Abstract: Phosphoranimide-metal catalysts and their role in hydrodesulfurization and hydrogenation are disclosed. The catalysts comprise of first row transition metals such as nickel, cobalt and iron. The catalysts have a metal to anionic phosphoranimide ratio of 1:1 and have no inactive bulk phase and no dative ancillary ligands. In one embodiment, the catalysts comprise discrete mixed-valent precatalyst clusters, the electronic state of which can be adjusted to optimize catalytic activity. The catalysts catalyze the hydrodesulfurization of a range of sulfur-containing organic compounds under lower temperature and pressure conditions than those conditions commonly used in industrial hydrodesulfurization. The catalysts also catalyze the hydrogenation of substrates comprising at least one carbon-carbon double bond which is not present in an aromatic moiety, although the substrate itself may include an aromatic moiety.

Abstract: There is disclosed a combined hydrothermal and activation process that uses hemp bast fiber as the precursor to achieve graphene-like carbon nanosheets, a carbon nanosheet comprising carbonized crystalline cellulose, a carbon nanosheet formed by carbonizing crystalline cellulose, a capacitative structure comprises interconnected carbon nanosheets of carbonized crystalline cellulose, a method of forming a nanosheet comprising carbonizing crystalline cellulose to create carbonized crystalline cellulose. The interconnected two-dimensional carbon nanosheets also contain very high levels of mesoporosity.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for preparing a polymer derived from an animal protein, such as in a feedstock derived from animal by-products. The method involves hydrolyzing proteins present in a feedstock to obtain hydrolyzed proteins, wherein hydrolysis is conducted under conditions sufficient to digest the proteins and destroy pathogens; extracting a protein fraction from the hydrolyzed proteins; and treating the protein fraction with a crosslinking reagent to form the polymer. The crosslinking reagents may include epoxies. The polymer may be further processed to form a thermoset plastic. The polymer may be used as an adhesive, or in the preparation of a natural fiber composite material.

Abstract: Transgenic plants with enhanced punicic acid accumulation result from over-expression of PgFADX and PgFAD2, and optionally, one or more of PgDGAT1, PgDGAT2, and PgPDAT1. The invention also relates to novel isolated Punica granatum diacylglycerol acyltransferases: type 1 (PgDGAT1), type 2 (PgDGAT2) and phospholipid:diacylglycerol acyltransferases (PgPDAT1); polynucleotide sequences encoding the DGATs and PDAT enzymes; polynucleotide constructs, vectors and host cells incorporating the polynucleotide sequences; and methods of producing and using same.

Abstract: The present invention provides non-naturally occurring polypeptides that specifically bind hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA; and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The present invention further provides methods of detecting HBV DNA; methods of detecting a covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) form of HBV; and methods for treating HBV infection.

Abstract: A metal nanodot material is formed by ion-exchange with an ETS zeolite, followed by activation to form metallic nanodots. The nanodot may be formed from silver, nickel, copper, gold or a platinum group metal.

Abstract: The present application discloses a system and method for ABO antibody detection and characterization that can provide an alternative means for assessment and management of ABO-incompatible and ABO-compatible transplants. The method and system comprises determining an anti-ABO blood group antigen subtype antibody profile of a subject using a biological sample from the subject. The method and system can be used to evaluate the suitability of a donor blood or tissue product for a recipient subject by comparing the determined anti-ABO antigen subtype antibody profile of the recipient subject with the ABO histo-blood group or ABO histo-blood subgroup of a donor blood or tissue product. In order to define the subject's ABO histo-blood subgroup, the determined antibody profile is compared to known ABO histo-blood group antigen subtype profiles and/or known anti-ABO antigen subtype antibody profiles for ABO histo-blood subgroups to identify the ABO histo-blood subgroup of the subject.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes operationally simple methods for the low temperature, catalytic activation of carboxylic acids for organic reactions, in particular for direct amidation reactions with amines. The methods involve the use of orthosubstituted arylboromc acids of the formula (I), wherein the groups R1 to R5 are as defined herein. In preferred embodiments R1 is halogen. The arylboromc acids catalyze nucleophilic 1,2-addition reactions, conjugate 1,4-addition reactions, and cycloaddition reactions, including Diels-Alder reactions involving ?,?-unsaturated carboxylic acids.

Abstract: Steam-Over-Solvent Injection in Fractured Reservoirs (SOS-FR) is carried out by treating a fractured hydrocarbon bearing formation penetrated by a well with a first phase of injecting a formation compatible aqueous fluid into the fractured hydrocarbon bearing formation through the well, a second phase of injecting a hydrocarbon solvent into the fractured hydrocarbon bearing formation through the well and at least a third phase of repeating the first phase after the second phase.

