Abstract: A slat sorter includes a plurality of platens each supported by two slats. The slats are driven by hollow pin chain and are fastened to the chain by a ball detent pin which passes through the hollow pin of the chain into the slat end. The head of each ball detent pin acts as a bearing surface against a wear strip which confines lateral motion of the slats. The divert switches in the sorter use a switch arm driven by a motor. The arm is configured to allow rapid switching and a brake on the motor prevents rotation of the motor in the event of power failure to prevent the arm from drifting into an intermediate, potential crash, position.

Abstract: Calcium propionate treatments for milk fever (parturient paresis) have been formulated (1) with propylene glycol and either citric or phosphoric acid as a non-hardening paste and (2) with sodium chloride as a liquid drench. These compositions are particularly useful for treating this hypocalcemic disorder associated with the onset of lactation in dairy cows.

Abstract: Bacteria which will suppress fungus-induced potato disease under storage conditions have been screened and selected from soil samples. A method for isolating these antagonists, their use in controlling potato disease, and specific isolates which are inhibitory to potato dry rot disease under post-harvest conditions constitute the essence of the invention. The subject biocontrol agents are considered to be economically-feasible alternatives to chemical agents currently in use for this purpose.

Abstract: Aqueous ambient temperature pastes and gels of starch and poly(ethylene-co-acrylic acid) are disclosed containing starch in an amount from about 2.5% to about 10%, by weight, of the paste or gel, and poly(ethylene-co-acrylic acid) in an amount from about 0.5% to about 20%, by weight, of the starch, the poly(ethylene-co-acrylic acid) content being sufficient to provide aqueous ambient temperature pastes having higher viscosities than the same ambient temperature pastes without poly(ethylene-co-acrylic acid) and to provide aqueous ambient temperature gels having different gel strengths from the same ambient temperature gels without poly(ethylene-co-acrylic acid). These pastes and gels are prepared by a method in which a starch and poly(ethylene-co-acrylic acid) mixture in an aqueous medium is cooked, preferably by steam-jet cooking, and the resulting starch-poly(ethylene-co-acrylic acid) solution/dispersion is cooled to ambient temperature with water retained in the solution/dispersion.

Abstract: An unscrambling conveyor includes two side-by-side sets of rollers arranged in a herringbone pattern on either side of a central axis. The rollers of the two sets are positioned at different angles with respect to the axis and the drive speeds for the rollers are chosen to provide equal and opposite forces in the lateral direction and unequal but similarly directed forces in the axial direction. The sets of rollers are divided into zones having progressively increasing roller speeds in the downstream direction with the zones staggered with respect to one another on either side of the central axis. The lateral and axial forces drive articles on the conveyor toward and away from the center axis depending on the roller speeds in the staggered zones and in the downstream direction while imparting a twist to the articles. The successive zones of increasing speed stretch a randomly arranged mass of articles into a single file line.

Abstract: A protease has been isolated from a symbiotic bacterium found in the gland of Deshayes of the marine shipworm. The protease remains active over the pH range of about 4-12, exhibits salt tolerance up to 3M sodium chloride, retains a high level of activity above 50.degree. C. for at least 60 min, and is stimulated by oxidizing agents, particularly perborate. The properties of this protease suggest widespread utility in detergents and other low-temperature industrial applications.

Abstract: Protection of ruminants against bacterial pneumonia caused by Pasteurella haemolytica has been achieved with a subunit vaccine. The vaccine contains two principle components; capsular polysaccharide of P. haemolytica and a synthetic adjuvant, muramyl dipeptide. This vaccine prevented bacterial infection of the lungs of vaccinated animals upon challenge with P. haemolygica. In contrast, animals that were not vaccinated or animals that were vaccinated with only capsular polysaccharide alone had severe lesions and high concentrations of P. haemolytica in the lung.

Abstract: A device for use with a funnel drop-type trap for autoinoculation of active agents with insects. The device comprises a collecting chamber, an entrance near the top of the chamber for entry of the insects from the trap and for direction of the insects to the agent positioned on the surface below the entrance. At least one exit for escape of the insects is located on the sidewall of the chamber.

Abstract: Seven murine hybridoma cell lines capable of secreting monoclonal antibodies that can identify subpopulations of chicken lymphocytes have been developed. Precursor cytotoxic and suppressor T lymphocytes, precursor helper lymphocytes, and mature T lymphocytes may be distinguished by use of these antibodies.

Abstract: A diagnostic assay is provided for identifying closely-related strains or species of bacteria which possess common insertion sequence which is present in different positions within the genomic or plasmidic DNA for the different strains or species. A fragment of DNA defined by a site within the insertion sequence and another site outside the insertion sequence is amplified, such as by polymerase chain reaction. By appropriately preselecting a different size fragment to be amplified in each of the candidate organisms, those organisms which are actually present in a biological sample can be positively identified by size of the amplified fragments.

