Abstract: The acoustic chamber for the detection of insects provides for the acoustic detection of insects living within the trunk of a tree. The chamber includes an annular shell disposed around the trunk of the tree to define an annular acoustic or sound chamber. Acoustic sensors are mounted in the shell walls. The acoustic sensors may be microphones that extend from the shell to be in direct contact with the tree trunk, or microphones spaced apart from the tree trunk, or other suitable acoustic transducers. The acoustic sensors are connected to data processing equipment for analyzing sounds picked up by the sensors for acoustic signals indicative of insect infestation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing a pigmented composite comprising contacting a microporous material with a tin compound to form a composite then contacting the composite with a pigment comprising an elemental metal, a metal oxide, a metal alloy, a metal salt, or a combination thereof to produce the pigmented composite. The pigmented composites described herein are useful for separating one or more analytes present in a fluid sample.

Abstract: Method of identifying molecular beacons in which a secondary structure prediction algorithm is employed to identify oligonucleotide sequences within a target gene having the requisite hairpin structure. Isolated oligonucleotides, molecular beacons prepared from those oligonucleotides, and their use are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines for protecting individuals against metastatic colorectal cancer and for treating individuals who are suffering from metastatic colorectal cancer.

Abstract: Novel stereoisomers of GS-164 are provided. The compounds, such as (3R,5S,7as)-(3,5-bis(4-fluorophenyl)tetrahydro-1H-oxazolo[3,4-c]oxazol-7a-yl)methanol (TH-237A) and (3R,5S,7as)-(3,5-bis(4-fluorophenyl)tetrahydro-1H-oxazolo[3,4-c]oxazol-7a-yl)methanol (TH-242A) exhibit neuroprotective effects via a mechanism that does not involve microtubule stabilization.

Abstract: Systems and methods for the evaluation of the urethra and periurethral tissues may involve an MRI coil adapted for insertion into the male, female or pediatric urethra. The MRI coil may be in electrical communication with an interface circuit made up of a tuning-matching circuit, a decoupling circuit and a balun circuit. The interface circuit may also be in electrical communication with a MRI machine. In certain practices, the present invention provides methods for the diagnosis and treatment of conditions involving the urethra and periurethral tissues, including disorders of the female pelvic floor, conditions of the prostate and anomalies of the pediatric pelvis.

Abstract: A method for determining a market clearing price (“MCP”) in an electricity market, in which an objective function relates the MCP and constraints in terms of a nonlinear programming expression, and the MCP is found by resolving an augmented Lagrangian dual function using a surrogate optimization framework. A system is also provided.

Abstract: A process is disclosed that creates a high shear rate in a workpiece using a head including a ring-shaped rotatable shoulder, a first pin and a second pin, both pins extending downwardly relative to the shoulder. The process includes coupling the workpiece to a table and rotating the first pin and the second pin in the same direction, wherein the first pin has a diameter, wherein a gap between the first pin and the second pin is less than the diameter. The head is plowed through the workpiece with the shoulder bearing downwardly against the workpiece and the first and second pin disposed in the first and second workpieces. The first pin rotates in a direction opposite the direction of the second pin in the gap to create a high shear rate of the workpiece within the gap.

Abstract: An economic, direct synthetic method for producing water soluble QDs that are ready for bioconjugation is provided. The method can produce aqueous QDs with emission wavelengths varying from 400 nm to 700 nm. Highly luminescent metal sulfide (MS) QDs are produced via an aqueous synthesis route. MS QDs are capped with thiol-containing charged molecules in a single step. The resultant MS QDs exhibit the distinctive excitonic photoluminescence desired of QDs and can be fabricated to avoid undesirable broadband emissions at higher wavelengths. This provides a significant improvement over the present complex and expensive commercial processes for the production of QDs. The aqueous QDs are stable in biological fluids over a long period of time. In addition, nontoxic ZnS QDs have been produced with good photoluminescence properties by refluxing the ZnS QD suspensions over a period of time.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating tunable, uniform electric fields in fluidic applications for rapid separation of molecules, such as DNA, is provided. A region receives the molecules to be separated, the molecules being injected into the region by an injection channel connected thereto. Fluidic microchannels or resistor arrays connected to sides of the region inject currents into the region and produce electric fields in the region that can be oriented at any angle. The electric fields can separate the molecules according to size, and can be used to move or manipulate the molecules within the region. Further, the molecules can be separated by controlling fluid flows within the region to manipulate the molecules. One or more reservoirs can be attached to the fluidic microchannels for collecting the molecules after separation, movement, or manipulation.

