Abstract: Embodiments of the invention pertain to a method and apparatus for sensing infrared (IR) radiation. In a specific embodiment, a night vision device can be fabricated by depositing a few layers of organic thin films. Embodiments of the subject device can operate at voltages in the range of 10-15 Volts and have lower manufacturing costs compared to conventional night vision devices. Embodiments of the device can incorporate an organic phototransistor in series with an organic light emitting device. In a specific embodiment, all electrodes are transparent to infrared light. An IR sensing layer can be incorporated with an OLED to provide IR-to-visible color up-conversion. Improved dark current characteristics can be achieved by incorporating a poor hole transport layer material as part of the IR sensing layer.

Abstract: A solar cell includes a back electrode, a silicon substrate, a doped silicon layer and an upper electrode. The back electrode is located on and electrically connected to a lower surface of the silicon substrate. A number of cavities are formed on an upper surface of the silicon substrate. The doped silicon layer is located on the inside surface of the cavities. The upper electrode is located on the upper surface of the silicon substrate. The upper electrode includes a carbon nanotube structure.

Abstract: The invention comprises two key components: dielectrophoresis (DEP) and reversible binding surfaces. DEP has become an important tool for trapping dielectric particles. Moreover, DEP can manipulate cell movement as dictated by the intrinsic dielectric constant of the cell without modification. DEP therefore provides a mechanism by which to force targets in a flow channel to a reversible binding surface. By building selectivity into the binding surface, the capacity to choose which targets can be held after the dielectric field is turned off, providing a separation strategy that does not suffer from fouling issues, as large foulants can freely pass over the surface through the flow channel.

Abstract: The present invention related to a method for manufacturing a thermal dissipation substrate and a thermal dissipation substrate. The method includes steps of: (a) providing a substrate body having a surface; (b) forming a plurality of concave regions on the surface; and (c) filling the plurality of concave regions with a plurality of diamond materials. The thermal dissipation substrate includes: a substrate having a surface at a first horizontal; a plurality of regions formed on the surface at a second horizontal; and a plurality of diamond materials having a relatively high thermal coefficient and disposed on the plurality of regions.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods to prevent photoreceptor death. In particular, the present invention provides peptides which prevent FAS-mediated photoreceptor apoptosis.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of polymerizing monomer to form polymer at the surface of solid particulate material, said method comprising: providing a dispersion of said solid particulate material in a continuous hydrophilic liquid phase, said dispersion comprising a hydrophilic RAFT agent as a stabilizer for said solid particulate material, and said continuous hydrophilic liquid phase comprising one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers; and polymerizing said one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers under the control of said hydrophilic RAFT agent to thereby form polymer at the surface of said solid particulate material.

Abstract: A method of catalytically preparing a fluid product from solid carbonaceous material is described. In the method, at least one of the following equilibria is established by one or more catalysts: a) CH3OH=CO+2H2, b) CO+H2O=CO2+H2. In some versions, the solid carbonaceous material is woody biomass. Components of the fluid product can include one or a combination of C5-C9 alcohols. In certain versions, the method can be practiced with substantially all of the carbon in the carbonaceous material being converted to the fluid product. Also, in some versions, the fluid product can be prepared with substantially no char formation. The fluid product of various versions can be used directly as fuel or as a reagent for preparing commodity chemicals without the need for separating the fluid product components.

Abstract: A static random access memory (SRAM) includes: a first carbon nanotube (CNT) inverter, a second CNT inverter, a first switching transistor, and a second switching transistor. The first CNT inverter includes at least a first CNT transistor. The second CNT inverter is connected to the first CNT inverter and includes at least one second CNT transistor. The first switching transistor is connected to the first CNT inverter. The second switching transistor is connected to the second CNT inverter.

Abstract: Preferred embodiments of the invention include a thyristor core that is single biased by a source, such as a power source (or a portion thereof) that is being switched through the thyristors. An optically activated transistor that is preferably a minority carrier device is in series with the thyristor core. The thyristor core has an optically activated gate. The turn-off of the thyristor can be accelerated by the turn-on (conduction state) of a gate switch, which ensures a unity gain turn-off of the core thyristor.

Abstract: A reconfigurable antenna that utilizes liquid metal to achieve dynamic antenna performance is disclosed. The reconfigurable antenna may utilize one or more liquid metal sections that can be variably displaced. Utilizing liquid metal may reduce certain undesirable effects associated with more conventional mechanical reconfigurable antennas including mechanical failure due to material fatigue, creep, and/or wear. Precise microfluidic techniques may be utilized in the design of a reconfigurable antenna that utilizes liquid metal. The reconfigurable antenna may utilize a circular Yagi-Uda array design and include movable parasitic director and reflector elements implemented using liquid metal (e.g., mercury (Hg)). The parasitic elements may be placed and rotated in a circular microfluidic channel around a driven antenna element utilizing a flow generated and controlled by a piezoelectric micropump.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to controlling and manipulating an image of an object on a display device based on tracked eye movements of an observer. When the object is displayed according to an initial view, the observer's eye movement is tracked and processed in order to determine the focus of the observer's attention or gaze on the image. Thereafter, the displayed image is modified to provide a better view of the part of the object in which the observer is most interested. This is accomplished by modifying at least one of the spatial positioning of the object within the viewing area, the angle of view of the object, and the viewing direction of the object.

