Abstract: Suppressor tRNA's are used to regulate expression of transgenes that are toxic, or the expression thereof requires a factor that is toxic, to the host cell.

Abstract: A method for inspecting concrete structures includes the steps of exciting the structure to be inspected with a mechanical device such as a chain, sensing resulting vibrations with an acoustical sensor such as a microphone that is not physically coupled to the structure, processing the received signals to exclude signals with frequencies outside of response frequencies of interest corresponding to defects desired to be detected, and examining the received signals. In preferred embodiments, the mean square of the processed signals are compared to a threshold. Areas for which the total energy across the frequency bands of interest exceeds the threshold correspond to defects such as delaminations. The received signals are collected from various locations on the structure. In preferred embodiments, the location of the received signals is also maintained.

Abstract: The present invention discloses the process of extraction, purification and characterization of a fluorescent dye from a marine echinoderm Holothuria scabra, compositions containing the dye and various applications of the dye.

Abstract: A method and system for analyzing and measuring image quality between two images. A series of conversions and transformations of image information are preformed to produce a single measure of quality. A YCrCb frame sequence is first converted using RGB conversion to an RGB frame sequence. The resulting RGB frame sequence is converted using spherical coordinate transform (SCT) conversion to SCT images. A Gabor filter is applied to the SCT images to produce a Gabor Feature Set, and a statistics calculation is applied to the Gabor Feature Set. The resulting Gabor Feature Set statistics are produced for both the reference frame and the frame to be compared. Quality is computed for these Gabor Feature Set statistics to produce a video quality measure. Spectral decomposition of the frames is also performable for the Gabor Feature Set, rather than the statistics calculation, allowing graphical comparison of results for the compared frames.

Abstract: A ventilation and dehumidification system for ventilating fresh air to a conditioned space. The system is comprised of a desiccant wheel for dehumidifying incoming air by exchanging moisture from an inflow current of air with an outflow current of air. The desiccant wheel is both regenerated and defrosted by a regenerative heater which is placed to heat the outflow current of air before the outflow current passes through the desiccant wheel. The system includes blowers in order to motivate the inflow and outflow currents of air. The system may also include heat recovery means such as a heat transfer wheel or a motionless heat transfer core. The blowers can be arranged so as to create an air pressure differential between the inflow chamber and the outflow chamber so that any leakage of air between the two chambers will occur from the inflow chamber to the outflow chamber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of purifying a set of specific DNA molecules to be used in DNA-DNA hybridisations, as well as to DNA probes containing less than 2% Cot-1 DNA.

Abstract: Co-administration of a lysostaphin or other anti-staphylococcal agent which cleaves cross-links of peptidoglycans of staphylococci cell walls such as lysostaphin and an antibiotic effective against staphylococci due to antibiotic activity mediated by cell-wall activity is effective against staphylococcal infection, even staphylococci that may be resistant to one or other of lysostaphin or the cell-wall active antibiotic. Co-administration simultaneously suppresses the generation of antibiotic-resistant mutant strains. Effective cell-wall active antibiotics include &bgr;-lactams and glycopeptides.

Abstract: Maize tissue may be regenerated from nodal extracts prepared from germinated mature seeds and germinated embryos grown in a medium containing plant growth regulators. Nodal section explants are secured from seedlings approximately 3-10 days old, preferably from 3-7 days old. The explants are grown on an induction medium until adventitious shoot formation is observed. The shoots are separated and elongated on an MS-based medium, and then rooted. Fast genotype-independent regeneration is obtained, in 12-14 weeks. These explants, as well as zygotic embryos, may be transformed with exogenous DNA using a biolistic approach, where DNA precipitated onto tungsten microprojectiles is accelerated at a minimum of 650 psi towards the explants at a distance of at least 7.5 cm. Improved frequency of transformation is obtained using microprojectiles which prior to DNA precipitation were frozen in glycerol, and suspending from a preparation of 2.5 M CaCl2.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for detecting leaks in riser and lid assemblies, a difference in pressure between the inside of the riser and cover assembly and the outside is created and monitored to insure that no leaks exist. Preferably, a vacuum is created on the inside of the riser and cover assembly. This vacuum is then monitored for a set period of time to insure that the total change in pressure does not exceed a threshold. In a highly preferred embodiment, an apparatus automatically creates the desired vacuum and then isolates a vacuum gauge to monitor the vacuum in the riser. Method for isolating a leak are also presented in the event that a leak is detected.

Abstract: A water-tight fiberglass septic tank is strong enough to withstand live loads. The fiberglass septic tank is preferably designed with integral ribs to for structural strength. In one preferred embodiment, the tank is made in two unequal halves. The lower half comprises the major portion of the tank and includes a bottom, two endwalls and two sidewalls. The upper half comprises a cover. This arrangement allows the horizontal seam to be placed above the internal waterline, thereby protecting the seam from exposure to sewage. At least one of the endwalls includes a raised top portion that allows a pipe to be located near the top of the lower portion without passing through the seam between the upper and lower portions of the tank. The endwalls are also curved to allow for angled inlet and outlet pipe connections. The ribs are preferably internal and hollow. The lower portion of the tank is also preferably flat bottomed. A provision has been made for a self-locating baffle if required.

