Abstract: Disclosed are non-wood pulps having a fiber length greater than about 1.70 mm and a brightness of about 80% or greater. The relatively high degree of brightness is achieved without a loss of fiber length or pulp yield. The high degree of brightness and relatively long fiber length make the pulps well suited for the manufacture of wet-laid fibrous products, particularly wet-laid tissue products. The pulps may be prepared from plants of the family Asparagaceae by mechanical pulping and more preferably by a chemi-mechanical pulping using a sodium hydroxide alkaline peroxide solution where the primary pulp is cleaned to reduce debris prior to bleaching. Preferably the cleaned primary pulp has less than about 5 wt % debris prior to bleaching.

Abstract: Disclosed are non-wood pulps having a fiber length greater than about 1.70 mm and a porosity of about 100 cfm or greater. The relatively high degree of porosity is achieved without a loss in tensile strengths. The high degree of porosity and strength makes the pulps well suited for the manufacture of wet-laid fibrous products, particularly wet-laid tissue products. The pulps may be prepared from plants of the family Asparagaceae by mechanical pulping and more preferably by a chemi-mechanical pulping using a sodium hydroxide alkaline peroxide solution where the plant biomass is cut to size prior to pulping.

Abstract: Disclosed are non-wood pulps having a fiber length greater than about 1.70 mm and a Very Long Fiber (VLF) content of about 0.50% or less. The fibers are readily dispersible in water and useful in the formation of fibrous sheets, particularly wet-laid sheets and more particularly wet-laid tissue sheets having a relatively low basis weight. In addition of having a relatively long fiber length and a low VLF content, the pulps may also have a Dispersivity Index of about 2.00 or less, which is indicative of a relatively narrow fiber length distribution. The pulps may be prepared from plants of the family Asparagaceae by mechanical pulping and more preferably by a chemi-mechanical pulping process using an alkaline and hydrogen peroxide where the plant biomass is cut to size prior to pulping.

Abstract: Disclosed are non-wood pulps having a fiber length greater than about 1.70 mm and a brightness of about 80% or greater. The relatively high degree of brightness is achieved without a loss fiber length or pulp yield. The high degree of brightness and relatively long fiber length makes the pulps well suited for the manufacture of wet-laid fibrous products, particularly wet-laid tissue products. The pulps may be prepared from plants of the family Asparagaceae by mechanical pulping and more preferably by a chemi-mechanical pulping using a sodium hydroxide alkaline peroxide solution where the primary pulp is cleaned to reduce debris prior to bleaching. Preferably the cleaned primary pulp has less than about 5% debris prior to bleaching.

Abstract: A tissue sheet includes softwood fibers and treated non-wood fibers from plants in the Poaceae family, wherein the treated non-wood fibers have less than 15 percent hemicellulose. Also, a tissue sheet consists essentially of softwood fibers and treated non-wood fibers, wherein the treated non-wood fibers have less than 15 percent hemicellulose. Customizing the tensile index and Canadian standard freeness (CSF) of fibers in a tissue sheet includes treating non-wood fibers by removing a portion of hemicellulose from the non-wood fibers; forming a tissue sheet comprising softwood fibers and the treated non-wood fibers; and adjusting the portion of hemicellulose removed from the non-wood fibers to achieve a desired the tensile index and Canadian standard freeness (CSF) of the treated non-wood fibers.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for removing water soluble extractives from non-woody plants of the genus Hesperaloe, wherein the extract contains at least one saponin. The process includes providing Hesperaloe biomass, milling and washing the biomass with a solvent to yield a crude extract and optionally further purifying and/or concentrating the crude extract. The saponins extracted from Hesperaloe biomass may comprise 25(27)-dehydrofucreastatin, 5(6), 25(27)-disdehydroyuccaloiside C, 5(6)-disdehydroyuccaloiside C, furcreastatin, and yuccaloiside C. An embodiment of present application provides a method of enhancing an immune response to an antigen in a non-human animal comprising administration of a saponin containing Hesperaloe extract. Another embodiment provides an administration of a Hesperaloe-derived immunomodulator containing one or more saponins for the prevention, treatment, and control of one or more conditions in non-human animals.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel pharmaceutical, animal feed compositions and methods of treating non-human animals comprising at least one component selected from the extract(s), fraction(s), active compound(s) and phytochemical(s), or mixtures thereof, derived from non-woody plants of the genus Hesperaloe. Animal feed compositions may comprise a basal animal feed and water soluble solids extracted from Hesperaloe and comprising at least one saponin. The water soluble solids may comprise from about 5 to about 30 wt % saponin. The compositions of the present invention can be used for the treatment of non-human animals, such as poultry and more particularly for preventing and treating coccidiosis. An embodiment provides an immunological composition useful for inducing the production of antibodies to an antigen in a non-human animal comprising an antigen, preferably a coccidia, and a saponin composition extracted from Hesperaloe.

