Abstract: A method or process to increase the production of products of interest in plant material including plant cultures, such as, for example, cell suspension cultures, root cultures, and hairy root cultures is provided. In one embodiment, the method is to contacting the plant material with a precursor or xenobiotic when producing a product of interest from a plant. In another embodiment the plant material is also contacted with a trapping agent. The process may also provide for contacting an elicitor of the product of interest with the plant material. An embodiment provides for contacting an elicitor, precursor and trapping agent with the plant material. The ability to produce novel compounds such as glucosides and glucuronides is provided.

Abstract: A novel dietary supplement and nutritional aid and methods for the manufacture and administration of the same are disclosed for the inhibition of OCD in afflicted animals, particularly horses. The present invention relates generally to a feed composition and methods of use thereof for reducing the development of Osteochondrosis Dissecans (OCD) lesions in predisposed young animals, particularly horses. More specifically the invention provides a nutritional formula that targets the metabolic deficiencies identified as being correlated with development of OCD.

Abstract: Ionic liquids suitable for use in magnesium batteries are disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, a rechargeable magnesium battery comprises an anode electrode, a cathode electrode, and a chelating ionic liquid solution in contact therewith. The chelating ionic liquid may comprise at least one cation, at least one anion, and at least one soluble, magnesium salt. The magnesium salt may comprise MgX2, wherein X comprises at least one of Cl—, Br—, I—, TFSI—, FSI—, ClO4—, BF4—, PF6—, RSO3— (wherein R consists of at least one of an alkyl or aryl group), RCO2— (wherein R consists of at least one of an alkyl or aryl group), alkyl borides, alkyl borates, AlCl4—, AlXaRb— (wherein the sum of subscripts a and b is 4, X consists of a halide, and R consists of at least one of an alkyl or aryl group), carboranes, or hexamethyldisilazide.

Abstract: The disclosure provides methods of synthesizing non-spherical nanostructures. One embodiment has steps of providing a solution of nanoparticles (NPs) wherein each of the NPs comprises a non-spherical NP that includes gold and a surfactant coating covering the non-spherical NP; mixing the NPs and a pH modifier solution making a pH-modified solution of NPs having a pH within a predefined pH range; and adding a silica precursor solution to the solution of nanoparticles at a constant rate for at least one (1) minute to provide a homogeneous silica solution of NPs. Another embodiment has steps of providing a solution of NPs wherein each of the NPs comprises a non-spherical NP that includes gold and a surfactant coating covering the non-spherical NP; and adding a silica precursor solution to the solution of nanoparticles at a constant rate for at least one (1) minute to provide a homogeneous silica solution of NPs.

Abstract: The thermochemical conversion of biomass material to one or more reaction products includes generating thermal energy with at least one heat source, providing a volume of feedstock, providing a volume of supercritical fluid, transferring a portion of the generated thermal energy to the volume of supercritical fluid, transferring at least a portion of the generated thermal energy from the volume of supercritical fluid to the volume of feedstock, and performing a thermal decomposition process on the volume of feedstock with the thermal energy transferred from the volume of supercritical fluid to the volume of the feedstock in order to form at least one reaction product.

Abstract: Modified nano-clays and coating compositions including the modified nano-clays are disclosed. The coating compositions are useful for protecting objects such as outdoor sculptures and architectural elements made of metal or including metal components. In some embodiments, the modified nano-clay is LAPONITE clay that has been covalently modified with (tridecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrooctyl) triethoxysilane and cation-exchanged with phosphorylcholine.

Abstract: Multistage delivery vehicles are disclosed which include a first stage particle and a second stage particle. The first stage particle is a micro or nanoparticle that contains the second stage particle. The second stage particle includes an active agent, such as a therapeutic agent or an imaging agent. The multistage delivery vehicle allows sequential overcoming or bypassing of biological barriers. The multistage delivery vehicle is administered as a part of a composition that includes a plurality of the vehicles. Methods of making the multistage delivery vehicles are also provided.

Abstract: Methods of treating movement disorders by reducing the activity of Nurr1 are disclosed. These methods are particularly applicable to subjects suffering from Parkinson's disease who have either developed levodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID) or are at risk of developing LID. In some aspects, the invention relates to a method for treating a movement disorder in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a composition, wherein said composition reduces the activity of a nuclea receptor related 1 protein (“Nurr1”). In some embodiments, the movement disorder is a dyskinesia. The movement disorder may be a levodopa-induced dyskinesia.

