Abstract: An apparatus for tensioning and threading an optical fiber includes a first roller, a second roller, a belt that wraps around the first and second rollers, and a third roller. The belt may be in direct physical contact with the first and second rollers. The third roller may be movable between an engaged and a disengaged configuration relative to the belt. Alternatively, the first roller, second roller, and belt may be movable between the engaged and the disengaged configuration relative to the third roller. Actuation from the disengaged to the engaged configuration captures an optical fiber between the third roller and the belt.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing fiber whip damage to optical fiber wound on a fiber winding spool is provided. The apparatus includes a fiber entry feed mechanism operatively coupled to the fiber winding spool to feed the optical fiber onto the fiber winding spool. The apparatus also includes a whip shield arranged to substantially surround the fiber winding spool. The whip shield includes a first surface aligned with and facing the fiber winding spool within an entry slot that is laterally offset from a second surface. The first surface transitions to the second surface such that a loose end of the optical fiber is initially directed into the entry slot away from the fiber winding spool and transitions to the second surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for tensioning and threading an optical fiber includes a first roller, a second roller, a belt that wraps around the first and second rollers, and a third roller. The belt may be in direct physical contact with the first and second rollers. The third roller may be movable between an engaged and a disengaged configuration relative to the belt. Alternatively, the first roller, second roller, and belt may be movable between the engaged and the disengaged configuration relative to the third roller. Actuation from the disengaged to the engaged configuration captures an optical fiber between the third roller and the belt.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing fiber whip damage to optical fiber wound on a fiber winding spool is provided. The apparatus includes a fiber entry feed mechanism operatively coupled to the fiber winding spool to feed the optical fiber onto the fiber winding spool. The apparatus also includes a whip shield arranged to substantially surround the fiber winding spool. The whip shield includes a first surface aligned with and facing the fiber winding spool within an entry slot that is laterally offset from a second surface. The first surface transitions to the second surface such that a loose end of the optical fiber is initially directed into the entry slot away from the fiber winding spool and transitions to the second surface.

Abstract: The instant invention is directed to a constitutive promoter for use in plants. The plant genus from which the promoter is derived is Arabidopsis. The invention encompasses the isolated promoter, expression cassettes comprising said promoter and a heterologous nucleic acid segment, and monocot and dicot plants and plant cells transformed with said expression cassettes.

Abstract: The present invention provides promoters from plants capable of driving gene expression in plant cells. The promoters vary in strength and in tissue specificity, and can be used to facilitate the development of transgenic plants in which tissue preferred expression, constitutive expression, and the strength of transgene expression is either more or less critical.

Abstract: The present invention provides promoters from plants capable of driving gene expression in plant cells. The promoters vary in strength and in tissue specificity, and can be used to facilitate the development of transgenic plants in which tissue preferred expression, constitutive expression, and the strength of transgene expression is either more or less critical.

Abstract: Abiotic stress responsive polynucleotides and polypeptides are disclosed. Also disclosed are vectors, expression cassettes, host cells, and plants containing such polynucleotides. Also provided are methods for using such polynucleotides and polypeptides, for example, to alter the responsiveness of a plant to abiotic stress.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of producing plants with increased resistance to pathogen infection by expressing disease resistance genes in the plants and transgenic plants having enhanced pathogen resistance.

Abstract: The invention provides a method to identify a plurality of plant promoters having specified characteristics and promoters identified by the method. Also provided are transgenic plants comprising the genes identified by the methods of the invention.

Abstract: The invention provides a method to identify a plurality of plant promoters having specified characteristics and promoters identified by the method. The plant genus from which at least some of the promoters are derived is Arabidopsis. Also provided are transgenic plants comprising the genes identified by the methods of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides promoters from plants capable of driving gene expression in plant cells. The promoters vary in strength and in tissue specificity, and can be used to facilitate the development of transgenic plants in which tissue preferred expression, constitutive expression, and the strength of transgene expression is either more or less critical.

Abstract: Disclosed are proteins, and nucleic acids encoding such proteins, involved in or associated with the stress response (both biotic and abiotic stress) in plants. Also disclosed are uses for such proteins.

Abstract: Disclosed are proteins, and nucleic acids encoding such proteins, involved in or associated with cell proliferation, senesence, differentiation, development, and stress response in plants. Also disclosed are uses for such proteins.

Abstract: The present invention provides promoters from plants capable of driving gene expression in plant cells. The promoters vary in strength and in tissue specificity, and can be used to facilitate the development of transgenic plants in which tissue preferred expression, constitutive expression, and the strength of transgene expression is either more or less critical.

Abstract: Isolated plant polynucleotides encoding genes the expression of which confer resistance or tolerance to biotic or abiotic stress are disclosed. Particular genes conferring tolerance to abiotic stresses such as drought are presented.

Abstract: The invention provides a method to identify a plurality of plant promoters having specified characteristics and promoters identified by the method. Also provided are transgenic plants comprising the genes identified by the methods of the invention.

Abstract: Plant DISR genes the expression of which in a plant increases resistance of the plant to pathogen infection, compositions comprising the genes or encoded polypeptides, and methods for their use, are provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides promoters from plants capable of driving gene expression in plant cells. The promoters vary in strength and in tissue specificity, and can be used to facilitate the development of transgenic plants in which tissue preferred expression, constitutive expression, and the strength of transgene expression is either more or less critical.

Abstract: Methods to identify genes, the expression of which are altered in response to pathogen infection, are provided, as well as the genes identified thereby and their corresponding promoters.