Award Data

Codling moth, Cydia pomonella, is a major exotic pest of walnuts, apples and pears in California. Current control practices, using the application of conventional pesticides, are costly, toxic and declining in effectivenss. Of additional concern in California is that many walnut orchards are planted along major river systems in former riparian zones where growers are or will be required to use e ...

THE ENVIRONMENT SURROUNDING CONFINED ANIMALS DIRECTLY AFFECTS THE PRODUCTIVITY OF THE LIVESTOCKINDUSTRY. A GOOD VENTILATION SYSTEM, WHICH CONTROLS THIS ENVIRONMENT, IS ESSENTIAL FOR MANTAINING THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF ANIMALS AND WORKERS IN THE LIVESTOCK BUILDINGS. HOWEVER, THE DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT OF SUCH A SYSTEM IS A COMPLICATED PROCESS. IT INVOLVES OPTIMIZATION OF VARIOUS GOVERNING PARAMETER ...

Agriculture is in need of safer products to replace methyl bromide and other synthetic pesticides. Soil-borne diseases caused by Pythium, Rhizoctonia, Verticillium and Phytophthora are a major problem in horticulture, field crop production and greenhouses causing root rots, wilts and loss of vigor and yield. Methyl bromide, a potent ozone-depleting agent being phased out by 2005, is frequently use ...

The release of pheromones(chemicals produced by insects) has become an important method to monitor and manage insect populations. Unfortunately, current pheromone releasing technologies are inadequate for entomologists to control large-scale infestations. Southern pine beetles,alone,cause economic losses in excess of $ 200 millions, annually, in the U.S. Spruce beetle infestations have impacted mo ...

AUTOMATED PLANT PROPAGATION BY CUTTAGE (PREPARATION AND PLANTING OF CUTTINGS) REQUIRES AN EFFICACIOUS, NON-HUMAN MEANS OF SENSING THE ORIENTATION OF EACH CUTTING. CURRENT EXPERIMENTAL VIDEO BASED SYSTEMS ARE TOO EXPENSIVE, SLOW, UNRELIABLE, AND/OR COMPLEX FOR WIDESPREAD USE BY THE COMMERICAL NURSERY, FLORIST, AND FORESTRY INDUSTRIES. PRELIMINARY STUDIES INDICATE THAT TACTILE ARRAY SENSING OF CUTTI ...

The objective of the proposed project is to demonstrate the feasibility and military utility of employing a BLU-109 penetrator munition filled with an optimized load of Kinetic Fireball Incendiaries to neutralize biological and chemical agents that are stored in hardened bunkers. These innovative, self-propelled Fireballs, based on state-of-the art solid rocket propellant, are also capable of cau ...

The total global anthropogenic ammonia air emissions are estimated to be 43 million tons per year, with animal agriculture responsible for more than any other source and comprising approximately 50% of the total. The majority of ammonia emissions come from livestock operations, especially Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) like large dairies, poultry and swine operations, and cattle fe ...

Magneto-Thermal MRAM uses both heat and magnetic field (current)to overcome thermal instabilities of very small memory cells. Self-generated heat in the cell raises the temperature of magnetic material in the cell above the exchange ordering temperature of the magnetic material (either ferromagnetic or anti-ferromagnetic). Magneto-Thermal MRAM is compatible with advances in photolithography down t ...

Insects, ticks and mites cost US livestock producers in excess of $3 billion annually. Existing treatments, based on pyrethroids and organophosphates, have only weak repellent activity, permitting the annoyance of landing insects. Furthermore, the toxic effects of these compounds to flies has diminished due to tolerance. We will develop a natural insect repellent for livestock to curb insect-relat ...

THE APPLICANT FIRM PROPOSES UNDER PHASE I TO PROVE FEASIBLE A PROPOSED UNIQUE AIRBORNE RETARDANT DELIVERY SYSTEM. THE DESIGN OF THE SYSTEM WILL LIMIT THE EFFECT OF AIRCRAFT AND ATMOSPHERIC DISTUBANCES (EG. AIRCRAFT FORWARD VELOCITY, TURBULENCE, CROSS-WINDS, HUMIDITY, ETC.) TO THE AERIAL DELIVERY OF RETARDANT. FURTHER PROPOSED IS TO ALLOW FOR FLEXIBILITY AND DELIVERY RATES TO BETTER MEET CURRENT MA ...