Abstract: Methods, devices and device components are presented for blood processing. Particularly, methods, devices and device components are presented for separating blood into blood components and collecting one or more separated blood components, which reduce the incidence of blood vessel infiltration and enhance donor comfort. In one aspect, the invention provides blood processing methods having a return flow rate which decreases systematically during a return time. In another aspect, the invention provides blood processing methods having a removal flow rate, return flow rate or both which are derived from a subject's total blood volume. In another aspect, the present invention provides blood processing methods wherein the fraction by volume of removed blood corresponding to collected components is selected to optimize blood processing efficiency and enhance the purities of collected blood components.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of producing transgenic plants which are resistant to at least one metal ion by transforming the plant with a recombinant DNA comprising a nucleic acid encoding a bacterial arsenic reductase under the control of a plant expressible promoter, and a nucleic acid encoding a nucleotide sequence encoding a phytochelatin biosynthetic enzyme under the control of a plant expressible promoter. The invention also relates a method of phytoremediation of a contaminated site by growing in the site a transgenic plant expressing a nucleic acid encoding a bacterial arsenate reductase and a nucleic acid encoding a phytochelatin biosynthetic enzyme.

Abstract: A choke valve for use in reverse flow when mounted on a wellhead or manifold. The choke valve includes a valve body forming a T-shaped bore to provide a vertically extending bottom opening and a horizontally extending side opening. Flow trim is positioned in the T-shaped bore, optionally in a tubular sleeve or removable cartridge. The flow trim includes a tubular cage having a side wall forming an internal bore aligned with the body bottom opening, and a single flow port or a plurality of flow ports, each of the single flow port or plurality of flow ports being positioned for alignment with the body side opening. In reverse flow mode in the valve body, fluid from the bottom opening enters the cage and exits through the single flow port or plurality of flow ports directly into the body side opening.

Abstract: The invention provides composite materials comprising eucryptite particles distributed in a matrix material other than eucryptite. The matrix material may be a ceramic material such as an oxide ceramic. In an embodiment, the eucryptite particles are transformed from the ?-phase to the ?-phase during fabrication of the composite. This phase transformation can enable a eucryptite-based transformation toughening mechanism.

Abstract: Membrane proteins are difficult to express in recombinant form, purify, and characterize, at least in part due to their hydrophobic or partially hydrophobic properties. Membrane scaffold proteins (MSP) assemble with target membrane or other hydrophobic or partially hydrophobic proteins or membrane fragments to form soluble nanoscale particles which preserve their native structure and function; they are improved over liposomes and detergent micelles. In the presence of phospholipid, MSPs form nanoscopic phospholipid bilayer disks, with the MSP stabilizing the particle at the perimeter of the bilayer domain. The particle bilayer structure allows manipulation of incorporated proteins in solution or on solid supports, including for use with such surface-sensitive techniques as scanning probe microscopy or surface plasmon resonance. The nanoscale particles facilitate pharmaceutical and biological research, structure/function correlation, structure determination, bioseparation, and drug discovery.

Abstract: This invention provides bovine pregnancy test methods and devices. The test is also suitable for other ruminant and/or ungulate animals. Antigens from Group A (early pregnancy antigens), and/or Group B (mid-pregnancy antigens), and Group C (early, mid- and late pregnancy antigens) are detected in a fluid from the animal, and pregnancy is reliably determined. The pregnancy assays of this invention are preferably carried out using immunoassay devices which provide immediate results in the field.

Abstract: This invention relates to improved methods for the preparation, purification, and processing of poly(heteroaromatic) block copolymers, as well as compositions prepared by these methods. Methods relate to preparation of multiblock and triblock copolymers of intrinsically conducting polymers (ICPs) containing at least one block of a poly(heteroaromatic) polymer and at least two blocks of a non-conducting polymer. This invention provides polymer solutions or dispersions of improved stability and better film-forming properties. The poly(heteroaromatic) block copolymers are obtained in their conducting or doped form, and are retained in a solvated, wet form throughout the production and purification processes. Stable solutions or dispersions of the purified copolymers in organic solvents, water, or mixtures thereof are provided.

