Abstract: The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for improving disease resistance, increasing weight gain, and reducing the incidence and/or severity of clinical signs of infection. The composition generally comprises one or more microorganisms that is administered to an animal in need thereof. Preferred infections that can be combated with the compositions and methods of this disclosure are respiratory infections including PRRSV and PCV2.

Abstract: Microsized devices operable to emit neutrons in a selective manner are provided. The devices are configured so that the rate of neutron emission can be varied, either actively or passively. The devices comprise an a-particle emitting material and a neutron producing target material that when aligned and/or positioned a predetermined distance apart emit neutrons. The rate of neutron emission can be slowed or stopped by taking the materials out of alignment and/or attenuating the ?-particles being directed toward the neutron producing target material.

Abstract: Monitoring systems for center pivot irrigation systems and methods of irrigating an agricultural crop using the irrigation systems are provided. The irrigation systems may comprise a plurality of in-canopy sprinklers. The monitoring systems are configured to detect an operational condition of the plurality of in-canopy sprinklers, including whether individual sprinkler heads have become detached from the irrigation system main line, or whether an individual sprinkler head has become clogged, and alert an operator with a time and/or location of the occurrence of an event associated with one or more of the sprinklers.

Abstract: Described herein are methods of increasing meat quantity and/or improving meat quality of domesticated meat animals using treatments of nicotinamide riboside. The nicotinamide riboside may be in the form of a chloride salt mixed or dissolved in a biologically-acceptable carrier. The treatments may be provided as an in ovo injection or orally administered to the live domesticated meat animal. The methods described herein advantageously increase the size and weight of the domesticated meat animals, reduce the incidences of transportation fatigue, and decrease meat discoloration over time.

Abstract: Targeted disruption of a specific gene and its subsequent restoration in obligate intracellular bacteria remains extremely challenging due to their absolute requirement for residence inside a host cell to replicate. Here, targeted allelic exchange mutations were created to inactivate two genes and then to restore one of the two genes of a rickettsial pathogen, Ehrlichia chaffeensis. These methods were then also successfully utilized in Ehrlichia canis and Anaplasma phagocyophilum. The resultant mutated pathogens are useful in immunogenic compositions for reducing the incidence of or severity of infection with ricksettsial pathogens.

Abstract: The present invention relates to microbial cells, including but not limited to aerobic bacteria cells and anaerobic bacteria cells, as well as yeast cells, and methods for producing the cells, feed additives and compositions comprising the cells, and uses involving administration of the cells to animals.

Abstract: Methods of modifying plants by amplifying native or introducing extrachromosomal circular plant DNA comprising one or more exogenous or endogenous genes conferring an agronomically useful trait when expressed in a plant, or disrupting the association or tethering of endogenous extrachromosomal circular plant DNA with endogenous chromosomes in a plant to change one or more plant traits.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to wheat plants having grain with high ?-glucan content, methods for constructing said wheat plants, grain therefrom and uses thereof. Wheat lines homozygous for the HvCslF6 gene from barley having five times the fiber content and an increased ?-glucan content of TA5790, TA5792, and TA5795 are disclosed.

Abstract: An electrosurgical device (10) operable to deliver microwave energy to cause targeted tissue ablation is provided. The electrosurgical device (10) comprises an antenna (26), a reflector (30), and a dielectric material (34) disposed therebetween. The selection of the dielectric material (30) and the relative positioning of the antenna (26) and the reflector (30) provide impedance matching between the antenna (26) and a transmission line (12) so as to minimize heating along the length of the device (10) during use.

Abstract: Described herein are antioxidant peptides and methods of producing the same. The antioxidant peptides are produced from cereal grain protein sources, which provide a number of advantages over more expensive antioxidant sources and synthetically-produced antioxidants. The antioxidant peptides are produced by reacting the cereal grain material with an enzyme capable of hydrolyzing proteins within the material, thereby forming hydrolysate peptides. The hydrolysate peptides are then selectively recovered to form an antioxidant peptide product. The antioxidant peptide product is useful in a number of applications, particularly as an ingredient in a food product to provide antioxidant properties to the food product.

Abstract: The invention consists of novel compositions of food-grade coatings comprising mixtures containing propylene glycol as at least one active ingredient and containing at least one inert food-grade acceptable carrier for controlling food pests and pest infestations and reproduction on and/or in food. The invention further provides novel food containers and methods of applying coating compositions, including those of the invention, to foods and to food containers used to store, age, and/or cure the foods.

