Abstract: Methods for using plants or intact portions thereof to produce and exude heterologous polypeptides are disclosed. The methods of the invention use whole plants or portions thereof that are intact, living and capable of exuding the produced polypeptides. The methods of the invention minimize operator intervention and exploit solar energy and the minimal nutrient needs of photoautotrophic organisms to provide inexpensive and indefinitely sustainable methods for producing a variety of heterologous polypeptides.

Abstract: A method for enhancing the mixing of materials in a roller bottle by the introduction of controlled axial and cross-sectional flow perturbations is disclosed. The effectiveness of the method is demonstrated by achieving higher efficiency in cell culturing and virus propagation in roller bottles by introducing controlled flow perturbations during the process.

Abstract: A method and a system is disclosed that provide means to enable individuals with speech, language and reading based communication disabilities, due to a temporal processing problem, to improve their temporal processing abilities as well as their communication abilities. The method and system include provisions to elongate portions of phonemes that have brief and/or rapidly changing acoustic spectra, such as occur in the stop consonants b and d in the phonemes /ba/ and /da/, as well as reduce the duration of the steady state portion of the syllable. In addition, some emphasis is added to the rapidly changing segments of these phonemes. Additionally, the disclosure includes method for and computer software to modify fluent speech to make the modified speech better recognizable by communicatively impaired individuals. Finally, the disclosure includes method for and computer software to train temporal processing abilities, specifically speed and precision of temporal integration, sequencing and serial memory.

Abstract: Transgenic eggplants (Solanum melongena L.) are provided, along with improved culture media and methods enabling efficient regeneration of shoots from cultured explants. The regeneration media contain a combination of growth factors that significantly increase the efficiency of shoot regeneration. Selection media contain combinations of antibiotics particularly effective in supporting shoot regeneration and eliminating Agrobacterium from explants transformed via tDNA techniques. The invention also provides a transgenic eggplant comprising a Bt gene modified for expression in plants. These transgenic eggplants demonstrate significant resistance to the Colorado potato beetle in the greenhouse and in the field.

Abstract: The invention provides a topoisomerase poison of formula I: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 -R.sub.8 have any of the meanings defined in the specification, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising a compound of formula I or a salt thereof, intermediates useful for preparing a compound of formula I, and therapeutic methods comprising administering a compound of formula I or a salt thereof.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing and remediating the effects of radon infiltration in buildings. The method of this invention places fiber glass materials over radon-emitting surfaces in order to entrap radon and radon progeny. The fiber glass materials can be formed into mats having a packed geometry. Each mat has fiber bundles having several thousand individual fibers. Each fiber has an approximate diameter size of about 50 microns. The glass fiber consists of a silicon oxide glass that may be doped, for example, with trivalent cerium ions. The mats can be of any geometrical configuration, such as rectangular.

Abstract: A universal linker for solid-phase nucleic acid synthesis that is cleaved under conditions orthogonal to those used during the synthesis and deprotection of nucleic acids such as dsDNA or RNA fragments is disclosed. The invention includes compounds of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of OH, OR.sub.2 and an amino functionalized support and n is an integer ranging from about 1 to about 1000 or more preferably from about 1 to about 100 or greater and R.sub.2 is an alkyl (C.sub.1-20) or greater.

Abstract: A process for making ceramic composites includes the steps of: a) forming a polymer composition into a three-dimensional mold; b) filling said three-dimensional mold with one or more ceramic containing compositions; c) heating said filled mold to dry and sinter the ceramic; d) removing at least a portion of said three-dimensional mold thereby forming voids; and e) filling the voids with a second composition which has a piezoelectric coefficient which is substantially different from the piezoelectric coefficient of said ceramic structure. Steps a through e yield a controlled, non-random piezoelectric ceramic composite having 2-3, 3-2 or 3--3 connectivity with respect to the sintered ceramic and the second composition throughout the composite.

Abstract: This invention relates to an end-sampling thief probe and a method of using this probe. The thief probe of the invention is useful in extracting a sample with minimal disturbance and provides an improved method for end-sampling.

Abstract: The present invention relates to assays which can be used to identify inducers of plant resistance to pathogens. The assays use catalase and/or ascorbate peroxidase.

Abstract: The present invention provides compounds of formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 -R.sub.7, W, X, Y, and Z have any of the values defined in the specification, and pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, that are are useful as anticancer agents. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions comprising one or more compounds of formula I, processes for preparing compounds of formula I, and intermediates useful for preparing compounds of formula I.

