Abstract: The present invention relates to a Drosophila in vitro system which was used to demonstrate that dsRNA is processed to RNA segments 21-23 nucleotides (nt) in length. Furthermore, when these 21-23 nt fragments are purified and added back to Drosophila extracts, they mediate RNA interference in the absence of long dsRNA. Thus, these 21-23 nt fragments are the sequence-specific mediators of RNA degradation. A molecular signal, which may be their specific length, must be present in these 21-23 nt fragments to recruit cellular factors involved in RNAi. This present invention encompasses these 21-23 nt fragments and their use for specifically inactivating gene finction. The use of these fragments (or chemically synthesized oligonucleotides of the same or similar nature) enables the targeting of specific mRNAs for degradation in mammalian cells, where the use of long dsRNAs to elicit RNAi is usually not practical, presumably because of the deleterious effects of the interferon response.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for protecting an electronic implantable medical device prior to it being implanted in a patient's body. The apparatus affords protection against electronic component damage due to electrostatic discharge and/or physical damage due to improper handling. The apparatus is comprised of a circuit board having conductive surface means for receiving and releasably grasping the electrodes of the medical device to support the device's housing proximate to the surface of the circuit board. First and second conductive paths are formed on the circuit board extending between the first and second conductive surfaces for shunting electrostatic discharge currents to prevent such currents from passing through the device's electronic circuitry. The respective shunt paths include oppositely oriented diodes, preferably comprising diodes which emit light (i.e., LEDs) when current passes therethrough. Additionally, means are provided to enable functional testing of the medical device.

Abstract: An energy storage system for powering electric user devices of a vehicle, the energy storage system having a battery; a capacitive element connected parallel to the terminals of the battery; and an inductive element connected in series to the battery, between the battery and the capacitive element; to effectively regulate power/energy flow between the battery and the capacitive element during transients, the ratio between the capacity of the battery measured in (Ah) and the capacitance of the capacitive element measured in (F) is less than 1, and the ratio between the capacity of the battery measured in (Ah) and the inductance of the inductive element measured in (?H) is less than 1.

Abstract: Rybena is both a system and a method that makes it feasible the communication between deaf, hearing impaired and mute persons and other people in general, including handicapped and those not similarly handicapped. The system makes use of some techniques in order to reduce the English language, written or spoken, to a formal text that can be distributed by electronic means and translated to ASL (American Sign Language). That reduced text is a meta-language that can be conveyed, using distinct communication channels, to varied devices, like cell phones and digital assistants, and presented in text, voice or animated ASL.

Abstract: A method for optimizing a supply chain for grain includes providing an information system adapted to exchange information with at least one input supplier providing seed to the producer, at least one producer providing grain grown from the seed, and at least one processor providing a product produced using the grain. The information system is adapted to provide an output indicative of grain quality and quantity to the at least one processor prior to harvest of the grain to thereby assist the at least one processor in optimizing the supply chain.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a Drosophila in vitro system which was used to demonstrate that dsRNA is processed to RNA segments 21-23 nucleotides (nt) in length. Furthermore, when these 21-23 nt fragments are purified and added back to Drosophila extracts, they mediate RNA interference in the absence of long dsRNA. Thus, these 21-23 nt fragments are the sequence-specific mediators of RNA degradation. A molecular signal, which may be their specific length, must be present in these 21-23 nt fragments to recruit cellular factors involved in RNAi. This present invention encompasses these 21-23 nt fragments and their use for specifically inactivating gene function. The use of these fragments (or chemically synthesized oligonucleotides of the same or similar nature) enables the targeting of specific mRNAs for degradation in mammalian cells, where the use of long dsRNAs to elicit RNAi is usually not practical, presumably because of the deleterious effects of the interferon response.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a Drosophila in vitro system which was used to demonstrate that dsRNA is processed to RNA segments 21-23 nucleotides (nt) in length. Furthermore, when these 21-23 nt fragments are purified and added back to Drosophila extracts, they mediate RNA interference in the absence of long dsRNA. Thus, these 21-23 nt fragments are the sequence-specific mediators of RNA degradation. A molecular signal, which may be their specific length, must be present in these 21-23 nt fragments to recruit cellular factors involved in RNAi. This present invention encompasses these 21-23 nt fragments and their use for specifically inactivating gene function. The use of these fragments (or chemically synthesized oligonucleotides of the same or similar nature) enables the targeting of specific mRNAs for degradation in mammalian cells, where the use of long dsRNAs to elicit RNAi is usually not practical, presumably because of the deleterious effects of the interferon response.

Abstract: This invention relates to a blend of fibers for use in protective clothing, a lightweight fabric made from such blend, protective articles made from the blend or fabric, and methods for making the fabric. The protective fabrics and articles of this invention have the unique combination of being comfortable, being highly effective against electrical arcs and flash fire hazards and having a pleasing appearance. Specifically, these fabrics can be processed to give the look and feel similar to conventional clothing fabrics such as denim fabrics.

