Bioartificial ultrafiltration devices comprising a scaffold comprising a population of cells enclosed in a matrix and disposed adjacent a plurality of channels are provided. The population of cells provides molecules such as therapeutic molecules to a subject in need thereof and is supported by the nutrients filtered in an ultrafiltrate from the blood of the subject. The plurality of channels in the scaffold facilitate the transportation of the ultrafiltrate and exchange of molecules between the ultrafiltrate and the population of cells.

The present invention provides a semipermeable membrane which has resistance to oxidizing agents even in the presence of heavy metals and which, despite this, can have salt-removing performance equal to that of semipermeable membranes having poor resistance to oxidizing agents. A coated semipermeable membrane of the invention includes a semipermeable layer and a polymer layer formed on the semipermeable layer, and the polymer layer includes a polymerization product formed by both condensation of hydrolyzable groups possessed by the following compound (A) and polymerization of the compound (A) with the following compound (B): (A) a silicon compound having a silicon atom, a reactive group including an ethylenically unsaturated group directly bonded to the silicon atom, and a hydrolyzable group directly bonded to the silicon atom; and (B) a compound other than the compound (A), which has both a hydrophilic group and an ethylenically unsaturated group.

The present invention provides a semipermeable membrane which has resistance to oxidizing agents even in the presence of heavy metals and which, despite this, can have salt-removing performance equal to that of semipermeable membranes having poor resistance to oxidizing agents. A coated semipermeable membrane of the invention includes a semipermeable layer and a polymer layer formed on the semipermeable layer, and the polymer layer includes a polymerization product formed by both condensation of hydrolyzable groups possessed by the following compound (A) and polymerization of the compound (A) with the following compound (B): (A) a silicon compound having a silicon atom, a reactive group including an ethylenically unsaturated group directly bonded to the silicon atom, and a hydrolyzable group directly bonded to the silicon atom; and (B) a compound other than the compound (A), which has both a hydrophilic group and an ethylenically unsaturated group.

A catalyst system comprising a combination of: 1) an activator; 2) one or more metallocene catalyst compounds; 3) a support comprising an organosilica material, which is a mesoporous organosilica material. The organosilica material is a polymer of at least one monomer of Formula [Z.sup.1OZ.sup.2 SiCh.sub.2].sub.3(i), where Z.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom, a C1-C4 alkyl group, or a bond to a silic-on atom of another monomer and Z.sup.2 represents a hydroxyl group, a C.sub.1-C.sub.4alkoxy group, a C.sub.1-C.sub.6 salkyl group, or an oxygen atom bonded to a silicon atom of another monomer. This invention further relates to processes to polymerize olefins comprising contacting one or more olefins with the above catalyst system.

A periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO) nanoparticle functionalized nanocomposite membrane (NCM) for membrane distillation, the NCM including: polymer fibers such as polyetherimide fibers aggregated into a matrix; and hydrophobic PMO nanoparticles disposed on the polymer fibers. The PMO nanoparticles include a framework connected by organic groups and pentafluorophenyl groups. Good membrane flux and anti-fouling was demonstrated. Membranes can be prepared by electrospinning.

A periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO) nanoparticle functionalized nanocomposite membrane (NCM) for membrane distillation, the NCM including: polymer fibers such as polyetherimide fibers aggregated into a matrix; and hydrophobic PMO nanoparticles disposed on the polymer fibers. The PMO nanoparticles include a framework connected by organic groups and pentafluorophenyl groups. Good membrane flux and anti-fouling was demonstrated. Membranes can be prepared by electrospinning.

A photovoltaic module comprising: (a) a photovoltaic laminate including: two or more electrically conducting dements extending through the photovoltaic laminate so that power is moved from one photovoltaic module towards another photovoltaic module or towards an inverter; and (b) one or more connectors connected to each of the two or more electrically conducting elements by a connection joint, each of the one or more connectors include: two or more opposing terminals that each are connected to and extend from one of the two or more electrically conducing elements; wherein a dielectric space is located between the two or more opposing terminals and the dielectric space blocks material used to form a connection joint from passing from a first terminal to a second terminal, the material from the connection joint cools before the material passes from one terminal to a second terminal, the material fails to travel from the first terminal to the second terminal, or a combination thereof.

A catalyst system comprising a combination of: 1) one or more catalyst compounds comprising at least one oxygen linkage, such as a phenoxide transition metal compound; 2) a support comprising an organosilica material, which may be a mesoporous organosilica material; and 3) an optional activator. Useful catalysts include biphenyl phenol catalysts (BPP). The organosilica material may be a polymer of at least one monomer of Formula [Z.sup.1OZ.sup.2SiCH.sub.2].sub.3 (I), where Z.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom, a C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkyl group, or a bond to a silicon atom of another monomer and Z.sup.2 represents a hydroxyl group, a C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkoxy group, a C.sub.1-C.sub.6 alkyl group, or an oxygen atom bonded to a silicon atom of another monomer. This invention further relates to processes to polymerize olefins comprising contacting one or more olefins with the above catalyst system.

Imidazole-containing polymer membranes and resins are described herein. Methods of their preparation and use are also described herein. The methods of using the membranes and resins include reducing acids from liquid phases.

The invention provides a method of forming a membrane between a first volume of polar medium and a second volume of polar medium. In some embodiments, the method involves providing a first volume including polar medium and a second volume including polar medium which are separated from one another by an apolar medium, in which at least one of the first and second volumes has a layer including amphipathic molecules.