Abstract: A salicylic acid-induced protein (SIP) kinase is disclosed. The kinase has a molecular weight of about 48 kDa and is activated in response to salicylic acid, H.sub.2 O.sub.2 and infection with tobacco mosaic virus. The activation and enzymatic properties of the purified protein have been characterized. The partial amino acid sequence and complete nucleotide sequence of a cDNA encoding the SIP kinase demonstrate that it is a unique member of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase family. The novel SIP kinase may play a critical role in signal transduction for activation of plant defenses against microbial pathogens.

Abstract: This invention relates to development of an iontotherapeutic device for regulated transdermal systemic administration of ionizable pharmaceutical compounds. It also provides an iontotherapeutic process for transdermal administration of ionized pharmaceuticals, particularly those which are otherwise transdermally absorbed to a small degree or not all, such as peptide pharmaceuticals, for example, insulins. The invention also relates to unit dose forms, for example, those in which an ionized pharmaceutical is dispersed in a hydrophilic polymer. The unit dose is adapted to be assembled as part of the pharmaceutical reservoir electrode, so that the ionized pharmaceutical will be delivered transdermally and then be absorbed systemically when the iontotherapeutic device is in operation.

Abstract: The invention relates to an assay system for screening nutraceuticals, i.e., foods or food substances that occur naturally, or that are produced during processing which are capable of modulating in a subject the expression of one or more genes associated with a disease or undesirable physical condition. The nutraceuticals identified by the screening assays can be incorporated into compositions which may be administered to a subject to treat or prevent a disease or undesirable condition, or otherwise to improve the health of the subject. The invention further provides methods for modifying the amount of nutraceuticals in raw and processed foods or food substances.

Abstract: The present invention provides anti-neoplastic topoisomerase I inhibitors of the formula: ##STR1## wherein Ar is (C.sub.6 -C.sub. 12)aryl or (6- to 12-membered) heteroaryl comprising 1-3 N, S or non-peroxide O, wherein N is unsubstituted or is substituted with (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)alkyl; X is H, CN, CHO, OH, acetyl, CF.sub.3, OCH.sub.3, NO.sub.2 or NH.sub.2 ; each Y is individually H, (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)alkyl or aralkyl; Y' is H or (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)alkyl; n is 0 or 1; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt therein.

Abstract: An isolated nucleic acid molecule is provided which encodes a tobacco myb homologue involved in the regulation of disease resistance in plants. The encoded protein comprises a basic N-terminal region with two imperfect tryptophan repeats of 53 and 51 amino acids, a potential ATP/GTP binding site or P-loop, a redox sensitive cysteine and a nuclear localization sequence. The acidic C terminus of Myb1 forms amphipathic .alpha. helices which are characteristic of transcriptional activation domains. The invention also provides novel Myb1 protein and antibodies thereto. Additionally, the invention provides novel transgenic plants with enhanced disease resistance to certain pathogens.

Abstract: A study was done to compare the performance of a conventional V-blender to a V-blender that incorporates perturbations of the particle flow by rocking the mixing vessel during its normal rotation. Mixing was investigated using glass beads with sizes from 66.mu. to 600.mu. in vessels of approximately one liter volume. Mixture uniformity was assessed qualitatively, using two different methods. One method involved a transparent mixing vessel where it was possible to see particle flow patterns and assess the state of the mixture at its surface during the entire experiment. The second method involved disposable aluminum mixing vessels, where the mixture was solidified by infiltrating the mixture with a binder. By slicing the solidified structure, it was possible to assess the entire state of the mixture including its interior structure after the completion of each experiment. Mixture uniformity was also assessed quantitatively using image analysis of the slices.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for diagnosis of susceptibility to neurotoxicity or the pathological effects of neurotoxicity based on detection of a genetic marker in an individual. The present invention is directed generally to methods and associated compositions and kits for detecting the presence of arylsulfatase A (ASA) pseudodeficiency (PD) mutations in humans. Detection of these mutations has been surprisingly found to be a strong indicator for susceptibility to neurotoxicity and/or susceptibility to toxicant's pathological effects, as well as an important marker in evaluating the likelihood of metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD).

Abstract: A distribution element composed of a crossbar-type switch with four independent ports and direct multicast transfer capability which effects a direct interface to applications with an instruction sets for the distribution element, the sets providing for global memory sharing, synchronization, and lossless flow control.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for efficiently achieving a homogeneous mixture of fluid components by introducing said components having a Reynolds number of between about .ltoreq.1 to about 500 into a vessel and continuously perturbing the mixing flow by altering the flow speed and mixing time until homogeniety is reached. This method prevents the components from aggregating into non-homogeneous segregated regions within said vessel during mixing and substantially reduces the time the admixed components reach homogeneity.