Abstract: Streptococcus lactis subsp. diacetilactis mixed with nitrate reducing bacteria are used to produce a red color in cured meats. The meats contain a food grade preservative selected from nitrite, nitrate and mixtures thereof which allow the development of the red color in the meat.

Abstract: Derived microorganisms containing foreign DNA encoding for nisin production and a method for producing the derived microorganisms by transferring DNA to a recipient microorganism are described. The recipient microorganisms are preferably bacteria lacking in the ability to produce nisin. Nisin inhibits the growth of spoilage bacteria and is used in various materials for preservation, including foods and particularly at refrigeration temperatures. Nisin is also used in animals for improving the health of the animal. The foreign DNA is obtained from a donor microorganism and encodes for nisin production when transferred to the recipient microorganism.

Abstract: A rotary screen printing apparatus for delivering coating fluid from the inside of a print cylinder through patterned openings onto an adjacent advancing substrate, having a print cylinder support frame, a drive mechanism for rotatably driving the print cylinder, a resilient suspension device for supporting the print cylinder at high rotational speeds, an adjacent radiant heater for generating heat energy for absorption by the print cylinder, an enclosure substantially surrounding the print cylinder and confining the radiated heat therein, at least one infrared sensor for sensing heat emitted from the print cylinder, and a control circuit for controlling the radiant heat energy from the heater in response to the sensed emitted radiant energy, about a manually controlled set point.

Abstract: A method and compositions for the treatment of fireblight disease in plants are described. The compositions include a phage for Erwinia amylovora which produces fireblight and an enzyme produced by the phage which depolymerizes a polysaccharide produced by Erwinia amylovora which is the cause of the fireblight disease. Purified enzyme preparations are described.

Abstract: Electroplating solutions for the deposition of palladium or the alloys thereof, in which solutions palladium was added in the form of the reaction product of palladium diaminodinitrite with an acid in the presence of a scavenging agent for nitrous acid.

Abstract: A rotary screen printing device for delivering coating fluid from the inside of a print cylinder through patterned openings onto an adjacent advancing substrate has a print cylinder support frame, a ring-shaped major idler having its periphery retained in rolling contact supported by several minor idlers near each side member of the support frame for rotation about the print cylinder's axis, a plurality of swiveling hooked torque rods, slidably mounted for axial movement at spaced intervals around each major idler, having a hooked inner end facing the opposite major idler, and a resilient mounting urging the hooked end toward its supporting major idler, and a pair of end rings, each secured in telescoped relationship inside one end of the print cylinder, with notches being formed at spaced intervals in the inner periphery of each ring for alignment with the swiveling hooked torque rods of a major idler.

Abstract: A method for treating liquid and semi-liquid wastes to render them fit for ultimate disposal, by first determining the ionic charge of the waste counter ions. An appropriate suspension of emulsified asphalt particles is then selected having an opposite particle charge to the ionic charge of the waste counter ions. The waste is then mixed with the selected suspension of emulsified asphalt particles at ambient temperature in an amount sufficient to react with the waste counter ions and coalesce into a hydrophobic mass.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating human waste by solidification. The method performed by the disclosed embodiment comprises receiving the waste in a toilet or receptacle, liquidizing the waste with a macerating pump, adding to the liquidized waste a solidification agent, mixing the liquidized waste and the solidification agent, and transferring the mixture of waste and solidification agent to a disposable container. The disposable container can be discarded through conventional solid waste handling procedures or discarded in sanitary landfills. The disclosed apparatus introduces a quantity of solidification chemicals into a liquidized waste provided from a holding tank of a recirculating toilet, and directs the mixture of waste and solidification agent into the disposable container.

Abstract: A method of controlling the gelling time during the solidification of multi-phased liquid and semi-liquid wastes comprising admixing the waste with cement, a powdered alkali metal silicate and a liquid alkali metal silicate.

Abstract: A method for using selected strains of Streptococcus lactis subspecies diacetilactis, which have been modified to be non-lactose fermenting, for the preservation of foods containing lactose is described. The subspecies is more generally known as Streptococcus diacetilactis. The selected Streptococcus diacetilactis strains have been modified by curing to remove at least one natural plasmid which controls the fermentation of lactose to lactic acid while retaining the ability of this subspecies to inhibit bacterial spoilage in foods. The plasmid removed by curing is about 41 megadaltons (Mdal) in mass. The method using the modified strains of Streptococcus diacetilactis is particularly adapted for the preservation of milk products.

Abstract: A bacterial method and compositions for degrading isoprenoids using selected Pseudomonas strains, particularly strains of Pseudomonas putida, are described. Plasmid pSRQ50 in the selected Pseudomonas strains was isolated from an isoprenoid rich environment. pSRQ50 is not naturally transmissible by conjugation and was found to encode for isoprenoid degradation. In addition, a method and compositions utilizing vector plasmid pRO1742 (pRO1600:Tn904) or other Tn904 containing vectors for transferring pSRQ50 and other transfer related plasmids by conjugal mating is described. Isoprenoids, such as citronellol and geraniol, from citrus wastes are degraded by the Pseudomonas strains.

