Abstract: A method of liquefying biomass. The method includes the steps of contacting biomass with a solution comprising an acyl halide and an acid; and then contacting the biomass with a reductant.

Abstract: A robotic surgical instrument comprising a shaft, a first end effector element, an articulation connecting the first end effector element to a distal end of the shaft, the first end effector element being movable relative to the articulation, and a drive mechanism at a proximal end of the shaft. The drive mechanism comprises a first actuator connected to the first end effector element by a first pair of driving elements. The first pair of driving elements are configured such that a tension force applied by the first actuator to a first one of the first pair of driving elements causes the first end effector element to move relative to the articulation in a first motion direction, and the tension force applied to a second one of the first pair of driving elements causes the first end effector element to move relative to the articulation in a second motion direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to feruloyl-CoA:monolignol transferase enzymes and nucleic acids encoding the feruloyl-CoA:monolignol transferase enzymes. The enzymes and/or the nucleic acids enable incorporation of monolignol ferulates into the lignin of plants. The monolignol ferulates include, for example, p-coumaryl ferulate, coniferyl ferulate, and/or sinapyl ferulate.

Abstract: In a packaging material that is, or includes, a laminate, the laminate includes first and second webs that are joined to one another. The first web includes a metallic layer on a second layer. The metallic layer is positioned between the second layer and the second web. Indicium is defined in at least the metallic layer. The packaging material is configured so that the indicium is visible from a first side of the packaging material, and the indicium is typically not visible from a second side of the packaging material. The indicium can be at least partially defined by holes in the metallic layer. The visibility of the indicium may be enhanced by the laminate including material that is a different color than the metallic layer, and the different color being at least partially visible through the indicium.

Abstract: The invention is directed to p-coumaroyl-CoA:monolignol transferase enzymes, nucleic acids encoding p-coumaroyl-CoA:monolignol transferase enzymes, and inhibitory nucleic acids adapted to inhibit the expression and/or translation of p-coumaroyl-CoA:monolignol transferase RNA; expression cassettes, plant cells, and plants that have or encode such nucleic acids and enzymes; and methods of making and using such nucleic acids, enzymes, expression cassettes, cells, and plants.

Abstract: Enzymes for depolymerizing lignin. The enzymes include dehydrogenases, ?-etherases, and glutathione lyases. The dehydrogenases can comprise one or more or LigD, LigO, LigN, and LigL. The ?-etherases can comprise one or more of LigE, LigF, LigP, and BaeA. The glutathione lyases can comprise any one or more of LigG and a number of non-stereospecific, optionally recombinant glutathione lyases derived from Sphingobium sp. SYK-6, Novosphingobium aromaticivorans, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus sanguinis, Phanerochaete chrysosporium, and other microorganisms. The enzymes can be combined in compositions and/or used in methods of processing lignin or other aromatic compounds in vitro.

Abstract: The invention relates to feruloyl-CoA:monolignol transferase enzymes and nucleic acids encoding the feruloyl-CoA:monolignol transferase enzymes. The enzymes and/or the nucleic acids enable incorporation of monolignol ferulates into the lignin of plants. The monolignol ferulates include, for example, p-coumaryl ferulate, coniferyl ferulate, and/or sinapyl ferulate.

Abstract: The invention is directed to p-coumaroyl-CoA:monolignol transferase enzymes, nucleic acids encoding p-coumaroyl-CoA:monolignol transferase enzymes, and inhibitory nucleic acids adapted to inhibit the expression and/or translation of p-coumaroyl-CoA:monolignol transferase RNA; expression cassettes, plant cells, and plants that have or encode such nucleic acids and enzymes; and methods of making and using such nucleic acids, enzymes, expression cassettes, cells, and plants.

Abstract: Enzymes for depolymerizing lignin. The enzymes include dehydrogenases, ?-etherases, and glutathione lyases. The dehydrogenases can comprise one or more or LigD, LigO, LigN, and LigL. The ?-etherases can comprise one or more of LigE, LigF, LigP, and BaeA. The glutathione lyases can comprise any one or more of LigG and a number of non-stereospecific, optionally recombinant glutathione lyases derived from Sphingobium sp. SYK-6, Novosphingobium aromaticivorans, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus sanguinis, Phanerochaete chrysosporium, and other microorganisms. The enzymes can be combined in compositions and/or used in methods of processing lignin or other aromatic compounds in vitro.

Abstract: In general, embodiments of the present invention provide systems, methods and computer readable media for generating a tiling for a physical placement of a plurality of circuits. The method includes generating a tiling including a plurality of tiles, where each tile identifies a tile geometric area, and a list of one or more of the circuits to be placed in the tile geometric area. The tiling is based on a description of one or more user constraints, where each user constraint identifies a constraint geometric area, and a characteristic of circuits to be placed in the constraint geometric area.

