Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for providing an individualized nutritionally complete mixed diet for an animal In certain embodiments, the animal has one or more pathological condition(s). The present disclosure also provides a device for providing an individualized nutritionally complete mixed diet for an animal. A computer program capable of controlling the device to execute the steps of the method, and a computer-readable medium having stored thereon is further provided herein.

Abstract: The disclosed subject matter includes a system for marking tablet-shaped articles. The system includes a hopper and a conveyor. The conveyor has opposing first and second side portions, and at least one pocket is defined in the conveyor between the opposing first and second side portions. The conveyor is configured to receive from the hopper a tablet-shaped article in the at least one pocket. A first window is defined in the first side portion of the conveyor. The first window defining an opening between the pocket and an external environment. The system further includes a first printing head adjacent the first side portion of the conveyor. The first printing head is configured to mark the tablet-shaped article through the first window.

Abstract: A flavor composition containing at least one HMG glucoside compound that can be used to enhance the taste of edible compositions including sweet goods, such as confectionery goods, and savory goods, such as pet foods.

Abstract: A method for service location optimization may include methods for deriving service location utilization data from video, predicting an operational characteristic of a service location, optimizing an operational characteristic of a service location, and presenting a user interface for user-directed optimization of an operational characteristic of a service location.

Abstract: Methods of characterizing health states and overall Quality of life (QoL) for animals are provided. Predictive modeling and computer systems related to health assessments are also provided.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for dynamically managing electronic transactions of pet homing data is disclosed. The method includes receiving a pet selection, sending a confirmation indicating that the pet has been homed, determining whether at least one pet owner profile corresponding to at least one user record exists in a data store, in response to the determining that the at least one pet owner profile does not exist in the data store, creating a new pet owner profile based on the at least one user record, determining whether the at least one pet profile corresponding to at least one pet record exists in the data store, in response to determining that the at least one pet profile does not exist in the data store, creating a new pet profile based on the at least one pet record, and associating the new pet profile with the new pet owner profile.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for dynamically managing electronic transactions of petcare data is disclosed. The method includes hosting a user portal corresponding to at least one user and at least one pet, the user portal including at least one user profile and at least one pet profile, receiving a first data set from a first external system, in response to the receiving, calling a content management component using an API based on the first data set, in response to the calling, receiving a recommendation from the content management component, the recommendation based on the first data set, based on the receiving, updating one or more database records corresponding to the at least one user identifier and the at least one pet identifier, the updating based on the first data set and the recommendation, and displaying, by the one or more processors, the recommendation on a user interface of the user portal.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a food composition, product thereof and kits; including a combination of: (i) a camosic acid source, (ii) a hydroxytyrosol source, and (iii) a tannin source. The disclosure also relates to such food compositions, products and kits for use as a preservative and/or for use as a medicament, in particular in a method for eliciting or increasing an immune response of an animal.

Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter relates to methods of diagnosing and treating chronic kidney disease (CKD) in an animal, comprising determining the amount of magnesium in a sample of the animal and providing the animal with a treatment regimen. In certain embodiments, the treatment regimen comprises administering an effective amount of magnesium.

Abstract: A device that is configured to obtain input data for an animal that is a member of the canid family is provided herein. The input data includes a first array having a first plurality of entries, where each entry within the first plurality of entries contains a numerical value that indicates an amount of a type of bacteria that is present within a sample from the animal. The device is further configured to input the input data for the animal into a machine learning model that is configured to receive the input data for the animal and to output an animal age value based at least in part on the input data for the animal. The animal age value identifies a predicted age for the animal. The device is further configured to obtain the animal age value from the machine learning model and to output the animal age value.

