Abstract: Nanostructured bismuth materials can be utilized as an insertion material in electrodes for magnesium energy storage devices to take advantage of short diffusion lengths for Mg2+. The result can be a significantly increased charge/discharge rates and/or improved cycling stabilities. In one example, an energy storage device has magnesium as an electroactive species, an electrolyte salt containing magnesium, and an anode having bismuth nanostructures. The bismuth nanostructures have at least one dimension that is less than or equal to 25 nm. At least a portion of the magnesium is reversibly inserted into, and extracted from, the anode during discharging and charging states, respectively.

Abstract: Provided is the structure of a thin film solar cell. The structure of the thin film solar cell includes a first substrate, a first electrode provided on the first substrate, a p-type semiconductor layer provided on the first electrode, a first buffer layer provided on the p-type semiconductor layer, an optical absorption region provided on the first buffer layer, a second buffer layer provided on the optical absorption region, an n-type semiconductor layer provided on the second buffer layer, a second electrode provided on the n-type semiconductor layer, and a second substrate on the second electrode. The optical absorption region includes a silicon layer, a first layer on the silicon layer, and a second layer having a different energy band gap from the first layer, on the first layer.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and board for forming a graphene layer, and more particularly, to a method of forming a high-quality graphene layer using high pressure annealing and to a board used therein. The method of forming the graphene layer includes forming a reaction barrier layer on a substrate layer, forming a metal catalyst layer which functions as a catalyst for forming the graphene layer on the reaction barrier layer, subjecting a board including a stack of the layers to high pressure annealing, and growing the graphene layer on the metal catalyst layer. This board is subjected to high pressure annealing before growth of the graphene layer, and the reaction barrier layer is formed using a material having high adhesion energy to the metal catalyst layer so as to suppress migration of metal catalyst atoms.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of modifying nematode behavior using certain isolated modulator compounds. Also disclosed are methods of promoting or inhibiting reproduction in a nematode population, methods of promoting or inhibiting nematode aggregation at a mammal, and methods of treating or preventing parasite infection of a mammal.

Abstract: Discrete motion systems move relative to a lattice, using bistable mechanisms to snap between lattice locations. A discrete motion system includes a lattice having a regular configuration of attachment points, one or more motion modules that move across the lattice in discrete increments, and controllers that direct the modules. A module includes a body, actuators, and feet having mechanisms for attaching and detaching the module from the lattice. The module may include actuated joints that cause movement of arm structures to engage and disengage the feet from the lattice. The module may be a digital inchworm, and may be a relative assembler having at least one assembler arm. A method for discrete extensible construction includes creating a lattice having a regular configuration of attachment points, causing a discrete motion relative assembler to systematically move across the lattice in discrete increments, and causing placement of materials by the assembler arm.

Abstract: Disclosed is a material for an electrode having an excellent performance and an excellent durability by maintaining high electrical conductivity and by restraining the growth of the grain at a high temperature. The material can be manufactured by synthesizing composite materials through use of a metallic material of Mo and a ceramic material, and then the composite materials can be used as the electrode.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method of correcting meter data for enhancement of electricity data management in a remote automatic measuring environment of a photovoltaic module are disclosed. According to an exemplary embodiment, a meter reads energy usage of a consumer and transmits meter data on the energy usage to an automatic meter reading (AMR) server. A meter data management system monitors an error in the transmitted meter data and a non-reading interval and re-requests collection of an error in meter data and a non-reading interval to the AMR server. When an error and a non-reading interval are found even after meter data is collected on the re-requesting, the error in the meter data and the non-reading interval are corrected using an estimated approximate value based on a history of previous meter data accumulated in a database of the AMR server.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides method of generating cardiomyocytes from post-natal fibroblasts. The present disclosure further provides cells and compositions for use in generating cardiomyocytes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of detecting a frame boundary by using a preamble are provided. The method includes delaying the preamble by a predetermined length of time, wherein the preamble includes an LTF and a code of the (n+1)th one of 2n sync sequences of the LTF is the inverse of a code of the last one of the sync sequences of STF; calculating a correlation value between the preamble and the delayed preamble; and detecting a frame boundary by comparing the correlation value with a threshold correlation value.

Abstract: An optical coherence tomography (OCT) probe using lead zirconate titanate (PZT). In the OCT probe using PZT, a sine wave is induced from a vibrator made of a piezoelectric element, so that an image in which the scanning range is increased can be captured due to the vibration of the vibrator. A decrease in the vibration of the vibrator can be minimized by optimizing the position where the base fixes the vibrator.

Abstract: Methods for predicting NF-kappaB (NF-kB) activity in a tumor, and more particularly to methods for predicting survival and therapeutic outcome, and selecting therapy in subjects with tumors, e.g., adenocarcinomas, e.g., lung adenocarcinomas and melanomas.

