Abstract: A portable, personal apparatus for treating drinking water comprises a generally tubular or cylindrical filter housing containing filtration media and water-permeable screen or mesh or felt or membrane or netting layer at the top and bottom ends of the filter. The design of the apparatus involves the bottle exterior and interior contouring to the filter and enables the efficient and rapid gravity flow of water in through the filter. The apparatus may be configured such that water is first passed through a top reservoir designed to receive water, followed by a porous mesh, followed by granular filtration and antimicrobial media agitated by turbulent motion of influent water, followed by a porous mesh before reaching a durable and reusable water containment vessel.

Abstract: Electrically conductive or semiconducting additives are embedded into surfaces of host materials for use in a variety of applications and devices. Resulting surface-embedded structures exhibit improved performance, as well as cost benefits arising from their compositions and manufacturing processes.

Abstract: A patterned transparent conductor includes: (1) a substrate; (2) first additives at least partially embedded into a surface of the substrate within a first area of the surface corresponding to a lower sheet resistance portion; and (3) second additives at least partially embedded into the surface of the substrate within a second area of the surface corresponding to a higher sheet resistance portion. A sheet resistance of the higher sheet resistance portion is at least 100 times a sheet resistance of the lower sheet resistance portion.

Abstract: A patterned transparent conductor includes a substrate and additives at least partially embedded into at least one surface of the substrate and localized adjacent to the surface according to a pattern to form higher sheet conductance portions. The higher sheet conductance portions are laterally adjacent to lower sheet conductance portions.

Abstract: Active or functional additives are embedded into surfaces of host materials for use as components in a variety of electronic or optoelectronic devices, including solar devices, smart windows, displays, and so forth. Resulting surface-embedded device components provide improved performance, as well as cost benefits arising from their compositions and manufacturing processes.

Abstract: Endoprosthesis for delivery in a body lumen is provided. The endoprosthesis includes an annular element defined by a set of interconnected strut members, each strut member including a first end and a second end. The first end of selected pairs of circumferentially-adjacent strut members of the annular element are interconnected to define apices proximate a first longitudinal side of the annular element and the second end of selected pairs circumferentially-adjacent strut members are interconnected to define apices proximate a second longitudinal side of the annular element. At least one of the selected pairs of circumferentially-adjacent strut members has a modulator disposed proximate the apex defined there between, the modulator having a first mode to allow expansion of the annular element from an unexpanded configuration toward an expanded configuration and a second mode to resist contraction of the annular element from the expanded configuration toward the unexpanded configuration.

Abstract: Electrically conductive or semiconducting additives are embedded into surfaces of host materials for use in a variety of applications and devices. Resulting surface-embedded structures exhibit improved performance, as well as cost benefits arising from their compositions and manufacturing processes.

Abstract: A patterned transparent conductor includes a substrate and additives at least partially embedded into at least one surface of the substrate and localized adjacent to the surface according to a pattern to form higher sheet conductance portions. The higher sheet conductance portions are laterally adjacent to lower sheet conductance portions.

Abstract: A cover for a biological sample well tray, comprising a cap for sealing a sample well. The cap comprises a well lens for focusing light into the sample well and collecting light from the sample. In another aspect, the cap comprises an elongate portion configured to permit incoming light to pass into the sample well and out of the sample well. Various other aspects comprise a microcard for biological material, and an apparatus for a plurality of sample well strips. A method for testing a biological sample is also provided.

Abstract: Methods and articles of manufacture for storage and shipping of nanowires are disclosed. One disclosed method includes: (a) providing a nanowire suspension including nanowires suspended in a liquid; and (b) disposing the nanowire suspension in a container for storage and shipping, where the container is configured to inhibit agglomeration of nanowires from the nanowire suspension.

Abstract: Methods and articles of manufacture for storage and shipping of nanowires are disclosed. One disclosed method includes: (a) providing a nanowire suspension including nanowires suspended in a liquid; and (b) disposing the nanowire suspension in a container for storage and shipping, where the container is configured to inhibit agglomeration of nanowires from the nanowire suspension.

Abstract: An apparatus for deploying and retrieving a self-expanding intravascular stent includes an intravascular delivery wire and floating marker band movably retained over the intravascular stent delivery wire and releasably mounting the self-expanding intravascular stent. The floating marker band is movably retained to a fixed marker band, and a distance between the fixed marker band and the floating marker band is variable and self-adjusting. One or more struts of the self-expanding intravascular stent are releasably constrained between a catheter wall and one or more sides of the floating marker band.

Abstract: A patterned transparent conductor includes a substrate and additives at least partially embedded into at least one surface of the substrate and localized adjacent to the surface according to a pattern to form higher sheet conductance portions. The higher sheet conductance portions are laterally adjacent to lower sheet conductance portions.

Abstract: Active or functional additives are embedded into surfaces of host materials for use as components in a variety of electronic or optoelectronic devices, including solar devices, smart windows, displays, and so forth. Resulting surface-embedded device components provide improved performance, as well as cost benefits arising from their compositions and manufacturing processes.

Abstract: Methods and articles of manufacture for storage and shipping of nanowires are disclosed. One disclosed method includes: (a) providing a nanowire suspension including nanowires suspended in a liquid; and (b) disposing the nanowire suspension in a container for storage and shipping, where the container is configured to inhibit agglomeration of nanowires from the nanowire suspension.

Abstract: An apparatus for deploying and retrieving a self-expanding intravascular stent includes an intravascular delivery wire and floating marker band movably retained over the intravascular stent delivery wire and releasably mounting the self-expanding intravascular stent. The floating marker band is movably retained to a fixed marker band, and a distance between the fixed marker band and the floating marker band is variable and self-adjusting. One or more struts of the self-expanding intravascular stent are releasably constrained between a catheter wall and one or more sides of the floating marker band.

Abstract: Methods and articles of manufacture for storage and shipping of nanowires are disclosed. One disclosed method includes: (a) providing a nanowire suspension including nanowires suspended in a liquid; and (b) disposing the nanowire suspension in a container for storage and shipping, where the container is configured to inhibit agglomeration of nanowires from the nanowire suspension.

Abstract: A transparent conductor includes a film of a conductive ceramic and conductive additives at least partially incorporated into the film and localized within a region of the film. A thickness of the region is less than an overall thickness of the film, and at least one of the conductive additives has an aspect ratio of at least 3. The transparent conductor has a sheet resistance that is less than an intrinsic sheet resistance of the film.

Abstract: A binding system for use with a shoe has an elastic strap. A ratchet block is coupled to an end of the strap with a through slot, a cantilever tab capable of pivoting with a tooth thereon. A rack is adjustably coupled to the ratchet block, and has an array of teeth extending into the through slot, and a keyhole. An anchor posts extends through the eyelet of the shoe and the keyhole.

Abstract: A transparent conductor includes a film of a conductive ceramic. Additives are at least partially incorporated into the film. The additives are at least one of electrically conductive and semiconducting, and at least one of the additives has an aspect ratio of at least 3.