Abstract: The present invention describes a process for at least a 90% conversion of a plant biomass preferably by a reduction of the units of cellulase needed and by using a xylanase which acts synergistically with the cellulase to improve the yield of xylose and glucose as sugars. The process enables greater conversion of a lignocellulosic plant biomass to glucose and xylose for use as animal feeds and as fermentation as medium for producing ethanol.

Abstract: The present inventions relate to compositions and methods for providing drought resistant grass plants comprising Festuca mairei plant germplasm. Specifically, the inventions relate to providing compositions and methods for introgressing Festuca mairei germplasm and/or specific Festuca mairei genes into grass plants, such as Lolium perenne plants. Further, the invention relates to methods of grass plant breeding comprising genetic markers for identifying the preferred Festuca mairei germplasm introgressed into grass plants, and providing commercially desirable drought resistant cultivars of grass plants.

Abstract: Methods for treating aligning substrates produces uniform alignment of liquid crystals in at least two modes. The method is based on the treatment of liquid crystal aligning substrates with a collimated or partially collimated plasma beam. In one embodiment, the method comprises a step of bombarding an aligning substrate with at least one plasma beam from a plasma beam source at a designated incident angle to align the atomic/molecular structure or the surface profile of the aligning substrate in at least one aligned direction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for diagnosing a subject suffering a pathological condition characterized by parvovirus infection by detecting the presence of IgE anti-Parvovirus B 19 antibodies.

Abstract: An algorithm is disclosed for constructing nonlinear models from high-dimensional scattered data. The algorithm progresses iteratively adding a new basis function at each step to refine the model. The placement of the basis functions is driven by a statistical hypothesis test that reveals geometric structure when it fails. At each step the added function is fit to data contained in a spatio-temporally defined local region to determine the parameters, in particular, the scale of the local model. The proposed method requires no ad hoc parameters. Thus, the number of basis functions required for an accurate fit is determined automatically by the algorithm. The approach may be applied to problems including modeling data on manifolds and the prediction of financial time-series. The algorithm is presented in the context of radial basis functions but in principle can be employed with other methods for function approximation such as multi-layer perceptrons.

Abstract: Vectors and methods are provided for introducing genetic material into cells of a chicken or other avian species. More particularly, vectors and methods are provided for transferring a transgene to an embryonic chicken cell, so as to create a transgenic hen wherein the transgene is expressed in the hen's oviduct and the transgene product is secreted in the hen's eggs and/or those of her offspring. In a preferred embodiment, the transgene product is secreted in the egg white.

Abstract: A dental radiographic absorptiometric device and method is provided that quantitatively measures the amount of bone of a patient in any dentist's office. Absorptiometric information simultaneously obtained from the mandible and calibration devices are used to screen patients for osteoporosis.

Abstract: Catalyst systems and methods provide benefits in reducing the content of nitrogen oxides in a gaseous stream containing nitric oxide (NO), hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide (CO), and oxygen (O2). The catalyst system comprises an oxidation catalyst comprising a first metal supported on a first inorganic oxide for catalyzing the oxidation of NO to nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and a reduction catalyst comprising a second metal supported on a second inorganic oxide for catalyzing the reduction of NO2 to nitrogen (N2).

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for investigating a region of interest with a radar. A radar signal is propagated to the region of interest. Sampled time-domain radar data scattered within the region of interest are collected. A likelihood function is calculated with the sampled time-domain data within a parametric model of the region of interest for a defined set of parameters. The set of parameters in varied to find an extremum of the likelihood function.

Abstract: The invention provides polyanhydrides that degrade in less than 60 hours following topical administration to deliver biologically active compounds.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system of generating backward stimulated Rayleigh-Bragg scattering by focusing activating radiation through a multi-photon absorbing dye solution, thereby producing coherent output radiation with no measured frequency shift and measured pump threshold values independent of the spectral line width of the input activating radiation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for simultaneously conducting multiple steps of a cycle of a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiment without the use of pulsed magnetic field gradients during signal detection in which one or more spatially selective radiofrequency pulses are applied to a sample under conditions effective to simultaneously spatially distribute the radiofrequency power associated with each of the cycle steps to a plurality of spatially discrete sections within the sample such that each section executes an individual step of the cycle and the resultant NMR signals from each of the cycle steps are produced simultaneously.

Abstract: Methods and processes for preparing supported metal catalysts are provided, where the supported metal catalysts can be used for the bulk synthesis of carbon nanotubes. The salts of the metal and the support are selected such that they are soluble in the same solvent. The catalyst can be prepared from the liquid phase through joint precipitation of the metal and the support material. The methods can be used to increase the metal load on the support. Use of the catalysts increases the yield of the carbon nanotubes.

Abstract: A process is described for the synthesis of metal oxides in a nanometric particle form that cannot be easily obtained by conventional bulk synthesis techniques. The method makes use of Colloid Occluded Carbons (COC) and Colloid Imprinted Carbons (CIC) as reagents and as templating agents for the preparation of metal oxides in nanometric particle form. The nanometric particles are suitable useful in the field of chemical catalysis, particularly for petroleum refining when in porous form, and as sensors, optical wave guides, and coatings.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a system may reduce contaminants in water. A system may include a biofilm in a container. The biofilm may be formed from one or more bacteria coupled to one or more substrates. The bacteria may be selected to maximize the reduction of contaminants in water. The system may include one or more bacteria generators to provide bacteria to the biofilm and/or one or more air sources to provide an air bubble stream to the container and/or the bacteria generator. In some embodiments, bacteria may be preserved in a starvation phase. Bacteria may be incubated until they reach a starvation phase. The bacteria may then be preserved as beads or immobilized on a substrate. The preserved bacteria may be used in a system for the reduction of contaminants in water.

Abstract: A polycarbodiimide polymer that is reversibly switchable between two distinct optical orientations is described. The polymer is useful in forming devices such as filters, storage media, actuators, and displays. Methods of making and using such polymers are also described.

Abstract: Methods for generating a three-dimensional visualization image of an object, such as an internal organ, using volume visualization techniques are provided. The techniques include a multi-scan imaging method; a multi-resolution imaging method; and a method for generating a skeleton of a complex three dimension object. The applications include virtual cystoscopy, virtual laryngoscopy, virtual angiography, among others.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for enhancing plant defenses against pathogens. More particularly, the invention relates to enhancing plant immunity against bacterial pathogens, wherein AtMIN7 mediated protection is enhanced and/or there is a decrease in activity of an AtMIN7 associated virulence protein such as a Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 HopM1. Reagents of the present invention provide a means of studying cellular trafficking while formulations of the present inventions provide increased pathogen resistance in plants.

Abstract: The identification of 101 genes upregulated or differentially expressed by mature human oocytes is provided herein. These genes and the corresponding gene products will facilitate a greater understanding of oogenesis, folliculogenesis, fertilization, and embryonic development. In addition these genes and the corresponding gene products can be used to effect dedifferentiation and/or transdifferentiation of desired somatic cells. The resultant dedifferentiated cells and somatic cells derived therefrom can be used in cell therapies such as in the treatment of cancer, autoimmunity, and other diseases wherein specific types of cells such as hematopoietic cells may be depleted because of the underlying disease or the treatment of the disease. Also, a core group of 66 transcripts was identified by intersecting significantly up-regulated genes of the human oocyte with those from the mouse oocyte and from human and mouse embryonic stem cells.

Abstract: A new variety of sweetpotato identified as ‘Evangeline’ is disclosed having disease resistance to both southern root-knot nematode and soil rot, a deep orange flesh, a high sucrose content, and high yield characteristics.