Abstract: A milking box comprises a stall portion and a backplane positioned in the stall portion. The backplane moves toward the rear of the stall portion in response to pressure applied to a contact surface of the backplane. The backplane moves toward the front of stall portion in response to pressure removed from the contact surface.

Abstract: A vertical gardening system includes at least one sheet of geosynthetic material hung generally vertically, and forming vertical channels extending top to bottom of the sheet on a rear side and including a plurality of small upwardly-open individual pockets on a front side and growing medium on both sides of the at least one sheet and located in both the channels and the pockets. A related method includes providing a portable stand and supporting on the stand a sheet with vertical channels and pockets as defined above, growing plants in the pockets with their roots extending into the channels, and moving the stand to promote plant growth, including one of moving the stand to orient the plants toward sunlight during daylight, or moving the stand between a first location of optimal sunlight and a second location of optimal protection against freezing.

Abstract: A physical method for maintaining the freshness of vegetables and fruits via the technology of the optical signal and optical signal generator are disclosed. By adopting the computer programmable pulsed scanning signal generator, it controls the light-emitting device mounted with red, green and blue light sources group to generate optical signal with pulsed or pulsed periodical scanning combined spectrum. The optical signal irradiates the fresh-cut fruits and vegetables preserved in the storage assembly at room temperature or at controlled temperature and humidity. By regulating the optical signal with periodical pulsed spectrum or pulsed scanning spectrum or periodical pulsed scanning combined spectrum, the irradiated vegetables and fruits obtain photon energy needed in light reactions of photosynthesis from the lighting environment of artificial optical signal which is in bright and dark periodic variation.

Abstract: A pet garment having a coat and an integrated harness that is placed on the pet without the garment going over the pet's head. The integrated harness cording is in channels within the coat. The coat has a lengthwise opening with a fastener that extends from the hemline to the neckline of the coat, the opening over a pet's dorsal side. The coat has a protective outer layer, an inner lining layer and leg openings. The integrated harness cording merges together when the opening closes and the leash easily attaches to the harness cording ends gathered together adjacent to the closed opening. The coat covers the underbelly, leaving a concave scallop for the pet's genitals. The pet merely steps into the coat with the opening open without the coat going over the pet's head.

Abstract: A platform bird feeder is provided including a base platform with a seed tray, a baffle and a center pole having a bottom end connected the tray, the baffle being tiltably and adjustably mounted to the pole above the base. Preferably, the seed tray has a seed protecting grate to hinder squirrels from accessing the seed in the tray. The height of the baffle above the seed tray may be adjusted up and down to allow the user to increase and decrease the seed access space, respectively, between the baffle and the tray. When the baffle is at a desired height, it is secured in place by an adjustable securing mechanism that, while holding the baffle at the desired height, allows the baffle to tilt or wobble when sufficient weight is placed on one side of the baffle.

Abstract: Disclosed are harness assemblies for use in tethering a pet, such as a dog, to a leash. The harness assemblies distribute the forces associated with restraining the animal over the animal's entire body. The harness assemblies also provide a wide range of adjustability and are easy to position upon or take off the animal. Various buckle constructions are also disclosed for use in easily securing the harness onto an animal. The various components of the present invention, and the manner in which they interrelate, are described in greater detail hereinafter.

Abstract: This invention concerns an animal cover 1 comprising a piece of fabric 2 with an extended surface area and at least one spike mat 3-5. Each spike mat 3-5 is arranged and fixed in place on the side 2a of the piece of fabric 2 that is in contact with the animal, with the spikes 3a-5a of the spike mat facing in towards the animal.

Abstract: A bounding system for a transplantable plant including a bounding apparatus and a support tray. The bounding apparatus includes a sheet-like sidewall framework defining a plurality of elongated, spaced sidewall apertures, and a bottom support having a support surface area. The bottom support is includes a sheet-like bottom framework defining a plurality of spaced bottom wall apertures. The bounding system includes a support tray comprised of a relatively solid sheet material, and having a tray top portion and a surrounding sidewall. The tray top portion defines an opening therethrough that is formed and dimensioned for supportive receipt of the bounding apparatus therein such that the bottom support thereof is vertically oriented at least at a sufficient distance above the ground to promote and encourage air root pruning of the transplantable plant proximate the bottom support. The surrounding sidewall and the sidewall framework defines a humidifying airspace therebetween in a manner reducing rapid dry-down.

Abstract: Provided is a photobioreactor for mass-culturing marine microalgae using a semi-permeable membrane. The photobioreactor installed in a floating type on a water level or soaked at a predetermined depth from the water level to mass-culture isolated marine microalgae includes a culturing bag formed of the semi-permeable membrane through which enables seawater to exist, but prevents the marine microalgae from being penetrated, the culturing bag being configured to provide a three-dimensionally culturing space for accommodating the marine microalgae; and a floating unit connected to the culturing bag to dispose the culturing bag near the sea level, thereby exposing the culturing bag to sunlight. Since the photobioreactor for mass-culturing the marine microalgae using the semi-permeable membrane is provided, the photobioreactor may be manufactured at a low cost and free from the spatial restrictions, thereby enabling the expansion of the photobioreactor in both the horizontal and vertical directions.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for inoculating a plurality of plants. In various embodiments, an exemplary method includes spraying a plurality of plants with an inoculum utilizing an automated inoculum spraying subsystem of a mobile inoculation system. The method additionally includes spraying the plurality of plants with a grit medium utilizing an automated grit blasting subsystem of the mobile inoculation system. Spraying the plants with the grit medium inflicts a plurality of wounds to the tissue of the plants on a plurality of surfaces of the plants. The wounds inflicted by the grit medium allow the inoculum to be absorbed into the plants to inoculate the plants.

