Abstract: A piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducer comprising a substrate and a first dielectric film formed on the substrate. An opening having a sidewall is formed through the substrate and first dielectric film. A bottom electrode is formed on the first dielectric film spanning the opening. A piezoelectric element is formed on the bottom electrode. A second dielectric film surrounds the piezoelectric element. A conformal insulating film is formed on the sidewall of the opening. A conformal conductive film is formed in contact with the bottom electrode and on the sidewall of the opening, wherein an open cavity is maintained in the opening. A top electrode is formed in contact with the piezoelectric element.

Abstract: A sorbent for use in removing sulfur contaminants from hydrocarbon feedstocks is provided, wherein the sorbent contains zinc aluminate in an amount of at least 40 wt % (calculated as ZnAl2O4); free alumina in an amount of from about 5 wt % to about 25 wt % (calculated as Al2O3); and iron oxide in an amount of from about 10 wt % to about 30 wt % (calculated as Fe2O3); wherein each of the free alumina and iron oxide are present in non-crystalline form as determined by X-ray diffraction analysis, and a method for producing the sorbent and method for using the sorbent to reduce sulfur contaminants in hydrocarbon feedstocks.

Abstract: A thermal preconcentrator unit and a method for concentrating chemical species. The thermal preconcentrator unit includes a thermoelectric device having a temperature controlled surface and a sorbent material configured to concentrate the chemical species. The sorbent material is disposed on and in thermal contact with the temperature controlled surface. The thermoelectric device is configured to cool and heat the temperature controlled surface to promote sorption and desorption of chemical species onto and from the sorbent material. The method provides a temperature controlled surface and exposes the chemical species to a sorbent material disposed on the temperature controlled surface to concentrate the chemical species thereon.

Abstract: Structurally novel opioid receptor agonists are provided, and the use of these agonists in treatment of chronic and/or acute pain.

Abstract: A class of binding ligands for cocaine receptors and other receptors in the brain. Specifically, a novel family of compounds shows high binding specificity and activity, and, in a radiolabeled form, can be used to bind to these receptors, for biochemical assays and imaging techniques. Such imaging is useful for determining effective doses of new drug candidates in human populations. In addition, the high specificity, slow onset and long duration of the action of these compounds at the receptors makes them particularly well suited for therapeutic uses, for example as substitute medication for psychostimulant abuse. Some of these compounds may be useful in treating Parkinson's Disease or depression, by virtue of their inhibitory properties at monoamine transporters.

Abstract: A chemical sensor and a system and method for sensing a chemical species. The chemical sensor includes a plurality of nanofibers whose electrical impedance varies upon exposure to the chemical species, a substrate supporting and electrically isolating the fibers, and a set of electrodes connected to the plurality of fibers at spatially separated points to permit the electrical impedance of the plurality of fibers to be measured. The system includes the chemical sensor, an impedance measuring device coupled to the electrodes and configured to determine an electrical impedance of the plurality of fibers, and an analyzer configured to identify the chemical species based on a change in the electrical impedance. The method measures at least one change in an electrical impedance between spatially separated electrodes connected to a plurality of fibers upon exposure of the fibers to the chemical species, and identifies the chemical species based on the measured change in the electrical impedance.

Abstract: An electrostatic actuator having a base (10) including a first electrode (20), and having a flexible membrane (50) including at least two material layers of different materials in contact with each other. At least one of the material layers includes a second electrode (40) electrically isolated from the first electrode. The flexible membrane includes a fixed end where the flexible membrane connects to the base and a free end opposite the fixed end. In the flexible membrane, the second electrode has at least first and second portions separated by a third portion an in combination defining a step provided in a vicinity of the fixed end. The first step is closest to the fixed end and separated by a shorter distance from the first electrode than the second portion. A stiffening member (310) can be disposed on the flexible membrane toward the free end of the flexible membrane.

Abstract: A filtration device including a filtration medium having a plurality of nanofibers of diameters less than 1 micron formed into a fiber mat in the presence of an abruptly varying electric field. The filtration device includes a support attached to the filtration medium and having openings for fluid flow therethrough. A device for making a filter material. The device includes an electrospinning element configured to electrospin a plurality of fibers from a tip of the electrospinning element, a collector opposed to the electrospinning element configured to collect electrospun fibers on a surface of the collector, and an electric field modulation device configured to abruptly vary an electric field at the collector at least once during electrospinning of the fibers. A method for making a filter material.

Abstract: A device for stimulable light emission that includes a fiber mat of nanofibers having an average fiber diameter in a range between 100 and 2000 nm, and includes plural stimulable particles disposed in association with the nanofibers. The stimulable particles produce secondary light emission upon receiving primary light at a wavelength ?. The average fiber diameter is comparable in size to the wavelength ? in order to provide scattering sites within the fiber mat for the primary light. Various methods for making suitable luminescent nanofiber mats include: electrospinning a polymer solution including or not including the stimulable particles and forming from the electrospun solution nanofibers having an average fiber diameter between 100 and 2000 nm. Methods, which electrospin without the stimulable particles, introduce the stimulable particles during electrospinning or after electrospinning to the fibers and therefore to the resultant fiber mat.

Abstract: An intrusion tolerant communication network and related methods is provided that places emphasis on continuity of operation and provides for an attack-survivable communication network whose network devices collectively accomplish the specified networking intent even under attack and despite active intrusions. The present invention defines methods for network intrusion tolerance in terms of the various state transitions that maximize the overall effectiveness of an intrusion tolerant communication network.

