Abstract: The present invention includes a method for producing a liquid inoculant containing a desiccant. The method can improve survival and stability of bacteria in liquid inoculants in pack and on seeds. The method includes providing a liquid inoculant of a bacterium grown to a substantially stationary phase. A desiccant treatment containing a desiccant is added to the liquid inoculant to form a partially desiccated inoculant product. The partially desiccated inoculant product can be packaged and stored. The partially desiccated inoculant product can also be applied to seeds.

Abstract: A tool assembly includes first and second tool bodies, a tool coupling interconnecting the tool bodies, and a drawing member for drawing the tool bodies together along a common longitudinal axis. The tool coupling includes a male portion disposed on one of the first and second tool bodies, and a female portion disposed in another of the first and second tool bodies and receiving the male portion. The tool coupling also includes a ridge disposed on one of the first and second tool bodies and a groove disposed in another of the first and second tool bodies and receiving the ridge for radially steering the first and second tool bodies during mating of the male and female portions.

Abstract: Sulfones of formula I are useful as antiproliferative agents, including, for example, anticancer agents: wherein: Q1 is selected from the group consisting of (a) a phenyl radical according to formula II  wherein R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 alkoxy, nitro, cyano, carboxyl, hydroxyl, amino, C1-C6 trifluoroalkoxy and trifluoromethyl; (b) an aromatic radical selected from the group consisting of 1-naphthyl, 2-naphthyl and 9-anthryl; and (c) an aromatic radical according to formula III  wherein n1 is 1 or 2, Y1 and Y2 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, and nitro, and X1 is selected from the group consisting of oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur and and Q2 is selected from the group consisting of (d) a phenyl radical according to formula II, as defined above; (e) an aromatic radical selected from the group co