Abstract: The invention relates to the use of zwitterionic molecules for forming a hole or electron transport layer. The preferred zwitterionic molecules of the invention are derivatives of p-benzoquinonemonoimines. The invention is useful in the field of electronic devices in particular.

Abstract: At least one example embodiment discloses a method of estimating a position of a rotor in a motor. The method includes determining a first estimated position of the rotor using a first algorithm, determining a second estimated position of the rotor using a second algorithm, the second algorithm being different than the first algorithm, determining a first error based on the first estimated position and the second estimated position, and determining a third estimated position of the rotor based on the first error.

Abstract: At least one example embodiment discloses a drive system including a motor including a rotor, the motor configured to receive a measured current, a controller configured to generate a voltage command for the motor, a sliding mode observer configured to determine an estimated current for the motor based on the voltage command, determine a difference between the measured current and the estimated current, and determine a switching control vector and an estimator configured to estimate a rotor position based on the switching control vector, the switching control vector being determined based on the difference and adaptive parameters of the sliding mode observer, the controller being further configured to control the motor based at least in part on the estimated rotor position.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of zwitterionic molecules for forming a hole or electron transport layer. The preferred zwitterionic molecules of the invention are derivatives of p-benzoquinonemonoimines. The invention is useful in the field of electronic devices in particular.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an apparatus for detecting neutrons includes an array of pillars, wherein each of the pillars comprises a rounded cross sectional shape where the cross section is taken perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the respective pillar, a cavity region between each of the pillars, and a neutron sensitive material located in each cavity region.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining a trend in vertical track modulus are disclosed in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Vertical deflection data is collected along a particular section of railroad track. A first set of vertical track modulus is determined, based in part, on the collected vertical deflection data. At a second time, vertical deflection data is again collected along the particular section of railroad track to be used in determining a second set of vertical track modulus. At least the first and second sets of vertical track modulus are analyzed to determine a mathematical algorithm that facilitates developing a trend in the vertical track modulus of the railroad track.

Abstract: A method for extracting such natural cellulosic fiber bundles from natural cellulose sources selected from the group consisting of cornhusk, cornstalk, switchgrass leaves, switchgrass stems, rice straw, sorghum leaves, sorghum stems, soybean straw, wheat straw, cotton stems, barley straw, and combinations thereof, the method comprising performing an alkali treatment to partially delignify the cellulose source material and an enzyme treatment to depolymerize hemicellulose, break covalent links between lignin and carbohydrates, and decompose cellulose chains in the natural cellulosic source material, or a combination thereof thereby yielding extracted natural cellulosic fiber bundles having a length that is greater than that of individual cells and a fineness of at least about 1 denier and no greater than about 300 denier.

Abstract: A method of synthesizing a heteroleptic, multiple metal-containing metallocyclic catalyst, particularly suited for asymmetric catalysis, comprising combining a plurality of plural functional group-containing, monodentate ligands of complementary chirality, said plural functional groups being tethered to each other by tethers in the presence of a scaffold-structural metal Ms or derivative thereof, wherein at least one functional group on each ligand combines to ligate Ms to form a bidentate, Ms centered ligand scaffold containing the remaining functional groups and combining said bidentate ligand scaffold with a catalytic metal Mc or derivative thereof whereby the remaining functional groups combine to ligate Mc, thereby forming said catalyst.

Abstract: The present invention provides a single-electron device composed of a necklace of about 5000 nanoparticles. The linear necklace is self-assembled by interfacial phenomena along a triple-phase line of fiber, a substrate and electrolyte containing nanoparticles. A variety of combinations of nanoparticles, such as Au and CdS nanoparticles, may be used to form a necklace. The I-V measurements on the system show both coulomb blockade and staircase, with high currents and high threshold voltage of 1-3 V. The present invention also provides methods for constructing such a device.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to recombinant nucleic acid constructs comprising nucleic acid sequences encoding a Pichia pastoris PIR secretion signal peptide for secretion or an anchor domain peptide for surface display of a heterologous polypeptide. The present invention is further directed to methods for obtaining a heterologous polypeptide secreted into the culture medium or displayed on the cell surface. The present invention is also directed to transformed cells containing the recombinant nucleic acid constructs.

Abstract: Recombinant nucleic acid constructs for the efficient expression of eukaryotic selenoproteins and related methods for production of recombinant selenoproteins are provided. The nucleic acid constructs comprise novel selenocysteine insertion sequence (SECIS) elements. Certain novel SECIS elements of the invention contain non-canonical quartet sequences. Other novel SECIS elements provided by the invention are chimeric SECIS elements comprising a canonical SECIS element that contains a non-canonical quartet sequence and chimeric SECIS elements comprising a non-canonical SECIS element that contains a canonical quartet sequence. The novel SECIS elements of the invention facilitate the insertion of selenocysteine residues into recombinant polypeptides.

