Abstract: Clathrate compounds comprising an isoflavone derivative and a cyclodextrin are disclosed. The clathrate compounds have improved water solubility and good taste properties, thereby making the compounds a useful ingredient in edible compositions.

Abstract: A method of inhibiting the production of mycotoxins of fungus, such as aflatoxin-producing and sterigmatocystin-producing fungi, in plants susceptible to contamination by such mycotoxins consists of introducing into the susceptible plant a gene encoding for lipoxygenase pathway enzyme of the mycotoxin. Exemplary of the lipoxygenase pathway enzymes are soybean lipoxygenase, allene oxidase, hydroperoxide lyase and hydroperoxide dehydratase. The resulting transgenic plant demonstrates substantial resistance to mycotoxin contamination of such fungus. Plants which are substantially resistant to mycotoxin contamination of Aspergillus spp. are further obtained by incorporating into mycotoxin susceptible plant antisense genes for the 9-hydroperoxide fatty acid producing lipoxygenases.

Abstract: Disclosed are compounds, compositions and methods for inhibiting interleukin -1.beta. protease activity, the compounds having the structure of formula (1) as described in the specification.

Abstract: Methods and compositions based upon natural aromatic compounds are provided, which find use as pesticides. The pesticides are formulated in a variety of ways, including dusts, sprays, shampoos and soaps, and can be bound to a solid support or provided as bait or directly impregnated into organic matter infested by or susceptible to infestation by a target pest. Pests controlled include mosquitos, lice, ants, cockroaches, lice, and ticks.

Abstract: In forming an insulating film for a thin film transistor (TFT), a thermal oxidation film is formed by oxidation of silicon film at 500.degree. to 700.degree. C. or an insulating film composed mainly of silicon oxide deposited by physical vapor deposition (PVD) or chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is formed so as to cover island-like crystalline silicon, and then the resulting film is annealed at 400.degree. to 700.degree. C., preferably 450.degree. to 650.degree. C. in a highly reactive atmosphere of nitrogen oxide which is photoexcited or photodecomposed by ultraviolet rays. The thus modified silicon oxide film is used as the gate insulating film.

Abstract: A method for producing transgenic seeds and plants, which comprises isolating, from anthers, microspores in their uninucleate stage and removing tissue in which they are embedded, culturing the isolated microspores in a nutrient solution, transferring foreign genetic material into the isolated microspores to obtain transformed microspores, bringing about complete maturation of the transformed microspores to obtain transformed pollen grains in vitro, pollinating receiver plants with the transformed pollen grains and obtaining seeds from the pollinated receiver plants.

Abstract: In a method of producing a suspension of a nonionic cellulose ether that has no turbidity point, the water forming part of the suspension is mixed with a dry mixture containing a cellulose ether, which is cross-linked with glyoxal, and an electrolyte salt. This electrolyte salt consists of a salt of a mixture of salts which, in water and at the concentration employed, results in a pH value below 8.0. Preferably, the cellulose ether is a hydroxyethylcellulose.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and kits suitable for large-scale in vivo screening of polypeptides for specific binding affinity to a selected RNA recognition sequence. Polypeptide(s) are screened as fusion proteins with a polypeptide having antitermination activity. Polypeptides having binding activity are identified by their capacity to activate transcription of a reporter gene via binding of the polypeptide being screened to the selected RNA recognition sequence. The invention also provides methods of screening RNA molecules for binding to a selected polypeptide.

Abstract: Agaricus bisporus mushroom strains having characteristics of mushroom strain AA-0028, ATCC accession No. 74325, or a progeny thereof and having improved whiteness over commercial mushrooms of the U1 strain are disclosed along with methods of producing new white mushroom strains.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for making more efficient the particle-mediated germ line genetic transformation of bean species such as soybean. After a particle-mediated transformation event, in the absence of a selectable marker gene, relatively large numbers of plants must be regenerated to find the relatively low likelihood germ line transformation events which have occurred. It has been discovered that using in the transformation process a marker gene linked to the gene of interest, and by excising a segment of the stem of the shoot during the regeneration process and assaying the segment for the marker gene, certain patterns or phenotypes can be identified in the stem segment which are associated with an increased frequency of germ line transformation events. As the plants are regenerated, other indices of gene expression, at the first trifoliate leaf stage and at the third or fourth trifoliate leaf stage, also serve as markers of the likelihood of germ line transformation.

