Abstract: An improved process for the manufacture of formylphosphonic acid derivatives is reported. An aminomethylphosphonic acid substrate is contacted with a reagent selected from the group consisting of water, an alcohol, a phenol compound, and mixtures thereof and an oxidizing gas in the presence of a catalyst to form a reaction product mixture containing a formylphosphonic acid derivative and the conditions under which said contacting is carried out are controlled so that no more than 50% of the formylphosphonic acid derivative formed in the reaction product mixture is consumed by reaction with the reagent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds which are effective as catalysts for dismutating superoxide and, more particularly, the manganese or iron complexes of substituted, unsaturated heterocyclic pentaazacyclopentadecane ligands which catalytically dismutate superoxide.

Abstract: A method for preparing a chiral beta amino acid or its corresponding esters which comprises contacting a racemic beta amino acid, an acyl donor and Penicillin G acylase enzyme under conditions appropriate to stereoselectively acylate one enantiomer of the racemic beta amino acid to its corresponding N-acylated derivative whereby the opposite enantiomer of the beta amino acid is retained in enantiomerically enriched form.

Abstract: Isolated DNA molecules encoding an AlyAFP antifungal polypeptide from Alyssum are disclosed. The isolated DNA molecules comprise the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:12 or encode the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2. Also disclosed are vectors and transgenic plants comprising said DNA molecules and a method for reducing fungal damage in a plant with said DNA molecule. The isolated DNA molecules may be used to prepare transgenic plants that exhibit reduced damage from fungi as compared to non-transgenic plants. The isolated DNA molecules may be used in combination with additional nucleic acid sequences encoding anti-fungal or anti-insect proteins or polypeptides.

Abstract: A method for preparing polypeptides in bacteria with an alanine rather than a methionine at the N-terminus. The DNA sequence expressed has an alanine codon immediately following from one to about three contiguous methionine codons including a translation start signal and allows for the expression of polypeptides having the amino acid sequence of, for example, naturally occurring eucaryotic proteins such as various bovine and porcine somatotropin species.

Abstract: A gene construct comprising an FbLate promoter is disclosed. A method of obtaining an FbLate promoter and a plant, cell and seed comprising an FbLate promoter are also disclosed.

Abstract: Rubber compositions in which the rubber is a halogenated butyl elastomer are crosslinkable by virtue of containing a crosslinking agent such as zinc oxide and an accelerator which is a salt of an organic thiosulfate.

Abstract: Hydroxyterminated PHA is produced by cultivating a PHA-producing microorganism in the presence of an aliphatic diol or an aliphatic polyol. High molecular weight hydroxy-terminated PHA is obtainable by the disclosed process, and is useful in the production of graft, block and random polymers and copolymers with other monomers, oligomers and polymers containing appropriate functionality and end group compatibility.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to low molecular weight mimics of superoxide dismutase (SOD) represented by the formula: wherein R, R′, R1, R′1, R2, R′2, R3, R′3, R4, R′4, R5, R′5, R6, R′6, R7, R′7, R8, R′8, R9, R′10, R10 and R′10, X, Y, Z and n are as defined herein, useful as therapeutic agents for inflammatory disease states and disorders, ischemic/reperfusion injury, myocardial infarction, stroke, atherosclerosis, and all other conditions of oxidant-induced tissue damage or injury.

Abstract: Compositions are provided which are useful in the production of polymeric products, such as coatings and films, which comprise branched PHA. The compositions of the invention comprise PHA and 0.001-0.5 wt. % of a free radical initiator. The invention further provides methods of using the compositions for the efficient and cost effective production of films and coatings by reducing draw resonance and neck-in behavior of extruded PHAs.

Abstract: The invention relates to genetically engineered plant-colonizing microorganisms which proliferate in symbiotic or non-detrimental relationships with the plant in the plant environment. Such microorganisms contain DNA derived from Bacillus thuringiensis which codes for the insecticidal crystal protein toxin. The engineered plant-colonizing microorganisms of the invention and their progency are active against a variety of lepidopterous pests. The invention further relates to the use of such plant-colonizing microorganisms in a method of killing or inhibiting lepidopterous pests and to insecticidal compositions containing the plant-colonizing microorganism as the active insecticidal agent.

