Abstract: Diabroticite insects, in particular the corn rootworm, are major pests of corn as well as a variety of other agricultural crops. The invention describes an aqueous composition which is effective as an insectide for the control of Diabroticite insects and contains a photoactive xanthene dye, such as phloxine B, as a toxicant and a cucurbitacin-containing feeding stimulant. Additives such as a starch thickener and an adherent may also be included in the composition.

Abstract: Conventional food treatment processes utilized for food preservation generally involve heat treatment and usually result in some degree of thermal damage. A process has been developed for the non-thermal treatment of liquid food products which results in a significant reduction in the microbial population, thus reducing spoilage and extending shelf life. The novel process involves the rapid application of electromagnetic energy (EME), such as microwave or radio frequency energy, and the simultaneous removal of any thermal energy which may be generated by the process through the use of circulating cooling medium and an efficient heat exchanger.

Abstract: A fumigant which is effective for the control of postharvest disease in agricultural commodities utilizes carbon supports impregnated with natural volatiles to provide controlled release of the volatiles in storage containers and facilities. Activated carbon is an effective carbon support, while essential oils and benzaldehyde are useful natural volatiles.

Abstract: Halophilic bacteria have been shown to cause red heat on brine-cured hides, resulting in extensive damage to leather made from the hides. The addition of bile salts to raceways or to hides directly has been found to prevent the occurrence of red heat by inhibiting the growth of the halophilic bacteria. Bile salt solutions were added to cultures of Haloarcula hispanica, Haloferax gibbonsii and Haloferax mediterranei. Fresh hides were also cured in brine containing halobacteria and bile salts. In both instances, the presence of bile salts inhibited the growth of halobacteria, and hides cured in the presence of halobacteria did not develop red heat.

Abstract: This invention provides apparatus and methods for stabilization of ultrasonically generated nutrient fog. To eliminate the sensitivity to the humidity and temperature of the intake air, the fog is recirculated from the growth chamber to the fog-generating reservoir. The chamber and reservoir are connected by a fog supply conduit and a fog return conduit which form a fog circulation circuit. The recirculation eliminates the fog density dependence on intake air humidity and stabilizes the amount of nutrients used. To monitor the fog density, this invention provides an optical fog density detector that operates by measuring the absorbance of the fog. The density detector can be coupled with the fog generator so that the rate of fog generation is responsive to the measured fog density. The detector can be coupled with an alarm to signal fog generator malfunction. This invention also provides fog concentration stabilization by using a large ballast reservoir connected to a fog-generating reservoir.

Abstract: A process for the fractionation of proteins from an aqueous solution of whey is described. The process includes mixing the solution with carbon dioxide under pressure, heating the mixture to increase the pressure, releasing the pressure and lowering the temperature of the mixture, then separating a supernatant liquor from a precipitate which results from the process.

Abstract: High modulus, flexible laminated films may be fabricated from chitosan and pectin. Either glycerol or lactic acid as plasticizer and, optionally, starch may also be blended with either the pectin or chitosan solutions used for film preparation. The laminated films are biodegradeable, and the components are derived from renewable agricultural products.

Abstract: A method is described for the preparation of lactulose by isomerizing lactose to lactulose, followed by complexing lactulose to boric acid. The isomerization reaction is carried out in alkaline solution, and it is followed by splitting the lactulose-borate complex in acidic solution and separating the two components. Separation is achieved by crystallizing boric acid, filtering the crystals out of the product mixture, evaporating the product mixture to form a concentrate, recirculating the concentrate to the crystallization step where it is mixed with fresh reaction mixture in order to provide volume and nuclei for the crystallization of the boric acid in the reaction mixture, then passing the resulting mixture through another filtration step followed by an additional separation step by column chromatography.

Abstract: A fusion protein which comprises the B subunit of the labile toxin (LT-B) of E. coli and part of the flagellin (flaA) protein of C. jejuni is antigenic and is useful for decreasing colonization in chickens by Campylobacter species. The protein is produced by E. coli cells, transformed by the plasmid pBEB into which DNA sequences encoding the novel protein have been introduced.

Abstract: Phythophthora species which infect potatoes may result in the devastating disease potato late blight or in pink rot. Primers specific for Phythophthora infestans (late blight), and for Phytophthora erythroseptica and Phytophthora nicotianae (pink rot) have been designed which are useful for detecting the presence of the microorganisms by polymerase chain reaction methods. The primers were derived from the internal transcribed spacer region of Phytophthora ribosomal DNA and may be used to confirm the presence of the microorganisms or to distinguish among them.