Abstract: A radial-shaped wireless fence system is provided that contains one or more dogs in a user-defined area without the need for a physical fence or underground wire. The system includes a base unit and at least one collar, and is easy to set up and use. Each of the base unit and the one collar include a component for reducing clock speed variation between the base and collar units, preferably to +/?5 ppm, to effectively eliminate communication errors between the base and collar units.

Abstract: A custom-shaped wireless fence system is provided that contains one or more dogs in a user-defined containment area without the need for a physical fence or underground wire. The system, which is easy to set up and use, includes at least three base units and at least one collar and, preferably, a remote controller. Each of the base units and the at least one collar includes a component for reducing clock speed variation between the base and collar units, preferably to +/?5 ppm, to effectively eliminate communication errors between the base and collar units.

Abstract: Methods of treating agricultural fruit crops of the genus Musa having a mother plant and an adjoined offspring, or daughter plant, involve implanting at least one nutrient component into a pseudo stem of the mother plant after harvesting fruit from the mother plant. The nutrients implanted into the pseudo stem of the mother plant after harvesting are then available to the daughter plant more efficiently than nutrients applied to the soil.

Abstract: A cultivation system made up of multiple units, with each unit having an upper root compartment, a lower solution compartment, and a base. A growing solution is conducted into each unit via a supply conduit in the base and sprayed into the root compartment, after which it is drained into the solution compartment and then into drain conduits in the base.

Abstract: A novel pet care device for walking a dog is provided. The device integrates many pet care items that are necessary while walking a dog into a unitary device that is simple to operate and provides a new convenience to the dog owner. In certain embodiments, the device includes an integrated retractable leash, a flashlight, fluid spraying to dispose of pet waste, a source of fresh drinking water, and a water bowl from which a dog may drink the water.

Abstract: A custom-shaped wireless fence system is provided that contains one or more dogs in a user-defined containment area without the need for a physical fence or underground wire. The system, which is easy to set up and use, includes at least three base units and at least one collar and, preferably, a remote controller. Each of the base units and the at least one collar includes a TCXO for reducing clock speed variation between the base and collar units, preferably to +/?5 ppm, to effectively eliminate communication errors between the base and collar units.

Abstract: A method of improving the growth and/or pathogen resistance of a plant, comprising the step of exposing at least part of the plant to a transient period of high intensity illumination providing a photon flux at the plant surface having at least one of the following characteristics: (a) a red photon flux comprising at least 100 micromoles photons per square meter per second, and having a wavelength of between 600 and 700 nm; (b) a blue photon flux comprising at least 100 micromoles photons per square meter per second, having a wavelength of between 420 and 480 nm. The Invention also provides apparatus for providing such conditions to growing plants.

Abstract: A radial-shaped wireless fence system is provided that contains one or more dogs in a user-defined area without the need for a physical fence or underground wire. The system includes a base unit and at least one collar, and is easy to set up and use. Each of the base unit and the one collar include a temperature compensated crystal oscillator for reducing clock speed variation between the base and collar units, preferably to +/?5 ppm, to effectively eliminate communication errors between the base and collar units.

Abstract: A plant cultivation device includes: a planting container having an accommodation space; a planting pan disposed in the accommodation space of the planting container for dividing the accommodation space into a leaf region and a root region; an atomizing sheet disposed in a bottom plate of the planting container, used for performing spraying to the root region of the planting container; and a control circuit board, electrically connected to the atomizing sheet, used for controlling whether the atomizing sheet performs spraying, a nutrient solution tank, used for accommodating a nutrient solution; and a water absorbing material, wherein an end of the water absorbing material is disposed in the nutrient solution tank for taking the nutrient solution of the nutrient solution tank, and the other end of the water absorbing material is in contact with the atomizing sheet.

Abstract: An aquarium acclimation device and method reduce stress and shock which may occur during transition of marine livestock including fish, invertebrates, corals, etc., from a store, online, or wholesaler, to an owner's aquarium. The acclimation device includes tubing, a squeeze bulb, a drip counter, and a rolling clamp. A “J” tube is hung over an edge of the aquarium with one end reaching into water in the aquarium and an opposite end hanging outside the aquarium. The squeeze bulb is connected to the outside end of the “J” tube for initiation of a flow of the aquarium water from the aquarium and a clear squeeze bulb may further provide the drip counter. The rolling clamp and drip counter allow a gradual, observable, and controlled flow for a gradual controlled transition to the aquarium environment.