Abstract: Inventive surfaces, and methods of using the same, are provided that exhibit improved water collection and frost formation properties over prior art surfaces. The inventive surfaces have a plurality of nanosized recessed areas formed therein. The geometries and patterns of the recessed areas are particularly designed to discourage water droplet coalescence on the surfaces. Due to these designs, the surfaces are capable of forming and maintaining smaller, as well as asymmetrical, droplets on the surfaces. As a result, a greater surface area of the inventive surfaces can be covered by water droplets, thereby increasing water recovery. In addition, the smaller, asymmetrical droplets lead to desirable frost layer characteristics under non-cryogenic freezing conditions.

Abstract: Microfluidic devices and nanobiosensors comprising a magnetic nanoparticle attached to a reporter molecule via a release unit for microfluidic-based detection of a target analyte in a biological sample. The nanobiosensors can be magnetically manipulated or guided through the microfluidics channels for incubation with the biological sample, concentration of the nanobiosensors, and detection of target analytes, without having to pump the entire initial sample through a microfluidic channel of the microfluidic device. The magnetic nanoparticles are separated from the reporter molecules before detection and can be re-used.

Abstract: Isolated cDNA sequences encoding for highly conserved domains of plant viral pathogen genomes. The cDNA sequences are selected from the group consisting of those listed in Table I (SEQ ID NOs: 1-68). cDNA fusion constructs or chimeric transgene constructs comprising at least two different cDNA sequences selected from the list in Table I, and more specifically cDNA corresponding to at least two different viruses is described, along with methods of creating transgenic plants with broad-spectrum, durable resistance to multiple viral pathogens using these cDNA sequences.

Abstract: Described herein are nucleic acid-peptide capsule complexes or nanoparticles comprising pre-formed peptide capsules and nucleic acids bound the exterior surface of the capsule, such that the wrap around the capsule membrane. The peptide capsules comprise bilayer membrane defining a liquid-receiving interior space and comprises a plurality of branched, amphipathic peptides. Method of making and using such complexes for delivering nucleic acids in vivo and in vitro are also described.

Abstract: Additive manufacturing systems and methods used for creating 3D parts from continuous-fiber reinforced composites such as, e.g., carbon-fiber or glass-fiber pre-impregnated tape are provided. The systems and methods lay tape in successive layers and cut each layer according to a 2D slice of a 3D CAD file. During the placement of each piece of tape, a laser welds the tape to other tape, eliminating the need for post-processing of each layer. By utilizing tape instead of large fiber-reinforced sheets, the systems and methods described herein reduce waste compared to known manufacturing techniques.

Abstract: Polymer hydrogels and methods for selective retrieval of microbial targets from microwells and other cell culture devices. The methods use semi-permeable, photodegradable hydrogel membranes that permit exchange of nutrients and waste products but seals motile bacteria and other microbes within microwells. Light exposure can be used to degrade the hydrogel membrane in a targeted manner and release the microbes from targeted microwells for further study.

Abstract: Water soluble, lipophilic starches are provided, which comprise a mixture of functionalized high and low molecular weight maltodextrin molecules. The starches may be formed by dispersing a granular starch in a liquid medium to form a slurry that is simultaneously cooked and subjected to enzyme hydrolysis. Following hydrolysis, the starch is functionalized with an organic acid anhydride reagent, such as octenylsuccinic anhydride. The organic acid anhydride substitution occurs randomly and at various locations within the maltodextrin molecules.

Abstract: Methods for producing engineered exosomes and other vesicle-like biological targets, including allowing a target vesicle-like structure to react and bind with immunomagnetic particles; capturing the immunomagnetic particle/vesicle complex by applying a magnetic field; further engineering the captured vesicles by surface modifying with additional active moieties or internally loading with active agents; and releasing the engineered vesicle-like structures, such as by photolytically cleaving a linkage between the particle and engineered vesicle-like structures, thereby releasing intact vesicle-like structures which can act as delivery vehicles for therapeutic treatments.

Abstract: Peptide hydrogels having a self-assembling, 3-dimensional nanofiber matrix are described. The nanofiber matrix comprises an amphiphilic peptide and optionally albumin. The peptide comprises (consists of) a terminal hydrophobic region, a central turning region, and a terminal hydrophilic region. Methods of making such hydrogels are also described, along with methods of using the hydrogels as scaffolding for tissue engineering, hemostatic agents, as well as 3-dimensional cell cultures, and for drug delivery, encapsulation of active agents (therapeutic cells, molecules, drugs, compounds), cell transplantation, cell storage, virus culture and storage.