Abstract: A solar cell of the present invention comprises a p-type semiconductor layer, an n-type semiconductor layer and a superlattice semiconductor layer sandwiched between the p-type semiconductor layer and the n-type semiconductor layer, wherein the superlattice semiconductor layer has a superlattice structure in which barrier layers and quantum layers are stacked alternately and repeatedly, and has two or more intermediate energy levels where electrons optically excited from a valence band of the quantum layers or the barrier layers stay for a constant time, the intermediate energy levels being located between a top of the valence band of the barrier layers and a bottom of a conduction band of the barrier layers, and can achieve a high incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a thermal barrier coating system in communication with at least a portion of at least one substrate. The method includes: depositing a first bond coat on at least a portion of at least one substrate; depositing a first thermal barrier coat disposed on the bond coat; whereby the deposition occurs in one or more chambers to form the thermal barrier coating system; and wherein the deposition of the first bond coat (or subsequent bond coats) and the deposition of the first thermal barrier coat (or subsequent thermal barrier coats) is performed without out-of chamber handling of the thermal barrier coating system.

Abstract: The present invention concerns compositions and methods of extracting infectious pathogens from a volume of blood. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of creating a fibrin aggregate confining the pathogens and introducing a fibrin lysis reagent to expose the pathogens for analysis. The present invention also concerns materials and methods for removing aurintricarboxylic acid (ATA) from a sample.

Abstract: An ultraviolet irradiation device having a simple structure without using a pn junction, which can efficiently utilize a surface plasmon polariton and can emit ultraviolet light of a specific wavelength at a high efficiency. The device has at least one semiconductor multilayer film element and an electron beam irradiation source which are provided in a container having an ultraviolet-ray transmitting window and is vacuum-sealed, wherein the film element has an active layer formed of InxAlyGa1-x-yN (wherein 0?x?1, 0?y?1, and x+y?1) and having a single or multiple quantum well structure and a metal film formed on an upper surface of the active layer, composed of metal particles of aluminum or an aluminum alloy and having a nano-structure formed of the metal particles, wherein ultraviolet light is emitted to the outside through the transmitting window by irradiating the film element with electron beams from the irradiation source.

Abstract: Direct growth of black Ge on low-temperature substrates, including plastics and rubber is reported. The material is based on highly dense, crystalline/amorphous core/shell Ge nanoneedle arrays with ultrasharp tips (˜4 nm) enabled by the Ni catalyzed vapor-solid-solid growth process. Ge nanoneedle arrays exhibit remarkable optical properties. Specifically, minimal optical reflectance (<1%) is observed, even for high angles of incidence (˜75°) and for relatively short nanoneedle lengths (˜1 ?m). Furthermore, the material exhibits high optical absorption efficiency with an effective band gap of ˜1 eV. The reported black Ge can have important practical implications for efficient photovoltaic and photodetector applications on nonconventional substrates.

Abstract: A device for making electrical connections is provided, along with a method of use. Other embodiments are also described herein.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of modulating the level of an endocannabinoid in a subject in need thereof comprising administering an effective amount of an agent that inhibits the interaction of the endocannabinoid with an intracellular fatty acid binding protein (FABP). The invention also provides a method of identifying an agent for modulating the level of an endo cannabinoid in a subject comprising testing the agent for its ability to modulate binding of the endocannabinoid with an intracellular FABP. The invention also provides a method of identifying an agent for modulating the level of an endocannabinoid in a subject comprising testing the agent for its ability to modulate expression of an intracellular FABP. The invention also provides a method of identifying an agent for treatment of a neurological disorder comprising testing the agent for its ability to modulate the interaction of an endocannabinoid with an intracellular FABP.

Abstract: An integrated cryptographic apparatus providing confidentiality and integrity includes an integrated cryptographic module including confidentiality and integrity. Further, the integrated cryptographic apparatus includes a hash function unit for detecting whether a message is modified by using the integrated cryptographic module. Furthermore, the integrated cryptographic apparatus includes a block cipher unit for constructing a data encryption algorithm by using the integrated cryptographic module.

Abstract: Methods are provided for monitoring an allograft recipient for a rejection response, e.g., to predict, to diagnose, and/or to characterize a rejection response. In practicing the subject methods, the level of at least one protein in a sample from the allograft recipient, e.g., serum, urine, blood, CSF, tears or saliva, is evaluated, to monitor the subject. Also provided are compositions, systems, and kits that find use in practicing the subject methods.

