Abstract: A dampener for a banjo that attenuates unwanted overtones/reverberation while preserving the all-important fundamental sound with minimal reduction in bass, treble and volume. The dampener has a cylindrical outer shell having a diameter of about two inches and a length corresponding to the inner arc of the banjo. The cylindrical outer shell is formed from a cotton poplin fabric, and the filling comprises polyester fibers.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a system for providing conditioned air to a room for rearing insect larvae. The system comprises crates for storing the insect larvae, wherein the crates are stackable to form a vertical column and wherein the crates comprise lateral cutouts disposed on opposite sides. An air inlet duct for providing conditioned air to the crates is disposed in a vertical direction and comprises at least one nozzle for each crate in a column. The position of the at least one nozzle corresponds to the position of the lateral cutout of the respective crate. The system further comprises an air outlet duct, wherein the air outlet duct is disposed in a vertical direction and wherein the air outlet duct is disposed on a side of the stacked crates opposite to the air inlet duct.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for rearing invertebrates by utilizing a plurality of crates arranged into at least one stack, each crate in the stack defining an airflow path there through from an inlet opening in a first wall to an outlet opening in a second wall opposite the first wall of each crate. The plurality of crates are arranged in a climate controlled chamber.

Abstract: Disclosed are image based counting systems and methods. Image based counting systems and methods employ one or more imaging devices (e.g., one or more color cameras) and one or more illumination devices (e.g., one or more illumination sources to provide variable and/or dynamic lighting). In some examples, the image based counting system provides illumination to a tray upon which one or more items (e.g., pills) are placed. The illuminated items are then imaged by the one or more imaging devices based on one or more imaging techniques or processes to determine and/or present information associated with one or more properties of the item.

Abstract: Disclosed are image based counting systems and methods. Image based counting systems and methods employ one or more imaging devices (e.g., one or more color cameras) and one or more illumination devices (e.g., one or more illumination sources to provide variable and/or dynamic lighting). In some examples, the image based counting system provides illumination to a tray upon which one or more items (e.g., pills) are placed. The illuminated items are then imaged by the one or more imaging devices based on one or more imaging techniques or processes to determine and/or present information associated with one or more properties of the item.

Abstract: A cyclone separation system (1) for separating live insects, comprising a discharge nozzle (5) having a discharge end (7) comprising a discharge channel (8) for discharging live insects from the cyclone separation system (1) when in use. The discharge channel (8) comprises primary air injection channels (11) arranged to provide an injected upstream air flow (F) in an upstream direction (U) back into the discharge nozzle (5) for stopping discharge of live insects. The discharge nozzle (5) comprises an inner wall part (12) extending between an intake end (6) of the discharge nozzle (5) and the discharge channel (8), wherein the inner wall part (12) comprises elongated secondary air injection channels (13) extending from the discharge channel (8) in the upstream direction (U), wherein the secondary air injection channels (13) are arranged to provide an injected lateral air flow (V) along the inner wall part (12).

Abstract: A dampener for a banjo that attenuates unwanted overtones/reverberation while preserving the all-important fundamental sound with minimal reduction in bass, treble and volume. The dampener has a cylindrical outer shell having a diameter of about two inches and a length corresponding to the inner arc of the banjo. The cylindrical outer shell is formed from a cotton poplin fabric, and the filling comprises polyester fibers.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a lift truck attachment system that includes a lift truck weighing device with a carriage mounted scale configured to support load handling fixtures and to be secured to a lift truck carriage. The weighing device includes one or more sensors arranged at a mounting interface between the lift truck carriage and the carriage mounted scale. The lift truck weighing device includes one or more of rails, plates, and/or mounting brackets, as a list of non-limiting examples, arranged at the interface with the one or more sensors, which measure a load from the load handling fixtures.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for use in large-scale industrial insect farming. More in particular, the invention relates to an insects transport device for transporting live insects from a first location to a predetermined second location, the insects transport device comprising a gas guiding unit, a gas discharge member and a feeder arrangement, wherein the insects transport device is configured to receive live insects such as freshly hatched neonate larvae, for example of black soldier fly, or mites, wherein the live insects are directly taken up in a laminar flow of gas after exiting the feeder arrangement in a free fall under influence of gravitation such that the live insects do not contact any surface of the insects transport device, and while in said gas are transported to a predetermined location in the insects transport device. Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of the device in industrial insect farming, such as large-scale farming of black soldier flies or mites.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for rearing invertebrates by utilizing a plurality of crates arranged into at least one stack, each crate in the stack defining an airflow path there through from an inlet opening in a first wall to an outlet opening in a second wall opposite the first wall of each crate. The plurality of crates are arranged in a climate controlled chamber.

Abstract: Systems and methods for rearing invertebrates by utilize a plurality of crates (4) arranged into a plurality of stacks (6), each crate (4) in each stack (6) defining an airflow path (80) there through from an inlet opening (48) in a first wall (46) to an outlet opening (48) in a second wall (46) opposite the first wall (46) of each crate (4). The plurality of crates (4) are arranged in a climate controlled chamber (2).