Abstract: An Nb—Ti—Co alloy having both good hydrogen permeability and good hydrogen embrittlement resistance comprises one of Fe, Cu or Mn as a fourth element, incorporating from 1 to 14 mol %. The content of Mn, if any, is preferably from 1 to 9 mol %. The desired hydrogen permeability can be attained by the (Nb, Ti) phase and the desired hydrogen embrittlement resistance can be attained by the CoTi phase, making is possible to obtain excellent hydrogen permeability and excellent hydrogen embrittlement resistance. None of Fe, Cu or Mn can impair these properties. Fe, Cu or Mn can replace some of the Co elements. Fe, Cu or Mn enhances the workability of the alloy.

Abstract: Powdery fullerene is milled in an oxygen atmosphere, whereby mechanical impacts are applied to the fullerene and a carbon cage of the fullerene is dynamically distorted to the extent that an energy for conversion of atmospheric oxygen to a singlet excited state is accomplished from the distorted carbon cage to atmospheric oxygen. Singlet oxygen, i.e. an efficient oxidant in various industrial fields, is generated by solid-state reaction under stable conditions without necessity of photo-irradiation. The singlet oxygen also enables efficient oxidation of fullerene itself.

Abstract: Image formation via photoinduced fluorescence changes in a polymeric medium with two-photon fluorescence readout of a multi-layer structure. Fluorophore-containing polymers, possessing one or more basic functional groups, underwent protonation in the presence of a photoinduced acid generator upon exposure to a broad-band UV light source or fast-pulsed red to near-IR laser irradiation. Solution studies demonstrated formation of monoprotonated and diprotonated species upon irradiation, each resulting in distinctly different absorption and fluorescence properties. The fluorescence of the original, neutral, fluorophore was reduced upon monoprotonation, leading to a concomitant increase in fluorescence at longer wavelengths due to the monoprotonated form, the basis for multichannel data readout.

Abstract: Compounds that competitively inhibit binding of CSP to S. mutans histidine kinase are provided. The compounds are preferably a peptide or an antibody, and are preferably a derivative of [SEQ ID NO:2], a fragment of [SEQ ID NO:2] or a derivative of a fragment of [SEQ ID NO:2]. Methods of making these compounds and their use for inhibiting the growth of S. mutans, for inhibiting dental caries, and for improving dental health are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention includes a bifunctional specificity structure that includes a peptide linker having a first and a second binding domain, wherein the first binding domain is selective for a first biomaterial and the second binding domain is selective for a second biomaterial. The present invention also includes a method of making and identifying the bifunctional structure of the present invention and methods of using the same.

Abstract: The invention provides conjugates comprising an immune co-stimulatory polypeptide and an antigen or infectious agent. The conjugates are useful for generating or enhancing an immune response against the antigen or infectious agent. The invention also provides immune cells modified with a conjugate that are useful for generating or enhancing an immune response to an antigen or infectious agent. The invention also provides immunostimulatory moieties comprising an immune co-stimulatory polypeptide that are useful for stimulating an immune response. The invention also provides immunotherapy methods and methods of treating or preventing infections.

Abstract: A method of identifying a polypeptide monobody having target protein binding activity, said method comprising: providing a host cell comprising (i) a reporter gene under control of a 5? regulatory region operable in the host cell, (ii) a first chimeric gene which encodes a first fusion polypeptide comprising a target protein, or fragment thereof, fused to a C-terminus of a DNA-binding domain which binds to the 5? regulatory region of the reporter gene, and (iii) a second chimeric gene which encodes a second fusion polypeptide comprising a polypeptide monobody fused to a transcriptional activation domain; and detecting expression of the reporter gene, which indicates binding of the polypeptide monobody of the second fusion polypeptide to the target protein such that the transcriptional activation domain of the second fusion polypeptide is in sufficient proximity to the DNA-binding domain of the first fusion polypeptide to allow expression of the reporter gene.

Abstract: This invention discloses a constitutive promoter from the Taro bacilliform virus (TaBV) for expression of foreign or endogenous coding sequences in plants, including dicotyledonous and monocotyledonous plants. The invention also discloses a chimeric nucleic acid construct comprising the promoter of the invention operably linked to a foreign or endogenous polynucleotide that codes for a protein of interest or a transcript capable of modulating expression of a target gene. The invention further discloses transformed plant cells, as well as differentiated plants and plant parts, containing the construct. Methods for diagnosis and treatment of viral infections, especially badnaviral infections, are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for cancer diagnosis, research and therapy, including but not limited to, cancer markers. In particular, the present invention relates to ubiquilin 1 markers for cancer.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for encapsulating active protein in a polymeric nanocarrier. The instant method employs homogenization at subzero temperatures so that enzyme activity is retained. Enzymes which can be encapsulated by the present method include, for example, antioxidant enzymes and xenobiotic detoxifying enzymes. Encapsulation of an enzyme protects it from protease degradation and increases therapeutic half-life. Advantageously, polymeric nanoparticles of the invention are permeable to enzyme substrates and therefore enzymes encapsulated by the instant method can exert their effect without release from the nanocarrier. Methods for decomposing a reactive oxygen species, protecting against vascular oxidative stress, and detoxifying a xenobiotic are also provided.