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.

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: 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.

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: Described is a method of detecting and/or determining levels of incorporation of monolignol ferulate conjugate esters into lignin by derivatizing the lignin, reductively cleaving the lignin, labeling the cleavage products, and then detecting cleavage products derived from monolignol ester conjugates via differential attachment of the label.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method to make N-acetyl-p-aminophenol. The method includes steps for converting biomass-derived p-hydroxybenzoates to p-hydroxybenzamide, then to p-aminophenol; and then N-acetylating the p-aminophenol.

Abstract: Described is a method of detecting and/or determining levels of incorporation of monolignol ferulate conjugate esters into lignin by derivatizing the lignin, reductively cleaving the lignin, labeling the cleavage products, and then detecting cleavage products derived from monolignol ester conjugates via differential attachment of the label.

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: An airfoil comprises a skin, comprising an external surface and an internal surface. The skin has a controlled region. The airfoil also comprises an interior space, formed by the skin. The airfoil additionally comprises a hybrid acoustic induction-heating system, configured to impede formation of ice on the external surface. The hybrid acoustic induction-heating system comprises induction coils and a control system. Each one of the induction coils has a portion, arranged sufficiently close to the internal surface to produce an eddy current within the controlled region. The control system is configured to generate inductive heat and traveling-wave acoustic pressure in the controlled region by supplying different phases of the alternating electrical current to the induction coils based, at least in part, on an ambient temperature of a layer of fluid flowing over the external surface.

Abstract: A method of impeding formation of ice on an exterior surface of airfoil is disclosed. The method comprises detecting first ambient conditions known to cause the ice to form on exterior surface. The method also comprises supplying inductive heat and acoustic pressure to exterior surface when the first ambient conditions are detected. The method additionally comprises detecting second ambient conditions known to impede the ice from forming on exterior surface. The method further comprises discontinuing to supply the inductive heat and the acoustic pressure to exterior surface when the second ambient conditions are detected.

Abstract: An airfoil comprises a skin, comprising an external surface and an internal surface, opposite the external surface. The skin is magnetically and electrically conductive. The airfoil also comprises an interior space, formed by the skin. The internal surface faces the interior space. The airfoil additionally comprises a leading edge along the external surface. The airfoil further comprises a hybrid acoustic induction-heating system, configured to impede formation of ice on the external surface. The hybrid acoustic induction-heating system comprises an induction coil within the interior space. At least a portion of the induction coil is sufficiently close to the internal surface to produce an eddy current in the skin when an alternating electrical current is flowing in the induction coil. The hybrid acoustic induction-heating system also comprises at least one magnet within the interior space. At least the one magnet is configured to produce a steady-state magnetic field within the skin.

Abstract: An airfoil comprises a skin, comprising an external surface and an internal surface. The skin has a controlled region. The airfoil also comprises an interior space, formed by the skin. The airfoil additionally comprises a hybrid acoustic induction-heating system, configured to impede formation of ice on the external surface. The hybrid acoustic induction-heating system comprises an induction coil and a control system. At least a portion of the induction coil is sufficiently close to the internal surface to produce an eddy current within the controlled region when an alternating electrical current is flowing in the induction coil. The control system is configured to generate inductive heat and acoustic pressure in the controlled region by supplying the alternating electrical current to the induction coil based, at least in part, on an ambient temperature of a layer of fluid flowing over the external surface.

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: 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: Disclosed is a method to make N-acetyl-p-aminophenol. The method includes steps for converting biomass-derived p-hydroxybenzoates to p-hydroxybenzamide, then to p-aminophenol; and then N-acetylating the p-aminophenol.

Abstract: This invention relates to anti-cancer compounds and to methods for treating or preventing cancer. In one aspect the invention concerns mitochondrially delivered pro-oxidant anti-cancer compounds that generate reactive oxygen species and induce apoptosis of cancerous cells. The delivery moiety can be a lipophilic cation and the pro-oxidant moiety can be a pro-oxidant vitamin E analogue, such as ?-tocopheryl succinate, ?-tocopheryl maleate, ?-tocopheryl maleyl amide, or 2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2R-(4R,8R,12-trimethyltridecyl)-chroman-6-yloxyacetic acid (?-tocopheryloxyacetic acid).