Abstract: Novel isolated polynucleotides and polypeptides associated with the synthesis of plant cell wall polysaccharides are provided, together with genetic constructs comprising such sequences. Methods for using such constructs for the modulation of polysaccharide content in plants are also disclosed, together with transgenic plants comprising such constructs.

Abstract: A Fischer-Tropsch reaction is conducted using a synthesis gas (mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen) as a raw material to synthesize hydrocarbons containing a large amount of olefin. These hydrocarbons are separated into a light fraction and a heavy fraction by means of a heat exchanger and an oxo process is conducted with respect to the olefin contained in the light fraction with a cobalt catalyst. As a result, an oxygenated fuel containing alcohol, aldehyde, etc. is manufactured. The oxygenated fuel made by such a manufacturing method is excellent in lubricity and oxidation stability, has a high cetane number, and is also capable of suppressing generation of soot when the oxygenated fuel is combusted.

Abstract: An apparatus for sports training allows an athlete to move an exercise bar freely in two dimensions by connecting the bar between congruent pantograph trusses. The resistance offered to the movements of the user is programmable and may be varied according to predetermined parameters and also as a predetermined function of measured parameters. The apparatus further incorporates means to record the parameters of the exercise.

Abstract: Novel isolated polynucleotides associated with the lignin biosynthetic pathway are provided, together with constructs including such sequences. Methods for the modulation of lignin content, lignin structure and lignin composition in target organisms are also disclosed, the methods comprising incorporating one or more of the polynucleotides of the present invention into the genome of a target organism.

Abstract: A method for chemically bonding semiconductor wafers and other materials to one another without exposing wafers to wet environments, and a bonding chamber for in situ plasma bonding are disclosed. The in situ plasma bonding chamber allows plasma activation and bonding to occur without disruption of the vacuum level. This precludes rinsing of the surfaces after placement in the chamber, but allows for variations in ultimate pressure, plasma gas species, and backfill gases. The resulting bonded materials are free from macroscopic and microscopic voids. The initial bond is much stronger than conventional bonding techniques, thereby allowing for rougher materials to be bonded to one another. These bonded materials can be used for bond and etchback silicon on insulator, high voltage and current devices, radiation resistant devices, micromachined sensors and actuators, and hybrid semiconductor applications. This technique is not limited to semiconductors.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided whereby the motion between two video fields of opposite parity may be measured so as to discriminate between the presence of motion and lack thereof. The level of motion at a specified position is determined by comparing a first motion value derived from successive fields of opposite parity with a second motion value derived from successive fields of the same parity at the spatial location corresponding to that used to generate the first motion value. This determination is made with one field being common to the first and second motion values, and taking the minimum of the first and second motion values to be the motion value at that position.

Abstract: A plasma system for processing large area substrates. In one embodiment the system includes a plurality of radiofrequency (rf) plasma sources removably attached to the rf transparent windows of a processing chamber. The number and distribution of sources is varied to provide the size and uniformity of the plasma field required to treat the substrate. A plurality of plasma probes, such as Langmuir probes, Faraday cups and optical sensor are positioned within the chamber and in electrical communication with the plasma sources adjust the rf field produced by the individual sources to maintain the desired degree of field uniformity.

Abstract: A method for measuring motion at a horizontal and vertical position between video fields of opposite parity comprising the steps of measuring the signal values of at least two vertically adjacent pixels from a video field of one parity and at least two vertically adjacent pixels from a video field of the opposite parity such that when taken together, the pixels represent contiguous samples of an image at said horizontal and vertical position, and determining whether the signal value of any of the pixels lies between the signal values of adjacent pixels in the field of opposite parity and in response outputting a zero motion value, otherwise, outputting a motion value equal to the lowest absolute difference between any of the pixels and its closest adjacent pixel in the field of opposite parity.

Abstract: A technique for forming a film of material (12) from a donor substrate (10). The technique has a step of introducing energetic particles (22) through a surface of a donor substrate (10) to a selected depth (20) underneath the surface, where the particles have a relatively high concentration to define a donor substrate material (12) above the selected depth. An energy source is directed to a selected region of the donor substrate to initiate a controlled cleaving action of the substrate (10) at the selected depth (20), whereupon the cleaving action provides an expanding cleave front to free the donor material from a remaining portion of the donor substrate.

Abstract: Isolated polynucleotides encoding polypeptides active in lignin, fructan and tannin biosynthetic pathways are provided, together with expression vectors and host cells comprising such isolated polynucleotides. Methods for the use of such polynucleotides and polypeptides are also provided.

