Abstract: A product having ultraviolet radiation protection and antimicrobial protection has a quantity of synthetic material, a quantity of zinc oxide particles with each particle having a surface, the quantity of zinc oxide particles in the range of 0.05 percent to 0.10 percent, and a quantity of a reactive group for modifying each surface of each zinc oxide particle, the quantity of the reactive group for incorporating the quantity of zinc oxide particles into the quantity of synthetic material prior to the quantity of synthetic material being formed into a fiber.

Abstract: A product having ultraviolet radiation protection and antimicrobial protection has a quantity of synthetic material, a quantity of zinc oxide particles with each particle having a surface, the quantity of zinc oxide particles in the range of 0.05 percent to 0.10 percent, and a quantity of a reactive group for modifying each surface of each zinc oxide particle, the quantity of the reactive group for incorporating the quantity of zinc oxide particles into the quantity of synthetic material prior to the quantity of synthetic material being formed into a fiber.

Abstract: A hopper extension includes forward and rearward walls connected by first and second side walls to form a container area having an upper opening and a lower opening. The lower opening includes a mating interface that slidably interfaces with an existing hopper. The hopper extension further includes a ramped wall extending from each of the forward, rearward, first side and second side walls to form a seed opening positioned intermediate the upper and lower openings. An underside of at least one of the ramped walls defining an air cavity that is placed over an air grate of an existing hopper when the hopper extension is secured thereto.

Abstract: A hopper extension includes forward and rearward walls connected by first and second side walls to form a container area having an upper opening and a lower opening. The lower opening includes a mating interface that slidably interfaces with an existing hopper. The hopper extension further includes a ramped wall extending from each of the forward, rearward, first side and second side walls to form a seed opening positioned intermediate the upper and lower openings. An underside of at least one of the ramped walls defining an air cavity that is placed over an air grate of an existing hopper when the hopper extension is secured thereto.

Abstract: A product for incorporating ultraviolet radiation protection and antimicrobial protection into a synthetic polymer is disclosed which has a quantity of zinc oxide particles with each particle having a surface, a paste, a quantity of synthetic polymer chips, and a quantity of a reactive group for modifying each surface of each zinc oxide particle, the quantity of the reactive group sufficient for forming a bond with the quantity of synthetic polymer chips prior to the quantity of synthetic polymer chips being formed into a fiber.

Abstract: A product having ultraviolet radiation protection and antimicrobial protection has a quantity of synthetic material, a quantity of zinc oxide particles with each particle having a surface, the quantity of zinc oxide particles in the range of 0.05 percent to 0.10 percent, and a quantity of a reactive group for modifying each surface of each zinc oxide particle, the quantity of the reactive group for incorporating the quantity of zinc oxide particles into the quantity of synthetic material prior to the quantity of synthetic material being formed into a fiber.

Abstract: A merchant services provider may implement a payment processing system for processing card-based transactions on behalf of merchants. The merchant services provider may have relationships with multiple acquiring banks, and may use different acquiring banks for different transactions. The payment processing system electronically solicits bids from the multiple acquiring banks for processing a group of future purchase transactions, wherein the group is specified as a quantity of transactions having certain attributes. The acquiring banks provide respective bids that specify fee amounts for processing the group of transactions. The payment processing system selects a winning acquirer, and subsequently uses the winning acquirer for processing transactions having the specified attributes.

Abstract: A product for incorporating ultraviolet radiation protection and antimicrobial protection into rayon is disclosed which has a quantity of rayon, a quantity of zinc oxide particles with each particle having a surface, and a quantity of a reactive group for modifying each surface of each zinc oxide particle, the quantity of the reactive group for incorporating the quantity of zinc oxide particles into the quantity of rayon prior to the quantity of rayon being formed into a fiber.

Abstract: A dryer sheet for incorporating ultraviolet radiation protection and antimicrobial protection into clothing has a carrier substrate, a quantity of dipalmethyl hydroxyethylammonium methosulfate, a fatty acid, and clay, and a quantity of zinc oxide particles each having a surface treated with an acid polymer with the acid polymer binding to the surfaces of the zinc oxide particles.

Abstract: A product having ultraviolet radiation protection and antimicrobial protection is disclosed having a quantity of a urethane based binder, a quantity of zinc oxide particles, and a yarn. A method for producing a product having ultraviolet radiation protection and antimicrobial protection has the steps of providing a quantity of zinc oxide particles, providing a quantity of a urethane based binder, diluting the quantity of zinc oxide particles and the quantity of urethane based binder in water to form a dispersion, applying the dispersion to a yarn on a single end sizing machine, removing any excess dispersion from the yarn, and drying and curing the yarn.