Abstract: An article is described comprising a substrate and a plasma polymer coating comprising silicon, oxygen and carbon bonded to the surface of the substrate, in respect of which coating the following applies in the case of determination by means of ESCA: the mole ratio O: Si is >1.25 and <2.6 and the mole ratio C: Si is >0.6 and <2.2, according to a preferred embodiment the coating contains at least 22 and at most 27 atomic percent Si, at least 25 and at most 50 atomic percent O and at least 25 and at most 50 atomic percent C based on its total atomic number without hydrogen and/or fluorine.

Abstract: Disclosed are a thermoplastic polymer-linked-asphalt composition and a process for making a thermoplastic polymer-linked-asphalt. More particularly, the present invention relates to the reaction and resultant linking of a combination of epoxide-containing polymers and anhydride-containing polymers to asphalt to form a polymer-linked-asphalt composition having higher softening points. The improved polymer-linked-asphalt product is particularly useful in roofing applications.

Abstract: The preparation and use of nucleic acid fragments useful in altering the oil phenotype in plants are disclosed. Chimeric construct incorporating such nucleic acid fragments and suitable regulatory sequences can be used to create transgenic plants having altered lipid profiles. Methods for altering the oil phenotype in plants using such nucleic acid fragments also are disclosed.

Abstract: An I/Q modulator processes a time-discrete I/Q signal comprising an I component and a Q component. The I/Q signal is based on a sampling frequency which is equal to four times a carrier frequency of a carrier signal onto which the I/Q signal is modulated. A predistorter of the modulator predistort the I and components with a predistortion signal, which depends on the I and Q components, so as to form a predistorted I component and, in temporal alternation therewith, a predistorted Q components. An adjuster of the modulator adjusts the signs of the predistorted I and Q components so that two temporally successive predistorted components have a first sign and two additional successive predistorted components, which follow the first-mentioned components in time, have a second sign which is the inverse of the first sign, so as to produce therefrom an output signal at an output of the modulator.

Abstract: Use of a composition comprising finely divided particles of (a) an electrically-conductive material; (b) one or more inorganic binders; and (c) one or more metal(s) selected from cobalt, nickel, iron and bismuth, 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: Compounds of Formula (I), and their N-oxides and suitable slats, are disclosed which are useful as invertebrate pest control agents, wherein A and B are independently O or S; E is C or N; J is a phenyl ring, a naphthyl ring system, a 5- or 6-membered heteroaromatic ring or an aromatic 8-, 9- or 10-membered fused heterobicyclic ring system wherein each ring or ring system is optionally substituted with 1 to 4 R5; K is taken together with the two contiguous linking carbon atoms to form a 5- or 6-membered nanoaromatic carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring optionally including one or two ring members selected from the group consisting of C(?O), SO or S(O)2, each ring optionally substituted with 1 to 4 R4; and R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are as defined in the disclosure.

Abstract: Methods are provided for the production and recovery of multifunctional aromatic compounds from a fermentation medium. Preferred multifunctional aromatic compounds include para-hydroxycinnamic acid (pHCA), cinnamic acid (CA), and para-hydroxystyrene (pHS). The multifunctional aromatic compounds may be produced in a biphasic growth medium comprising a fermentation medium having a specified volume of an extractant. The multifunctional aromatic compounds are extracted into the extractant and recovered by standard means.

Abstract: A method of bonding a stainless steel part to a titanium part by heating a component assembly comprised of the titanium part, the stainless steel part, and a compact titanium-nickel filler material placed between the two parts and heated at a temperature that is less than the melting point of either the stainless steel part or the titanium part. The compact filler material is made of particles, preferably spheres, of discrete layers of nickel and titanium metal that react with each other and with the stainless and titanium parts to form a strong assembly when thermally processed. The component assembly is held in intimate contact at temperature in a non-reactive atmosphere for a sufficient time to develop a hermetic and strong bond between the stainless steel part and the titanium part.

Abstract: The present invention is related to refrigerant and lubricant compositions containing performance-enhancing additives. The performance enhancing additives are found to improve the energy efficiency and capacity of vapor compression refrigeration and air conditioning systems, which utilize hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants (e.g. HFC-134a ) and oxygenated refrigeration lubricants (e.g. POEs, PAGs and PVEs).

Abstract: The present invention provides a color recipe calculation method for matt finished, solid color shades, by means of which it is possible to determine the proportion of matting agents in a color recipe in a manner decoupled from the actual calculation of the recipe and is based on a conventional spectrophotometric characterization of a matt sample using a standardised 45°/0° measurement geometry along with an established gloss measurement, or alternatively using a spectrophotometer equipped with a d/8° measurement geometry and analyzing readings taken with the specular component included and excluded.

Abstract: A substantially torqueless composite dual core-spun yarn (10) has a substantially inelastic central hard core (20) covered with a dual-spun fiber covering (30). The central hard core (20) has an elongation at break less than 50% and a Z or S twist, and the fiber covering (30) comprises fibers twisted on the core (20) with an S or Z twist opposite to that of the core. The opposite twists of the core (20) and of the covering (30) exert opposite and substantially equal torques. This yarn is produced by introducing two slivers (30A,30B) forming the covering (30) and a central core in a spinning triangle (40). The core (20) is fed overtwisted S or Z and the slivers (30A,30B) have an opposite Z or S twist corresponding to about 30% to 70% of the twist of the fed overtwisted core (20) that detwists during spinning.