Abstract: An automated mushroom harvesting system for mounting to a vertical mushroom rack comprises a robot having a frame mounted to a vertical carriage assembly. A SCARA arm is slidably mounted to the vertical carriage assembly by a vertical stage, operable to move the SCARA arm along a vertical mast. The SCARA arm moves the end effector in a horizontal plane for harvesting mushrooms, above the surface of the mushroom bed and into and out of the confines of the mushroom rack, and the vertical stage moves the SCARA arm in a vertical direction so as to access the mushrooms in a bed and to access mushroom beds on different levels of the vertical mushroom rack. An end effector having a helically reinforced neck and a graduated elasticity modulus, with a lower elasticity modulus in the neck and a higher elasticity in the cup, is also provided.

Abstract: A device to automatically provide differing information levels according to a predetermined social hierarchy includes a memory and a processor. The memory stores social templates corresponding to unique social signatures and being selectable to provide, for each level of the predetermined social hierarchy, a corresponding differing amount of information to each member of the predetermined social hierarchy and/or a social networking service. The processor receives sensor data from a sensor set which detects sensor data related to an environment of a communication device, creates a detected social signature from the received sensor data, determines which of the social signatures of the social templates has the greatest correspondence with the created social signature, retrieves from the memory the determined one social template having the greatest correspondence, and provides only as much information as allowed in the retrieved social template.

Abstract: A device to automatically provide differing information levels according to a predetermined social hierarchy includes a memory and a processor. The memory stores social templates corresponding to unique social signatures and being selectable to provide, for each level of the predetermined social hierarchy, a corresponding differing amount of information to each member of the predetermined social hierarchy and/or a social networking service. The processor receives sensor data from a sensor set which detects sensor data related to an environment of a communication device, creates a detected social signature from the received sensor data, determines which of the social signatures of the social templates has the greatest correspondence with the created social signature, retrieves from the memory the determined one social template having the greatest correspondence, and provides only as much information as allowed in the retrieved social template.

Abstract: A disc golf target includes a disc-receiving basket which is connected to an upper assembly by a variable length pole so that the distance between said disc-receiving basket and said upper assembly can be changed. In another embodiment, the upper assembly has a plurality of angularly spaced apart radial arrester-receiving members, each of which has a plurality of spaced apart arrester-receiving stations. An arrester can be connected to any of the arrester receiving stations. In another embodiment, the disc-receiving basket includes a plurality of radial ribs. Each radial rib has an outermost section which is oriented substantially parallel to a central pole.

Abstract: The present inventors have discovered that LCBH is essential for plant growth. Specifically, the inhibition of LCBH gene expression in Arabidopsis results in reduced growth and abnormal development. Thus, LCBH is useful as a target for the identification of herbicides. Accordingly, the present invention provides methods for the identification of herbicides by measuring the activity of a LCBH in the presence and absence of a compound, where an alteration of LCBH activity in the presence of the compound indicates the compound as a candidate for a herbicide.

Abstract: The present inventors have discovered that CAX1-like H+/Ca+2 antiporter is essential for plant growth. Specifically, the inhibition of CAX1-like H+/Ca+2 antiporter gene expression in plant seedlings results in reduced growth and abnormal development. Thus, CAX1-like H+/Ca+2 antiporter is useful as a target for the identification of herbicides. Accordingly, the present invention provides methods for the identification of herbicides by measuring the activity of a CAX1-like H+/Ca+2 antiporter in the presence and absence of a compound, where an alteration of CAX1-like H+/Ca+2 antiporter activity in the presence of the compound indicates the compound as a candidate for a herbicide.

Abstract: A fiber optic clamp assembly for use with an ultra-precision translation stage to precisely align a fiber optical bundle with a laser diode mounted in a sealable enclosure, comprising a housing for receiving the fiber bundle, a flexible seal positionable between said housing and said enclosure; and a pressure collar for urging the seal against the enclosure, said collar being freely movable within the housing so as not to load the translation stage when the housing is being moved by the translation stage to align said bundle with said laser diode and thereafter being movable to compress the flexible seal without disturbing the alignment.

Abstract: The present inventors have discovered that serine acetyltransferase (SAT) is essential for plant growth. Specifically, the inhibition of SAT gene expression in plant seedlings results in reduced growth and altered pigmentation. Thus, SAT is useful as a target for the identification of herbicides. Accordingly, the present invention provides methods for the identification of herbicides by measuring the activity of an SAT in the presence and absence of a compound, wherein an alteration of SAT activity in the presence of the compound indicates the compound as a candidate for a herbicide.

Abstract: A fiber optic clamp assembly for use with an ultra-precision translation stage to precisely align a fiber optical bundle with a laser diode mounted in a sealable enclosure, comprising a housing for receiving the fiber bundle, a flexible seal positionable between said housing and said enclosure; and a pressure collar for urging the seal against the enclosure, said collar being freely movable within the housing so as not to load the translation stage when the housing is being moved by the translation stage to align said bundle with said laser diode and thereafter being movable to compress the flexible seal without disturbing the alignment.

Abstract: A printed circuit board is made of a light transmitting material and is used as a waveguide for light. The board may be coated on both surfaces with a light-reflecting material to improve waveguiding properties. Such a board is operative to replace the microlens and optical fiber common in laser diode packages to form an optical path to deliver optical energy to some sensor position. A sensor of optical energy need only be coupled to a window in one of the coatings or positioned at the edge of the board.

Abstract: The invention concerns chewing gums that contains a chewing gum base, wherein a remainder, which is 0-65 wt. % paraffin or microcrystalline wax and 35-100 wt. % of a triglyceride composition, is present. The chewing gum may not display a major peak in its DSC thermogram above 55.degree. C.