Abstract: Recombinant mycobacterial strains which overproduce essential biosynthetic enzymes of pathogenic mycobateria are provided. These strains overproduce enzymes involved in the synthesis and incorporation of D-alanine into mycobacterial peptidoglycan, the backbone of the mycobacterial cell wall. These overproducing strains may be used as reference strains in in vitro screening methods to identify antimycobacterial agents.

Abstract: The bacterial plant pathogen Pseudomonas syringae injects effector proteins into host cells via a type III protein secretion system to cause disease. The invention relates to the discovery that the type III effector HopU1 is a mono-ADP-ribosyltransferase (ADP-RT) and suppresses plant innate immunity. The HopU1 substrates in Arabidopsis thaliana extracts were RNA-binding proteins that possess RNA-recognition motifs (RRMs). A. thaliana knock-out lines defective in the glycine-rich RNA-binding protein AtGRP7, a HopU1 substrate, were more susceptible than wild type plants to P. syringae. The ADP-ribosylation of AtGRP7 by HopU1 required two arginines within the RRM. The invention provides novel methods for the modulation of the innate immune response of a plant to a biotic stress, including methods for enhancing or suppressing the innate immune response of the plant.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to natural cellulosic fiber bundles from natural cellulose sources preferably having a length, width, strength, elongation, or other properties desirable for textiles, composites, nonwoven mats, and other applications. For example, the fiber bundles may have a length that is greater than that of individual cells and a fineness of at least about 1 denier and no greater than about 300 denier. The present invention is also directed to textiles, composites, nonwoven mats, and other applications that comprise the fiber bundles. Additionally, the present invention is directed to a method for extracting such natural cellulosic fiber bundles from a cellulose source, the method comprising performing an alkali treatment, an enzyme treatment, or both to separate the fiber bundles from connecting material in the cellulose source.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to isolated nucleic acid molecules (i) encoding proteins or polypeptides of Pseudomonas CEL and EEL genomic regions, (ii) nucleic acid molecules which hybridize thereto under stringent conditions, or (iii) nucleic acid molecules that include a nucleotide sequence which is complementary to the nucleic acid molecules of (i) and (ii). Expression vectors, host cells, and transgenic plants which include the DNA molecules of the present invention are also disclosed. Another aspect relates to the isolated proteins or polypeptides and compositions containing the same. The nucleic acid molecules and proteins of the present invention can be used to imparting disease resistance to a plant, making a plant hypersusceptible to colonization by nonpathogenic bacteria, causing eukaryotic cell death, and treating cancerous conditions.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to D-alanine racemase mutants of mycobacterial species. The D-alanine racemase gene (alrA) is involved in the systhesis of D-alanine, a basic component of peptidoglycan that forms the backbone of the bacterial cell wall. The present invention is also directed to methods of making live-attenuated vaccines against pathogenic mycobacteria using such alrA mutants and to the vaccines made according to such methods. The present invention is further directed to use of alrA mutants in methods for screening antimycobacterial agents that are synergistic with peptidoglycan inhibitors. Finally, the present invention is directed to methods to identify new pathways of D-alanine biosynthesis for use in developing new drugs targeting peptidoglycan biosynthesis in mycobacteria and to identify vaccines useful against pathogenic mycobacteria.

Abstract: Recombinant mycobacterial strains which overproduce essential biosynthetic enzymes of pathogenic mycobateria are provided. These strains overproduce enzymes involved in the synthesis and incorporation of D-alanine into mycobacterial peptidoglycan, the backbone of the mycobacterial cell wall. These overproducing strains may be used as reference strains in in vitro screening methods to identify antimycobacterial agents.

Abstract: Vaccines for pathogenic strains of bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) which are based on attenuated BHV-1 having a mutation in the latency-related gene are provided. Live, attenuated vaccines are also provided which express antigens from other viral or bacterial pathogens and thus form the basis of a variety of vaccines.

Abstract: The invention is directed to novel promoters or mutants thereof from Chlorella virus DNA methyltansferase genes. A Chlorella virus gene promoter is operably linked to a first and/or second DNA sequence encoding a gene that is different from the Chlorella virus to form an expression cassette. An expression cassette can be introduced into prokaryotic and/or eukaryotic cells and can provide for a high level of expression of the gene encoded by the first and/or second DNA sequence. The invention also provides a method for screening other Chlorella virus genes for promoters that can function to express a heterologous gene in prokaryotic and/or eukaryotic hosts.

Abstract: A new and distinct Penstemon plant characterized by an upright, dense habit with very dark foliage, flowers of light purple shades, and excellent vigor.