Abstract: The disclosure provides recombinant LAC polynucleotides encoding a laccase (LAC) polypeptide capable of polymerizing caffeyl alcohol, vectors and cells including the recombinant LAC polynucleotide. The disclosure also provides transgenic plants including cells having the recombinant LAC polynucleotide of the present disclosure and methods of increasing production of C-lignin in a plant.

Abstract: The disclosure provides recombinant LAC polynucleotides encoding a laccase (LAC) polypeptide capable of polymerizing caffeyl alcohol, vectors and cells including the recombinant LAC polynucleotide. The disclosure also provides transgenic plants including cells having the recombinant LAC polynucleotide of the present disclosure and methods of increasing production of C-lignin in a plant.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a composition comprising a plurality of liposomes having an average diameter of less than 400 nanometers, wherein the plurality of liposomes comprise: a first lipid or phospholipid; a second lipid or phospholipid which is derivatized with a polymer; and a sterically bulky excipient capable of stabilizing the liposomes; a third lipid or phospholipid derivatized with a polymer terminated with an integrin targeting component; DSPE or a fourth lipid or phospholipid derivatized with a group binding a contrast enhancing agent wherein the plurality of liposomes optionally encapsulates a payload component consisting of one or more bioactive agents.

Abstract: Borescopes, such as chip-on-a-tip laparoscopes and endoscopes, having variable and/or active focus lenses. In some preferred embodiments, a chip-on-a-tip borescope may comprise a tip assembly having a fixed focus lens and an active or variable focus lens. The active lens may be part of an active lens assembly, which may comprise a substrate, such as a printed circuit board, along with an active lens unit that may be configured to receive electrical signals, such as voltage steps, that may be used to change the shape of the lens component of the unit to change the focal distance of the device. The substrate may be physically coupled to other elements of the scope and may be electrically coupled with other elements of the scope, such as a voltage driver that may be provided in a printed circuit board in the handle of the scope, for example.

Abstract: A composition comprises a conjugate of the formula targeting component-linker-imaging component. In an embodiment, the targeting component is a VLA-4 antagonist. In an embodiment, the targeting component is a LFA-1 antagonist. In an embodiment, the linker includes chain of 2 to 20 atoms containing any combination of —CH2—, —CH?CH—, —C(O)—, —NH—, —S—, —S(O)—, —O—, —C(O)O— or —S(O)2—; or a polyethylene glycol chain, wherein said chain of 2-20 atoms or polyethylene glycol chain are attached to the targeting and imaging components through ether, amide, sulfonamide, urea, thiourea, or triazole functional groups. In an embodiment, the imaging component is a metal chelator complexed with a metal ion or isotope thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a composition comprising a plurality of liposomes having an average diameter of less than 400 nanometers, wherein the plurality of liposomes comprise: a first lipid or phospholipid; a second lipid or phospholipid which is derivatized with a polymer; and a sterically bulky excipient capable of stabilizing the liposomes; a third lipid or phospholipid derivatized with a polymer terminated with an integrin targeting component; DSPE or a fourth lipid or phospholipid derivatized with a group binding a contrast enhancing agent wherein the plurality of liposomes optionally encapsulates a payload component consisting of one or more bioactive agents.

Abstract: Systems and methods for animating an avatar are provided. An example method of animating an avatar includes at an electronic device having one or more processors and memory, receiving an audio input, receiving a video input including at least a portion of a user's face, wherein the video input is separate from the audio input, determining one or more movements of the user's face based on the received audio input and received video input, and generating, using a neural network separately trained with a set of audio training data and a set of video training data, a set of characteristics for controlling an avatar representing the one or more movements of the user's face.

Abstract: A method for electrically coupling a pad and a front face of a pillar, including shaping the front face pillar, the front face having at least partially a convex surface, applying a suspension to the front face or to the pad, wherein the suspension includes a carrier fluid, electrically conducting microparticles and electrically conducting nanoparticles, arranging the front face of the pillar opposite to the pad at a distance such that the carrier fluid bridges at least partially a gap between the front face of the pillar and the pad, evaporating the carrier fluid thereby confining the microparticles and the nanoparticles, and thereby arranging the nanoparticles and the microparticles as percolation paths between the front face of the pillar and the pad, and sintering the arranged nanoparticles for forming metallic bonds at least between the nanoparticles and/or between the nanoparticles and the front face of the pillar or the pad.

Abstract: The amount of proanthocyanidins (PAs) found in cells of plants can be engineered or adjusted through regulation of transcription factors that affect PA biosynthesis. Increasing expression of genes encoding TT2-type MYB transcription factors, including homologs of AtTT2 of Arabidopsis thaliana such as GHMYB36 or GHMYB IO of cotton plants or GmTT2A or GmTT2B of soybean plants, leads to increased PA content. Expression of these genes can be increased through any suitable methods, including mutation of the genes and transformation of plant cells to include exogenous genes resulting in increased expression.

Abstract: Adjustments to the amount of soluble and insoluble proanthocyanidins (PAs) in plants can be accomplished through regulation of leucoanthocyanidin reductase (LAR) functionality. Reducing LAR functionality increases epicatechin polymerization, leading to greater amounts of insoluble PAs and effects on astringency and other characteristics.