Abstract: The instant application relates to methods for determining pancreatic cancer patient outcome and directing treatment to subjects with pancreatic cancer. The present disclosure further provides methods for measuring expression levels of cytokeratin 17 in a subject having pancreatic cancer, such as pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, in order to determine the subject's survival rate and clinical outcome.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to films. The films can include polyamic acid (PAA). Methods of making and using the film for food product coverings is also included.

Abstract: An exercise system includes a motor, a chain having a first end connected to the motor, and a handle or seat connected to a second end of the chain, and a control system to obtain variable mechanical resistance with continuous variation. The system may enable unrestricted type of resistance, including adjustable ratios of concentric/eccentric power.

Abstract: This invention relates to the use of CRISPR nucleic acids to screen for essential and non-essential genes and expendable genomic islands in bacteria, archaea, algae and/or yeast, to kill bacteria, archaea, algae and/or yeast, to identify the phenotype of a gene or genes, and/or to screen for reduced genome size and/or a gene deletion in bacteria, archaea, algae and/or yeast.

Abstract: Methods for measuring and/or mapping in-plane strain of a surface of a substrate. A grating is formed on at least a portion of the surface of the substrate. A laser is then used focused onto the grating to determine the strain on the surface by determining the variation of the grating wavelength due to the strain on the surface. The strain information is essentially carried by the grating, in terms of grating wavelength, because it varies according to the volume change of the underlying substrates. By scanning the surface grating with the small laser size, a high resolution strain map of the surface can be produced. The induced strain is related to the grating wavelength variation, which leads to the diffraction angle variation that is captured by the strain sensing measurements.

Abstract: A dye-sensitized solar cell is provided. The dye-sensitized solar cell includes a working electrode which includes a plurality of twisted carbon nanotube yarns. The dye-sensitized solar cell also includes a hybrid sensitizer. The hybrid sensitizer includes a nanoporous titanium oxide layer coated on the plurality of twisted carbon nanotube yarns, a microporous titanium oxide layer coated onto the nanoporous titanium oxide layer, and dye particles and quantum dots disposed in the pores of the microporous titanium oxide layer. In addition, the dye-sensitized solar cell includes a conducting electrode which includes at least one carbon nanotube yarn disposed about the hybrid sensitizer. The dye-sensitized solar cell also includes a solid state electrolyte disposed about the hybrid sensitizer.

Abstract: Methods, structures, and systems are disclosed for biosensing and drug delivery techniques. In one aspect, a device for detecting an analyte and/or releasing a biochemical into a biological fluid can include an array of hollowed needles, in which each needle includes a protruded needle structure including an exterior wall forming a hollow interior and an opening at a terminal end of the protruded needle structure that exposes the hollow interior, and a probe inside the exterior wall to interact with one or more chemical or biological substances that come in contact with the probe via the opening to produce a probe sensing signal, and an array of wires that are coupled to probes of the array of hollowed needles, respectively, each wire being electrically conductive to transmit the probe sensing signal produced by a respective probe.

Abstract: Methods and systems for bridge damage detection using, for example, one or more strain range methods are provided. One exemplary embodiment provides a computer-implemented methods and systems for determining bridge damage from strain sensor data, for example, by collecting a batch of strain data from one or more sensor pairs. From the batch of strain data one or more sets of strain data may be extracted comprising a quasi-static response of the bridge under ambient traffic loads. A relationship may be established between the one or more sets of strain data extracted from the one or more sensor pairs by orthogonal regression. Bridge damage may be detected by generally isolating a damage indicator between the one or more sensor pairs by monitoring changes in a statistical Fshm value over time.

Abstract: ‘NCIH2’ is a new cultivar of hybrid Illicium with remontant flowering, a compact habit, and large, white flowers.

Abstract: ‘NCIH1’ is a new cultivar of hybrid Illicium with remontant flowering, a compact habit, and large, red flowers.

Abstract: A new variety of sweetpotato, identified as ‘V12B.445’, is disclosed having disease resistance to both fusarium wilt and Streptomyces soil rot; an orange flesh and purple-red skin, and high yield characteristics.

Abstract: Ipomoea batatas ‘NC05-198’ is a high yielding, orange fleshed, smooth skinned, rose-colored, table-stock sweetpotato. Plants from beds are early and storage root shape is generally not affected by cool planting conditions. ‘NC05-198’ produces uniformly shaped and sized roots resulting in a high pack-out of No. 1 roots by sweetpotato packers, giving it a high economic value. It is tolerant to internal necrosis. Based on multiyear disease evaluations, ‘NC05-198 is resistant to fusarium wilt, moderately resistant to Streptomyces soil rot, and moderately susceptible to southern root knot nematode.