Abstract: The inventions are methods of generating a plant having modified canopy size or having seedless fruit by transformation with a construct encoding streptavidin operably linked to a secretion signal peptide capable and selecting plants with degeneration of young leaf and/or shoot tissue or degeneration of embryonic tissue, respectively.

Abstract: Paprika cultivars being characterized by fruits having total carotenoids content higher than 10 mg/g dry fruit weight and a branching pattern suitable for mechanical harvesting and methods and systems generating same.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of inhibitors of the action of eukaryotic-type Acetyl-CoA carboxylase for controlling insect pests. The inhibitors are selected from arylphenoxypropionates and cyclohexanedione oximes, or their mixtures which may be used together with suitable additives, excipients and carriers. The invention further relates to an insecticidal composition comprising inhibitors of eukaryotic-type Acetyl-CoA carboxylase and further to a method for controlling undesired insect pests by applying an effective amount of eukaryotic-type Acetyl-CoA carboxylase inhibitors.

Abstract: A biologically pure culture of a yeast of the species Metschnikowia fructicola. The yeast is identified as NRRL Y-30752 and is capable of inhibiting growth of a deleterious micro-organism on a portion of a plant to which a biologically effective amount of a culture of the yeast is applied. Further disclosed is a composition for use in protection of agricultural produce including a biologically effective amount of Metschnikowia fructicola and a carrier. Further disclosed is an article of manufacture including packaging material and the disclosed composition which is identified for use in protection of agricultural produce from a deleterious micro-organism. Further disclosed is a method of inhibiting growth of a deleterious micro-organism on a portion of a plant including applying at least one time an agriculturally effective amount of yeast of the genus Metschnikowia to the portion of a plant.

Abstract: A method and processing device are presented for reconstructing an absorption and/or scattering image of a region of interest inside a scattering medium. A mathematical model is provided being representative of a relation between the distribution of the intensity and phase of electromagnetic radiation components scattered from a medium and a certain attenuation factor, which is function of spatial variations of scattering and absorption coefficients of the medium. The mathematical is used for processing a map of distribution of the intensity of electromagnetic radiation components scattered from known locations within the region of interest, thereby producing a halftone pattern of the region of interest.

Abstract: A method and a system of transporting a commodity includes the step of placing the commodity in a flexible hermetic container. The commodity is stored in the flexible hermetic container for at least a specific time period. The commodity is then moved from the flexible hermetic container to a shipping container having an insect barrier liner. The commodity is transported in the shipping container. The specific time period is a sufficient time period to kill substantially all of the insects that have infested the commodity prior to placement in the flexible hermetic container. In one embodiment, a vacuum is drawn on the flexible hermetic container to reduce the specific time period and an optional small amount of pesticide can be injected into the flexible hermetic container to which a vacuum has been applied to further reduce the specific time period. An inert gas is used to reduce the specific time period.

Abstract: A ballistic armor panel for attaching to an object, the panel comprising a carrying board made of a hard material and formed with a plurality of adjoining through-going apertures, each aperture receiving a body made of a hard material and having a longitudinal axis coaxial with an axis of the respective aperture.

Abstract: A recombinant promoter which is functional in plant cells, the recombinant promoter comprises SEQ ID NO: 9.

Abstract: A process of improving the appearance of a dried fruit, the process comprises subjecting the dried fruit to underpressure at a value and a time period sufficient for, and effective in, improving the appearance of a dried fruit.

Abstract: Crops may be improved by biofumigating the soil prior to planting or sowing these crops. The biofumigation preferably comprises chopping and incorporating of green manures into the soil, and, thereafter, coating the soil surface with plastic coats made by multiple spraying of suitable polymer formulations onto the treated soil surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are presented for detecting an effect of interactions of electromagnetic radiation with ultrasound radiation at different locations within a region of interest in a scattering medium to thereby enable imaging of said medium. A plurality of sequences of pulses of ultrasound radiation is transmitted towards a plurality of locations, respectively, in said region of interest within an X-Y plane perpendicular to axes of propagation of the ultrasound pulses. Said region of interest is illuminated with incident electromagnetic radiation of at least one wavelength. The phases of the ultrasound radiation or the phases of the electromagnetic radiation components are appropriately controlled in order to be enable identification of the interactions between the electromagnetic and ultrasound radiation that occur at different locations along the Z-axis.

