Abstract: An aeration system for aerating particulate material disposed in a storage bin. The aeration system includes an aerator forming an elongated hollow body for being placed inside the storage bin such that a longitudinal axis thereof is oriented substantially vertical and an air supply duct connected to the aerator for providing the airflow thereto. The aerator enables an airflow therein along the longitudinal axis and provides the same to the particulate material. The aerator is made of a plurality of modular sections adapted for being stacked upon each other along the longitudinal axis. Each modular section has a bottom connecting element and a top connecting element placed at a bottom end and a top end thereof, respectively, with the top connecting element being mated with the respective bottom connecting element of an adjacent modular section. Each modular section has a conduit enabling the airflow along the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: Systems for plant culture include a chamber featuring one or more walls enclosing a spatial volume internal to the chamber, where the one or more walls include a surface for supporting a plant within the enclosed spatial volume, a gas delivery apparatus with at least one gas source, a nutrient delivery apparatus with a reservoir, a sampling apparatus connected to a port formed in the one or more walls, and a controller configured so that during operation of the system, the controller activates the nutrient delivery apparatus to deliver an aqueous growth medium to the plant, and activates the gas delivery apparatus to deliver into the enclosed spatial volume a mixture of isotopically-substituted gases. Also provided are methods of use of the system for measuring nitrogen in a plant and for identifying microbes capable of providing fixed nitrogen to a plant.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated plant growth promoting microbes (PGPMs), isolated cultures of these PGPMs and compositions comprising same, including compositions comprising plants or parts thereof, particularly seeds. The present invention further relates to methods of using these isolated PGPMs, isolated cultures and compositions comprising same for enhancing plant health, plant growth and/or plant yield.

Abstract: The present application relates to plant growth promoting microbes (PGPMs), compositions comprising these PGPMs and methods of using these PGPMs and a plant or plant seed, wherein the plant or plant seed comprises at least one grain yield enhancing trait, for enhancing plant health, plant growth and/or plant yield, and/or for preventing, inhibiting, or treating the development of plant pathogens or the development of phytopathogenic diseases.

Abstract: The present application relates to plant growth promoting microbes (PGPMs), compositions comprising these PGPMs and methods of using these PGPMs and/or compositions for enhancing plant health, plant growth and/or plant yield, and/or for preventing, inhibiting, or treating the development of plant pathogens or the development of phytopathogenic diseases. This application also provides non-naturally occurring plant varieties that are artificially infected with a PGPM descried herein, as well as seed, reproductive tissue, vegetative tissue, regenerative tissues, plant parts, or progeny thereof.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides polynucleotides and related polypeptides related to urea uptake. The disclosure provides genomic sequences for urea transporter, urease and glutamine synthetase genes. Urea transporters, urease and glutamine synthetase are responsible for controlling nitrogen utilization efficiency in plants. Urea transporter, urease or glutamine synthetase sequences are provided for improving grain yield and plant growth. The disclosure further provides recombinant expression cassettes, host cells and transgenic plants.

Abstract: The present invention provides polynucleotides and related polypeptides related to urea uptake. The invention provides genomic sequences for urea transporter, urease and glutamine synthetase genes. Urea transporters, urease and glutamine synthetase are responsible for controlling nitrogen utilization efficiency in plants. Urea transporter, urease or glutamine synthetase sequences are provided for improving grain yield and plant growth. The invention further provides recombinant expression cassettes, host cells and transgenic plants.

Abstract: A blower for a particulate loader and transfer apparatus, comprising, at least one blade having a proximal and distal end, means for rotating the at least one blade in a direction about an axis of rotation wherein the proximal end of the blade is nearer to the axis of rotation than the distal end of the blade is to the axis of rotation and wherein the blade is angled so that as the blade rotates about the axis, the proximal end of the blade precedes the distal end of the blade.

Abstract: A nozzle for providing particulate materials to a suction intake hose connected to a bulk transfer apparatus is provided. A body structure of the nozzle comprises comprising a connecting mechanism for connecting to an end portion of the suction intake hose. A support mechanism is mechanically connected to the body structure for movably supporting the body structure. A particulate materials transport mechanism is placed in front of the body structure. The particulate materials transport mechanism comprises a movable mechanical structure for mechanically transporting the particulate materials into an airstream generated by suction through the suction intake hose. A hood is mounted to a front portion of the body structure for guiding the airstream towards and opening in fluid communication with the connecting mechanism.

Abstract: A nozzle for providing particulate materials to a suction intake hose connected to a bulk transfer apparatus is provided. A body structure of the nozzle comprises comprising a connecting mechanism for connecting to an end portion of the suction intake hose. A support mechanism is mechanically connected to the body structure for movably supporting the body structure. A particulate materials transport mechanism is placed in front of the body structure. The particulate materials transport mechanism comprises a movable mechanical structure for mechanically transporting the particulate materials into an airstream generated by suction through the suction intake hose. A hood is mounted to a front portion of the body structure for guiding the airstream towards an opening in fluid communication with the connecting mechanism.

Abstract: A system and method for navigation utilizing sources of pulsed celestial radiation are provided. A spacecraft, satellite, or other vehicle (12) has a pulse sensor (22) mounted thereto for detecting signal pulses (14) generated by a plurality of pulsars or other celestial objects (16). The detected signal pulses (14) are synchronously averaged at the known period of the pulsar or other celestial object (16) with respect to a timer (24). Timer (24) measures the pulse time of arrival at the pulse sensor (22) by comparing the pulse signal (14) with a pulse shape template (52), and a processing means (30) calculates the offset time between the measured pulse time of arrival at sensor (22) with a calculated pulse time of arrival at the solar system barycenter (SSBC).

Abstract: A mobile communication device, and a method of reading key presses and backlighting a mobile communication device, are disclosed. The method of reading key presses and backlighting a mobile communication device includes providing a mobile communication device including a plurality of marked keys resident on a flip module separate from a main module, and switching, by the mobile communication device, between a first positive voltage to the flip module when the plurality of marked keys are backlit, and a first negative voltage when the plurality of marked keys are not backlit, according to a switch command from the main module.

Abstract: A mobile communication device, and a method of reading key presses and backlighting a mobile communication device, are disclosed. The method of reading key presses and backlighting a mobile communication device includes providing a mobile communication device including a plurality of marked keys resident on a flip module separate from a main module, and switching, by the mobile communication device, between a first positive voltage to the flip module when the plurality of marked keys are backlit, and a first negative voltage when the plurality of marked keys are not backlit, according to a switch command from the main module.