Abstract: The plants are disposed on a near-vertical matrix panel of porous or fibrous inert material, in which the roots of the plants are embedded. Hydroponic water trickles down the panel, keeping the roots wet. A fan draws the air to be treated horizontally through the panel. The unit freshens stale air in a room. It may be provided as a wall-mounted unit, or as a self-standing tower unit.

Abstract: Methods for detecting FlaA1 and enzymes with FlaA1-like activity are disclosed. Methods for screening for inhibitors of the enzymes are disclosed which are useful as anti-microbial agents.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel vaccines and pharmaceutical compositions using membrane vesicles of microorganisms, methods for preparing same, and their use in the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases.

Abstract: Novel metabolites and enzymes involved in skatole metabolism are disclosed. The novel metabolites are 3-OH-3-methylindolenine (HMI); 3-methyloxindole (3MOI); indole-3-carbinol (I-3C); and 2-aminoacetophenone (2-AM). Measuring levels of these metabolites in a pig may be useful in identifying the pig's ability to metabolize skatole and its susceptibility to boar taint. The novel enzymes involved in skatole metabolism are aldehyde oxidase and CYP2A6. Enhancing the activity of these enzymes may be useful in enhancing skatole metabolism and reducing boar taint. The identification of the enzyme also allows the development of screening assays for substances that interact with these enzymes and skatole metabolism or for genetic screening to identify pigs on the basis of their skatole metabolism. Pigs having high levels of these enzymes may be selected and bred to produce pigs that have a lower incidence of boar taint.

Abstract: Sex-chromosome-specific molecules associated with animal sperm cell membranes, and the method for isolating them, are described. An X chromosome specific molecule, a protein, having an apparent molecular weight of 32 kDa on SDS-PAGE is specifically described. The method involves preparing a cell membrane fraction from animal sperm cells; treating the cell membrane fraction with one or more substances which bind to X or Y chromosome specific molecules in the cell membrane fraction to form conjugates between the X or Y chromosome specific molecules and the substances; separating the material in the cell membrane fraction which does not bind to the substances to obtain a subfraction containing sex-chromosome-specific molecules. Methods of using the sex-chromosome-specific molecules for sperm sexing are also described.

Abstract: Novel transferrin binding proteins from Pasteurella haemolytica, and nucleic acid molecules encoding the novel proteins are disclosed. Antibodies against the novel proteins are disclosed. The invention also relates to vaccines containing the novel proteins of the invention. The invention also provides methods for identifying substances which affect the binding of transferrin to the proteins and methods for screening for agonists or antagonists of the binding of the proteins and transferrin.

Abstract: Novel nucleic acid molecules encoding proteins involved in the synthesis and assembly of O-antigen in P. aeruginosa; and novel proteins encoded by the nucleic acid molecules are described. Methods are disclosed for detecting P.aeruginosa in a sample by determining the presence of the proteins or a nucleic acid molecule encoding the proteins in the sample.

Abstract: Described are a novel gene (waaP) and a protein (WaaP) which has an enzymatic activity that is involved in heptose modification in the lipopolysaccharide of bacterial membranes. Also described is a method and series of compounds which are active against bacterial pathogens wherein the method comprises the administration of sufficient amount of an inhibitor of WaaP protein activity in gram negative bacteria.

Abstract: A method for increasing the mass of a storage organ of a plant comprising tansforming the plant with at least one heterologous gene that encodes an enzyme that results in NAD(P)H consumption is disclosed. Preferably the method comprises transforming the plant with a gene that encodes an enzyme that is directly involved in NAD(P)H consumption. Such plants are characterized as having an increase in the mass of the storage organs. The enzymes include but are not limited to alcohol dehydrogenase, glutathione reductase, dehydroascorbate reductase, monodehydroascorbate reductase, mitochondrial alternative oxidase, NADH oxidase and NADPH oxidize. Vector and transformed plants are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for inhibiting phospholipase D-mediated degradation of membrane phospholipids comprising administering to the membrane an effective amount of a phospholipase D inhibitor selected from the group of phospholipase D inhibitors consisting of C6 aldehydes, C6 alcohols, monoterpene aldehydes and monoterpene alcohols. The phospholipid D inhibitors can be administered to plants, fruits or vegetables to inhibit maturation or ripening.

Abstract: Novel metabolites and enzymes involved in skatole metabolism are disclosed. The novel metabolites are 3-OH-3-methylindolenine (HMI); 3-methyloxindole (3MOI); indole-3-carbinol (I-3C); and 2-aminoacetophenone (2-AM). Measuring levels of these metabolites in a pig may be useful in identifying the pig's ability to metabolize skatole and its susceptibility to boar taint. The novel enzymes involved in skatole metabolism are aldehyde oxidase and CYP2A6. Enhancing the activity of these enzymes may be useful in enhancing skatole metabolism and reducing boar taint. The identification of the enzyme also allows the development of screening assays for substances that interact with these enzymes and skatole metabolism. Pigs having high levels of these enzymes may be selected and bred to produce pigs that have a lower incidence of boar taint.

