Abstract: Redox flow devices are described in which at least one of the positive electrode or negative electrode-active materials is a semi-solid or is a condensed ion-storing electroactive material, and in which at least one of the electrode-active materials is transported to and from an assembly at which the electrochemical reaction occurs, producing electrical energy. The electronic conductivity of the semi-solid is increased by the addition of conductive particles to suspensions and/or via the surface modification of the solid in semi-solids (e.g., by coating the solid with a more electron conductive coating material to increase the power of the device). High energy density and high power redox flow devices are disclosed. The redox flow devices described herein can also include one or more inventive design features. In addition, inventive chemistries for use in redox flow devices are also described.

Abstract: Battery separators for lithium-air batteries are provided. In some embodiments, a lithium-air battery may comprise one or more electrochemical cells including an anode, a cathode, an electrolyte, and a battery separator positioned between the anode and the cathode. The battery separator may comprise a porous membrane having a lithium ion conductive film on at least a portion of the porous membrane. The lithium ion conductive film may comprise layers designed to impart beneficial properties to the porous membrane and/or battery, such as resistance to dendrite formation, while having relatively minimal or no adverse effects on one or more important properties of the porous membrane (e.g., ionic conductivity, electrolyte permeability, weight, mechanical stability) and/or the overall battery.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to methods and systems for capturing a Lewis acid gas (e.g., CO2). In some embodiments, the methods and systems utilize an ionic liquid incorporated into one or more electrochemical cells.

Abstract: An electrochemical system with reduced limiting-current behavior is disclosed. The electrochemical system is useful for fuel cells and bio-sensors. In part, the invention relates a method of reducing or eliminating limiting-current behavior in the operation electrochemical systems, in particular those with ion-selective membrane or electrochemical electrodes, by spatially reducing the convection near the membrane or the electrode. The invention further relates to electrochemical systems in which micropores, microarrays or pillar arrays are used to reduce convection in comparison to conventional systems without microarrays, micropores or pillar arrays.

Abstract: The present invention provides, among other things, antibody agents (e.g., antibodies, and/or antigen-binding fragments thereof) that bind to DV epitopes, as well as compositions containing them and methods of designing, providing, formulating, using, identifying and/or characterizing them. In some embodiments, provided antibody agents show significant binding to a plurality of DV serotypes. In some embodiments, provided antibody agents show significant binding to all four DV serotypes. Such antibody agents are useful, for example, in the prophylaxis, treatment, diagnosis, and/or study of DV.

Abstract: A multi-layer semiconductor device includes two or more semiconductor sections, each of the semiconductor sections including at least at least one device layer having first and second opposing surfaces and a plurality of electrical connections extending between the first and second surfaces. The electrical connections correspond to first conductive structures. The multi-layer semiconductor device also includes one or more second conductive structures which are provided as through oxide via (TOV) or through insulator via (TIV) structures. The multi-layer semiconductor device additionally includes one or more silicon layers. At least a first one of the silicon layers includes at least one third conductive structure which is provided as a through silicon via (TSV) structure. The multi-layer semiconductor device further includes one or more via joining layers including at least one fourth conductive structure. A corresponding method for fabricating a multi-layer semiconductor device is also provided.

Abstract: Methods for treating, adhering, or sealing biological tissue are provided. The methods include combining solutions containing a polymer component and a dendrimer component capable of reacting with each other, and at least one of the components includes a substituent capable of photoreversible dimerization that can be reversibly dimerized. Drug delivery compositions and kits containing these two components also are provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to engineering microbial cells for utilization of cellulosic materials as a carbon source, including xylose.

Abstract: Method for making a tough and compliant hydrogel. A precursor hydrogel is made of a first polymer selected to maintain high elasticity and a second polymer selected to dissipate mechanical energy. The precursor hydrogel is stretched to a multiple of its original length to form a pre-stretched hydrogel. The pre-stretched hydrogel is allowed to relax and is soaked in a biocompatible solvent to reach equilibrium swelling of the pre-stretched hydrogel whereby shear modulus of the hydrogel is reduced.

Abstract: A method for wireless power transfer adapts to changing configuration of receivers, including changes in number of, location and/or orientation of, magnetic coupling to, and load of circuits (e.g., battery charging circuits) of one or more receivers. The adaptation can be performed without interrupting optimal or near-optimal power transfer to the receivers, and can provide a measure of fairness among multiple receivers.

Abstract: In part, disclosure relates to a monitoring system for monitoring RF attenuation of a material. In one embodiment, the system includes a plurality of transmitting antennas; an RF generator having a first output terminal in electrical communication with each of the plurality of transmitting antennas and a second output terminal; a plurality of receiving antennas, each of the receiving antennas having an output terminal, and a processor having a first input terminal in electrical communication with the second output terminal of the RF generator, having a second input terminal in electrical communication with the output terminal of each of the plurality of receiving antennas, and having a first output in electrical communication with a display. In one embodiment, the processor calculates the attenuation of the RF signal in response to the RF signals received by the plurality of receiving antennas through the material.