Abstract: The invention provides, inter alia, novel bisphosphonate compounds and methods of making and using. In embodiments, the invention provides compounds and methods in connection with research and therapeutic applications, e.g., for tumor cell growth inhibition, activation of gammadelta T cells, inhibition of farnesyldiphosphate (FPPS) and/or undecaprenyldiphosphate synthase enzymes, bone resorption diseases, cancer, immune disorders, immunotherapy, and infectious diseases. In regards to certain embodiments, a surprising advance has been the recognition that certain structural features can significantly enhance the activity of the compounds. For example, the presence of particular cationic species e.g., phosphonium, sulfonium, and arsonium moieties can contribute to desirable functional activity when positioned near a bisphosphonate moiety. In other embodiments of non-nitrogen containing bisphosphonates, terphenyl and benzyl bisphosphonate compounds and methods are provided. Further variations are also provided.

Abstract: Improved methods for computer-aided analysis of identifying features of skin lesions from digital images of the lesions are provided. Improved preprocessing of the image that 1) eliminates artifacts that occlude or distort skin lesion features and 2) identifies groups of pixels within the skin lesion that represent features and/or facilitate the quantification of features are provided including improved digital hair removal algorithms. Improved methods for analyzing lesion features are also provided.

Abstract: A polish rod clamping device, for use as part of a wellhead production pumping tree to secure a polish rod. The device includes a pressure-containing body forming a central vertical and opposed first and second side bores. A pair of clamping rams are positioned in the side bores for sliding movement therealong, each clamping ram having a front and a rear end, the front ends of the clamping rams being configured to accommodate at least a portion of the polish rod between their front ends when the clamping rams are advanced across the central bore. The front end of at least one of the clamping rams is configured with a vertical V-groove for gripping the polish rod. The invention extends to the V-groove rams themselves and to composite wellhead assemblies containing the V-groove clamping device.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for detecting, identifying and measuring the abundance of chemical nerve agents. Methods and compositions of the present invention are capable of providing selective detection of phosphorous based nerve agents, such as nerve agents that are esters of methyl phosphonic acid derivatives incorporating a moderately good leaving group at the phosphorus. Selectivity in the present invention is provided by a sensor composition having an alpha (?) effect nucleophile group that undergoes specific nucleophilic substitution and rearrangement reactions with phosphorus based nerve agents having a tetrahederal phosphorous bound to oxygen. The present invention includes embodiments employing a sensor composition further comprising a reporter group covalently linked to the alpha effect nucleophile group allowing rapid optical readout of nerve agent detection events, including direct visual readout and optical readout via spectroscopic analysis.

Abstract: A method is provided for diagnosing appendicitis in a patient that includes identifying at least one symptom of appendicitis in the patient and identifying the presence of at least one molecule differentially associated with appendicitis in a fluid or tissue sample of said patient. MRP-8/14 and haptoglobin are examples of molecules differentially associated with appendicitis. Devices and kits for performing the appendicitis assays of this invention are also provided. In one embodiment, the device is in a flow-through immunoassay format for testing blood samples. Further, methods for screening for molecules differentially associated with appendicitis are provided that include the use of samples from patients being operated on for suspected appendicitis.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods, recombinant DNA molecules, recombinant host cells containing the DNA molecules, and transgenic plant cells, plant tissue, seeds and plants which contain and express an herbicide resistant protoporphyrinogen oxidase such that they germinate from seed and grow in the presence of an amount of herbicide where the parent plant does not. Such plants are especially appropriate for use in agriculture or horticulture where herbicides are used to kill undesirable plants which might contaminate or compete with the transgenic plant of interest.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and compositions relating to processed grain products are shown. An exemplary method shown is a fiber separation process for the ethanol industry corn products of Distillers Dried Grains (DDG) and Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS) resulting from the widely used dry grind technology. The disclosed process and apparatus allows the removal and separate recovery of fiber-reduced DDG or DDGS products with expanded potential for use as a non-ruminant feed product in addition to the removal and separate recovery of a fiber-enriched product. The specific processes, devices, and compositions shown are readily adaptable to modern ethanol production plants.