Abstract: Polynucleotides and a method suitable for downregulation of small nuclear RNA which can be used to treat diseases associated with activity of small nuclear RNA are provided. Specifically, the present invention can be used to downregulate snoRNA molecules or box H/ACA-containing RNA molecules which are involved in diseases such as cancer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the recycling of plastics materials, in particular waste plastics materials, into chemical feed stocks and hydrocarbon fractions. The present invention also relates to novel zeolite based catalysts used in such methods. The present invention also relates to methods of manufacturing such zeolite based catalysts. Plastics waste is traditionally disposed of by land-fill, incineration or recycling by re-processing the waste into raw material for reuse. Each of these disposal methods has its disadvantages. The drawbacks of land-fill are self apparent. Although incineration may include energy recovery, there still remains the obvious problem of CO2 emission and the emission of other toxic pollutants. Additionally, recycling the plastics requires sorting of the plastics waste because certain types of plastics materials are not recyclable, and mixtures of plastics can be problematic.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrode composed of an Al-M-Cu based alloy, to a process for preparing the Al-M-Cu based alloy, to an electrolytic cell comprising the electrode, to the use of an Al-M-Cu based alloy as an anode and to a method for extracting a reactive metal from a reactive metal-containing source using an Al-M-Cu based alloy as an anode.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for the separation of materials from heterogeneous fluids and provides a means of effecting stimulant-sensitive flocculation and consolidation of solid suspensions within a liquid medium. Specifically, the present invention provides a method of controlling the state of a suspension of solid particles in a liquid, including applying to the suspension a stimulus adapted to control inter-particle forces between the solid particles. The stimulus is reversibly operable to control attraction and/or repulsion. Means of consolidating a sediment bed and of separating the resultant liquids-rich and solids-rich phases are also within the ambit of the invention.

Abstract: Methods and systems for enhancing rates of carbonation of peridotite both in situ and ex situ are disclosed. In some embodiments, the methods and systems include the following: fracturing a volume of peridotite; heating the volume of peridotite; injecting an adjustable flow of carbon dioxide into the volume of peridotite; injecting bicarbonate materials into the volume of peridotite; and forming carbonate with the volume of peridotite and the carbon dioxide in an exothermic reaction thereby generating a self-sustaining heat source, the heat source heating the volume of peridotite.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a thin-film bulk acoustic resonator such as including an acoustic mirror, a piezoelectric region acoustically coupled to the acoustic mirror, and first and second conductors electrically coupled to the piezoelectric region. In an example, an integrated circuit substrate can include an interface circuit connected to the first and second conductors of the resonator, the integrated circuit substrate configured to mechanically support the resonator. An example can include an array of such resonators co-integrated with the interface circuit and configured to detect a mass change associated with one or more of a specified protein binding, a specified antibody-antigen coupling, a specified hybridization of a DNA oligomer, or an adsorption of specified gas molecules.

Abstract: In order to provide a means that can process organic wastewater via a membrane-separation activated sludge process that is stable over a long period of time, by reducing the quantity of biological polymers that can cause permeability problems, an additive is provided that is added to the activated sludge when treating organic wastewater via a membrane-separation activated sludge process. Said additive contains microorganisms that decompose polysaccharides.

Abstract: It is possible to provide a small intestine endoscope training simulator (11) which allows to obtain a feeling similar to that of inserting an endoscope (38) into the small intestine (34) of the living body (30) and learn the actual operation of the endoscope (38). This training simulator (11) includes a plurality of longitudinal elastic members (32) for applying an elastic force to each of a plurality of portions of a simulated small intestine (13). One end portion sides of the plurality of longitudinal elastic members (32) are respectively attached to the first attachment portions (27) on the simulated small intestine (13) side. The other end portion sides of the plurality of longitudinal elastic members (32) are respectively attached to the second attachment portions (33, 57) on the case (12) side.

Abstract: A method is described and disclosed for harvesting and preparing porcine hearts that may be used, among other things, as an improved analog of the human heart in cardiac simulator systems for training surgical personnel for performing beating heart surgery.

Abstract: The method for lung cancer detection by optical analysis of body fluids relates to analyzing samples of blood, urine and sputum by fluorescence spectroscopy in order to detect the presence of naturally occurring molecules in the fluids that serve as biomarkers indicative of cancer in the human body. The analysis can be carried out based on fluorescence emission spectra, fluorescence excitation spectra and synchronous (emission and excitation) spectra of bio-samples. The early detection and diagnosis of lung cancer may be made by comparison of ratios of fluorescence emissions and/or excitation intensities of tryptophan, tyrosine, elastin, collagen, bile pigments, NADPH, flavins and various species of porphyrins.

Abstract: Linear acrylamide copolymer compounds which can comprise monomeric components comprising at least one N-substituted moiety capable of physical cross-linking, and related compositions and methods of use.