Abstract: One aspect of the present application relates to a method of synthesizing a thermoplastic polymer. This method includes providing a depolymerized lignin product comprising monomers and oligomers and producing lignin (meth)acrylate monomers and oligomers from the depolymerized lignin product. A thermoplastic lignin (meth)acrylate polymer is then formed by free radical polymerization of the lignin (meth)acrylate monomers and oligomers. The present application also relates to a branched chain thermoplastic lignin (meth)acrylate polymer which includes a chain transfer agent. The thermoplastic lignin based polymers of the present application can be used to prepare carbon fibers, and engineering thermoplastics. Mixtures of lignin (meth)acrylate monomers and oligomers are also disclosed.

Abstract: Microfluidic devices and methods that utilize ion concentration polarization within water-in-oil nanoliter scale droplets for concentration enrichment, separation, and substitution of charges species are disclosed. Such devices and methods can be used for separation of multiple species by mobility of each species and for the alteration and manipulation of the droplet composition by ion exchange.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel polynucleotides, polypeptides, and polyproteins of Mycoplasma surface proteins, all of which are useful in detecting infection and for the preparation of vaccines for treating and preventing diseases in swine and other animals. Vaccines provided according to the practice of the invention are effective against Mycoplasma infections. Detection and therapeutic polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies are also a feature of the present invention. Assays, kits, systems, and nanoparticle encapsulated compositions related to the polynucleotides, polypeptides, polyproteins, antibodies or fragments, derivatives, and variants thereof are also disclosed.

Abstract: A tracheal sampling device is used to collect or acquire cells from an animal, such as at or near the tracheo-bronchial or larynx of an animal. The device includes a flexible and elongated shaft or stem, and a collection member at a distal end of the device. The collection member could be a swab or other member to best collect mucus. The device is used by inserting the collection end into an animal to position the collection member at or near the cell collection site, which may be in or around the larynx. The collection member is removed after collecting cells, which can be reviewed, tested, or otherwise managed to determine the presence of a disease or other bacteria. The length of the shaft or stem allows for optimal positioning of the swab in a variety of animal species and ages. The device can be disposed after each use.

Abstract: The present invention is toward a base oil or lubricant additives, methods of using the same, lubricant compositions including the same, and methods of forming the lubricant compositions. A base oil or lubricant additive has Structure I or Structure II as described herein.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to support structures for three dimensional (3D) printing, methods of preparing the support structures, and methods of using the support structures. In particular, the support structures comprise a hydrogel comprised of a cellulose derivative. Preferably, the support structures are biodegradable and easily removed without generating toxic waste.

Abstract: The present invention generally provides methods to generate plants with high frequency of spontaneous haploid genome doubling for use in doubled haploid production. The invention relates to the BUBR1 nucleic acid and protein sequences identified, which are associated with spontaneous haploid genome doubling.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a catalyst which comprises a silica core having an outer surface and a mesoporous silica shell having an outer surface and an inner surface with the inner surface being inside the outer surface of said mesoporous silica shell proximate to and surrounding the outer surface of said silica core. Wherein the outer surface of the mesoporous silica shell has openings leading to pores within the mesoporous silica shell which extend toward the outer surface of said silica core. The catalyst also includes catalytically active metal nanoparticles positioned within the pores proximate to said core, wherein the catalytic metal nanoparticles comprise about 0.0001 wt % to about 1.0 wt % of the catalyst. Also disclosed are methods of making the catalyst and using it to carry out a process for catalytically hydrogenolysizing a polyolefinic polymer.

Abstract: A product includes a material having: nickel and at least one rare earth element. The at least one rare earth element is present in the material in a weight percentage in a range of about 2% to about 20% relative to a total weight of the material. A method includes forming a material comprising an alloy of nickel and at least one rare earth element. The at least one rare earth element is present in the material in a weight percentage in a range of about 2% to about 20% relative to a total weight of the material.

Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for accumulating harvested crop that includes an accumulator for a harvester vehicle having a plurality of meter rollers aligned along a first axis and a plurality of beater rollers aligned along a second axis. The first axis is different than the second axis, and one roller of the plurality of beater rollers is aligned along the first axis. The one roller of the plurality of beater rollers aligned along the first axis is coupled with the plurality of beater rollers and not coupled to the plurality of meter rollers.

Abstract: This invention relates to a feedback predictive controller, systems comprising and methods employing the same. Preferably the feedback predictive controller and/or systems comprising the feedback predictive controller are part of an automatic insulin delivery system. The methods described herein can be used to control blood glucose concentration in a patient with diabetes. Preferably, the insulin delivery system is an artificial pancreas.

Abstract: A method is provided of making a magnetocaloric alloy composition comprising Ni, Co, Mn, and Ti, which preferably includes certain beneficial substitutional elements, by melting the composition and rapidly solidifying the melted composition at a cooling rate of at least 100 K/second (Kelvin/second) to improve a magnetocaloric property of the composition. The rapidly solidified composition can be heat treated to homogenize the composition and annealed to tune the magneto-structural transition for use in a regenerator.

Abstract: The present application is directed to a compound having the Formula (I): wherein R1, R2, and R3 are as described herein. The present application is also directed to a wax composition comprising a wax and a compound of Formula (I). Processes of making a wax composition and for coating a plant or plant part with the compound of Formula (I) are also described.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compounds and compositions for nematode treatment. In particular, disclosed are compounds of formula (I), a method of treating a plant or a growing media for a nematode with compounds of formula (II), compositions, and methods of use.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of methods for encoding, decoding, and matching patterns in collections of signals. These methods use weighting functions to scale the signals. This scaling enables the use of signals of arbitrary duration, wherein the signals may include discrete sequences and spike trains. In the most general case, the signals can be represented using functionals, which extends the expressive power of the methods. Further disclosed herein are embodiments of a system that performs these methods.

Abstract: This invention relates to a wax composition comprising a plurality of fatty acid amide compounds having the Formula (I): where R1, R2, n1, n2, m1, and m2 are as described herein. This invention also relates to a wax composition comprising: a) one or more fatty acid amide compounds having the Formula (II): and b) one or more fatty acid amide compounds having the Formula (III): where R1, R2, n1, and n2 are as described herein. This invention also relates to a fatty acid amide compound having the Formula (I) and a process for preparing a compound of Formula (I).

Abstract: A method for gas atomization of a titanium alloy, nickel alloy, or other alumina (Al2O3)-forming alloy wherein the atomized particles are exposed as they solidify and cool in a very short time to multiple gaseous reactive agents for the in-situ formation of a passivation reaction film on the atomized particles wherein the reaction film retains a precursor halogen alloying element that is subsequently introduced into a microstructure formed by subsequent thermally processing of the atomized particles to improve oxidation resistance.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a homopolymer, copolymer, block copolymer, and statistical copolymer comprising plural polyol monomeric units. The polyol monomeric units being acrylated and acylated or acetalized. The acrylated and acylated or acetalized polyol monomeric units have an average degree of acrylation which is 1 or more, but less than the number of the hydroxyl groups of the polyol and have an average degree of acylation or acetalization which is 1 or more, but less than the number of the hydroxyl groups of the polyol. The present invention also relates to a method of making the homopolymers, copolymers, block copolymers, and statistical copolymers, and using them in various applications, such as asphalt rubber modifiers, adhesives, or an additive in a fracking fluid for oil fracking.

Abstract: An apparatus, systems, and methods of providing enrichment to poultry during raising or maintaining of the poultry. One or more light sources project beams to generate laser spots at and around the poultry. A control regimen moves the light spots relative the poultry in generally random fashion during timed sessions for each given time period (e.g. each day). The spot movement is designed to promote benefits to poultry and producer in correlation to experimental data related to animal welfare, health, and commercial value.

Abstract: The disclosure provides for compositions and methods for the preservation of meat substitutes containing plant heme protein. In particular, small molecules that can fit in the unique heme pocket of plant heme proteins are provided to stabilize and preserve meat substitutes the products.