Abstract: A large collection of sample genomes containing misclassified k-mers and metadata errors from a reference taxonomy was converted to a self-consistent k-mer database comprising a self-consistent taxonomy. The self-consistent taxonomy was based on genetic distances calculated using the MinHash method or the Meier-Koltoff method. An agglomerative clustering algorithm was used to calculate the self-consistent taxonomy. Each k-mer of the sample genomes was assigned to only one node of the self-consistent taxonomy. In another step, each node of the self-consistent taxonomy was mapped to the reference taxonomy, thereby preserving in the self-consistent taxonomy links to the reference taxonomy while correcting for the misclassification errors therein. The self-consistent k-mer database can be used to taxonomically profile sequenced nucleic acids with greater specificity compared to systems relying on the reference taxonomy.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing processed cocoa nibs are provided. The methods involve coarse grinding cocoa nibs to form a slurry and subjecting less than all of the cocoa slurry to refining. The refined and unrefined volumes or portions of cocoa slurry are then recombined to provide a recombined cocoa product. The cocoa nibs produced by the method may be further processed to provide cocoa liquor or chocolate.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for receiving and processing containers by conducting a plurality of processing steps, the apparatus comprising a plurality of processing stations, wherein the apparatus is configured such that a processing step is conducted at each processing station, wherein the plurality of processing stations comprises an infeed station for receiving the containers; a filling station for filling the containers with a product; and an output station for dispensing the filled containers; wherein the apparatus is configured to move the containers through the plurality of processing stations in a rotary manner about a substantially horizontal central axis.

Abstract: A caramel is provided comprising a solid plant fat and an amount of water less than 10 wt %. The caramel exhibits a chewy texture when consumed but is yet depositable. The caramel is thus advantageously used in a confection. In addition to the caramel, the confection may comprise a crisp component. Methods of making the confection are also provided.

Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter relates to methods of diagnosing and treating chronic kidney disease (CKD) in an animal, comprising determining the amount of magnesium in a sample of the animal and providing the animal with a treatment regimen. In certain embodiments, the treatment regimen comprises administering an effective amount of magnesium.

Abstract: Methods for converting mixtures of anthocyanins occurring in fruit or vegetable juice or extract into particular anthocyanin molecules having desirable colorant properties are provided herein. The method of the present disclosure can be employed to increase the amount of particular anthocyanin molecules, while lowering the total number of anthocyanin molecules present in the natural juice and/or extract. The disclosure is also directed to anthocyanin molecules prepared by the methods of present disclosure and to enzymes capable of catalyzing reactions that provide such effects.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of one or more nucleotides selected from the group consisting of GMP (guanosine monophosphate) and IMP (inosine monophosphate), a first amino acid selected from the group consisting of alanine, histidine and glycine or a mixture thereof; a second amino acid selected from the group consisting of proline and threonine or a mixture thereof; and furaneol for increasing the palatability of a foodstuff to a companion animal. The invention also relates to a pet food-stuff or supplement comprising one or more nucleotides selected from the group consisting of GMP and IMP, a first amino acid selected from the group consisting of alanine, histidine and glycine or a mixture thereof; a second amino acid selected from the group consisting of proline and threonine or a mixture thereof; and furaneol, and also to a method of increasing the palatability of a food-stuff to a companion animal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a first amino acid selected from the group consisting of glycine, alanine, cysteine, histidine, leucine, methionine, phenylalanine, serine, tryptophan and tyrosine or a mixture of two or more thereof; a second amino acid selected from the group consisting of aspartic acid, cystine, glutamic acid, glutamine, isoleucine, lysine, aspartic acid, ornithine, threonine, valine, proline and hydroxyproline or a mixture of two or more thereof and one or more furanones for increasing the palatability of a foodstuff to a companion animal.

Abstract: A pet food implement (100) having a container (200) to measure an amount of pet food based on a weight measurement of a pet and a weight management plan, the container (200) having a side (215, 220) with graduated markings (230) corresponding to weight measurements for pets. The container (200) further includes a selectively adjustable wall (300) that defines an intermediate predetermined volume of the container (200) corresponding to an amount of pet food suitable for a pet with a certain weight on a predetermined weight management plan; and a handle (400) coupled to the wall (300) to selectively adjust the wall (300) along the side of the container (200) to define the intermediate predetermined volume, the handle (400) aligning the wall (300) proximate one of the graduated markings (230).