Abstract: This document describes biochemical pathways for producing isoprene by forming two vinyl groups in a central precursor produced from isobutyryl-CoA, 3-methyl-2-oxopentanoate, or 4-methyl-2-oxopentanoate as well as recombinant hosts for producing isoprene.

Abstract: A genetically enhanced cyanobacterial host cell, Cyanobacterium sp. ABICyanoI, is disclosed. The enhanced Cyanobacterium sp. ABICyanoI produces a compound or compounds of interest.

Abstract: The present application discloses the identification of the novel K. marxianus xylose transporter genes KHT105 and RAG4, as well as the identification of a novel set of I. orientalis pentose phosphate pathway genes The present application further discloses a series of genetically modified yeast cells comprising various combinations of arabinose fermentation pathways, xylose fermentation pathways, pentose phosphate pathways, and/or xylose transporter genes, and methods of culturing these cells to produce ethanol in fermentation media containing xylose.

Abstract: Methods for the fermentative production of four carbon alcohols is provided. Specifically, butanol, preferably isobutanol is produced by the fermentative growth of a recombinant bacterium expressing an isobutanol biosynthetic pathway.

Abstract: Some aspects of this invention provide engineered microbes for oil production. Methods for microbe engineering and for use of engineered microbes are also provided herein. In some embodiments, microbes are provided that are engineered to modulate a combination of rate-controlling steps of lipid synthesis, for example, a combination of a step generating metabolites, acetyl-CoA, ATP or NADPH for lipid synthesis (a push step), and a step sequestering a product or an intermediate of a lipid synthesis pathway that mediates feedback inhibition of lipid synthesis (a pull step). Such push-and-pull engineered microbes exhibit greatly enhanced conversion yields and TAG synthesis and storage properties.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for easily preparing (2RS)-amino-(3S)-hydroxy-butyric acid, which is a chiral amino acid, in a high yield and a high purity using a chemical synthesis and enzymatic reduction reaction; an intermediate therefor; and a method for preparing the intermediate.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a nucleic acid molecule isolated from a Papaver somniferum cultivar that produces the opiate alkaloid noscapine which comprises 10 genes involved in the biosynthesis of opiate alkaloids.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for enzyme mediated hydrolysis of biomass for production of soluble sugars, wherein the said process comprises of steady addition of small portions of biomass to enzyme solution, enabling rapid solubilization of biomass. The process used for enzymatic saccharification allows for increased biomass loading, enzyme recycle and mitigation of substrate and product inhibitory effect. The recycling of unhydrolysed biomass along with soluble enzyme ensures complete reuse of the said enzyme for effective repeated hydrolysis thereby increasing the overall productivity of enzyme used.

Abstract: A genetically modified organism comprising at least one nucleic acid sequence and/or at least one recombinant nucleic acid isolated from Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius and encoding a polypeptide involved in at least partially degrading, cleaving, transporting, metabolizing, or removing polysaccharide, lignocellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, chitin, heteroxylan, and/or xylan-decorating group; and at least one nucleic acid sequence and/or at least one recombinant nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide involved in fermenting sugar molecules to a product. Additionally, enzymatic and/or proteinaceous extracts may be isolated from one or more genetically modified organisms. The extracts are utilized to convert biomass into a product.

Abstract: The present invention provides for an isolated or recombinant polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 70% identity with the amino acid sequence of a Halorhabdus utahensis cellulase, such as Hu-CBH1, wherein said amino acid sequence has a halophilic thermostable and/or thermophilic cellobiohydrolase (CBH) activity. In some embodiments, the polypeptide has a CBH activity that is resistant to up to about 20% of ionic liquids. The present invention also provides for compositions comprising and methods using the isolated or recombinant polypeptide.

