Abstract: The disclosure relates to the functionalization of a carbon-carbon backbone (CCB) polymer using a (cyclic) grafting agent, an initiator, and optionally a reversible radical trapping agent. The grafting agent and/or initiator can be particularly selected in terms of their surface energy and/or half-life, respectively, to limit or control undesirable effects associated with reactive melt-processing, such as excessive crosslinking, chain scission, or grafting agent homopolymerization, as well as to improve or control desirable effects associated with reactive melt-processing, such as improved relative graft uniformity or homogeneity on the CCB polymer. In some cases, the grafting agent can further include a functional group to impart some additional or new chemical or physical property to the CCB polymer. In some cases, the reactively melt-processed mixture includes two or more different polymers that are compatibilized via the grafting agent.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to thermally reversibly crosslinked polyolefins (TRC-PO) and methods for making the same. A TRC-PO can be formed by reactive melt-processing a mixture including (i) a polyolefin, (ii) an initiator, and (iii) a reversible crosslinker. The reversible crosslinker includes (A) a grafting agent moiety selected from unsaturated cyclic anhydrides, unsaturated cyclic imides, cyclic nitroxides, and ring-opened analogs thereof, and (B) a crosslinking moiety bound to the cyclic grafting agent moiety. This reactive melt-processing, for example including reactive extrusion, forms a thermally reversibly crosslinked (TRC) polyolefin with polyolefin chains reversibly crosslinked via the reversible crosslinkers, which provide dynamic covalent bonds, such as siloxanes and esters, that are amenable to melt re-processing to re-from or otherwise re-use the TRC-PO while still retaining the reversible crosslinks after re-processing.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for chemically recycling a condensation polymer, which includes melt-processing a mixture including a condensation polymer and an internal catalyst to increase the amorphous content of the polymer, followed by depolymerizing polymer in a reaction medium with a reactive solvent. Melt-processing and quenching of a condensation polymer generally reduces the crystalline content of the polymer and correspondingly increases the amorphous content of the polymer, which makes the polymer more amenable to subsequent depolymerization. Inclusion of the internal catalyst, for example a volatile organic catalyst, during melt-processing not only improves the relative degree of amorphization during melt-processing, but it also enhances the rate and conversion of the depolymerization stage that would otherwise be rate-limited by mass transport of an external catalyst from the bulk reaction medium to the polymer surface for depolymerization.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to the functionalization of a carbon-carbon backbone (CCB) polymer using a (cyclic) grafting agent, an initiator, and optionally a reversible radical trapping agent. The grafting agent and/or initiator can be particularly selected in terms of their surface energy and/or half-life, respectively, to limit or control undesirable effects associated with reactive melt-processing, such as excessive crosslinking, chain scission, or grafting agent homopolymerization, as well as to improve or control desirable effects associated with reactive melt-processing, such as improved relative graft uniformity or homogeneity on the CCB polymer. In some cases, the grafting agent can further include a functional group to impart some additional or new chemical or physical property to the CCB polymer. In some cases, the reactively melt-processed mixture includes two or more different polymers that are compatibilized via the grafting agent.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for managing access to encrypted data and encryption keys. The system stores, by a key management server, a first encryption key associated with a first service and a second encryption key associated with a second service. The system prevents, by the key management server, the second service from accessing the second encryption key while the first service is performing a first function using the first encryption key and determines that a first threshold period of time associated with the first function has elapsed. The system, in response to determining that the first threshold period of time associated with the first function has elapsed, prevents, by the key management server, the first service from accessing the first encryption key while the second service is performing a second function using the second encryption key.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of scalably producing microorganisms by propagating them within plant tissues and introducing them into agricultural seeds to improve their shelf-life during long-term storage, to produce substances of interest, and to create libraries of microbes.

Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to omniphobic compatibilizers, which include a polymerization reaction product between a first vinyl monomer, optionally a second vinyl crosslinking monomer, and a functionalized omniphobic polymer. The functionalized omniphobic polymer can include two or more vinyl functional groups or at least one free radical initiator functional group such that the reaction product forming the omniphobic compatibilizer can be a vinyl or free-radical polymerization product. The omniphobic compatibilizer can be incorporated into a UV-curable or a non-UV-curable thermoset omniphobic composition. The UV-curable composition can be a crosslinked polymerization reaction product between the omniphobic compatibilizer, a third vinyl monomer, and a fourth polyvinyl crosslinking monomer. The non-UV-curable composition can be a crosslinked polymerization reaction product between the omniphobic compatibilizer, a first thermosetting component, and a second thermosetting component.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a thermoset omniphobic composition with favorable dirt repellency and water resistance properties. The composition can be used as a protective coating on a substrate. Such coatings, when contacted with soil, dirt, dust, etc., remain clean and transparent. The omniphobic composition generally includes a thermoset polymer, an omniphobic polymer, and a filler or nanofiller. The thermoset polymer can be a crosslinked acrylate or other vinyl polymer. The omniphobic polymer can include fluorocarbon and/or siloxane groups for improving water resistance. The nanofiller can include nanosilica and/or nanoclay. The thermoset polymer and the omniphobic polymer together form a matrix for the filler as a dispersed phase throughout the matrix. A coated substrate with the thermoset omniphobic composition thereon exhibits favorable water contact and sliding angles as well as favorable transparency values in dirt accumulation tests.

Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to omniphobic compatibilizers, which include a polymerization reaction product between a first vinyl monomer, optionally a second vinyl crosslinking monomer, and a functionalized omniphobic polymer. The functionalized omniphobic polymer can include two or more vinyl functional groups or at least one free radical initiator functional group such that the reaction product forming the omniphobic compatibilizer can be a vinyl or free-radical polymerization product. The omniphobic compatibilizer can be incorporated into a UV-curable or a non-UV-curable thermoset omniphobic composition. The UV-curable composition can be a crosslinked polymerization reaction product between the omniphobic compatibilizer, a third vinyl monomer, and a fourth polyvinyl crosslinking monomer. The non-UV-curable composition can be a crosslinked polymerization reaction product between the omniphobic compatibilizer, a first thermosetting component, and a second thermosetting component.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to thermally reversibly crosslinked polyolefins (TRC-PO) and methods for making the same. A TRC-PO can be formed by reactive melt-processing a mixture including (i) a polyolefin, (ii) an initiator, and (iii) a reversible crosslinker. The reversible crosslinker includes (A) a grafting agent moiety selected from unsaturated cyclic anhydrides, unsaturated cyclic imides, cyclic nitroxides, and ring-opened analogs thereof, and (B) a crosslinking moiety bound to the cyclic grafting agent moiety. This reactive melt-processing, for example including reactive extrusion, forms a thermally reversibly crosslinked (TRC) polyolefin with polyolefin chains reversibly crosslinked via the reversible crosslinkers, which provide dynamic covalent bonds, such as siloxanes and esters, that are amenable to melt re-processing to re-from or otherwise re-use the TRC-PO while still retaining the reversible crosslinks after re-processing.

Abstract: This application relates to methods and materials for providing a benefit to a seed, seedling or plant by producing seeds that are internally colonized with endophytes. Beneficial endophytes with particular characteristics are provided. These may be used in the methods described to provide a benefit to a seed, seedling or plant.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method for producing plant seed containing endophytic microorganisms characterised in by the following steps: contacting a flowering plant with a preparation of endophytic microorganisms, whereby the endophytic microorganisms enter the plant via the flowers and are conveyed to seed produced by the plant; and obtaining the plant seed containing endophytic microorganisms from the plant.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of scalably producing microorganisms by propagating them within plant tissues and introducing them into agricultural seeds to improve their shelf-life during long-term storage, to produce substances of interest, and to create libraries of microbes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of scalably producing microorganisms by propagating them within plant tissues and introducing them into agricultural seeds to improve their shelf-life during long-term storage, to produce substances of interest, and to create libraries of microbes.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a security enhanced channel control system useable on a wireless device comprising a policy module including at least one processor and memory, the policy module configured to store, in the memory, one or more security policies and apply a compliance check to a first system layer and a second system layer; and a first policy base stored in the memory of the policy module, the first policy base being associated with a mandatory access control (“MAC”) base and defining one more security polices for access to a plurality of channels associated with the first and second system layers. The policy module cooperates with the first policy base to establish one or more access control rules that are applied to at least one of the plurality of channels to preclude an unauthorized application from accessing at least one of the channels.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of scalably producing microorganisms by propagating them within plant tissues and introducing them into agricultural seeds to improve their shelf-life during long-term storage, to produce substances of interest, and to create libraries of microbes.

Abstract: This application relates to methods and materials for providing a benefit to a seed, seedling or plant by producing seeds that are internally colonized with endophytes. Beneficial endophytes with particular characteristics are provided. These may be used in the methods described to provide a benefit to a seed, seedling or plant.

Abstract: A method for separating undesired components from gas mixtures comprises the following steps of providing a gas mixture containing at least two gaseous components, wherein one component is an undesired component, feeding water to the gas mixture, forming a hydrate of the undesired component and a remaining gas mixture, wherein the hydrate is formed by spraying a combination comprising the water and the gas mixture, and separating the hydrate from the remaining gas mixture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of scalably producing microorganisms by propagating them within plant tissues and introducing them into agricultural seeds to improve their shelf-life during long-term storage, to produce substances of interest, and to create libraries of microbes.

Abstract: This application relates to methods and materials for providing a benefit to a seed, seedling or plant by producing seeds that are internally colonized with endophytes. Beneficial endophytes with particular characteristics are provided. These may be used in the methods described to provide a benefit to a seed, seedling or plant.