Abstract: Endophytic bacteria, compositions comprising the same, and methods of use thereof are disclosed which increase the root and shoot growth of grass hosts, suppress growth of soil borne fungal pathogens of host plants, increase resistance of the grass to diseases and reduce competitiveness of distantly related competitor weeds of the crop.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel class of silver oxyfluoride based electrode materials based on the perovskite structure used in primary and rechargeable electromechanical energy storage systems.

Abstract: Provided is a process for preparing alkyl aromatic compounds. The process comprises contacting an alkane under dehydrogenation conditions in the presence of a dehydrogenation catalyst, e.g., a pincer iridium catalyst, to form olefins, and then contacting the olefins generated with an aromatic compound under alkylation conditions. Both reactions are conducted in a single reactor, and occur simultaneously.

Abstract: Provided is a process for preparing oligomers from an alkane. The process comprises (a) contacting an alkane under dehydrogenation conditions in the presence of a dehydrogenation catalyst such as an iridium catalyst complex comprising iridium complexed with a benzimidiazolyl-containing ligand to form olefins, and (b) contacting the olefins prepared in step (a) under oligomerization conditions with an oligomerization catalyst such as a nickel, platinum or palladium metal catalyst complex comprising the metal complexed with a nitrogen containing bi- or tridentate ligand to prepare oligomers of the olefins, and hydrogenating the olefin oligomers. In one embodiment, the ligands of the catalyst complexes in step (a) and step (b) can be the same.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating power from voltage gradients at sediment-water interfaces or within stratified euxinic water-columns is provided. Natural voltage gradients typically exist at and about sediment-water interfaces or in isolated water bodies. One electrode (anode) is positioned in the sediment or water just below the redox boundary and the other electrode (cathode) is positioned in the water above the redox boundary over the first electrode. The anode is lower in voltage than the cathode. Current will flow when the electrodes are connected through a load, and near-perpetual generating of worthwhile power may be sustained by the net oxidation of organic matter catalyzed by microorganisms.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and system for individually exercising one or more parameters of hand movement such as range, speed, fractionation and strength in a virtual reality environment and for providing performance-based interaction with the user to increase user motivation while exercising. The present invention can be used for rehabilitation of neuromotor disorders, such as a stroke. A first input device senses position of digits of the hand of the user while the user is performing an exercise by interacting with a virtual image. A second input device provides force feedback to the user and measures position of the digits of the hand while the user is performing an exercise by interacting with a virtual image. The virtual images are updated based on targets determined for the user's performance in order to provide harder or easier exercises.

Abstract: The present invention is a digital electronic system for rendering a volume image in real time. The system accelerators the processing of voxels through early ray termination and space leaping techniques in the projection guided ray casting of the voxels. Predictable and regular voxel access from high-speed internal memory further accelerates the volume rendering. Through the acceleration techniques and devices of the present invention real-time rendering of parallel and perspective views, including those for stereoscopic viewing, are achieved.

Abstract: Apparatus for noninvasively monitoring cardiovascular system parameters of a living subject comprises means for sensing waveforms externally of the body of the subject above the carotid and femoral arteries, means for non-invasively calibrating and digitizing the pulse waveforms, and a digital signal processor having means for converting the digitized, calibrated pulse information by Fast Fourier Transform to first and second sets of harmonically related blood pressure components in the frequency domain, means for comparing corresponding ones of the components in the first and second harmonically related sets to determine amplitude and phase transfer function components of the portion of the cardiovascular system between the carotid and femoral arteries, means for simulating the portion of the system by a hybrid electrical circuit model having at least three variable parameters, means for determining corresponding amplitude and phase transfer function components of the hybrid model and for adjusting the varia