Tracing subterranean fluid flow includes providing a first polymeric tracer to a first injector, collecting a first aqueous sample from a first producer, and assessing the presence of the first polymeric tracer in the first aqueous sample. The first polymeric tracer includes a first polymer formed from at least a first monomer. The presence of the first polymeric tracer in the first aqueous sample is assessed by removing water from the first aqueous sample to yield a first dehydrated sample. pyrolyzing the first dehydrated sample to yield a first gaseous sample, and assessing the presence of a pyrolization product of the first polymer in the first gaseous sample. The presence of the pyrolization product of the first polymer in the first gaseous sample is indicative of the presence of a first subterranean flow pathway between the first injector location and the first producer location.

Tracing subterranean fluid flow includes providing a first polymeric tracer to a first injector, collecting a first aqueous sample from a first producer, and assessing the presence of the first polymeric tracer in the first aqueous sample. The first polymeric tracer includes a first polymer formed from at least a first monomer. The presence of the first polymeric tracer in the first aqueous sample is assessed by removing water from the first aqueous sample to yield a first dehydrated sample. pyrolyzing the first dehydrated sample to yield a first gaseous sample, and assessing the presence of a pyrolization product of the first polymer in the first gaseous sample. The presence of the pyrolization product of the first polymer in the first gaseous sample is indicative of the presence of a first subterranean flow pathway between the first injector location and the first producer location.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel sulfur-based positive-electrode active material which can largely improve cyclability of a lithium-ion secondary battery, a positive electrode comprising the positive-electrode active material and a lithium-ion secondary battery comprising the positive electrode. The sulfur-based positive-electrode active material is one comprising: a carbon skeleton derived from a polymer composed of a monomer unit having at least one hetero atom-containing moiety, and sulfur incorporated into the carbon skeleton as the carbon skeleton is formed from the polymer by heat treatment.

A polymer which has M.sub.n at least 4,000 and comprises polymerized units of a compound of formula NAr.sup.1A.sup.2A.sup.3, wherein Ar.sup.1, Ar.sup.2 and Ar.sup.3 independently are C.sub.6-C.sub.40 aromatic substituents; Ar.sup.1, Ar.sup.2 and Ar.sup.3 collectively contain no more than one nitrogen atom and at least one of Ar.sup.1, Ar.sup.2 and Ar.sup.3 contains a vinyl group attached to an aromatic ring.

The present invention relates to peptide modifier compounds of Formula (1), or a salt thereof, wherein: a is an integer from 1 to 10, more preferably from 1 to 3; b is an integer from 0 to 7; Z is a terminal group and Y is a bivalent group. Further aspects of the invention relate to intermediates in the preparation of compounds of Formula (1), and the use of compounds of Formula 1 in the synthesis of peptide derivatives.

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The present invention includes polycationic amphiphilic compounds of formula VII useful as antimicrobial agents. ##STR00001## The present invention further includes novel polymers of polycationic amphiphilic compounds useful as antimicrobial agents. The present invention further includes methods useful for removing microorganisms and/or biofilm-embedded microorganisms from a surface. The present invention further includes compositions and methods useful for preventing or reducing the growth or proliferation of microorganisms and/or biofilm-embedded microorganisms on a surface.

A specific method for preparing platinum particles grafted with proton-conducting polymers and use of these particles as catalysts for oxygen reduction.

Compared to the prior art, this invention provides a functionalized highly syndiotactic polystyrene, comprising a repeating unit having a structure represented by formula (I), or comprising a repeating unit having a structure represented by formula (I) and a repeating unit having a structure represented by formula (II). It is indicated by the experimental results that the syndiotacticity selectivity of the highly syndiotactic polymer provided by this invention is no less than 90%, and the proportion of the repeating unit having a structure represented by formula (I) in the polymer may be arbitrarily adjusted and may be up to 100%. Meanwhile, the oxygen- or sulfur-containing groups in the polymer may increase the polarity of the highly syndiotactic polystyrene so as to increase the blendability of the highly syndiotactic polystyrene with other polymers. ##STR00001##

The invention provides a redox flow battery comprising a microporous or nanoporous size-exclusion membrane, wherein one cell of the battery contains a redox-active colloidal particle dispersed in a non-aqueous solvent. The redox flow battery provides enhanced ionic conductivity across the electrolyte separator and reduced redox-active species crossover, thereby improving the performance and enabling widespread utilization of the battery. Redox active colloidal particles (RACs) were prepared, analyzed, and were found to be highly effective redox species for use in redox flow batteries.

Disclosed is a gel material having a high water content and excellent mechanical properties. The gel material includes repeating units derived from the following monomers (A) and (B): (A) an anionic monomer containing a polymerizable carbon-carbon multiple bond and an aromatic ring, and (B) a cationic monomer containing a polymerizable carbon-carbon multiple bond and an aromatic ring. The gel material has a water content of 20% by mass to 95% by mass, a tensile elastic modulus of 9 MPa to 1000 MPa, and a tensile elongation at break of 50% to 5000%.