Abstract: This invention covers methods for isothermal amplification of DNA, based on the unexpected discovery that primers having, at some positions, adenine substituted by 2-aminopurine or diaminopurine, guanine substituted by inosine, thymine substituted by 2-thiothymine, and cytosine substituted by N4-ethylcytosine are accepted by enzymes used in standard recombinase polymerase assays (RPA). Further unexpected was the discovery that target nucleotides are efficiently amplified in an RPA-like process (hereinafter abbreviated as simply RPA) using substituted primers. The invention also covers RPA-like processes that use substituted primers tagged with oligonucleotides incorporating nucleotides from artificially expanded genetic information systems (AEGIS).

Abstract: The present application discloses methods and apparatuses for single molecule drug screening, discovery and validation. These methods and apparatuses allow a user to detect rapidly, using observation of single molecules, whether and how a drug candidate interferes with a target enzyme involved in a particular disease pathway. The methods and apparatuses described herein utilize single molecule manipulation and detection technologies (e.g., optical or magnetic tweezers) to directly detect whether the characteristic dynamics, or “mechanical signature,” of the target enzyme-substrate interaction are substantially altered or modulated by a drug candidate. Furthermore, the methods and apparatuses are useful for analyzing the modulation of the mechanical signature in order to identify potential interference mechanisms of a drug candidate.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for strain-specific identification and assessment of susceptibility of microorganisms based on the response of sensors in a colorimetric sensor array to metabolic products of the microorganism.

Abstract: The invention relates to muteins of the pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase 1 (PYCR1), to nucleic acid molecules comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding such muteins, to methods of determining in a subject a predisposition of having an age related disorder associated with PYCR1, to methods of identifying a compound capable of modifying the expression of PYCR1, and methods of treating a subject having an age-related disorder associated with PYCR1. The invention further relates to a genetically modified animal and a method of modifying the expression of the PYCR1 gene in an animal.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for capturing, concentrating, isolating, and detecting molecules. In one aspect, a molecular probe device includes a molecular probe having a complimentary base pair region initially zipped and structured to include a binding agent to chemically attach the molecular probe to an outer surface of a magnetic bead, and a binding molecule to chemically attach the molecular probe to a substrate of a microfluidic device, in which the complimentary base pair region is configured to hybridize to a complementary nucleic acid sequence of a DNA or RNA molecule.

Abstract: The disclosure relates generally to methods, kits and systems for extracting biomolecules from a water-in-oil emulsion, including breaking a water-in-oil emulsion comprising a plurality of aqueous droplets in a continuous hydrophobic fraction using a breaking solution to produce a resulting reaction mixture containing one or more biomolecules and manipulating the resulting reaction mixture to form at least two phases, where one of the phases includes an aqueous phase containing the one or more biomolecules.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nucleic acid probe that can achieve high detection sensitivity and high specificity in mutation detection, mismatch detection, etc. by the PCR method, a method for designing such a nucleic acid probe, and a method for detecting a target sequence. The nucleic acid probe includes a nucleic acid molecule, and the nucleic acid molecule includes a plurality of fluorescent dye moieties that exhibit an excitonic effect. At least two of the fluorescent dye moieties that exhibit an excitonic effect are bound to the same base or two adjacent bases in the nucleic acid molecule with each fluorescent dye moiety being bound via a linker (a linking atom or a linking atomic group). The extension-side end of the nucleic acid molecule is chemically modified, thereby preventing an extension reaction of the nucleic acid molecule.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for the use of enzymes composed of nucleic acid and/or protein enzymes to generate and amplify a signal indicative of the presence of a target. More particularly, the invention relates to compositions comprising nucleic acid structures that serve as partial or complete enzyme substrates and methods for using these structures to facilitate detection of targets.

Abstract: Provided is a chip process of gene synthesis, and the process comprises incorporating the whole procedure, which comprises amplifying oligonucleotides and assembling the oligonucleotides into a gene in parallel, onto a single chip. A specific mismatch endonuclease is also used in the process to establish an error repair system in gene synthesis, and the error rate is decreased to about 0.19 mismatched bases/kb. The high-throughput, high-fidelity and low-cost chip process of gene synthesis provided in the present invention can meet the requirements of gene synthesis and the optimization and screening of protein expression on a large scale at the frontier of life sciences such as synthetic biology, genomics, and systems biology.