Abstract: A method for electrically coupling a pad and a front face of a pillar, including shaping the front face pillar, the front face having at least partially a convex surface, applying a suspension to the front face or to the pad, wherein the suspension includes a carrier fluid, electrically conducting microparticles and electrically conducting nanoparticles, arranging the front face of the pillar opposite to the pad at a distance such that the carrier fluid bridges at least partially a gap between the front face of the pillar and the pad, evaporating the carrier fluid thereby confining the microparticles and the nanoparticles, and thereby arranging the nanoparticles and the microparticles as percolation paths between the front face of the pillar and the pad, and sintering the arranged nanoparticles for forming metallic bonds at least between the nanoparticles and/or between the nanoparticles and the front face of the pillar or the pad.

Abstract: Using methods described in preferred embodiments, the composition of proanthocyanidins (PAs) in plants can be modified to produce plants that produce PAs with specific selections of catechin or epicatechin starter units, as well as specific selections of catechin or epicatechin extension units. Reduction or elimination of expression of the leucoanthocyanidin dioxygenase (ldox) gene or the anthocyanidin synthase (ans) gene, or both, is implemented in preferred embodiments to produce modified plants having modified PA content.

Abstract: A method for electrically coupling a pad and a front face of a pillar, including shaping the front face pillar, the front face having at least partially a convex surface, applying a suspension to the front face or to the pad, wherein the suspension includes a carrier fluid, electrically conducting microparticles and electrically conducting nanoparticles, arranging the front face of the pillar opposite to the pad at a distance such that the carrier fluid bridges at least partially a gap between the front face of the pillar and the pad, evaporating the carrier fluid thereby confining the microparticles and the nanoparticles, and thereby arranging the nanoparticles and the microparticles as percolation paths between the front face of the pillar and the pad, and sintering the arranged nanoparticles for forming metallic bonds at least between the nanoparticles and/or between the nanoparticles and the front face of the pillar or the pad.

Abstract: Systems and methods for displaying a communication from a vessel in a first location to a person or second vessel in a second location are described. The communication system alerts persons and other nearby vessels to the presence of the vessel during fog and other low visibility conditions on a body of water. The communication is displayed by the system in the form of a light display routine that can be a text communication, an image, an animation, a video, or a combination of them. The system includes a computer and a network to communicatively connect the computer to at least one splitter, at least control unit, and at least one light fixture, which can be an array of light emitting diodes. The computer commences the light display routine based on detection of a trigger event by analyzing data received from onboard sensor devices, an external source, or both.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ink composition suitable for applications onto solar cells. Specifically, the invention describes several compositions, using nickel/silicon alloys which have been found to be particularly effective contact metallization of emitter layers. The ratio of nickel to silicon in claimed invention is in the range of 0.1:1 to 1:0.1.

Abstract: Poly-(caffeyl alcohol) (PCFA), also known as C-lignin, is a promising new source of both carbon fibers and pure carbon. PCFA can be used to produce carbon fibers by direct electrospinning, without blending with another polymer to reduce breakage. Analyses have shown that the carbon obtained from PCFA is superior to that obtained from other lignins. The fibers formed from PCFA are smoother, have a narrower diameter distribution, and show very low defects. The PCFA can be obtained by extraction from plant seed coats. Examples of these plants include the vanilla orchid, Vanilla planifolia, and Jatropha curcas. The fibers may be formed through electrospinning, although other methods for forming the fibers, such as extrusion with a carrier polymer, could be used. The fibers may then be carbonized to increase the carbon yield.

Abstract: Poly-(caffeyl alcohol) (PCFA), also known as C-lignin, is a promising new source of both carbon fibers and pure carbon. PCFA can be used to produce carbon fibers by direct electrospinning, without blending with another polymer to reduce breakage. Analyses have shown that the carbon obtained from PCFA is superior to that obtained from other lignins. The fibers formed from PCFA are smoother, have a narrower diameter distribution, and show very low defects. The PCFA can be obtained by extraction from plant seed coats. Examples of these plants include the vanilla orchid, Vanilla planifolia, and Jatropha curcas. The fibers may be formed through electrospinning, although other methods for forming the fibers, such as extrusion with a carrier polymer, could be used. The fibers may then be carbonized to increase the carbon yield.

Abstract: Syringe for dispensing foam having a syringe barrel, a nozzle and a bore to receive a syringe plunger having a front end and a back end. The syringe plunger includes at the front end thereof a waste container defined by a cylindrical side wall, a front end wall and a rear end wall, the walls being arranged such that an external cylindrical surface of the walls forms a seal with an internal surface of the syringe barrel. The waste container has an inlet aperture in the front end wall which is in communication with the syringe nozzle when the plunger is fully depressed into the syringe barrel. The waste container further has a hydrophobic vent in the rear end wall thereof which allows air to escape from the waste container while substantially preventing foam from escaping the waste container when the syringe is in use.

Abstract: A method for electrically coupling a pad and a front face of a pillar, including shaping the front face pillar, the front face having at least partially a convex surface, applying a suspension to the front face or to the pad, wherein the suspension includes a carrier fluid, electrically conducting microparticles and electrically conducting nanoparticles, arranging the front face of the pillar opposite to the pad at a distance such that the carrier fluid bridges at least partially a gap between the front face of the pillar and the pad, evaporating the carrier fluid thereby confining the microparticles and the nanoparticles, and thereby arranging the nanoparticles and the microparticles as percolation paths between the front face of the pillar and the pad, and sintering the arranged nanoparticles for forming metallic bonds at least between the nanoparticles and/or between the nanoparticles and the front face of the pillar or the pad.