Abstract: A process for steam reforming of a hydrocarbonaceous fuel includes the steps of: providing a reactant mixture comprising H2O and the hydrocarbonaceous fuel; and contacting the reactant mixture with a Al2O3-yttria-stabilized ZrO2 (YSZ)-supported NiAl2O4 spinel catalyst under conditions wherein the reactant gas mixture is at least partially steam reformed into a product gas mixture including H2 and CO. The synthesis gas (H2 and CO) produced can be used as feed material for fuel cells. The catalyst includes a NiAl2O4 spinel-based catalytically active material; and a support material comprising: Al2O3 and ZrO2. The Al2O3-YSZ-supported NiAl2O4 catalyst can be used in steam reforming of a liquid hydrocarbonaceous fuel.

Abstract: Biogenic sulfide production is synergistically inhibited by treating sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) with a biocide and a metabolic inhibitor. The biocide directly kills a first portion of the SRB. The metabolic inhibitor inhibits sulfate-reducing growth of a second portion of the SRB without directly killing the second portion of the SRB. The treatment of SRB with both a biocide and a metabolic inhibitor provides effective biogenic sulfide inhibition at significantly lower concentrations than would be required if the biocide or metabolic inhibitor was used alone.

Abstract: The present invention is based on the identification of a predominant ligand of CD8+ T cells that are responsible for type 1 diabetes. That ligand is islet-specific glucose-6-phosphatase catalytic subunit-related protein (IGRP). Several CD8+ T cell-binding peptides from IGRP are identified, including the peptide comprising amino acids 206-214 of the IGRP sequence, which has high avidity to the most prevalent T cell receptor of pathogenic CD8+ T cells in autoimmune diabetes. The invention thus provides oligopeptide and polypeptide compositions comprising YLKTN(A/I/L/V)FL (SEQ ID NO:3), FLWSVFWLI (SEQ ID NO:4), (T/A)YY(G/T)FLNFM (SEQ ID NO:5), LR(L/V)(F/L)(G/N)IDLL (SEQ ID NO:6), KWCANPDWI (SEQ ID NO:7), and SFCKSASIP (SEQ ID NO:8). Also provided are oligopeptide compositions 8-10 amino acids in length and completely homologous with a mammalian IGRP, where the oligopeptide is capable of binding a human MHC class I molecule.

Abstract: A method and a multichannel implantable device are described for partial or complete restoration of impaired gastrointestinal motility, or for disturbing and/or partially or completely blocking normal gastrointestinal motility using one or multiple microsystem-controlled channels of circumferentially arranged sets of two or more electrodes which provide externally-invoked synchronized electrical signals to the smooth muscles via the neural pathways.

Abstract: Biogenic sulfide production is synergistically inhibited by treating sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) with a biocide and a metabolic inhibitor. The biocide directly kills a first portion of the SRB. The metabolic inhibitor inhibits sulfate-reducing growth of a second portion of the SRB without directly killing the second portion of the SRB. The treatment of SRB with both a biocide and a metabolic inhibitor provides effective biogenic sulfide inhibition at significantly lower concentrations than would be required if the biocide or metabolic inhibitor was used alone.

Abstract: Biogenic sulfide production is synergistically inhibited by treating sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) with a biocide and a metabolic inhibitor. The biocide directly kills a first portion of the SRB. The metabolic inhibitor inhibits sulfate-reducing growth of a second portion of the SRB without directly killing the second portion of the SRB. The treatment of SRB with both a biocide and a metabolic inhibitor provides effective biogenic sulfide inhibition at significantly lower concentrations than would be required if the biocide or metabolic inhibitor was used alone.

Abstract: The invention provides autoinducer-2 analogs that regulate the activity of autoinducer-2 and methods of using such analogs for regulating bacterial growth and pathogenesis.

Abstract: Susceptibility of sessile microorganisms to antimicrobial agents is tested with a method comprising growing the microorganisms on a support to form a biofilm, contacting the biofilm with a metabolic substrate having a chromogenic and/or fluorogenic moiety to continue a base-line metabolic activity of the biofilm, contacting the biofilm with one or more antimicrobial agents, determining an experimental metabolic activity of the biofilm by measuring a signal from the metabolic substrate, and comparing the base-line metabolic activity with the experimental activity. The biofilm may be grown in a device comprising a plurality of wells, each well having a planar bottom and at least on wall, a plurality of supports comprising discs for growing the biofilm, each support disposed within a well perpendicular to the planar bottom, and at least one cover that fittably seals the top of each well.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to methods and compositions to regulate biofilm formation. In particular, the disclosure provides methods and compositions that relate to regulation of biofilm formation by modulating the GacA/GacS regulatory system as well as methods and compositions for inhibiting small colony variant formation and reversion of resistant bacteria to a wild-type phenotype.