Abstract: A general method is provided to achieve frequency conversion in an all-digital frequency conversion device that produces an output signal having a selectable phase and frequency that is substantially synchronous with the input signal to be converted. A multiplicity of time-shifted signals is generated, and appropriate ones are selected to set and reset an output signal. An apparatus, computing system, and software product that implement the present invention are also provided.

Abstract: An all-digital frequency conversion apparatus is provided that achieves frequency conversion using a simple phase detector and integer and fractional phase feedback information from a digital oscillator output. In an embodiment, a target phase accumulator unit generates a target phase signal to the phase detector unit. The target phase accumulator unit receives inputs from a reference signal input, and a target phase input value. The digital phase detector unit receives the reference signal, a current phase feedback input signal, and the target phase input signal. The phase detector unit outputs a frequency setting signal to a frequency value generator unit. The detector output is based on the difference between the current phase and the target phase. A frequency value generator unit is configured to output a frequency value signal to a digital oscillator unit that generates a corresponding digital output signal that is directly fed back to the current phase feedback input of the phase detector unit.

Abstract: A DDS circuit arranged to provide a selectable spread spectrum based output clock signal is described. The synthesizer includes a phase accumulator circuit, a reference clock source coupled to the phase accumulator circuit arranged to provide a reference clock signal, a frequency shifter unit coupled to the phase accumulator, a nominal phase source coupled to the phase accumulator coupled to the frequency shifter unit arranged to provide a nominal phase signal, and a modulated phase source coupled to the frequency shifter unit arranged to provide a modulation signal. The frequency shifter unit combines the nominal phase signal and the modulation signal to form a frequency shift signal as input to the phase accumulator which uses the frequency shift signal to sample the reference clock signal so as to produce the output clock signal having a central frequency and a frequency spread based upon the modulation signal.

Abstract: The invention is an apparatus and method for testing the residual seal force of the closure of a container, particularly a container for parenteral pharmaceutical products. An automated and instrumented press collects stress and strain data for a closure of a container for parenteral pharmaceutical products. An algorithm is automatically applied to the resulting data set, determining candidate residual seal forces for several data smoothing spans. Confidence levels are determined for each of the candidate residual seal forces. The candidate residual seal force corresponding to the highest confidence level is selected. The process is repeated and the results averaged to determine a final residual seal force.

Abstract: A case locking system (10) includes two pairs of independently movable split levers (16). Split levers (16) are connected to top (12) and form more than two separate latches (20 and 22) movable between an open position and a closed position. Latch receivers (34) are connected to bottom (14) and are conformed to independently receive and retain each separate latch (20 and 22). In a preferred embodiment, two pairs of independently movable split levers (16) form four separate latches (20 and 22). In a further preferred embodiment, locking ramps (36) are connected to bottom (14) for automatically opening latches (20 and 22) when the top (12) is placed on to the bottom (14). In a further embodiment, alignment guides (56) and alignment posts (48) are utilized to automatically position latches (20 and 22) and latch receivers (34) when the top (12) is placed on the bottom (14).

Abstract: Methods and compositions for the modification of immune response by modulating of the Notch signaling pathway are provided, together with methods for the treatment of disorders characterized by the presence of an unwanted immune response. Such compositions comprise components derived from Mycobacteria, such as Mycobacterium vaccae.

Abstract: Isolated fibroblast growth factor receptor polypeptides and polynucleotides encoding such polypeptides are provided, together with expression vectors and host cells comprising such isolated polynucleotides. Methods for the use of such polypeptides and polynucleotides are also provided.

Abstract: Novel polynucleotides isolated from Lactobacillus rhamnosus, as well as probes and primers, genetic constructs comprising the polynucleotides, biological materials, including plants, microorganisms and multicellular organisms incorporating the polynucleotides, polypeptides expressed by the polynucleotides, and methods for using the polynucleotides and polypeptides are disclosed.

Abstract: Isolated polynucleotides encoding polypeptides expressed in bovine mammary gland tissue are provided, together with genetic constructs and host cells comprising such isolated polynucleotides. Methods for the use of such polynucleotides and polypeptides are also provided.

Abstract: Novel isolated plant polynucleotide promoter sequences are provided, together with genetic constructs comprising such polynucleotides. Methods for using such constructs in modulating the transcription of DNA sequences of interest are also disclosed, together with transgenic plants comprising such constructs.