Abstract: A method of growing trees for transplantation develops a long and narrow root system for ready rooting activity when transplanted at a remediation site. The trees can be grown in a lined hole with an optional basin, or cap, or otherwise lined at the bottom. The liner can be removed with the root system and associated soils for ease of transportation, and for use in continuing to encourage a downward vertical growth of the root system after transplantation. The trees can also be grown out of the ground in vertical or horizontal tubes which receive, under controlled conditions, water and nutrients. The medium in which tree can be grown out of the ground includes hydroponic media and soil.

Abstract: Root growth and development of vegetation used to remediate contaminated soil and/or groundwater is directed to targeted zones by a casing lining the hole in which the vegetation is planted. A flexible, self-sealing casing encourages strong and healthy root development of the root system deep in the soil horizons, resulting in an increase in the remedial capacity of the vegetation through the preferential development in or near the zone of soil or groundwater contamination.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for presenting an antigen in the form of a peptide on the surface of a cell. The method involves inhibiting the activity of an MHC class I pathway-associated component (e.g., a TAP protein or a proteasome or its components) in a cell and contacting the cell with an antigenic peptide to produce a potent antigen presenting cell. The antigen presenting cells of the invention can be administered to a mammal in a method of treating or preventing cancer or infection with a pathogen (e.g., a bacterium or virus). If desired, the antigen presenting cells can be used to stimulate CTL proliferation in vitro, and the resulting effector cells can subsequently be administered to a mammal in a method of therapy.

Abstract: A method of detecting nucleic acids, proteins, or protein nucleic acid complexes. The method includes binding an enzyme, such as phosphatase, to a specimen of the nucleic acid, protein, or protein nucleic acid complex. The enzyme is then reacted with a fluorescein derivative phosphate ester to obtain a fluorescein derivative phosphate ester hydrolysate. The hydrolysate is then irradiated with excitation light, and the emitted fluorescein is detected.

Abstract: Thermally gelling emulsion compositions which reversibly increase in either loss modulus or storage modulus, or both, upon contact with the eye, skin, mucous membrane or body cavity are disclosed. The emulsion compositions contain one or more nonionic substituted cellulose ethers and do not require a charged surfactant or a pH-sensitive polymer for such increase in loss modulus or storage modulus, or both, upon administration. In one embodiment, the compositions gel upon instillation in the eye.

Abstract: A micro-tip for emitting an electric field and a method for fabricating the same are disclosed. The method includes the steps of: forming a silicon mould; forming a functional layer on the silicon mould, and then forming a tip on the functional layer; forming a conductive thin film on one side of the tip; bonding a substrate to the conductive thin film; and removing the silicon mould, to thereby obtain the structural advantages of the semiconductor tip as well as the advantages of the material for functional layer, and realize the micro-tip for an emitting electric field having high reliability.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for the production of a peptide, polypeptide, or protein having a predetermined property. In accordance with one embodiment, the process begins by producing by way of synthetic polynucleotide coupling, stochastically generated polynucleotide sequences. A library of expression vectors containing such stochastically generated polynucleotide sequences is formed. Next, host cells containing the vectors are cultured so as to produce peptides, polypeptides, or proteins encoded by the stochastically generated polynucleotide sequences. Screening or selection is carried out on such host cells to identify a peptide, polypeptide, or protein produced by the host cells which has the predetermined property. The stochastically generated polynucleotide sequence which encodes the identified peptide, polypeptide, or protein is then isolated and used to produce the peptide, polypeptide, or protein having the predetermined property.

Abstract: T-DNA tagging with a promoterless .beta.-glucuronidase (GUS) gene generated a transgenic Nicotiana tabacum plant that expressed GUS activity constitutively. The gene fusion has been cloned and sequenced. It has been re-inserted into N. tabacum by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The N. tabacum DNA upstream from the GUS gene was approximately 2 kb in length and showed no homology to known sequences. This DNA, which contains a constitutive promoter, is useful in controlling the expression of exogenous genes in transgenic plants of diverse plant species.

Abstract: A method for commercial production of aprotinin entails heterologous expression of the protein in plants, preferably at a level such that aprotinin accounts for at least 0.1% of the total extracted protein. An aprotinin-expressing plant also has potential of increased insecticidal resistance by virtue of producing the protein. A genetic map of the integration locus allows identification of plants derived from the transgenic plant. This approach also reveals genetic loci on a plant chromosome that support high levels of gene expression and can be used as site of integration for expression of other genes of interest.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for modifying fruit ripening characteristics in plants and is particularly suitable for modification of tomato plants. The DNA expressing an enzyme involved in fruit ripening has been identified and characterized. The DNA is useful in genetically modifying plants to improve shelf life, flavor, resistance to post-harvest pathogens and improved processing characteristics.