Abstract: Acetolactate synthase (ALS), a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of valine, leucine and isoleucine in plants is inhibited by herbicides comprising imidazolinones. A mutant gene encoding imidazolinone-resistant ALS has been isolated from an imidazolinone-resistant Arabidopsis thaliana (GH-90) and stably maintained in a plasmid pKS1. When compared with the gene coding for imidazolinone-sensitive ALS, the imidazolinone-resistant ALS gene contains a point mutation, wherein adenosine is substituted for guanosine at nucleotide 1958, resulting in the substitution of asparagine for serine at amino acid residue 653. The mutant ALS gene can be used to impart imidazolinone resistance to a crop plant; thereby permitting the utilization of the imidazolinone or analogous herbicide as a single application at a concentration which ensures the complete or substantially complete killing of weeds, while leaving the transgenic crop plant essentially undamaged.

Abstract: Acetolactate synthase (ALS), a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of valine, leucine and isoleucine in plants is inhibited by herbicides comprising imidazolinones. A mutant gene encoding imidazolinone-resistant ALS has been isolated from an imidazolinone-resistant Arabidopsis thaliana (GH-90) and stably maintained in a plasmid pKS1. When compared with the gene coding for imidazolinone-sensitive ALS, the imidazolinone-resistant ALS gene contains a point mutation, wherein adenosine is substituted for guanosine at nucleotide 1958, resulting in the substitution of asparagine for serine at amino acid residue 653. The mutant ALS gene can be used to impart imidazolinone resistance to a crop plant; thereby permitting the utilization of the imidazolinone or analogous herbicide as a single application at a concentration which ensures the complete or substantially complete killing of weeds, while leaving the transgenic crop plant essentially undamaged.

Abstract: A microbubble generator is disclosed for optimizing the rate and amount of xygen transfer to microbial inocula or biocatalysts in bioreactor systems. The microbubble generator, and an associated immobilized cell reactor, are useful in the detoxification and cleanup of non-volatile polymeric and volatile organic-contaminated aqueous streams. In particular, they are useful in the continuous mineralization and biodegradation of toxic organic compounds, including volatile organic compounds, associated with industrial and municipal effluents, emissions, and ground water and other aqueous discharges. One embodiment of the invention includes a microbubble chamber packed with small inert particles through which a liquid effluent and oxygen or another gas are admitted under pressure, followed by a venturi chamber to further reduce the size of bubbles.

Abstract: A composition and method of making same comprising a grass of the family Graminae with the addition of an extract from bermuda grass in an amount effective to render said composition as an attractant or phagostimulant for hervivorous insects wherein the extract comprises an isoprenoid ketone having a 6, 10, 14-trimethylpentadecane-2-one skeleton in its molecular construction.

Abstract: A non-toxic composition, and method, for the clarification of raw sugar-containing juices, especially sugar cane juice, and related products, for analysis. A composition constituted of A) aluminum chloride hydroxide, B) lime and C) activated bentonite, bentonite containing calcium aluminum silicate, and preferably also a polymeric flocculating agent, has been found highly effective as a reagent for the clarification of sugar-containing juices, notably sugar cane juice, and related products.

Abstract: A process for the production of dextran polymers of controlled average number molecular weight sizes, and molecular weight size distributions via the mixed culture fermentation of Leuconostoc mesenteroides and a constitutive mutant microorganism capable of elaborating the enzyme dextranase, particularly Lipomyces starkeyi ATCC 74054, in the presence of sucrose. The Leuconostoc mesenteroides produces the dextran polymer, and the mutant Lipomyces starkeyi ATCC 74054 concurrently produces dextranase, an enzyme whose activity reduces the size of the dextran polymers and permits their growth or reduction in molecular weight size in direct relation to the temperature and time period regimen imposed as conditions for the reactions.

Abstract: A gel composition for cleaning and sanitizing the teats and udder of an agricultural animal for machine milking. Residual surface water, a source of milk contamination and mastitis, is eliminated from the teats and udder by use of the gel composition. The composition is constituted of water, a germicide added to the water in concentration sufficient to kill environmental bacteria which cause mastitis, and an aqueous gelling agent added to the water in concentration sufficient to form a palpable jelly-like mass, or gel. The composition preferably also includes a soap, detergent or other agent for the reduction of surface tension, and a skin softener and moisturizer. It preferably also contains a coloring agent. In application, the composition is applied to the teats and udder to soften and emulsify the particulate foreign matter, and kill the bacteria which cause environmental mastitis, without the separation therefrom of a separate liquid phase.

Abstract: Novel homogeneous bimetallic hydroformylation catalysts, and processes utilizing these catalysts to convert alkenes, particularly alpha olefins, under mild conditions to a product rich in aldehydes, particularly a product containing a high ratio of linear:branched chain aldehydes. The catalysts can be produced from a binucleating tetratertiaryphosphine ligand capable of strongly coordinating two metal centers and holding them in general proximity to one another. Bimetallic catalyst precursors are produced which, on reaction with carbon monoxide and hydrogen forms the active bimetallic hydroformylation catalyst system.

Abstract: A solid methyl cellulose desiccant wherein from about 0.6 to 1.8, preferably 0.9 to 1.5 of the available hydroxyl groups of the anhydroglucose units of the cellulose entity have been replaced by methyl, or methyl and hydroxyl alkyl or carboxy alkyl groups, if any, containing from 2 to about 4 carbon atoms, e.g. hydroxy ethyl, hydroxy propyl, carboxyl methyl and the like. In the solid methyl cellulose desiccant, at least one of the substituting groups must be methyl, with the remainder of the substituting groups, if any, hydroxy alkyl or carboxy alkyl, or both; preferably carboxy methyl, if any. At least one-half of the substituting groups are methyl, and preferably at least two-thirds of the substituting groups are methyl; the balance of the substituting groups, if any, being hydroxy alkyl or carboxy alkyl groups.

Abstract: A process for killing insects by applying to said insects and to substrates susceptable to infestation by said insects and their larvae an insecticidally effective amount of a composition containing at least one compound of the formula: ##STR1## where: R is alkyl of 1 through 10 carbon atoms, substituted alkyl of 1 through 8 carbon atoms, aryl of 5 through 10 carbon atoms, substituted phenyl, aralkyl of 5 through 13 carbon atoms, substituted aralkyl of 5 through 13 carbon atoms, alkenyl of 3 through 8 carbon atoms, alkynyl of 3 through 8 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl of 3 through 12 carbon atoms, cycloalkenyl of 4 through 12 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl alkyl of 4 through 13 carbon atoms, cycloalkenyl alkyl of 5 through 13 carbon atoms, (substituted cycloalkyl)alkyl of 5 through 14 carbon atoms, (substituted cycloalkenyl)alkyl of 5 through 14 carbon atoms, and cyano;R.sub.

Abstract: An alkyl 1-hexamethyleneimine-carbothiolate in low concentration has been found insecticidally active in the treatment of substrates which contain or are susceptable to infestation by insects and their larvae, particularly Diptera, and more particularly mosquitoes. The alkyl 1-hexamethylene-carbothiolate can be formulated and applied as a solution, aerosol or admixture within which it is dispersed as an insecticidally effective ingredient.