Abstract: A dry, flowable fertilizer is provided that includes multiple dry, flowable biosolids pellets. Each of the pellets has a pellet surface. Potassium salt grains are adhered to the pellet surfaces and a dust control agent coating is applied to retain the grains on the pellet surfaces. The resultant dry, flowable fertilizer has higher potassium loadings to the potassium salt grains than previous biosolids based fertilizers. A process of forming a fertilizer is also provided that includes tumbling dry, flowable biosolids pellets with powdered potassium salt grains to form a mixture. An aqueous spray is added to adhere the salt grains to the pellet surfaces. With the application of a dust control agent, the salt grains are retained. Potassium levels in NPK units of from 1 to 15 are routinely achieved with greater than 90 elemental % of the potassium is from the surface decorating potassium salt grains.

Abstract: A method for determining the concentration ratio in a sample of a target peptide to a reference peptide that is chemically identical with the target peptide, but labeled by isotopes, acquires mass spectra of the target and reference peptides. One of a plurality of families of superimposed bell-shaped curves which is a best fit to ion current peak groups of the target and reference peptides in the mass spectra is determined by varying parameters of the families. In each family, each bell-shaped curve has a predetermined height, the curves have fixed distances from each other and the relative curve heights and curve distances in the families are individually calculated from an elemental composition of the peptides and an isotope abundance distribution of elements composing the peptides, taking into account purity of the isotopes. The concentration ratio is then determined from the parameters of the best fit.

Abstract: A method of acoustically fitting a hearing aid comprises providing a plurality of audible tones, each having a predetermined frequency through stereo headphones. The tones are provided at specific sound pressure in each ear. The patient changes the relative sound pressure in each ear until a perceived direction of source of the tone is in front of the patient. The amplification or attenuation requirements of a hearing aid are modified based on the difference in the sound pressures required for the left and right ears of the patient for perceived directional sameness for each frequency band-pass channel.

Abstract: Methods for interpretation of mass spectrometric tests for clinical biomarkers in which the amounts of internal standards are set to equal clinical evaluation thresholds, and preparations for adding stable isotope labeled peptide species to sample digests while minimizing losses and alterations in peptide stoichiometry.

Abstract: Devices and methods provide for measuring applied pressure on an article, such as a patella construct during a surgical procedure. Embodiments include a clamp having an upper frame arm, a lower frame arm and a clamp assembly, and further include a clamp with a knob assembly and a pressure monitor assembly. Differently sized bushing adapters can be interchangeably employed with a clamp stem to adapt to the relative sizes of objects being clamped.

Abstract: A puck formed from compressed paper strips is provided that has utility as an animal entertainment device and nest building material. The paper strips include at least one ply of fibrous material, and may be treated with adjuvants illustratively including flavorants, fragrances, dyes, and odor suppressants. The unfolding and deconstruction of the puck into constituent paper strips by an animal provides the animal with a degree of mental stimulation and nest construction for thermal regulation, and it is noted that animal food consumption and health are generally improved by alleviating behaviors associated with cage confinement. The pre-measured quantum of material in an inventive puck affords a benefit to the caregiver in that the product is simply placed in the cage without resort to measuring and thereby saving time and precluding spillage of separated materials. The puck is particularly beneficial to rodents and especially mice.

Abstract: A bale unloading device is provided for unloading bales off from an inline bale wrapping machine. The bale unloading device comprises a telescopic bale unloading member that is found on the unwrapped bale loading end of the bale wrapping machine or on a bale storage trailer attached thereto. When in use, the bale unloading device goes from a retracted state to an extended state, pushing the last bale through a bale wrapping device and towards a wrapped bale support structure located on the wrapped bale unloading end of the bale wrapping machine. The bale unloading member is powered by hydraulic valves/actuators and therefore does not necessitate any manual intervention to unload the last bale from the bale wrapping machine.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus may include a conductive planar structure having a plurality of antenna elements and a plurality of cutout portions. The plurality of cutout portions may define a combiner circuit including an output interface and including a combiner circuit coupled between each of the plurality of antenna elements and the output interface.

Abstract: A dough preparing machine operable to mix and divide dough so as to form a plurality of individual loaves of bread in a relatively compact space is provided. The dough preparing machine includes a compressing and dividing device, a bowl, a pivotable mixing arm, a rounder, and a sheeter molder. The dough preparing machine further includes a transfer device having a first arm and an opposable gripper operable to handle the rounded individual balls of dough. The compressing and dividing device configured to press the dough uniformly within the bowl, and divide the compressed dough into individual balls of dough.

