Abstract: Recombinant materials for the production of practical amounts of the sweet protein, mabinlin are provided. In addition, transgenic plants which have inherently sweetened edible parts result from modifying native plants containing edible parts to express the mabinlin gene. Single-chain forms of this protein which retain their sweetening property are also provided.

Abstract: A disinfestation treatment chamber for treating fruit, flower and vegetable commodities subject to infestation by quarantine pests. The commodities are disinfested so as to meet quarantine restrictions without adversely affecting the quality of the commodity. The commodity is heated inside of the chamber in hot air having a relative humidity of 30-85% until the temperature of the commodity exceeds the thermal death point temperature of the target pest but is not so high as to adversely affect the quality of the commodity. The temperature of the commodity is held at this temperature until the pest is killed. The commodity is loaded into the treatment chamber in bins onto a low friction conveyor track system which transports the bins from one end of the chamber to the other. The commodities are treated while they are inside of the treatment chamber. After treatment of the commodities, the bins are unloaded using the low friction conveyor track system out of the opposite end of the treatment chamber.

Abstract: An improved process is described for the catalytic dehydrogenation of organic molecules having a ##STR1## group to produce a ##STR2## group. The organic molecules are: ##STR3## wherein: A.sup.1, A.sup.2, A.sup.3, and A.sup.4 are each independently P, As or N: E.sup.2 is independently C or N; E.sup.3 is independently C, Si or Ge; E.sup.4 is independently C, Si, or Ge; and E.sup.5 is independently C, Si or Ge; M.sup.1, M.sup.2, M.sup.3, and M.sup.4 each is a metal atom independently selected from the group consisting of ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium and platinum; Q.sup.1, Q.sup.2, Q.sup.3, and Q.sup.4 are each independently a direct bond, --CH.sub.2 --, --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --, or CH.dbd.CH--;in structure I, structure II or structure IV, R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, and R.sup.4 are each independently selected from alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, and aryl, or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 together and R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 together form a ring structure having from 4 to 10 carbon atoms, orin structure III, R.sup.

Abstract: A method for inspecting masks used in x-ray lithography is described. An x-ray lithography mask is placed over a glass surface, followed by exposure of the mask and glass surface to soft x-rays. Portions of the mask absorb the soft x-rays while other portions of the mask, corresponding to circuit elements, allow the soft x-rays to strike the glass surface. The soft x-rays striking the glass surface cause the glass surface to darken, thereby forming an image of the circuit pattern in the glass surface corresponding to the stenciled circuit in the mask. An inspection of the image can reveal any defects in the x-ray lithography mask.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved host cells for use in producing secreted recombinant proteins, methods of making the improved hosts and uses thereof. The invention specifically provides strains of Neurospora crassa which produce reduced levels of extracellular proteases when compared with wild-type Neurospora crassa.

Abstract: The present invention provides 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid synthase (ACC synthase) cDNA sequences from papaya fruit. These sequences are useful in regulation of ethylene biosynthesis in papaya cells and in regulating fruit ripening, including delaying of ripening. This is accomplished by co-suppression or by antisense technology. The present invention also provides methods for regulation of fruit ripening.

Abstract: What is described is a recombinant poxvirus, such as vaccinia virus, containing foreign DNA from Plasmodium Merozoite Surface Antigen 1. What is also described is a vaccine containing the recombinant poxvirus for inducing an immunological response in a host animal inoculated with the vaccine.

Abstract: The al-3 and related promoters can be used to provide light-regulated recombinant production of heterologous proteins in filamentous fungi. Expression systems utilizing these promoters can be placed in vectors which also optionally contain selectable marker means.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and reagents for the specific detection and presumptive identification of various bacteria associated with waterborne infectious disease. In particular, this invention relates to methods and reagents for the specific detection and identification of Salmonella and Shigella in environmental samples such as water and sewage.

Abstract: Modified forms of human serum albumin (HSA) wherein the arginine at position 218 is substituted by a less basic amino acid show strong thyroxin-binding activity. These modified forms of HSA and fragments thereof are useful in binding thyroxin in standard assays for free thyroxin concentration and in treating conditions characterized by higher-than-desired levels of free thyroxin in animal subjects.