Abstract: Starch and a minor amount of natural gum additive are processed together so that the polysaccharide components of each substance are completely dissolved in water, and the resulting blend is recovered. Upon drying, the blend produces a product which hydrates rapidly and which yields dispersions that are not only smooth and viscous, but also possess considerable lubricity. These products are useful in foods as thickening agents, suspending agents, and fat substitutes.

Abstract: A method is provided for introducing a foreign gene into a plant cell by means of an Olpidium zoospore vector having associated with it a reassembled nucleoprotein complex comprising the foreign gene and reassociated coat protein of a zoospore-transmissable virus. The plant cell is contacted with the zoospore under conditions suitable for transmission of the nucleoprotein complex into the cell. The method can be conducted under nonsterile conditions, is applicable to all nucleic acids regardless of size, and is useful for introducing foreign genes into cells of both monocots and dicots.

Abstract: An unscrambling conveyor includes two side-by-side sets of rollers arranged in a herringbone pattern on either side of a central axis. The rollers of the two sets are positioned at different angles with respect to the axis and the drive speeds for the rollers are chosen to provide equal and opposite forces in the lateral direction and unequal but similarly directed forces in the axial direction. The sets of rollers are divided into zones having progressively increasing roller speeds in the downstream direction with the zones staggered with respect to one another on either side of the central axis. The lateral and axial forces drive articles on the conveyor toward and away from the center axis depending on the roller speeds in the staggered zones and in the downstream direction while imparting a twist to the articles. The successive zones of increasing speed stretch a randomly arranged mass of articles into a single file line.

Abstract: Synthetically prepared pheromone compositions, prepared from various mixtures of (Z)-3,3-dimethyl-.DELTA..sup.1,.beta. -cyclohexane ethanol, (E)-3,3-dimethyl .DELTA..sup.1,.beta. -cyclohexane ethanol, (Z)-3,3-dimethyl-.DELTA..sup.1,.alpha. -cyclohexane acetaldehyde, (E)-3,3-dimethyl-.DELTA..sup.1,.alpha. -cyclohexane acetaldehyde, (E)-3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadienoic acid, and (E)-3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadien-1-ol were found to be attractive to both male and female pepper weevils. The compositions will greatly enhance pepper growers' ability to control these destructive pests.

Abstract: An attenuated pseudorabies virus (PRV) having a reduced ability to reactivate from latency is produced by introducing (1) a genomic modification in the early protein 0 (EP0) gene whereby said virus is characterized by the inability to express the early protein 0; or (2) a genomic modification in the large latency transcript (LLT) gene whereby said virus is characterized by disruption of the synthesis of said large latency transcript; or (3) the genomic modifications described in both (1) and (2). The attenuated virus is useful in a vaccine for psuedorabies-susceptible animals, particularly swine. Swine vaccinated with a deletion mutant in the EP0/LLT overlap region displayed reduced virus shedding and fewer clinical signs than animals inoculated with a wild type virus. The deletion mutant-vaccinated swine also harbored less PRV DNA in the nervous tissue and showed reduced ability to reactivate the virus.

Abstract: The compound 2-nonanone is useful as an antifungal agent against decay organism of berries and other small fruit, particularly those which are susceptible to microbial attact under storage conditions by Alternaria alternata, Botrytis cinerea and Colletotrichum spp. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, an effective antifungal amount of volatilized 2-nonanone is delivered to the headspace of fruit packaged for market and the vapor is maintained until the package is opened by the consumer.

Abstract: A protease has been isolated from a symbiotic bacterium found in the gland of Deshayes of the marine shipworm. The protease remains active over the pH range of about 4-12, exhibits salt tolerance up to 3M sodium chloride, retains a high level of activity above 50.degree. C. for at least 60 min, and is stimulated by oxidizing agents, particularly perborate. The properties of this protease suggest widespread utility in detergents and other low-temperature industrial applications.

Abstract: A pneumatic terminal block assembly worn by a Pilot couples breathing gas from a regulator to the pilot's breathing mask. An emergency breathing gas supply attached to the pilot's seat remains with the pilot during ejection and supplies high pressure breathing gas to an emergency regulator which is part of the terminal block assembly. The emergency regulator on the terminal block is coupled to the emergency breathing gas supply by a small diameter high pressure hose which is not susceptible to tearing or kinking during ejection caused by the blast of oncoming air.

Abstract: Malto-oligosaccharide compositions which contain up to about 40% maltohexaose by weight are produced from starchy substrates and maltodextrins by a simple, one-step hydrolysis with certain thermostable .alpha.-amylase from Bacillus stearothermophilus. This process is particularly useful in the production of novel compositions with properties that will lead to new applications in both food and nonfood industries.

Abstract: An injector mechanism uses breathing system gas to entrain cabin air to demist and defog the hood and visor of an aircrew chemical and biological warfare ("CBW") suit. The injector includes a needle valve for flow rate adjustment and an aneroid for altitude compensation. The CBW filter is downstream of the negative pressure produced by the injector to purify any ambient air drawn into the system at the negative pressure region. Positive pressure in the system downstream of the CBW filter prevents inward leakage and contamination of the demist and defog gas stream.