Abstract: A previously unknown mammalian UDP-N-acetylglucosamine:?-6-D-mannoside ?-1,6-N-acetylglucosaminyl-transferase (termed GlcNAc T-Vb herein) coding sequence, protein, recombinant host cells and antibodies which specifically bind GlcNAc T-Vb are described. In particular, GlcNAc T-Vb of mouse is disclosed.

Abstract: This invention provides improved methods for the derivatization and solubilization of fullerenes, which are particularly useful for those fullerenes that are normally insoluble and which are specifically applied, among others, to endohedral fullerenes, including endohedral metallofullerenes; empty fullerenes, including small-bandgap fullerenes and other insoluble fullerenes and to very high molecular weight fullerenic materials generated in fullerenic soot, including giant fullerenes, fullerenic polymers, carbon nanotubes and metal-carbon nanoencapsulates. More specifically the invention relates to improved methods for cyclopropanation of fullerenes. Specific reaction conditions are provided which allow for cyclopropanation reactions to be successfully performed for the first time on insoluble classes of fullerenes.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods, recombinant DNA molecules, recombinant host cells containing the DNA molecules, and transgenic plant cells, plant tissue and plants which contain and express at least one antisense or interference RNA specific for a thiamine biosynthetic coding sequence or a thiamine binding protein or a thiamine-degrading protein, wherein the RNA or thiamine binding protein is expressed under the regulatory control of a transcription regulatory sequence which directs expression in male and/or female reproductive tissue. These transgenic plants are conditionally sterile; i.e., they are fertile only in the presence of exogenous thiamine. Such plants are especially appropriate for use in the seed industry or in the environment, for example, for use in revegetation of contaminated soils or phytoremediation, especially when those transgenic plants also contain and express one or more chimeric genes which confer resistance to contaminants.

Abstract: A new and distinct floricane fruiting red raspberry, Rubus idaeus L., variety is described. The variety results from selection among a population of seedlings derived from controlled pollination crossing of the raspberry varieties known as ‘Chilcotin’ (not patented) and ‘Waimea’ (not patented). The fruit of this new variety has an attractive appearance characterized by uniformly large berry size, good fruit firmness, and medium-red fruit color. The new variety is distinguished from others by its high yields of firm, attractive, uniformly sized, large, red berries that ripen in the mid season. The plant exhibits a semi spine-free upright growth habit, of strong vigor. In addition, the plant has displayed resistance to Raspberry Bushy Dwarf Virus (RBDV) under New Zealand conditions. Fruit of the new variety appears suitable for the fresh fruit market. The variety has been named ‘Korpiko’.

Abstract: A new and distinct floricane fruiting red raspberry, Rubus idaeus L., variety is described. The variety results from selection among a population of seedlings derived from controlled pollination crossing of the raspberry variety known as ‘Moutere’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,744) and the unreleased raspberry selection with the breeder code D188 (not patented). This new variety is characterized by excellent fruit quality, very good shelf life, and an early harvest season, and is suitable for both machine and hand harvest. The new variety appears suitable for the fresh fruit market and has been named ‘Korere’.

Abstract: A new and distinct floricane fruiting red raspberry, Rubus idaeus L., variety is described. The variety results from selection among a population of seedlings derived from controlled pollination crossing of the raspberry varieties known as ‘Chilcotin’ (not patented) and an unreleased selection with the breeder code 86107O58 (not patented). The fruit of this new variety has an attractive appearance characterized by very shiny, mid light-red fruit color. The new variety is distinguished from others by its high yields of firm and attractive conical shaped, uniform sized, large, red berries that ripen in the mid season. The plant exhibits a semi spine-free upright growth habit, of strong vigor. The new variety appears suitable for the fresh fruit market and has been named ‘Adele’.