Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for increasing the fitness of insects for agriculture or commerce, wherein the composition includes a postbiotic agent (e.g., a short chain fatty acid).

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for increasing the fitness of insects for agriculture or commerce, wherein the composition includes a postbiotic agent (e.g., a short chain fatty acid).

Abstract: The invention comprises methods for decreasing colonization by a bacterium of a gut of a stink bug, the method comprising providing a composition comprising vanillin or an analog thereof; and delivering said composition to an egg from which the stink bug will hatch, whereby colonization by the bacterium within the gut of the stink bug hatched from the egg treated with the composition is decreased relative to a stink bug hatched from an untreated egg. In some embodiments, the decrease in colonization by the bacterium decreases the fitness of the stink bug, e.g., decreases reproductive ability, survival, rate of development, number of eggs, number of hatched eggs, adult emergence rate, body length, body width, body mass, or cuticle thickness. In some embodiments of the methods herein, the bacterial colonization-disrupting agent is an inhibitor of bacterial metabolism. In some embodiments, the bacterial colonization-disrupting agent is a polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) synthesis inhibitor.

Abstract: Cosmetic dispensers, and methods of use of such dispensers, for transferring material onto an applicator head through a transfer chamber and/or nozzle by applying force or pressure to the material.

Abstract: Cosmetic dispensers, and methods of use of such dispensers, for transferring material onto an applicator head through a transfer chamber and/or nozzle by applying force or pressure to the material.

Abstract: A molded plastic applicator for cosmetics, such as a mascara brush, including an integral molded plastic panel that lies substantially in a mold plane when formed and is bent out of the mold plane to surround an extended longitudinal axis when the applicator is assembled. A plurality of openings, or projections such as bristles, are formed in or on the panel so as to be oriented substantially in a common pull direction transverse to the mold plane when the panel lies in the mold plane and to be oriented substantially radially of the longitudinal axis in directions distributed around the axis when the panel is bent to surround the axis. A retainer holds the panel bent out of the plane in surrounding relation to the axis.

Abstract: A molded plastic applicator for cosmetics, such as a mascara brush, including an integral molded plastic panel that lies substantially in a mold plane when formed and is bent out of the mold plane to surround an extended longitudinal axis when the applicator is assembled. A plurality of openings, or projections such as bristles, are formed in or on the panel so as to be oriented substantially in a common pull direction transverse to the mold plane when the panel lies in the mold plane and to be oriented substantially radially of the longitudinal axis in directions distributed around the axis when the panel is bent to surround the axis. A retainer holds the panel bent out of the plane in surrounding relation to the axis.

Abstract: A molded plastic applicator for cosmetics, such as a mascara brush, including an integral molded plastic panel that lies substantially in a mold plane when formed and is bent out of the mold plane to surround an extended longitudinal axis when the applicator is assembled. A plurality of openings, or projections such as bristles, are formed in or on the panel so as to be oriented substantially in a common pull direction transverse to the mold plane when the panel lies in the mold plane and to be oriented substantially radially of the longitudinal axis in directions distributed around the axis when the panel is bent to surround the axis. A retainer holds the panel bent out of the plane in surrounding relation to the axis.

Abstract: A molded plastic applicator for cosmetics, such as a mascara brush, including an integral molded plastic panel that lies substantially in a mold plane when formed and is bent out of the mold plane to surround an extended longitudinal axis when the applicator is assembled. A plurality of openings, or projections such as bristles, are formed in or on the panel so as to be oriented substantially in a common pull direction transverse to the mold plane when the panel lies in the mold plane and to be oriented substantially radially of the longitudinal axis in directions distributed around the axis when the panel is bent to surround the axis. A retainer holds the panel bent out of the plane in surrounding relation to the axis.

Abstract: A molded plastic applicator for cosmetics including a plastic panel lying substantially in a mold plane when formed and bent out of the mold plane to surround an extended longitudinal axis when the applicator is assembled. A plurality of openings or projections are formed in or on the panel so as to be oriented substantially in a common pull direction transverse to the mold plane when the panel lies in the mold plane and oriented substantially radially of the longitudinal axis when the panel is bent to surround the axis. A retainer holds the panel, when bent, in surrounding relation to the axis. The panel may be formed as a plurality of free-ended limbs, radiating from a hub through which the longitudinal axis extends, and bent down around the axis.