Abstract: A subgenomic replicon RNA (nucleic acid) having an excellent autonomously replicating ability and a fullgenomic replicon RNA (nucleic acid) having an excellent autonomously replicating ability and infectious HCV particle-producing ability, each derived from a novel HCV of genotype 1b, are provided. Particularly, a subgenomic replicon RNA (nucleic acid) and a fullgenomic replicon RNA (nucleic acid), each derived from an HCV genome of the NC1 strain which is a novel HCV genotype 1b isolated from a patient with acute severe hepatitis C, are provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a ligand that may be used to create a catalyst including a coordination complex is formed by the addition of two metals; Cp, Cp* or an unsubstituted or substituted ?-arene; and two coordinating solvent species or solvent molecules. The bimetallic catalyst may be used in the hydrogenation of CO2 to form formic acid and/or salts thereof, and in the dehydrogenation of formic acid and/or salts thereof to form H2 and CO2.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to energy storage devices, and to metal sulfide energy storage devices in particular. Some aspects of the invention relate to energy storage devices comprising at least one flowable electrode, wherein the flowable electrode comprises an electroactive metal sulfide material suspended and/or dissolved in a carrier fluid. In some embodiments, the flowable electrode further comprises a plurality of electronically conductive particles suspended and/or dissolved in the carrier fluid, wherein the electronically conductive particles form a percolating conductive network. An energy storage device comprising a flowable electrode comprising a metal sulfide electroactive material and a percolating conductive network may advantageously exhibit, upon reversible cycling, higher energy densities and specific capacities than conventional energy storage devices.

Abstract: A modular robotic system that includes a plurality of self-configuring robots. Each self-configuring robot includes a frame structure having a plurality of cylindrical bonding magnets positioned along the edges of the frame structure. The frame structure includes magnetic, non-gendered, hinges on any of the edges of the frame. The hinges provide enough force to maintain a pivot axis through various motions. The cylindrical bonding magnets are free to rotate allowing for multiple self-configurations with other like self-configuring robots. A movement generator is positioned within the frame structure that pivots to generate multi-axis movement allowing both robust self-reconfiguration with the other self-configuring robots and independent locomotion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for reforming a hydrocarbon using a micro-channel heater, which can utilize the combustion heat of a fuel as an energy source needed for reforming a hydrocarbon. A plurality of thin metal plates having micro-channels may be laminated in a multilayered structure so as to manufacture a small to medium compact hydrogen-producing apparatus. In particular, a reforming unit may be designed to have a multilayered structure so as to improve the capacity of a reformer up to a level desired by a user.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatic translation and interpretation apparatus and method. The apparatus includes a speech input unit for receiving a speech signal in a first language. A text input unit receives text in the first language. A sentence recognition unit recognizes a sentence in the first language desired to be translated by extracting speech features from the speech signal received from the speech input unit or measuring a similarity of each word of the text received from the text input unit. A translation unit translates the recognized sentence in the first language into a sentence in a second language. A speech output unit outputs uttered sound of the translated sentence in the second language in speech. A text output unit converts the uttered sound of the translated sentence in the second language into text transcribed in the first language and outputs the text.

Abstract: An ion manipulation method and device is disclosed. The device includes a pair of substantially parallel surfaces. An array of inner electrodes is contained within, and extends substantially along the length of, each parallel surface. The device includes a first outer array of electrodes and a second outer array of electrodes. Each outer array of electrodes is positioned on either side of the inner electrodes, and is contained within and extends substantially along the length of each parallel surface. A DC voltage is applied to the first and second outer array of electrodes. A RF voltage, with a superimposed electric field, is applied to the inner electrodes by applying the DC voltages to each electrode. Ions either move between the parallel surfaces within an ion confinement area or along paths in the direction of the electric field, or can be trapped in the ion confinement area.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for preparing silicon nanoparticles. The apparatus includes a corona discharge section charging silicon nanoparticles to exhibit unipolarity in order to prevent agglomeration of the silicon nanoparticles after the silicon nanoparticles are generated from an injected gas by plasma reaction of an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) coil. The apparatus may facilitate grain size control of silicon nanoparticles while improving discharge performance of a mesh filter for collection of generated nanoparticles by preventing agglomeration of the silicon nanoparticles generated by plasma reaction using inductively coupled plasma (ICP), and may permit replacement of the mesh filter even during operation of the apparatus, thereby improving productivity while reducing manufacturing costs.

Abstract: A nucleic acid includes the 5? untranslated region, a virus protein-coding region including the NS3 protein coding sequence, the NS4A protein coding sequence, the NS4B protein coding sequence, the NS5A protein coding sequence, and the NS5B protein coding sequence, and the 3? untranslated region of the HCV J6CF genome in that order from the 5? to 3? direction. The NS4A protein coding sequence has a mutation for substituting alanine at position 1680 with glutamic acid, as determined on the basis of the amino acid sequence of the precursor protein of the J6CF strain.