Abstract: A power conversion unit and method for converting DC power. The power conversion unit includes a self-oscillating device configured to convert a DC voltage into a self-oscillating alternating current AC signal, a transformer connected to the self-oscillating device and configured to transform the self-oscillating AC signal into a transformed AC signal, and an AC-to-DC converter configured to convert the transformed AC signal into a DC signal. The method generates a self-oscillating current, transforms the self-oscillating current into a transformed AC signal, and converts the transformed AC signal into a DC signal.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for producing fibrous materials in which the apparatus includes an extrusion element configured to electrospin a substance from which the fibers are to be composed by an electric field extraction of the substance from a tip of the extrusion element, a collector disposed from the extrusion element and configured to collect the fibers, a chamber enclosing the collector and the extrusion element, and a control mechanism configured to control a gaseous environment in which the fibers are to be electrospun. The method includes providing a substance from which the fibers are to be composed to a tip of an extrusion element, applying an electric field to the extrusion element in a direction of the tip, controlling a gaseous environment about where the fibers are to be electrospun, and electrospinning the substance from the tip of the extrusion element by an electric field extraction of the substance from the tip into the controlled gaseous environment.

Abstract: Processes are disclosed for removing sulfur, including cyclic and polycyclic organic sulfur components such as thiophenes and benzothiophenes, from a hydrocarbon feedstock including fuels and fuel components. The feedstock is contacted with a regenerable sorbent material capable of selectively adsorbing the sulfur compounds present in the hydrocarbon feedstock in the absence of a hydrodesulfurization catalyst. In one embodiment, the sorbent can be an active metal oxide sulfur sorbent in combination with a refractory inorganic oxide cracking catalyst support. In another embodiment, the sorbent can be a metal-substituted refractory inorganic oxide cracking catalyst wherein the metal is a metal which is capable in its oxide form, of adsorption of reduced sulfur compounds by conversion of the metal oxide to a metal sulfide. The processes are preferably carried out in a transport bed reactor.

Abstract: A class of binding ligands for cocaine receptors and other receptors in the brain. Specifically, a novel family of compounds shows high binding specificity and activity, and, in a radiolabeled form, can be used to bind to these receptors, for biochemical assays and imaging techniques. Such imaging is useful for determining effective doses of new drug candidates in human populations. In addition, the high specificity, slow onset and long duration of the action of these compounds at the receptors makes them particularly well suited for therapeutic uses, for example as substitute medication for psychostimulant abuse. Some of these compounds may be useful in treating Parkinson's Disease or depression, by virtue of their inhibitory properties at monoamine transporters.

Abstract: A method and structure for heat transport, cooling, sensing and power generation is described. A photonic bandgap structure (3) is employed to enhance emissive heat transport from heat sources such as integrated circuits (2) to heat spreaders (4). The photonic bandgap structure (3) is also employed to convert heat to electric power by enhanced emission absorption and to cool and sense radiation, such as infra-red radiation. These concepts may be applied to both heat loss and heat absorption, and may be applied to heat transport and absorption enhancement in a single device.

Abstract: An attrition resistant precipitated bulk iron catalyst is prepared from iron oxide precursor and a binder by spray drying. The catalysts are preferably used in carbon monoxide hydrogenation processes such as Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. These catalysts are suitable for use in fluidized-bed reactors, transport reactors and, especially, slurry bubble column reactors.

Abstract: A class of binding ligands for cocaine receptors and other receptors in the brain. Specifically, a novel family of compounds shows high binding specificity and activity, and, in a radiolabeled form, can be used to bind to these receptors, for biochemical assays and imaging techniques. Such imaging is useful for determining effective doses of new drug candidates in human populations. In addition, the high specificity, slow onset and long duration of the action of these compounds at the receptors makes them particularly well suited for therapeutic uses, for example as substitute medication for psychostimulant abuse. Some of these compounds may be useful in treating Parkinson's Disease or depression, by virtue of their inhibitory properties at monoamine transporters.

Abstract: Compounds which bind to opioid receptors are provided. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the compounds are opioid receptor antagonists. The present invention also provides methods of treating conditions which are mediated by an opioid receptor.

Abstract: A thermoelectric cooling and heating device including a substrate, a plurality of thermoelectric elements arranged on one side of the substrate and configured to perform at least one of selective heating and cooling such that each thermoelectric element includes a thermoelectric material, a Peltier contact contacting the thermoelectric material and forming under electrical current flow at least one of a heated junction and a cooled junction, and electrodes configured to provide current through the thermoelectric material and the Peltier contact. As such, the thermoelectric cooling and heating device selectively biases the thermoelectric elements to provide on one side of the thermolectric device a grid of localized heated or cooled junctions.

Abstract: An apparatus and method in which the apparatus includes a first electrospinning device configured to electrospin first fibers of a first substance, a second electrospinning device configured to electrospin second fibers of a second substance such that first and second fibers combine in a mat formation region, and a biasing device configured to bias the first electrospinning device with a first electric polarity and to bias the second electrospinning device with a second electric polarity of opposite polarity to the first electric polarity to promote attraction and coalescence between the first and second fibers. The method electrospins under the first electric polarity first fibers from the first substance, electrospins under the second electric polarity fibers from the second substance, and coalesces the first and second fibers to form the fiber mat.