Abstract: The present system and methods allow for low level detection of as little as single pathogen particles, such as viral or bacterial particles, during the early stage of infection. An optical trapping system, such as laser tweezers, are used to trap a substrate to which an analyte has been bound to detect and record the thermal motion of an antibody-antigen interaction that may occur between an anti-viral antibody-coated microsphere and a viral particle for example. The system may be equipped with a detection system such as a position sensitive photodetector (PSD) to record the thermal motion of a trapped microsphere and particle at a certain frequency. The thermal motion data may be Fourier transformed into a power spectrum, which may be transformed into an output value using a Lorentzian equation. The power spectrum of the trapped microsphere may be recorded before and after binding of the pathogenic particle to determine the presence thereof.

Abstract: The molecular mechanisms of peroxisome biogenesis have begun to emerge; in contrast, relatively little is known about how the organelle functions as cells age. The present inventors characterized age-related changes in peroxisomes of human cells and showed that aging compromises peroxisomal targeting signal 1 (PTS1) protein import, with the critical antioxidant enzyme, catalase, especially affected. The number and appearance of peroxisomes are altered in these cells, and the organelles accumulate the PTS1-import receptor, Pex5p, on their membranes. Concomitantly, cells produce increasing amounts of the toxic metabolite, H2O2, and this increased load of reactive oxygen species (ROS) may further reduce peroxisomal protein import and exacerbate the effects of aging.

Abstract: Synthesis of polystyrene and/or other thermoplastic polymers or polymer blends which, for example, contain activated carbon and/or bamboo carbon carrying a co-blowing agent such as water and/or at least one of 1-dimensional, 2-dimensional, and 3-dimensional nano/micro-materials in suspension polymerization without using the inverse emulsion process. CO2 or other blowing agent based foaming processes such as extrusion, batch foaming, and injection molding may then be carried out to produce polymer foams that have low density, high-R value, bimodal structures, good mechanical properties, and high fire retardance.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating and detecting an optically encoded document having a uniquely designed document verification indicator is disclosed. One embodiment includes applying a spatially varying Brewster angle pattern on a substrate. Another embodiment includes an apparatus for detecting the spatially varying Brewster angle pattern including a light source, a slit aperture, a polarizer, at least one parabolic mirror, and an image capturing device.

Abstract: Disclosed are compounds having the formula: wherein R21 is an alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, hydroxy, or amino group or a halogen atom; wherein R2 is hydrogen or an alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, or amino group; wherein R23 and R24 are independently selected from hydrogen, an alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, hydroxy, or amino group, and a halogen atom or wherein R23 and R24, taken together with the carbon atom to which they are bound, form a ring; wherein R25 is hydrogen, an alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, hydroxy, or O-silyl group or a halogen atom; wherein Z, taken together with the carbons to which it is bonded, forms a 5-12 membered ring; and wherein Y is an electron withdrawing group. These compounds can be used to prepare erogorgiaene congeners, such as erogorgiaene, pseudopterosin A, helioporin E, pseudopteroxazole, colombiasin A, elisapoterosin B, elisabethadione, p-benzoquinone natural products, ileabethin, sinulobtain B, sinulobtain C, and sinulobtain D.

Abstract: An upflow bioreactor includes a vessel having an inlet and an outlet configured for upflow operation. A septum is positioned within the vessel and defines a lower chamber and an upper chamber. The septum includes an aperture that provides fluid communication between the upper chamber and lower chamber. The bioreactor also includes means for releasing pressure buildup in the lower chamber. In one configuration, the septum includes a releasable portion having an open position and a closed position. The releasable portion is configured to move to the open position in response to pressure buildup in the lower chamber. In the open position fluid communication between the lower chamber and the upper chamber is increased. Alternatively the lower chamber can include a pressure release line that is selectively actuated by pressure buildup. The pressure release mechanism can prevent the bioreactor from plugging and/or prevent catastrophic damage to the bioreactor caused by high pressures.

Abstract: A method of making dispersion-strengthened alloy particles involves melting an alloy having a corrosion and/or oxidation resistance-imparting alloying element, a dispersoid-forming element, and a matrix metal wherein the dispersoid-forming element exhibits a greater tendency to react with a reactive species acquired from an atomizing gas than does the alloying element. The melted alloy is atomized with the atomizing gas including the reactive species to form atomized particles so that the reactive species is (a) dissolved in solid solution to a depth below the surface of atomized particles and/or (b) reacted with the dispersoid-forming element to form dispersoids in the atomized particles to a depth below the surface of said atomized particles. The atomized alloy particles are solidified as solidified alloy particles or as a solidified deposit of alloy particles.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatus for controlling insect population or activity by using electromagnetic field source of certain frequency and intensity coupled with insect food sources/attractants. The present invention can be used to protect a natural or man-made structure from termite infestation. The present invention can also be used for controlling activity of other social insects such as ants, bees and wasps.

Abstract: A method has been discovered to produce a resistant starch product that retains the same cooking quality as found in untreated rice starch or flour, but has a higher percentage of starch resistant to ?-amylase digestion. This method uses a debranching enzyme, e.g., pullulanase, to digest the starch, but does not require pre-treating the starch source prior to enzymatic treatment. This method produced resistant starch from low amylose starches, rice starch (24%) and rice flour (20%). Surprisingly the resistant starch product formed by this method retained the pasting characteristics of the untreated flour or starch, and was heat stable. This method may also be used to produce resistant starch from other botanical sources, e.g., corn, wheat, potato, oat, barley, tapioca, sago, and arrowroot. Resistant starch produced by this method has a variety of uses in food products.