Abstract: The present invention discloses chemiluminescent 1,2-dioxetane substrates capable of reacting with a neuraminidase to release optically detectable energy. These 1,2-dioxetanes have the general formula: wherein Z is and the variables are selected so as to induce decomposition of said dioxetane accompanied by chemiluminescence where Z is cleaved by neuraminidase present.

Abstract: A computer database includes information enabling display on a screen of a plurality of objects, in successive groups, together with display of graphics associated with each group. The graphics enable a first user selection of one of the objects of each group and a second user selection related to the object selected by interaction with the screen display, using conventional mouse, touchscreen or other techniques. The user selections are stored in a storage medium so as to generate a database of user choice information from which a behavior analysis is performed. The user selections may comprise food choices and evaluation of enthusiasm, and frequency thereof, whereby a dietary behavior profile is produced. Diet training may then be coordinated by display of a meal and providing the user with the ability to estimate nutrient content as well as participate in interactive adjustment of food items and portion sizes.

Abstract: A double walled storage tank includes an outer wall, an inner wall, a plurality of ribs disposed between the inner and outer walls, and a plurality of annular spaces between the ribs. The annular space between each pair of ribs is connected to other annular spaces only at the top of the tank. When a leak occurs in either the outer or inner wall, the annular space corresponding to the leak will at least partially drain while the other annular spaces will remain full. Thus, the leak location can be determined by simply examining the annular spaces between pairs of ribs.

Abstract: Chemical processes for more efficient synthesis of carbocyclic polyols and substituted sugar analogs are disclosed, together with a novel class of cyclopentene polyol intermediate products and anhydro derivatives thereof.

Abstract: A novel polysiloxane having the following structural units (I) and/or (II) and the structural unit (III), wherein A1 and A2 are an acid-dissociable monovalent organic group, R1 is hydrogen, monovalent (halogenated) hydrocarbon, halogen, or amino, R2 is monovalent (halogenated) hydrocarbon group, or halogen. A method of preparing such a polysiloxane, a silicon-containing alicyclic compound providing this polysiloxane, and a radiation-sensitive resin composition comprising this polysiloxane are also provided. The polysiloxane is useful as a resin component for a resist material, effectively senses radiation with a short wavelength, exhibits high transparency to radiation and superior dry etching properties, and excels in basic resist properties required for resist materials such as high sensitivity, resolution, developability, etc.

Abstract: The invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing cinchonine dihydrochloride as active ingredient with a purity of at least 95%. The invention also relates to a process for preparing cinchonine dihydrochloride from cinchonine and the use of pharmaceutical compositions containing cinchonine dihydrochloride for treating multiple drug resistance.

Abstract: An N-sulfonyloxyimide compound having the formula (1): wherein X represents a single bond or a double bond, Y and Z represent a hydrogen atom or others and may combine to form a cyclic structure; and R is a group having the formula (2): wherein X1 represents an organic group having an ester linkage, R1 represents an alkyl group or an alkoxyl group; and m is an integer of 1 to 11 and n is an integer of 0 to 10, satisfying m+n≦11; and chemically amplified positive and negative radiation-sensitive resin compositions using the compound are provided. The N-sulfonyloxyimide compound is a good radiation-sensitive acid-generating agent, has no problem of volatilization or side reaction, can keep dark reaction from taking place during the storage. The compound is useful as a component of radiation-sensitive chemically amplified resists.

Abstract: A luminescence detecting apparatus and method for analyzing luminescent samples is disclosed. Luminescent samples are placed in a plurality of sample wells in a tray, and the tray is placed in a visible-light impervious chamber containing a charge coupled device camera. The samples may be injected in the wells, and the samples may be injected with buffers and reagents, by an injector. In the chamber, light from the luminescent samples pass through a collimator, a Fresnel field lens, a filter, and a camera lens, whereupon a focused image is created by the optics on the charge-coupled device (CCD) camera. The use of a Fresnel field lens, in combination with a collimator and filter, reduces crosstalk between samples below the level attainable by the prior art. Preferred embodiments of the luminescence detecting apparatus and method disclosed include central processing control of all operations, multiple wavelength filter wheel, and robot handling of samples and reagents.

Abstract: A device for treating sausage in a hot dog dispensing machine has a substantially closed chamber for receiving a sausage, a unit associated with the chamber and operative for providing a microwave radiation into an interior of the chamber so as to provide cooking of an interior of the sausage, and a unit for generating an infrared radiation arranged outside of an area of the microwave radiation generated by the first unit so as to supply the infrared radiation into the interior of the chamber onto a sausage located in the chamber and therefore to treat a surface of the sausage to provide an exterior skin of the sausage.