Abstract: Uniaxially patterned (UAP) dielectric layers have an optical anisotropy that can be dynamically controlled. In a three-layer optical waveguide structure, the pattern can be included in the core or in a cladding layer. The pattern influences the polarization properties of radiation propagating in the structure. Predicated on the effect are devices such as a polarization-insensitive amplifier, a polarizer, an optically controlled polarization switch, and an optically controlled modal coupler.

Abstract: An isolated Steinernematid nematode of the species Steinernema scarabaei (ATCC accession No. PTA-6988) is provided which is entomopathogenic to the larvae of scarab beetles, e.g., Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica), oriental beetles (Exomala (=Anomala) orientalis), European chafer (Rhizotrogus majalis), Asiatic garden beetle (Maladera castanea), masked chafers (Cyclocephala spp.), and May/June beetles (Phyllophagaspp). A biopesticide composition is provided which comprises an insecticidally effective amount of Steinernema scarabaei. Biopesticide compositions are described which, in addition to Steinernema scarabaei, further comprise at least one neonicotinoid insecticide, e.g., imidacloprid. Methods are provided for controlling the larvae of at least one species of scarab beetle comprising applying a biopesticide composition to the locus of the larvae wherein the composition comprises an insecticidally effective amount of an isolated entomopathogenic nematode of the species Steinernema scarabaei.

Abstract: A method is provided to couple an aryl halide to an alkyne comprising reacting a compound of the formula ArX, wherein Ar is a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group and X is I or Br, with a compound of the formula HC?C—R1 wherein R1 is a substituted or unsubstituted organic group, in the presence of an effective amount of a phosphine-free, oxime-free palladium catalyst; (C1-C4)alkyl N+(?OAc) or an alkali metal carbonate, to yield a compound of the formula Ar—C?C—R1, wherein the reaction is carried out in the absence of an organic amine or copper(I).

Abstract: The effect of the action of collagenase in treating lesions containing collagen or mixed fibrin clots (e.g., burns or ulcers) is improved by applying collagenase to the wound in combination with an organogel and a phosphatidylcholine, of which lecithin is a readily available source, particularly when the collagenase is first mixed and stored with that choline and an organic solvent and is subsequently mixed with a second individually stored formulation comprising a gel-forming agent and water, the two formulations individually having satisfactory shelf lives and the resultant mixture being applied to the lesion promptly after being formed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and system for increasing safety in chemical application from an aircraft. Wind speed, wind direction and other critical flight parameters are measured, calculated, recorded, and visually or audibly announced during the aircraft flight via onboard equipment, which parameters provide a means for the aircraft pilot to control chemical spray application and for unassisted automatic chemical spray cutoff and for limiting spray application outside an application zone or target area. Such parameters also provide a means for indicating the lift reserve of the aircraft and a means for determining atmospheric stability near the ground and providing the pilot with a record of the meteorological conditions at a particular location. The method and system of the present invention also provide a means for predicting appropriate aircraft upwind offset distance to compensate for predicted chemical spray drift.

Abstract: A bioengineered synthesis scheme for the production of quinic acid from a carbon source is provided. Methods of producing quinic acid from a carbon source based on the synthesis scheme as well as conversion of quinic acid to hydroquinone are also provided.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, an article of manufacture comprises a substrate; a molecular layer on the substrate comprising at least one charge storage molecule coupled to the substrate by a molecular linker; a solid barrier dielectric layer directly on the molecular layer; and a conductive layer directly on the solid barrier dielectric layer. In some embodiments, the solid barrier dielectric layer is configured to provide a voltage drop across the molecular layer that is greater than a voltage drop across the solid barrier dielectric layer when a voltage is applied to the conductive layer. In some embodiments, the molecular layer has a thickness greater than that of the solid barrier dielectric layer. The article of manufacture contains no electrolyte between the molecular layer and the conductive layer.

Abstract: Provided herein are OspA polypeptides from Lyme Disease-causing Borrelia having certain alteration(s). In one embodiment, the alteration(s) increase the conformational stability of the OspA polypeptide containing the alteration(s) while maintaining at least some of the antigenicity of the corresponding unaltered OspA polypeptide. In another embodiment, the altered OspA polypeptide has reduced cross-reactivity to hLFA-1, as compared to the corresponding unaltered OspA polypeptide.

Abstract: An alloy including a Pt-group metal, Ni and Al, wherein the concentration of Al is limited with respect to the concentration of Ni and the Pt-group metal such that the alloy includes substantially no ?-NiAl phase, and wherein the Pt-group metal is present in an amount sufficient to provide enhanced hot corrosion resistance.

Abstract: Poly(glycolide) polymers are disclosed. The polymers generally include a glycolide-based polymer backbone that includes one or more functional groups such as alkynyl groups, hydrophilic organic triazole groups, hydrophobic organic triazole groups (also including amphiphilic organic triazole groups), di-triazole organic crosslinking groups, and triazole-substituted drug derivatives. The alkynyl groups provide reactive sites for further functionalization of the polymer, for example by reaction with azide derivatives. The polymers can further encapsulate a drug for delivery to a patient (i.e., as compared to drug derivatives that are covalently attached to the polymer). The polymers can be in the form of thermodynamically stable unimolecular micelles or crosslinked nanoparticles. The polymer compositions are completely biodegradable and hold great potential for use in biomedical applications.

