Abstract: Nucleic acid sequences encoding chimeric polypeptides that exhibit enhanced cellulase activities are disclosed herein. These nucleic acids may be expressed in hosts such as fungi, which in turn may be cultured to produce chimeric polypeptides. Also disclosed are chimeric polypeptides and their use in the degradation of cellulosic materials.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for pattern formation on a substrate. An example embodiment includes a method for pattern formation. The method includes providing a photoresist layer on a composite substrate. The method also includes patterning the photoresist layer by lithography to define a plurality of parallel stripe photoresist structures. The method further includes providing a block copolymer on and along the composite substrate, in between the parallel stripe photoresist structures. The block copolymer includes a first component and a second component. The method additionally includes subjecting the block copolymer to predetermined conditions to cause phase separation of the first component and the second component. In addition, the method includes performing a sequential infiltration synthesis process. Still further, the method includes selectively removing the parallel stripe photoresist structures. Additionally, the method includes defining a core stripe structure.

Abstract: A method for patterning a substrate is disclosed. The method includes applying a first directed self-assembly (DSA) patterning process that defines a first patterned layer on top of the substrate. The pattern of the first patterned layer is to be transferred into the substrate. The method also includes applying a planarizing layer on top of the first patterned layer. The method further includes applying a second DSA patterning process that defines a second patterned layer on top of the planarizing layer, thereby not patterning the planarizing layer. A pattern of the second patterned layer is to be transferred into the substrate. Projections of the pattern of the second patterned layer and the pattern of the first patterned layer on the substrate have no overlap. Additionally, the method includes transferring the patterns defined by the first patterned layer and the second patterned layer into the substrate.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein that generally involve shunting fluid, e.g., shunting cerebrospinal fluid in the treatment of hydrocephalus. Self-cleaning catheters are provided which include split tips configured such that pulsatile flow of fluid in a cavity in which the catheter is inserted can cause the tips to strike one another and thereby clear obstructions. Catheters with built-in flow indicators are also provided. Exemplary flow indicators include projections that extend radially inward from the interior surface of the catheter and which include imageable portions (e.g., portions which are visible under magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)). Movement of the flow indicators caused by fluid flowing through the catheter can be detected using MRI, thereby providing a reliable indication as to whether the catheter is partially or completely blocked.

Abstract: Presented herein are oleaginous strains of yeast such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae that have been modified to allow for xylose utilization. Such strains are also modified to allow for higher lipid accumulation utilizing a broad range of sugar monomers such as those released during pretreatment and enzymatic saccharification of lignocellulosic biomass. Methods of producing lipids and ethanol using these yeast strains are also disclosed.

Abstract: An L-arabinose utilizing yeast strain is provided for the production of ethanol by introducing and expressing bacterial araA, araB and araD genes, L-arabinose transporters are also introduced into the yeast to enhance the uptake of arabinose. The yeast carries additional genomic mutations enabling it to consume L-arabinose, even as the only carbon source, and to produce ethanol. A yeast strain engineered to metabolize arabinose through a novel pathway is also disclosed. Methods of producing ethanol include utilizing these modified yeast strains.

Abstract: System and methods for efficiently distributing data packets in a multi-path network having a plurality of equal cost paths each having the same number of hops are provided. In one aspect, a system and method includes reordering the entries in the routing table of one or more peer routing devices, such that succeeding equal cost next hop routing devices that are interconnected in a Clos formation to the peer routing devices received unbiased traffic from each of the peer routing devices, thus enabling the succeeding next hop routing devices to distribute data traffic evenly over additional equal cost multiple hops further into the network.

Abstract: The present technology considers multi-stage network topologies where it is not possible to evenly stripe uplinks from a lower stage of the network topology to switching units in an upper stage of the topology. This technology proposes techniques to both improve overall throughput and to deliver uniform performance to all end hosts with uneven connectivity among the different stages while delivering uniform performance to all hosts. To achieve improved network performance in case of asymmetric connectivity, more flows may be sent to some egress ports than to others, thus weighting some ports more than others, resulting in Weighted Cost Multi Path (WCMP) flow distribution.

Abstract: Drug delivery systems and methods are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a drug delivery system can be configured to deliver a drug to a patient in coordination with a physiological parameter of the patient (e.g., the patient's natural cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pulsation or the patient's heart or respiration rate). In some embodiments, a drug delivery system can be configured to use a combination of infusion and aspiration to control delivery of a drug to a patient. Catheters, controllers, and other components for use in the above systems are also disclosed, as are various methods of using such systems.

Abstract: A technique includes transmitting traffic to a destination via at least a first path of a plurality of paths to the destination, each path including one or more path segments, a plurality of ports being associated with each path segment, receiving port congestion information for each of the ports, determining whether each of the plurality of path segments is congested based on the port congestion information, making a first determination that the first path is congested and that one or more second paths are not congested, each of the paths is determined to be congested if one or more path segments of the path is congested, and re-routing at least some traffic directed to the destination from the congested first path to one or more of the uncongested second paths in response to the first determination.

Abstract: The present technology considers network devices that include forwarding tables having a number of next-hop entries (e.g., egress ports) where it is possible that the egress port utilization can be load balanced using WCMP groups. To implement a WCMP group, its members are assigned weights representing an amount of data flow to distribute over a plurality of links for a given destination. The members may be replicated in a forwarding table proportionally to their assigned weights. This disclosure provides systems and methods to reduce the number of forwarding table entries required when implementing a WCMP group.

