Abstract:
A liquid organic fuel cell (10) is provided which employs a solid electrolyte membrane (18). An organic fuel, such as methanol/water mixture, is circulated past an anode (14) of the cell while oxygen or air is circulated past a cathode (16). The cell electrolyte membrane is preferably made of Nafion . Also, a method for improving the performance of carbon electrode structures is provided, wherein a high-surface-area carbon particle/Teflon binder structure is immersed within a Nafion /methanol bath to impregnate the electron with Nafion . A method of fabricating an anode for this fuel cell is described, wherein metal alloys are deposited onto the electrode from a solution containing perfluorooctanesulfonic acid. A fuel additive containing this acid, and new organic fuels are also described.
Abstract:
The N-degron is an intracellular degradation signal whose essential determinant is a specific, destabilizing, N-terminal amino acid residue. A set of N-degrons containing different destabilizing residues is manifested as the N-end rule, which relates the in vivo half-life of a protein to the identity of its N-terminal amino acid residue. Disclosed herein is a heat-inducible N-degron module. A heat-inducible N-degron module is a protein or peptide bearing a destabilizing N-terminal amino acid residue which becomes a substrate of the N-end rule pathway only at a temperature high enough to result in at least partial unfolding of the protein. At this elevated (nonpermissive) temperature, the heat-inducible N-degron module (and any protein or peptide attached at its C-terminus) is rapidly degraded in a cell in which the N-end rule pathway is operative. Also disclosed are DNA and protein fusion constructs, methods for screening for additional heat-inducible N-degron modules and methods for using the disclosed heat-inducible N-degron modules.
Abstract:
Transition metals (T) of Group VIII (Co, Rh and Ir) have been prepared as semiconductor alloys with Sb having the general formula TSb3. The skutterudite-type crystal lattice structure of these semiconductor alloys and their enhanced thermoelectric properties results in semiconductor materials which may be used in the fabrication of thermoelectric elements to substantially improve the efficiency of the resulting thermoelectric device. Semiconductor alloys having the desired skutterudite-type crystal lattice structure may be prepared in accordance with the present invention by using vertical gradient freeze techniques, liquid-solid phase sintering techniques, low temperature powder sintering and/or hot-pressing. Measurements of electrical and thermal transport properties of selected semiconductor materials prepared in accordance with the present invention, demonstrated high Hall mobilities (up to 8000 cm .V .s ), good Seebeck coefficients (up to 400 mu VK between 300C and 700C), and low thermal conductivities (as low as 15 m &cir& _W/cmK). Optimizing the transport properties of semiconductor materials prepared from elemental mixtures Co, Rh, Ir and Sb resulted in a two fold increase in the thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) at temperatures as high as 400C for thermoelectric elements fabricated from such semiconductor materials.
Abstract:
The present invention comprises a reaction cell for a sequencer and the like which includes a sample carrier assembly (60) having a flexible, resilient spacer (74) with a hole therein for retaining the sample on a membrane (not shown), a pair of alumina cells (70 and 80) which bracket the spacer (74), one or more pads (64) or spacers to retain the assembly in a tight fitting relation and a cap (84) to secure the assembly together. The reagents are input and withdrawn from opposite edges of the sample membrane. The present invention has a minimal dead volume as a result of the spacer arrangement. It also permits benchtop sample loading due to the separation of the assembly into a carrier (60) and base housing (20, 28 and 50). The fluid lines (26a and 26b) are self-sealing to the reaction cell.
Abstract:
Methods for the use of DNA encoding oxygen-binding proteins and related plasmids containing same are disclosed for a range of applications including oxygen supply to cells, growth enhancement, expression of various gene products, enhancement of oxygen-requiring processes, binding and separation of oxygen from liquids and gases, and a range of oxidative reactions.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to the cloning of the gene of a thermophilic DNA ligase, from Thermus aquaticus strain HB8, and the use of this ligase for the detection of specific sequences of nucleotides in a variety of nucleic acid samples, and more particularly in those samples containing a DNA sequence characterized by a difference in the nucleic acid sequence from a standard sequence including single nucleic acid base pair changes, deletions, insertions or translocations.
Abstract:
An apparatus in the form of a disk for the separation of oxygen from gases, or for the pumping of oxygen, uses a substantially circular disk geometry for the solid electrolyte (3) with radial flow of gas from the outside edge of the disk to the center of the disk. The reduction in available surface area as the gas flows toward the center of the disk reduces the oxygen removal area proportionally to provide for a more uniform removal of oxygen. Wire contact rings (49) provide an electrical connection to the disks (30). Substantially pure oxygen passing through disks (30) by electrodialysis flows through the apparatus to the oxygen outlet passage (36).
Abstract:
Functionalized cyclic olefins and methods for making the same are disclosed. Methods include template-directed ring-closing metathesis ("RCM") of functionalized acyclic dienes and template-directed depolymerization of functionalized polymers possessing regularly spaced sties of unsaturation. Although the template species may be any anion, cation, or dipolar compound, cationic species, especially alkali metals, are preferred. Functionalized polymers with regularly spaced sites of unsaturation and methods for making the same are also disclosed. One method for synthesizing these polymers is by ring-opening metathesis polymerization ("ROMP") of functionalized cyclic olefins. The metathesis catalysts for both RCM and ROMP reaction are ruthenium or osmium carbene complex catalysts of formula (I) where M is Os or Ru; R and R each may be hydrogen, C2-C20 alkenyl, C2-C20 alkynyl, C1-C20 alkyl, aryl, C1-C20 carboxylate, C1-C20 alkoxy, C2-C20 alkenyloxy, C2-C20 alkynyloxy, aryloxy, C2-C20 alkoxycarbonyl, C1-C20 alkylthio, C1-C20 alkylsulfonyl or C1-C20 alkylsulfinyl; X and X may be any anionic ligand; and L and L may be any neutral electron donor.
Abstract:
A polymer electrolyte membrane (18) composed of polystyrene sulfonic acid (PSSA) and poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) is provided. This membrane (18) exhibits low methanol crossover which translates to higher fuel and fuel cell efficiencies. A fuel cell (10) comprising a PSSA-PVDF membrane (18) is also provided. Further, methods of decreasing the fuel crossover rate, enhancing fuel cell efficiency, and enhancing electrical performance of a fuel cell are provided.