Abstract: The present invention provides an L-aspartate derivative compound represented by the following structure wherein Ar represents an aromatic group; L represents a linking moiety; R represents hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, or heteroaryl; and indicates that the stereochemistry at the 3-position can be R or S. The compounds of the invention are useful for selectively inhibiting EAAT3 and for enhancing synaptic transmission. Additionally, the inventive compounds can be used to treat a patient suffering from Alzheimers disease or a neuropathy or a neurodegenerative disease in which L-glutamate transporter activity is involved in the onset of the disease.

Abstract: Nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of the Omp85 proteins of N. gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis, and fragments thereof are useful in vaccine compositions, therapeutic compositions and diagnostic compositions for use in the prevention, treatment and diagnosis of non-symptomatic gonococcal infection or symptomatic disease and non-symptomatic meningococcal infection and symptomatic disease. Antibodies are developed to these proteins and also useful in the compositions and methods described herein.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for taking absorbance-based chemical measurements are described. In a specific embodiment, an indicator-based pCO2 (partial pressure of CO2) sensor displays sensor-to-sensor reproducibility and measurement stability. These qualities are achieved by: 1) renewing the sensing solution, 2) allowing the sensing solution to reach equilibrium with the analyte, and 3) calculating the response from a ratio of the indicator solution absorbances which are determined relative to a blank solution. Careful solution preparation, wavelength calibration, and stray light rejection also contribute to this calibration-free system. Three pCO2 sensors were calibrated and each had response curves which were essentially identical within the uncertainty of the calibration. Long-term laboratory and field studies showed the response had no drift over extended periods (months).

Abstract: A silica-polyamine based extraction material removes selected transition metal ions from solution in the presence of iron ions. The silica-polyamine base is a reaction product of a polyamine and a covalently anchored trifunctional hydrocarbylsilyl that yields non-crosslinked amino groups to which pyridine function group is attached. The extraction material is particularly useful in selectively removing copper from low concentration, low pH leach solutions separating copper from ferric iron or chloride ions. The product is a durable, high capacity extraction material that selectively captures copper at high flow rates and releases that copper into highly concentrated solutions.

Abstract: An integrated bee monitoring system for monitoring bee colonies in a hive has a central microprocessor, at least two input transducers and at least two output signals. Input transducers include sensors which report the status of the colonies including colony weight, temperature, and relative humidity. A bee counter can also be included in the system to indicate colony activity. A bee counter is disclosed which uses an amplifying, multiplexer hysteresis and debounce circuitry to enable rapid and accurate polling of a single passageway. Information collected can be retrieved by read-out or liquid crystal display. Alternatively, information ca be retrieved by telephone line or wireless communications. The bee monitoring system also can remotely control peripheral devices such as feeders or chemical samplers.

Abstract: A method to condition honey bees to search for a non-rewarding producing target odor source enables bees to identify a number of chemical substances such as those associated with unexploded ordnances, land mines, and illicit drug laboratories. Further, the subject method can be used to increase pollination efficiency by conditioning the bees to search for a specific vapor from a target crop. The method includes conditioning the bees to the target odor by moving their hives into a staging area. The staging area is located at least two miles from the ultimate site to be searched. The target odor is applied to the hive. Bulk feeders containing the target odor are placed near the hive. The hives are reoriented to the bulk feeders for several days. The hives are then moved to the search site and feeding/conditioning trays containing the target odor are placed nearby. For the first, approximately 24 hours, the bees are fed from the feeding/conditioning trays.

Abstract: High molecular weight random polyhydroxypolyamides (PHPAs) are produced by creating prepolymers which are further polymerized. Random prepolymers are formed from a stoichiometrically molar balance (1:1) starting material. The starting material is a 1:1 stoichiometrically balanced esterified aldaric acid:alkylene or alkylene derived diammonium salt. Alternatively, the starting material is an esterified stoichiometrically balanced diacid:diamine salt and a N?-ammoniumalkyl (or alkyl derived)-D-aldaramic acid terminal carboxylate zwitterionic salt mixture. The starting materials are polymerized in a basic alcohol using a second amine. The polymerized material, or the random prepolymers, are isolated and then further polymerized in a solvent, typically a mixed solvent of an alcohol and non-alcohol, to obtain the high molecular weight PHPAs.

