Abstract: A method for operating a fermenter system. In one instances, the method comprises flowing biomass and liquid in opposite directions through a fermenter train comprising a plurality of fermenters, and introducing a nutrient to any of the plurality of fermenters to optimize the production carboxylate products in the fermenter system.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, an electric machine comprises a stator and a rotor. The stator has at least one stator pole with a first leg and a second leg. The rotor has at least one rotor pole. The rotor rotates relate to the stator. The at least one rotor is configured to rotate between the first leg and the second leg of the at least one stator pole.

Abstract: A method for modulating cell differentiation capabilities using heterologous gene expression. Some embodiments of the invention relate to a method for inducing a cardiac progenitor cell by delivering a reprogramming factor to the cell, wherein the reprogramming factor comprises ETS2 or a combination of ETS2 and Mesp1.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for generating radiation via difference frequency generation (DFG). In one exemplary implementation, a quantum cascade laser (QCL) has a significant second-order nonlinear susceptibility (?(2)) integrated in an active region of the QCL. The QCL is configured to generate first radiation at a first frequency ?1, second radiation at a second frequency ?2, and third radiation at a third frequency ?3=?1??2 based on difference frequency generation (DFG) arising from the nonlinear susceptibility. In one aspect, the QCL may be configured to generate appreciable THz radiation at room temperature.

Abstract: Multicomponent vaccines are provided which aid in the prevention and treatment of staphylococcal infections and which include certain selected combinations of bacterial binding proteins or fragments thereof, or antibodies to those proteins or fragments. By careful selection of the proteins, fragments, or antibodies, a vaccine is provided that imparts protection against a broad spectrum of Staphylococcus and other bacterial strains and against proteins that are expressed at different stages of the logarithmic growth curve. In one embodiment of the invention, a composition is provided that includes a fibrinogen binding domain of a fibrinogen binding protein and a bacterial component such as a capsular polysaccharide, and both active and passive vaccines based on these components are also provided, along with methods of treating infection using these compositions and vaccines.

Abstract: Code designs for channel coding with side information (CCSI) based on combined source-channel coding are disclosed. These code designs combine trellis-coded quantization (TCQ) with irregular repeat accumulate (IRA) codes. The EXIT chart technique is used for IRA channel code design (and especially for capacity-approaching IRA channel code design). We emphasize the role of strong source coding and endeavor to achieve as much granular gain as possible by using TCQ. These code designs synergistically combine TCQ with IRA codes. By bringing together TCQ and EXIT chart-based IRA code designs, we are able to approach the theoretical limit of dirty-paper coding.

Abstract: The present invention includes a system, methods and apparatus for sterilization of an object (e.g., food products). The present invention takes advantage of the electron scatter that occurs when electron beam is applied onto a surface. The present invention is capable of treating irregular surfaces (e.g., carcasses, spherical/round surfaces) or any type of surface where complete penetration is not needed or desired.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for reducing the level of gossypol in cottonseed. The method generally includes selectively inducing RNA gene silencing in the seed of a transgenic cotton plant, to interfere with expression of the ?-cadinene synthase gene or the ?-cadinene-8-hydroxylase gene in the seed of the cotton plant without substantially affecting expression of that gene in the foliage, floral parts, and roots of the plant. The transgenic cotton plant comprises at least one of a ?-cadinene synthase gene trigger sequence and/or a ?-cadinene-8-hydroxylase gene trigger sequence operably linked to one or more a seed-specific promoter gene sequences, and the trigger sequence(s) is/are able to induce RNA gene silencing when expressed in cottonseed of the plant.

Abstract: Compositions, methods of making the compositions, systems, and processes for treating a fluid containing a contaminant are presented. The treatment reduces the concentration of contaminants, such as such as toxic metals, metalloids, oxyanions, and dissolved silica. The reduction in concentration of a contaminant may be sufficient so as to effect remediation of the fluid with respect to the contaminant. The treatment may reduce the concentration of a plurality of contaminants. The composition typically includes zero-valent iron, an iron oxide mineral, and ferrous iron. The ferrous iron promotes maintenance of the iron oxide mineral. The iron oxide mineral may, in turn, promote the activity of the zero-valent iron. The processes and systems may involve multiple stages. A stage may be optimized for treatment with respect to a particular contaminant. Examples of contaminated fluids include aqueous fluids, such as groundwater, subsurface water, and aqueous industrial waste streams.

Abstract: A method of characterizing a biological sample comprising separating the biological sample into constituents; observing the separated constituents; applying statistical classification modeling to the observed constituents; deriving quantifiable data from the applied statistical classification modeling; and analyzing the data from the applied statistical classification modeling to assess a donor of the biological compounds' health.

Abstract: A system and method for autonomously forming a biomass module, comprising a module builder and a control system. The method comprising autonomous operation the module builder to determine the location of biomass, transmitting data signals indicative of the biomass to the control system, and moving and compressing the biomass according to predetermined algorithms stored in the control system to produce a module.

