Abstract: Methods are provided to increase hybrid seed yield in wheat seed production. Methods for enhancing pollination success and limiting the proportion of self-fertilized male seed in the final produced seed stock are provided.

Abstract: Methods of creating doubled haploid inducers are provided. These doubled haploid inducers are used in the production of maternal doubled haploids.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and compositions for restoring fertility and maintaining sterility in plants. In particular, one method disclosed includes introducing into a male-sterile plant, wherein the plant comprises one or more homozygous mutations in a male-fertility gene, a plant restoration donor chromosomal component comprising a plant-derived polynucleotide that confers a plant phenotypic marker linked to a male-fertility restoration locus that functionally complements the male-sterility phenotype from the one or more homozygous mutations in the male-sterile plant. In some examples, the plant-derived polynucleotide that confers a plant phenotypic marker and the male-fertility restoration locus are linked to each other and located on the same chromosomal arm on the plant restoration donor chromosomal component. In some examples, the plant-derived polynucleotide that confers a plant phenotypic marker, the male-fertility restoration locus, or both are modified.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to nested bearings and seals for use in roller cone drill bits. The bearing may include a bearing member, such as a flange or bushing, that is nested with a seal boss.

Abstract: A well tool can include inner and outer seals interposed between components of the well tool, and a circumferential spacer which prevents contact between the inner seal and one of the components which displaces relative to the inner seal. A method of sealing between components of a well tool can include sealingly engaging an outer seal between the components, and disposing an inner seal between the components, including spacing the inner seal away from one of the components, whereby the inner seal sealingly contacts one of the components only after the well tool is disposed in a well. A drill bit can include inner and outer seals interposed between components of the drill bit, and a circumferential spacer which prevents contact between the inner seal and one of the components, the circumferential spacer being positioned upstream of the outer seal relative to a lubricant supply of the drill bit.

Abstract: Methods and compositions useful for avoiding plant meiosis and clonal reproduction through seed are provided herein. The present disclosure provides polynucleotides and related polypeptides of Spo11, Rec8, OSD1-1A, and OSD1-3A and methods and compositions for suppressing their expression level or activity.

Abstract: A downhole seal system for roller cone drill bits includes a seal gland having a width larger than it depth. In one implementation, the seal gland includes a protrusion along its base on which a seal element seats. The seal element is a single, annular seal element with a recess formed therein so as to define two lobes. The seal element seats in the gland so that the recess engages the protrusion. The lobes function as separate seal elements, although they are a single unitary seal element disposed in a single gland.

Abstract: Methods and compositions used to prevent or decrease reduction, or reduction and recombination, during meiosis in female sporocyte, female gametophytes, or female gametes are described herein. The compositions and methods may include silencing elements and/or use gene-editing technology to decrease or inhibit Nrf4 expression levels or activity. Further provided are compositions and methods for the production of a plant that has ovules comprising non-reduced, or non-reduced and non-recombined, gametes, and/or seeds that contain clonal maternal embryos.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to nested bearings and seals for use in roller cone drill bits. The bearing may include a bearing member, such as a flange or bushing, that is nested with a seal boss.

Abstract: In a watercraft storage system a “wishbone” or U-shaped cradle liftable and rotatable by an overhead crane comprises adjustable air filled hull supports to either side of a boat hull and a keel support toward the stern of the watercraft. The cradle central opening clears a cantilever storage rack support beam assembly allowing the watercraft to be lowered onto or raised from the cantilever storage rack support beam assembly by an overhead traveling crane. To substantially reduce any longitudinal swaying of the cradle and watercraft during raising and lowering, a system or diagonal anti-sway bracing cables that automatically retract and extend is employed. In the preferred embodiment, the cradle is lowered into a water-filled channel within the storage structure to re-float the watercraft. A watercraft to be stored can be brought into the channel which contains alignment means to accurately position the watercraft over the cradle.

