Abstract: Provided are methods for straightening hair, which comprise contacting the hair with a hair straightening agent and one or more aminosilicones, and, optionally, one or more epoxysilicones. Also provided are compositions, which include a carrier, a hair straightening agent, and an effective amount of one or more aminosilicones, and, optionally, one or more epoxysilicones. Additionally provided are products, which include one or more hair straightening agents, an effective amount of one or more aminosilicones, and instructions for applying the hair straightening agent(s) and aminosilicone(s) to the hair. The products of the invention may optionally include an effective amount of one or more epoxysilicones and instructions for applying the epoxysilicone(s) to the hair.

Abstract: Provided is a method for treating hair damage by contacting the hair with an effective amount of an epoxysilicone. The method may be used for treating hair damage caused by a hair altering process that is capable of damaging hair, for example, hair lightening/bleaching procedures, hair relaxing procedures, hair dyeing procedures, hair permanent waving, and hair smooting. Also provided is a composition and a product, which include a hair damage treating effective amount of the epoxysilicone.

Abstract: An animal feed product disclosed herein has a feed mixture disposed in a container, where the feed mixture has a plurality of animal feed particles and seed butter coating each of the animal feed particles. A removable cover is coupled to the container over the cavity to encase the feed mixture. A method disclosed herein relates to heating a seed butter to reduce its viscosity. Animal feed particles are translated through a spraying region and each of the animal feed particles are coated with the heated seed butter to form a seed mixture. The seed mixture is deposited in a container defining a cavity and the feed mixture is compressed in the cavity. Other embodiments are described.

Abstract: Provided is a method for treating hair damage by contacting the hair with an effective amount of an epoxysilicone. The method may be used for treating hair damage caused by a hair altering process that is capable of damaging hair, for example, hair lightening/bleaching procedures, hair relaxing procedures, hair dyeing procedures, hair permanent waving, and hair smoothing. Also provided is a composition and a product, which include a hair damage treating effective amount of the epoxysilicone.

Abstract: Provided are methods for straightening hair, which comprise contacting the hair with a hair straightening agent and one or more aminosilicones, and, optionally, one or more epoxysilicones. Also provided are compositions, which include a carrier, a hair straightening agent, and an effective amount of one or more aminosilicones, and, optionally, one or more epoxysilicones. Additionally provided are products, which include one or more hair straightening agents, an effective amount of one or more aminosilicones, and instructions for applying the hair straightening agent(s) and aminosilicone(s) to the hair. The products of the invention may optionally include an effective amount of one or more epoxysilicones and instructions for applying the epoxysilicone(s) to the hair.

Abstract: Provided is a method for treating hair damage by contacting the hair with an effective amount of an epoxysilicone. The method may be used for treating hair damage caused by a hair altering process that is capable of damaging hair, for example, hair lightening/bleaching procedures, hair relaxing procedures, hair dyeing procedures, hair permanent waving, and hair smooting. Also provided is a composition and a product, which include a hair damage treating effective amount of the epoxysilicone.

Abstract: A lockable housing for a valve, tap, port, or other fixture is provided. The housing has a hinged clam shell design, with a protective shroud for a shackleless lock. A fixture can be encased within the housing and secured using the shackleless lock.

Abstract: A process for removing deleterious surfaces from polymeric regrind particles in which the polymeric regrind particles such as TPO, PC/ABS, PC/PBT, PA/PP or PA/PPO having a surface material deleterious to post-treatment processes is contacted by an aqueous attritive environment for an interval sufficient to accomplish dissociation of the deleterious surface material from contact with the polymeric regrind particulate substrate and removal of less than 10% of the total mass of polymeric regrind particulate substrate. After sufficient contact between the attritive environment and the polymeric regrind particles, the polymeric regrind particulate substrate is separated from the attritive environment and the retained dissociated deleterious surface material.

Abstract: An apparatus for the secure storage of used cooking grease comprises a tank, having one or more walls and a top and bottom, and a grease inlet located at the top of the tank and having upper and lower openings, with each opening at least partially spanned by one or more members.

Abstract: In a recycling process, granulated plastic material coated with a paint film is melted in an extruder. During extrusion, the paint film is volatilized and removed by vacuum from the melted granulate stream. Additives are admixed with the particulates and any remaining paint film in an extruder. Water is introduced into the melted plastic stream in the extruder to neutralize toxic material levels discharged from the extruder and from the extruded plastic material.

Abstract: A close loop thermoplastic recycling process includes the step of testing particulated processed plastic material to determine the properties thereof. The tested properties are compared with targeted near virgin properties of the processed plastic material to determine any difference(s) therebetween. Additives based on the property differences determined during testing are admixed with the particulates in a twin screw extruder. During extruding, volatile constituents are simultaneously withdrawn from the fused particulates. The twin screws of the extruder are provided with a number of screw sections, each having a thread with predetermined degrees of chamfer and pitch length. Kneading blocks are mounted on certain screw sections prior to a vacuum vent port disposed along the feed path of the melt stream in the extruder. The extruded material is tested to determine if any property differences exist.

Abstract: A self-powered, self-contained mobile dredge for removing silt and other bottom sediment from the bottom surface of a body of water, such as a canal, which accumulates as a result of erosion caused by rain and irrigation. A submersible drive unit of the dredge includes a continuous track drive, including left and right tracks, providing sufficient traction and mobility while exerting minimum ground pressure to enable the dredge to be driven along the bottom surface of a canal, while further enabling entry and exit from within the canal and transit across terrain between canals. A housing is movably mounted on the drive unit and is both rotatable about an arc of 360.degree. and vertically adjustable relative to the drive unit. A dredge unit, movable between a raised position and a lowered position extends from a forward end of the housing and includes a scoop having a tiller assembly therein.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel semi-dwarf hybrid sunflower (Helianthus annuus var. macrocarpus (DC.) Ckll. (herein H. annuus) seed and a method of producing the hybrid seed. The hybrid sunflower seed upon growth yields a semi-dwarf sunflower plant having a reduced internode length. The hybrid seed is produced by cross pollinating a pair of parent plants P.sub.1 and P.sub.2 wherein, in at least one parent substantially all pollen is nonfunctional and at least one parent has gametes with nuclei carrying at least one dominant gene for reduced internode length.

Abstract: An improved liquid feed supplement composition for ruminant animals and a method for its preparation wherein water, urea and an aldehyde are reacted in the presence of a catalyst which is effective to promote a reaction between the urea and the aldehyde and which also provides nutrients for the ruminant, and in the presence of molasses.