Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for monitoring soil properties and applying fertilizer during a planting operation. Various sensors are disposed in ground engaging components for monitoring soil properties. The ground engaging components may have structure for opening a side trench in the sidewalls of the seed trench and may include liquid application conduits for injecting liquid into the sidewalls of the resulting side trenches.

Abstract: A process for synthesizing (S,S) ethylenediamine-N,N?-disuccinic acid (EDDS) includes combing an aqueous solution of aspartic acid with dibromoethane under basic conditions to form a reaction solution; heating the reaction solution to form a heated reaction solution, and recovering at least a portion of the reaction product from the reaction solution. The heated reaction solution comprises a reaction product, wherein the reaction product comprises (S,S) ethylenediamine-N,N?-disuccinic acid (EDDS).

Abstract: A salad spinner includes a lid with an integrated drive mechanism and a strainer bowl having a strainer basket supported therein. The strainer basket having a pivotable strainer handle. The strainer handle defines a centrally disposed aperture. The drive mechanism has a drive shaft with a predetermined geometric cross-section that is removably coupled to the aperture of the strainer handle having the same geometric shape. The drive shaft can be further configure to engage an opening of a food chopper.

Abstract: A salad spinner includes a lid having a pull ring supported thereon and a strainer bowl having a strainer basket supported therein, the strainer basket having a pivotable strainer handle mounted on a chopper. The pull ring is configured to be angularly displaced away from the lid to impart a spinning motion to the strainer basket within the strainer bowl. The strainer handle defines a centrally disposed strainer aperture. The lid has a hex shaft that is removably coupled to the strainer aperture of the strainer handle. The hex drive shaft is further removably coupled to a hex opening of a chopper rod of a chopper. The hex drive shaft initiates the spinning motion to chop salad and to dry salad independently of each other.

Abstract: A salad spinner includes a lid having a pull ring supported thereon and a strainer bowl having a strainer basket supported therein, the strainer basket having a pivotable strainer handle mounted on a chopper. The pull ring is configured to be angularly displaced away from the lid to impart a spinning motion to the strainer basket within the strainer bowl. The strainer handle defines a centrally disposed strainer aperture. The lid has a hex shaft that is removably coupled to the strainer aperture of the strainer handle. The hex drive shaft is further removably coupled to a hex opening of a chopper rod of a chopper. The hex drive shaft initiates the spinning motion to chop salad and to dry salad independently of each other.

Abstract: A citrus juicer includes a vessel configured to receive a cone segment, the cone segment defining a conduit extending from a shaft and a plurality of slits extending circumferentially thereon, a rubber spring vertically aligned with an opening of the conduit, and a reamer element in operable communication with the rubber spring. The rubber spring is fixedly mounted to a sprint support member, the spring support member coupled to the conduit extending from the shaft of the cone segment. The rubber spring further defines a centrally disposed projection. When a force is applied to a top portion of the reamer element, the rubber spring is in a compressed state such that the centrally disposed projection engages the spring support element to displace the reamer element in a vertical direction with respect to the shaft of the cone element.

Abstract: A stirring implement includes a stirrer having a single stir rod defining a generally triangular shape at a distal end thereof, a rotating guide defining a slot, wherein the single stir rod of the stirrer is inserted through the slot of the rotating guide such that the single stir rod is positioned at an angle with respect to a planar surface of the rotating guide, and a lid releasably engageable to the rotating guide. The stirrer has a handle at a proximal end thereof and the handle rotates circumferentially beyond an outer perimeter of the lid. An apex defined by the single stir rod travels circumferentially along an inner wall of an outer perimeter of a container attached to the lid.

Abstract: A method is provided for detecting alkylating agents, the method comprising bringing together a first solvent, one or more surfactants, a base, a reagent comprising a nucleophilic nitrogen atom, and a suspected alkylating agent. A device suitable for putting said method into effect is also provided.

Abstract: Described is a modular microfluidic device (MMD) for producing an analytic composition from a biological fluid sample, said device comprising a reagent module (RM) comprising a reagent reservoir containing a reagent and an eluent reservoir containing an eluent, said reagent and eluent reservoirs being coupled to one or more RM microchannels; and a sample preparation module (SPM) comprising a SPM microchannel adapted to couple with the RM microchannel whereby fluid continuity between SPM and RM microchannels is produced on coupling, and: (i) a sample inlet for receiving said biological fluid sample; (ii) an outlet for delivering said analyte composition; (iii) a sensor component; (iv) a mixing chamber; (v) a metering chamber; (vi) an eluent chamber; (vii) a valve; and (viii) a solid phase extraction element (SPE); wherein said metering chamber is of fixed volume and shape and substantially ellipsoidal, the metering chamber having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet and/or outlet being in fluid communication wit

Abstract: Described is a modular microfluidic device (MMD) for producing an analyte composition from a biological fluid sample, said device comprising: (a) a reagent module (RM) comprising a reagent reservoir containing a reagent and an eluent reservoir containing an eluent, said reagent and eluent reservoirs being coupled to one or more RM microchannels; and (b) a sample preparation module (SPM) comprising a SPM microchannel adapted to couple with the RM microchannel whereby fluid continuity between SPM and RM microchannels is produced on coupling, and: (i) a sample inlet for receiving said biological fluid sample; (ii) an outlet for delivering said analyte composition; (iii) a mixing chamber; (v) a metering chamber; (vi) an eluent chamber; (vii) a valve; (viii) a solid phase extraction element (SPE); and (ix) an aspirator in fluid communication with the sample inlet of the SPM for withdrawing an aliquot of said biological fluid when contained in a sample vessel, said aspirator being operably coupled to a pneumatic fl

Abstract: Apparatus for distributing a solid, gel, powder, granular, liquid or viscous liquid test substance in an extraction fluid comprises: a) a flow cell for holding the test substance comprising an extraction chamber of uniform cross-sectional area, a grinding surface, an extraction fluid inlet and an extract outlet; b) a grinding head disposed within the extraction chamber and adapted to reciprocate therein; and c) a recirculating pump for driving extraction fluid: (i) into the flow cell via the extraction fluid inlet; (ii) through the extraction chamber; and (iii) back to the flow cell via the extract outlet.

Abstract: Described is a modular microfluidic device (MMD) for producing an analyte composition from a biological fluid sample, said device comprising: (a) a reagent module (RM) comprising a reagent reservoir containing a reagent and an eluent reservoir containing an eluent, said reagent and eluent reservoirs being coupled to one or more RM microchannels; and (b) a sample preparation module (SPM) comprising a SPM microchannel adapted to couple with the RM microchannel whereby fluid continuity between SPM and RM microchannels is produced on coupling, and: (i) a sample inlet for receiving said biological fluid sample; (ii) an outlet for delivering said analyte composition; (iii) a mixing chamber; (v) a metering chamber; (vi) an eluent chamber; (vii) a valve; (viii) a solid phase extraction element (SPE); and (ix) an aspirator in fluid communication with the sample inlet of the SPM for withdrawing an aliquot of said biological fluid when contained in a sample vessel, said aspirator being operably coupled to a pneumatic fl

Abstract: A method is provided for detecting sulphur-containing species (such as thiophosphorous esters, in particular phosphorylating agents), in which a suspected sulphur-containing species is brought into contact with a tetrazolium compound in the presence of base, typically at a pH of at least 8. A device, kit and tetrazolium compounds for use in such a method are also disclosed.