Abstract: Disclosed are animal feed compositions comprising a saponin extracted from a non-woody plant of the genus Hesperaloe. The saponin containing extracts, which generally constitute the water soluble fraction, are useful as additives to basal animal feed to reduce the production of ammonia. In certain embodiments, saponin containing compositions of the present invention may inhibit proteolytic microorganisms, reducing ammonia and improving animal welfare and animal performance. In other embodiments, administration of saponin containing compositions of the present invention to non-human animal inhibits the release of gaseous ammonia through the inhibition urease. The compositions of the present invention may be administered to non-human animals, particularly poultry, to reduce ammonia emissions.

Abstract: Disclosed are soluble extractives prepared from non-woody plants of the genus Hesperaloe and processes for preparing the same. The extracts preferably comprise at least one saponin. In certain instances, the process includes providing biomass derived from non-woody plants of the genus Hesperaloe, milling the biomass, washing the biomass with a solvent to yield a crude extract and optionally further purifying the crude extract by filtration to remove water insoluble compositions such as fibers, fines, epidermal debris and lipids. Preferably, the composition extracted from Hesperaloe comprises 25(27)-dehydrofucreastatin, 5(6),25(27)-disdehydroyuccaloiside C, 5(6)-disdehydroyuccaloiside, C, furcreastatin, yuccaloiside, or a mixture thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a wet-pressed, wet-laid tissue product that is soft and durable. The tissue product includes regenerated cellulose fibers providing 25% or less of the total weight of the wet-laid tissue product. The tissue product can include a DSF value of greater than 1.22. The DSF value is defined by the equation: DSF=(Durability Value/TS7 Softness value)/number of plies of the wet-pressed, wet-laid tissue product.

Abstract: The present invention provides a wet-laid tissue product comprising regenerated cellulose fibers that can provide 25% or less of the total weight of the wet-laid tissue product. The regenerated cellulose fibers can have a denier of less than 0.9 and a fiber length of less than 6.0 mm. The wet-laid tissue product can provide improvements in softness at a given strength.

Abstract: A tissue sheet includes softwood fibers and treated non-wood fibers from plants in the Poaceae family, wherein the treated non-wood fibers have less than 15 percent hemicellulose. Also, a tissue sheet consists essentially of softwood fibers and treated non-wood fibers, wherein the treated non-wood fibers have less than 15 percent hemicellulose. Customizing the tensile index and Canadian standard freeness (CSF) of fibers in a tissue sheet includes treating non-wood fibers by removing a portion of hemicellulose from the non-wood fibers; forming a tissue sheet comprising softwood fibers and the treated non-wood fibers; and adjusting the portion of hemicellulose removed from the non-wood fibers to achieve a desired the tensile index and Canadian standard freeness (CSF) of the treated non-wood fibers.