Abstract: A substrate surface on which either a substance to detect analyte or an analyte per se is immobilized, which surface is formed by a treatment of substrate surface with a liquid which contains uncrosslinked polymer based on polyethylene glycol chain segment, said treatment conducted either simultaneously with the immobilization of said substance or analyte or after said substance or analyte has been immobilized on said surface. The non-specific adsorption of impurity protein or the like which is co-existent in sample for assay is significantly restrained.

Abstract: In order to decode arbitrary sequence regions for a large number of genes in a large number of cells, it is necessary to fragment the nucleic acids and introduced a sequence, which differs for each the cell, in the respective fragments. However, in conventional constructions for analyzing large numbers of cells, there was the problem that the cleaved fragments of different regions were intermingled before a tag sequence unique to each region could be introduced. The present invention is constructed to also comprise a genetic analysis system, when trapping nucleic acids extracted from a cell in multiple regions on a substrate and synthesizing and fragmenting the complementary DNA strands (cDNA) of the nucleic acids for each individual region, for immediately introducing a tag sequence unique to each of the regions into said fragments.

Abstract: Provided herein are nucleic acids and methods for selectively amplifying in parallel tens of thousands of high quality oligonucleotides without common sequences. The resultant oligonucleotides can be used for a variety of purposes and applications including but not limited to DNA nano structure synthesis.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are disclosed for measuring low-abundance DNA variants from a complex mixture of DNA molecules. Embodiments of the methods allow for extremely sensitive detection and can distinguish true variants from sequencer misreads and PCR misincorporations.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sensor array device with multiple sensor junctions which have been created through the assembly of two or more differently functionalized surfaces. The functionalizing of the prospective sensor junction areas with sensor compounds occurred when the different surfaces were physically separated from each other before the assembly of the sensor array. By these means, sensor junctions can be built smaller than conventional deposition techniques like printing and photolithography would allow for otherwise. As a consequence, each individual sensor junction contains two potentially different sensor compounds. The sensor array identifies and quantifies different biomolecules.

Abstract: Various methods, systems and devices for optical detection and analysis of polymers, such as polynucleotides, using nanopores, e.g., for determining sequences of nucleic acids, are provided herein. In certain variations, methods and systems for determining a nucleotide sequence of a polynucleotide, which include measuring mixed FRET signals as a polynucleotide translocates through a nanopore and determining a nucleotide sequence of the polynucleotide from the mixed FRET signals, are provided.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a method of determining a sequence of nucleotides for a nucleic acid template. The method can include the steps of contacting the nucleic acid template with a conformationally labeled polymerase and at least four different nucleotide species under conditions wherein the conformationally labeled polymerase catalyzes sequential addition of the nucleotide species to form a nucleic acid complement of the nucleic acid template, wherein the sequential addition of each different nucleotide species produces a conformational signal change from the conformationally labeled polymerase and wherein the rate or time duration for the conformational signal change is distinguishable for each different nucleotide species; detecting a series of changes in the signal from the conformationally labeled polymerase under the conditions; and determining the rates or time durations for the changes in the signal, thereby determining the sequence of nucleotides for the nucleic acid template.

