Abstract: Methods of inhibiting plant parasitic nematodes, methods of obtaining transgenic plants useful for inhibiting such nematodes, and transgenic plants that are resistant to plant parasitic nematodes through inhibition of plant nematode CLE peptide receptor genes are provided. Methods for expressing genes at plant parasitic nematode feeding sites with plant nematode CLE peptide receptor gene promoters are also provided, along with nematode CLE peptide receptor gene promoters that are useful for expressing genes in nematode feeding sites as well as transgenic plants and nematode resistant transgenic plants comprising the promoters.

Abstract: The invention provides compounds of formulas I, II, and III, methods of making them, and methods of their use. The compounds of the invention can be used as fluorescent sensors, for example, to detect an amine-containing analyte in a biological sample. The compounds can be selective for one type of amine over others and the amount of fluorescence can be correlated with the concentration of the amine in the sample.

Abstract: Methods for determining the degrees of fiber formation of textured vegetable proteins are provided. One inventive method based on fluorescence polarization technology comprises selecting a sample or a section thereof, using fluorescence polarization spectroscopy to detect P-value or Anisotropy Index of the sample, and obtaining the degree of fiber formation by comparing the P-value or Anisotropy Index to a pre-generated database collating P values or Anisotropy Index with degrees of fiber formation. Another inventive method based on image processing technique comprises preparing a sample to reveal its fibrous structures, obtaining an original image of the sample, applying edge detection to the original image to produce a second binary image with enhanced contrast, performing Hough transform on the second image to extract line information and generate a third image; defining region of interest on the third image; calculating the degree of fiber formation though analysis of the region of interest.