A diffuser for distributing insects such as mosquitoes from an aircraft, comprises a distribution tube connected to an insect source at a first end and open to the outside at a second end in a direction away from that of travel of the aircraft, for distribution of the insects; and a profile surrounding the second end, the profile being shaped to define a steadily changing airspeed. The pipe may be aligned with airflow at the point of exit of the pipe and protection may be provided around or just upstream of the exit to provide a point of minimal air velocity at the exit, the exit being the point of release of the insects.

The present invention relates to methods and compositions for maggot debridement therapy. More specifically, the invention relates to recombinant nucleic acid constructs, transgenic maggots comprising the recombinant nucleic acids, methods for making the maggots, and methods for the use of the maggots, including debridement and promoting of wound healing.

A harborage for growing and harvesting insects includes a substrate and a mesh material. The substrate has first and second edges extending along the length of the substrate and separated by a shorter width. The substrate includes an absorbent material and is formed into at least one channel extending in a direction along the length of the substrate, in some cases such that the channel is perpendicular to the width and has a depth that is less than the width of the substrate. The mesh material is disposed on the substrate, extends along substantially all of the length of the substrate and includes openings that are smaller than juveniles of a target insect, but sufficiently large to permit liquid feeding of the target insect through the mesh material, which is affixed along the substrate so as to prevent insect egress.

A harborage for growing and harvesting insects includes a substrate and a mesh material. The substrate has first and second edges extending along the length of the substrate and separated by a shorter width. The substrate includes an absorbent material and is formed into at least one channel extending in a direction along the length of the substrate, in some cases such that the channel is perpendicular to the width and has a depth that is less than the width of the substrate. The mesh material is disposed on the substrate, extends along substantially all of the length of the substrate and includes openings that are smaller than juveniles of a target insect, but sufficiently large to permit liquid feeding of the target insect through the mesh material, which is affixed along the substrate so as to prevent insect egress.

Stimulation of target cells using light, e.g., in vivo or in vitro, is implemented using a variety of methods and devices. One example involves a vector for delivering a light-activated NpHR-based molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence that codes for light-activated NpHR-based molecule and a promoter. Either a high expression of the molecule manifests a toxicity level that is less than about 75%, or the light-activated NpHR-based proteins are expressed using at least two NpHR-based molecular variants. Each of the variants characterized in being useful for expressing a light-activated NpHR-based molecule that responds to light by producing an inhibitory current to dissuade depolarization of the neuron. Other aspects and embodiments are directed to systems, methods, kits, compositions of matter and molecules for ion pumps or for controlling inhibitory currents in a cell (e.g., in in vivo and in vitro environments).

Dehydrated tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) candy foodstuff compositions are described, wherein the composition includes water, THC, and/or insects, a binding agent, an acid, or an oil. The composition includes flavorings, enhancers, lipids, emulsifiers, surfactants, esters, and various other ingredients, and may include various types of treated water.

Dehydrated tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) candy foodstuff compositions are described, wherein the composition includes water, THC, and/or insects, a binding agent, an acid, or an oil. The composition includes flavorings, enhancers, lipids, emulsifiers, surfactants, esters, and various other ingredients, and may include various types of treated water.

The present disclosure relates to dual-cell model and Caenorhabditis elegans model systems for measuring neuron-to-neuron transmission of protein aggregates, and more particularly to transgenic cell and animal model systems expressing fusion proteins of N-terminus or C-terminus of fluorescent proteins with α-synuclein proteins, methods for measuring continuous cell-to-cell transmission of α-synuclein aggregates using the same, and methods for screening substances for preventing or treating neurodegenerative diseases.

The current invent relates to the construction and application of a three-line breeding system in the bay scallop southern subspecies×Peruvian scallop hybrids. The said three-line consists of a male sterile line, a maintainer line and a restorer line. A combination of male sterile line and maintainer line is obtained by continuously backcrossing the male sterile individuals selected from F.sub.1 inter-specific hybrid families with sperm of the selfing family of the sperm-providing Peruvian scallops until the progenies are all male sterile. The restorer line is obtained by continuously backcrossing selected individuals from the male sterile line with sperm of the selfing family of a Peruvian scallop until the progenies are all hermaphroditic and exhibit excellent production traits. Commercial male sterile brood stocks are produced by backcrossing the male sterile line with the maintainer line and commercial hybrid spats are produced by backcrossing the male sterile line and the restorer line.

Disclosed are methods, compositions, and systems for transforming silkworms to produce spider silk and analogs of spider silk. In certain embodiments, the method may include inserting a DNA sequence coding for at least a portion of a spider silk fibroin polypeptide, or an analog of a spider silk fibroin polypeptide, positioned between at least a portion of the 5′ and 3′ ends of a silkworm fibroin gene to generate a fusion gene construct having a sequence that encodes for a polypeptide comprising both spider silk fibroin and silkworm silk fibroin sequences. In certain embodiments, the fused gene is able to replace a native gene present in the silkworm such that the transformed silkworm expresses a polypeptide comprising a spider silk fibroin polypeptide, or an analog thereof, and expresses significantly less of the native silkworm silk.