Abstract: An extended life seal is incorporated into a drill bit used for drilling a wellbore. The drill bit can include a seal surface, a seal which engages the seal surface, and a groove which compresses the seal greater on opposite axial sides than at a central portion of the seal. The drill bit may include the seal having a cylindrical surface which engages the seal surface, and another cylindrical surface opposite the first surface, and the groove having a third cylindrical surface which engages the second surface, and wherein the groove simultaneously biases the seal toward the seal surface on opposite axial sides of the third surface. The drill bit may include the seal having right cylindrical shaped inner and outer surfaces, and a contact pressure between the seal surface and the seal being greater at each opposite side of the seal than at a central portion of the seal.

Abstract: A well tool can include inner and outer seals interposed between components of the well tool, and a circumferential spacer which prevents contact between the inner seal and one of the components which displaces relative to the inner seal. A method of sealing between components of a well tool can include sealingly engaging an outer seal between the components, and disposing an inner seal between the components, including spacing the inner seal away from one of the components, whereby the inner seal sealingly contacts one of the components only after the well tool is disposed in a well. A drill bit can include inner and outer seals interposed between components of the drill bit, and a circumferential spacer which prevents contact between the inner seal and one of the components, the circumferential spacer being positioned upstream of the outer seal relative to a lubricant supply of the drill bit.

Abstract: A downhole seal system for roller cone drill bits includes a seal gland having a width larger than it depth. In one implementation, the seal gland includes a protrusion along its base on which a seal element seats. The seal element is a single, annular seal element with a recess formed therein so as to define two lobes. The seal element seats in the gland so that the recess engages the protrusion. The lobes function as separate seal elements, although they are a single unitary seal element disposed in a single gland.

Abstract: Compositions related to the quantitative trait locus 6 (QTL6) in maize and methods for their use are provided. The compositions are novel molecular marker loci that are genetically linked with QTL6 and which are associated with increased oil content and/or increased oleic acid content and/or an increased oleic acid/linoleic acid ratio of a plant or plant part thereof. These novel markers are characterized by the presence of at least one polymorphism relative to the corresponding marker locus from the QTL6 region of non-high-oil, non-high-oleic acid maize plants. In some embodiments, the novel marker loci comprise coding sequence for a maize DGAT1-2 polypeptide or biologically active variant thereof.

Abstract: Methods of selecting haploid embryos are disclosed. Methods of producing haploid embryos and non-viable diploid embryos on a plant are provided. Methods for selecting haploid embryos produced from haploid inducer maize lines are provided. Methods for producing improved maize haploid inducer lines are disclosed. Maize haploid inducer lines comprising transgenes causing ablated or abnormal diploid embryos are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods for producing doubled haploid corn (Zea mays) plants, seeds, and plant cells are provided.

Abstract: Compositions related to the quantitative trait locus 6 (QTL6) in maize and methods for their use are provided. The compositions are novel molecular marker loci genetically linked with QTL6 and which are associated with increased oil content and/or increased oleic acid content and/or an increased oleic acid/linoleic acid ratio of a plant. These novel markers are characterized by the presence of at least one polymorphism relative to the corresponding marker locus from the QTL6 region of non-high-oil, non-high-oleic acid maize plants. In some embodiments, the novel marker loci comprise coding sequence for a maize DGAT1-2 polypeptide or biologically active variant thereof. The marker loci of the invention, and suitable fragments thereof, are useful in methods for manipulating oil and/or oleic acid content and/or oleic acid/linoleic acid ratio of a plant, for marker-assisted selection of a plant, and for marker-assisted breeding of the high oil and/or high oleic acid trait.

Abstract: According to some exemplary embodiments, a method or system can involve associating a plurality of biokinetographic comparison results with a first specific dysfunction from a group of specific dysfunctions, each of the biokinetographic comparison results obtained from a comparison of a biokinetographic value to a standard for a corresponding biokinetographic variable.

Abstract: According to some exemplary embodiments, a method or system can involve associating a plurality of biokinetographic comparison results with a first specific dysfunction from a group of specific dysfunctions, each of the biokinetographic comparison results obtained from a comparison of a biokinetographic value to a standard for a corresponding biokinetographic variable.

Abstract: According to some exemplary embodiments, a method or system can involve associating a plurality of biokinetographic comparison results with a first specific dysfunction from a group of specific dysfunctions, each of the biokinetographic comparison results obtained from a comparison of a biokinetographic value to a standard for a corresponding biokinetographic variable.