Abstract: Embodiments of an apparatus, system, and method for chemical synthesis and/or analysis are disclosed. One embodiment of a disclosed apparatus comprises a laminated, microfluidic structure defining a reactor and a separator. Such apparatuses, or portions thereof, generally have dimensions ranging from about 1 micrometer to about 100 micrometers. To implement synthetic processes, disclosed embodiments of the apparatus generally include at least one valve, and often plural, selectively actuatable valves. Detectors, including optical detectors, also can be used to detect product and other materials as they flow by, or are otherwise presented to, the detector. Individual apparatuses may be coupled both in series and in parallel to form a system for making chemical compounds. The apparatus is particularly useful for making compounds requiring iterative reaction schemes, and further can be used to make compounds having morphological structures that resemble the morphology of the apparatus itself, such as dendrimers.

Abstract: Multi-precision multiplication methods over GF(2m) include representing a first polynomial and a second polynomial as an array of n words. A recursive algorithm may be used to iteratively decompose the multiplication into a weighted sum of smaller subproducts. When the size of the smaller subproducts is less than or equal to a predetermined size, a nonrecursive algorithm may be used to complete the multiplication. The nonrecursive algorithm may be optimized to efficiently perform the bottom-end multiplication. For example, pairs of redundant subproducts can be identified and excluded from the nonrecursive algorithm. Moreover, subproducts having weights in a special form may be efficiently calculated by a process that involves storing and reusing intermediate calculations.

Abstract: Multi-precision multiplication methods include storing a first operand and a second operand as a first array and a second array of n words. A first weighted sum is determined from multiple subproducts of corresponding words of the first operand and the second operand. The methods may further include iteratively determining a next weighted sum from a previous weighted sum and a recursively calculated intermediate product. The disclosed methods can be used in a variety of different applications (e.g., cryptography) and can be implemented in a number of software or hardware environments.

Abstract: An adhesive composition made by reacting a soy protein with at least one compound under conditions sufficient for introducing additional phenolic hydroxyl functional groups, amine functional groups, and/or thiol functional groups into the soy protein structure.

Abstract: Scalable and unified multipliers for multiplication of cryptographic parameters represented as elements of either of the prime field (GF(p)) and the binary extension field (GF(2m)) include processing elements arranged to execute in pipeline stages. The processing elements are configurable to perform operations corresponding to either the prime field or the binary extension field. In an example, the processing elements include a dual-field adder having a field-select input that permits selection of a field arithmetic. In a representative example, multipliers are implemented as integrated circuits having processing units that each receive a single bit of one operand and partial words of the remaining operand.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for controlling an arthropod pest population that include an eremophilane sesquiterpene pest control agent (such as, nootkatone or 13-hydroxy-valencene) and a dialkyl-substituted phenol pest control agent (such as, carvacrol) are disclosed. The compounds present in the compositions may be isolated from natural sources, semi-synthesized from naturally occurring compounds, or completely synthesized. The pest control compositions may be applied directly to a pest or the locus of a pest, and function as topical or ingestible pest toxins.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for Montgomery multiplication process a multiplier operand in k-bit radix-digits, wherein k corresponds to a radix r=2k. A multiplicand operand and a modulus are processed word by word, and then additional bits of the multiplier operand are selected for processing. In a radix r=8 example, the multiplier operand is processed in 3 bit radix-8 digits. A processing kernel is configured to preprocess the modulus and/or the multiplier operand so that at least some values can be obtained from lookup tables.

Abstract: Isolated nucleic acids encoding cis-zeatin O-glucosyltransferase are disclosed. These nucleic acid molecules are useful, among other things, to produce transgenic plants having modified cis-zeatin O-glucosyltransferase activity and/or modified growth and developmental patterns.

Abstract: A method for making epothilones and epothilone analogs is described, as are novel compounds made by the method. One embodiment of the method was used to synthesize epothilone B by a convergent approach that entailed Wittig coupling of an ylide derived from phosphonium bromide with an aldehyde. The former was prepared from propargyl alcohol by a nine-step pathway which installed both trisubstituted double bonds with clean Z configuration. Macrolactonization of a resulting seco acid provided the following intermediate diene epothilone analog.

