Abstract: A method and apparatus are presented for determining the quantity of liquid and solid content in a removal stream of a froth created from a suspension that is generated during a froth flotation operation. Specifically, electrodes are immersed in the froth generated from a suspension having a known quantity of fiber particles, and the conductance of the froth is measured to establish a relationship between the measured conductance and the quantity of fiber particles. The electrodes are then submerged in a froth generated from a suspension having an unknown quantity of fiber particles, and the froth conductance is measured. The quantity of fiber particles in the froth can then be determined from the pre-established relationship between conductance and solid particle content.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 31, 2008
Date of Patent:
November 17, 2009
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
Inventors:
JunYong Zhu, Freya Tan, Roland Gleisner
Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing fatty acid alkyl esters, involving transesterifying a feedstock containing lipid-linked fatty acids with an alcohol and an alkaline catalyst to form fatty acid alkyl esters. The feedstock has not been previously treated to release the lipid components of said feedstock, or the feedstock has been previously treated to release lipid components and the feedstock contains residual lipids (e.g., <about 30% of the original content of lipids).
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 23, 2006
Date of Patent:
November 3, 2009
Assignee:
The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
Inventors:
Michael J. Haas, William N. Marmer, Thomas A. Foglia
Abstract: A cover crop termination system includes a smooth drum and a crimping arm assembly operatively connected to the drum through a cam mechanism including a cam follower. The crimping arm assembly includes a plurality of crimping assemblies having crimping bars which crimp the cover crop after it has been rolled in order to prevent resprouting of the crop.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 6, 2005
Date of Patent:
October 20, 2009
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
Abstract: Three choline utilizing strains of microorganisms isolated from the anthers of wheat, Aureobasidium pullulans strain AS 55.2, Arthrobacter species strain OH 221.3, and Pseudomonas species strain AS 64.4, are superior antagonists of F. graminearum. These microorganisms are effective for suppression and control of FHB in cereals, particularly in wheat and barley.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 15, 2006
Date of Patent:
October 13, 2009
Assignees:
The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture, The Ohio State University Research Foundation
Inventors:
David A. Schisler, Naseem I. Khan, Michael J. Boehm, Patricia J. Slininger
Abstract: The major aluminum tolerance gene, the SbMATE gene, encodes a root citrate efflux transporter that is Al-inducible at the level of gene transcription and is also Al-activated at the level of protein function. High level of expression of the SbMATE gene and the protein was found in roots. SbMATE orthologs with high degree of sequence homology were found in other higher plants, including rice. Successful transformation of Arabidopsis provides strong evidence that SbMATE can work across species to enhance tolerance to Al in other important crops grown in localities worldwide where Al3+ cations are present in acid soils and are toxic to plants.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 17, 2007
Date of Patent:
September 1, 2009
Assignees:
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture, Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuaria
Inventors:
Leon Kochian, Jiping Liu, Jurandir Vieira de Magalhaes, Claudia Teixeira Guimaraes, Robert Eugene Schaffert, Vera Maria Carvalho Alves, Patricia Klein
Abstract: A method for for repelling arthropods involving treating an object or area with an arthropod repelling effective amount of at least one isolongifolenone analog (and optionally a carrier or carrier material).
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 21, 2008
Date of Patent:
August 25, 2009
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
Inventors:
Aijun Zhang, John F. Carroll, Shifa Wang, Jerome A. Klun
Abstract: The invention concerns a recombinant nucleic acid molecule encoding an antimicrobial fusion peptidoglycan endopeptidase. The recombinant nucleic acid molecule according to the invention is formed from a nucleic acid encoding a bacterial endopeptidase (lysostaphin) from Staphylococcus simulans and a nucleic acid encoding a second endopeptidase (endolysin) module from Group B streptococcal bacteriophage B30. The encoded fusion endopeptidase has antimicrobial activity and kills both Staphylococcus bacteria and Streptococcus bacteria.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 5, 2005
Date of Patent:
August 11, 2009
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
Abstract: The teachings provided herein are generally directed to a non-destructive method of measuring a moisture content profile across a dimension of a hygroexpansive, composite material using radiation and a volumetric shrinkage correction. The measurement of a series of moisture content profiles over time can provide, for example, a measure of the movement of moisture during the process of drying of the composite material.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 28, 2008
Date of Patent:
August 4, 2009
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
Abstract: The rotary crimper for elevated crop beds is designed to crimp and mulch a field of crops with an elevated bed-type structure. The rotary crimper has a tubular inner roller and a plurality of crimping members extending from the inner roller. The crimping members have at least two projecting portions and at least one non-projecting portion. Structural support braces are disposed between the crimping members and crimping plates extend from the support braces. Additional crimping structures also extend the length of the inner tubular roller between the crimping members. In operation, the non-projecting portions of the crimping members and the crimping structures crimp the crops on the elevated portion of the beds, and the crimping member projecting portions and the crimping plates crimp the crops in the furrows between the elevated beds.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 17, 2008
Date of Patent:
July 21, 2009
Assignee:
The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