Abstract: A tissue sheet includes softwood fibers and treated non-wood fibers from plants in the Poaceae family, wherein the in treated non-wood fibers have less than 15 percent hemicellulose. Also, a tissue sheet consists essentially of softwood fibers and treated non-wood fibers, wherein the treated non-wood fibers have less than 15 percent hemicellulose. Customizing the tensile index and Canadian standard freeness (CSF) of fibers in a tissue sheet includes treating non-wood fibers by removing a portion of hemicellulose from the non-wood fibers; forming a tissue sheet comprising softwood fibers and the treated non-wood fibers; and adjusting the portion of hemicellulose removed from the non-wood fibers to achieve a desired the tensile index and Canadian standard freeness (CSF) of the treated non-wood fibers.

Abstract: Spun microfibers include a blend of 70 wt. % to 90 wt. % meltblown-grade polyolefin and 10 wt. % to 30 wt. % thermoplastic starch, wherein the microfibers are suitable for use in a wet-laid process. A method for producing an absorbent product includes producing a blend of 70 wt. %-90 wt. % meltblown-grade polyolefin with 10 wt. % to 30 wt. % thermoplastic modified starch (TPMS), wherein the blend prior to spinning has a melt flow index greater than 150; spinning the blend into microfibers in a fiber spinning process; cutting the microfibers into staple fibers; and incorporating the staple fibers into a wet-laid process for making a nonwoven web.

Abstract: A film includes a polymer composition, the polymer composition including a polymer, an organoclay, a primary amide slip agent, and a secondary amide slip agent different from the primary amide slip agent. The film can have static and kinetic coefficients of friction less than 0.25 as measured using ASTM D1894. The primary amide slip agent can be a primary erucamide slip agent. The film can be a multi-layered film.

Abstract: A training device for nasal hygiene comprises a facial tissue sheet; where the facial tissue sheet has a first side, and where the facial tissue sheet also has a second side having an opposing planar relationship to the first side. A first-side tissue graphic is visible on the first side of the facial tissue sheet. The first-side tissue graphic comprises a permanent graphic and/or an active graphic. In addition, the first-side tissue graphic is a training mark.

Abstract: Provided is a temperature change composition including a neurosensory component; and a first phase change component having a first phase change temperature between about 15 degrees C. and about 40 degrees C. Also provided is a temperature change composition including an evaporative cooling component; and a first phase change component having a first phase change temperature. Also provided is a temperature change composition for cooling skin, the composition including a first phase change component having a first phase change temperature; and a second phase change component having a second phase change temperature different from the first phase change temperature.

Abstract: A training device for nasal hygiene comprises a facial tissue sheet; where the facial tissue sheet has a first side, and where the facial tissue sheet also has a second side having an opposing planar relationship to the first side. A first-side tissue graphic is visible on the first side of the facial tissue sheet. The first-side tissue graphic comprises a permanent graphic and/or an active graphic. In addition, the first-side tissue graphic is a training mark.

Abstract: Inter-nasal delivery devices are disclosed. The inter-nasal delivery devices can include a first nasal element and a second nasal element that are configured to be inserted into adjacent nostrils. In one embodiment, the nasal elements can have a tubular shape. In one embodiment, a sinus relief composition that emits vapors that are to be inhaled by the user can be positioned on the inside surfaces of the nasal elements. Sinus relief composition can be applied to the inside surface without block an open passageway through each nostril. In an alternative embodiment, a pharmaceutically active compound can be applied to exterior surfaces of the nasal elements for absorption through nasal tissue. In still another embodiment, the nasal elements can have a panel-like shape as opposed to a tubular shape.

Abstract: Provided is a temperature change composition including a neurosensory component; and a first phase change component having a first phase change temperature between about 15 degrees C. and about 40 degrees C. Also provided is a temperature change composition including an evaporative cooling component; and a first phase change component having a first phase change temperature. Also provided is a temperature change composition for cooling skin, the composition including a first phase change component having a first phase change temperature; and a second phase change component having a second phase change temperature different from the first phase change temperature.