Abstract: Semiconductor materials suitable for being used in radiation detectors are disclosed. A particular example of the semiconductor materials includes tellurium, cadmium, and zinc. Tellurium is in molar excess of cadmium and zinc. The example also includes aluminum having a concentration of about 10 to about 20,000 atomic parts per billion and erbium having a concentration of at least 10,000 atomic parts per billion.

Abstract: A process for producing biodiesel has been invented by first extracting lipids from the sludges generated during primary and/or biological treatment of municipal, agricultural, and industrial wastewaters using primary, secondary, and tertiary treatments followed by the transesterification of the extracted lipids using transesterification conversion into alcohol-based esters. The resulting products from this process include biodiesel, glycerol, lipid-free proteins, various other useful chemicals and an aqueous-based substrate well suited for optimized digestion within subsequent biological digestion (either aerobic or anaerobic). The lipids extracted from the sludges containing high levels of microorganisms are phospholipids which can also be directly used as lecithin.

Abstract: A foamed starch-polyester graft copolymer and chemically modified starch-polyester graft copolymer composition comprising a chemically modified starch or chemically modified starch-nanoclay product is described. The composition can be produced continuously in a twin-screw co-rotating extruder in the presence of a blowing agent. The foams are biodegradable.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of making the devices are described. The devices can be implemented in SiC and can include epitaxially grown n-type drift and p-type trenched gate regions, and an n-type epitaxially regrown channel region on top of the trenched p-gate regions. A source region can be epitaxially regrown on top of the channel region or selectively implanted into the channel region. Ohmic contacts to the source, gate and drain regions can then be formed. The devices can include edge termination structures such as guard rings, junction termination extensions (JTE), or other suitable p-n blocking structures. The devices can be fabricated with different threshold voltages, and can be implemented for both depletion and enhanced modes of operation for the same channel doping. The devices can be used as discrete power transistors and in digital, analog, and monolithic microwave integrated circuits.

Abstract: A soybean cultivar designated HFPR-5 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar HFPR-5, to the plants of soybean HFPR-5, to plant parts of soybean cultivar HFPR-5 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing soybean cultivar HFPR-5 with itself or with another soybean variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars and plant parts derived from soybean variety HFPR-5, to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar HFPR-5 and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants and plant parts produced by crossing the cultivar HFPR-5 with another soybean cultivar.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus or systems for providing security based on innate characteristics of devices are disclosed. A method of providing security associated with communications from a digital device includes observing an analog signal associated with communications from the digital device, characterizing the digital device at least partially based on the analog signal, and providing a security feature at least partially based on the step of characterizing.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for detecting genetic instability for apomixis in angiospermous plant, and for enhancing, genetically stabilizing, and controlling apomixis expression in such plants. Enhanced expression, stabilization, and control are achieved by converting a facultative apomict to obligate apomixis. Enhanced expression of apomixis is further achieved by increasing frequencies of unreduced egg formation and/or parthenogenesis. Genetic stabilization of apomixis is alternatively achieved by conferring mechanisms to a facultative apomict that, during facultative sexual seed formation, prevent the segregational loss of unique alleles at multiple loci, which cause apomixis, such that progeny produced sexually from the facultative apomict inherit the unique allelic combinations required to maintain apomixis. The disclosed methods are used in various combinations to produce apomictic plants that possess improved yield, quality, and/or seed production characteristics.

Abstract: Topical compositions are provided in which active compounds for topical delivery through the stratum corneum are complexed with nanospheres of a triblock copolymer having an A-B-A structure wherein each A end block is a water-soluble, hydrophilic and non-toxic polymer or oligomer; and the hydrophobic middle B block is a hydrophobic polymer or oligomer with the same or different repeating units having the structure according to formula:(I) wherein X is —C —R—C— or —C—; Z is between 2 and about 100, inclusive; R1 is CH?CH or (CH2), wherein n is from 0 to 18, inclusive; R2 is selected from hydrogen and straight and branched alkyl, alkoxy, alkylaryl and alkoxyaryl groups containing up to 18 carbon atoms; and R is selected from a bond or straight and branched alkyl, alkoxy, alkylaryl and alkoxyaryl groups containing up to 18 carbon atoms.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for adaptively estimating the specific differential phase (Kdp) from dual-polarization radar data in the complex domain. Some embodiments adapt for wrapped differential propagation phases by estimating the specific differential phase in the complex domain. Some embodiments adapt for measurement fluctuations and/or spatial scale in making such estimations. Some embodiments also provide for determining the presence of storms cells using the dispersion of the differential propagation phase shift over a subset of bins.

Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment, a transmission line geometry or structure may readily be realized as periodic printed coupled/uncoupled microstrip lines on dielectric and/or suitable biased ferromagnetic substrates. An example of a transmission line geometry or structure may be adapted to emulate extraordinary propagation modes within bulk periodic assemblies of anisotropic dielectric and magnetic materials. For instance, wave propagation in anisotropic media may be emulated by using a pair of coupled transmission lines (30, 32) having a specially designed geometry, thereby enabling mold wave dispersion in a microwave or optical guided wave structure. Degenerate band edge resonances, frozen modes, other extraordinary modes, and other unique electromagnetic properties such as negative refraction index may be realized using unique geometrical arrangements that may, for example, be easily manufactured using contemporary RF or photonics/solid state technology.