Abstract: The present invention relates to new methods for diagnosing a pregnancy-associated disorder by analyzing fetal DNA present in the mother's blood. More specifically, this invention relies on the discovery that the maspin gene is differentially methylated in fetal DNA and in maternal DNA and provides these new diagnostic methods, which distinguish fetal DNA from maternal DNA and detect prenatal disorders based on abnormalities in fetal DNA level and methylation status.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel mutations of the CFTR gene related to cystic fibrosis or to conditions associated with cystic fibrosis. The mutations include duplication of exons including duplication of exons 6b through 10. Methods of identifying if an individual contains the exons 6b through 10 duplication are provided as well as nucleic acid fragments that contain the junction site of the duplicated segment. The detection of additional mutations in the CFTR gene are also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for analyzing cytosine methylations in DNA sequences, according to which non-methylated cytosines are first converted into uracil while 5-methylcytosine remains unmodified. The DNA is then amplified by means of a polymerase and at least one primer whose 5 end is connected to a probe via a linker. The probe is intramolecularly hybridized onto the amplified products in accordance with the methylation state of the DNA, hybridization being detectable via different detection systems. The inventive method is particularly suitable for diagnosing and predicting cancer diseases and other diseases associated with a modification of the methylation state as well as for predicting undesired effects of medicaments.

Abstract: Described are methods of determining if a subject has a genetic predisposition to developing prostate cancer (PCa), e.g., an American or Caribbean subject of African descent and of reducing their risk.

Abstract: A polynucleotide comprising at least the final six nucleotides of one of the following primer sequences, or a sequence complementary thereto: SEQ. ID NOS. 3 to 16, 18, 20 to 33, 35 or 37 to 39. A method of detecting the presence or absence of a mutation in the PIK3CA gene, wherein the mutation is one of H1047R, H1047L, E542K and E545K, and preferably ARMS primers are combined with Scorpion primers.

Abstract: Methods, kits, and compositions for evaluating the quality of nucleic acids within a biological sample for analysis in a molecular assay are provided. A kit is provided for evaluating a biological sample containing potentially degraded DNA, comprising a control reagent and a target amplification reagent, wherein the control amplification reagent comprises one or more pairs of amplification oligonucleotides capable of amplifying a medium chain acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase (MCAD) nucleic acid molecule or a complement thereof, and wherein the target amplification reagent comprises one or more pairs of amplification oligonucleotides capable of amplifying a non-MCAD target gene of interest or a complement thereof. Frequently, one or more of the amplification oligonucleotides is/are labeled.

Abstract: Methods for detecting endometrial diseases or an endometrium phase in a subject are described comprising measuring endometrial markers or polynucleotides encoding the markers in a sample from the subject. The invention also provides localization or imaging methods for endometrial diseases, and kits for carrying out the methods of the invention. The invention also contemplates therapeutic applications for endometrial diseases employing endometrial markers, polynucleotides encoding the markers, and/or binding agents for the markers.

Abstract: The present invention discloses methods, kits-of-parts, and devices for the selective lysis of eukaryotic cells in a sample comprising micro-organisms such as bacteria unicellular fungi. The selective lysis is obtained by incubating the sample in an ionic surfactant under alkaline conditions.

Abstract: Primers and probes for detection of toxin-producing (toxigenic) strains of Clostridium difficile, and to methods of detecting toxigenic strains using these primers and probes. Toxigenic strains of C. difficile are detected by nucleic acid-based amplification methods using particular primers and probes that bind to the toxin B (TcdB) gene. These primers and probes are used to amplify C. difficile nucleic acids in clinical samples to determine the presence of these toxigenic strains.

Abstract: Soybean Event pDAB9582.816.15.1 comprises gene expression cassettes which contain genes encoding Cry1F, Cry1Ac (synpro), and PAT, affording insect resistance and herbicide tolerance to soybean crops containing the event, and enabling methods for crop protection and protection of stored products. The disclosure provides polynucleotide related event detection methods. The present disclosure relates to a method for detecting a new insect resistant and herbicide tolerant transgenic soybean transformation event, designated Soybean Event pDAB9582.816.15,1. The DNA of soybean plants containing this event includes the junction/flanking sequences described herein that characterize the location of the inserted DNA within the soybean genome. SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID N0:2 are diagnostic for Soybean Event pDAB9582.816.15.1.