Abstract: A method and a multichannel implantable device are described for partial or complete restoration of impaired gastrointestinal motility, or for disturbing and/or partially or completely blocking normal gastrointestinal motility using one or multiple microsystem-controlled channels of circumferentially arranged sets of two or more electrodes which provide externally-invoked synchronized electrical signals to the smooth muscles via the neural pathways.

Abstract: The production of a purified extracellular bacterial signal called autoinducer-2 is regulated by changes in environmental conditions associated with a shift from a free-living existence to a colonizing or pathogenic existence in a host organism. Autoinducer-2 stimulates LuxQ luminescence genes, and is believed also to stimulate a variety of pathogenesis related genes in the bacterial species that produce it. A new class of bacterial genes is involved in the biosynthesis of autoinducer-2.

Abstract: A reusable linker arm for solid support oligonucleotide synthesis, the linker arm comprising formula (a) wherein Z is a linker moiety and T is an organic radical.

Abstract: Biofilm forming organisms are incubated to form a biofilm on projections by providing a flow of liquid growth medium across projections, the direction of the flow of liquid being repeatedly changed, and an assay made of the resulting biofilm. Biofilm forming organisms are incubated to form a biofilm on projections arranged in rows, with several projections in each row, while providing a flow of liquid growth medium across each row of projections, and an assay made of the resulting biofilm. Sensitivity of the biofilm to antimicrobial reagent may be determined by treating the projections with antimicrobial reagent before carrying out the assay, by treating each row of projections with a different antimicrobial reagent, and each of the projections in a row with a different concentration of antimicrobial reagent.

Abstract: The compound 1,2-bis(9-bora-1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8-octafluorofluorenyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrafluorobenzene, analogs of the compound, and methods for making the compound and its analogs.

Abstract: A method and a multichannel implantable device are described for partial or complete restoration of impaired gastrointestinal motility, or for disturbing and/or partially or completely blocking normal gastrointestinal motility using one or multiple microsystem-controlled channels of circumferentially arranged sets of two or more electrodes which provide externally-invoked synchronized electrical signals to the smooth muscles via the neural pathways.

Abstract: A method of signal processing of data using a computer by generating a symbolic map of the data using at least one wavelet transform, identifying target sequences in the symbolic map; and processing the data with reference to the target sequences to obtain waveform prognostic indicators

Abstract: Biofilm forming organisms are incubated to form a biofilm on projections by providing a flow of liquid growth medium across projections, the direction of the flow of liquid being repeatedly changed, and an assay made of the resulting biofilm. Biofilm forming organisms are incubated to form a biofilm on projections arranged in rows, with several projections in each row, while providing a flow of liquid growth medium across each row of projections, and an assay made of the resulting biofilm. Sensitivity of the biofilm to antimicrobial reagent may be determined by treating the projections with antimicrobial reagent before carrying out the assay, by treating each row of projections with a different antimicrobial reagent, and each of the projections in a row with a different concentration of antimicrobial reagent.

Abstract: Subcutaneous injection of gas into a body causes insufflation of a cavity, which is followed by infusion of a fluid into the cavity. The fluid preferably carries an active agent, for example a dissolved gas or solute. The method may include iontophoresis of the cavity to enhance diffusion of the active agent into target tissue. Additional steps may be employed to monitor needle tip location to avoid causing damage to an organ by coming into contact with the needle tip or by injecting a gas into a blood vessel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for automatically and continuously regulating the level of nasal pressure to an optimal value during OSA treatment. OSA therapy is implemented by a device which automatically re-evaluates an applied pressure and continually searches for a minimum pressure required to adequately distend a patient's pharyngeal airway. For example, this optimal level varies with body position and stage of sleep throughout the night. In addition, this level varies depending upon the patient's body weight and whether or not alcohol or sleeping medicine has been ingested.

Abstract: This invention relates to treating or preventing pathogenic infections with an epidermal growth factor (EGF). EGF is capable of inhibiting pathogenic colonization of pathogens in a variety of tissue or cell types. Since pathogenic colonization is essential for pathogenic infection, EGF can be used as an effective preventive and therapeutic agent for pathogenic infections, particularly in the urogenital tract. A method of increasing weight gain in an animal by administering epidermal growth factor is also described.