Abstract: The present application provides a modified Brucella strain, its use as a medicament, and its use as a medicament for the treatment and/or prevention of brucellosis. The Brucella strain has been modified through an inactivation of the wzm gene. Further, the present application provides a pharmaceutical composition which comprises the modified Brucella strain, its use as a medicament, and its use as a medicament for the treatment and/or prevention of brucellosis. The present application also provides a kit which comprises the modified Brucella strain and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent and its use for the treatment and/or prevention of brucellosis.

Abstract: The present application provides a modified Brucella strain, its use as a medicament, and its use as a medicament for the treatment and/or prevention of brucellosis. The Brucella strain has been modified through an inactivation of the wzm gene. Further, the present application provides a pharmaceutical composition which comprises the modified Brucella strain, its use as a medicament, and its use as a medicament for the treatment and/or prevention of brucellosis. The present application also provides a kit which comprises the modified Brucella strain and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent and its use for the treatment and/or prevention of brucellosis.

Abstract: Two new Helicoverpa armigera single nucleopolyhedrovirus genotypes, HearSNPV, HearSNPV-SP1B and HearSNPV-LB6, each originating from mixtures of genotypes obtained from different locations and crops, are described. Each exhibits specific insecticidal activity against H. armigera larvae comparable to that of commonly used commercial insecticides. Further, mixing the two genotypes, especially in the ratio of 1:1, within co-occluded virions of the mixed genotypes, is capable of controlling H. armigera infestations of tomato crops and is as efficacious as commonly used chemical and biological insecticides. Their use as bioinsecticides is safe for vertebrates, in that they specifically target arthropods. In addition, they are easy to produce and good yields can be obtained by orally inoculating H. armigera larvae with HearSNPV occlusion bodies.

Abstract: Production of virus occlusion bodies that occlude virions comprising genomes of different species of baculoviruses that can be used to combat insect pests. A method is presented for the production of occlusion derived virions (ODVs) that simultaneously comprise genomes of different baculovirus species, occluded in a viral occlusion body (OB) with the structural and morphological features characteristic of baculoviruses. Mixed genome ODVs and OBs can be produced by co-infecting insect cells or insect hosts using two or more different baculoviruses species. Co-infection may be achieved by simultaneous inoculation of the different baculoviruses or with a time interval between inoculations, which results in different proportions of each species' genomes in the ODVs and OBs that are produced. The produced OBs can be used either directly for preparing an insecticide, or to infect susceptible insects to produce larger quantities of mixed genome ODVs and OBs, also useful for combating pest insects.

Abstract: New Helicoverpa armigera single nucleopolyhedrovirus (HearSNPV) genotypes, method of producing same and use as a biological control agent Two new Helicoverpa armigera single nucleopolyhedrovirus genotypes, HearSNPV, HearSNPV-SP1B and HearSNPV-LB6, each originating from mixtures of genotypes obtained from different locations and crops, are described. Each exhibits specific insecticidal activity against H. armigera larvae comparable to that of commonly used commercial insecticides. Further, mixing the two genotypes, especially in the ratio of 1:1, within co-occluded virions of the mixed genotypes, is capable of controlling H. armigera infestations of tomato crops and is as efficacious as commonly used chemical and biological insecticides. Their use as bioinsecticides is safe for vertebrates, in that they specifically target arthropods. In addition, they are easy to produce and good yields can be obtained by orally inoculating H. armigera larvae with HearSNPV occlusion bodies.

Abstract: Production of virus occlusion bodies that occlude virions comprising genomes of different species of baculoviruses that can be used to combat insect pests. A method is presented for the production of occlusion derived virions (ODVs) that simultaneously comprise genomes of different baculovirus species, occluded in a viral occlusion body (OB) with the structural and morphological features characteristic of baculoviruses. Mixed genome ODVs and OBs can be produced by co-infecting insect cells or insect hosts using two or more different baculoviruses species. Co-infection may be achieved by simultaneous inoculation of the different baculoviruses or with a time interval between inoculations, which results in different proportions of each species' genomes in the ODVs and OBs that are produced. The produced OBs can be used either directly for preparing an insecticide, or to infect susceptible insects to produce larger quantities of mixed genome ODVs and OBs, also useful for combating pest insects.

Abstract: The invention refers to a device and method for measurement of the distribution of physical magnitudes in an optical fiber, said device comprising and optical source (1) configured for generating a pulsed pump optical signal (A) and a probe optical signal (B) which comprises at least two spectral components separated in optical frequency; a photoreceiver (7) configured to detect the output optical signal (D) as a result of the generation of an RF signal (E), resulting from the beat between the spectral components contained in said output optical signal (D) exiting from the fiber (5); and a demodulator (8) configured to demodulate the RF electrical signal (E) exiting from the receiver (7).

Abstract: A transgenic plant that overexpresses sucrose synthase. The transgenic plant has a genetic construct that encodes a sucrose synthase peptide.

Abstract: Method for producing multiple modifications in the chromosome of Gram-negative bacteria and Salmonella strains which are deficient in c-di-GMP synthesis obtained by said method. The method can be used to make multiple modifications in the genome of Gram-negative bacteria, simply and efficiently, using the plasmids of the invention, which comprise a marker gene under the control of a constitutive promoter, a replication origin specific for Gram-negative bacteria, a gene which encodes a heat-sensitive protein essential for initiating replication of the plasmid, making the replication origin heat-sensitive, and a counter-selection gene. The invention also relates to mutant Salmonella enterica strains obtained using the method of the invention in which some of the twelve genes which encode proteins with GGDEF domain have been selected*, and to the use thereof as expression vectors, immunotherapeutic agents and in metabolic studies.

