Abstract: A cooling apparatus includes a container configured to contain a coolant within a space. The apparatus further includes a cooling block positioned substantially within the space and having a high heat capacity such that the space not occupied by the cooling block is filled with a coolant to a level at or below the top of the cooling block, and a placement structure having high thermal conductivity positioned on top of the cooling block and outside of the space. A method for cooling an object is also provided, which includes inserting a coolant into a container configured to contain the coolant within a space, and placing the object on a placement structure outside the space. For this method, the placement structure has a high thermal conductivity and is coupled to a cooling block, the cooling block having a high heat capacity and positioned substantially within the space. A two-stage cooling apparatus and method is also described.

Abstract: Methods and materials for modulating heat and/or drought tolerance in plants are disclosed. For example, nucleic acids encoding heat and/or drought-tolerance polypeptides are disclosed as well as methods for using such nucleic acids to transform plant cells. Also disclosed are plants having increased heat and/or drought tolerance and plant products produced from plants having increased heat and/or drought tolerance.

Abstract: Methods and materials for increasing abiotic stress tolerance in plants are disclosed. For example, nucleic acids encoding abiotic stress tolerance-increasing polypeptides are disclosed as well as methods for using such nucleic acids to transform plant cells. Also disclosed are plants having increased tolerance to abiotic stress and methods of increasing plant yield under abiotic stress conditions.

Abstract: Methods and materials for modulating aluminum tolerance in plants are disclosed. For example, nucleic acids encoding aluminum tolerance-modulating polypeptides are disclosed as well as methods for using such nucleic acids to transform plant cells. Also disclosed are plants having increased tolerance to aluminum and methods of increasing plant yield in soil containing elevated levels of aluminum.

Abstract: Methods and materials for modulating aluminum tolerance in plants are disclosed. For example, nucleic acids encoding aluminum tolerance-modulating polypeptides are disclosed as well as methods for using such nucleic acids to transform plant cells. Also disclosed are plants having increased tolerance to aluminum and methods of increasing plant yield in soil containing elevated levels of aluminum.

Abstract: Methods and materials for modulating low-nitrogen tolerance levels in plants are disclosed. For example, nucleic acids encoding low nitrogen tolerance-modulating polypeptides are disclosed as well as methods for using such nucleic acids to transform plant cells. Also disclosed are plants having increased low-nitrogen tolerance levels and plant products produced from plants having increased low-nitrogen tolerance levels.

Abstract: Methods and materials for modulating low-nitrogen tolerance levels in plants are disclosed. For example, nucleic acids encoding low nitrogen tolerance-modulating polypeptides are disclosed as well as methods for using such nucleic acids to transform plant cells. Also disclosed are plants having increased low-nitrogen tolerance levels and plant products produced from plants having increased low-nitrogen tolerance levels.

Abstract: Methods and materials for modulating aluminum tolerance in plants are disclosed. For example, nucleic acids encoding aluminum tolerance-modulating polypeptides are disclosed as well as methods for using such nucleic acids to transform plant cells. Also disclosed are plants having increased tolerance to aluminum and methods of increasing plant yield in soil containing elevated levels of aluminum.

Abstract: Methods and materials for increasing abiotic stress tolerance in plants are disclosed. For example, nucleic acids encoding abiotic stress tolerance-increasing polypeptides are disclosed as well as methods for using such nucleic acids to transform plant cells. Also disclosed are plants having increased tolerance to abiotic stress and methods of increasing plant yield under abiotic stress conditions.

Abstract: Systems and methods here may be configured for cooling and examining materials. In some example embodiments, the system may include a main thermoconductive body with indentations on the top surface, a bottom surface having legs structures along the edge, wherein the bottom surface and the plurality of leg structures form a partially enclosed bottom chamber, and a center channel connecting the top surface and the bottom chamber.

Abstract: Methods and materials for increasing abiotic stress tolerance in plants are disclosed. For example, nucleic acids encoding abiotic stress tolerance-increasing polypeptides are disclosed as well as methods for using such nucleic acids to transform plant cells. Also disclosed are plants having increased tolerance to abiotic stress and methods of increasing plant yield under abiotic stress conditions.

Abstract: Methods and materials for modulating aluminum tolerance in plants are disclosed. For example, nucleic acids encoding aluminum tolerance-modulating polypeptides are disclosed as well as methods for using such nucleic acids to transform plant cells. Also disclosed are plants having increased tolerance to aluminum and methods of increasing plant yield in soil containing elevated levels of aluminum.

Abstract: Methods and materials for modulating low-nitrogen tolerance levels in plants are disclosed. For example, nucleic acids encoding low nitrogen tolerance-modulating polypeptides are disclosed as well as methods for using such nucleic acids to transform plant cells. Also disclosed are plants having increased low-nitrogen tolerance levels and plant products produced from plants having increased low-nitrogen tolerance levels.

Abstract: Some examples herein include systems and methods of creating standards of gemstones of various classifications, which may display certain characteristics of the various classifications when excited by ultraviolet radiation and fluoresce in response. In some examples, a set of standards are created using fluorescent material, filters, and a radiation source to compare against a sample gemstone.

Abstract: Methods and materials for increasing abiotic stress tolerance in plants are disclosed. For example, nucleic acids encoding abiotic stress tolerance-increasing polypeptides are disclosed as well as methods for using such nucleic acids to transform plant cells. Also disclosed are plants having increased tolerance to abiotic stress and methods of increasing plant yield under abiotic stress conditions.

Abstract: A cooling apparatus includes a container configured to contain a coolant within a space. The apparatus further includes a cooling block positioned substantially within the space and having a high heat capacity such that the space not occupied by the cooling block is filled with a coolant to a level at or below the top of the cooling block, and a placement structure having high thermal conductivity positioned on top of the cooling block and outside of the space. A method for cooling an object is also provided, which includes inserting a coolant into a container configured to contain the coolant within a space, and placing the object on a placement structure outside the space. For this method, the placement structure has a high thermal conductivity and is coupled to a cooling block, the cooling block having a high heat capacity and positioned substantially within the space.

Abstract: Methods and materials for modulating aluminum tolerance in plants are disclosed. For example, nucleic acids encoding aluminum tolerance-modulating polypeptides are disclosed as well as methods for using such nucleic acids to transform plant cells. Also disclosed are plants having increased tolerance to aluminum and methods of increasing plant yield in soil containing elevated levels of aluminum.

Abstract: Methods and materials for modulating aluminum tolerance in plants are disclosed. For example, nucleic acids encoding aluminum tolerance-modulating polypeptides are disclosed as well as methods for using such nucleic acids to transform plant cells. Also disclosed are plants having increased tolerance to aluminum and methods of increasing plant yield in soil containing elevated levels of aluminum.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are devices and methods for screening gemstones (e.g., diamonds). In particular, the disclosed method and system can efficiently and accurately identify and distinguish genuine earth-mined gemstones (e.g., diamond) from synthetic and treated gemstones or gemstone simulants.

Abstract: A cooling apparatus includes a container configured to contain a coolant within a space. The apparatus further includes a cooling block positioned substantially within the space and having a high heat capacity such that the space not occupied by the cooling block is filled with a coolant to a level at or below the top of the cooling block, and a placement structure having high thermal conductivity positioned on top of the cooling block and outside of the space. A method for cooling an object is also provided, which includes inserting a coolant into a container configured to contain the coolant within a space, and placing the object on a placement structure outside the space. For this method, the placement structure has a high thermal conductivity and is coupled to a cooling block, the cooling block having a high heat capacity and positioned substantially within the space.