Abstract: A quantum device is provided that includes controllably quantum mechanically coupled dangling bonds extending from a surface of a semiconductor material. Each of the controllably quantum mechanically coupled dangling bonds has a separation of at least one atom of the semiconductor material. At least one electrode is provided for selectively modifying an electronic state of the controllably quantum mechanically coupled dangling bonds. By providing at least one additional electron within the controllably quantum mechanically coupled dangling bonds with the proviso that there exists at least one unoccupied dangling bond for each one additional electron present, the inventive device is operable at least to 293 degrees Kelvin and is largely immune to stray electrostatic perturbations. Room temperature operable quantum cellular automata and qubits are constructed therefrom.

Abstract: A nanotip, is fabricated by modifying a precursor nanotip having an apex and a shank by applying an electric field in the presence of a reactive gas to perform field-assisted etching wherein atoms are preferentially removed from the shank by chemical interaction with the reactive gas, and controlling the reactive gas pressure and/or tip voltage to vary the electric field so as to promote field evaporation of apex atoms during fabrication of the nanotip and thereby control the overall profile of the resulting nano-tip. The method permits shaping of the overall tip profile.

Abstract: The disclosure provides mutant ribonucleotide reductase strains of poxviruses including for example vaccinia viruses. The disclosure also provides methods and for the use of these mutant ribonucleotide reductase strains of vaccinia viruses in oncolytic virotherapy.

Abstract: The present application includes a method of preparing silicon nanocrystals (Si-NCs) comprising combining silica particles with magnesium and heating said combination under conditions to form Si-NCs, wherein the silica particles are obtained using sol gel chemistry.

Abstract: A new set of branched nanowire or nanotree structures and their fabrication process. Some structures have one or more of the following distinctions from other branched nanowires: (1) the trunk and branch diameter and branching number density can be changed along the trunk's length; (2) the branch's azimuthal direction can be controlled along the trunk's length; (3) the branch's diameter can be modulated along its length; (4) the crystal orientation and branches of the ensemble of nanowires can be aligned on a non-epitaxially matched substrate. The structures are made by a geometrically controlled kinetic growth method.

Abstract: The invention is directed to methods for extracting phosvitin from egg yolk involving contacting the egg yolk or egg yolk protein granules with a solution having a salt concentration of about 10% to form a mixture; optionally, heating the mixture; adjusting the pH of the mixture to separate phosvitin from other proteins; recovering the phosvitin. The phosvitin extract may be dephosphorylated and hydrolyzed to produce phosvitin phosphopeptides.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to implants and the modification of the surface of implants using amino acid or polypeptide functionalized rosette nanotubes.

Abstract: Described herein are compositions having a peptide sequence that includes at least one bone targeting moiety, wherein the bone targeting moiety is bonded to the peptide sequence by a linker, wherein the peptide sequence is calcitonin, and wherein the composition is neutral or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester thereof. In one aspect, calcitonin inhibits or slows osteoclast mediated resorptive bone loss. The compounds described herein can be used in a number of therapeutic applications including treating or preventing conditions associated with bone loss, which include, but are not limited to, osteoporosis, Paget's disease, osteolytic tumors, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Osteoarthritis, osteopenia, and hypercalcemia. Also described herein are the methods of making these compositions that prevent or treat conditions associated with bone loss and methods of preventing bone fractures.

Abstract: Phosphoranimide-metal catalysts and their role in hydrogenation and hydrosilylation are disclosed. The catalysts comprise first row transition metals such as nickel, cobalt or iron. The catalysts have a metal to anionic phosphoranimide ratio of 1:1. This disclosure presents a process for catalytic hydrogenation and hydrosilylation of a range of unsaturated organic compounds under lower temperature and pressure conditions than conditions associated with industrial hydrogenation and hydrosilylation.

Abstract: Phosphoranimide-metal catalysts are disclosed. The catalysts comprise first row transition metals such as nickel, cobalt or iron. The hydrocarbon-soluble catalysts have a metal to anionic phosphoranimide ratio of 1:1, have no inactive bulk phase and no dative ancillary ligands, and are active for a range of commercially important reductive transformations. A method of synthesis of these catalysts by reduction of a precursor of these catalysts is also disclosed.

Abstract: Phosphoranimide-metal catalysts and their role in C—O bond hydrogenolysis and hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) are disclosed. The catalysts comprise of first row transition metals such as nickel, cobalt and iron. The catalysts have a metal to anionic phosphoranimide ratio of 1:1 and catalyze C—O bond hydrogenolyses of a range of oxygen-containing organic compounds under lower temperature and pressure conditions than those commonly used in industrial hydrodeoxygenation.