Abstract: A system for inoculating soil with microalgae is provided. The system is portable and can be used with many different water sources to culture microalgae and form an inoculate that is added to irrigation water used for watering crops. The system provides improved crop production metrics as compared to crops grown without the microalgae-based inoculation system. The system can be integrated into existing irrigation systems to add macronutrients and micronutrients into the water, thereby providing highly bioavailable nutrients to crops.

Abstract: An improved pet toy is generally ring-like and is rollable along a surface, such as the ground. The pet toy includes a resilient foam core that is surrounded by an elastomeric outboard portion and a fabric inboard portion that are affixed to one another and to the core. The outboard portion has a roughened surface that provides traction with the ground and enables the pet toy to roll in various fashions. The fabric inboard portion includes a stiffening structure in the form of a rib that resists deformation of the pet toy in a radial direction toward and away from a center of the toy.

Abstract: The tree surgery method includes a decayed-tissue removing step of removing a decayed tissue of a cavity and exposing a solid woody tissue; an internal treating step of performing sterilization and insecticidal treatment on the woody tissue and drying the woody tissue; a protective layer forming step of coating the woody tissue with a protective agent to form a protective layer; a cambium exposing step of cutting out an edge of the cavity and exposing a cambium; a cavity filling step of filling the cavity on which the protective layer is formed with a urethane foam, and an artificial-tree-bark forming step of filling and coating an upper surface of the urethane foam with a tree bark material including a mixture of cork powder and silicone sealant to form an artificial tree bark. The tree bark material includes a mixture of colored silicone sealants allowing a color similar to real trees.

Abstract: There is provided a medium for plant cultivation comprising an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer chip. An ethylene content of ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer included in the ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer chip is preferably 20 to 60 mol %. In addition, a water content in the ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer chip is preferably 20 to 300 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of the ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer. As a result, it is possible to provide a medium for plant cultivation, which is capable of being used instead of the soil or rock wools, and with which it is possible to sufficiently grow crop plants, to have excellent recyclability, to facilitate a process for disposal the medium, and to have a small environmental burden.

Abstract: A growth medium formed as an inoculum including a preselected fungus and a nutrient material capable of being digested by the fungus is placed in or on a tool formed of a material capable of being at least partially consumed by the fungus. The tool may define a cavity of predetermined shape for the growth medium or the tool may form a scaffolding on which the growth medium grows into the final product taking on the shape of the tool.

Abstract: An aeroponic growing system and method is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, the system includes at least one vertical column of interconnected growing pots and an overhead support to suspend the vertical column of interconnected growing pots. The system also includes a supply conduit that is in fluid communication with a top of the vertical column of interconnected growing pots and a return conduit in fluid communication with a bottom of the vertical column of interconnected growing pots. In addition, the system includes a reservoir in fluid communication with the supply conduit and the return conduit. A turning mechanism may also be used for rotating the column to achieve uniformity of illumination.

Abstract: A man-made vitreous fiber (MMVF) plant growth substrate is provided together with an irrigation strategy for providing water to the substrate. The substrate comprises a slab having a volume of 3 to 20 liters on which a single block containing one or more plants is disposed. In the context of this substrate, it is found that an irrigation strategy can be used which comprises a first period during which the desired water content in the slab is reduced to a minimum level before increasing and a second period during which the desired water content is maintained at a substantially constant level, wherein the difference between the minimum level and the constant level expressed as a percentage of the water content required to saturate the plant growth substrate is less than or equal to 25%. This provides excellent control over the balance between vegetative and generative growth in the plant.

Abstract: An electrical system having an underlying structure resembling the double helix most commonly associated with DNA is used to produce useful electromagnetic fields for agricultural applications.

Abstract: A pet toy product comprising at least one edible treat and a body member in the form of a ring surrounding the edible treat, with the body member having opposing sides and a body member aperture. The edible treat is receivable into the body member aperture from either side of the body member, and connected to the body member within the body member aperture by a releaseable mechanical connection formed between the edible treat and the body member.

Abstract: Systems and associated apparatus and methods are described for growing plants in a dense and efficient manner in an indoor environment using artificial light. The systems are configured to hold a high density of plants at a relatively close, substantially fixed distance from a light fixture that provides artificial light for growth of the plants. As the plants grow, the plants are transferred to one or more following stations or stages, each of which is configured to hold the now larger plants at the same relatively close, substantially fixed distance from a light fixture. By providing multiple stages to accommodate plant growth, and maintaining the close positioning of the plants to the light fixtures, the impact of the artificial light on the growth of the plants is maximized and the efficiency of the electrical energy use is increased.

Abstract: An example collar includes a strap, a removable buckle slidable along the strap, and at least one removable leash attachment. The leash attachment includes a strap-receiving portion with a thickness approximately equal to a thickness of the strap such that the strap is receivable in the strap-receiving portion in a biased fit and the leash attachment is fixable at a location along the strap. Another example collar and a method of assembling a collar are also disclosed.

Abstract: There is provided a medium for plant cultivation comprising an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer chip. An ethylene content of ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer included in the ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer chip is preferably 20 to 60 mol %. In addition, a water content in the ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer chip is preferably 20 to 300 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of the ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer. As a result, it is possible to provide a medium for plant cultivation, which is capable of being used instead of the soil or rock wools, and with which it is possible to sufficiently grow crop plants, to have excellent recyclability, to facilitate a process for disposal the medium, and to have a small environmental burden.

Abstract: An aquarium device having a compartment for a video playing device that is viewable through an aquarium tank for conveniently enhancing the viewing experience. The device includes a filtration system that is concealed from the viewer and that filters the water around the video device without exposing the device to water or any other elements of the aquarium's habitat.

Abstract: A feed chute for dispensing to a first kind of animal but rejecting a larger muzzle and tongue of a second kind of animal. A gate is hinged to a first shorter side wall such that the gate forms one side of a dispenser end of the chute when the gate is fully-open, sufficiently large to accommodate a muzzle of the first kind of animal. The gate detente determines a closed position of the dispenser end. When the second kind of animal attempts to access the feed, its wider muzzle urges the gate towards the fully-closed position, which is sufficiently small to prevent entry of the second kind's muzzle and tongue.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for growing one or more plants, wherein the apparatus includes at least one first and one second chamber which are separated from each other by a first dividing wall, wherein the inner spaces of the first and the second chamber are connected by one or more connecting openings in the first dividing wall, and wherein the second chamber includes one or more exit openings which are arranged on a second dividing wall.

Abstract: The present invention is a pet feeding apparatus with an elongated polyhedron shape with directly opposed feeding and drinking portions with a feeding bin disposed therebetween. The feeding apparatus is bounded by a bottom wall attached to the lower edges of opposing side walls and a top wall attached to the top edges of the opposing side walls. The top wall overhangs the feeding troff and the drinking compartments. The bottom wall is supported by legs that terminate in a reservoir that contains an insect repellant liquid. The apparatus is made of a material that repels heat to allow the water to prevent overheating of the water.

Abstract: An animal toilet has a front-rear direction, a right-left direction and an up-down direction that intersect each other. The animal toilet is provided with an upper container that is provided with a plurality of holes through which urine passes below, a lower container that is positioned below the upper container and has formed an insert hole on a front face, and a tray that is housed from the insert hole into the lower container in a manner being allowed to be pulled out forward, and made to receive and store the urine that falls through the holes of the upper container. A front part of the tray is not protruding in front of the front face of the lower container when seen from the right-left direction. The front part of the tray has an exposed portion. An upside and a downside of the exposed portion are exposed to an outside space. An upper part and a lower part of the exposed portion are respectively provided with a geometrically deformed portion having a shape changed from a surrounding portion.

Abstract: A horseshoe with clips, blister member for a clip, and a method of applying a shoe to a horse's hoof. Using a blister member over each of a pair of upward extending clips attached to the outer side of a horseshoe and attaching the blister member to the shoe and the horse's hoof, adhesive is inserted into the blister to adhere each clip to the hoof wall thereby retaining the horseshoe on a horse's hoof.

Abstract: The protective pet leg sleeves is a harness that is used on an injured limb of an animal. The protective pet leg sleeves is a sleeve through which the injured limb of the animal is placed. The protective pet leg sleeves protects the injury as well as the associated bandages or medical devices from the natural instinct of the animal to try to remove such devices. The protective pet leg sleeves fastens to the animal such that the animal cannot remove the protective pet leg sleeves. The protective pet leg sleeves comprises a plurality of leggings and a collar tether.

Abstract: A disposable diaper for pets includes: a back-side waist area; a stomach-side waist area; a crotch area; a tail insertion opening; an absorbent core; an area not having the absorbent core arranged therein; an attachment section in the stomach-side waist area; an attachment area that receives the attachment section; an expandable/contractible elastic member for legs, arranged, in an extended state, in a prescribed area in the diaper longitudinal direction, between the absorbent core and an end section in the diaper longitude-intersecting direction; an expandable/contractible elastic member for the waist, arranged, in an extended state, in the area not having the absorbent core arranged therein, in the diaper longitude-intersecting direction; and a contraction force intersecting area in which the contracting force of the expandable/contractible elastic member for legs and the expansion/contraction force of the expandable/contractible elastic member for the waist intersect.