Abstract: Compositions comprising a herbicide wherein it is desired that the compound not be retained by the plant foliage, and a repellant adjuvant, wherein the repellant modifies the surface properties of the composition so that retention of the composition on foliage of a cultivated plant is reduced are described. In particular, the herbicide composition comprises a repellant adjuvant that is an aqueous solution of an alkyltrialkoxysilane such as methyltrimethoxysilane and a water soluble silane coupling agent such as N-(2-aminoethyl) -3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane or an aqueous solution of an organosiliconate such as sodium methyl siliconate. Methods are described for using these compositions to prevent weeds without injury to cultivated plants, which plants include crop plants, food plants, turfgrass, ornamental plants, and garden plants.

Abstract: Compositions including composites of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and nanoparticles are disclosed. A wood-polymer composite using the PVC-nanoparticle composite as a matrix also is disclosed. The nanoparticle filler is dispersed throughout the PVC matrix by blending the nanoparticles with a mixture of PVC particles that have been pre-heated to a temperature at or above a fusion point of the PVC, thereby fusing the PVC particles prior to the addition of the nanoparticles to the matrix. Also disclosed are methods of forming the composite compositions. The composite compositions can be used to replace wood boards.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods for binding an analyte of interest in a sample are provided. The apparatus comprises a substrate with an exposed surface with an compound, that is electrostatically charged or capable of forming hydrogen bonds, provided bound to the solid substrate. A recombinant single chain antibody (scFv) molecule specific for the analyte of interest, having one or more amino acids with charged or hydrogen-bond forming sidechains in a linker polypeptide portion, is bound to the layer on the solid substrate. When the analyte of interest is present in the sample the scFv binds the analyte to the solid substrate. The apparatus can be used with an immunoglobulin layer to detect Fc receptors, so as to detect microorganisms such as Staphylococcus aureus having protein A or protein G.

Abstract: An ionic liquid bound on an exposed surface of a device such as for detecting organic chemicals, preferably a gas sensor is described. The gas sensor can operate at high temperatures with a fast linear response which is also reversible. At high temperatures, the frequency change (?f) versus concentration (C) curve mirrors the Henry's gas law, such that the concentration of a gas sample in liquid solvent is proportional to the concentration or partial pressure of the sample in gas phase. A single gas sensor, or an array of sensors, can be used for the detection and quantitative analysis of gas vapors.

Abstract: Nucleic acids encoding Thermotoga maritima mannitol dehydrogenase and the Thermotoga maritima mannitol dehydrogenase polypeptide are disclosed. Further provided are an electrochemical bioreactor system and a bioreactor electrode that can be used to convert glucose or fructose to mannitol.

Abstract: A method for treating biological tissue, particularly meats for human consumption, so as to sanitize the tissue, is described. The method inactivates microorganisms and pathogenic prions (proteins) in the tissue.

Abstract: A method and vaccine for treatment of pythiosis in humans and animals is described. In particular a vaccine comprising a mixture of extracellular and intracellular proteins is described. The vaccine enables cures of chronic pythiosis in some patients.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a foldable, portable, apparatus for use as an operant conditioning basketball shooting practice aid by retrieving and returning shots at the hoop. The apparatus is comprised of a dismountable trough assembly depending from crossbar slots of a support assembly frame. The trough assembly includes ball collection panels each mounted on separated ball runway tubes or rails with the legs of a track extender-deflector inserted into the tubes. The deflectors are adapted to be configured for quick interchangeability from one configuration to another to deliver the ball to various locations to center or side court.

Abstract: A bioadhesive composition from distillers' dried grains with solubles (DDGS) is produced by reaction with an aqueous solution of a base, particularly, sodium hydroxide. Optionally, urea is included with the base. The bioadhesive composition is filtered as a solution from the residue of the reaction with the base. The bioadhesive composition is particularly useful as a boxboard glue.

Abstract: Electrodes and configurations for electrochemical bioreactor systems that can use electrical energy as a source of reducing power in fermentation or enzymatic reactions and that can use electron mediators and a biocatalyst, such as cells or enzymes, to produce electricity are disclosed. Example electrodes in the system may comprise: (1) neutral red covalently bound to graphite felt; (2) a carboxylated cellulose bound to the graphite felt, neutral red bound to the carboxylated cellulose, NAD+ bound to the graphite felt, and an oxidoreductase (e.g., fumarate reductase) bound to the graphite felt; or (3) a metal ion electron mediator bound to graphite. Various biocatalysts, such as an oxidoreductase, cells of Actinobacillus succinogenes, cells of Escherichia coli, and sewage sludge, are suitable for use in the electrochemical bioreactor system.

Abstract: An epitaxial Ni3FeN film with unique magnetic properties such as single magnetic domain (even in a large scale 0.5?×0.5?), which rotates coherently in response to the desired switching field with a very sharp transition is described. The magnetic hysteresis loop of this new magnetic nitride is close to the perfect ideal square with the same value of saturation magnetization, remnant magnetization, and magnetization right before switching (domain reversal). The switching field is tunable which make this material more attractive for magneto-resistive devices such as MRAM's, read heads and magnetic sensors.

Abstract: Nanolayered layered silicate materials of octahedrally arranged units with divalent metal ions at centers of the units covalently linked above and below to tetrahedrally arranged oxygen and hydroxyl units with silicon atoms. The silicate materials contain silanol groups which are reactive to form derivative compositions useful for water purification to remove heavy meal cations.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of oxazole, imidazole, and pyraxole boryl compounds. The compounds are intermediates to functionalized compounds, both natural and synthetic which are cytotoxic, anticancer and antiviral agents.

Abstract: Cyclic alkyl, particularly cyclohexyl, substituted glycolides and polylactides are described. The polylactides have a high glass transition temperature and improved clarity.

Abstract: The present invention provides transgenic plants which after harvest degrade the lignin and cellulose therein to fermentable sugars which can further be fermented to ethanol or other products. In particular, the transgenic plants comprise ligninase and cellulase genes from microbes operably linked to a DNA encoding a signal peptide which targets the fusion polypeptide produced therefrom to an organelle of the plant, in particular the chloroplasts. When the transgenic plants are harvested, the plants are ground to release the ligninase and cellulase which then degrade the lignin and cellulose of the transgenic plants to produce the fermentable sugars.

Abstract: The invention relates to carbon deposition by decomposing gaseous compounds with the aid of the SHF discharge plasma and can be used, for example, for producing polycrystalline diamond films (plates), which are used for producing output windows of power SHF sources, for example gyrotrons. Said invention ensures a high speed deposition of the high quality diamond films (having a loss-tangent angle ? equal to or less than 3×10?5 on supports whose diameter is equal to or higher than 100 mm. For this purpose, a SHF discharge is initiated in a gas mixture which is arranged in a reaction chamber and contains at least hydrogen and hydrocarbon. Afterwards, said gas mixture is activated by producing a stable nonequilibrium plasma with the aid of SHF radiation having a frequency f which is many times higher than a commonly used frequency of 2.45 GHz, for example 30 GHz.

Abstract: A method for forming a finished implant prosthesis which comprises: (a) providing an unforged alloy consisting essentially of Ti(x %)Al(y %)Nb wherein x is between about 45 to 54% by atoms, y is between about 15 to 25% by atoms and the balance is niobium; (b) forging the alloy at an elevated temperature below a melting point of the alloy in a shape which is an implant preform; and (c) machining the implant preform to provide a machined implant; and (d) finishing the exposed surfaces of the implant so as to provide the exposed surfaces with a finish which provides biocompatibility, to thereby form the implant prosthesis.