Abstract: A novel soybean cultivar, designated 943180610333, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 943180610333, to the plants of soybean 943180610333 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing the cultivar 943180610333 with itself or another soybean variety. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds and plants produced by crossing the cultivar 943180610333 with another soybean cultivar.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of phosphorous acid by selective hydrolysis of phosphite esters. A hydrolysis feed mixture comprising phosphite esters and phosphate esters is contacted with liquid water or steam to selectively hydrolyze the phosphite esters to phosphorous acid. The feed mixture may be prepared by oxidation of elemental phosphorous in the presence of an alcohol. In the oxidation and/or a subsequent esterification step, P(III) and P(V) oxyacids produced in the oxidation reaction are esterified, preferably quantitatively. The ester mixture may be washed to remove unesterified phosphoric and hypophosphorous acid, after which the selective hydrolysis is carried out.

Abstract: A process for the in situ remediation of soil comprising introducing at least one co-metabolite for treating contaminants in a contaminated soil region into the contaminated soil region wherein the source of the at least one co-metabolite is at least one root zone located within the contaminated soil region, wherein each root zone contains the root system of a plurality of plants capable of releasing the at least one co-metabolite, and transmitting direct electric current through the contaminated soil region between a first electrode and a second electrode having opposite charge, wherein the first electrode is located at a first end of the contaminated soil region and the second electrode is located at the opposite end of the contaminated soil region.

Abstract: Biodegradable polymer blend compositions are provided which contain oligomeric esters. The oligoester compounds can compatibilize blends of two or more biodegradable polymers resulting in excellent ductility and reduced tendency to embrittlement of products produced from therefrom. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the blend composition comprises a PHA, polycaprolactone (PCL) and one or more oligomeric esters. In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the blend composition comprises a PHA, polybutylenesuccinate-adipate (PBSUA), and one or more oligomeric esters.

Abstract: A method for producing recombinant peptides and proteins having a diminished retention of N-formyl-methionine by coexpressing a peptide deformylase enzyme is disclosed. Also disclosed are substantially deformylated protein compositions and transformed bacterial cells and DNA vectors useful for acheiving such deformylation.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are disclosed wherein exogenous chemicals are applied to plants to generate a desired biological response. One embodiment of the present invention is a plant treatment composition that comprises (a) an exogenous chemical and (b) an alkylether surfactant or mixture of such surfactants having the formula R12—O—(CH2CH2O)n(CH(CH3)CH2O)m—R13 wherein R12 is an alkyl or alkenyl group having about 16 to about 22 carbon atoms, n is an average number of about 10 to about 100, m is an average number of 0 to about 5 and R13 is hydrogen or C1-4 alkyl. The alkylether surfactant or mixture thereof is present in an amount such that the weight/weight ratio of said alkylether surfactant or mixture of such surfactants to the exogenous chemical is about 1:3 to about 1:100.

Abstract: Selectively cross-linked starches are disclosed that are useful as fluid loss control additives in subterranean treatment fluids comprising starches that are cross-linked to a Brabender peak viscosity of about 800 to about 1250 Brabender units after about 40 to about 70 minutes at about 92° C. and provide good fluid loss control over a temperature range of from about 20° C. to about 160° C. (68° F. to 320° F.).

Abstract: N-heterocyclic moiety containing hydroxyethylamine compounds are effective as retroviral protease inhibitors, and in particular as inhibitors of HIV protease.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel synthetically-modified B. thuringiensis nucleic acid segments encoding &dgr;-endotoxins having insecticidal activity against lepidopteran insects. Also disclosed are synthetic crystal proteins encoded by these novel nucleic acid sequences. Methods of making and using these genes and proteins are disclosed as well as methods for the recombinant expression, and transformation of suitable host cells. Transformed host cells and transgenic plants expressing the modified endotoxin are also aspects of the invention. Also disclosed are methods for modifying, altering, and mutagenizing specific loop regions between the &agr; helices in domain 1 of these crystal proteins, including Cry1C, to produce genetically-engineered recombinant cry* genes, and the proteins they encode which have improved insecticidal activity. In preferred embodiments, novel Cry1C* amino acid segments and the modified cry1C* nucleic acid sequences which encode them are disclosed.