Abstract: Reagents and methods for the fast, accurate and early detection of infections in thalassemia major patients. Reagents include a primer pool containing a mixture of primer pairs for the specific recognition and simultaneous amplification of targeted gene sequences of pathogens from a biological sample collected from a patient in a multiplex PCR reaction. Pathogens may include at least one Fungi species, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus. Subsequent identification of the pathogens is achieved by DNA sequencing analysis.

Abstract: The disclosed invention is related to methods, compositions, kits and isolated nucleic acid sequences for targeting Adenovirus nucleic acid. Compositions include amplification oligomers and/or detection probe oligomers. Kits and methods comprise at least one of these oligomers.

Abstract: A method of producing a sugar liquid includes filtering a cellulose-derived sugar liquid through one or more separation membranes selected from the group consisting of an ultrafiltration membrane, a nanofiltration membrane and a reverse osmosis membrane, and washing the separation membrane(s) after filtration with washing water containing an acidic substance and an aromatic compound.

Abstract: A leather coating composition comprising (I) an aqueous urethane resin, (II) a matting agent, and (III) a silicone-acrylic graft copolymer resin emulsion obtained by reacting a polyorganosiloxane with a (meth)acrylate monomer has improved abrasion resistance and anti-staining properties. Leather coated with the composition is given an aesthetic appearance and abrasion resistance.

Abstract: A method for heating a blast furnace stove includes combusting fuel in a combustion chamber in the stove, providing combustion gases from the combustion chamber to heat refractory material in the stove, recirculating exhausted combustion gases into the combustion chamber, enriching the combustion chamber with oxygen sufficient for maintaining combustion in the combustion chamber without damaging the refractory material in the stove.

Abstract: Provided is a lance and an operation method using the same, in which a suction hole allowing source gas to be injected into a container, in which a reaction gas is generated, is included. The suction hole is formed in a source gas passage where the reaction gas is introduced into the passage. Thus the temperature of the gas injected into the container may be easily increased without using any separate heating device, and secondary combustion efficiency may be increased. In addition, the gas sprayed at a high temperature is provided, and thus additional heat may be supplied into the container. Thus, excessive use of fuel used to increase the temperature of the container may be avoided, and thus operation costs may be reduced and operation efficiency and productivity may be increased.

Abstract: A manufacturing method for strip casting 550 MPa-grade high strength atmospheric corrosion-resistant steel strip, comprising the following steps: 1) smelting, where the chemical composition of a molten steel is that: C is between 0.03-0.08%, Si?0.4%, Mn is between 0.6-1.5%, P is between 0.07-0.22%, S?0.01%, N?0.012%, Cu is between 0.25-0.8%, Cr is between 0.3-0.8%, and Ni is between 0.12-0.4%, additionally, also comprised is at least one micro-alloying element among Nb, V, Ti, and Mo, where Nb is between 0.01-0.08%, V is between 0.01-0.08%, Ti is between 0.01-0.08%, and Mo is between 0.1-0.4%, and where the remainder is Fe and unavoidable impurities; 2) strip casting, where a 1-5 mm-thick cast strip is casted directly; 3) cooling the strip, where the cooling rate is greater than 20° C./s; 4) online hot rolling the cast strip, where the hot rolling temperature is between 1050-1250° C.

Abstract: This super non-magnetic soft stainless steel wire rod includes, in mass %, C: 0.08% or less, Si: 0.05% to 2.0%, Mn: more than 8.0% to 25.0% or less, P: 0.06% or less, S: 0.01% or less, Ni: more than 6.0% to 30.0% or less, Cr: 13.0% to 25.0%, Cu: 0.2% to 5.0%, N: less than 0.20%, Al: 0.002% to 1.5%, and C+N: less than 0.20%, with the remainder being Fe and inevitable impurities, in which Md30, which is expressed as Equation (a) described below, is ?150 or less. Md30=413?462(C+N)?9.2Si?8.1Mn?9.5Ni?13.

