Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of determining an increased risk of a subject to acquire a trait of an obesity disorder or an obesity disorder, with the method comprising determining the genetic sequence of at least one taste receptor gene in the subject and reviewing the test genetic sequence(s) for the presence of at least one risk allele associated with at least one taste receptor. The presence of at least one difference in the test genetic sequence(s) and the presence of a risk allele associated with the taste receptor(s) may indicate an increased risk of the subject acquiring a trait of an obesity disorder or an obesity disorder.

Abstract: Catanionic vesicles including solute ion, methods for forming these, and methods of using these.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel approach for nitrate removal from a marine recirculating system (10) wherein high concentrations of sulfate found in seawater is used in combination with sludge (20) collected from fish growing tanks (12) to promote dissimilatory sulfate reduction to hydrogen sulfide. The sulfide is used as an electron source to promote autotrophic denitrification in an up-flow fix bed bioreactor (16), followed by nitrification in a nitrification unit (14). By utilizing the symbiotic relationship between the sulfate-reducing and sulfide-oxidizing bacterial community, nitrate accumulation is controlled in the recirculating water of the system thereby reducing water exchange in the marine recirculating system.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for the anaerobic microbial dechlorination of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Polyhalogenated ethenes are used to stimulate the growth and dechlorinating activity of PCB dechlorinating bacteria in a contaminated soil or sediment. This method may be further coupled with aerobic microbial degradation of PCBs for the complete destruction of PCBs in soils and sediments. Polyhalogenated ethenes are also used in growth media for the culturing of PCB dechlorinating bacteria.

Abstract: The disclosure below provides a protein export system for efficiently producing recombinant protein from a host cell. In a preferred embodiment, the protein export system utilizes protein export machinery endogenous to the host bacterium into which the protein export system vector is introduced.

Abstract: The invention provides live, attenuated enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) bacteria in which the Shiga toxin coding sequences are deleted to abolish Shiga toxin production and one or more of the nucleotide sequences for the bacterial adhesin protein intimin, the locus of enterocyte effacement encoded regulator, and the translocated intimin receptor are mutated to inactivate the activity of the encoded protein(s). This live, attenuated E. coli bacteria is used in a vaccine for reducing or inhibiting carriage and shedding of EHEC in cattle.

Abstract: Carbon nanotube structures are formed by providing metal composite particles including a catalyst metal and a non-catalyst metal, where the catalyst metal catalyzes the decomposition of a hydrocarbon compound and the formation of carbon nanotube structures on surfaces of the particles. The metal composite particles are combined with the hydrocarbon compound in a heated environment so as to form carbon nanotube structures on the surfaces of the metal composite particles. The metal composite particles can be include iron and aluminum at varying amounts. The carbon nanotubes formed on the metal particles can remain on the metal particles or, alternatively, be removed from the metal particles for use in different applications.

Abstract: An electrically conductive, compliant elastomer material that is impregnated with a metal is formed by combining a metal salt with an elastomer precursor material to form a metal salt/precursor mixture, curing the metal salt/precursor mixture to form an elastomer impregnated with metal salt, and treating the elastomer impregnated with metal salt with a chemical reducing composition so as to convert at least a portion of the metal salt impregnated within the elastomer to a metal. The elastomer can be subjected to a suitable solvent that swells the elastomer during the chemical reduction of the metal salt to metal, which enhances the mechanical and electrical properties of the resultant metal impregnated elastomer material.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for managing mobility of mobile nodes between heterogeneous networks in an IP-based mobile communication system including a plurality of access nodes for providing an IP service to mobile nodes located in their service areas and a neighbor graph server for supporting connection to the access nodes by the mobile nodes. The method includes classifying the access nodes according to available service level; classifying the mobile nodes according to required service level, generating service level neighbor graphs each including access nodes supporting the same service level; generating a mapping table for mapping the mobile nodes to the neighbor graphs according to service level required by the mobile node; and supporting movement of a mobile node between networks using the neighbor graph and the mapping table.

