Abstract: A single-use ostomy appliance is described including an ostomy coupling for releasable coupling first and second portions at a stomal orifice. The two portions may be separable body-side and non-body-side parts, or the two portions may be portions of a unitary ostomy device such as a controlled evacuation device. The coupling includes a mechanical fastener configured such that the coupling is rendered substantially not resecurable after the fastener is released.

Abstract: A method of hermetically packaging an electronic device (8), in an enclosure (2) comprising mutually inter-engageable first and second housing members (4, 6), comprising the steps of securing the electronic device (8) to the first housing member (4), engaging the first (4) and second (6) housing members such that an hermetic seal is provided there between, wherein the engagement step is performed in a controlled atmosphere. The hermetic seal may be provided by an interference fit between the first (4) and second (6) housing members or via sealing means (16) interposed between the housing members (4, 6). The second housing member (6) may comprise an optical element (20), for example a window or lens. The packaging method is particularly applicable to packaging thermal detectors, for example microbolometer arrays.

Abstract: Provided is a blood processing system having a stationary component separation chamber. Individual blood components as well as other particles and contaminates are separated from blood flowing through the separation chamber by optical traps configured to manipulate specific components are projected into the flow field of the chamber. Cells or particles of the selected components that are manipulated by the optical traps then may be directed from the flow field to individual reservoirs to collect quantities of the selected components.

Abstract: The subject invention relates to compounds and compositions which induce transcripts of the nolA gene in nitrogen-fixing bacteria, such as Bradyrhizobium japonicum. Novel bacterial strains which are insensitive too NolA, soil inoculants comprising NolA insensitive bacteria and/or nolA inducers, and methods of increasing nitrogen fixation in legumes are also disclosed.

Abstract: An ostomy appliance is described in the form of a controlled discharge device for controlling discharge from the stoma and/or an ostomy pouch for collecting discharged waste. The appliance may include one or more of: an elastomeric stoma seal for providing a seal around or directly against the stoma; a stoma occluder for occluding the stoma without passing internally into the stoma; a peristomal foam wall; a confinement seal for confining at least solid excreta to a confinement region adjacent to the stoma; a stowable collector bag; and interchangeable controlled discharge devices and ostomy pouches. The foam wall may provide a barrier to stool, but allow escape of flatus. The foam wall and/or the stoma occluder and/or the confinement seal may apply a force in a direction to increase the sealing force on the stoma seal.

Abstract: The subject invention relates to compounds and compositions which induce transcription of the nolA gene in nitrogen-fixed bacteria, such as Bradyrhizobium japonicum. Novel bacterial strains which are insensitive to NolA, soil inoculants comprising NolA insensitive bacteria and/or nolA inducers, and methods of increasing nitrogen fixation in legumes are also disclosed.

Abstract: The subject invention relates to compounds and compositions which induce transcripts of the nolA gene in nitrogen-fixing bacteria, such as Bradyrhizobium japonicum. Novel bacterial strains which are insensitive too NolA, soil inoculants comprising NolA insensitive bacteria and/or nolA inducers, and methods of increasing nitrogen fixation in legumes are also disclosed.

Abstract: A plant peptide transport gene and its nucleotide sequence are disclosed. The gene may be used to confer herbicide resistance to plants, and to render plants resistant to insect pests. The invention also relates to plants that possess non-naturally occurring alleles of peptide transport gene.

Abstract: A multiprotocol blood-processing machine and disposable units for use therewith. The disposable units generally comprise a centrifuge bowl for separating whole blood into blood constituents, an inlet tube for conveying blood into the bowl, an outlet tube for conveying the blood constituents away from the bowl, and a manifold for placing the inlet tube and the outlet tube in fluid communication with a tube from a donor. The manifold has a machine-readable bar-code label for identifying to the blood processing machine which type of disposable unit is being coupled to it. The machine itself comprises a central processing unit that controls overall operation, a first computer memory containing safety-monitoring instructions that cause the central processing unit to monitor various state parameters in order to ensure donor safety, and a second computer memory containing instructions that define at least one apheresis or blood-processing protocol.

Abstract: A plant peptide transport gene and its nucleotide sequence are disclosed. The gene may be used to confer herbicide resistance to plants, and to render plants resistant to insect pests. The invention also relates to plants that possess non-naturally occurring alleles of peptide transport gene.

Abstract: A phytohormone for inducing root hair curling and root nodulation in the roots of leguminous plants particularly in the absence of nitrogen-fixing bacteria. The phytohormone comprises a pentasaccharide having a fatty acid condensed on the non-reducing end. A method for treating the roots of leguminous plants for inducing root hair curling and root nodulation is also disclosed.

Abstract: A phytohormone for inducing root hair curling and root nodulation in the roots of leguminous plants particularly in the absence of nitrogen-fixing bacteria. The phytohormone comprises a pentassaccharide having a fatty acid condensed on the non-reducing end. a method for treating the roots of leguminous plants for inducing root hair curling and root nodulation is also disclosed.

Abstract: The nodulation ability and/or competition characteristics of strains of Rhizobium japonicum is enhanced by incubating the strains in a nodulation and/or competitive enhancing effective amount of one or more soybean lectins, or in composition comprising a nodulation and/or competitiveness enhancing effective amount of such lectins such as soybean seed exudate. An inoculum can be prepared containing a carrier, Rhizobium japonicum and lectin.

Abstract: Recombinant DNA clones according to the invention contain nodABCDIJL genes of B. japonicum. These clones can be used to practice a method wherein a nod- strain of Rhizobium or Bradyrhizobium bacteria lacking one or more of these genes is converted to a nod+ strain by transfering one or more of the missing genes to the strain. According to a further aspect of the invention, nucleotide sequences have been identified which control the expression of nod LABC genes of Bradyrhizobium japonicum in the presence of flavones produced by the plant roots. By linking such sequences with a gene having a desired characteristic, such as a gene encoding for production of a plant parasite toxin, bacterial can be created which selectively express the characteristic only in the presence of the flavone which triggers expression of the gene.

Abstract: Recombinant DNA clones according to the invention contain a host range gene of B. japonicum which is contained within a 3.3 kb HindIII restriction fragment from the B. japonicum chromosome. Mutations to this gene change the ability of the bacteria to nodulate different plants. In one example, a Tn5 insertion to this region caused the strain to lose its ability to nodulate siratro, but nodulation of soybeans was unaffected. This gene may be manipulated to extend or restrict the host range of the strain for agricultural purposes.