Abstract: Recombinant proteins have been developed for the detection of Toxoplasma gondii oocyst proteins for example in biological fluids. Isolated DNA sequences which encode these proteins have also been developed. The DNA sequences may be inserted into recombinant DNA molecules such as cloning vectors or expression vectors for the transformation of cells and the production of the proteins.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 2, 2007
Date of Patent:
June 9, 2009
Assignee:
The United States of America, as Represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
Inventors:
Dolores E. Hill, Dante S. Zarlenga, Cathleen Coss, Jitender P. Dubey
Abstract: A method of producing dicarboxylic acids (e.g., ?,? dicarboxylic acids) by reacting a compound having a terminal COOH (e.g., unsaturated fatty acid such as oleic acid) and containing at least one carbon-carbon double bond with a second generation Grubbs catalyst in the absence of solvent to produce dicarboxylic acids. The method is conducted in an inert atmosphere (e.g., argon, nitrogen). The process also works well with mixed unsaturated fatty acids obtained from soybean, rapeseed, tall, and linseed oils.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 12, 2007
Date of Patent:
May 19, 2009
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
Abstract: Disclosed are methods for obtaining expression of polypeptides in organisms employing alternative codon systems, and polynucleotides for use therein.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 27, 2004
Date of Patent:
March 10, 2009
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
Abstract: A system and method for determining a level of effective residual ink concentration (ERIC) in a piece of recycled paper. The piece of paper is illuminated with a beam of radiation and an amount of the beam of radiation reflected and transmitted by the piece of paper is measured. The level of ERIC is determined as a function of the reflected and transmitted radiation.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 15, 2007
Date of Patent:
February 24, 2009
Assignee:
The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
Inventors:
David W. Vahey, Jun Yong Zhu, Carl J. Houtman
Abstract: A porous polymeric matrix containing at least one natural polymer and at least one synthetic polymer and optionally at least one cation. Furthermore, a method of making a porous polymeric matrix involving mixing at least one natural polymer and inorganic salts with a solution comprising at least one solvent and at least one synthetic polymer to form a slurry, casting the slurry in a mold and removing the solvent to form solid matrices, immersing the solid matrices in deionized water to allow natural polymer cross-linking and pore creation to occur simultaneously, and drying the matrices to create a porous polymeric matrix; wherein the matrix contains a cation.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 15, 2005
Date of Patent:
November 4, 2008
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
Inventors:
LinShu Liu, Marshall L. Fishman, Kevin B. Hicks
Abstract: This study reports a novel immunopotentiating effect of a lectin (FFrL) extracted from the mushroom Fomitella fraxinea on poultry cell-mediated immunity and poultry coccidiosis. We describe the extraction of FFrL, its in vitro mitogenic activity and in vivo protection against an oral challenge infection with Eimeria acervulina. When tested on several cell types, crude FFrL agglutinated mouse erythrocytes and thymocytes and also various other cells including murine and human cell lines. However, crude FFrL did not agglutinate human A, B, AB, or O erythrocytes. FFrL showed a potent mitogenic activity on chicken splenic lymphocytes where at lower concentrations, crude FFrL exerted stronger mitogenic activity than Con A, a well-known potent mitogen for T lymphocytes. Further, FFrL significantly induced (P<0.05) nitric oxide secretion in HD11 cells, an established macrophage cell line, and suppressed (P<0.05) RP9 tumor cell growth, both, in a dose-dependent fashion.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 10, 2005
Date of Patent:
October 21, 2008
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
Abstract: The entomopathogenic fungus Paecilomyces fumosoroseus and certain related species, such as P. javanicus are useful for controlling infestations by subterranean termites, particularly those belonging to the family Rhinotermitidae. The family Rhinotermitidae includes two species of subterranean termites having extremely high economic importance in the United States; namely the Formosan subterranean termite (Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki), and the native (North American) subterranean termite (Reticulitermes flavipes). Large numbers of infectious propagules of the fungus, such as blastospores and conidia can be readily cultured on media that are easily and inexpensively prepared and incorporated into formulations for controlling termites. These fungi are useful for protecting living trees, plants, wood, wood structures, and other cellulosic materials susceptible to termite infestation and damage.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 9, 2003
Date of Patent:
June 24, 2008
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
Inventors:
Maureen S. Wright, William J. Connick, Jr., Mark A. Jackson
Abstract: The present invention is a new and distinct pepper plant known as Capisum annuum L. ‘06C84’, which displays a unique prostrate, indeterminate, spreading growth habit unlike that of the standard pepper plants. Plants of ‘06C84’, are characterized by black foliage, numerous small round solitary black fruits that mature red, and a vigorous low prostrate growth habit.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 3, 2008
Date of Patent:
April 14, 2009
Assignee:
The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
Abstract: The present invention is a new and distinct pepper plant known as Capisum annuum L. ‘05C37-3’, which displays unique pumpkin-shaped orange fruit unlike that of the standard pepper plants. Plants of ‘05C37-3’ are characterized by black foliage and small pumpkin-shaped upright oriented solitary black fruits that mature orange.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 3, 2008
Date of Patent:
April 14, 2009
Assignee:
The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
Abstract: The present invention is a new and distinct pepper plant known as Capisum annuum L. ‘05C69-12’ which displays a contrasting mixture of immature black and mature orange fruit at the same time unlike that of the standard pepper plants. Plants of ‘05C69-12’ are characterized by greenish black foliage and numerous small tabasco shaped, upright oriented, solitary black fruits that mature orange.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 3, 2008
Date of Patent:
May 26, 2009
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture