Abstract: A pot for use with system for controlling soil moisture in a plurality of potted plants to perform water deficit experiments includes a body portion having an open top end and a bottom end, and a flange coupled to the body portion adjacent the top end. The flange is configured to engage a platform to hold the body portion within an opening of the platform. The pot also includes a fluid reservoir having a bottom portion located adjacent the bottom end of the body portion, a plurality of vertically extending fluid channels extending upwardly toward the top end of the body portion, a fill opening located at the bottom end of the body portion in communication with the bottom portion of the fluid reservoir, and a check valve coupled to the fill opening to permit fluid to be supplied to the fluid reservoir from the bottom end of the body portion through fill opening and the check valve.

Abstract: A method for controlling soil moisture to perform water deficit experiments on a plurality of plants located in soil contained within a plurality of pots supported in a plurality of openings of a stationary platform includes lifting the plurality of pots with a plurality of load cell modules and weighing each of the plurality of pots with the load cell modules. The method also includes determining whether each pot needs to be watered based on the weight of the pot and the water deficit experiment, watering the pots through the load cell modules, if necessary, and lowering the plurality of load cell modules so that the plurality of pots are supported by the platform.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a pet or animal drying and washing apparatus a two part housing structure with a slidable and removable inner housing shell with guides and an outer housing shell with recesses on their respective side walls so that they can be easily connected together as a single unit and form a heating flow passage there between. The outer shell having inner and outer walls conforming to a contour shape and having support and air channel blocks on a bottom floor to support an inner shell housing having a plurality of slotted vents disposed on side walls and back walls and between bottom floors of the inner and outer shell housings. A blower and heating unit is disposed within a back wall cavity of the outer shell housing and closed by a thermostatic control device to direct heated air in the heating flow passage.

Abstract: A pet toy comprising a first part and a second part, each made of a single piece of molded, durable, semi-rigid and flexible material and each comprising a weighted bottom, flared open top that is oval in shape, and plurality of gripper petals extending from the weighted bottom toward the flared open top. Each part comprises a neck area with a plurality of grooves and ridges. The flared open top of the first part fits into the flared open top of the second part and engages with the grooves inside the neck area of the second part. The inner circumference of each successive groove is preferably smaller as the distance from the open flared to increases.

Abstract: A method of improving the growth of plants belonging to the family Cannabaceae sensu stricto by providing a plant nutrient solution about the plant roots and a gas mixture circulating about the plant shoot; by selecting the gas mixture and plant nutrient solution temperature independently of the other; and providing a plant nutrient solution to gas mixture temperature differential of approximately 0° F. or of at least approximately 15° F. during different phases of plant development, in order to change the plant development to improve a desired plant organ for industrial, scientific, and medical purposes. Infection of plants by Pythium, Fusarium, Verticillium, and Rizoctonia are treated or prevented by selecting a gas mixture temperature that is approximately 65 to 85° F. and a plant nutrient solution temperature that is approximately 35 to 65° F.

Abstract: To produce food, plants rely on three main ingredients, sun energy, water, and carbon dioxide, the cost of which is zero. To address the food and energy security concerns, two mysteries are resolved for the first time: i)—Photosynthetic efficiency is known to be very low, the scientific full accounting for all the losses is lacking; ii)—Fanning is known to be profitable, yet accounting for the zero cost of solar energy is not understood. This inventor resolved them by the derivation of a simple mathematical law, AgriPAL, comprising explicitly, a new solar gain factor >200× which offset the low efficiency of ˜0.005. In the absence of the sun, the newly found solar gain goes to 1. Since SanSSoil enables harnessing the third dimension, the sky is the limit. Water saving of >100 is realized through the controlled enclosed environment.

Abstract: A system and method for preventing an animal being managed by a human from approaching a certain area using image recognition technology includes an apparatus put on the animal, and a marker having either a preset color or a preset shape or both and installed in the certain area. The apparatus put on the animal includes a camera to capture a ground surface image of a movement path of the animal, a stimulus applicator to apply a stimulus to the animal, a memory to store an image of the marker, and a control unit, and operates the stimulus applicator to apply a stimulus to the animal when an image matched with the image of the marker stored in the memory is recognized in the image captured by the camera as the animal moves.

Abstract: A Growing apparatus for cleansing air and watering plant, wherein the apparatus includes a modular panel constructed for either vertical or horizontal planting systems, including connecting couplers and end caps for directing water flow from upper to lower channels. Panel consist of 5 channels per section with opposing conical top and bottom set at 45 degree angles (FIG. 9-23) for both channeling water and accepting irrigation nozzle. System can also use a horizontal channel system while the orientation is different but function is the same. Panels stack nesting consecutively on top of each other to make larger systems.

Abstract: An animal housing assembly includes a cage assembly coupled to a base member to provide an enclosure for one or more animals to be kept in captivity. The base member includes a slidable tray coupled thereto, the tray being configured to move from a closed position to an open position to allow cleaning of the base member. When in a closed position, a portion of the tray forms a portion of the floor of the base member. When the tray moves from the closed position to the open position, the tray translates in a direction away from the base member, thereby exposing an aperture defined in the floor of the base member. The aperture may be shaped and/or sized to allow debris to fall through the floor of the base member, thereby allowing removal of unwanted debris and cleaning of the base member.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a collapsible cage assembly including an outer covering and a support frame for supporting the outer covering in an upright position. The outer covering can have a top, bottom, front, back, first side, and second side. The support frame can include a top frame body and a bottom frame body, a first side member and a second side member each being pivotably coupled to the top frame body and bottom frame body, and a top support member coupled to the top frame body. The top support member can define a V-shaped portion. The frame can also include a U-shaped member have a first end and a second end, each of the first end and second end slidably and pivotably coupled to the bottom frame body. The U-shaped member is removably coupled to the V-shaped portion of the top support member in the upright position.

Abstract: A method of hydroponic growing of plants comprising hydroponically growing the plants in the presence of a controlled release hydroponic fertilizer composition. The hydroponic fertilizer composition comprises a polymerically coated controlled release fertilization nutrient formulation wherein the coated formulation has an N-P-K ratio wherein the N-K ratio is substantially balanced and further comprises micronutrients and optionally chelated iron.

Abstract: Provided is a raised-bed gardening container, including a base, a feeding tube, and a cover frame. The base may include a bottom edge; a top rim at least 36 inches above the bottom edge; an exterior sidewall extending between the bottom edge and the top rim; an interior sidewall extending from the top rim to a bottom interior, the interior sidewall and bottom interior defining an interior volume for containing a gardening media, the interior volume having a diameter of greater than approximately four feet; a feeding tube support generally centrally disposed in the base; and a gardener passage extending to the feeding tube support and having a width configured to allow a gardener to walk through the gardener passage to the feeding tube support.

Abstract: An automatic watering system includes a water storage reservoir and a water feed reservoir positioned elevationally below the water storage reservoir. The water feed reservoir has a plurality of water feed apertures aligned substantially horizontally for allowing water to pass from the water feed reservoir to outside of the water feed reservoir. The water feed reservoir is in fluid communication with the water storage reservoir via a water tube with a biased seal and via an air return conduit which has a float valve. The water storage reservoir is in fluid communication with the refill indicator for indicating a water level present within the water storage reservoir. The refill indicator includes a float body that tracks the water level within the water storage reservoir. The automatic watering system may also include a gripping mechanism positioned near a top portion of the water storage reservoir.

Abstract: A vehicle mounted feed hopper device has an enclosure upon a base, the enclosure having a V shape, at least one paddle mixer within the enclosure, a conveyor beneath the paddle mixer, an outlet proximate one end of the conveyor, a chain drive connected to the paddle mixer and the conveyor, and a hydraulic motor driving the chain drive through gearing. The device operates like a horizontal screw total mixed ration, but at a smaller scale. The invention accepts multiple grain products through its top and mixes them to blends suitable for livestock, except for roughage products which exceed the capacity of this device. The device dispenses its mixed feed through the outlet as it meters feed into feed bunks for the livestock.

Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to a dog garment comprising: a) a torso portion that substantially covers a back and lateral sides of a torso of a dog, wherein the torso portion has an underbelly torso opening and a hind opening; b) a neck portion extending from the torso portion and arranged to encase the neck of the dog, wherein the neck portion comprises a neck portion fastener for securing the neck portion; c) front leg portions extending from the torso portion, wherein the front leg portions encase front legs of the dog; d) hind leg portions extending from the torso portion, wherein the hind leg portions encase hind legs of the dog; e) a foot portion at each of a terminal end of the front leg portions and the hind leg portions; and f) size adjustment portions.

Abstract: A grow plant enclosure to maximize plant density for a given growing area has a perimeter frame, a first pane, and a second pane. The first pane is adjacently connected to the perimeter frame, while the second pane is removably attached to the perimeter frame opposite the first pane to form a hollow enclosure. A plurality of plug holder openings traverses through the first pane, and optionally the second pane, being designed to receive a plurality of plant holders for growing various plant types. A plurality of supply tubes traverse into the perimeter frame through a plurality of supply tube openings and each have a plurality of spray nozzles to deliver nutrient solution to the root zone of the plants retained in the plurality of plant holders. Excess nutrient solution is released through a drain fixture positioned about the bottom of the perimeter frame.

Abstract: Systems and methods of desensitizing an animal to an anxiety inducing event, including an output unit to communicate with a media player to output a conditioning media signal and an anxiety inducing media signal, a conditioning element dispenser to dispense a conditioning element, a detector to determine when an animal has taken the conditioning element, and a control module to selectively control operation of the output unit and the conditioning element dispenser to cause the conditioning element dispenser to dispense a first conditioning element in association with the media player outputting the conditioning media signal. The output unit can cause the media player to output the anxiety inducing media signal in association with the conditioning media signal, and the control unit can cause the conditioning element dispenser to dispense a second conditioning element from the conditioning element dispenser in association with the anxiety inducing media signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manipulating the physiological state of algae cultured in raceway ponds by altering one or more environmental parameter to simulate algal bloom forming conditions and to raceway ponds suitable for culturing algae according to the present invention. The alteration of the one or more environmental parameters in a specifically timed manner can be used to induce and maintain synchronous cell division.

Abstract: A dog harness is comprised of a torso strap encircling a dog's chest, connected to a chest strap passing around the chest of a dog, and a shoulder strap passing over the back of a dog. The chest strap is provided with a elongate linker. A leash connector is fixed to both ends of the elongate linker. When a leash is attached to either leash connector, a directional pull on the leash causes the leash connector to slide in the direction of the pull, pulling the elongate linker to the side creating a noise detectable by the animal to assist in the training of the animal. If the leash becomes tight pulling the elongate linker all the way to the side it will move the pull off the center of the dog's chest, thus decreasing the opposition reflex.

Abstract: A method of producing earthworm castings by feeding earthworms with feed prepared by mixing solid fuel ash with shells, crab shells and yellow earth and to an earthworm bed for producing earthworm castings, comprises the steps of: grinding solid fuel ash; washing shells and crab shells to remove salt, and then removing 80% or more of water therefrom; grinding the washed shells and crab shells; mixing 60-70 wt % of yellow earth, 20-30 wt % of the solid fuel ash and 10-20 wt % of the ground shells and crab shells; fermenting and maturing the mixture; and feeding the matured mixture to earthworms to allow the earthworms to produce earthworm castings. The earthworm bed (50) comprises: a feeding unit (52) through which feed prepared by mixing solid fuel ash with shells, crab shells and yellow earth is fed; a breeding chamber (51) in which earthworms are bred to produce earthworm castings; and a discharge unit (53) through which the earthworm castings produced in the breeding chamber (51) are discharged.