Abstract: The cyclic tetrasaccharide, cyclo{-6)-&agr;-D-Glcp-(1,3)-&agr;-D-Glcp-(1,6)-&agr;-D-Glcp-(1,3)-&agr;-D-Glcp-(1-}, may be produced by alternanase hydrolysis of complex carbohydrates other than alternan. Panose, pullulan, &agr;-D-Glcp-(1,6)-&agr;-D-Glcp-(1,3)-D-Glc, and D-glucans having alternating &agr;-(1,6) and &agr;-(1,4) linkages, are all hydrolyzed by alternanase to produce this cyclic tetrasaccharide. In this process, the cyclic tetrasaccharide is produced by contacting a solution of one or more of the above-mentioned complex carbohydrates with an amount of alternanase under conditions effective for activity of the enzyme. The substrate panose used in the reaction may be produced from a variety of polysaccharides or oligosaccharides, including starch, maltose, maltodextrins, pullulan, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A novel antigenic protein which is effective for stimulating antibody production in animals against the sheep scab mite, Psoroptes ovis is disclosed. In cattle, administration of the protein provides protection from infestation by P. ovis by eliciting an immediate-type hypersensitivity response and/or immunizing the animal against P. ovis. The protein is also effective for producing and/or binding antibodies to P. ovis, and may be used as an immunodiagnostic reagent.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and compositions for controlling food borne enteric bacterial pathogens in poultry populations. The incidence of the colonization of poultry by enteropathogenic bacteria, and/or the populations of enteropathogenic bacteria within colonized poultry, may by substantially reduced by providing particles of an expanded matrix material to the locus or vicinity of the animals, particularly during the period of feed removal prior to slaughter. The method and compositions are particularly useful for the control of Salmonella species, enteropathogenic Escherichia coli, and Campylobacter species.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for removing foreign matter from fibers, such as from cotton or flax with significantly reduced damage are disclosed. This cleaning is achieved without any of the condenser, compression rollers, or feed roller and feed plate which are present on conventional lint cleaners.

Abstract: The apparatus for tilling soil provides a significant reduction in energy consumption. The apparatus includes one or more sweeps which are effective for subtilling the soil as it is moved therethrough. One or more tillers are provided ahead of the sweeps, sufficiently near the path of travel of the outermost ends or tips of the sweep blades so as to disturb or loosen the soil directly in the path of the ends of the blades. By positioning the tillers relative to the sweep tips in this manner, energy consumption may be significantly reduced in comparison to subtilling devices having coulters or other tillers positioned ahead of the center of the sweeps.

Abstract: Hybridoma cell lines have been generated which produce and secrete monoclonal antibodies which selectively bind to tilmicosin. These hybridomas may be obtained by using as an immunization agent or immunogen, 23-deoxo-23-demycinosyl tilmicosin which has been conjugated to an immunogenic carrier. The antibodies may be used to detect and/or quantify tilmicosin in biological samples. The monoclonal antibodies also may be incorporated into kits.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for restraining wildlife with minimal trauma to the animal. The apparatus includes a housing having open front and rear ends allowing the entry and exit of a target animal, while the rear end includes an openable/closable door effective for controlling the egress of the target animal from the housing. To immobilize the animal, a deer lift is disposed within the interior of the housing having opposed, outwardly and upwardly inclined surfaces which are vertically movable between a first, lower position and a second, raised position. The opposed surfaces are spaced from one another with the space therebetween defining a narrow passageway allowing the target animal to walk between the opposed surfaces in the lower position. However, the width between the opposed surfaces is sufficiently close such that they engage the trunk or body of the animal when raised.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and compositions for controlling food borne enteric bacterial pathogens in animals. Populations of enteropathogenic bacteria may be substantially reduced or eliminated by treatment of animals with an effective amount of the compound Xm(ClO3)n, wherein X is a cationic moiety and m and n are independently selected from integers necessary to provide a net valency of 0. The compounds may be administered orally, providing a reduction in the populations of the enteropathogenic bacteria in the alimentary tract of the animal, or they may be applied externally onto the animal to reduce the populations of any such bacteria which may be present as contaminants on the surface of the animal. The method and compositions are particularly useful for the control of Salmonella species, enteropathogenic Escherichia coli, and Clostridia species.

