Abstract: Fructooligosaccharide (FOS)-related protein nucleic acid molecules and polypeptides and fragments and variants thereof are disclosed in the current invention. In addition, FOS-related fusion proteins, antigenic peptides, and anti-FOS-related antibodies are encompassed. The invention also provides recombinant expression vectors containing a nucleic acid molecule of the invention and host cells into which the expression vectors have been introduced. Methods for producing the polypeptides of the invention and methods for their use are further disclosed.

Abstract: A functional cassette for the detection of ligands comprises a first inner housing, a second middle housing and a third outer housing and each housing is at least partially rotatable relative to an adjoining housing. The first inner housing contains a central well adapted for receiving a sample, and the central well is in selectable fluid communication with at least one mixing chambers. The mixing chambers contain a reagent for forming a complex with a ligand. The first inner housing additionally comprises at least one compartments for the storage of a liquid crystalline material, and the compartments are in selectable fluid communication with at least one mixing chambers. The third outer housing comprises at least one detection chambers for observing the light transmission properties of a liquid crystal material and the detection chambers are in selectable fluid communication with the mixing.

Abstract: An immunoglobulin binding peptide having the general formula, from amino terminus to carboxy terminus, of Z-R1—R2—R3—R4—R5—R6—X, is described, wherein: R1 is H or Y; R2 is a hydrophobic, preferentially aromatic, amino acid (for example W, F, Y, V); R3 is a positively charged or aromatic amino acid (for example R, H, F, W); R4 is a hydrophobic or positively charged amino acid (for example G, Y, R, K, L); R5 is a positively charged or aromatic amino acid (for example W, F, R, H, Y); R6 a random amino acid but preferably hydrophobic or negatively charged (for example V, W, L, D, H); X is present or absent and when present is a linking group; and Z is present or absent and when present is a capping group bonded to the N terminus of R1; and wherein the amino acids of said peptide are in D form, L form, or a combination thereof. Methods of using such peptides for the purification of Immunoglobulins are also described.

Abstract: An improved nanomanipulation system is provided for performing nanomanipulation operations in relation to a sample surface. The system includes: an atomic force microscope having a probe for performing nanomanipulation operations on the sample surface, where the probe includes a cantilever having a layer of piezoelectric material; a position detector configured to ascertain deformation of the cantilever during a nanomanipulation operation; and an adaptable end effector controller adapted to receive data indicative of the deformation from the position detector and implements a control scheme based on the deformation data. The control scheme produces a control signal that is applied to the piezoelectric material of the cantilever, thereby maintaining the straight shape of the cantilever during the nanomanipulation operation.

Abstract: Phase-change compounds, and optical storage recording media, for recording and/or storage of data, comprising such compounds, according to the formula XSbySz; wherein X is selected from the group consisting of K, Rb, Tl, Na, Li, Cs and mixtures thereof; and wherein y is about 1 or about 5, and z is about 1 or about B. Preferably, X is K, y is 5 and z is B. Also provided are optical recording media comprising a layer of the phase-change material and methods of creating a reversible phasechange by irradiating the material with a laser radiation.

Abstract: This invention provides the first blood test which characterizes asthma severity. More specifically, the present invention provides methods of determining the severity of acute asthma in a patient by determining the levels of C5a or C5a-desArg in the patient's blood, plasma or serum.

Abstract: DNA encoding a plant quinolate phosphoribosyl transferase (QPRTase) enzyme, and constructs comprising such DNA are provided. Methods of altering quinolate phosphoribosyl transferase expression are provided.

Abstract: A method of making an oxochlorin comprises the steps of oxidizing a chlorin to produce a mixture of hydronchlorin and oxochlorin, and then oxidizing the hydroxychlorin in said mixture, preferably with DDQ, to produce a mixture consisting essentially of oxochlorin. The step of oxidizing a chlorin is carried out by exposing the chlorin to alumina, typically in the presence of an oxidizing agent such as air or alumina. The oxidizing steps may be carried out in an organic solvent such as toluene. The chlorin is preferably a C-methylated chlorin, and is preferably metalated.

Abstract: The invention provides isolated nucleic acid molecules, host cells that contain an isolated nucleic acid molecule, and substantially pure polypeptides. For example, the invention provides isolated nucleic acid molecules that encode polypeptides having mu3 opiate receptor activity, host cells that contain an isolated nucleic acid molecule that encodes a polypeptide having mu3 opiate receptor activity, and substantially pure polypeptides that have mu3 opiate receptor activity. In addition, the invention provides methods and materials for identifying mu3 opiate receptor agonists and antagonists.

Abstract: An improved method of altering a fluid-borne contaminant includes the steps of: providing a pump (21) having an inlet (22) and an outlet (23); connecting the pump inlet to a source (24) of contaminated fluid; operating the pump at a pressure ratio of at least 2.0 so as to sufficiently elevate the temperature of the fluid and contaminants passing through the pump, or, alternatively, operating the pump so that the outlet temperature of the fluid and contaminants passing therethrough is at least about 200° C.; and controlling the time during which the temperature of the fluid and contaminants are elevated; thereby to alter or convert substantially all of the contaminants passing through the pump.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel seed specific promoter regions. The present invention further provide methods of producing proteins and other products of interest and methods of controlling expression of nucleic acid sequences of interest using the seed specific promoter regions. The present invention also provides methods of identifying and isolating novel seed specific promoters.

Abstract: A method for epitaxial growth of silicon carbide using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is provided. This method utilizes halogenated carbon precursors and control of the gas-phase interaction of halogen-containing intermediate chemical products involving silicon and carbon, which ensures quality and homogeneity across the silicon carbide crystals. It also ensures a possibility to achieve device-quality epitaxial layers at lower growth temperatures as well as on on-axis or low off-angle substrate surfaces. The growth method can be applied to forming SiC device regions of desirable shape and dimensions by restricting the growth into windows formed in non-silicon carbide region on the top of SiC substrate. Application of the methods described herein will greatly benefit the production of high quality silicon carbide materials and devices.

Abstract: A method for the removal of arsenic ions from water with a porous silica composition with an organofunctional moiety comprising a thio which binds the arsenic ion and is then removed from the water. The method comprises the quality of the water.

Abstract: Methods of adhering polymeric materials to a substrate, either directly or through linker molecules, are disclosed. Structures, for example, microstructures, including microwells and arrays of microwells, may be readily formed using the methods. In some embodiments, microstructures formed completely from polymeric materials are provided, making it possible to tailor the chemical and physical properties of the microstructures. For example, microwells having a bottom comprising a polar polymeric material and well sides/top comprising a non-polar polymeric material are provided. Biochemical reagents may be easily delivered to such “smart wells” because the intrinsic attraction of the well bottom for the reagents and the intrinsic repulsion between the well sides/top combine to direct the reagents to the wells.

Abstract: A comprehensive set of human specific, target specific, multiplex PCR assays for DNA quantitation is provided. Our duplex qPCR for nDNA/mtDNA had a linear quantitation range of 100 ng to 1 pg, and our triplex qPCR assay for nDNA/mtDNA/male Y DNA had a linear range of 100 ng to 0.1 ng. Human-specificity was demonstrated by the accurate detection of 0.05% and 5% human DNA, respectively, from a complex source of starting templates. Target-specificity was confirmed by the lack of cross-amplification among targets. A high throughput alternative for human gender determination was also developed by multiplexing the male Y primer/probe set with an X chromosome based system. Background cross-amplification with DNA templates derived from fourteen other species was negligible aside from the male Y assay which produced spurious amplifications from other non-human primate templates. Mainstream application of these assays will undoubtedly benefit forensic genomics.

Abstract: A manganese-implanted silicon substrate exhibits ferromagnetism and a Curie temperature above room temperature when magnetized. The implant is done at a temperature of between about 250 C and about 800 C, while the manganese concentration is between about 0.01 atomic percent and 10 atomic percent. The silicon substrate can be p- or n-type with a doping concentration between 1015 and 1021 cm?3. Annealing may be done to increase the saturation magnetization.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of phospholipase C zeta in inducing or promoting the activation of oocytes, preferably human oocytes, nuclear transfer embryos, parthenogenic embryos, cross species embryos and during in vitro fertilization. The invention further relates to methods of detecting levels of expression of phospholipase c zeta in sperm as a means of detecting male infertility. The invention also relates to the use of phospholipase C zeta to treat male infertility. Still further the invention relates to the recombinant cells that are engineered to express phospholipase C zeta, preferably under inducible conditions. Also, the invention relates to antibodies specific to phospholipase C zeta, preferably human phospholipase C zeta.

Abstract: The present invention relates to control of volatile emissions from a pile of composting organic material. Specifically, the present invention relates to covering the composting pile with a blanketing layer of finished compost material. The invention further relates to mixing finished compost with composting material either by itself or mixing the blanketing layer into the composting material during aeration. The invention also discloses adding additional blanketing layers of finished compost as previous layers are mixed into the composting material during aeration.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for providing a recombinant thermostable Thermotoga neapolitana alkaline phosphatase enzyme. More particularly, the invention relates to engineering Escherichia coli with T. neapolitana alkaline phosphatase gene expression vectors for providing an inducible system for thermostable enzyme production, wherein the expressed enzyme is readily soluble with a high degree of activity. These methods provide for commercial quantities of a thermostable alkaline phosphatase enzyme.

Abstract: (?)-EGCG, the most abundant catechin, was found to be chemopreventive and anticancer agent. However, (?)-EGCG has at least one limitation: it gives poor bioavailability. This invention provides compounds of generally formulae below, wherein R11, R12, R13, R21, R22, R2, R3, and R4 are each independently selected from the group consisting of —H, and C1 to C10 acyloxyl group; and R5 is selected from the group consisting of —H, C1-C10-alkyl, C2-C10-alkenyl, C2-C10-alkynyl, C3-C7-cycloalkyl, phenyl, benzyl and C3 -C7 -cycloalkenyl, whereas each of the last mentioned 7 groups can be substituted with any combination of one to six halogen atoms; at least one of R11, R12, R13, R21, R22, R2, R3 and R4 is —H, which were found to be more potent than their non-protected counterparts, which can be used as proteasome inhibitors to reduce tumor cell growth.