Abstract: Disclosed herein are glucosyltransferases with modified amino acid sequences. Such engineered enzymes exhibit improved alpha-glucan product yields and/or lower leucrose yields, for example. Further disclosed are reactions and methods in which engineered glucosyltransferases are used to produce alpha-glucan.

Abstract: Some gasoline engines have a high-pressure fuel pump that is driven by a rotating component of the engine such as the camshaft or crankshaft. In the event of a crash, the fuel lines coupled to the engine should remain intact to avoid fuel spillage. It is known in the prior art to provide a separate bracket to provide the protection. However, such bracket is a separate piece that must be separately assembled, coupled to components of the engine requiring mounting holes, and adds to the part count of the engine. By integrating a deflector with a fuel pump component, the bracket is obviated.

Abstract: Tocopherol derivatives having the general formula: wherein n is an integer of 6 to 13, R1 is hydrogen, a silyl ether or acetate, R2 is an optionally substituted nitrogen-containing heterocycle or a polycyclic nitrogen-containing heterocycle; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof are provided. A method for synthesizing the compounds is also provided. The tocopherol derivatives are capable of inhibiting the primary enzyme responsible for the metabolism of the tocopherols and tocotrienols compounds of vitamin E, namely tocopherol-?-hydroxylase, and thus increase the amount and prolong the availability of these compounds in plasma and tissue.

Abstract: Tocopherol derivatives having the general formula: wherein n is an integer of 6 to 13, R1 is hydrogen, a silyl ether or acetate, R2 is an optionally substituted nitrogen-containing heterocycle or a polycyclic nitrogen-containing heterocycle; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof are provided. A method for synthesizing the compounds is also provided. The tocopherol derivatives are capable of inhibiting the primary enzyme responsible for the metabolism of the tocopherols and tocotrienols compounds of vitamin E, namely tocopherol-?-hydroxylase, and thus increase the amount and prolong the availability of these compounds in plasma and tissue.

Abstract: A closed loop therapy system for controlling a concentration of a substance, such as blood glucose concentration, in the body of a user. The system and method employ a sensor system that measures a glucose level in the body, a controller that uses the measured glucose levels to generate an output that can be used to automatically or manually control an intradermal insulin infusion system to set a constant or time-varying profile of target blood glucose concentrations in a user, and then infuse an appropriate amount of insulin into the body of the user so as to reach and maintain the target values of the blood glucose concentration.

Abstract: A closed loop therapy system for controlling a concentration of a substance, such as blood glucose concentration, in the body of a user. The system and method employ a sensor system that measures a glucose level in the body, a controller that uses the measured glucose levels to generate an output that can be used to automatically or manually control an intradermal insulin infusion system to set a constant or time-varying profile of target blood glucose concentrations in a user, and then infuse an appropriate amount of insulin into the body of the user so as to reach and maintain the target values of the blood glucose concentration.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a safety and privacy envelope for providing a mail handler and/or recipient to partially view the contents of an envelope without compromising the confidentiality of the contents. This may be an envelope having a front panel comprised of a top edge, bottom edge, left edge and right edge and a rear side comprised of a top edge, bottom edge, left edge and right edge, wherein at least one of said edges has at least one window portion substantially near said edge. The window portion may be along at least one edge including the bottom edge, right edge, left edge and/or top edge of at least one side and the length of the window portion is less than or equal to the length of the bottom edge. The envelope may be further comprised of a single continuous piece of transparent material that is affixed to the window portion. The single continuous piece of transparent material may be folded to form an edge. The window portion may also be further reinforced along at least one said edge.

Abstract: A method of producing extruded synthetic lumber for use in construction matting comprising the steps of first, providing a blend of ground synthetic particles, the blend selected from the group comprising primarily ground high density polyethylene particles and ground polyethylene terephthalate particles in an amount not more than 99.0 percent by weight and a composition of ground styrene-butadiene rubber comprised primarily of tire buffings in an amount from 1.0 percent to about 3.5 percent by weight. The blend is mixed, heated and extruded into dimensional lumber and then cooled. The resulting lumber has a low retained memory and reduced electrosstatic potential.

Abstract: An artificial stone crab habitat is constructed of used pneumatic tire casings which are modified to allow easy access for harvesting and cleaning operations. Multiple tire casings are stacked and tethered together with a rope or cable harness.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for measurement of moisture in dielectric materials. It is particularly useful for lumber. In the preferred version, at least two alternating current signals whose frequencies differ by a factor of at least 10 are capacitively coupled to the material. The coupling electrodes are in bridge circuits whose unbalance is measured at each frequency. The temperature of the dielectric material is also determined. Bridge unbalance signals are separated and rectified and the voltages, as well as a temperature analog voltage, are entered into a microprocessor programmed with a suitable algorithm to calculate a temperature corrected moisture value. The method overcomes significant inaccuracies in moisture readings due to temperature dependency.