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: New Bacillus licheniformis strain named V9T14 that produces a new biosurfactant composition that is effective against colonization and/or bio film formation from bacteria. The new biosurfactant composition can be used in combination with biocides for preventing formation and/or for eradicating bacteria grown planktonically and/or as a biofilm, preferably on biotic and/or abiotic surfaces.

Abstract: An expeditious synthesis of gibberellin A5 (GA5) esters is presented, from which GA5 may be prepared. The synthesis offers an inexpensive route of few steps to these compounds, starting from gibberellin A3 (GA3) esters in the presence of a metal hydride.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods for increasing the levels of an autoantigen-specific IgM antibody in a mammal and, thus, decreasing the levels of a circulating autoantigen in a mammal. Using these autoantigen-specific IgM antibodies, the invention provides compositions and methods for ameliorating an autoimmune disease in a mammal. In one aspect, the invention provides compositions and methods for increasing the levels of an antigen-specific IgG antibody in a mammal and, thus, decreasing the levels of a circulating antigen in a mammal. Using these antigen-specific IgG antibodies, the invention provides compositions and methods for ameliorating a disease or condition in a mammal, e.g., a cancer or a foreign antigen, such as a pathogen.

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: A method of processing sequential frames of data comprises repeating the following steps for successive frames of data: acquiring at least a reference frame containing data points and a current frame of data points; identifying a set of anchor points in the reference frame; assigning to each anchor point in the reference frame a respective motion vector that estimates the location of the anchor point in the current frame; defining polygons formed of anchor points in the reference frame, each polygon containing data points in the reference frame, each polygon and each data point contained within the polygon having a predicted location in the current frame based on the motion vectors assigned to anchor points in the polygon; for one or more polygons in the reference frame, adjusting the number of anchor points in the reference frame based on accuracy of the predicted locations of data points in the current frame; and if the number of anchor points is increased by addition of new anchor points, then assigning mo

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: Compositions and methods are provided that relate to an attenuated reovirus exhibiting oncolytic activity toward cancer cells while displaying reduced lytic activity toward non-malignant cells. Exemplified is an attenuated human reovirus derived from persistently infected fibrosarcoma cells that lacks wild-type reovirus S1 and S4 genes and consequently lacks a detectable reoviral outer capsid ?1 protein and expresses a mutated reoviral outer capsid ?3 protein.

Abstract: A method of in-situ groundwater nitrification, by: extracting groundwater from the ground; adding oxygen to the extracted groundwater; adding nutrients to the extracted groundwater; and injecting the groundwater back into the ground, wherein the oxygen reacts with in-situ nitrifying bacteria to oxidize ammonia to nitrate, and wherein the nutrients encourage the nitrifying bacteria to grow and reproduce. A method of in-situ groundwater de-nitrification, by: extracting the groundwater from the ground; adding carbon to the extracted groundwater; adding nutrients to the extracted groundwater; and injecting the groundwater back into the ground, wherein the carbon reacts with in-situ de-nitrifying bacteria to reduce nitrate to nitrogen gas, and wherein the nutrients encourage the de-nitrifying bacteria to grow and reproduce.

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 in-situ groundwater nitrification, by: extracting groundwater from the ground; adding oxygen to the extracted groundwater; adding nutrients to the extracted groundwater; and injecting the groundwater back into the ground, wherein the oxygen reacts with in-situ nitrifying bacteria to oxidize ammonia to nitrate, and wherein the nutrients encourage the nitrifying bacteria to grow and reproduce. A method of in-situ groundwater de-nitrification, by: extracting the groundwater from the ground; adding carbon to the extracted groundwater; adding nutrients to the extracted groundwater; and injecting the groundwater back into the ground, wherein the carbon reacts with in-situ de-nitrifying bacteria to reduce nitrate to nitrogen gas, and wherein the nutrients encourage the de-nitrifying bacteria to grow and reproduce.

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: Disclosed is a behavioral model for wide-band radio frequency transmitters. Also disclosed are various implementation of the behavioral model for purpose of baseband predistortion of dynamic nonlinear systems, such as wideband wireless transmitters and power amplifiers. In one example embodiment, a LBG behavioral model comprises two non-linear cascading modules: a dynamic weak nonlinear (DWNL) module, which models dynamic week nonlinearities of the system, and a static strong nonlinear (SSNL) module, which models static strong nonlinearities of the system. In one example embodiment, a forward LBG model includes DWNL module followed by the SSNL module. In another example embodiment, a reverse LBG model includes SSNL module followed by DWNL module.

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.