Abstract: Functionalizing a fibrous material having a plurality of hydroxyl groups includes reacting the fibrous material with a compound of Formula I: where X is a monovalent counteranion for the quaternary ammonium cation of Formula I and Hal is a halogen atom, to obtain the functionalized fibrous material. Also provided is a functionalized fibrous material prepared by any one of the methods described herein (e.g., a functionalized fiber including a moiety of Formula II: having an odor of free amine below the threshold of detection, or having an odor of free amine with degree of offensiveness of about 3 or less. The functionalized fibrous material may be dyed, and articles of clothing may be made from the dyed functionalized fibrous material.

Abstract: A liquid fabric treatment composition including a hydrocarbon wax, a crosslinking agent, and a polyester warp sizing agent. The liquid fabric treatment composition may include a disperse dye. Methods of using these compositions for dyeing cellulose-containing fabric with a disperse dye include contacting a fabric containing cellulose with a liquid fabric treatment composition to yield a pretreated fabric, and heating the pretreated fabric to yield a treated fabric. The treated fabric contains a urethane compound formed by a reaction of the hydrocarbon wax, the crosslinking agent, and the cellulose of the fabric.

Abstract: Systems and methods for removing material, e.g., linters, from seeds, e.g., ginned cottonseeds, are provided. The systems and methods involve rotating the seeds in a rotatable drum having a plurality of longitudinal brushes. The centrifugal force created by the rotation of the drum and the plurality of longitudinal brushes urge the seeds against an interior surface of the drum that is lined with a brush insert. In this way, work is performed that removes the material from the exterior of the seeds. The material is removed using reduced pressure and the processed seeds are removed. The system may include a brush insert that is easily removed from the rotatable drum. Other systems and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions for attracting noctuid moths, which include at least one pheromone and at least one synergist. The synergist is a naturally-occurring phytochemical compound. The synergist is preferably ?-caryophyllene, iso-caryophyllene, ?-humulene, or combinations thereof. The invention also provides traps containing the composition for attracting noctuid moths, and methods for attracting, capturing, killing or sterilizing noctuid moths using the composition.

Abstract: Systems and methods for removing linters from ginned cottonseeds are provided. The systems and methods involve rotating the cottonseeds in a rotatable drum having a plurality of longitudinal brushes. The centrifugal force created by the rotation of the drum and the plurality of longitudinal brushes urge the cottonseeds against an interior surface of the drum that is lined with a flexible abrasive member. In this way, work is performed that removes the linters from the cottonseeds. The linters are removed using reduced pressure and the processed seeds are removed. Other systems and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions for attracting noctuid moths, which include at least one pheromone and at least one synergist. The synergist is a naturally-occurring phytochemical compound. The synergist is preferably ?-caryophyllene, iso-caryophyllene, ?-humulene, or combinations thereof. The invention also provides traps containing the composition for attracting noctuid moths, and methods for attracting, capturing, killing or sterilizing noctuid moths using the composition.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions for attracting stink bugs, which include at least one pheromone and at least one synergist. The synergist is a naturally-occurring phytochemical compound. The pheromone is preferably methyl (2E,4Z)-decadienoate, ethyl (2E,4Z)-decadienoate, methyl (2Z,4E)-decadienoate, or methyl (2E,4E)-decadienoate and the synergist is preferably geraniol. The invention also provides traps containing the composition for attracting stink bugs, and methods for attracting, capturing, killing or sterilizing stink bugs using the composition.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods for transforming cotton using isolated shoot apical tips of seedlings. The apical shoot tips of cotton seedlings are isolated and chilled at a low temperature to slow the metabolic activity of the isolated cells, and then inoculated with a transforming agent carrying a desired gene. The invention also provides a method of regenerating transformed cotton plants with a desired trait from transformed apical shoot tips.

Abstract: The present invention relates to cellulosic substrates with reduced absorbent capacity having the capability to wick liquids, as well as to methods of manufacturing such cellulosic substrates. The cellulosic substrates provided by the present invention comprise an inside and an outside connected to the inside. The inside comprises cellulosic fibers and has a reduced absorbent capacity, and the outside comprises cellulosic fibers. The outside may have a reduced absorbent capacity and may have an absorbent capacity higher than the inside. The cellulosic substrate is capable of wicking liquid contacting the inside of the substrate to the outside of the substrate.

Abstract: Compositions and methods of rendering cellulosic materials flame resistant, and articles of manufacture including the materials, are disclosed. The compositions include one or more crosslinking agents, and, optionally, one or more phosphorus-based compounds. Dimethyloldihydroxyethylene urea, imidazole, imidazolidinones, dialdehydes, and dichlorotriazines are preferred crosslinking agents. The methods involve applying the composition to the material, and covalently linking the crosslinking agent to the material. An advantage of covalently linking the crosslinking agent to the cellulosic material is the lack of any potential toxicity associated with uncrosslinked fire retardants on the cellulosic material and the stability of the bonds between the material and the crosslinking agent to conventional steam cleaning and other carpet cleaning methods. In a preferred embodiment, the fire-retardant cotton-fiber composition is used to prepare cotton carpets, upholstery or raised surface apparel.

