Abstract: A composition suitable for making films, wherein the composition contains keratin obtained from avian feathers and at least one OH containing plasticizer. Protein-based films containing at least one protein and at least one OH containing plasticizer, wherein the protein is a protein whose PE value is ?2.5 where PE=(S+T+Y)/C where PE is plasticizer efficiency and where S, T, Y, and C are the amino acids serine, threonine, tyrosine, and cysteine, respectively, in the protein. Preferably the protein is keratin obtained from avian feathers.

Abstract: A method of preventing or treating mastitis in a mammal, involving administering to the mammal a therapeutically effective amount of diethylaminoethyl-dextran (DEAE-dextran) or dextran.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods of improving flour by altering glutenin content in seeds of plants, particularly wheat. The invention relates to methods of introducing a recombinant construct comprising a glutenin gene into a parental plant.

Abstract: The invention provides a simple, non-invasive means for measuring pressure of fluid in fluid-containing, resilient tubing by measuring the force to mechanically compress the tubing to a predetermined distance. In the apparatus of the invention, first and second opposed members are moved together to a predetermined distance to compress the fluid-containing, resilient tubing therebetween. Measuring means connected to at least one of the members is used to measure the force exerted by the fluid-containing, resilient tubing against the members when the members are at the predetermined distance from one another, wherein the measuring means has been pre-calibrated at the predetermined distance, to correspond to fluid pressure within the fluid-containing, resilient tubing. An important application of the invention is the provision of a convenient, non-intrusive, low-cost device for field measurement of pressure in drip irrigation systems, without installing special fittings or puncturing the tubing.

Abstract: The invention relates to intermediate-moisture formed food products made from a mixture of partially dehydrated fruit or vegetable pieces and a gelled matrix such that the water activity in the matrix is substantially equivalent to the water activity of the fruit or vegetable pieces in the mixture. The product may be made from one type of fruit or vegetable alone, a mixture of different fruits, a mixture of different vegetables, or a mixture of various fruit and vegetable pieces.

Abstract: The invention is a method of Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of castor. The flower bud of an intact castor plant is wounded and Agrobacterium comprises the transgene is infiltrated into the wound. The flower bud is allowed to get seed, and seed comprising the transgene is grown into a transformed castor plant.

Abstract: This invention provides expression cassettes and vectors comprising a recombinant nucleic acid which comprises a nucleic acid sequence encoding a functional puroindoline B. This invention further provides such cassettes and vectors wherein the nucleic acid sequence encoding a functional puroindoline B is operably linked to a promoter. The invention also provides methods of producing plants with soft grain by transforming them with such expression cassettes and vectors, as well as the cells and plants produced by such methods.

Abstract: A method of removing the hull from corn kernels wherein the method involves exposing the corn kernels to ammonia (e.g., gas-phase anhydrous) under conditions effective to remove the hull from corn kernels.

Abstract: An in vitro system using Agrobacterium-transformed dicotyledon roots (such as carrot roots) and vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (such as Glomus intradices) was developed to produce viable and aseptic spores. The entire life cycle from the growth of initial germ tubes to the formation of external mycelium network and spore production was observed nondestructively using light microscopy. The system may be subcultured continuously for the production of viable and clean spores.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of producing monoclonal antibodies that are highly specific for (1) unique epitopes of Campylobacter jejuni (Cj) only and (2) epitopes conserved between Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli (Cc) outer membranes; to specific monoclonal antibodies made by the methods of the instant invention; and uses thereof The invention is drawn further to immunogens comprising the outer membrane complexes of Cj and Cc.

Abstract: A growth supplement for bacterial media is used to induce and/or maintain differentiation and viability of bacterial cell cultures. The supplement contains about 10 mM to about 100 mM of a sugar, an amino acid or mixtures thereof. When the media used does not contain iron and reducing agents, such as sodium thiosulfate, these are included in the supplement. The reducing agent is present preferably at about 20 to about 40 mM. The addition of this supplement results in flagellation of aflagellate variants of Salmonella and hyperflagellation of variants of Salmonella which are flagellated.

Abstract: Aminoglycosides such as aminoglycoside antibiotics are detected and separated by non-immunoaffinity binding to an immobilized binding protein which is preferably lysozyme or .alpha.-lactalbumin. Aminoglycosides are detected in a biological sample such as milk or a fermentation broth by contacting the sample with the binding protein immobilized on a solid carrier such as particles of carboxylated latex to bind the aminoglycosides to the binding protein, adding a label that binds to the aminoglycosides and measuring the label. In another embodiment, the binding protein containing bound aminoglycosides is separated from the sample, the aminoglycosides are removed from the binding protein, a label is added to the aminoglycosides and the label is measured. Aminoglycosides are removed from a sample by passing the sample through a bioreactor containing the binding protein immobilized on a solid carrier to bind the aminoglycosides to the binding protein and recovering the sample free of aminoglycosides.

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: 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: 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.