Abstract:
Methods, systems, and apparatus for winnowing. In one aspect, a method includes loading an initial material into a winnowing system via a feed member; feeding the material into a fluidically accelerated winnowing cavity, where the initial material impacts at least one plate member to yield chaff material and processed material, and where the processed material and the chaff material circulate in the winnowing cavity; and separating the chaff material and the processed from the winnowing cavity based on density. Other aspects include yielding intermediate material, where the intermediate material reimpacts the at least one plate member until yielding chaff material and processed material, preprocessing the initial material, controlling the flow of initial material into the winnowing cavity with a feed gate, where the chaff material egresses the winnowing cavity via a chaff chute, where the chaff material collects in a collection cavity, and/or more.
Abstract:
A method for measuring a glomerular filtration rate of a mammalian subject comprises a source of reporter and marker fluorescent molecules. The fluorescent molecules are introduced into the vascular system of the mammalian subject. Over a period of time, a measurement of the intensities of the reporter and marker fluorescent molecules is taken. A ratio is calculated to determine the glomerular filtration rate.
Abstract:
A method for measuring a glomerular filtration rate in a mammalian kidney comprises a source of reporter and marker fluorescent molecules. The fluorescent molecules are introduced into the blood stream of a mammalian subject. Over a period of time, a measurement of the intensities of the reporter and marker fluorescent molecules is taken. A ratio is calculated to determine the health of the subject's kidney. This method measures volume of plasma distribution based on a fluorescence of a marker molecule relative to a fluorescence of a reporter molecule.
Abstract:
A method for rehabilitating alcohol, including placing a quantity of ethanol solution in a pressure-controllable environment, decreasing the pressure of the pressure-controllable environment to about 25 Torr, holding the pressure of the pressure-controllable environment at about 25 Torr for a first predetermined period of time, removing unwanted congeners, such as ethyl acetate, from the ethanol solution to yield a treated ethanol solution, and removing treated solution from the pressure-controllable environment.
Abstract:
A method for measuring a glomerular filtration rate of a mammalian subject comprises a source of reporter and marker fluorescent molecules. The fluorescent molecules are introduced into the vascular system of the mammalian subject. Over a period of time, a measurement of the intensities of the reporter and marker fluorescent molecules is taken. A ratio is calculated to determine the glomerular filtration rate.
Abstract:
A method for rehabilitating alcohol, including placing a quantity of ethanol solution in a pressure-controllable environment, decreasing the pressure of the pressure-controllable environment to about 25 Torr, holding the pressure of the pressure-controllable environment at about 25 Torr for a first predetermined period of time, removing unwanted congeners, such as ethyl acetate, from the ethanol solution to yield a treated ethanol solution, and removing treated solution from the pressure-controllable environment.
Abstract:
A multilayered, flexible, and generally flat pouch for transporting and dispensing chocolate, including first and second elongated generally rectangular multilayered portions sealed together to yield a deformable generally rectangular fluid-tight sachet defining an internal volume and separating the internal volume from an external environment. The sachet further defines a top end, an oppositely disposed bottom end, and first and second sides extending therebetween. An untempered chocolate portion is contained within the internal volume. A tear notch is formed through at least one side and disposed adjacent the top end and a weakened tear strip extends between the second side and the bottom end. The sachet is substantially fluid-tight, and first and second elongated generally rectangular multilayered portions each further comprise an outer layer, an inner high-slip layer, a printable binding layer disposed between the inner and outer layers, and a metal vapor barrier layer disposed between the inner and outer layers. When actuated, the first weakened tear strip produces a corner pour spout through which molten chocolate may be extracted from the sachet. When actuated, the second weakened tear strip produces a central aperture through which molten chocolate may be extracted from the sachet.
Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a self-penetrating percutaneous optical sensing device for obtaining and transmitting optical signal from intravascular fluid in a blood vessel, the device comprising: (a) an elongated hollow rigid sensor sheath 20 having a proximal end 21, a distal end 22 and a central channel extending along the sensor sheath, wherein the distal end 22 of the sensor sheath 20 is sufficiently sharpened to puncture a cutaneous barrier and the sensor sheath 20 has a sufficient length to allow the sensor sheath 20 to penetrate into intravascular space of a blood vessel; (b) a flexible optical fiber 30 having a proximal end and a distal end situated coherently within the central channel of the sensor sheath 20 wherein the sensor sheath 20 covers a portion of the distal end of the flexible optical fiber 30 and wherein the distal end of the flexible optical fiber 30 aligns with the distal end 22 of the sensor sheath 20; and (c) an optical sensor 40 connected to the distal end of the flexible optical fiber 30 wherein optical signal generated at the optical sensor 40 can be transmitted from the optical sensor 40 to the proximal end of the flexible optical fiber 30 via the flexible optical fiber 30 and wherein the optical sensor 40 has direct access to the intravascular fluid of the blood vessel.
Abstract:
Methods, systems, and apparatus for winnowing. In one aspect, a method includes loading an initial material into a winnowing system via a feed member; feeding the material into a fluidically accelerated winnowing cavity, where the initial material impacts at least one plate member to yield chaff material and processed material, and where the processed material and the chaff material circulate in the winnowing cavity; and separating the chaff material and the processed from the winnowing cavity based on density. Other aspects include yielding intermediate material, where the intermediate material reimpacts the at least one plate member until yielding chaff material and processed material, preprocessing the initial material, controlling the flow of initial material into the winnowing cavity with a feed gate, where the chaff material egresses the winnowing cavity via a chaff chute, where the chaff material collects in a collection cavity, and/or more.
Abstract:
A device for simultaneously generating electrical power and cooling, including an active layer for intrinsically transducing thermal energy into electrical energy, a first electrical contact having a first work function and a second electrical contact having a second work function, a first electron diffusion barrier positioned between and in electric communication with the active layer and the first electrical contact, and a second electron diffusion barrier positioned between and in electric communication with the active layer and the second electrical contact. The first work function and the second work function are nonidentical. Transduction of thermal energy into electrical energy yields thermally generated electrical carriers of both positive and negative charge, wherein thermally generated electrical carriers are separated according to charge to either the first electrical contact or the second electrical contact, thereby lowering the average thermal energy of the active layer.