Abstract: Process for passivating polymeric particles to prevent undesirable interaction with the environment. In particular, sputter coating of metal and surface treatment with aqueous solutions are shown to successfully passivate the particles, such as for example, toner particles, and prevent interaction between the particles and the epoxy embedding resin which causes artifacts, observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging.

Abstract: This invention relates to seeds of plant, plants themselves and cells of such plants which comprise a heterologous gene coding for a plant (such as nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) or Crambe abyssinica) fatty acid elongase (FAE) gene or allelic variant thereof, or combinations of one or both of these FAE genes with an Arabidopsis fatty acid elongase 1 (FAE1) gene, in co-transformation, in reading frame alignment with a promoter capable of increasing expression of said gene(s), when said transformed plant cell is in a seed, said plant cell or seed being capable of producing an increase in proportion of a very long chain monounsaturated or saturated fatty acids when compared with the proportions of said fatty acids in a control plant cell or seed lacking said heterologous FAE gene or genes.

Abstract: A new panoramic/fish-eye imaging system for projecting a 360 degree cylindrical field of view onto a two-dimensional annular format is described. It is rotationally symmetrical and comprises two groups of optics, each having very distinct functions. The front group of optics is basically a catoptric system employing a concave and convex mirror for converting the extreme field angles to a more manageable intermediate image. The rear group acts as a relay lens to transfer the intermediate image formed by the front group to some accessible location downstream. For improved overall performance, aberration compensation of the front group is included in the design of the relay optics. A further refinement to the design is the inclusion of an additional optical element in the form of refracting negative shell located in front of the entire arrangement. This increases the effective field of view and is useful when fields of view exceeding 180 degrees are required.