Abstract: A conditioning mechanism is placed forwardly of the cotton harvesting mechanism on a cotton harvester. Opposing elements compress portions of the cotton plant to compress the cotton bolls and deform the cotton boll hulls. The deformation loosens the cotton fiber relative to the hulls to improve the ability of the harvesting mechanism to harvest the seed and fiber. In one embodiment, differential surface velocity of the opposing elements improves boll opening and fiber orientation for more effective spindle contact.

Abstract: A method of operation in connection with a digital device is disclosed. The method of operation includes facilitating a first digital device in establishing a peer-to-peer communication session with a second digital device, with the first and second digital devices being associated with a first file service and a second file service, respectively. The method additionally includes facilitating the first digital device in exchanging information with the second digital device to enable a file accessible by the second digital device be known to the first digital device. The method further includes a copy of the file being subsequently transferred to either the first digital device or a third digital device associated with the first digital device, with a manner of the subsequent transfer being based at least in part on infrastructure connectivity states of the first and second digital devices at a time when the facilitating of the exchange of information is performed.

Abstract: A picker bar includes spindles which are nonaligned in the vertical direction to define two or more offset sets of spindles on the bar and increase the number of spindles per unit length of the spindle bar. A spindle assembly includes support carrying two spindles driven from a picker bar drive shaft by single drive gear. Driven spindle gears are spaced on opposite sides of the shaft axis to facilitate close spacing of the spindles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of identifying compounds as candidate drugs for treatment of cancer by providing a cell expressing a GTPase protein that is regulated by a prenyl-electrostatic switch, contacting the cell with compounds to be evaluated, and selecting compounds able to regulate charge at the prenyl-electrostatic switch in the GTPase protein as candidate drugs for treatment of cancer. Also disclosed are methods of treating cancer in a patient. An isolated antibody which binds to a phosphorylated prenyl-electrostatic switch on a K-Ras4B protein is also disclosed, as is a kit for detecting phosphorylation of a prenyl-electrostatic switch in a K-Ras4B protein which includes a labeled antibody and a device to detect the label. Also disclosed is a method of detecting phosphorylation of a prenyl-electrostatic switch on a K-Ras4B protein in a biological sample.