Abstract: A method of forming a layered structure comprising a domain pattern of a self-assembled material utilizes a negative-tone patterned photoresist layer comprising non-crosslinked developed photoresist. The developed photoresist is not soluble in an organic casting solvent for a material capable of self-assembly. The developed photoresist is soluble in an aqueous alkaline developer and/or a second organic solvent. A solution comprising the material capable of self-assembly and the organic casting solvent is casted on the patterned photoresist layer. Upon removal of the organic casting solvent, the material self-assembles, thereby forming the layered structure.

Abstract: DNA constructs comprising a first DNA segment that corresponds to at least a portion of a gene in the monolignol biosynthetic pathway, a spacer DNA segment, and a second DNA segment that is complementary to the first DNA segment can be used to reduce or modulate the lignin content in plants. In some embodiments, DNA constructs comprise at least a portion of a gene for 4CL, C3H, CCR, C4H or CCoAOMT. Vascular-preferred and constitutive promoters can be used to drive expression of the constructs.

Abstract: A one pot method of preparing cyclic carbonyl compounds comprising an active pendant pentafluorophenyl ester group is disclosed. The cyclic carbonyl compounds can be polymerized by ring opening methods to form ROP polymers comprising repeat units comprising a side chain pentafluorophenyl ester group. Using a suitable nucleophile, the pendant pentafluorophenyl ester group can be selectively transformed into a variety of other functional groups before or after the ring opening polymerization.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for forming topographical features. In one method, a pre-patterned structure is provided which comprises i) a support member having a surface and ii) an element for topographically guiding segregation of a polymer mixture including a first polymer and a second polymer, the element comprising a feature having a sidewall adjoined to the surface. The polymer mixture is disposed on the pre-patterned structure, wherein the disposed polymer mixture has contact with the sidewall and the surface. The first polymer and the second polymer are segregated in a plane parallel to the surface, thereby forming a segregated structure comprising a first polymer domain and a second polymer domain.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polymeric derivatives, which can be conjugated to an amino-containing drug to improve its in vivo properties. The polymeric derivative can subsequently be released to yield the drug in its native form. Methods of preparing and using these polymeric derivatives and drug conjugates are described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polymeric derivatives, which can be conjugated to an amino-containing drug to improve its in vivo properties. The polymeric derivative can subsequently be released to yield the drug in its native form. Methods of preparing and using these polymeric derivatives and drug conjugates are described.

Abstract: A composition comprises a surface modified nanoparticle comprising a core comprising a material selected from the group consisting of organic materials, organometallic materials, inorganic materials, metals, metal oxides, and combinations thereof; and a surface branch covalently linked to the core having the general formula (3):

Abstract: A layered structure comprising a self-assembled material is formed by a method that includes forming a photochemically, thermally and/or chemically treated patterned photoresist layer disposed on a first surface of a substrate. The treated patterned photoresist layer comprises a non-crosslinked treated photoresist. An orientation control material is cast on the treated patterned photoresist layer, forming a layer containing orientation control material bound to a second surface of the substrate. The treated photoresist and, optionally, any non-bound orientation control material are removed by a development process, resulting in a pre-pattern for self-assembly. A material capable of self-assembly is cast on the pre-pattern. The casted material is allowed to self-assemble with optional heating and/or annealing to produce the layered structure.

Abstract: A railway inspection system for monitoring defects of a rail, including an inspection vehicle configured for traversing the rail, a sensor disposed on the vehicle configured for obtaining rail condition data, a memory disposed on the vehicle and storing previous rail condition data from a previous traversal of the rail, a display device disposed on the vehicle, a processor disposed on the vehicle and a non-transitory computer-readable medium disposed on the vehicle and containing instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause performance of the following steps in real-time as the vehicle traverses the rail, namely obtaining current rail condition data from the sensor, displaying on the display device representative images of the current rail condition data, retrieving the previous rail condition data from the memory, and displaying on the display device representative images of the previous rail condition data.

Abstract: DNA constructs comprising a first DNA segment that corresponds to at least a portion of a gene in the monolignol biosynthetic pathway, a spacer DNA segment, and a second DNA segment that is complementary to the first DNA segment can be used to reduce or modulate the lignin content in plants. In some embodiments, DNA constructs comprise at a least a portion of a gene for 4CL, C3H, CCR, C4H or CCoAOMT. Vascular-preferred and constitutive promoters can be used to drive expression of the constructs.

Abstract: A method of preparing a cyclic monomer, comprising: forming a first mixture comprising a precursor compound, bis(pentafluorophenyl)carbonate, and a catalyst; wherein the precursor compound has a structure comprising a) two or more carbons, and b) two functional groups selected from the group consisting of primary amine, secondary amine, thiol group, hydroxyl group, and combinations thereof; and agitating the first mixture at a temperature effective to form a second mixture comprising the cyclic monomer, the cyclic monomer selected from the group consisting of a cyclic carbonate, a cyclic carbamate, a cyclic urea, a cyclic thiocarbonate, a cyclic thiocarbamate, and a cyclic dithiocarbonate.

Abstract: A one pot method of preparing cyclic carbonyl compounds comprising an active pendant pentafluorophenyl ester group is disclosed. The cyclic carbonyl compounds can be polymerized by ring opening methods to form ROP polymers comprising repeat units comprising a side chain pentafluorophenyl ester group. Using a suitable nucleophile, the pendant pentafluorophenyl ester group can be selectively transformed into a variety of other functional groups before or after the ring opening polymerization.

Abstract: A one pot method of preparing cyclic carbonyl compounds comprising an active pendant pentafluorophenyl ester group is disclosed. The cyclic carbonyl compounds can be polymerized by ring opening methods to form ROP polymers comprising repeat units comprising a side chain pentafluorophenyl ester group. Using a suitable nucleophile, the pendant pentafluorophenyl ester group can be selectively transformed into a variety of other functional groups before or after the ring opening polymerization.

Abstract: A one pot method of preparing cyclic carbonyl compounds comprising an active pendant pentafluorophenyl carbonate group is disclosed. The cyclic carbonyl compounds can be polymerized by ring opening methods to form ROP polymers comprising repeat units comprising a side chain pentafluorophenyl carbonate group. Using a suitable nucleophile, the pendant pentafluorophenyl carbonate group can be selectively transformed into a variety of other functional groups before or after the ring opening polymerization.

Abstract: A one pot method of preparing cyclic carbonyl compounds comprising an active pendant pentafluorophenyl carbonate group is disclosed. The cyclic carbonyl compounds can be polymerized by ring opening methods to form ROP polymers comprising repeat units comprising a side chain pentafluorophenyl carbonate group. Using a suitable nucleophile, the pendant pentafluorophenyl carbonate group can be selectively transformed into a variety of other functional groups before or after the ring opening polymerization.

Abstract: A method and a computer system for designing an optical photomask for forming a prepattern opening in a photoresist layer on a substrate wherein the photoresist layer and the prepattern opening are coated with a self-assembly material that undergoes directed self-assembly to form a directed self-assembly pattern. The methods includes: generating a mask design shape from a target design shape; generating a sub-resolution assist feature design shape based on the mask design shape; using a computer to generate a prepattern shape based on the sub-resolution assist feature design shape; and using a computer to evaluate if a directed self-assembly pattern of the self-assembly material based on the prepattern shape is within specified ranges of dimensional and positional targets of the target design shape on the substrate.

Abstract: A method and a computer system for designing an optical photomask for forming a prepattern opening in a photoresist layer on a substrate wherein the photoresist layer and the prepattern opening are coated with a self-assembly material that undergoes directed self-assembly to form a directed self-assembly pattern. The methods includes: generating a mask design shape from a target design shape; generating a sub-resolution assist feature design shape based on the mask design shape; using a computer to generate a prepattern shape based on the sub-resolution assist feature design shape; and using a computer to evaluate if a directed self-assembly pattern of the self-assembly material based on the prepattern shape is within specified ranges of dimensional and positional targets of the target design shape on the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition comprising a photoresist polymer and a fluoropolymer. In one embodiment, the fluoropolymer comprises a first monomer having a pendant group selected from alicyclic bis-hexafluoroisopropanol and aryl bis-hexafluoroisopropanol and preferably a second monomer selected from fluorinated styrene and fluorinated vinyl ether. The invention composition has improved receding contact angles with high refractive index hydrocarbon fluids used in immersion lithography and, thereby, provides improved performance in immersion lithography.

Abstract: An endoluminal biopsy device is provided with a proximal actuation mechanism attached to a distal sampler by at least one elongate member. The distal sampler includes a distal inner portion defining a plurality of chambers, each configured to receive a tissue sample, and a distal outer portion defining a cutting mechanism opening having a cutting edge adjacent the cutting mechanism opening. The distal outer portion is configured so that, when the cutting mechanism opening aligns with one of the plurality of chambers, the distal outer portion covers the remaining chambers. A related method for the use of such an endoluminal biopsy device also is provided.

Abstract: A method of preparing a cyclic monomer, comprising: forming a first mixture comprising a precursor compound, bis(pentafluorophenyl)carbonate, and a catalyst; wherein the precursor compound has a structure comprising a) two or more carbons, and b) two functional groups selected from the group consisting of primary amine, secondary amine, thiol group, hydroxyl group, and combinations thereof; and agitating the first mixture at a temperature effective to form a second mixture comprising the cyclic monomer, the cyclic monomer selected from the group consisting of a cyclic carbonate, a cyclic carbamate, a cyclic urea, a cyclic thiocarbonate, a cyclic thiocarbamate, and a cyclic dithiocarbonate.