Abstract: A plant expression vector is constructed to cause the expression of an amino-terminal portion of the Bacillus thuringiensis delta-endotoxin gene in plant cells and the vector is used to create transgenic plants expressing the toxin. A truncated form of the toxin is used, with carboxy-terminal prolines added for stability. A translational enhancer sequence derived from the untranslated leader sequence from the mRNA of the coat protein gene of alfalfa mosaic virus coat protein gene is placed between a promoter and the toxin gene to increase translational efficiency. The transgenic plants produced are toxic to Lepidopteran pests and can transmit that trait to their progeny by normal Mendelian inheritance.

Abstract: Transgenic cotton plants have been created which expressed an immobilized protein in the cotton fiber cells. The cotton fiber can be recovered from such transgenic cotton plants and then used as a substrate for fixing immobilized protein for use in industrial or laboratory processes. Using an enzyme expressed inside cotton fiber, it is possible to fabricate a convenient reaction column by simply packing the cotton fiber carrying the enzyme into a column and passing substrate therethrough.

Abstract: A universal surface polishing assembly movable along the longitudinal axis of a workpiece including a pair of polishing arms with a surface grinding material affixed to each end of the polishing arms respectively, a regulated cylinder for actuating the polishing arms onto the machine component bearing surface, and a pair of stabilizing plates located directly adjacent the polishing arms for stabilizing the polishing arms during the microfinishing operation. The surface polishing assembly is designed to be adapted to various machines having means for workpiece rotation such as grinders, lathes, mills etc. Many different machine components that require microfinishing of various bearing surfaces can be finished in the present invention due to the manual indexing ability inherent in the slidable polishing assembly.

Abstract: A microfinishing arm assembly for reducing taper on selected bearing journal surfaces of various workpieces rotated about a longitudinal axis. The microfinishing arm assembly includes a primary finishing arm and a taper correction means for applying a plurality of adjacent independently variable grinding pressures. A primary abrasive means for finishing a journal surface is mountable on the primary finishing arm and adapted for use in cooperation with the taper correction means. A measuring means for gauging the bearing journal surfaces at a plurality of spaced points during rotation is utilized with a processor means for receiving the gauging signals, calculating diameters of the journal surfaces and generating a plurality of output signals corresponding to the diameters of the bearing surfaces at spaced points.

Abstract: Transgenic plants have been created which express an insect-specific toxin from a scorpion. The chimeric inheritable trait produced conditions of toxicity in the plant cells of toxicity to certain insects upon ingestion of plant tissues. The inheritable trait has also been cross-bred to plants transgenic to the Bacillus thuringiensis delta-endotoxin to produce plants having two independent insect-specific toxin traits. Insect feeding trails revealed additive toxic effects. A generalized approach for developing other insecticidal toxins as candidates for insertion into transgenic plants is also presented.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for repairing ruptures in underground conduits. An inflatable bladder and a flexible sleeve that is wrapped about at least a portion of the bladder are introduced into a conduit proximate a rupture therein. The bladder is inflated to urge the sleeve into engagement with the conduit such that the sleeve covers the rupture. The sleeve includes an adhesive bonding substance that adheres the sleeve to the conduit and is hardenable to bond the sleeve to the conduit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for the genetic transformation of soybean plants and plant lines by particle mediated transformation. Foreign genes are introduced into regenerable soybean tissues by coating on carrier particles which are physically accelerated into plant tissues. The treated plant tissues are then recovered and regenerated into whole sexually mature plants. The progeny are recovered from seed set by these plants and a portion of these progeny will contain in their genome the foreign gene. The procedure may be used to create novel genetically engineered soybean plants and lines.