Abstract: Diketopiperazine compounds designated N-methylepiamauromine, epiamauromine and cycloechinulin have been isolated from the sclerotia of the fungi Aspergillus ochraceus. The compounds are effective for controlling Coleopteran and Lepidopteran insects.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for encapsulating viable cells which produce biologically-active factors. The cells are encapsulated within a semipermeable, polymeric membrane by co-extruding an aqueous cell suspension and a polymeric solution through a common port to form a tubular extrudate having a polymeric outer coating which encapsulates the cell suspension. For example, the cell suspension and the polymeric solution can be extruded through a common extrusion port having at least two concentric bores, such that the cell suspension is extruded through the inner bore and the polymeric solution is extruded through the outer bore. The polymeric solution coagulates to form an outer coating. As the outer coating is formed, the ends of the tubular extrudate can be sealed to form a cell capsule. In one embodiment, the tubular extrudate is sealed at intervals to define separate cell compartments connected by polymeric links.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for purifying and characterizing "myotrophin", a novel soluble protein factor that is believed to regulate myocardial hypertrophy in hypertension. In addition, the invention is directed to the purified and partially characterized protein factor produced by the process of the present invention, as well as uses of this factor, or its antagonist to control cardiac hypertrophy.

Abstract: An inbred corn line, designated LH200, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of inbred corn line LH200, to the plants of inbred corn line LH200 and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing the inbred line LH200 with itself or another corn line. The invention further relates to hybrid corn seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred line LH200 with another corn line.

Abstract: A continuous flow analysis system measures the cholesterol distribution among different lipoprotein classes in a blood sample. A blood plasma sample is separated into different lipoprotein classes by single vertical spin density gradient ultracentrifugation. The sample is then introduced in a continuous succession into a continuous reagent stream which flows through a detector. A signal of the reaction, such as the absorbance of the reaction product, is continuously monitored as the reaction mixture flows through the detector. The detector measures a transient signal thus allowing a relatively short reaction period. The absorbance data is digitized and analyzed with the help of a computer to generate a cholesterol profile indicative of the cholesterol concentration in each lipoprotein class.

Abstract: An inbred corn line, designated LH204, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of inbred corn line LH204, to the plants of inbred corn line LH204 and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing the inbred line LH204 with itself or another corn line. The invention further relates to hybrid corn seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred line LH204 with another corn line.

Abstract: A low-energy-consuming apparatus and method for controlling vacuum levels in machine milking and other vacuum systems subject to air leakage utilizes in combination a high vacuum reserve, a low-vacuum end (pipelines), a dual vacuum controller positioned between the high-vacuum reserve and the low-vacuum end and an adjustable speed drive (ASD) motor on a vacuum pump to regulate the delivered air to match the air usage in the low-vacuum end. The dual vacuum controller senses vacuum disturbances in the low-vacuum end and adjusts the flow rate of air from the low-vacuum end to the high-vacuum reserve rather than using external air makeup, thus providing a controlled vacuum with minimum pressure variance and energy input. Energy savings and demand reduction of about 50 percent (50%) during milking are realized under the new system.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus which scans and recognizes a page having columns of text or pictorial images. The scanned page is partitioned into blocks of scanlines and the column gap between the columns are identified by a projection profile process. With this technique the page can be severely tilted while under scan and still be properly recognized.

Abstract: An inbred corn line, designated LH 163, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of inbred corn line LH 163, to the plants of inbred corn line LH 163 and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing the inbred line LH 163 with itself or another corn line. The invention further relates to hybrid corn seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred line LH 163 with another corn line.

Abstract: The electrophoretic isolation and monosaccharide sequence determination of a neutral or weakly acidic oligosaccharide species of interest are disclosed. A labeling compound and a charged group are coupled to the reducing end of the species of interest, thereby facilitating electrophoretic separation and detection of the separated species. The resolved species of interest can then be recovered from the electrophoretic medium, for example, by electrophoretic transfer to a charged solid support.Following isolation, monosaccharide units can be cleaved successively from the non-reducing end of the species of interest to reveal the monosaccharide sequence. The identity of each monosaccharide unit is determined by correlating cleavage data with known exoglycosidase specificites.

Abstract: An angiogram is produced using NMR fast pulse sequences in which the views are acquired in shots preceded by a preparatory pulse sequence. Each shot is acquired twice with differing preparatory pulse sequences and the resulting NMR data is subtracted to null the stationary tissues in the reconstructed image.

