Abstract: The present invention relates to a construction method for simple bridges or continuous bridges using prestressed concrete girder (PSC girder) and precast slabs (PSC slabs). The PSC girder, where prestress is applied to the lower portion of the center of the girder by the first tense, is spanned between piers, and the second tense is performed during the PSC slabs are put on the PSC girders, and hence, the present invention can construct bridges of low clearance and long span by preventing a loss of prestress due to load of the slabs and relieving excessive compression force generated on the upper edge portion of the center of the girder during the construction of the bridge.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for using a payroll deduction process as a payment process and efficient means by which employees of a business can purchase and manage their employee benefits. An employer authorizes the inventive system to accept payroll deduction as a payment option for the employer's employees and to allow them to purchase benefits offered through the employer. The employer and/or the system establish guidelines for utilizing the payroll deduction option during public commerce or via the company's internal benefits administration system and the system stores the guidelines and identifying information for the employer and corresponding employees in a database. Merchants also sign up to offer employee benefits through the employer with the inventive system may agree to accept the payroll deduction process is a payment process.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for expressing a polynucleotide of interest are provided. Compositions comprise an enhancer domain set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, 10, 15, or 16 and active variants and fragments thereof. Further provided are DNA constructs comprising at least one transcriptional enhancer sequence comprising the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1, 10, 15, or 16 or an active variant or fragment thereof, operably linked to a heterologous promoter. Such chimeric transcription regulatory regions can be operably linked any polynucleotide of interest. Further provided are cells, plants, plant parts, and germplasm comprising the DNA construct. Methods of using the chimeric transcriptional regulatory region are also provided. In specific embodiments, methods of expressing a polynucleotide of interest, including for example, sequences that confer tolerance to herbicides, and methods to select a cell having the DNA construct are provided.

Abstract: A novel method for improving the meat quality of an animal is provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises feeding the animal a diet supplemented with oleic acid and tocols and subsequently formulating the meat with a non-tocol antioxidant such as rosemary extract. The source of the oleic acid and/or tocols may be transgenic corn that employs the FAD-2 gene as a silencing agent for a high-oleic phenotype and/or expresses the HGGT gene for a high-tocotrienol phenotype. The method improves the quality of meat from both non-ruminants and ruminants.

Abstract: A spectacle lens is disclosed. The disclosed lens provides a vision correcting area for the correction of a wearer's refractive error. The viewing correction area provides correction for non-conventional refractive error to provide at least a part of the wearer's vision correction. The lens has a prescription based on a wave front analysis of the wearer's eye and the lens can further be modified to fit within an eyeglass frame.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polybenzazaole (PBZ) fibers and processes for the preparation of such fibers. The invention further relates to yarns, fabrics, and articles incorporating fibers of this invention, and processes for making such yarns, fabrics, and articles.

Abstract: Lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase (LPAAT) participates in the second step of oil biosynthesis and is expected to play a key role in altering the quantity of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids produced in oils of oleaginous organisms. The present application provides a nucleic acid fragment (identified as “LPAAT2”) isolated from Mortierella alpina encoding a LPAAT homolog that is suitable for use in the manufacture of oils enriched in omega fatty acids in oleaginous organisms. Most desirably, the substrate specificity of the instant LPAAT2 will be particularly useful to enable accumulation of long-chain PUFAs having chain lengths equal to or greater than C20 in oleaginous yeast, such as Yarrowia lipolytica.

Abstract: This invention pertains to methods of increasing isoflavonoid production in isoflavonoid-producing plants by transforming plants with at least one construct expressing at least a portion of a flavanone 3-hydroxylase, a C1 myb transcription factor, and an R-type myc transcription factor that regulate expression of genes in the phenylpropanoid pathway.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a substrate including a pixel driving circuit, a first conductive member, and a second conductive member. The first and second conductive members are spaced apart, the first conductive member is connected to the pixel driving circuit, and the second conductive member can be part of a power transmission line. The electronic device also includes an electronic component that includes a first electrode that contacts the first conductive member, a second electrode that is connected to but does not contact the second conductive member, and an organic layer lying between the first and second electrodes. The electronic device also includes a third conductive member that is connected to the second electrode and the second conductive member, and contacts the second conductive member. In one embodiment, a process for forming the electronic device uses the second electrode as a hardmask when removing portions of the first organic layer.

Abstract: A passenger accommodation unit with deployable bed, including a passenger seat and a passenger bed positioned relative to the seat and adapted for movement between a stowed position wherein the bed is upright and adjacent to the seat, and a deployed position wherein the bed is horizontal for use and overlaps and is supported in part by the seat. The unit includes a credenza positioned adjacent the seat and between the seat and the bed that supports the bed when deployed.

