Abstract: A high-energy, high-power, burst-mode laser is disclosed. The laser comprises a master oscillator, which generates a signal. The signal may be a continuous signal or a pulsed signal. The master oscillator optically couples to a pulse picker that creates a train of pulses from the signal, and the spacing between the pulses of the train of pulses ranges from ten nanoseconds to one millisecond. The pulse picker is optically coupled to a first diode-pumped amplifier that amplifies the train of pulses to create a first amplified pulse train.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for pretreating lignocellulosic biomass containing alkali and/or alkaline earth metal (AAEM). The method comprises providing a lignocellulosic biomass containing AAEM; determining the amount of the AAEM present in the lignocellulosic biomass; identifying, based on said determining, the amount of a mineral acid sufficient to completely convert the AAEM in the lignocellulosic biomass to thermally-stable, catalytically-inert salts; and treating the lignocellulosic biomass with the identified amount of the mineral acid, wherein the treated lignocellulosic biomass contains thermally-stable, catalytically inert AAEM salts.

Abstract: Aggregates are calculated from a data stream in which data is sent in a sequence of tuples, in which each tuple comprises an item identifier and a timestamp indicating when the tuple was transmitted. The tuples may arrive at a data receiver out-of-order, that is, the sequence in which the tuples arrive are not necessarily in the same sequence as their corresponding timestamps. In calculating aggregates, more recent data may be given more weight by a decay function which is a function of the timestamp associated with the tuple and the current time. The statistical characteristics of the tuples are summarized by a set of linear data summaries. The set of linear data summaries are generated such that only a single linear data summary falls between a set of boundaries calculated from the decay function and a set of timestamps.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for altering the concentration or composition of lignin in a plant; a method of making a mutant plant having an altered level of MTHFR protein compared to that of a nonmutant plant; plants, mutant plants, and mutant plant seeds produced by these methods; a method of identifying a candidate plant suitable for breeding that displays an altered lignin concentration or composition phenotype; a transgenic plant having an altered level of MTHFR protein capable of determining the lignin concentration or composition in a plant compared to that of a nontransgenic plant; and seed produced from a transgenic plant.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a block copolymer comprising at least one PA block and at least one PB block. The PA block represents a polymer block comprising one or more units of monomer A, and the PB block represents a polymer block comprising one or more units of monomer B. Monomer A is a vinyl, acrylic, diolefin, nitrile, dinitrile, or acrylonitrile monomer. Monomer B is a radically polymerizable plant oil monomer containing one or more triglycerides. The present invention also relates to a method of preparing a thermoplastic block copolymer by radical polymerizing a radically polymerizable monomer with a radically polymerizable plant oil monomer containing one or more triglycerides, in the presence of an initiator and a transition-metal catalyst system to form the thermoplastic block copolymer. The polymerized plant oil-based block copolymers are useful in a variety of applications, such as asphalt modifiers, rubber compositions, adhesives, tires, in the automobile industry, footwear, packaging, etc.

Abstract: Aggregates are calculated from a data stream in which data is sent in a sequence of tuples, in which each tuple comprises an item identifier and a timestamp indicating when the tuple was transmitted. The tuples may arrive out-of-order, that is, the sequence in which the tuples arrive are not necessarily in the sequence of their corresponding timestamps. In calculating aggregates, more recent data may be given more weight by multiplying each tuple by a decay function which is a function of the timestamp associated with the tuple and the current time. The tuples are recorded in a quantile-digest data structure. Aggregates are calculated from the data stored in the quantile-digest data structure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polymers, nanomaterials, and methods of making the same. Various embodiments provide an amphiphilic multi-arm copolymer. The copolymer includes a core unit and a plurality of amphiphilic block copolymer arms. Each block copolymer arm is substituted on the core unit. Each block copolymer arm includes at least one hydrophilic homopolymer subunit and at least one hydrophobic homopolymer subunit. In some examples, the copolymer can include a star-like or bottlebrush-like block copolymer, and can include a Janus copolymer. Various embodiments provide a nanomaterial. In some examples, the nanomaterial can include Janus nanomaterials, and can include nanoparticles, nanorods, or nanotubes. The nanomaterial includes the amphiphilic multi-arm copolymer and at least one inorganic precursor. The inorganic precursor can be coordinated to at least one homopolymer subunit of one of the amphiphilic block copolymer arms to form the nanomaterial.

Abstract: Materials and Methods related to gene targeting (e.g., gene targeting with transcription activator-like effector nucleases; “TALENS”) are provided.