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This application describes the Phase I commercialization by Virginia Cobia Farms (VCF) of a combination of unique technologies including proprietary technology involving molecular salinity nutrient sensors in fish, use of intensive land based recirculation systems (RAS), novel dietary fish feed formulations as well as commercial production scale application of ARS scientists focused on development ...

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Most contemporary diagnostic tests are designed to detect and identify a single particular pathogen if it may be present in a given specimen. Furthermore such assays typically rely upon a short biomarker, or short signature gene sequence element to INDIRECTLY determine if the specimen is or is not present in the specimen. Such assays are inevitably vulnerable to false negative or false positive re ...

THE U.S. PORK INDUSTRY IS CURRENTLY OPERATING WITH RELATIVELY INEFFECIENT FEED CONVERSION RATIOS OF 3.4 TO 3.5 DURING THE GROWER-FINISHER STAGES, AND IS TRYING TO MEET CONSUMER DEMANDS FOR LEANER PRODUCT WHILE FACING STIFF PRICE COMPETITION FROM THE POULTRY INDUSTRY. THE PORK INDUSTRY WILL NEED TO IMPROVE PRODUCTION EFFICIENCIES TO REMAIN PROFITABLE WHILE MAINTAINING OR INCREASING MARKET SHARE AT ...

Economic bioethanol production is critically dependent upon the ability to convert both the hexose (C6) and pentose (C5) sugars resulting from cellulose and hemicellulose components of biomass. C5 sugars are not readily fermentable by native organisms. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are designed to ferment xylose, but their stability, ethanol yield, environmental impact, and survival under ...

Frothed foams will be prepared and applied in place as low cost mulches for weed control in small plot specialty crop operations. Foam mixes will be formulated from degradable natural polymers including gelatins and starches. Fillers will be common cellulosic mulch ingredients such as crushed seed hulls and corncobs. A conventional portable spray tank modified with an impeller blade will mechan ...

PREDICTING THE RATE OF SOIL WATER MOVEMENT AND THE IMPACT OFAGRI-CHEMICALS ON WATER RESOURCES IS VITALLY IMPORTANT TO MANAGING AGRICULTURE, FOR OPTIMIZING PRODUCTIVITY AND MINIMIZING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT. SOPHISTICATED MODELS FOR MAKING SUCH PREDICTIONS ARE AVAILABLE, BUT DATA ON SOIL HYDRAULIC PROPERTIES ARE DIFFICULT AND OFTEN EXPENSIVE TO OBTAIN. IN FACT, AT DEPTHS BELOW THE ROOT ZONE THERE IS ...

A. Situation or Problem The U.S. population has a deficit of dietary Ca, with 55% of men and 78% of women in the United States not meeting the US recommended daily allowance (RDA) for Ca of 1000 mg/d, putting them at risk for developing osteoporosis. One in two women and one in eight men over the age of 50 will have an osteoporosis-related fracture, resulting in more than $10 billion in health car ...

AN APPARATUS AND TECHNIQUE FOR HIGH-SPEED DRYING OF A NEW STRUCTURAL MATERIAL, KNOWN AS SPACEBOARD, WILL BE DEVELOPED. SPACEBOARD IS A NOVEL STRUCTURAL BOARD COMPOSED OF PULPED WOOD FIBER. THE SPACEBOARD CONCEPT WAS INVENTED AT THE FOREST PRODUCTS LABORATORY SEVERAL YEARS AGO. THE BOARDS ARE PRODUCED BY PRESSING FIBER AGAINST COMPRESSIBLE RUBBER MOLDS TO FORM A STRUCTURE HAVING A SMOOTH FACE, BACK ...

MRC PROPOSES TO DEVELOP A SAFETY PERFORMANCE INDICATOR (PI) OF THE ELECTROMAGNETIC (EM) PROTECTION STATUS OF A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT (NPP). WE BELIEVE THAT SUCH A PI IS NEEDED BECAUSE: (1) EM ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION IS ON THE INCREASE,(2) ADDITIONAL EM THREATS MUST BE EVALUATED, AND (3) DISRUPTION OF NPP OPERATIONS BY EM EFFECTS CAN AND MUST BE AVOIDED. PREVIOUS STUDIES HAVE ADDRESSED THE ISSUE OF E ...