Abstract: Mass spectrometry cells include one or more interleaved magnetostatic and electrostatic lenses. In some examples, the electrostatic lenses are based on electrical potentials applied to magnetostatic lens pole pieces. In other alternatives, the electrostatic lenses can include conductive apertures. Applied voltages can be selected to trap or transport charged particles, and photon sources, gas sources, ion sources, and electron sources can be provided for various dissociation processes.

Abstract: A reaction product of: (a)) at least one cinnamyl alcohol or ester of cinnamic acid; (b) at least one unsaturated polyester resin, at least one vinyl ester resin, or a mixture of an unsaturated polyester resin and a vinyl ester resin; (c) at least one (meth)acrylated vegetable oil; and (d) a free radical initiator system.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a composition comprising a drug in a polymer nanoparticle. The nanoparticles may have a size and/or a surface potential selected to facilitate lymph node uptake and/or dissemination throughout the lymphatic system. The nanoparticle may be a polyethyleneglycol-block-poly(?-caprolactone) (PEG-PCL) nanoparticle. Also disclosed are embodiments of a method of using the composition. The composition may be administered subcutaneously. The drug-loaded nanoparticles are useful for treating certain cancers and/or decreasing the number of melanocytes in lymph nodes that are proximal to, distal to or both proximal and distal to a site of administration.

Abstract: Compositions containing fungal pigments and methods for making the compositions are described, as are methods of staining, painting or dyeing objects with such compositions.

Abstract: A new and distinct Corylus plant named ‘Burgundy Lace’ characterized by rich dark burgundy-colored developing leaves and burgundy-colored fully expanded leaves during the spring and summer; deeply dissected leaves; burgundy color of the catkins and leaf buds; moderate vigor and upright-spreading plant habit; resistance to eastern filbert blight (EFB) caused by the fungus Anisogramma anomala (Peck) E. Müller; presence of random amplified polymorphic DNA markers 152-800 and 258-580 in DNA; expression of incompatibility alleles S6 and S20 in the styles; catkins that are abnormal and small, and produce little pollen; and DNA fingerprints at 14 of 24 microsatellite marker loci differ from ‘Cutleaf’.

Abstract: One embodiment is a pressure sensitive adhesive construct comprising: (a) a backing substrate; and (b) a pressure sensitive adhesive composition disposed on the backing substrate, wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive composition includes a product made from (i) at least one epoxidized vegetable oil and; (ii) a dimer acid or anhydride thereof, a trimer acid or anhydride thereof, a polymerized fatty acid or anhydride thereof, or a mixture thereof.

Abstract: A method for making a pressure sensitive adhesive comprising: (a) reacting (i) at least one dibasic or polybasic carboxylic acid or anhydride thereof with (ii) at least one first epoxidized fatty acid at a stoichiometric molar excess of reactive carboxylic acid groups relative to reactive epoxy groups to produce a thermoplastic prepolymer or oligomer capped with a carboxylic acid group at both prepolymer or oligomer chain ends, or a thermoplastic branched prepolymer or oligomer with at least two of the prepolymer or oligomer branches and chain ends capped with a carboxylic acid group; and (b) curing the resulting carboxylic acid-capped prepolymer or oligomer with at least one difunctional epoxide or polyfunctional epoxide, and optionally at least one second epoxidized fatty acid, to produce a pressure sensitive adhesive, wherein the difunctional epoxide or polyfunctional epoxide is not an epoxidized vegetable oil.

Abstract: This application concerns systems and methods for compressing natural gas with an internal combustion engine. In a representative embodiment, a method is featured which includes placing a first cylinder of an internal combustion engine in a compressor mode, and compressing a gas within the first cylinder, using the cylinder as a reciprocating compressor. In some embodiments a compression check valve system is used to regulate pressure and flow within cylinders of the engine during a compression process.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to compositions and related methods that incorporate GALLS full-length (FL) or CT domain proteins to enhance efficiency of genetic manipulation of plants. In one aspect, the disclosure provides a modified Agrobacterium cell that comprises a first nucleic acid and a second nucleic acid that encodes a GALLS-FL protein. In another aspect, the disclosure provides a method of enhancing the single copy insertion of a first nucleic acid sequence into a plant cell genome. In another aspect, the disclosure provides a method of inducing plant susceptibility to Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, comprising providing GALLS-CT polypeptide in the cytosol of at least one cell of the plant. In another aspect, the disclosure provides a transgenic plant that comprises a heterologous nucleic acid sequence encoding GALLS-CT operably linked to a promoter sequence.

Abstract: A formaldehyde-free aqueous adhesive composition comprising (a) soy protein and (b) magnesium oxide or a mixture of magnesium oxide and magnesium hydroxide, wherein components (a) and (b) together constitute at least 50 weight percent of the composition, excluding the weight of the water.

Abstract: Examples of multi-stage programmable rectifiers are provided herein. Each rectifier stage can include a first transistor and a switch connected to the first transistor. A threshold voltage of the first transistor can be programmed through selection of one of a plurality of voltages available at the switch. Each rectifier stage can also include a second transistor that can be connected in series with the first transistor. An output capacitor can be connected to the second transistor at an output of the rectifier stage. The plurality of voltages provided at the switch allows the threshold voltage of the first transistor to be adjusted in either a positive or negative position to increase efficiency of the rectifier. A calibration process can be used to identify the position of each switch in the rectifier stages that results in the highest efficiency or rectifier output voltage.

