphere. Another method includes adsorbing a hydrophilic dye on a surface of a hydrophobic polymer core of a microsphere to be dyed thereby dyeing the microsphere. The method also includes attaching chemical groups to the hydrophilic dye. The chemical groups are soluble in aqueous and organic solvents. The chemical groups attached to the hydrophilic dye form an enclosure surrounding the hydrophilic dye and an aqueous solution.

Abstract: Spectroscopic analysis systems and methods for analyzing samples are disclosed which exploit inelastically scattering radiation to amplify optical signals from an irradiated sample. Samples are irradiated in a chamber having a resonant cavity containing a plurality of affixed reflectors, where selective Stokes scattered radiation is transmitted to a detector for determination of sample identity. Coupling the spectroscopic analysis system and method with a nucleic acid sequencing system is also disclosed for determining nucleic acid sequences.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for measuring pH of low alkalinity samples. The present invention provides a sensor array comprising a plurality of pH indicators, each indicator having a different indicator concentration. A calibration function is generated by applying the sensor array to a sample solution having a known pH such that pH responses from each indicator are simultaneously recorded versus indicator concentration for each indicator. Once calibrated, the sensor array is applied to low alkalinity samples having unknown pH. Results from each pH indicator are then compared to the calibration function, and fitting functions are extrapolated to obtain the actual pH of the low alkalinity sample.