Abstract: A casting method includes: forming a seed, the seed having a first end and a second end, the forming including bending a seed precursor; placing the seed second end in contact or spaced facing relation with a chill plate; contacting the first end with molten material; and cooling and solidifying the molten material so that a crystalline structure of the seed propagates into the solidifying material. The forming further included reducing a thickness of the seed proximate the first end relative to a thickness of the seed proximate the second end.

Abstract: A casting method includes: forming a seed, the seed having a first end and a second end, the forming including bending a seed precursor; placing the seed second end in contact or spaced facing relation with a chill plate; contacting the first end with molten material; and cooling and solidifying the molten material so that a crystalline structure of the seed propagates into the solidifying material. The forming further included reducing a thickness of the seed proximate the first end relative to a thickness of the seed proximate the second end.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a blade, the method includes casting a nickel alloy blade precursor having an airfoil and a root. The airfoil and the root are solution heat treating differently from each other. After the solution heat treating, the root is wrought processed. After the wrought processing, an exterior of the root is machined.

Abstract: A hollow turbine airfoil or a hollow turbine casting including a cooling passage partition. The cooling passage partition is formed from a single crystal grain structure nickel based super alloy, a cobalt based super alloy, a nickel-aluminum based alloy, or a coated refractory metal.

Abstract: Antimicrobial defensin peptide variants comprising modified C-terminal fragments of a defensin and nucleic acids encoding the same are disclosed. Compositions comprising the defensin variant peptides and methods of their use to control microbial infections of plants and vertebrate subjects as well as contamination of feedstuffs and foodstuffs are also disclosed.

Abstract: A blade has an attachment root and an airfoil, the airfoil having a proximal end and a distal end. The blade has a compositional variation along the airfoil.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a blade, the method includes casting a nickel alloy blade precursor having an airfoil and a root. The airfoil and the root are solution heat treating differently from each other. After the solution heat treating, the root is wrought processed. After the wrought processing, an exterior of the root is machined.

Abstract: A casting method includes forming a seed. The seed has a first end and a second end. The forming includes bending a seed precursor. The seed second end is placed in contact or spaced facing relation a chill plate. The first end is contacted with molten material. The molten material is cooled and solidifies so that a crystalline structure of the seed propagates into the solidifying material. The forming further includes inserting the bent seed precursor into a sleeve leaving the bent seed precursor protruding from a first end of the sleeve.

Abstract: A hollow turbine airfoil or a hollow turbine casting including a cooling passage partition. The cooling passage partition is formed from a single crystal grain structure nickel based super alloy, a cobalt based super alloy, a nickel-aluminum based alloy, or a coated refractory metal.

Abstract: A casting method includes forming a seed. The seed has a first end and a second end and an inner diameter (ID) surface and an outer diameter (OD) surface. The seed second end is placed in contact or spaced facing relation with a chill plate. The first end is contacted with molten material. The molten material is cooled and solidified so that a crystalline structure of the seed propagates into the solidifying material. At least a portion of the seed contacted with the molten material has a solidus higher than a solidus of at least an initial pour portion of the molten material.

Abstract: A casting method includes forming a seed. The seed has a first end and a second end and an inner diameter (ID) surface and an outer diameter (OD) surface. The seed second end is placed in contact or spaced facing relation with a chill plate. The first end is contacted with molten material. The molten material is cooled and solidified so that a crystalline structure of the seed propagates into the solidifying material. At least a portion of the seed contacted with the molten material has a solidus higher than a solidus of at least an initial pour portion of the molten material.

Abstract: A casting method includes forming a seed. The seed has a first end and a second end. The forming includes bending a seed precursor. The seed second end is placed in contact or spaced facing relation a chill plate. The first end is contacted with molten material. The molten material is cooled and solidifies so that a crystalline structure of the seed propagates into the solidifying material. The forming further includes inserting the bent seed precursor into a sleeve leaving the bent seed precursor protruding from a first end of the sleeve.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a blade, the method includes casting a nickel alloy blade precursor having an airfoil and a root. The airfoil and the root are solution heat treating differently from each other. After the solution heat treating, the root is wrought processed. After the wrought processing, an exterior of the root is machined.

Abstract: Antimicrobial nodule specific cysteine rich (NCR2) peptides and proteins are disclosed along with compositions comprising the NCR2 peptides or NCR2 proteins and transgenic or genetically edited plants or microorganisms that express the NCR2 peptides or proteins to inhibit growth of pathogenic microbes. Such NCR2 peptides, proteins, compositions, plants, and microorganisms can provide for inhibition of fungal and oomycete growth.

Abstract: Antimicrobial OeDef1-, MtDef6-, or OeDef7-type peptides and proteins are disclosed along with compositions comprising the OeDef1-, MtDef6-, or OeDef7-type peptides and proteins and transgenic or genetically edited plants or microorganisms that express the OeDef1-, MtDef6-, or OeDef7-type peptides and proteins to inhibit growth of pathogenic microbes. Such OeDef1-, Mt-Def6-, or OeDef7-type peptides and proteins, compositions, plants, and microorganisms can provide for inhibition of microbial growth.

Abstract: Antimicrobial SbDef1-type peptides and proteins are disclosed along with compositions comprising the SbDef1-type peptides and proteins and transgenic or genetically edited plants or microorganisms that express the SbDef1-type peptides and proteins to inhibit growth of pathogenic microbes. Such SbDef1-type peptides and proteins, compositions, plants, and microorganisms can provide for inhibition of microbial growth.

Abstract: Antimicrobial nodule specific cysteine rich (NCR) peptides and proteins are disclosed along with compositions comprising the NCR peptides or NCR proteins and transgenic or genetically edited plants or microorganisms that express the NCR peptides or proteins to inhibit growth of pathogenic microbes. Such NCR peptides, proteins, compositions, plants, and microorganisms can provide for inhibition of fungal and oomycete growth.

Abstract: A casting method includes: forming a seed, the seed having a first end and a second end, the forming including bending a seed precursor; placing the seed second end in contact or spaced facing relation with a chill plate; contacting the first end with molten material; and cooling and solidifying the molten material so that a crystalline structure of the seed propagates into the solidifying material. The forming further included reducing a thickness of the seed proximate the first end relative to a thickness of the seed proximate the second end.

Abstract: A casting method includes: forming a seed, the seed having a first end and a second end, the forming including bending a seed precursor; placing the seed second end in contact or spaced facing relation with a chill plate; contacting the first end with molten material; and cooling and solidifying the molten material so that a crystalline structure of the seed propagates into the solidifying material. The forming further included reducing a thickness of the seed proximate the first end relative to a thickness of the seed proximate the second end.

Abstract: A die casting system includes a die having a plurality of die elements that define a die cavity. A charge of material is received in the die cavity. The charge of material comprises a refractory metal intermetallic composite based material system. A die casting method includes casting a component from the refractory metal intermetallic composite based material system.