Abstract: Methods for altering the N-glycosylation pattern of proteins in higher plants are provided. The methods comprise introducing into the plant a recombinant construct that provides for the inhibition of expression of ?1,3-fucosyltransferase (FucT) and ?1,2-xylosyltransferase (XylT) in a plant. Use of these constructs to inhibit or suppress expression of both of these enzymes, and isoforms thereof, advantageously provides for the production of endogenous and heterologous proteins having a “humanized” N-glycosylation pattern without impacting plant growth and development. Stably transformed higher plants having this protein N-glycosylation pattern are provided. Glycoprotein compositions, including monoclonal antibody compositions, having substantially homogeneous glycosylation profiles, and which are substantially homogeneous for the G0 glycoform, are also provided.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for regulating expression of nucleotide sequences of interest in a plant are provided. Compositions include novel nucleic acid molecules, and variants and fragments thereof, for expression control elements isolated from the Lemnaceae ubiquitin, r-histone and chitinase genes. A method for expressing a nucleotide sequence of interest in a plant using the expression control elements disclosed herein is further provided. The method includes introducing into a plant or plant cell or nodule an expression construct comprising an expression control element of the present invention operably linked to a nucleotide sequence of interest. In particular, the compositions and methods find use in enhancing expression of nucleotide sequences of interest in duckweed. Also provided is a novel Lemnaceae signal peptide-encoding sequence and the signal peptide encoded thereby.

Abstract: The present invention provides biologically active variants of human ?-2b-interferon. The variants contain carboxy terminus truncations when compared with the amino acid sequence of full-length human ?-2b-interferon. It is the novel finding of the present invention that these truncated variants have the biological activity of full-length human ?-2b-interferon. The invention encompasses these biologically active variant ?-interferons, as well as polynucleotides encoding these interferons. Expression cassettes comprising these polynucleotides and host cells comprising the expression cassettes are also provided. The invention also provides compositions comprising variant ?-interferon polypeptides and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Abstract: Methods, nucleic acid sequences, and transformed duckweed plant or duckweed nodule cultures for the expression and the secretion of biologically active polypeptides from genetically engineered duckweed are provided. Expression of recombinant polypeptides in duckweed is improved by modifying the nucleotide sequence of the expression cassette encoding the polypeptide for improved expression in duckweed. Recovery of biologically active polypeptides from duckweed is improved by linking the biologically active polypeptide to a signal peptide that directs the secretion of the polypeptide into the culture medium.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for the production of recombinant plasminogen, microplasminogen, and fragments thereof in a duckweed expression system. It is the novel finding of the present invention that a duckweed expression system may be used to produce high levels of plasminogen and microplasminogen. The duckweed-produced plasminogen and microplasminogen can be activated to produce a polypeptide having protease activity. Thus, the invention encompasses methods for the expression of plasminogen, microplasminogen, and fragments thereof in duckweed, duckweed plants that are transformed with expression cassettes for the expression of plasminogen, microplasminogen, and fragments thereof, and nucleic acids comprising nucleotide sequences encoding plasminogen, microplasminogen, and fragments thereof, where these nucleotide sequences are modified to enhance their expression in duckweed.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for the transformation of duckweed plastids. The compositions and methods of the invention are useful in increasing the recombinant protein production capacity of the duckweed expression system. The compositions of the invention include transformed duckweed plastids and transplastomic duckweed cells and plants, as well as nucleic acid constructs useful for transforming duckweed plastids. The invention also provides methods for introducing one or more heterologous nucleotide sequences into a duckweed plastome.

Abstract: A real-time transaction system to which a plurality of parties can subscribe; said system including a persistent store which contains a record of any given transaction between two or more of said parties; said record being a shared record of said transaction.

Abstract: This invention relates to a floating bearing knee joint prosthesis having a fixed tibial post used for replacing the articulating knee portion of a femur and a tibia. The floating bearing knee joint prosthesis includes a femoral component, a tibial component, a guide post and a bearing member. The femoral component includes an engagement member, a first femoral bearing surface and a second femoral bearing surface. The tibial component includes a tibial bearing surface. The guide post extends from the tibial component and is operable to be engaged by the engagement member of the femoral component. The bearing member includes a first bearing surface that articulates with the first femoral bearing surface, a second bearing surface that articulates with the second femoral bearing surface and a third bearing surface that articulates with the tibial bearing surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a floating bearing knee joint prosthesis having a fixed tibial post used for replacing the articulating knee portion of a femur and a tibia. The floating bearing knee joint prosthesis includes a femoral component, a tibial component, a bearing member and a guide post. The femoral component includes an engagement member, a first femoral bearing surface and a second femoral bearing surface. The tibial component includes a tibial bearing surface. The bearing member includes a first bearing surface which is operable to articulate with the first femoral bearing surface, a second bearing surface which is operable to articulate with the second femoral bearing surface and a third bearing surface which is operable to articulate with the tibial bearing surface.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device, including providing a silicon substrate (10), forming a gate stack (11) on the substrate (10), coating a deep ultra-violet (DUV) photoresist (30) on the gate stack (11), exposing and developing the photoresist (30), and etching the gate stack (11). According to the present invention, the gate stack (11) has a dielectric nitride layer (26), particularly, a silicon nitride layer. An adhesive oxide layer (28) is provided between the nitride layer (26) and the photoresist (30) to prevent undesirable lifting of the photoresist (30). Yield is greatly increased and defectivity is reduced.