Abstract: A vertical cavity surface emitting laser, VCSEL, and detector combination includes a plurality of VCSEL diodes (14, 16a) monolithically integrated on a substrate (12) A forwardly biased lasing VCSEL diode (14) emits light in a vertical axial direction (26) and in a horizontal lateral direction (44). A laterally adjacent detector VSCEL diode (16a), which is unbiased or is reverse biased, receives the lateral light from the lasing VCSEL diode (14) and generates detector output current, which provides feedback (50) control of the forward biasing circuit (24) for the lasing VCSEL diode (14). The combination also provides an electrical-optical-electrical transducer and isolator.

Abstract: Apparatus which segments visual scenes into discrete objects. The apparatus is able to perceptually group the elements corresponding to a coherent figure, and to segregate them from the background or from another figure. Reentrant signaling among rhythmically active neuronal groups is used to correlate responses along spatially extended contours. The efficacy of the connections is allowed to change on a fast time scale resulting in active reentrant connections which amplify the correlations among neuronal groups and provides the desired segmentation.

Abstract: The subject invention provides DNA oligomers complementary to portions of the flagellin gene of Borrelia burgdorferi which can be used to detect the organism, as well as other Borrelia species, in a sample. PCR technology can be used to amplify the portion of the flagellin gene which is then detected using a biotinylated probe provided by the subject invention.

Abstract: A chromophoric molecule capable of forming stable complexes with urea, guanidine or amidine compounds and the acid addition salts thereof which comprises a nucleous of heterocyclic rings.

Abstract: A method for generating an image of a parametric surface, such as the aspect of terrain which maximizes color contrast to permit easy discrimination of the magnitude, ranges, intervals or classes of a surface parameter while making it easy for the user to visualize the form of the surface, such as a landscape. The four pole colors of the opponent process color theory are utilized to represent intervals or classes at 90 degree angles. The color perceived as having maximum measured luminance is selected to portray the color having an azimuth of an assumed light source and the color showing minimum measured luminance portrays the diametrically opposite azimuth. The 90 degree intermediate azimuths are portrayed by unique colors of intermediate measured luminance, such as red and green.

Abstract: A ventricle assist device for placement within a living body and including a self contained drive motor for generating pumping action with respect to a hydraulic pumping fluid. The ventricle assist device includes a ventricle having a blood chamber and a pumping chamber and an interconnect means coupled to the pumping chamber of the ventricle for receiving and displacing hydraulic fluid. A separate volume displacement chamber is attached to the interconnect means and provides a reservoir for excess hydraulic fluid for storage during diastole. A fluid pump and drive motor is positioned within the volume displacement chamber and connected at the interconnect means to supply the required pumping action for transfer of hydraulic fluid to and from the pumping chamber. Placement of the fluid pump and drive motor within the volume displacement chamber provides enhanced dissipation of heat from the energy conversion system and improved performance and durability.

Abstract: The invention resides in oligosaccharide derivatives which are obtained by the enzynmatic cleavage of carbohydrates linked to proteins through asparagine groups. The oligosaccharide moieties of the instant invention are 1-amino-1-deoxyoligosaccharide compounds which are cleaved from a glycoprotein with an aminohydrolase enzyme, wherein the amino group of the oligosaccharide is subsequently substituted with a fluorescent reporter compound. The compounds of the instant invention are characterized by the glycosylamine bonds exhibiting less than 10% hydrolysis at 25.degree. C. in aqueous solution over a two days at pH values between 4-10.

Abstract: Living cells such as animal cells which produce biologically active factors are encapsulated within a semipermeable, polymeric membrane such as polyacrylate by co-extruding an aqueous cell suspension and a polymeric solution through a common port having at least one concentric bores to form a tubular extrudate having a polymeric membrane which encapsulates the cell suspension. The cell suspension is extruded through an inner bore and the polymeric solution is extruded through an outer bore while a pressure differential is maintained between the cell suspension and the polymeric solution to impede solvent diffusion from the polymeric solution into the cell suspension. The polymeric solution coagulates to form an outer coating or membrane as the polymeric solution and the cell suspension are extruded through the extrusion port. As the outer membrane is formed, the ends of the tubular extrudate are sealed to form a cell capsule.

Abstract: Methods are provided for detecting the interaction between a first test protein and a second test protein, in vivo, using reconstitution of the activity of a transcriptional activator. This reconstitution makes use of chimeric genes which express hybrid proteins. Two types of hybrid proteins are prepared. The first hybrid contains the DNA-binding domain of a transcriptional activator fused to the first test protein. The second hybrid protein contains a transcriptional activation domain fused to the second test protein. If the two test proteins are able to interact, they bring into close proximity the two domains of the transcriptional activator. This proximity is sufficient to cause transcription, which can be detected by the activity of a marker gene which contains a binding site for the DNA-binding domain.