Abstract: The metal ion complexing properties exhibited by dicitrate are disclosed as chelating agents for reducing the amounts of metal ions in a substance.

Abstract: The invention concerns novel isolates of Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) which contain a toxin(s) which is active against nematodes. This B.t. toxin(s) or B.t. isolate(s) can be used to treat animals and plants hosting susceptible nematodes.

Abstract: A dental curet and sharpening machine system has been developed for convenient, accurate, and rapid sharpening of dental curets. Curets comprising a cutting blade, shank, and handle have been designed so that, regardless of the instrument's rake angle, the arc center of the toe on the face of the cutting blade which is to be sharpened lies on the longitudinal center axis of the instrument and at a constant distance from reference means on the instrument handle. The sharpening machine comprises a base, a sharpening element, and an instrument guide unit. The instrument guide unit can position the blade face of a curet of any rake angle in a plane with the are center of the toe on the blade's face coincident with an axis about which the guide unit can be swung while the blade is engaged with the sharpening element during the cutting procedure. The invention comprises three aspects: (1) the curets; (2) the sharpening machine; and (3) the method of sharpening the curets.

Abstract: A subgenomic promoter of a positive strand RNA virus is disclosed which directs the amplified expression of a structural gene in plant tissue. The core region and an upstream activating domain of the subgenomic promoter are identified. This promoter can be utilized in a modified virus, or in an appropriate engineered recombinant DNA derivative which may be chromosomally integrated or maintained as an episome in transformed cells.

Abstract: Described here are procedures and kits for the selective detection of toxicants in environmental samples. Specifically exemplified are procedures and kits which are used to detect heavy metals. The presence of heavy metals is detected by observing the inhibition by the toxicant of a microbially produced enzyme.

Abstract: A process for remediating contaminated soil or groundwater using a strain of Pseudomonas paucimobilis designated NRRL B-18512 is disclosed. Further, the process is a two stage sequential process wherein in the first stage bacteria which degrade low molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, heterocyclic organic compounds and phenolics are used in a pretreatment step. However, the remaining high molecular weight compounds are treated in a second step of the process with the Pseudomonas paucimobilis strain since the strain is not inhibited by low molecular weight compounds because these are removed in the first pretreatment step. Therefore, repeated inoculation of the strain is not necessary and the overall process disclosed eliminates the inhibitory effects of the low molecular weight compounds.

Abstract: There is provided a means of cellular level therapy or prophylaxis whereby endocytosable particles are administered so as to emit cytotoxic radiation or to release metal cations having a therapeutic or prophylactic effect, eg. a vital replication suppressing effect, within cells such as macrophages following their uptake by these cells.

Abstract: Treating patients prophylactically and therapeutically with dicitrate cyclic diester (dicitrate) can prevent or reduce the effects of calcification-related disease, including some types of kidney stones.

Abstract: Dicitrate cyclic diester (dicitrate) is a novel compound which is found in patients who do not exhibit symptoms or predisposition to idiopathic renal calculous disease. Kits are provided for the detection of dicitrate cyclic diester.

Abstract: The subject invention concerns the novel use of formyl-CoA transferase enzyme together with oxalyl-CoA decarboxylase enzyme for the detection and measurement of oxalate in biological samples. The use of the enzyme system according to the subject invention results in the conversion of oxalate into carbon dioxide and formate. Because the production of formate is directly correlated to the concentration of oxalate present in a sample, the determination of the resulting formate concentration provides an accurate, sensitive and rapid means for detecting even low levels of oxalate.

Abstract: The subject invention is a novel apparatus for the administration of intravenous fluids. The invention is particularly well suited for accurately and efficiently administering intravenous fluids over a wide range of flow rates. Disclosed is an intravenous fluid administration apparatus having at lease one flow line capable of administering fluid at high flow rates and comprising an airless, dripless, fluid monitoring chamber. A preferred embodiment comprises a main flow line which diverges into at least two flow limbs, where one flow limb is a low-flow limb and another flow limb is a high-flow limb, each having separate flow indicators, and with the flow limbs typically converging into a common tube for fluid delivery to the patient. The subject invention also discloses a novel flow meter, which is particularly well suited for measuring and indicating flow rates over a wide range, without the introduction of air bubbles into the fluid flow being measured.

Abstract: A protein and gene encoding it are disclosed which confer sensitivity to B. maydis T toxin and the insecticide methomyl, in cells carrying the gene and expressing the protein. Toxin sensitivity domains of the protein have been identified wherein a modification yields a toxin-insensitive product.

Abstract: Novel Bacillus thuringiensis toxins with hymenopteran activity are described.

Abstract: The subject invention concerns the genetic manipulation of the gene encoding a group B streptococcal (GBS) surface protein known as the beta antigen. The beta antigen is known to bind to the Fc region of IgA immunoglobulins in a non-immune manner. The portion of beta antigen gene which encodes the IgA binding function has been identified and removed using genetic engineering techniques. The novel polypeptide encoded by the altered beta antigen gene does not bind to IgA but does immunoreact with monospecific anti-beta antigen antisera raised against the wild-type beta antigen protein. This non-IgA binding form of the beta antigen may be used as a component in a human vaccine to protect against GBS infections.

Abstract: The subject invention concerns pest-control compositions and advantageous methods of using these compositions. More specifically, this invention relates to the use of tannins (tannic acid and other analogues, congeners, derivatives, or salts of tannic acid) to control plant-parasitic nematodes. Tannins can be used as nematicides or as nematode-attractants.

Abstract: An improved Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) delta-endotoxin is created by the modification of the gene encoding the toxin. The toxicity of a B.t. toxin was improved by replacing the native protoxin segment with an alternate protoxin segment by constructing a chimeric toxin gene.

Abstract: The invention provides genetically modified plant cells having a plant structural gene introduced and expressed therein under the control of a T-DNA promoter. In particular, the invention provides genetically modified plant cells having the phaseolin gene introduced and expressed therein under the control of a T-DNA promoter. Also provided are novel strains of bacteria containing and replicating T-DNA which has been modified to contain an inserted plant structural gene under the control of a T-DNA promoter. Further, the invention provides novel plasmids having the ability to replicate in E. coli and comprising T-DNA which has been modified to contain an inserted plant structural gene under the control of a T-DNA promoter.

Abstract: The subject invention pertains to a novel variant of the maize gene, Shrunken2 (Sh2) and a method of using that gene. The variant gene, Sh2-m1Rev6, encodes a subunit of the ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGP) enzyme that has additional amino acids inserted near or in the allosteric binding site of the protein. Corn seed expressing the Sh2-m1Rev6 gene has a 15% weight increase over wild type seed. The increase in seed weight is not associated simply with an increase in percentage starch content of the seed.

Abstract: The present invention discloses dicot cells containing monocot seed storage protein. Construction of genes encoding monocot seed storage proteins which are expressible in dicot cells and transformation of such genes into plant cells is also taught. Furthermore, methods and DNA molecules useful for producing plant cells containing monocot seed storage proteins are also disclosed. The invention is exemplified by combination of a 15 kD zein structural gene from a Zea mays gene with a promoter and a polyadenylation site derived from a Phaseolus vulgaris phaseolin gene.