Abstract: Acoustically assisted magnetic recording can be used in a hard disk drive or a solid state medium. In the described embodiments, otherwise unwriteable high-coercivity media are made amenable to recording by lowering their coercivity via strain induced by acoustic waves. The use of acoustic waves temporarily and locally reduces the magnetic field required to record information on a magnetic recording medium. The process makes use of the magnetostrictive property of a magnetic material by which the magnetic anisotropy of the material is changed by strain. The result of such a change is a reduction in the coercive field, i.e., the magnetic field required to reverse the magnetization direction. Because acoustic waves cause strain, the passage of an acoustic wave through a magnetic material can be used to reduce its coercive field.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of an essential oil extraction apparatus. In some embodiments, the apparatus comprises a container configured to hold an essential oil-containing material, an essential oil extract receiver contained in the container, a condenser having an outlet fluidly coupled to the receiver and located relative to the container so as to receive essential oil-containing vapor emitted by the essential oil-containing material; and at least one microwave reflection structure associated with at least one of the container, the receiver or the condenser. The apparatus can have an overall dimension that is sufficiently small so that the apparatus fits inside a standard-sized kitchen microwave oven.

Abstract: This disclosure describes the molecular cloning of a pactamycin biosynthetic gene cluster from Streptomyces pactum ATCC 27456, characterization of individual genes in the gene cluster and the proteins encoded thereby as well as uses thereof. The pactamycin gene cluster is located within an 86.35 kilobases genetic locus and includes 53 open reading frames, 26 of which are considered to be the core cluster directly involved in the biosynthesis of pactamycin. The present disclosure also relates to the use of the pactamycin biosynthetic genes located within the identified gene cluster for drug design and development purposes, including the development of pactamycin analogs that are more efficacious and less toxic. Also provided are drugs and antibiotics so produced, as well as methods of their use.

Abstract: A method to generate siRNAs in vivo is described, as are constructs and compositions useful in the method. The method does not depend on the use of DNA or synthetic constructs that contain inverted duplications or dual promoters so as to form perfect or largely double-stranded RNA. Rather, the method depends on constructs that yield single-stranded RNA transcripts, and exploits endogenous or in vivo-produced miRNAs or siRNAs to initiate production of siRNAs. The miRNAs or siRNAs guide cleavage of the transcript and set the register for production of siRNAs (usually 21 nucleotides in length) encoded adjacent to the initiation cleavage site within the construct. The method results in specific formation of siRNAs of predictable size and register (phase) relative to the initiation cleavage site. The method can be used to produce specific siRNAs in vivo for inactivation or suppression of one or more target genes or other entities, such as pathogens.

Abstract: Electronic design automation (EDA) technologies are disclosed that analyze a circuit design for candidate low-voltage swing (LVS) modifications, report the impact of the candidate LVS modifications on circuit characteristics (such as area, timing and energy) and implement selected LVS modifications based on their impact on the circuit characteristics. Candidate LVS modifications comprise replacing existing standard low-voltage swing drivers and receivers, or inserting low-voltage swing drivers and receivers.

Abstract: A method to generate siRNAs in vivo is described, as are constructs and compositions useful in the method. The method does not depend on the use of DNA or synthetic constructs that contain inverted duplications or dual promoters so as to form perfect or largely double-stranded RNA. Rather, the method depends on constructs that yield single-stranded RNA transcripts, and exploits endogenous or in vivo-produced miRNAs or siRNAs to initiate production of siRNAs. The miRNAs or siRNAs guide cleavage of the transcript and set the register for production of siRNAs (usually 21 nucleotides in length) encoded adjacent to the initiation cleavage site within the construct. The method results in specific formation of siRNAs of predictable size and register (phase) relative to the initiation cleavage site. The method can be used to produce specific siRNAs in vivo for inactivation or suppression of one or more target genes or other entities, such as pathogens.

Abstract: A fluid micro-mixer apparatus includes a plurality of first microchannels for receiving a first fluid and a plurality of second microchannels for receiving a second fluid. A mixing chamber flow path is disposed to receive the first and second fluids after the first and second fluids exit their respective output ports. The mixing chamber flow path can include a first mixing chamber in the vicinity of the respective output ports, and the mixing chamber flow path can separate into at least two different flow paths downstream from the first mixing chamber.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Corylus plant named ‘Wepster’ characterized by high vigor and an upright-spreading plant habit, yellowish-green developing and fully expanded leaves during the spring and summer, resistance to eastern filbert blight caused by the fungus Anisogramma anomala (Peck) E. Müller, presence of random amplified polymorphic DNA markers 152-800 and 268-580 amplified by the polymerase chain reaction and which are linked to a dominant allele for resistance to eastern filbert blight from the cultivar Gasaway, expression of incompatibility alleles S1 and S2 in the styles, and DNA fingerprints at 8 of 20 microsatellite marker loci differ from both parents OSU 440.005 and ‘Tonda Pacifica’, and from one parent at an additional 12 marker loci.

Abstract: A new and distinct Corylus plant named ‘McDonald’ characterized by moderate vigor and upright-spreading plant habit, yellowish-green developing and fully expanded leaves during the spring and summer, resistance to eastern filbert blight caused by the fungus Anisogramma anomala (Peck) E. Müller, presence of random amplified polymorphic DNA markers 152-800 and 268-580 in DNA, expression of incompatibility alleles S2 and S15 in the styles, and DNA fingerprints at 14 of 21 microsatellite marker loci differ from both parents, ‘Tonda Pacifica’ and ‘Santiam’, and from one parent at an additional 5 marker loci.