Abstract: Compositions and methods of rendering cellulosic materials fire retardant, and articles of manufacture including the materials, are disclosed. The compositions include an amino acid, protein and/or peptide and optionally include one or more crosslinking and/or coupling agents. Enzymes are a preferred protein. The methods involve applying the composition to the material, and optionally involve covalently linking the amino acid, protein and/or peptide to the material, either directly or via a crosslinking agent. An advantage of covalently linking the amino acid, protein and/or peptide to the cellulosic material is the lack of any potential toxicity associated with breathable dust particles of unbound amino acid, protein and/or peptide, and the stability of the bonds between the material and the amino acid, protein and/or peptide to conventional steam cleaning and other carpet cleaning methods.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for attracting, killing, and/or neutering populations of boll weevils and other insects which spend the winter in areas with thick vegetation are disclosed. With respect to boll weevils, certain plant compounds, when presented along with Grandlure, the synthetic pheromone of the cotton boll weevil (Anthonomus grandis Boh.), increase the capture of boll weevils by as much as 50% as compared to Grandlure alone. The compounds, beta-caryophyllene, eugenol and myrcene, are among those present in leaves in overwintering sites favored by boll weevils. With respect to controlling boll weevil populations, the compounds can be used alone, in combination with Grandlure, and/or in combination with compounds which are toxic to boll weevils or which inhibit their ability to develop normally or reproduce.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a transgenic plant in which a transforming agent such as a recombinant Agrobacterium or an isolated DNA molecule capable of conferring a desired phenotypic trait is injected into plant tissues using a needleless injection device. A preferred embodiment of the method provides the precise delivery of the transforming agent to floral tissues of a plant, allowing the direct insertion of the DNA of the transforming agent into germline cells of the plant that develop into seeds. This embodiment provides a more efficient method of transformation and subsequent regeneration of a transgenic plant.

Abstract: Linter-bearing cottonseed covered with a coat of starch optionally containing one or more biologically related materials selected from vitamins, feed supplements, oils, fats, urea, rodent repellants, insect repellants, medications, anti-germination agents, and preservatives, and a method for preparing it is taught herein. Starch coated cottonseed is useful as an animal feed and as planting stock. The starch coating allows the cottonseed to be used in conventional feed handling and seed planting equipment.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing seed cotton and removing fiber fractions from the seed cotton includes a plurality of freely rotatable first rollers that are arranged substantially parallel to one another and that are rotatably driven in a continuous path. A plurality of nip rolls are positioned in abutting relation to the first rollers on the side on the continuous path that is opposite to the side on which the seed cotton is deposited. The apparatus includes a reorienting arrangement for reorienting the position of the seed cotton on the first rollers to thereby permit all or substantially all of the fibers on the seed cotton to be removed. In one embodiment, the reorienting arrangement includes a rotating reorienting roller that contacts the seed cotton located on the first rollers. In another embodiment, the reorienting arrangement includes an apparatus that directs streams of air at the seed cotton on the first rollers.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing a fiber fraction from seed cotton includes a plurality of freely rotatable cage rollers that are arranged substantially parallel to one another. The plurality of rollers are rotatable in a continuous path that has a first side for receiving seed cotton. A plurality of nip rollers are positioned in abutting relation to a second side of the continuous path. An arrangement is provided for removing unginned seed cotton and ginned seed from the first side of the continuous path. A reclaiming apparatus is provided for reclaiming unginned seed cotton and discarding ginned seed that has been removed from the first side of the continuous path by the removal arrangement. Also, a conveying device is included for conveying unginned seed cotton that has been reclaimed by the reclaiming apparatus back to the first side of the continuous path.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing a fiber fraction from seed cotton includes a plurality of freely rotatable cage rollers that are arranged substantially parallel to one another. The plurality of rollers are rotatable in a continuous path that has a first side for receiving seed cotton. The outer peripheral surface of at least one nip roller is positioned in abutting relation to the cage rollers on a second side of the continuous path to thereby apply a force to the cage rollers. An arrangement is also provided for separating the seed cotton into individual locks before the seed cotton is fed onto the first side of the continuous path. Further, an arrangement can be attached to the at least one nip roller for varying the force applied by the nip roller to the cage roller.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the rapid dyeing of a series of successive garments or batches of garments with a vat dye, preferably indigo dye, wherein the garments while contained are submerged in and impregnated with the dyeing solution in a first bath, then removed from it while draining the dyeing solution and conserving it for re-use, then promptly immersed in an oxidizing solution in a second bath so as to shock oxidize the dye present in the garments, then removed from the oxidizing bath while draining the oxidizing solution and preserving it for re-use, and then washed and dried, and wherein the time elapsed between removal of the garments from the dyeing solution and their immersion in the oxidizing solution is less than 5 minutes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the rapid room temperature dyeing of a series of successive garments with a vat dye, preferably indigo dye, wherein the garments while supported on supports that keep all fabric surfaces of each garment accessible to treating solutions are first uniformly impregnated with the dye solution in a first bath and then immersed in an oxidizing solution in a second bath so as to uniformly oxidize the dye present in the garments.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fugitive ink composition, and a process for providing a fugitive mark on fibrous material. The fugitive ink comprises a dark organic pigment comprising a complex between a polyvalent metal and tannic acid, and a binding agent that is insoluble in water at a pH of about 7 and at a temperature in the range of from 0.degree. to 100.degree. C., and has a T.sub.300 temperature in the range of from about 5.degree. to about 150.degree. C. The fugitive ink composition may further comprise a diluting agent, a dispersing agent, a wetting agent, a defoaming agent, a preservative, a basic reagent, and a viscosity controller. The fugitive ink composition of the present invention provides a dark identification mark that has the ability to withstand the vagaries of weather, yet substantially decolorizes upon being subjected to mechanical processing alone, or in conjunction with scouring and bleaching with a bleaching agent.