Abstract: A method for incorporating ultraviolet radiation protection and antimicrobial protection into rayon has the steps of providing pulp to form cellulose sheets, steeping the cellulose sheets, pressing the cellulose sheets, shredding the cellulose sheets into white crumb, aging the white crumb to form yellow crumb, xanthation of the yellow crumb, dissolving the yellow crumb to form a viscose, adding an additive to the viscose, ripening the viscose, filtering the viscose, degassing the viscose, spinning the viscose to form a filament of rayon, drawing the rayon, washing the rayon, and cutting the rayon.

Abstract: A method for incorporating ultraviolet radiation protection and antimicrobial protection into rayon is disclosed which has the steps of providing pulp to form cellulose sheets, steeping the cellulose sheets, pressing the cellulose sheets, shredding the cellulose sheets into white crumb, aging the white crumb to form yellow crumb, xanthation of the yellow crumb, dissolving the yellow crumb to form a viscose, adding an additive to the viscose, ripening the viscose, filtering the viscose, degassing the viscose, spinning the viscose to form a fine filament of rayon, drawing the rayon, washing the rayon, and cutting the rayon.

Abstract: A product for incorporating ultraviolet radiation protection and antimicrobial protection into rayon is disclosed which has a quantity of rayon, a quantity of zinc oxide particles with each particle having a surface, and a quantity of a reactive group for modifying each surface of each zinc oxide particle, the quantity of the reactive group for incorporating the quantity of zinc oxide particles into the quantity of rayon prior to the quantity of rayon being formed into a fiber.

Abstract: A method for incorporating ultraviolet radiation protection and antimicrobial protection into rayon is disclosed which has the steps of providing pulp to form cellulose sheets, steeping the cellulose sheets, pressing the cellulose sheets, shredding the cellulose sheets into white crumb, aging the white crumb to form yellow crumb, xanthation of the yellow crumb, dissolving the yellow crumb to form a viscose, adding an additive to the viscose, ripening the viscose, filtering the viscose, degassing the viscose, spinning the viscose to form a fine filament of rayon, drawing the rayon, washing the rayon, and cutting the rayon.

Abstract: A method for treating a fabric for ultraviolet radiation protection is disclosed which comprises the steps of adding zinc oxide nanoparticles to a solution of 3-glycidyloxypropyl-trimethoxysilane, adding silicon dioxide to the mixture of zinc oxide nanoparticles and 3-glycidyloxypropyl-trimethoxysilane, placing a fabric in the mixture of zinc oxide nanoparticles, 3-glycidyloxypropyl-trimethoxysilane, and silicon dioxide, curing the fabric, and washing the fabric.

Abstract: A method for treating a fabric for ultraviolet radiation protection, enhanced resistance to degradation, and enhanced resistance to fire is disclosed which comprises the steps of adding zinc oxide nanoparticles to a solution of 3-glycidyloxypropyl-trimethoxysilane, placing a fabric in the mixture of zinc oxide particles and 3-glycidyloxypropyl-trimethoxysilane, curing the fabric, and washing the fabric. Other methods of treating a fabric are disclosed.

Abstract: A retainer for retaining an elongate flexible element on a support and comprising a perimeter wall defining an interior, with the perimeter wall having opposite ends each having end edges defining end openings. A capture slot extends between the opposite ends of the perimeter wall. The capture slot is defined by a pair of slot edges on the perimeter wall, and the slot edges extend from a first one of the end edges to a second one of the end edges. The capture slot extends along a convoluted path between the opposite ends that requires forming at least one bend in the flexible element to move the element through the capture slot and into the interior of the perimeter wall.

Abstract: A method for treating a fabric for ultraviolet radiation protection is disclosed which comprises the steps of adding zinc oxide nanoparticles to a solution of 3-glycidyloxypropyl-trimethoxysilane, adding silicon dioxide to the mixture of zinc oxide nanoparticles and 3-glycidyloxypropyl-trimethoxysilane, placing a fabric in the mixture of zinc oxide nanoparticles, 3-glycidyloxypropyl-trimethoxysilane, and silicon dioxide, curing the fabric, and washing the fabric.

Abstract: A method for treating a fabric for ultraviolet radiation protection, enhanced resistance to degradation, and enhanced resistance to fire is disclosed which comprises the steps of adding zinc oxide nanoparticles to a solution of 3-glycidyloxypropyl-trimethoxysilane, placing a fabric in the mixture of zinc oxide particles and 3-glycidyloxypropyl-trimethoxysilane, curing the fabric, and washing the fabric. Other methods of treating a fabric are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for treating mercerized cotton for incorporating ultraviolet radiation protection into the mercerized cotton is disclosed which comprises the steps of placing the mercerized cotton into a solution of Zn(II), removing the mercerized cotton from the solution, and washing the mercerized cotton. Other methods for treating cotton for protection from ultraviolet radiation are also disclosed.