Abstract: Herein disclosed are nucleic acid sequences that can be used to detect fecal contamination in a sample. In one embodiment, the probes and primers disclosed herein can be used to identify the host species that is the source of fecal bacterial contamination in the sample.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for modular arithmetic operations with respect to a modulus p include representing operands as a series of s w-bit numbers, wherein s = ? k w ? . Operations are executed word by word and a carry, borrow, or other bit or word is obtained from operations on most significant words of the operands. Depending on the value of this bit or word, an operation-specific correction factor is applied. Cryptographic systems include computer executable instructions for such methods. Bit-level operations are generally avoided and the methods and apparatus are applicable to systems based on, for example, public-key cryptographic algorithms defined over the finite field GF(p).

Abstract: Scalable Montgomery multiplication methods and apparatus are provided that are reconfigurable to perform Montgomery multiplication on operands having arbitrary data precision. The methods perform Montgomery multiplication by combining bit-wise and word-wise operations and exhibit pipelined and parallel operation. Apparatus include a control unit that directs bits of an operand to processing elements that receive words of a second operand and a modulus, and produce intermediate values of a Montgomery product. After an intermediate value of a word of a Montgomery product is obtained in a first processing element based on a selected bit of the first operand, the intermediate value is directed to a second processing element and is updated based on another selected bit of the first operand.

Abstract: A method for making epothilones and epothilone analogs is described, as are novel compounds made by the method. One embodiment of the method was used to synthesize epothilone B by a convergent approach that entailed Wittig coupling of an ylide derived from phosphonium bromide with an aldehyde. The former was prepared from propargyl alcohol by a nine-step pathway which installed both trisubstituted double bonds with clean Z configuration. Macrolactonization of a resulting seco acid provided the following intermediate diene epothilone analog. Selective saturation of the 9,10-olefin and subsequent epoxidation provided epothilone B.

Abstract: Methods for isolating microbial species, particularly previously uncultured species, from non-laboratory source environments (such as soil, freshwater, seawater, etc.) are disclosed. These methods can include the use of cultures in arrays, and cells deposited on solid surfaces in arrays for detection, and flow cytometry and/or cell sorting and/or dilution cultures.

Abstract: Methods of detecting bioactive compounds include exposing compounds to one or more classes of chromatophores and measuring or sensing associated changes in one or more of the chromatophores. Representative methods permit identification and quantification of neurotransmitters, toxins, hormones, and chemical warfare agents with or without prior knowledge of the content of a sample. In some examples, chromatophores based on Betta fish are used. Cytosensor apparatus using such chromatophores include means for exposing chromatophores to a sample and optical detection systems for assessing changes in chromatophore optical properties. Compounds can be identified or quantified based on a red-green-blue or hue saturation-value representations of transmitted or reflected light or based on other characterizations of transmitted or reflected light.

Abstract: A method for making epothilones and epothilone analogs is described, as are novel compounds made by the method. Exemplary novel compounds include those according to the formula: With respect the formula, G is selected from the group consisting of R2 substituents independently are selected from the group consisting of H and lower alkyl groups; Z is selected from the group consisting of the halogens and —CN; M is selected from the group consisting of O and NR3; R3 is selected from the group consisting of H, lower alkyl, R4CO, R4OCO, and R4SO2; R4 is selected from the group consisting of H, lower alkyl, and aryl; T is selected from the group consisting of CH2, CO, HCOH and protected derivatives thereof; W is H or OR; and X and Y independently are selected from the group consisting of O, NH, S, CO, and C.

Abstract: Methods for making bis-heterocyclic compounds, especially bis-heterocyclic compounds having five and six-membered heterocyclic linkers are described.

Abstract: A method for fabricating devices in a pre-assembled state comprising forming plural laminae, registering the laminae, and bonding the laminae one to another is described. The plural laminae contain the substructures and structures of the device. The substructures are coupled to structures and other substructures by fixture bridges in the pre-assembled state. The substructures of the device are dissociated by eliminating the fixture bridges. The plural laminae are registered and bonded to form the device either before or after the fixture bridges are eliminated. The fixture bridges can be eliminated in a variety of ways, including vaporization by electrical current, chemical dissolution, or thermochemical dissociation. One method to selectively bond the laminae together is by microprojection welding. Microprojection welding comprises forming laminae with projections that extend from at least one planar surface of the lamina.

Abstract: A food product is heated by maintaining the food product in an AC electrical field generated by an RF signal. As the heating takes place, maximum energy is delivered to the food product using automatic impedance matching to adjust the rate of the process.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for suppressing gall formation in plant cells induced by Agrobacterium infection are disclosed. The methods involve introducing at least one DNA construct, encoding at least one untranslatable sense-strand RNA and/or double-stranded RNA, into a plant cell. Introduction of these molecules into the plant cell causes the plant cells to become resistant to gall formation.