Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing or eliminating wetstacking in internal combustion engine systems operating substantially under capacity comprising establishing an exhaust temperature minimum set point, monitoring exhaust temperature of an engine; and restricting air intake into the engine when the temperature is below the set point. Intake air may also be heated when the exhaust temperature is below the set point, with the intake air divided into first and second paths, the first path being restricted and the second path being heated. The second path preferably comprises a fixed flow choke.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a method and composition using akaganeite, an iron oxide, as an ion adsorption medium for the removal of arsenic from water and affixing it onto carrier media so that it can be used in filtration systems.

Abstract: An optical sensing enhancing material (and corresponding method of making) comprising: a medium, the medium comprising a plurality of aggregated nanoparticles comprising fractals; and a microcavity, wherein the medium is located in a vicinity of the microcavity. Also an optical sensor and sensing method comprising: providing a doped medium, the medium comprising a plurality of aggregated nanoparticles comprising fractals, with the material; locating the doped medium in the vicinity of a microcavity; exciting the doped medium with a light source; and detecting light reflected from the doped medium.

Abstract: A method of full-duplex electromagnetic communication wherein a pair of data modulation formats are selected for the forward and return data links respectively such that the forward data electro-magnetic beam serves as a carrier for the return data. A method of encoding optical information is used wherein right-hand and left-hand circular polarizations are assigned to optical information to represent binary states. An application for an earth to low earth orbit optical communications system is presented which implements the full-duplex communication and circular polarization keying modulation format.

Abstract: Methods and devices for electrochemical detection of a specific binding pair member utilizing a microsphere with an incorporated electroactive marker, wherein a member of the specific binding pair to be detected is bound, directly or through one or more intermediates, to the microsphere. Multiple specific binding pair members may be detected by use of electrochemically distinguishable electroactive markers. Microspheres with incorporated electroactive markers may include one or more functional groups for binding members of specific binding pairs, and are preferably insoluble in aqueous solvents but soluble in selected organic solvents.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for trace metal detection and analysis using bismuth-coated electrodes and electrochemical stripping analysis. Both anodic stripping voltammetry and adsorptive stripping analysis may be employed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enhanced optical emissions, the apparatus comprising a light source, a microcavity, and a medium comprising nanoparticles, located within or near the microcavity. The nanoparticles are either non-aggregated or are aggregated in the form of fractals. The nanoparticles and microcavity exhibit enhanced linear and non-linear optical emission. The light emitting apparatus can be used for wavelength translation, amplification, optical parametric oscillation, light detection and ranging, increased sensitivity, high density optical data storage, and near-field optical spectroscopy.

Abstract: A nucleic acid sequence encoding for oryzacystatin-I peptides and a signal peptide therefore is provided. The oryzacystatin-I peptide is approximately 12.6 kDa, and is approximately twelve amino acid residues longer than previously described oryzacystatin-I peptides. The nucleic acid sequences may be cloned into vectors, and used to transform plants conferring resistance to plant pests, including insects and nematodes, that utilize cysteine proteases, and to viruses with processing mechanisms involving cysteine proteases.

Abstract: A method of canceling intersymbol interference (ISI) for a signal bit ak at time k, where k&egr;{0, ±1, ±2, . . . } in data transmission and data storage channels, by modelling the channel; training a RAM with known values for ak to acquire the model of the channel; searching for the optimal address for the RAM, with past, present, and future values of ak, to be used in minimizing the ISI in the received signal; and canceling ISI from the received signal. A RAM-search method and apparatus is presented which operates in cooperation with Viterbi detection and decoding, as well as with BCJR-APP detection and decoding.

Abstract: A supplement for ruminants comprising propionate. The propionate supplement is preferably combined with a protein feed supplement to reduce insulin insensitivity and increase body weight in ruminants.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlled release of nucleotides from electrodes utilizing potential difference for use in delivering the nucleotide into an organism. The frequency, duration and rate of release may be specifically controlled to obtain optimal release of the nucleotide. The apparatus and method may be used in conjunction with methods for electroporation, wherein the nucleotide may transit the cell membrane, and move into the cell. Alternatively, the apparatus and method may be used in conjunction with complexes of DNA and lipids or other carriers, which complexes will transit the cell membrane and move into the cell. The apparatus and method may be used for gene therapy, for use in treatment of any of a wide variety of diseases.

Abstract: An apparatus for electrochemical detection of DNA hybridization utilizing oligonucleotide-containing polymer-coated electrodes, and an apparatus for electrochemical detection of nucleic acids in flowing streams using doped polymer-coated electrodes. Also provided are methods for detection of DNA hybridization and for detection of nucleic acids in flowing streams.

Abstract: An apparatus and method wherein polarization rotation in alkali vapors or other mediums is used for all-optical switching and digital logic and where the rate of operation is proportional to the amplitude of the pump field. High rates of speed are accomplished by Rabi flopping of the atomic states using a continuously operating monochromatic atomic beam as the pump.

Abstract: An activated carbon and method of producing and using same. Pecan hulls are fractured to produce a particle size of less than a predetermined size (e.g., 75 microns), chemically activated in an acid solution, carbonized, and washed.

Abstract: A programmable Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) chip and method for the analog solution of a family of partial differential equations commonly encountered in engineering and scientific computing: The Laplace equation, the diffusion or conduction equation, the wave equation, the Poission equation, the modified diffusion equation, the modified wave equation, and the wave equation with damping.

Abstract: A directional traffic sensing system and method employing one or more pairs of overlapping sensor loops, a sensing controller driving the sensor loops, interference minimization between the overlapping loops, direction of travel determination, and reduction of false directional reports.

Abstract: A thick-film sensing apparatus for nucleic acid determination and testing using potentiometric stripping analysis, including two methods for nucleic acid detection at the microfabricated strips, both methods being designed for use with the thick-film sensing apparatus. The present invention is applicable for broad use in nucleic acid analysis, particularly for measurement of nucleic acids (e.g., DNA and RNA), and their sequences and interactions, and for detection of DNA damage, at thick-film electrodes, based on stripping potentiometry.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for characterizing light beam collimation and alignment. A liquid crystal device receiving a light beam from a collimation lens has a lenslet array generated thereon. A corresponding array of point spread functions are detected by a charge coupled device camera, from which light beam collimation and alignment are characterized. The data may be further used to adjust the collimation lens to correct misalignment.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of altering blood constituents in grazing animals. Serum concentrations of serum insulin, serum urea nitrogen, serum glucose, and serum growth hormone in ruminants were varied by feeding specific protein supplements and an otherwise negative energy diet. Protein supplements were selected both from high rumen-degradable proteins, such as cottonseed meal, and low rumen-degradable proteins, such as blood and feather meals. Improvement in body condition and body weight was concomitant with reduced milk production.

Abstract: A new electrochemical probe(s) design allowing for continuous (renewable) reagent delivery. The probe comprises an integrated membrane-sampling/electrochemical sensor that prevents interferences from surface-active materials and greatly extends the linear range. The probe(s) is useful for remote or laboratory-based monitoring in connection with microdialysis sampling and electrochemical measurements of metals and organic compounds that are not readily detected in the absence of reacting with the compound. Also disclosed is a method of using the probe(s).