Abstract: Genetic markers for identifying bovine carriers of dwarfism in cattle, particularly Angus cattle is described. The genetic markers, including the microsatellite markers BMS4311 and AFR227 and the bovine PRKG2, BMP2K, BMP3, FGF5 genes, are located on bovine chromosome BTA6. One SNP, a polymorphism is located in the protein kinase domain within exon 15 of the bovine PRKG2 gene and is identified as being causative and diagnostic for dwarfism.

Abstract: Methods and devices of stimulating nerves are disclosed. In one embodiment adapted for stimulating excitable tissue, the invention includes drive circuitry (12), an acoustic transducer (14) and a pair of electrodes (28).

Abstract: Improved catalytic enzyme preparations are provided which effectively catalyze reactions carried out in organic solvents. The preparations comprise nanoscale solid support particles (e.g., fumed silica or alumina) having enzyme molecules electrostatically adhered to the surfaces of the particles. The preparations are prepared by mixing together solid support particles and enzyme molecules in an aqueous system under pH conditions establishing opposite charges on the support particles and enzyme molecules, respectively. The water is then removed from the system, preferably by pre-freezing followed by lyophilization to yield free-flowing, particulate catalyst particles which can be used in liquid organic reactions or in packed bed reactors.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a Gaussian adaptive filter for ground clutter filtering and signal parameter estimation for weather radars in the time domain. In some embodiments, the filtering can be applied to dual polarization radar systems. In some embodiments, the clutter component of the signal can be transformed to noise. An interpolation procedure can then be used to recover the transformed part of the weather. A unique filter can be designed to use for both H and V channels for dual-polarization parameter estimation. In addition, the filter can be directly extended for staggered PRT 2/3 sampling scheme.

Abstract: Fabrication techniques are disclosed for the formation of electrically conductive, optically transparent films of exfoliated graphite nanoparticles (EGN). The techniques allow the controlled deposition of EGN nanoplatelets (graphene sheets) and other nanoparticles (e.g., metals, metal oxides) in compact monolayer or multilayer film structures. The compact films have high electrical conductivities and optical transparencies in the visible spectrum of electromagnetic radiation. A first method relates to the deposition of nanoparticles onto a substrate from a bulk suspension using a convective assembly technique. A second method relates to the suspension deposition of EGN nanoplatelets from a from a liquid-liquid interface onto a substrate. Both methods can be used to form EGN film-coated substrates. The second method also can be used to form multilayer, free-standing, defect-free EGN films.

Abstract: The use of leukotrienes and other products of the 5-lipoxygenase pathway to enhance bacterial defense and treat infections is described. The products are especially useful when administered to the lungs for the treatment of pneumonia and other lower respiratory tract infections. The products may be administered for treatment or prophylactic purposes and may be administered concomitantly with antibiotics to combat infection.

Abstract: A chromium-free welding consumable and a method of welding stainless steel to reduce the presence of chromium emissions. The consumable is made from an alloy that reduces the emission of chromium during a welding process, and include predominantly nickel, with between approximately five and ten weight percent copper, up to approximately two percent by weight of ruthenium and up to five percent non-copper alloying ingredients. Welding consumables made from the alloy are particularly well-suited for welding austenitic stainless steels, such as type 304 stainless steel. The method involves using chromium-free weld filler material with a stainless steel base material.

Abstract: Methods of determining whether a plant is a member of a known cultivar utilize DNA fingerprinting techniques and the discovery of 41 polymorphic fragments that correlate with cultivar identity. These methods are useful in determining whether a plant is a member of a particular breeding family and potentially whether plants are genetically similar to each other.

Abstract: A process of making biodiesel from crude tall oil by reacting crude tall oil with a C1-C6 alkanol in the presence of an acid catalyst or by reacting crude tall oil with an acyl halide in the presence of a C1-C6 alkanol. The reaction product of either of these reactions is separated into a suspension liquid by the addition of a polar liquid. The biodiesel product is recovered from the suspension liquid by addition of an organic solvent which produces a polar liquid phase and an organic liquid phase. The biodiesel is recovered from the organic liquid phase by evaporating the organic solvent, which is recovered for use in subsequent separation processes, and vacuum distilling off the product biodiesel from the organic solvent-free organic liquid phase.

Abstract: The ?-trefoil protein human fibroblast growth factor-1 (FGF-1) is made up of a six-stranded anti-parallel ?-barrel closed off on one end by three ?-hairpins, thus exhibiting a three-fold axis of structural symmetry. The N- and C-termini ?-strands hydrogen bond to each other and are postulated from both NMR and X-ray structure data to represent a structurally-weakened region of the ?-barrel. Val mutations within the N- and C-termini ?-strands are shown to stabilize the structure and to increase van der Waals contacts by filling local cavities present within this region. Mutations that increase van der Waals contacts between both the N- and C-termini ?-strands are generally associated with significant reductions in the unfolding kinetics, and also increase the cooperativity of unfolding. Surprisingly, several mutant polypeptides herein disclosed greatly exceed the wild-type polypeptide in ability to stimulate human fibroblasts to proliferate.

Abstract: Described herein is a composite exhibiting a change in electrical resistance proportional to the concentration of a reducing gas present in a gas mixture, detector and sensor devices comprising the composite, a method for making the composite and for making devices comprising the composite, and a process for detecting and measuring a reducing gas in an atmosphere. In particular, the reducing gas may be carbon monoxide and the composite may comprise rutile-phase TiO2 particles and platinum nanoclusters. The composite, upon exposure to a gas mixture containing CO in concentrations of up to 10,000 ppm, exhibits an electrical resistance proportional to the concentration of the CO present. The composite is useful for making sensitive, low drift, fast recovering detectors and sensors, and for measuring CO concentrations in a gas mixture present at levels from sub-ppm up to 10,000 ppm. The composites, and devices made from the composites, are stable and operable in a temperature range of from about 450° C.