Abstract: An isolated sucrose synthase peptide. Also, a method of preparing ADPglucose by incubating the isolated sucrose synthase peptide with ADP in suitable conditions and then isolating and purifying the ADPG produced. Also, an assay kit for the spectrophotometric, fluorimetric or amperometric determination of sucrose, which kit includes the isolated sucrose synthase peptide. Also, a method of producing a transgenic plant that overexpresses sucrose synthase by inserting a genetic construct containing a DNA fragment that encodes the sucrose synthase peptide into a vector and transferring to a plant genome, and a transgenic plant obtained thereby.

Abstract: Method and system of control of the converter of an electricity generation facility of the type which comprises at least one electric generator, such as a wind generator, connected to an electricity network, in the presence of voltage sags in said network, the electric generator being a double-fed asynchronous generator formed by two windings, a winding in the stator, directly connected to the network, and a winding in the rotor which is fed on normal regime by said converter which imposes on it a predetermined voltage current called setpoint current. In the event of a voltage sag occurring, the converter imposes a new setpoint current which is the result of adding to the previous setpoint current a demagnetizing current which generates a flow in the rotor winding opposed to the free flow, consequently reducing the voltage in converter connectors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to antennas of a planar profile coupled to waveguides, and particularly to completely planar antennas, applicable in mobile telephony, radars and space communications, which base their operating on the transmission of electromagnetic waves, mainly in the range of microwaves and millimetric waves, through a thin opening of a height that is less than the wavelength, having corrugations around said opening such that maximized wave transmission as well as the collimation thereof in a defined direction towards leaky waves by means of a resonant coupling mechanism are obtained.

Abstract: Method and system of control of the converter of an electricity generation facility of the type which comprises at least one electric generator, such as a wind generator, connected to an electricity network, in the presence of voltage sags in said network, the electric generator being a double-fed asynchronous generator formed by two windings, a winding in the stator, directly connected to the network, and a winding in the rotor which is fed on normal regime by said converter which imposes on it a predetermined voltage current called setpoint current. In the event of a voltage sag occurring, the converter imposes a new setpoint current which is the result of adding to the previous setpoint current a demagnetizing current which generates a flow in the rotor winding opposed to the free flow, consequently reducing the voltage in converter connectors.

Abstract: A purified novel enzyme protein, UGPPase, which naturally occurs in animal cells, its productions of recombinant technology, an antibody to the enzyme protein, a method of carrying out ELISA for measurement of the amount of UGPPase in an analyte and a method for determination of UDPG in a sample. The one-way enzyme protein catalyses hydrolysis of UDP-glucose, the precursor molecule of glycogen, into glucose-1-phosphate (G1P) and uridine 5?-monophosphate (UMP).

Abstract: A method for obtaining a transgenic plant that over-expresses a soluble isoform AGPPase enzyme. The method includes a step of transforming a plant with a vector comprising a polynucleotide of SEQ ID NO: 7 linked to a promoter that promotes expression of the polynucleotide in the plant whereby to form the transgenic plant. The transgenic plant has a reduced starch content and a higher resistance to salinity than the plant before the transforming step.

Abstract: Plant nucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase (NPPase), method of production, use in the manufacture of testing devices and in the production of transgenic plants. NPPase is an enzyme that catalyses the hydrolysis of a wide range of small molecules with phosphodiester and phosphosulphate bonds, in particular ADPG (adenosine diphosphate glucose) and APS (adenosine 5?-phosphosulphate). The enzyme obtained from plant extracts is used in assay devices for determining levels of nucleoside diphosphate sugars, based either on the sugar-1-phosphate released, or on the nucleoside monophosphate, both of which are products formed by the reaction catalysed by NPPase, as well as the detection of sulphonucleotides such as 3?-phosphoadenosine 5?-phosphosulphate (PAPS) and APS. The amino acid sequence of the enzyme is also described, as well as the nucleotide sequence of a complete cDNA and another incomplete cDNA.

Abstract: A horn antenna combining horizontal and vertical corrugations. It is made up of two well differentiated parts, the first part being an antenna with horizontal corrugations, i.e. parallel to the axis of propagation, and a second part with vertical corrugations, i.e. transverse to the axis of propagation. The aperture of the arrangement of the corrugations, in the two parts, can preferably follow linear or Gaussian functions.

Abstract: A waveguide component has a slab waveguide, a rib waveguide, and a mode transition section where the rib waveguide and the slab waveguide are adjacent, and where the rib waveguide is tapered, to provide optical coupling, and lateral confinement rib waveguides are provided along the slab waveguide in the mode transition section to confine light from spreading laterally. The lateral confinement ribs can be formed in the same step with the same mask as used for the taper, to ensure alignment with the taper. They can be arranged either side of the taper. The lateral confinement ribs are significant for enabling a mode transition section which couples with low loss. In particular, it reduces the need for the taper to be so fine, or the taper to be made in both vertical and horizontal axes, both of which cause fabrication difficulties.

Abstract: An isolated sucrose synthase peptide. Also, a method of preparing ADPglucose by incubating the isolated sucrose synthase peptide with ADP in suitable conditions and then isolating and purifying the ADPG produced. Also, an assay kit for the spectrophotometric, fluorimetric or amperometric determination of sucrose, which kit includes the isolated sucrose synthase peptide. Also, a method of producing a transgenic plant that overexpresses sucrose synthase by inserting a genetic construct containing a DNA fragment that encodes the sucrose synthase peptide into a vector and transferring to a plant genome, and a transgenic plant obtained thereby.