Abstract: An NIR spectroscopy fluid analyzing system using a series of LED's, each having its own preselected center wavelength, as illumination sources. These wavelengths have overlapping spectral widths, such that the measurement covers a broad spectrum. The LED's illuminate the fluid sample sequentially, and subsequently the transmission absorbance through the sample and the reflectance or scattering from the sample is measured for the wavelength range of each LED. The measurements are performed using photodetectors. The concentrations of component parts of the fluid are expressed in the form of a polynomial, which is a function of the measured transmitted and/or reflected intensities, and of empirical coefficients, which are extracted by prior statistical analysis on measured intensities obtained from a large number of test samples having known concentrations of the component. A novel sample chamber, capable of performing optical absorption measurements on a flowing sample of fluid, is described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions containing quinazolinones. More particularly, the present invention relates to a composition for the treatment of renal fibrosis. This composition includes, as an active ingredient, a quinazolinone derivative such as halofurginone, which is shown herein to slow or prevent progression of renal fibrosis in vivo thereby mitigating or preventing end-stage renal failure.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for determining the oxygenation level of hemoglobin in a probed region of the human body. A probed region of the body is irradiated with diffuse light, the frequency of which is shifted with ultrasound focused at the probed region. The relation between the two states of the oxygenation of the hemoglobin is determined by the light absorption at the focal region of the ultrasound. The blood volume may be monitored by irradiating the probed region with light at the isosbestic point.

Abstract: A method for controlling starch synthesis in tomatoes including providing a population of plants derived from interspecific crosses of Lycopersicon spp. with Lycopersicon esculentum genotypes, and selecting individuals of the population that each contain an allele of a gene that increases starch synthesis, the gene originating from the Lycopersicon spp.

Abstract: An enzyme isolated from an organism that metabolizes alpha-galactosyl containing saccharides, comprising an alpha-galactosidase (E.C. 3.2.1.22, alpha-D-galactoside galatohydrolase) with optimal activity in the neutral to alkaline pH range, and which hydrolyzes a variety of alpha-galactose containing saccharides, in particular raffinose. The enzyme is preferably a protein monomer and an ex-alpha-galactosidase.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an invertedly poled domain structure having alternating sections of opposite electric polarities, from a ferroelectric crystal wafer (1) having two opposite polar surfaces, comprises patterning at least one of the two polar surfaces of the wafer to comprise a plurality of alternating discrete regions, of which first regions are adapted for and second regions are protected from the direct application thereto of an electric contact; applying to both polar surfaces of the wafer electrically conducting electrodes (10 and 11) so that the first regions are in direct contact with the electrodes and the second regions are protected from such a contact; and applying to the electrodes an electrical field (20) of the intensity E. The electrical field is applied to the wafer at a working temperature by heater/cooler (15).

Abstract: A method for controlling bacterial and fungal diseases in plants which includes applying a chitosan metal chelate complex having at least two metal ion species to the plant. Chitosan metal complexes for application to control bacterial and fingal diseases in plants are also disclosed.

Abstract: A new and distinct Narcissus plant named ‘Inbal’ particularly characterized by 10 to 15 flowers per stem; white flower; flower diameter 54-57 mm; length of outer perianth segment: 24-27 mm; width of outer perianth segment 21-23; and having mild fragrance.

Abstract: A new and distinct Narcissus plant named ‘Nir’ particularly characterized by 10 to 15 flowers per stem; white flower; flower diameter 54-57 mm; length of outer perianth segment 24-27 mm; width of outer perianth segment 21-23, and having mild fragrance.