Abstract: Novel metabolites and enzymes involved in skatole metabolism are disclosed. The novel metabolites are 3-OH-3-methylindolenine (HMI); 3-methyloxindole (3MOI); indole-3-carbinol (I-3C); and 2-aminoacetophenone (2-AM). Measuring levels of these metabolites in a pig may be useful in identifying the pig's ability to metabolize skatole and its susceptibility to boar taint. The novel enzymes involved in skatole metabolism are aldehyde oxidase and CYP2A6. Enhancing the activity of these enzymes may be useful in enhancing skatole metabolism and reducing boar taint. The identification of the enzyme also allows the development of screening assays for substances that interact with these enzymes and skatole metabolism. Pigs having high levels of these enzymes may be selected and bred to produce pigs that have a lower incidence of boar taint.

Abstract: Cryopreserved boar spermatozoa is much less fertile than that of other species, which could be due to damage to sperm membrane lipids during the cryopreservation process. Incorporation of selected lipids improves the survival of boar spermatozoa following cryopreservation. Liposomes were made from lipids extracted from head plasma membrane (HPM) of boar spematozoa or from selected lipids (SL) which contained specific phospholipids. At a fixed lipid concentration, fusion efficiency with spermatozoa as measured by flow cytometry and R18 dequenching was affected by lipid type, sperm concentration and incubation time. SL and HPM improved sperm viability (SYBR-14 and propidium iodide) and motility during cooling to 5C., with SL±egg yolk better than or equal to HPM (P<0.05). Post-thaw, egg yolk showed a strong cryoprotective effect.

Abstract: A process for effectively remediating soils contaminated with individual or mixture of metal ions is described. The process involves utilizing plants of the genus Pelargonium, particularly Pelargonium sp., to hyperaccumulate metal ions in their roots and shoots. These plants when grown on soils, which contain one or more of the metal ions, individually or in a complex mixture, will uptake the metal ions through their roots and translocate them to the shoots. This process thereby removes the metal ions from the soil. The harvested shoot and root biomass can be used for extraction of essential aromatic oils, and the residual oil-extracted biomass will be available for extraction and recycling of the metals. The process also describes the use of the above said plant(s) for remediating land-farming sites of petroleum industries, which are generally contaminated with a mixture of metal ions and organic contaminants.

Abstract: An isolated nucleic acid molecule is provided which contains a sequence which encodes a protein which mediates the uptake of L-malate, succinate, and malonate, and expression vectors and host cells containing the nucleic acid molecules. The nucleic acid molecules are used to transform cells for use in mediating malate, succinic acid or malonate uptake in particular malate uptake during the fermentation of wines.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for non-destructive, in situ measuring thicknesses of layers on substrates. The method and device uses a probe including a radioactive source in a source holder and a photodetector mounted behind the source for detection of backscattered photons. In one aspect the method is used to measure the thickness of paint deposited onto metal substrates. The source holder and photodetector array forms a cylindrically symmetric probe for producing an axially symmetric beam of primary photons. A source containing radioactive 109Cd producing high energy photons of energy 22 and 25 keV is spaced from the painted surface so the photons impinge on the painted substrate. The intensity of photons backscattered by Compton scattering in the paint layer is proportional to the mass density of the paint to give a direct measurement of the paint thickness. The photons penetrating through to the substrate are absorbed within the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention related to computational methods for designing chemical structures sharing common, useful, functional properties based on specific combinations of steric configuration and binding affinity. More particularly the present invention provides a method for producing computer-simulated receptors which functionally mimic biological receptors. The simulated receptors are designed to exhibit optimized selective affinity for known target molecules. Chemical structures are then generated and evolved to exhibit selective affinity for the simulated receptors.

Abstract: A method for determining if a pig is predisposed to boar taint comprising assaying for a low molecular weight isoform of cytochrome b5 in a sample from the pig.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for electrically treating foodstuffs flowing through a treatment chamber with low energy, high voltage electrical pulses for non-thermal pasteurization and/or sterilization. Instant-charge-reversal electrical pulses are applied to a foodstuff located between two electrodes in a treatment chamber, each electrical pulse having a pulse width in a range from about 1 to 5 .mu.s with vertically rising voltage to a peak followed immediately with a decreasing voltage through zero volts and continuing to a voltage peak of opposite polarity and rising vertically back to zero volts. The electrical pulses are very low energy (0.1-25 Joules/pulse) and the field strengths are in the range 15 kVolts/cm to 120 kVolts/cm. This instant-charge-reversal electrical pulse is shown to have a much greater microbial killing power compared to other pulse waveforms used to treat foodstuff.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for in situ measuring thicknesses of ice buildup on airfoil. The method and device uses a probe including a radioactive .sup.241 Am gamma ray source producing 60 keV gamma ray photons which penetrate through the airfoil substrate and a photodetector mounted behind the source for detection of backscattered gamma rays. The probe is mounted on the interior of the airfoil and secondary radiation is backscattered within the ice layer and back through the airfoil substrate to the photodetector. The shape and density of the source holder in addition to the geometrical arrangement of the source and detector with respect to the airfoil substrate are used to block a substantial fraction of gamma rays backscattered in the airfoil substrate thereby favoring scattering in the ice layer over that in the airfoil material.