Abstract: A sensor assembly includes a replaceable sensor module and an assembly housing. The assembly housing contains an assembly housing processor and an electrical connector connected to the processor. The replaceable sensor module has an enclosure adapted to be mounted in a position to sense a process variable, a process variable transducer positioned in said enclosure so as to be exposed to the process variable, and a non-volatile memory having stored therein specific profiling data for the sensor module. The assembly housing processor has data representing a desired sensor assembly output characteristic, and is responsive to receipt of specific profiling data and to the data representing the desired sensor assembly output characteristic to calibrate the sensor assembly to provide the desired sensor assembly output characteristic when connected to the sensor module having the specified profiling data. Radial and axial seals are provided for the openings in the assembly housing.

Abstract: A body protector includes a plurality of outer left and right front side pad members with a flexible break being formed between adjacent outer left and right front side pad members. A plurality of inner left and right front side pad members is disposed behind said plurality of outer left and right front side pad members for overlapping the respective flexible breaks formed in the plurality of outer left and right front side pad members. A plurality of outer left and right rear side pad members is provided with a flexible break being formed between adjacent outer left and right rear side pad members and a plurality of inner left and right rear side pad members is disposed behind said plurality of outer left rear side pad members for overlapping the respective flexible breaks formed in the plurality of outer left and right rear side pad members.

Abstract: Methods for interpretation of mass spectrometric tests for clinical biomarkers in which the amounts of internal standards are set to equal clinical evaluation thresholds, and preparations for adding stable isotope labeled peptide species to sample digests while minimizing losses and alterations in peptide stoichiometry.

Abstract: A food item includes a bread product made from a dough containing flour and water, the water being in an amount no greater than 140 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of flour. The dough is swollen using a swelling agent and heated to form the bread product. The bread product has a crust part, and is impregnated uniformly with a liquid or gel composition by being dipped in 50 to 200 parts by mass of the liquid or gel composition. The bread product has a hardness not greater than 5×104 N/m2 even in the crust part.

Abstract: The instant invention provides an economical flow-through method for determining amount of target proteins in a sample. An antibody preparation (whether polyclonal or monoclonal, or any equivalent specific binding agent) is used to capture and thus enrich a specific monitor peptide (a specific peptide fragment of a protein to be quantitated in a proteolytic digest of a complex protein sample) and an internal standard peptide (the same chemical structure but including stable isotope labels). Upon elution into a suitable mass spectrometer, the natural (sample derived) and internal standard (isotope labeled) peptides are quantitated, and their measured abundance ratio used to calculate the abundance of the monitor peptide, and its parent protein, in the initial sample.

Abstract: Devices and methods provide for measuring applied pressure on an article, such as a patella construct during a surgical procedure. Embodiments include a clamp having an upper frame arm, a lower frame arm and a clamp assembly, and further include a clamp with a knob assembly and a pressure monitor assembly. Differently sized clamp inserts can be interchangeably employed with a clamp stem to adapt to the relative sizes of objects being clamped.

Abstract: A soil adherent pellet is detailed that includes a soluble calcium ion source, a magnesium ion source, or both present in an amount ranging from 15% to 99.9% by weight of a total dry weight of the pellet and a binder present in an amount ranging from 85% to 0.1% by weight of the total dry weight of the pellet. The pellet having a mean pellet domain size and a pellet surface. The soil adherent pellet is well suited for flocculating clay within the soil and delivery of an active ingredient with reduced runoff compared to prior art broadcast particles. A soil adherent pellet is also provided having a soluble calcium and/or magnesium ion source that is polycrystalline and carries therewith an active ingredient.

Abstract: Hearing aids and a method of acoustically fitting the hearing aids comprises providing a plurality of audible tones, each having a predetermined frequency through a pair of hearing aids being worn by a patient. The tones are provided at specific sound pressure in each ear. The patient changes the relative sound pressure in each ear until a perceived direction of source of the tone is in front of the patient. The amplification or attenuation requirements of a hearing aid are modified based on the difference in the sound pressures required for the left and right ears of the patient for perceived directional sameness for each frequency band-pass channel.

Abstract: The lock assemblies as described herein engage with keepers on movable sashes and include features designed to provide additional sealing functions to the lock assembly by incorporating a ribbon seal within a catch housing of the lock assembly.

Abstract: A water-dispersible particle for delivery of fertilizer to a plant is disclosed. After delivery wetting of the particles causes particle dispersion so as to prevent secondary pick up to the particles. Methods for making and using the water-dispersible particle are described.