Abstract: A method for preventing or delaying the onset of autoimmune diseases is disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to immunogenic peptides derived from human prostate cancer antigen (PSA-derived peptides) and their use as vaccines to treat or prevent prostate cancer. The invention is also related to dendritic cells from a patient having prostate cancer, which dendritic cells have been exposed to one or more PSA-derived peptides, and their use to treat or prevent prostate cancer in the patient. The invention is also directed to T-cells from a patient which cells are specific for PSA-activated peptide(s), and their uses to treat or prevent prostate cancer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to cell wall degradative systems, in particular to systems containing enzymes that bind to and/or depolymerize cellulose. These systems have a number of applications.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of screening agents for the ability to regulate lipid metabolism and using said agents to treat diseases or disorders related to lipid metabolism (e.g., obesity, diabetes [non-insulin and insulin dependent], hypertension, coronary artery disease, hyperlipidemia (e.g., LDL, TAGs), hypolipidemia (e.g., HDL), lipid metabolism disorders, lipid deposition disorders, lipodystrophies). In specific embodiments, the invention relates to using a PAT family protein to screen agents for the ability to regulate lipid metabolism and using the same to treat diseases or disorders related to lipid metabolism. In further embodiments, the invention relates to high throughput screening (HTS) methods that can be used in the drug discovery process for screening agents for the ability to regulate lipid metabolism.

Abstract: Imprinted polymeric materials that selectively bind to a template article. Various types of template articles may be targeted by the imprinted polymeric materials, including microorganisms (e.g., viruses or bacteria) or biologic macromolecules (e.g., proteins or DNA). The imprinted polymeric material may be formed by template-directed synthesis using monomer units that interact with the template article. The monomer units are used to form a polymer matrix around the template article. Subsequently, the template article is removed from the polymer matrix. Also disclosed are imprinted polymeric materials comprising a cross-linked polymer matrix, which comprises a polyampholyte polymer. The polymer matrix has a binding cavity capable of selectively binding to a template article. Also disclosed are various uses for such imprinted polymeric materials.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to a live, attenuated S. Paratyphi A strain, a live, attenuated S. Paratyphi A strain comprising a stabilized plasmid expression system, and methods of using these strains.

Abstract: A micro-optical fiber tip based sensor system for pressure, acceleration, and pressure gradient measurements in a wide bandwidth, the design of which allows for multiplexity of the input side of the system is based on micro-electromechanical fabrication techniques. The optical portion of the system is based on low coherence fiber-optic interferometry techniques which has a sensor Fabry-Perot interferometer and a read-out interferometer combination that allows a high dynamic range and low sensitivity to the wavelength fluctuation of the light source. A phase modulation and demodulation scheme takes advantage of the Integrated Optical Circuit phase modulator and multi-step phase-stepping algorithm for providing high frequency and real time phase signal demodulation. The system includes fiber tip based Fabry-Perot sensors each of which has a diaphragm that is used as a transducer.

Abstract: A nucleic acid molecule comprising at least one nucleotide sequence encoding SEQ ID NO: 14, 15, 19, 41, or a sequence that is at least about 95% identical thereto; a composition comprising same and a method of administering same to induce an immune response; a polypeptide consisting of SEQ ID NO: 14, 15, 19, 41, or a sequence that is at least about 95% identical thereto; a composition comprising same and a method of administering same to induce an immune response; a composition comprising APC, which have been exposed to the polypeptide, and a method of administering same to treat prostate cancer; a composition comprising T-cells, which are specific for an epitope in a polypeptide consisting of SEQ ID NO: 14, 15, 19, or 41 and a method of administering same to treat prostate cancer; a composition comprising an anti-idiotypic antibody having an internal image of an epitope of a polypeptide consisting of SEQ ID NO: 14, 15, 19, or 41 and a method of administering same to treat prostate cancer; and an immortal B-c

Abstract: PtRu nanoparticles, which contain Pt shell and a ruthenium-based nanoparticle core, and which nanoparticles may be used advantageously in oxidation of hydrogen containing relatively large amounts of CO.

Abstract: A denoising mechanism uses chosen signal classes and selected analysis dictionaries. The chosen signal class includes a collection of signals. The analysis dictionaries describe signals. The embedding threshold value is initially determined for a training set of signals in the chosen signal class. The update signal is initialized with a signal corrupted by noise.

Abstract: The present invention is a new and distinct floricane fruiting red raspberry cultivar named ‘Georgia’, which is capable of producing large quantities of fruit much earlier than that of the worldwide standard floricane cultivars, ‘Glen Ample’ and ‘Tulameen’. The cultivar is characterized by its thornlessness and fruit with a slightly pileated drupelet. The fruit is also very symmetrical, light colored and round. Fruit aroma is very good and fruit firmness and sugar content is sufficient for shipping long distances.