Abstract: Nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of the Omp85 proteins of N. gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis, and fragments thereof are useful in vaccine compositions, therapeutic compositions and diagnostic compositions for use in the prevention, treatment and diagnosis of non-symptomatic gonococcal infection or symptomatic disease and non-symptomatic meningococcal infection and symptomatic disease. Antibodies are developed to these proteins and also useful in the compositions and methods described herein.

Abstract: Shelves suspended in culverts allow animals to move easily and safely under a highway. The shelves can be retrofitted to any existing culvert or can be part of a new, manufactured culvert. The shelves are removable so as not to impede water movement in times of high water or flood. The shelves are adapted to encourage all animals to use them as passageways under the highway. Ramps allow animals to access shelves. The shelf floor is mesh of the less than one inch to allow smaller animals to cross comfortably. The shelves are equipped with tubes to encourage small semi-fossorial animals to cross. The tubes provide covered protection from predators. Entrance funnels direct vole-like animals toward the tubes. The culvert shelves of the subject invention encourage animals to cross under the highway so that the highway no longer poses a barrier to these animals.

Abstract: Nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of the Omp85 proteins of N. gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis, and fragments thereof are useful in vaccine compositions, therapeutic compositions and diagnostic compositions for use in the prevention, treatment and diagnosis of non-symptomatic gonococcal infection or symptomatic disease and non-symptomatic meningococcal infection and symptomatic disease. Antibodies are developed to these proteins and also useful in the compositions and methods described herein.

Abstract: Arabinogalactan compositions are provided which are useful in a wide variety of different biomedical applications. In one embodiment, water soluble lipidated arabinogalactans are provided which include arabinogalactan with a limited proportion of lipophilic groups, such as long-chain hydrocarbon groups, covalently attached to free hydroxyl groups on the arabinogalactan. The lipidated arabinogalactans are water soluble and biocompatible and are useful for a wide variety of different biomedical applications. The lipidated arabinogalactans can be used, for example, to inhibit cell adhesion, and to inhibit infection or inflammation. The lipidated arabinogalactans further may be used as adjuvants, to inhibit metastasis, and in other therapeutic applications.

Abstract: Arabinogalactan compositions are provided which are useful in a wide variety of different biomedical applications. In one embodiment, water soluble lipidated arabinogalactans are provided which include arabinogalactan with a limited proportion of lipophilic groups, such as long-chain hydrocarbon groups, covalently attached to free hydroxyl groups on the arabinogalactan. The lipidated arabinogalactans are water soluble and biocompatible and are useful for a wide variety of different biomedical applications. The lipidated arabinogalactans can be used, for example, to inhibit cell adhesion, and to inhibit infection or inflammation. The lipidated arabinogalactans further may be used as adjuvants, to inhibit metastasis, and in other therapeutic applications.

Abstract: Arabinogalactan compositions are provided which are useful in a wide variety of different biomedical applications. In one embodiment, water soluble lipidated arabinogalactans are provided which include arabinogalactan with a limited proportion of lipophilic groups, such as long-chain hydrocarbon groups, covalently attached to free hydroxyl groups on the arabinogalactan. The lipidated arabinogalactans are water soluble and biocompatible and are useful for a wide variety of different biomedical applications. The lipidated arabinogalactans can be used, for example, to inhibit cell adhesion, and to inhibit infection or inflammation. The lipidated arabinogalactans further may be used as adjuvants, to inhibit metastasis, and in other therapeutic applications.

Abstract: A composition is provided for reducing bacterial growth in food products. The composition includes a wood extract containing polyphenols and may contain arabinogalactan. The composition suppresses or prevents the growth of E. coli and of Salmonella sp. The wood extract imparts little or no residual taste to the food product. However, it can readily be removed if desired by washing before use of the food. The composition may be essentially arabinogalactan-free to further reduce bacterial growth.