Abstract: A cosmetic applicator for transporting and applying cosmetic material, including a rotating applicator tip which, when rotated, dispenses cosmetic material onto the tip such that the user does not need to periodically dip the applicator tip into a reservoir of cosmetic material.

Abstract: An applicator for cosmetic material such as mascara, including an applicator head for transporting and applying the cosmetic material, a handle, a stem bearing the applicator head and received in and guided by the handle so as to be longitudinally reciprocable relative thereto, and actuating mechanism carried by the handle for moving the stem longitudinally back and forth relative to the handle.

Abstract: A cosmetic applicator for transporting and applying cosmetic material, including flocked applicators, a method for making applicators, and cosmetic dispensers including such applicators. The fibers of the flocking can vary in length, density, distribution and/or color.

Abstract: A molded plastic mascara brush having an elongated flexible core with multiple bristles projecting radially therefrom, and a shape-sustaining wire extending longitudinally through the core. The wire may be bendable, enabling a desired curvature to be imparted to the brush. Additionally or alternatively, with the core and bristles molded integrally and at least some bristles disposed in rows extending lengthwise of the core, bristles may be spaced around the core at unequal angular distances, and/or bristles of at least one row may decrease progressively in length, and/or bristles may be disposed in tandem zones that differ from each other in bristle density, and/or some bristles may be disposed in rows and others of smaller diameter disposed in clusters.

Abstract: Cosmetic dispensers, and methods of use of such dispensers, for transferring material onto an applicator head through a transfer chamber and/or nozzle by applying force or pressure to the material.

Abstract: A cosmetic applicator for transporting and applying cosmetic material, including a rotating applicator tip which, when rotated, dispenses cosmetic material onto the tip such that the user does not need to periodically dip the applicator tip into a reservoir of cosmetic material.

Abstract: A molded plastic applicator for cosmetics, such as a mascara brush, including an integral molded plastic panel that lies substantially in a mold plane when formed and is bent out of the mold plane to surround an extended longitudinal axis when the applicator is assembled. A plurality of openings, or projections such as bristles, are formed in or on the panel so as to be oriented substantially in a common pull direction transverse to the mold plane when the panel lies in the mold plane and to be oriented substantially radially of the longitudinal axis in directions distributed around the axis when the panel is bent to surround the axis. A retainer holds the panel bent out of the plane in surrounding relation to the axis.

Abstract: A cosmetic applicator for transporting and applying cosmetic material, including flocked applicators, a method for making applicators, and cosmetic dispensers including such applicators. The fibers of the flocking can vary in length, density, distribution and/or color.

Abstract: A molded plastic mascara brush having an elongated flexible core with multiple bristles projecting radially therefrom, and a shape-sustaining wire extending longitudinally through the core. The wire may be bendable, enabling a desired curvature to be imparted to the brush. Additionally or alternatively, with the core and bristles molded integrally and at least some bristles disposed in rows extending lengthwise of the core, bristles may be spaced around the core at unequal angular distances, and/or bristles of at least one row may decrease progressively in length, and/or bristles may be disposed in tandem zones that differ from each other in bristle density, and/or some bristles may be disposed in rows and others of smaller diameter disposed in clusters.

Abstract: An applicator for cosmetic material such as mascara, including an applicator head for transporting and applying the cosmetic material, a handle, a stem bearing the applicator head and received in and guided by the handle so as to be longitudinally reciprocable relative thereto, and actuating mechanism carried by the handle for moving the stem longitudinally back and forth relative to the handle. The actuating mechanism may have a rotary drive, a cam member rotated by the drive, and a cam follower slidingly engaging the cam member and connected to the stem, the cam member and cam follower being mutually shaped to cause the stem to reciprocate longitudinally as the drive rotates the cam member. Alternatively the actuating mechanism may be an inertial drive including a weight connected to the stem and disposed between compressible coil springs, or a solenoid. The handle may be a cap for a cosmetic container, the cap and container together constituting a dispenser for the cosmetic.