Abstract: A thermoelectric material and a method of making a thermoelectric material are provided. In certain embodiments, the thermoelectric material comprises at least 10 volume percent porosity. In some embodiments, the thermoelectric material has a zT greater than about 1.2 at a temperature of about 375 K. In some embodiments, the thermoelectric material comprises a topological thermoelectric material. In some embodiments, the thermoelectric material comprises a general composition of (Bi1-xSbx)u(Te1-ySey)w, wherein 0?x?1, 0?y?1, 1.8?u?2.2, 2.8?w?3.2. In further embodiments, the thermoelectric material includes a compound having at least one group IV element and at least one group VI element. In certain embodiments, the method includes providing a powder comprising a thermoelectric composition, pressing the powder, and sintering the powder to form the thermoelectric material.

Abstract: The compositions and methods of the invention described herein provide pre- or post-exposure treatments against filovirus or arenavirus infection by expressing one or more genes (e.g., two ore more genes) from filoviruses or arenaviruses in a delivery vehicle (e.g., a recombinant viral vector or a liposome).

Abstract: The present invention pertains to vectors for regulating gene expression having at least one gene expressing cassette and at least one gene suppressing cassette, wherein the gene expression cassette encodes a polypeptide of interest, and wherein the gene suppressing cassette encodes a short interfering RNA (siRNA) molecule that reduces expression of a target gene by RNA interference. The present invention further includes vectors that contain suppressor cassettes in conjunction with cassettes upregulating gene expression regulated by either a constitutive promoter, such as a general CMV promoter, or a tissue specific promoter. The present invention further includes vectors that contain Dengue virus gene suppression cassettes. The present invention further includes pharmaceutical compositions containing such vectors, methods of modulating the expression of genes in a host using such vectors, and method of producing such vectors.

Abstract: A voltage controlled oscillator includes a split ring resonator (SRR) configured to have meta-material characteristics fabricated on a board, and an energy compensation circuit configured to cause resonant oscillation of the SRR. The energy compensation circuit is fabricated in the form of an integrated circuit.

Abstract: Provided is a data processing method for clinical decision support system. The data processing method provides an algorithm capable of performing parsing based on an Ontology technique and automatically updating rule database in order to reduce time and labor overloads accompanied by update of the rule database. According to an aspect, the data processing method includes inferring input data having a natural language format based on an Ontology technique to recognize at least one input rule included in the input data; inferring storage data having a natural language format and stored in rule database based on the Ontology technique to recognize at least one storage rule associated with the input rule from the storage data; comparing the input rule to the storage rule using a Self Evolutionary Rule-base algorithm; and updating the storage data stored in the rule database to the input data according to the result of the comparison.

Abstract: The invention provides an antifouling hydrogel comprising an effective amount of antifouling polymer modified with a compound containing catechol functional groups to yield a modified antifouling polymer comprising at least one catechol functional end group; and an effective amount of at least one oxidizing reagent, wherein the at least one oxidizing reagent reacts with the modified antifouling polymer to provide a modified antifouling polymer comprising at least one oxidized catechol end group, wherein an antifouling hydrogel is provided. Methods of synthesis, methods of use and kits of the antifouling hydrogel are also provided.

Abstract: A communication module may receive communications from a vehicle. A collision detection module may determine that a collision has occurred at a vehicle based on one or more of the communications received from a vehicle. A participant identification module may identify one or more participants involved in the collision based on one or more communications received from the vehicle. A fault determination module may identify one of the participants as the at-fault participant based on a comparison of a fault determination ruleset to vehicle telematics data included in one or more of the communications received from the vehicle. A claims processing module may determine whether to file an insurance claim associated with one of the participants based on the estimated repair cost.

Abstract: An acoustic energy measurement device that measures acoustic energy, the acoustic energy measurement device has a sound receiving unit that performs sound/electricity conversion and includes a plurality of unidirectional microphones being so disposed that a sum total of unit vectors facing a maximum sensitivity direction thereof becomes zero. The acoustic energy measurement device further includes a sound pressure calculation unit that calculates sound pressure using an output from the sound receiving unit. Still further, the acoustic energy measurement device has a particle velocity calculation unit that calculates particle velocity using an output from the sound receiving unit. Still further, the acoustic energy measurement device has an acoustic energy calculation unit that calculates acoustic energy using outputs from the sound pressure calculation unit and the particle velocity calculation unit.

Abstract: One embodiment of an oral airway comprised of two articulating parts which displace the tongue anteriorly and stent open the oropharynx. This device reversibly locks in a conformation which allows it to be used as a conduit for a fiberoptic scope or other airway device. An adjunct to airway management which can be used when mask ventilation or endotracheal intubation is indicated and can be removed easily after intubation without manipulation of the endotracheal tube. Other embodiments are described as shown.