Abstract: Connector assembly (100), system and method for converting a batch wise supply of insects (102) to a continuous supply of insects (102). A container unit is present (105) having an internal volume, a water inlet unit (106-109, 117), and a suspension outlet unit (110-113). A receiving unit (101) has a top opening (101a) arranged for receiving batch wise quantities of insects (102) and a bottom opening (114). A conveyor unit (104) has a receiving part (104b) arranged near the bottom opening (114) of the receiving unit (101), and an outlet end (119) extending into the container unit (105). By suspending the insects (102) in water it is possible to transport the suspension of insects (102) in water, e.g. to a buffer container (300).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling hatching of Black soldier fly eggs, comprising the steps of incubating the eggs at a selected temperature for a selected time period; cooling the incubated eggs at a temperature lower than the selected temperature, starting at a selected time point; warming the eggs again at the selected temperature for a further selected period, up till the eggs hatch. Furthermore, the invention relates to a batch of Black soldier fly eggs kept at the temperature at which the eggs are cooled according to the invention, which cooled eggs are capable of hatching once warmed at the selected temperature according to the invention for a predetermined period of time. This way the invention provides for a method for delaying of hatching of an egg. Furthermore, the method of the invention and the batch of cooled eggs of the invention provide a method for synchronizing of hatching of a first egg and a second egg which are deposited at a first time point and at a second time point.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for a dispensing cabinet incorporating an image based counting system that includes one or more imaging devices (e.g., one or more color cameras) to capture images of one or more items (e.g., pills, capsules, pharmaceutical units, items for medical use, etc.). Control circuitry of the image based counting system is configured to determine one or more properties of the one or more items based on the images. The dispensing cabinet includes a cabinet housing comprising one or more containers to hold the one or more items, which may employ mounting hardware to releasably secure the image based counting system to the cabinet housing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the provision of degutted insects, such as black soldier fly larvae and mealworm, preferably live degutted insects. The invention also relates to degutted (live or dead) insects such as larvae and to processed degutted insects such as larvae. The invention also relates to the use of the degutted insect according to the invention or use of the processed degutted insect of the invention for the separation of the degutted insect or of the processed degutted insect in at least a fat fraction and/or at least a protein fraction. In addition, the invention relates to an insect product, wherein the insect product is any one of live or dead insect, insect puree, minced insect, insect powder, particulate insect, granulated insect, or insect meal, dried insect, oven-dried insect, lyophilized insect, or oven-dried insect using refractive drying obtained from degutted insect provided with the method of the invention.

Abstract: In some aspects, the disclosure provides antibody-based reagents that specifically bind a tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) isoform that is associated with cancers. In some embodiments, the isoform is TrkB.T1. In some embodiments, the antibody or antibody derivative specifically binds a polypeptide comprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of the sequence FVLFHKIPLDG (SEQ ID NO:1), or a sequence with at least 80% sequence identity thereto. In other aspects, the disclosure provides methods of producing the antibody or antibody derivative, related hybridomas, and methods of detecting and treating cancers incorporating use of the disclosed antibody reagents.

Abstract: The invention relates to a climate control device for controlling the temperature and humidity of air supplied to colonies of insects cultured in an industrial scale insect farm. In particular, the invention relates to a controllable air conditioning system comprising a network of pipes connecting at least one cluster comprising at least one insect farming cage, such that air is conditionable in the cages at the cluster level. More specifically, the invention relates to a system comprising a central main air conditioning facility providing temperature conditioned air and absolute air humidity conditioned air to each of a number of local air conditioning devices, each separate local air conditioning device providing temperature conditioned air and absolute air humidity conditioned air to each of a plethora of clusters of insect breeding cages separately, said cages housed in an temperature conditioned farming room.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a lift truck weighing system that includes a plurality of sensors configured to measure forces acting on a lift truck. In particular, the sensors are secured at one or more interfaces between a plurality of axles and a chassis of the lift truck. In some examples, the sensors are secured to and/or incorporated with a plurality of axles configured to support the lift truck wheels, such as to or within the axles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for use in large-scale industrial insect farming. More in particular, the invention relates to a live insects transport device for transporting live insects from a first location to a predetermined second location, the live insects transport device comprising a fluid guiding unit, a fluid discharge member and a feeder arrangement, wherein the live insects transport device is configured to receive live insects such as freshly hatched neonate larvae, for example of black soldier fly, wherein the live insects are taken up in a laminar flow of fluid and while in said fluid are transported to a predetermined location in the live insects transport device. Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of the device in industrial insect farming, such as large-scale farming of black soldier flies, and the invention relates to a method of dosing live insects, wherein preferably live insects are doses which are essentially of the same age, such as freshly hatched neonate larvae.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for rearing invertebrates by utilizing a plurality of crates (4) arranged into a plurality of stacks (6), each crate (4) in each stack (6) defining an airflow path (80) there through from an inlet opening (48) in a first wall (46) to an outlet opening (48) in a second wall (46) opposite the first wall (46) of each crate (4). The plurality of crates (4) are arranged in a climate controlled chamber (2).