Abstract: Use of a composition comprising finely divided particles of (a) an electrically-conductive material; (b) one or more inorganic binders; and (c) aluminium, wherein components (a), (b) and (c) are dispersed in a liquid vehicle, in the manufacture of an electrically-conductive pattern on a substrate for the purpose of increasing the resistivity of said electrically-conductive pattern.

Abstract: A circuit may be tuned to resonate at a driving frequency. The circuit includes a source that provides an output at a drive frequency and a resonant circuit having an input coupled to the source, an output, and first and second selectable resonant frequencies. The first resonant frequency is below the drive frequency and the second resonant frequency is above the drive frequency. A control coupled to the resonant circuit output selects the first and second resonant frequencies to cause the resonant circuit to provide an output at an apparent resonant frequency equal to the drive frequency.

Abstract: A laser scanning unit mainly includes a semiconductor laser, a collimator, a micro electronic mechanic system (MEMS) oscillatory mirror, and an f? lens or an f sin ? lens. The MEMS oscillatory mirror is disposed between the collimator and the f? lens to replace a conventional rotary polygonal mirror for controlling a direction in which laser beams are projected from the oscillatory mirror to the f? lens. With the MEMS oscillatory mirror, the cylindrical lens may be omitted from the laser scanning unit and noises produced by the polygonal mirror rotating at high speed may be avoided. Moreover, the MEMS oscillatory mirror allows bi-directional scanning to therefore enable increased scanning frequency, simplified structure, and improved scanning efficiency.

Abstract: Compositions are provided comprising aqueous dispersions of electrically conducting organic polymers and a plurality of nanoparticles. Films cast from invention compositions are useful as buffer layers in organic electronic devices, such as organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) and electrodes for thin film field effect transistors. Buffer layers containing nanoparticies have a much lower conductivity than buffer layers without nanoparticles. In addition, when incorporated into an electroluminescent (EL) device, buffer layers according to the invention contribute to higher stress life of the EL device.

Abstract: A two part coating system comprises a first part comprising one or more aliphatic polyisocyanates, and a second part comprising one or more aromatic polyamines. In one group of embodiments, the second part comprises one or more aromatic polyamines, blended with one or more polyhydric alcohol compounds. In another group of embodiments, the polyhydric alcohol compounds are dispensed with and the required properties are achieved by selection of the type of polyisocyanate compound used and by close control of the proportions thereof. The coating system is suitable for application by spraying using equipment in which the two parts are first combined at the point of spraying, and may be applied to the internal surfaces of below-ground pipeline infrastructures, for example by means of a centrifugal spinning head assembly. In particular, the system may be used for the renovation of existing drinking water pipelines.

Abstract: The present invention is a laminate comprising at least one layer of an polyallylamine-based coating that is and in direct contact with at least one other polymeric layer.

Abstract: An electro-optic display comprises a substrate (100), non-linear devices (102) disposed substantially in one plane on the substrate (100), pixel electrodes (106) connected to the non-linear devices (102), an electro-optic medium (110) and a common electrode (112) on the opposed side of the electro-optic medium (110) from the pixel electrodes (106). The moduli of the various parts of the display are arranged so that, when the display is curved, the neutral axis or neutral plane lies substantially in the plane of the non-linear devices (102).

Abstract: This invention relates to crystalline polymorphs of sertraline hydrocloride, i.e. (1S-cis)-4-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-N-methyl-1-naphtalenamine hydrochloride, denominated form I, II and V, and methods for their preparation.

Abstract: This invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid fragment encoding a sugar transport protein. The invention also relates to the construction of a chimeric gene encoding all or a portion of the sugar transport protein, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the chimeric gene results in production of altered levels of the sugar transport protein in a transformed host cell.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a method of processing soy by using specific enzyme, in other words, by using a pectinase produced by microorganisms from Aspergillus genera (such as pectinmethylesterase enzyme, produced by the microorganism Aspergillus oryzae; or the enzymes pectintranseliminase, polygalacturonase and pectinesterase, produced by the microorganism Aspergillus niger; or betagluconase(endo-1,3(4)-), produced by the microorganism Aspergillus aculeatus), which is capable of efficiently producing a processed soy powder and/or liquid with substantially no unpleasant odor, characteristic of products derived from soy, and an ameliorated digestion-absorption coefficient for human body, using soy in its integral form, in other words, utilizing all nutrients present in soy.