Abstract: The expression of plant defense proteins is induced in plant tissue by contacting plants to be treated with a defense protein inducing agent. The inducing agent, which may be jasmonic acid, lower alkyl esters of jasmonic acid or jasmonic acid-like derivative compounds, induces the expression of genes in the plants resulting in the production of defense proteins, such as proteinase inhibitors, thionins, chitinases and .beta.-glucanases. Plants may be contacted with the inducing agent by direct application to plant tissue or by airborne transmission of the inducing agent.

Abstract: Canine granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (caGM-CSF) corresponding to that found in canine serum and/or tissues, structural variants thereof, genes that encode these materials, related expression vectors and cells, recombinant methods for making caGM-CSF, and veterinary treatments therewith.

Abstract: In a method of analyzing a body fluid sample for the presence of an analyte indicative of a physiological condition, comprising the steps of contacting the body fluid sample with an immunological binding partner which binds to the analyte, detecting binding of the immunological binding partner to the analyte, and correlating any detected binding to the physiological condition, the improvement comprising contacting the body fluid sample with an immunological binding partner which binds to ##STR1## wherein ##STR2## is hydroxylysyl pyridinoline or lysyl pyridinoline, and correlating any detected binding to degradation of type II collagen in vivo.

Abstract: Compositions useful in quantitating collagen peptides to determine the rate of bone resorption are prepared by treating bone with a protease, such as collagenase, and purifying the compositions so as to enrich them with peptides that contain 3-hydroxypyridinium cross-links.

Abstract: Haloperoxidases are used to selectively bind to and, in the presence of peroxide and halide, inhibit the growth of target microbes without eliminating desirable microbes or significantly damaging other components, such as host cells, in the environment of the target microbe. When a target microbe, e.g., a pathogenic microbe, has a binding capacity for haloperoxidase greater than that of a desired microbe, e.g., members of the normal flora, the target microbe selectively binds the haloperoxidase with little or no binding of the haloperoxidase by the desired microbe. In the presence of peroxide and halide, the target bound haloperoxidase catalyzes halide oxidation and facilitates the disproportionation of peroxide to singlet molecular oxygen at the surface of the target microbe. The lifetime of singlet molecular oxygen restricts damage to the surface resulting in selective killing of the target microbe with a minimum of collateral damage to the desired microbe or physiological medium.

Abstract: A method and unit for forming and conveying groups of elongated products, whereby products, fed successively and continuously along a first path, are stacked along a guide by a stacking device to form a group, which is moved along the guide by a lifting device to the input of a second path, and is transferred, along the second path, into a conveying pocket moving along the second path; transfer into the conveying pocket being effected by means of a retaining pocket initially aligned with the guide and moving along the second path.

Abstract: A method of conveying products, whereby a product is fed by a conveying device along a path to a pickup station, through which is fed a gripping member for picking up the product; the product is secured to the conveying device, and a position of the product is detected to regulate the conveying device and feed the product to the pickup station in time with the gripping member.

Abstract: A charge amplifier with DC offset canceling for use in a pixel element of an MOS image sensor is disclosed. The charge amplifier can be manufactured using a standard CMOS single polycrystalline process, making it much more cost effective than prior art designs. The charge amplifier includes an operational amplifier, a source capacitor, a series capacitor, and a feedback capacitor. The source capacitor holds the input signal. The output of the operational amplifier provides the output signal. Switches control the routing of the signal flow from the source capacitor, the series capacitor, and the feedback capacitor.

Abstract: The apparatus and method of monitoring and/or indicating an accurate state-of-charge of a battery compensates for varying current loads and changing temperature conditions. The apparatus and method compensate for the Peukert Effect which manifests itself when varying current loads are applied to the battery. Also, the apparatus and method may compensate for temperature changes in the environment of the battery. The extent of the Peukert Effect and temperature variation on the battery is based on intrinsic characteristics of the battery which may be experimentally defined. Specifically, preferred apparatuses include memories for storing various discharging/charging related values and a processor to calculate and determine values related to accurately monitoring the battery's state-of-charge. Also, the apparatus may include a battery state-of-charge indicator including a multi-segmented, multi-color LED display.