Abstract: An improved electrolytic reactor is provided with a sealed enclosure subdivided into separate solution chambers for an anolyte and for a catholyte by the interposition of an electrically insulating septum with a microporous matrix. The microporous membrane, or septum, permits the controlled passage of ionic species but prevents the gross intermixing of the separate electrolytes in respective contact with the cathode and the anode of the reactor. At least one of the chambers defined on either face of the microporous septum is filled with electrically conductive particulate material--stainless steel balls in one embodiment--acting as extensions of the electrode in that chamber, so as to increase the electrically charged, stable surface available for electrolytic mass transfer.

Abstract: A method is described for producing fermented foods by generating lactic acid in the food using a culture having the rapid, low temperature fermentation characteristics of Lactobacillus casei NRRL-B-15,438 and a stimulatory food grade metal salt, wherein the culture has unique rapid low temperature fermentation characteristics and wherein starch is not fermented by the culture. In order to provide rapid fermentation, the stimulatory, food grade metal salt, usually a manganese salt, is provided in the food or the culture which is added to the food with the selected lactobacillus to accelerate fermentation. The cultures are particularly suited for the controlled fermentation of carbohydrates, naturally present in or added to the food to provide a selected final pH.

Abstract: Cloning vectors are described which include the streptomycin resistance (Sm.sup.r) determinant derived from Tn904. A single site for the restriction endonuclease, AvaI, is present within the Tn904 determinant for Sm.sup.r. A method is described for preparing the Tn904 containing cloning vectors through transposition of Tn904 to a parent cloning vector and then cloning of the Sm.sup.r gene into another vector segment. The cloning vector is important for inserting deoxyribonucleic acid segments, which encode for various characteristics such as chemical production, antibiotic resistance or bacterial cell properties, in the Sm.sup.r gene AvaI cleaved site and which normally provides a marker for identification of transformed strains of bacteria.

Abstract: Wine having a reduced malic acid content is produced by inoculating wine or must with an activated bacterial culture that converts malic acid to lactic acid. The activated bacterial culture is produced by inoculating a concentrate of the bacteria into fruit juice to provide a high number of bacterial cells in the juice and holding the inoculated juice for a period without significant increase in cell population of the bacteria. The bacteria concentrate is a lyophilized or frozen culture concentrate of the bacteria that has been grown on a medium containing malic acid. When producing the frozen concentrate, a freeze stabilizing agent may be mixed with the bacteria.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for the plating of the contact elements of encapsulated electronic components - suitably of the type known as P-Dip strips - is provided with a continuous flexible parts-carrier belt of stainless steel, running in a horizontally aligned loop, with the web of the belt vertical. In the lower edge of the belt an array of flexible gripping fingers is formed, provided with projections, suitable for engagement by laterally disposed cams, on alternating sides of the belt for successive grip fingers. A loading device, co-ordinated with the operation of the cams, presents a part to be plated into the gripping fingers during an interval when the belt is stationary and the cams have been activated to separate the tips of the grip fingers. Upon retraction of the cams the parts are securely held by the grip fingers and moved through the plating stations upon the activation of belt motion. After plating, the parts are released by cam action on the grip fingers.

Abstract: Bacterial concentrates of cells of a Lactobacillus having the essential identifying characteristics of Lactobacillus sp. NRRL-B-15,036 which are useful for food fermentations are described. Lactobacillus sp. NRRL-B-15,036 ferments dextrose, but not sucrose or lactose, to produce lactic acid in the food. Lactobacillus sp. NRRL-B-15,036 is particularly useful for meat fermentations.

Abstract: A method of treating aqueous liquid and semi-liquid wastes to render them fit for ultimate disposal in a sedentary mass, by admixing with the waste a solidification agent, encapsulating the admixture before solidification in an elongate, pliable, tubular membrane, sealing the ends of the membrane, and allowing the admixture to set to a sedentary mass.

Abstract: A method is described for producing fermented foods by generating lactic acid in the food using a culture of a lactobacillus similar to Lactobacillus casei subspecies alactosus NRRL-B-12,344 and a stimulatory food grade metal salt, wherein the culture has unique rapid low temperature fermentation characteristics and wherein lactose, glycogen, and starch are not fermented by the culture. The preferred Lactobacillus casei subspecies alactosus is NRRL-B-12,344 or strains having low temperature food fermentation characteristics in common with this strain. In order to provide rapid fermentation, the stimulatory, food grade metal salt, usually a manganese salt, is provided in the food or the culture which is added to the food with the selected lactobacillus to accelerate fermentation. The cultures are particularly suited for the controlled fermentation of carbohydrates, naturally present in or added to the food to provide a selected final pH.