Abstract: The generation of photocurrent in an ideal two-dimensional Dirac spectrum is symmetry forbidden. In sharp contrast, a three-dimensional Weyl semimetal can generically support significant photocurrent due to the combination of inversion symmetry breaking and finite tilts of the Weyl spectrum. To realize this photocurrent, a noncentrosymmetric Weyl semimetal is coupled to a pair of electrodes and illuminated with circularly polarized light without any voltage applied to the Weyl semimetal. The wavelength of the incident light can range over tens of microns and can be adjusted by doping the Weyl semimetal to change its chemical potential.

Abstract: Embodiments of techniques for analyzing one or more genomic regions of a genome of an organism. Data about a genomic region may be analyzed to determine an information content of the genomic region, which may indicate an amount of information provided by the genomic region. The data about the genomic region may be or include data identifying a chromatin state for the genomic region. A chromatin state may be one of a set of chromatin states that each define a different set of one or more chromatin characteristics. Chromatin characteristics may be structural and/or functional features of genomic regions. A chromatin state of a genomic region may be determined from, and describe, the genomic region such that when a genomic region has a set of one or more chromatin characteristics, a chromatin state associated with that combination of one or more chromatin characteristics is identified for the genomic region.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a material. In particular, it relates to a membrane for filtering water. More particularly, it relates to a membrane comprising carbon nanotubes and mixed cellulose ester porous membranes for water desalination and purification. Still more particular, the membrane comprising a fibrous substrate and carbon nanotubes formed on a fibrous substrate, wherein the surface of the carbon nanotubes is functionally modified. A microfluidic device comprising such a membrane and a method for filtering water are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method (100) of forming an integrated circuit is disclosed. The method comprises: (i) forming at least a pair of optoelectronic devices from at least a first wafer material arranged on a semiconductor substrate, the first wafer material different to silicon; (ii) etching the first wafer material to form a first recess to be filled with a second material; (iii) processing (104) the second material to form a waveguide for coupling the pair of optoelectronic devices to define an optical interconnect; and (iv) bonding (106) at least one partially processed CMOS device layer having at least one transistor to the second semiconductor substrate to form the integrated circuit, the partially processed CMOS device layer arranged adjacent to the optical interconnect. An integrated circuit is also disclosed.

Abstract: An ionic liquid ion source can include a microfabricated body including a base and a tip. The body can be formed of a porous material compatible with at least one of an ionic liquid or room-temperature molten salt. The body can have a pore size gradient that decreases from the base of the body to the tip of the body, such that the at least one of an ionic liquid or room-temperature molten salt is capable of being transported through capillarity from the base to the tip.

Abstract: Bone- and metal-targeted polymeric nanoparticles are provided. Exemplary nanoparticles have three main components: 1) a targeting element that can selectively bind to bone, minerals, or metal ions; 2) a layer of stealth to allow the polymer to evade immune response; and 3) a biodegradable polymeric material, forming an inner core which can carry therapeutics or other diagnostics. Preferred nanoparticles contain a blend of target-element polymer conjugate and polymer that optimizes the ligand density on the surface of the nanoparticle to provide improved targeting of the nanoparticle. The ratio of target-element polymer conjugate to polymer can also be optimized to improve the half-life of the nanoparticles in the blood of the subject. The nanoparticles also exhibit prolonged, sustained release of therapeutic agents loaded into the particles.

Abstract: ?-Aminoamidine polymers and methods of preparing a-aminoamidine polymers by reacting by reacting one or more amines with one or more isocyanides and one or more aldehydes are described. Methods of preparing a-aminoamidine polymers from commercially available starting materials are also provided, wherein the starting materials are racemic or stereochemically pure. a-Aminoamidine polymers or salt forms thereof are preferably biodegradable and biocompatible and may be used in a variety of drug delivery systems and for other purposes as well such as, for example, coatings, additives, excipients, plastics, and materials, etc. Given the amino moiety of these ?-aminoamidine polymers, they are particularly suited for the delivery of polynucleotides. Complexes, micelles, liposomes or particles containing the inventive ?-aminoamidine polymers and polynucleotides can be prepared. The inventive ?-aminoamidine polymers may also be used in preparing microparticles for drug delivery.

Abstract: A coding approach for a robust and flexible network communication protocol is described. By using coding, it is possible to eliminate the need to track packet identities, and hence, it is possible to reduce coordination overhead associated with many conventional protocols. The method and system described herein takes advantage of multiple paths, interfaces, mediums, servers, and storage locations available in a network. The proposed protocol allows quick response to congestion by load balancing over different network resources. The method also enables soft vertical hand-overs across heterogeneous networks. In one embodiment, a media file is divided into chunks and transmitted using a transport protocol tailored to meet delay requirements of media streaming applications. Also described are different coding strategies for chunk delivery based upon an urgency level of each chunk.

Abstract: A transparent photovoltaic cell and method of making are disclosed. The photovoltaic cell may include a transparent substrate and a first active material overlying the substrate. The first active material may have a first absorption peak at a wavelength greater than about 650 nanometers. A second active material is disposed overlying the substrate, the second active material having a second absorption peak at a wavelength outside of the visible light spectrum. The photovoltaic cell may also include a transparent cathode and a transparent anode.