Abstract: A solvent extraction settler arrangement comprising a mixing unit for preparing a dispersion from mutually immiscible solutions and a settler having a feed end and a discharge end. The settler is arranged to separate solution phases from a dispersion fed from the feed end while the dispersion flows towards the discharge end. The arrangement further comprises a feeding device located at the feed end for feeding the dispersion prepared by the mixing unit to the settler. The feeding device comprises an elongated feed launder having a first end for receiving the dispersion from the mixing unit, and a second end. The feed launder extends alongside the feed end of the settler. The feed launder has a form of a conical tube with a cross-section converging towards the second end and an inclined bottom ascending towards the second end.

Abstract: Provided is a system for efficiently recovering trace metal from a large amount of a raw material, such as when trace metal is recovered from nickel oxide ore. This ion exchange resin has, on a carrier, an amide derivative represented by the following general formula. In the formula, R1 and R2 represent the same or different alkyl groups, R3 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, and R4 represents a hydrogen atom or an arbitrary group, other than an amino group, bonded to ? carbon as an amino acid. The amide derivative is preferably a glycinamide derivative. The carrier preferably includes a primary amine and/or a secondary amine.

Abstract: A high-strength Ni-base alloy having favorable corrosion resistance, high strength, and high ductility, around room temperature is provided. A high-strength Ni-base alloy includes: in % by mass, less than 0.01% of C, not more than 0.5% of Si, not more than 0.5% of Mn, 15 to 25% of Cr. 1.0 to 5.0% of Mo or Mo+0.5W, 0.2 to 0.8% of Al, 1.0 to 2.0% of Ti, 3.00 to 3.80% of Nb, not more than 30% of Fe, and 0.0007 to 0.010% of Mg; Ni; and impurities. A value represented by Mg/S is not less than 0.7, and an A value is not less than 0.015 and less than 0.027, the A value being represented by A value=Al/(Al+1.77(Ti?1.36C)+3.44(Nb?5.1C)).

Abstract: The invention relates to biodegradable, metal alloy-containing compositions, methods for their preparation and applications for their use. The compositions include magnesium and other components, such as yttrium, calcium, silver, cerium, and zirconium; or zinc, silver, cerium, and zirconium; or aluminum, zinc, calcium, manganese, silver, yttrium; or strontium, calcium, zinc. The compositions are prepared by vacuum induction/crucible melting together the components and casting the melted mixture in a preheated mild steel/copper mold. In certain embodiments, the compositions of the invention are particularly useful for forming medical devices for implantation into a body of a patient.

Abstract: A NdFeB rare earth permanent magnet with composite main phase and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. In the composite main phase, a PR2(Fe1-x-yCoxAly)14B main phase is the core, ZR2(Fe1-w-nCowAln)14B main phase surrounds a periphery of the PR2(Fe1-x-yCoxAly)14B main phase, and no grain boundary phase exists between ZR2(Fe1-w-nCowAln)14B main phase and the PR2(Fe1-x-yCoxAly)14B main phase, wherein ZR represents a group of rare earth elements in which a content of heavy rare earth is higher than an average content of heavy rare earth in the composite main phase, PR represents a group of rare earth elements in which a content of heavy rare earth is lower than an average content of heavy rare earth in the composite main phase. The manufacturing method includes steps of LR—Fe—B-Ma alloy melting, HR—Fe—B-Mb alloy melting, alloy hydrogen decrepitating, metal oxide micro-powder surface absorbing and powdering, magnetic field pressing, sintering and ageing.

Abstract: This H-beam steel has a composition including C, Si, Mn, Cu, Ni, V, Al, Ti, B, N, and O, and further including at least one of Mo and Nb, in which Ceq obtained in Equation 1 described below falls in a range of 0.37 to 0.50, the thickness of a flange falls in a range of 100 to 150 mm, and the area fraction of bainite at a depth of one quarter of the thickness of the flange from the external surface of the flange is 60% or more. Ceq=C+Mn/6+(Mo+V)/5+(Ni+Cu)/15??Equation 1, where C, Mn, Mo, V, Ni, and Cu represent the amount of each element contained.