Abstract: A method of making a genetically-engineered cell line which is susceptible to infection by foot-and-mouth disease virus and allows the virus to replicate is disclosed. The method involves fusing the DNA encoding ICAM-1 with the DNA encoding an antibody specific for foot-and-mouth disease virus and expressing the resulting chimeric cell surface receptor protein. The chimeric cell surface receptor protein allows foot-and-mouth disease virus to bind, leading to subsequent infection and replication of foot-and-mouth disease virus. A genetically-engineered cell which expresses the chimeric cell surface receptor protein is also claimed.

Abstract: Continuous cultures of pluripotent parenchymal hepatocytes were derived from the epiblasts of pig blastocysts. The cultures are feeder-dependent and grow slowly with doubling times of 3 to 4 days. They differentiate into large secretory duct-like structures or form small canaliculi. In combination with feeder cells and, optionally, adult pig hepatocytes and macrophages, the cells are useful in an artificial liver device which may be utilized as temporary liver support for the mitigation of the pathological effects of liver failure.

Abstract: A bifunctional enzyme has been isolated and purified from carrots which has both aspartokinase and homoserine dehydrogenase activities in the same polypeptide. The enzyme can be used to regulate lysine, homoserine, threonine, isoleucine and methionine content in plants. The DNA sequence encoding the bifunctional enzyme is also disclosed.

Abstract: Novel fatliquoring compositions used for treating mineral-tanned leathers are effective substitutes for oils which have conventionally been used to soften leather. The compositions comprise monomers which polymerize in situ and soften the leather by breaking the leather fibers into smaller units which can move about when the leather is deformed. Useful monomers are unsaturated phosphatidyl esters, such as phosphatidyl choline, and unsaturated fatty monomers, such as esters of unsaturated fatty alcohols and acrylic acid and vinyl esters of unsaturated fatty acids.

Abstract: An oil extractable from corn fiber contains ferulate esters, in particular sitostanyl ester, which has been shown to have cholesterol-lowering activity. The oil is extracted by a novel process which includes a grinding step carried out before extraction with an effective organic solvent such as hexane. The corn fiber oil may be combined with an ingestible and/or edible carrier for administration as a dietary supplement for cholesterol-lowering purposes.

Abstract: Helicoverpa species constitute the most important group of crop pests throughout the world, and scientists have been pursuing the development of biocontrol agents effective for the control of these pests. A virus, the gonad specific virus (GSV), has been discovered which serves this purpose by infecting Helicoverpa species and generally rendering the insects sterile. Those insects which do not become sterile on infection act as carriers of the virus, spreading it among the insect population and producing infected progeny.

Abstract: A fusion protein which comprises the B subunit of the labile toxin (LT-B) of E. coli and part of the flagellin (flaA) protein of C. jejuni is antigenic and is useful for decreasing colonization in chickens by Campylobacter species. The protein is produced by E. coli cells, transformed by the plasmid pBEB into which DNA sequences encoding the novel protein have been introduced.

Abstract: A foot-and-mouth disease virus has been genetically engineered by deleting the nucleic acid sequence encoding the leader (L) proteinase from an infectious cDNA copy of the viral genome and producing an L proteinase-deleted virus. The L proteinase-deleted viruses are able to assemble and grow in cells in culture, but, since they lack L proteinase, they are less toxic to infected cells within the animal, producing an attenuated infection. The recombinant virus can be formulated into an effective vaccine for the prevention of foot-and-mouth disease.

Abstract: The invention provides a filter for removing liquid from an ice slurry. The filter includes a horizontal filter plate. The ice slurry is passed over the top of the filter plate. The filter includes a first stage where the liquid is removed from the ice slurry, thereby consolidating the ice particles into an ice bed. The liquid is removed by drawing the liquid out of the ice slurry through a set of slots in the filter plate by using a low suction pump. A second stage of the filter draws the remaining liquid entrained in the ice bed through another set of slots using a vacuum pump, which has a higher suction than the low suction pump used in the first stage. A clean water rinse may be sprayed on the ice bed in the second stage to improve the removal of liquid from the ice bed. The filter plate at the second stage may be heated to produce a rinse through the bottom of the ice bed.

Abstract: A bioherbicidal composition comprising an invert emulsion carrier and a microorganism which is a non- or weakly-virulent pathogen in the absence of the carrier is useful as a herbicidal agent when the microorganism is present in an amount effective for herbicidal activity to occur in the presence of the carrier.