Abstract: An autonomous obstacle monitoring and vehicle control system includes a remote sensing device including one or more sensors. The remote sensing device is movable relative to an agricultural system, and configured to observe obstacles proximate to a path of an agricultural system or proximate to the agricultural system. An obstacle recognition module communicates with the remote sensing device, and is configured to identify and index obstacles proximate to the path or proximate to the agricultural system. An autonomous agricultural system controller is configured for communication with the agricultural system. The autonomous agricultural system controller includes a mission administration module configured to operate the remote sensing device, and a vehicle operation module configured to control the agricultural system based on the identified and indexed obstacles.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes methods of making a fertilizer composition from pretreated biomass by removing one or more inorganic nutrients from a fermentation beer to form an aqueous fertilizer composition. The present disclosure also includes systems configured to make a fertilizer composition from pretreated biomass, where the systems include one or more apparatuses in fluid communication with a fermentation vessel, wherein at least one apparatus is configured to remove one or more inorganic nutrients from the fermentation beer to form an aqueous fertilizer composition.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes methods of making a fertilizer composition from pretreated biomass by removing one or more inorganic nutrients from a fermentation beer to form an aqueous fertilizer composition. The present disclosure also includes systems configured to make a fertilizer composition from pretreated biomass, where the systems include one or more apparatuses in fluid communication with a fermentation vessel, wherein at least one apparatus is configured to remove one or more inorganic nutrients from the fermentation beer to form an aqueous fertilizer composition.

Abstract: The invention provides for methods of determining the presence, absence, or amount of a microbe used in bioterrorism by detecting the presence or absence of a cpn60 marker in a sample.

Abstract: The invention provides for methods of determining the presence, absence, or amount of microbial contamination in grain and related products. The invention further provides for methods of monitoring grain and related products before, during, or after processing of the grain or related product into, for example, feed. The invention also provides for articles of manufacture for carrying out the claimed methods.

Abstract: In situ hybridization and polypeptide-based methods for using cpn60 to detect and/or quantify microbial organisms within a biological or non-biological sample are provided, as are cpn60 probes and antibodies for use in methods of the invention, and kits containing such probes and antibodies.

Abstract: cpn60 nucleic acid-based methods for determining microbial profiles are provided, as are cpn60 primers and probes for use in methods of the invention, and kits containing such primers and probes.

Abstract: The invention provides for methods of determining the presence, absence, or amount of microbial contamination in an animal by-product. The invention further provides for methods of monitoring animal by-products before, during, or after processing of the animal by-product into, for example, feed. The invention also provides for articles of manufacture for carrying out the claimed methods.

Abstract: The invention provides for methods of characterizing animal performance based on the microbial profile of an animal. The invention also provides for methods of monitoring the effect of a feed or feed additive regimen on the microbial profile of one or more animals. The invention further provides for method of managing an animal growing or processing operation. Articles of manufacture are provided that can be used to evaluate the microbial profile of a biological sample, and systems and software are also provided for determining a microbial profile index from microbial profile information.

Abstract: The invention provides for methods of monitoring high-risk environments for the presence or absence of microbes by detecting the presence or absence of a cpn60 marker in a sample.

Abstract: Methods for managing animal processing operations are described that include scheduling animals for processing according to risk of contamination.