Abstract: An improved combustor is disclosed in which conventional combustion is changed to “rich to quench to lean” by changing the air entry arrangement in the liner of the combustor to remove mixing holes, reduce liner cooling and admit dilution air into the combustor liner in place of mixing air. In an alternative embodiment, dilution air is admitted into the combustor liner with the help of a plurality of pipes arranged so that air comes into the liner as a swirling flow in a direction opposite to nozzle swirl, so as to thereby produce a large mixing of air with the combustion gases and a resulting quenching effect, i.e., a rapid cooling of the combustion gases by quenching air. As such, the requirement for cooling water to quench the combustion gases is significantly reduced, thereby helping turbine efficiency and reducing turbine emissions.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein that generally involve shunting fluid, e.g., shunting cerebrospinal fluid in the treatment of hydrocephalus. Self-cleaning catheters are provided which include split tips configured such that pulsatile flow of fluid in a cavity in which the catheter is inserted can cause the tips to strike one another and thereby clear obstructions. Catheters with built-in flow indicators are also provided. Exemplary flow indicators include projections that extend radially inward from the interior surface of the catheter and which include imageable portions (e.g., portions which are visible under magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)). Movement of the flow indicators caused by fluid flowing through the catheter can be detected using MRI, thereby providing a reliable indication as to whether the catheter is partially or completely blocked.

Abstract: An improved combustor is disclosed in which conventional combustion is changed to “rich to quench to lean” by changing the air entry arrangement in the liner of the combustor to remove mixing holes, reduce liner cooling and admit dilution air into the combustor liner in place of mixing air. In an alternative embodiment, dilution air is admitted into the combustor liner with the help of a plurality of pipes arranged so that air comes into the liner as a swirling flow in a direction opposite to nozzle swirl, so as to thereby produce a large mixing of air with the combustion gases and a resulting quenching effect, i.e., a rapid cooling of the combustion gases by quenching air. As such, the requirement for cooling water to quench the combustion gases is significantly reduced, thereby helping turbine efficiency and reducing turbine emissions.

Abstract: Systems and methods for delivering a drug with a tracer or contrast agent are disclosed herein, as are systems and methods that generally involve CED devices with various features for reducing or preventing backflow. In some embodiments, CED devices include a tissue-receiving space disposed proximal to a distal fluid outlet. Tissue can be compressed into or pinched/pinned by the tissue-receiving space as the device is inserted into a target region of a patient, thereby forming a seal that reduces or prevents proximal backflow of fluid ejected from the outlet beyond the tissue-receiving space. In some embodiments, CED devices include a bullet-shaped nose proximal to a distal fluid outlet. The bullet-shaped nose forms a good seal with surrounding tissue and helps reduce or prevent backflow of infused fluid.

Abstract: A multi-stage network is provided, where the network includes a first stage comprising a first plurality of network switching devices, the first plurality of network devices being classified into switching groups. The network further includes a second stage comprising a second plurality of network switching devices. A linking configuration, comprising a plurality of links between the first plurality of network switching devices and the second plurality of network switching devices, couples the first stage to the second stage. Each first stage network switching device in a given switching group includes the same number of links to any given second stage network switching device as each other first stage network switching device in that group.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments determine respective capacities of network links in a multi-stage network. Specifically, the capacities of the upstream links for a given network element are determined based on the capacities of the downstream links for that network element. According to the various embodiments, a network element determines the amount of data, i.e. traffic, which may be assigned to downstream links based on the determined capacities. A network element may not receive more traffic than the total direct downstream capacity of the network element. Thus, optimum throughput may be attained for the entire network.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein that generally involve shunting fluid, e.g., shunting cerebrospinal fluid in the treatment of hydrocephalus. Self-cleaning catheters are provided which include split tips configured such that pulsatile flow of fluid in a cavity in which the catheter is inserted can cause the tips to strike one another and thereby clear obstructions. Catheters with built-in flow indicators are also provided. Exemplary flow indicators include projections that extend radially inward from the interior surface of the catheter and which include imageable portions (e.g., portions which are visible under magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)). Movement of the flow indicators caused by fluid flowing through the catheter can be detected using MRI, thereby providing a reliable indication as to whether the catheter is partially or completely blocked.

Abstract: A turbine combustor section has a flow conditioner including a plurality of conduits arranged to convey pressurized air to an air chamber for entrance into a plurality of fuel nozzles. Each conduit includes an inlet configured to receive the pressurized air from an annular passage and an outlet configured to deliver the pressurized air to the air chamber. A cross-sectional area of each conduit varies between the inlet and the outlet so as to reduce a pressure drop across the flow conditioner.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein that generally involve shunting fluid, e.g., shunting cerebrospinal fluid in the treatment of hydrocephalus. Self-cleaning catheters are provided which include split tips configured such that pulsatile flow of fluid in a cavity in which the catheter is inserted can cause the tips to strike one another and thereby clear obstructions. Catheters with built-in flow indicators are also provided. Exemplary flow indicators include projections that extend radially inward from the interior surface of the catheter and which include imageable portions (e.g., portions which are visible under magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)). Movement of the flow indicators caused by fluid flowing through the catheter can be detected using MRI, thereby providing a reliable indication as to whether the catheter is partially or completely blocked.