Abstract: A land-based, closed facility for the production of bivalve mollusks in a fluidized bed using shrimp pond water. The facility comprises a vertical column built on a base tank that circulates shrimp pond water from a system of pipes. The shrimp pond water flows upward through the vertical column at specific intermediate velocities, allowing oysters in the column to be individually suspended in the fluid currents. The bed remains motionless relative to the column walls. At low velocities, the oysters in the vertical column lie on one another and on the bottom of the column, and at high flow velocities the fluid flow become a hydraulic transport, pushing the oysters out of the column. The column has a vertical viewing window. An overflow valve releases water from the column. Attached to the base tank is a site gauge to determine the pressure of the fluid supplied to the base of the column. The pipe carrying the shrimp pond water to the base tank has two shut-off valves.

Abstract: The present invention prowdes methods and compositions for producing and screening combinatorial libraries of multimeric proteins. The present invention relies on the use of filamentous fungal heterokaryons that are produced using two or more parent strains into which a population of DNA molecules encoding variants of a multimeric protein have been introduced.

Abstract: The invention relates to a heterokaryotic filamentous fungus host capable of producing a heterologous heterodimer comprising at least two subunits. The heterokaryon contains a first and second nucleus; each nucleus contains an expression system for one subunit of the heterodimer. The heterokaryon is prepared by culturing together a first fungus host strain and a second fungus host strain that is homozygous with the first fungus host strain with respect to all heterokaryon compatibility alleles, wherein the first and second fungus host strains are cultured together under conditions wherein neither the first nor the second fungus strain can survive unless the heterokaryotic host is formed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and reagents for the specific detection and presumptive identification of various bacteria associated with waterborne infectious disease. In particular, this invention relates to methods and reagents for the specific detection and identification of Salmonella and Shigella in environmental samples such as water and sewage.

Abstract: A melt textured growth process for bulk YBCO at temperatures below 950.degree. C. is provided so that the material (YBCO) can be combined with silver to produce bulk superconductors by providing a combination of precursors that provide melting at 950.degree. C. or lower temperatures. After melting of the thoroughly mixed precursors, the sample is cooled in a controlled temperature environment. The process makes it possible to use metallic silver or other normal metals such as gold, as components in the fabrication of long YBCO wires and cables while achieving a high critical current density.

Abstract: Modified forms of human serum albumin (HSA) wherein the arginine at position 218 is substituted by a less basic amino acid show strong thyroxin-binding activity. Recombinant materials for production of these modified forms of HSA and fragments are disclosed, as well as recombinant materials for diagnosis for the presence or absence of a gene encoding said modified HSA.

Abstract: A computer system has a central processing unit and a functional memory coupled to the central processing unit's memory access circuitry. The functional memory includes random access memory circuitry connected in parallel with field programmable gate array circuitry. The field programmable gate array circuitry receives configuration data from the central processing unit. The configuration data defines what memory addresses the field programmable gate array circuitry will be responsive to and what computational functions the field programmable gate array circuitry will perform. The field programmable gate array circuitry includes input registers for storing data received from the central processing unit when the central processing unit's memory access circuitry asserts a first set of memory addresses defined by the configuration data and result output circuitry for communicating the results computed by the field programmable gate array circuitry.

Abstract: The present invention includes a confocal microscope having a piezoelectric bimorph cell x-y beam scanner. A single-mode optical fiber is used both to transmit the illuminating beam and to collect reflected or stimulated radiation. Image manipulation may be performed remotely from the sample area.

Abstract: An improved batch process for the pyrolytic conversion of woody and herbaceous plant material is provided which yields charcoal, on a dry weight basis, in yields ranging from about 35% to about 50%, having volatile matter content of about 25% or less, and fuel value of 13000 BTU/pound. The batch process can be conducted in two hours or less per batch with virtually instantaneous reloading for subsequent batches without substantial cooling of the reactor utilized for the process and without exposing the hot processed charcoal to air or oxygen sufficient to cause combustion upon removal from the reactor.

Abstract: Tropic Fire is primarily characerized by an attractive dark green foliage which highlights its vivacious, glossy, bright red spathe carried about 90.degree. from the flower stem axis. The spathe has open lobes, which are flat or slightly recurved, and a contrasting yellow upright spadix. Tropic Fire is resistant to anthracnose (spadix rot) and is tolerant to the bacterial blight. It propagates easily and forms multiple high-yielding flowering shoots rapidly, making it potentially well-suited for cut flower and flowering potted plant production.