Abstract: Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM nucleic acid molecules, polypeptides, fragments and variants thereof are provided in the current invention. In addition, fusion proteins, antigenic peptides, and antibodies are encompassed. The invention also provides recombinant expression vectors containing a nucleic acid molecule of the invention and cells comprising the expression vectors. Methods for producing the polypeptides of the invention and methods for their use are further provided.

Abstract: Simple methods and kits for determining the thermodynamic stability of nucleic acid duplexes and single polynucleotide polymorphisms via competitive equilibria are provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides an isolated canine influenza virus of subtype H3N8 comprising an HA having SEQ ID NO: 4 or an amino acid sequence that is greater than 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 4 , with the proviso that the amino acids at positions 94 and 233 are identical to SEQ ID NO: 4; a composition comprising attenuated or inactivated virus; isolated or purified HA, NM, NP, M1 , NS1 , PA, PB1 , and PB2 proteins and fragments thereof and compositions comprising same or nucleic acids, optionally as part of a vector, encoding same; and a method of inducing an immune response to canine influenza virus in an animal comprising administering to the animal an aforementioned composition.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel compounds which are derivatives of minocycline or doxycycline, pharmaceutical compositions containing same and use thereof in lowering excess IgE levels in a mammal suffering from a disease where IgE is pathogenic.

Abstract: High temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells and techniques related thereto that involve alternative materials. For example, in one aspect, a device includes a high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell comprising one or more metal anodes or cathodes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically detecting breast tumors and lesions in images, including ultrasound, digital and analog mammograms, and MRI images, is provided. An image of a breast is acquired. The image is filtered and contrast of the image is enhanced. Intensity and texture classifiers are applied to each pixel in the image, the classifiers indicative of the probability of the pixel corresponding to a tumor. A seed point is identified within the image, and a region of interest is grown around the seed point. Directional gradients are calculated for each pixel of the image. Boundary points of the region of interest are identified. The boundary points are passed as inputs to a deformable model. The deformable model processes the boundary points to indicate the presence or absence of a tumor.

Abstract: Environmentally friendly solvents used to dissolve or remove residues and/or substances from substrates wherein the residue and/or substance is contacted with a Generally Recognized As Safe solvent to dissolve the residue and/or substance in the solvent followed by the extraction of the residue and/or substance from the solvent such as by contact with carbon dioxide.

Abstract: A method of making high diastereoselective and enantiomerically pure pseudonorephedrine and the hitherto unknown compound (1R,2R) pseudonorephedrine.

Abstract: A multi-array membrane strip biosensor device (10, 20) using a fluid mobile conductive polymer as reporter is described. The biosensor device (20) is designed to detect multiple analytes at low concentrations in near real-time with an electronic data collection system. The biosensor device can be small. The device can be used to detect pathogens, proteins, and other biological materials of interest in food, water, and environmental samples. The device can also be used for on-site diagnosis and against potential bioterrorism. Potential users include food processing plants, meat packaging facilities, fruit and vegetable packers, restaurants, food and water safety inspectors, food wholesalers and retailers, farms, homes, medical profession, import border crossing personnel, and the police force, military, space habitation and national security.

Abstract: A system and method of an atomic tile including an elemental symbol for a corresponding element and a dot representation of at least one valance electron of the corresponding element. The dot representation are proximate to corresponding edges of the octagonal shape.

Abstract: An encoder encodes each of a plurality of data fragments into an encoded packet comprising a plurality of codewords, each codeword comprising a set of data bytes from the data fragment and at least one error-correction byte derived from the set of data bytes. A plurality of cross-interleavers each receive as input one of the plurality of codewords of the encoded packet, after which a concatenator concatenates a plurality of interleaved codewords output by the plurality of cross-interleavers into an interleaved packet to be sent over a network.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems, methods and apparatuses that perform digital detection for use in optical tomography. Methods and systems are provided in which digital lock-in detection is performed using an algorithm that employs a phase-independent quadrature technique. Methods and systems are provided in which a unique manipulation of an ordinary averaging filter optimized for sources discrimination and the consequent sampling constraints is presented as a novel filtering scheme for the lock-in detection. Systems and apparatuses are provided which include a digital signal processor which performs digital lock-in detection and an integrated complex programmable logic device for timing control. Apparatuses are provided which include an instrument having an integrated digital signal processor for performing digital processing and detection for use in optical tomography.

Abstract: A method for fast switching a dual frequency (FIG. 3) liquid crystal cell is disclosed. The liquid crystal cell has opposed substrates (12) with a dual frequency liquid crystal material (18) disposed therebetween. Each substrate has an electrode that is connected to a power supply (20) that is able to apply different voltage magnitudes at different frequencies. And each substrate (12) has an alignment layer that imparts a high pretilt angle to the liquid crystal material, wherein no application of voltage results in the material exhibiting an initial state. A transition driving pulse (104) of a first magnitude is applied to the material at a first frequency to accelerate a transition into a first state from the initial state. A holding pulse (102) of a second magnitude is applied to the material at the first frequency to maintain the first state, wherein the second magnitude is less than the first magnitude.

Abstract: Disclosed are PAP mutants that are less toxic than wild type PAP and that exhibit depurination activity. Also disclosed are transgenic plants that procedure the PAP mutants, and methods for preparing the plants. Further disclosed are bioconjugates containing the PAP mutants, pharmaceutical compositions containing the bioconjugates, and methods of administering the compositions to treat disease.

Abstract: Means and method of rapid detection of a compound of interest from an air sample is shown. An air sample is collected, and concentration of the compound of interest can be increased. A portable spectrometer, which preferably is a time-of-flight spectrometer, detects the presence of any of the compound. The system allows for rapid detection of the presence of a compound in an air sample in a field setting.

Abstract: Compounds and methods for treating cancer and inducing apoptosis in unwanted rapidly proliferating cells. The compounds are shown in formula I: wherein X is hydroxyl or amino; Y is carboxyl or sulfonyl; R1, R2, R3, and R4 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, halogen, methoxy, trifluoromethyl, hydroxyl and combinations thereof, R5, R6, and R7 may be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, chloro, bromo, nitro, phenyl, amino, methoxy, and combinations thereof, and derivatives or metabolites thereof.

Abstract: Vascular endothelial growth factor alternative splice variants and methods of their use are provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to the isolation and use of stem cells from amniote species (potentially any animal with an umbilical cord, including humans). More particularly the invention relates to obtaining stem cells that are at least multipotent and may be totipotent or nearly totipotent and are envisaged to have a variety of end uses. The cells of the present invention are immunosuppressive and may be used to inhibit the immune response in a subject.

Abstract: A method of preparing a peptide in vitro in a defined translation mixture is provided. The method includes providing a defined translation reaction mixture comprising isolated and/or purified 30S subunits comprising small subunit ribosomal proteins and 16S rRNA, 50S subunits comprising large subunit ribosomal proteins, 5S rRNA and 23S rRNA, charged tRNAs for at least one amino acid, an isolated RNA template for translation with at least one codon corresponding to the anticodon in the charged tRNAs, and one or more isolated translation factors.

Abstract: Hexose and pentose monosaccharides are degraded to lactic acid and glyceric acid in an aqueous solution in the presence of an excess of a strongly anionic exchange resin, such as AMBERLITE IRN78 and AMBERLITE IRA400. The glyceric acid and lactic acid can be separated from the aqueous solution. Lactic acid and glyceric acid are staple articles of commerce.