Abstract: An operations integration processor mapping information in a language-independent data format to a tag format for integration with a tag-based control and data acquisition system. The operations integration processor receives a response from a web service and parses the response to identify one or more attribute-value pairs contained in the response. The response contains information in a language-independent data format different than a tag format. The processor maps the parsed response to one or more tags, which have at least one of a name and a value based on the information provided in the response associated with them.

Abstract: An operations integration processor generating tag names from an array of objects in a language-independent data format different than a tag format for integration with a tag-based control and data acquisition system. The operations integration processor receives a response from a web service and parses the response to identify one or more objects and corresponding values in the array contained in the response. The response includes an array of objects and is in a language-independent data format different than a tag format. The processor configures a selected object of the array to act as a unique index for the array of objects and generates one or more tag names from the parsed response. The tag names each represent a tag having at least one of an object and a value associated with it based on the information provided in the response. The generated tag names include the selected object in an array index part thereof.

Abstract: A method of selectively reacting lignin or a lignin-derived reactant to yield an aromatic product. The method includes the step of reacting lignin or a lignin-derived reactant with a molybdenum-containing catalyst, in a solvent, and optionally in the presence of an oxidant, for a time and a temperature wherein at least a portion of the lignin or lignin-derived reactant is selectively converted into an aromatic product, preferably coniferaldehyde and/or sinapaldehyde.

Abstract: A method of forming sheet metal skins of the inner fixed structure of a blocker door thrust reverser assembly having convex and concave curvatures. The method includes plastically stretching a sheet of metal about a mandrel having a chordwise central first axis to form a substantially convex shape. The method further includes the addition of features after the substantially convex shape is formed to facilitate plastically stretching a portion or portions of the substantially convex shape into a substantially concave shape about an axis that is substantially parallel to the chordwise central first axis.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reworking a structure. A compaction blanket comprising a number of magnets is placed on the structure. A heat source is applied on the compaction blanket, wherein the compaction blanket is between the heat source and a rework of the structure and heat is conducted from the heat source through the compaction blanket to heat the rework.

Abstract: A method of liquefying biomass. The method includes the steps of contacting biomass with a solution comprising an acyl halide and an acid; and then contacting the biomass with a reductant.

Abstract: A robotic surgical instrument comprising a shaft, a first end effector element, an articulation connecting the first end effector element to a distal end of the shaft, the first end effector element being movable relative to the articulation, and a drive mechanism at a proximal end of the shaft. The drive mechanism comprises a first actuator connected to the first end effector element by a first pair of driving elements. The first pair of driving elements are configured such that a tension force applied by the first actuator to a first one of the first pair of driving elements causes the first end effector element to move relative to the articulation in a first motion direction, and the tension force applied to a second one of the first pair of driving elements causes the first end effector element to move relative to the articulation in a second motion direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to nucleic acids encoding a p-coumaroyl-CoA:monolignol transferase and to inhibitory nucleic acids adapted to inhibit the expression and/or translation of a p-coumaroyl-CoA:monolignol transferase RNA. Inhibition of p-coumaroyl-CoA:monolignol transferase in plants improves the incorporation of monolignol ferulates into the lignin of plants, giving rise to plant biomass that is more easily processed into useful products such as paper and biofuels.

Abstract: Motion-damping systems and methods that include motion-damping systems are disclosed herein. The motion-damping systems are configured to damp relative motion between a base structure and an attached component that define a gap therebetween. The systems include an at least substantially rigid tubular structure that defines an internal volume and extends within the gap. The systems also include a magnetic assembly and a magnetically active body. One of the magnetic assembly and the magnetically active body is located within the tubular structure and the other of the magnetic assembly and the magnetically active body is operatively attached to a selected one of the base structure and the attached component. The magnetic assembly is in magnetic communication with the magnetically active body such that a magnetic interaction therebetween resists motion of the attached component relative to the base structure. The methods include dissipating energy with the motion-damping system.

Abstract: Presently disclosed self-regulating thermal insulation may include one or more thermal actuators that may expand and contract in response to changes in temperature adjacent the thermal insulation, thereby automatically changing the thermal resistance of the thermal insulation. In this manner, a self-regulating thermal insulation may be configured to locally adjust in response to local changes in temperature of a part being insulated, for example, during curing or some other manufacturing process. Such self-regulating thermal insulation may be configured to respond to temperature changes without feedback control systems, power, or human intervention.