Abstract: Hybridoma cell lines have been generated which produce and secrete monoclonal antibodies which selectively bind to 4,4′-dinitrocarbanilide (DNC), the active agent of nicarbazin. These hybridomas may be obtained by using as an immunization agent or immunogen, p-nitroaniline which has been conjugated to an immunogenic carrier. DNC in biological samples may be detected and quantified by contacting the sample with the antibodies to form a DNC/antibody immunocomplex when DNC is present, which immunocomplex may then be detected. The monoclonal antibodies also may be incorporated into kits for the detection and quantification of DNC and/or nicarbazin.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for conditioning and/or classifying seed is disclosed. The apparatus includes a seed conditioning/classification unit having an acceleration conduit and a convexly curved Coanda surface provided adjacent to the conduit at its outlet, curving upwardly therefrom. As the crude particulate feed stream is discharged from the outlet, it is conditioned by the Coanda effect into a first outlet stream of entraining gas and lightweight extraneous materials, which is channeled approximately along or parallel to the Coanda surface, and a second stream of relatively heavier materials such as seeds, which is expelled approximately parallel to the central axis of the conduit at the outlet. Seeds which are expelled from the conduit are also classified by momentum discrimination.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition for attracting scarabs. Liquid and solid formulations are provided, along with methods for their use, for controlling or eliminating scarabs, and/or protecting plants susceptible to scarab damage.

Abstract: Green leaf volatiles were found to synergize the attractant effect of insect pheromones on boll weevils, European elm bark beetles, and Mediterranean fruit flies. Trans-2-hexen-1-ol, hexanal, trans-2-hexenal, cis-3-hexen-1-ol, and 1-hexanol were most effective. These sounds will be useful in control of insect populations.

Abstract: A novel method for the treatment of cotton byproducts to yield value-added products while reducing the wear on processing equipment is described. In this process, cotton byproducts or waste are ground and compacted, and treated with a gellable polysaccharide. The polysaccharide is gelatinized, either before or concurrent with the grinding and compaction of the cotton byproducts. The resultant byproducts exhibit significantly reduced abrasiveness, greatly reducing the wear on equipment.

Abstract: The instant invention is drawn towards transformed strains of Fusarium sporotrichioides effective for the production of B-carotene. The transformed strains comprise an expression cassette having four genes encoding, respectively, geranylgeranyl-pyrophosphate synthase, phytoene synthase, phytoene desaturase and lycopene cyclase (i.e. Tri5crtE, Tri5crtB, TriScrtI and CrtY). The transformed strains of Fusarium sporotrichioides of the instant invention produce B-carotene at levels of up to 3-4 milligrams per gram of fungus (dry weight).

Abstract: A nesting block for the rearing and management of cavity nesting solitary bees used for pollinating crops is disclosed. The nesting block includes a chamber having at least one substantially flat face, and a plurality of open tubes which extend therefrom into the chamber and which are closed at their opposite end. The chamber is formed from an organic polymeric material of which a major proportion thereof is polycarbonate.

Abstract: A novel vaccine for immunizing animals against Pasteurella haemolytica infection is disclosed. The vaccine is composed of whole killed cells of P. haemolytica in a dosage effective to immunize an animal against the organism, in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The killed cells of P. haemolytica are produced by irradiating viable cells with ultraviolet light for a sufficient period of time to kill the cells.

Abstract: Recombinant bacteria are disclosed which are transformed with heterologous DNA coding for alcohol dehydrogenase (adh) and pyruvate decarboxylase (pdc), and which are effective for use in the production of ethanol, but which do not require the presence of antibiotics in the culture medium to maintain genetic stability and high ethanol productivity. These recombinant bacteria are produced using mutant host strains which are substantially deficient in the ability to fermentatively reduce pyruvate. When grown in an anaerobic environment, the recombinant pyruvate mutants transformed with the adh and pdc genes are genetically stable, maintaining the inserted genes and ethanol productivity even in the absence of antibiotics.

Abstract: A novel fungal protein which is effective for inducing or stimulating the defense responses of plants against disease is disclosed. This protein, which is also referred to as an elicitor protein, may be used for the treatment or prevention of fungal infections in plants. The protein is produced by culture of Trichoderma virens, and may be subsequently recovered from the culture medium and purified.

Abstract: A device worn externally (or parts of which may be inserted in the ear canal) by an animal which uses a programmable repertoire of bilaterally applied aversive stimuli for the autonomous control of an animal's location and direction of movement is disclosed. Electromagnetic signals and electromechanical hardware are activated through a dedicated, embedded computer system, that allows a cascade of one or more aversive stimuli, normally acoustic and/or electrical stimulation, to be bilaterally applied to either the right or left side of an animal as a cue to change its location through a specific direction of movement. Aversive stimuli are programmed to be administered only when an animal penetrates a predetermined boundary. The embedded computer uses satellite position system data to determine the animal's location with respect to the closest boundary line and then calculates when and to which side of the animal the repertoire of bilateral aversive stimuli is to be applied.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and compositions for controlling food borne enteric bacterial pathogens in poultry populations. The incidence of the colonization of poultry by enteropathogenic bacteria, and/or the populations of enteropathogenic bacteria within colonized poultry, may by substantially reduced by providing particles of an expanded matrix material to the locus or vicinity of the animals, particularly during the period of feed removal prior to slaughter. The method and compositions are particularly useful for the control of Salmonella species, enteropathogenic Escherichia coli, and Campylobacter species.