Abstract: The present invention describes the design and development of new fibrinogen and fibrinogen derived products with significantly reduced binding to bacteria while retaining normal physiological functions by using modified fibrinogen amino acid sequences. The present invention describes modified sequences of Fg ?-chains and ?-chains with reduced binding to S. aureus ClfA and S. epidermidis SdrG respectively. Modified Fg with the described modifications will not bind other bacterial surface proteins that bind Fg using similar mechanisms as ClfA and SdrG. These new Fg and Fg derived products will therefore have less binding to bacteria and will be advantageous compared to normal human Fg in a number of different settings.

Abstract: The invention is directed to isolated promoters from stem-regulated, defense-inducible genes, such as OMT promoters. The promoters are useful in expression cassettes and expression vectors for the transformation of plants. Particularly, the invention provides transgenic plants of rice and sugarcane that have been modified such that expression of a heterologous coding sequence is directed by an OMT promoter and is limited to stem tissues or may be upregulated by the presence of a defense-inducing agent. The invention also discloses methods for producing the expression vectors and transgenic plants.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for generating radiation via difference frequency generation (DFG). In one exemplary implementation, a quantum cascade laser (QCL) has a significant second-order nonlinear susceptibility (?(2)) integrated in an active region of the QCL. The QCL is configured to generate first radiation at a first frequency ?1, second radiation at a second frequency ?2, and third radiation at a third frequency ?3=?1??2 based on difference frequency generation (DFG) arising from the non-linear susceptibility. In one aspect, the QCL may be configured to generate appreciable THz radiation at room temperature.

Abstract: Polymer composites and laminate materials are described herein. The composites and laminate materials include a fiber component, a polymer matrix component and a quantity of carbon nanotubes coating at least a portion of the fiber component. The fiber component can be a plurality of carbon fibers. The carbon nanotubes coating the fiber component strengthen a fiber-matrix interface between the fiber component and the polymer matrix component. Methods for improving the fatigue durability of a fiber-reinforced polymer composite are also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods that implement compress-forward (CF) coding with N-PSK modulation for the relay channel are disclosed, where N is greater than or equal to two. In the CF scheme, Wyner-Ziv coding is applied at the relay to exploit the joint statistics between signals at the relay and the destination. Quantizer design and selection of channel code parameters are discussed. Low-density parity check (LDPC) codes are used for error protection at the source, and nested scalar quantization (NSQ) and irregular repeat accumulate (IRA) codes for Wyner Ziv coding (or more precisely, distributed joint source-channel coding) at the relay. The destination system decodes original message information using (a) a first signal received from the source in a first interval and (b) a second signal that represents a mixture of transmissions from the source and relay in the second interval.

Abstract: A method for remote monitoring and controlling of energy consumption of a facility includes receiving energy consumption data associated with the facility at a processor disposed remotely from the facility. The method also includes receiving environmental data associated with the facility. The method includes determining whether an operating parameter of an energy consumption system of the facility requires modification to increase efficiency using the energy consumption data and the environmental data. The method further includes automatically modifying the operating parameter of the energy consumption system corresponding to the required modification.

Abstract: A system for detecting electrical arcing on an electrical power system includes: a) a data acquisition unit that is electrically connected to an electrical power system, wherein the data acquisition unit is configured to monitor signals indicative of a first periodic property of the electrical power system, wherein the signal includes a normal load component; and b) a computing device operably connected to the data acquisition unit. The computing device is programmed to: i) obtain first data from the data acquisition unit indicative of the temporal behavior of the first signal; ii) remove the normal load component from the first data; and iii) determine that an arcing event is present on the electrical power system when the at least one burst within the first data presents a generally sinusoidal shape which includes generally flat regions which are present where the generally sinusoidal shape crosses over a zero-magnitude line.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a jet ejector method includes providing a primary jet ejector having a primary inlet stream, coupling one or more secondary jet ejectors to the primary jet ejector such that all of the jet ejectors are in a cascaded arrangement, bleeding off a portion of the primary inlet stream and directing the portion of the primary inlet stream to the secondary jet ejector that is closest to the primary jet ejector in the cascaded arrangement, and directing a motive fluid into the secondary jet ejector that is farthest from the primary jet ejector in the cascaded arrangement. The method further includes, at each secondary jet ejector, receiving at least some of the portion of the primary inlet stream and at least some of the motive fluid to create respective mixtures within the secondary jet ejectors, and at each secondary jet ejector, directing at least a portion of the respective mixture to adjacent jet ejectors in the cascaded arrangement.

Abstract: An inbred sorghum line, designated R07007, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of inbred sorghum line R07007, to the plants of inbred sorghum line R07007 and to methods for producing a sorghum plant by crossing the inbred line R07007 with itself or another sorghum line. The invention further relates to hybrid sorghum seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred line R07007 with another sorghum line. The invention further relates to methods for producing a sorghum plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic plants produced by that method and to methods for producing other inbred sorghum lines derived from the inbred R07007.