Abstract: Compositions containing hemicelluloses in combination with polyphenols, methods of preparing the compositions, and methods of treating humans or animals with the composition are provided. Also provided is a method for increasing growth rate, improving feed efficiency and decreasing scour after weaning in an animal by administering an effective amount of the composition to the animal. The hemicelluloses preferably are not consumed by human alimentary enzymes or harmful bacteria, such as putrefactive or pathogenic bacteria, in the gastrointestinal tract, and are consumed by beneficial bacteria, such as bifidobacteria, in the gastrointestinal tract. The polyphenols preferably decrease the amount of harmful bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract. The compositions can optionally contain a carrier or be used as a feed addition and are administered to humans or other animals in an amount sufficient to treat the gastrointestinal disorder.

Abstract: A process for removing ions of dissolved heavy metals and complex heavy metals comprises provides a treatment zone in which is contained an extraction material having an activated surface that has an affinity for heavy metal ions and complex heavy metal ions. The activated surface is the reaction product of a polyamine with a covalently anchored trifunctional hydrocarbyl silyl that yields non-crosslinked amino groups to which functional chelator groups can be covalently attached. The activated surface of the extraction material is formed by first hydrating the extraction material surface and then silanizing the hydrated surface with a short chain trifunctional silane having a hydrocarbon substituent containing 1-6 carbon atoms and a terminal leaving group, and then reacting a polyamine with the hydrocarbylsilyl from the silanization of the hydrated surface so as to form an aminohydrocarbyl polymer covalently bound to the extraction material surface.

Abstract: Inulins are pyrolyzed to di-D-fructose dianhydrides in good yield by heating at atmospheric pressure to a temperature sufficiently high to melt the inulin, or pyrolyzing in the presence of a hydroxy carboxylic acid such as citric acid, to melt temperatures of the mixture. The pyrolyzed inulins are used in foodstuffs to increase the relative proportions of bifido bacteria in the digestive tracts of humans and domesticated animals.

Abstract: Aqueous two phase systems are provided which permit the extractive separation of biological materials. In a preferred embodiment, an aqueous solution of arabinogalactan defines at least one phase, and an aqueous solution of a second solute, such as a polyether, defines at least one other phase. In one embodiment, an aqueous two phase system is provided in which one phase is defined by an aqueous solution containing predominantly ultrarefined arabinogalactan, and the other phase is defined by an aqueous solution containing predominantly a polymer such as a poly(ethylene glycol). Biological materials which can be extracted and separated from mixtures using the aqueous two phase systems include cells, organelles, macromolecules and organic molecules. The aqueous two phase systems can be used in wide range of different applications including in bioconversions for the production and separation of enzyme reaction products.

Abstract: A method for producing plants of the Brassicaceae family that have reduced feeding by cruciferous insects is disclosed. The method comprises selecting for the heritable trait of altered total non-seed glucosinolate levels or for the heritable trait of increased myrosinase activity. Selection may be performed on Brassicaceae cultivars, mutagenized populations or wild populations, including the species Brassica napus, B. campestris and Arabidopsis thaliana. Plants having such altered levels show reduced feeding by cruciferous insects, including flea beetle, diamond back moth and cabbage butterfly. Plants selected for altered levels of both glucosinolates and myrosinase also show reduced feeding by cruciferous insects.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for the recovery of organic compounds from fibrous plant materials. Organic compounds which can be recovered from the fibrous plant materials include plant metabolites, such as arabinogalactan and phenols, which can be isolated from the wood, for example, of the Western Larch and Tamarack tree varieties. In addition to the recovery of organic compounds from wood, fibrous wood products also may be isolated, in the form of a clean fiber that can be used, for example, as raw material in wood processing applications or in the manufacture of high quality paper products. In one embodiment, a fibrous plant material first is compressed, to recover a liquid exudate and a first pressed plant fiber product. Optionally, the fibrous plant material, such as wood particles, is compressed in the substantial absence of any added solvent, to produce a pure normal liquid exudate and a first pressed plant product.