Abstract: A method for preparing a cultured dairy product comprising: blending water, ultra-filtered milk and other ingredients to form a blended milk containing about 1.6% lactose, about 3.9% protein and about 0.8% fat; culturing the blended milk by adding a starter culture and fermenting the blended milk to produce a cultured dairy product; and processing the cultured dairy product with only mechanical steps to form a finished cultured dairy product containing less than 4% total sugar and less than 0.1% lactose.

Abstract: A rake handle curved forward with one hand in front of the other grasping onto hand grips allowing for ergonomic head and neck, and upper and lower extremity positioning, comfort and alignment. It is bolted to a rake tine head positioning the user behind the tines. The rake handle is curved to maximize body alignment and reduce fatigue. The rake handle can be made of metal or plastic tubing, and bent to the desired specifications. The ergonomics of placing one hand in front of the other in a midline position to the body and chest, along with feet, and hips parallel to one another, reduces fatigue and body strain, since the counter-rotation of the shoulder girdle rotating opposite to the hips and pelvis, as experienced with conventional raking, is significantly reduced, and can be eliminated, while maintaining optimal control of the rake.

Abstract: A blender has novel sound-dampening enclosure system that is selectively and conveniently attached to and detached from a blender, or retro-fitted to a blender, utilizing a bottom wall portion for engaging a blender jar base in a fixed manner. Another aspect of the blender includes a simplified control logic using a minimal number of input buttons and using user-prompts.

Abstract: There is provided an immersion blender essentially having a housing or body portion for containing a drive motor, a shank or drive shaft operatively connected to the drive motor, and a processing tool operatively connected to the drive shaft. The immersion blender also has one or more handle portions, including, a first handle for pivotal control of the blender during operative use, a second handle for lateral control of the blender during operative use, and a third handle for stabilization of the blender during operative use. These handles effectuate a more effective and efficient operation of the immersion blender.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to transcription regulators and transcription regulator-like sequences of nanovirus origin. As used in the specification, the nanovirus group is consdiered to include subterranean clover stunt virus (SCSV), cocnut foliar decay virus (CFDV), banana bunchy top virus (BBTV), milk vetch dwarf cirus (MDV), and faba bean necrotic yellow virus (FBNYV). The transcription regulators and transcription regulator-like sequences of the instant invention are useful in genetic engineering of plants and in particular leguminous plants such as to facilitate or control expression of foreign genes. The transcription regulators and transcription regulator-like sequences of the present invention are also useful in facilitating different levels of expression in different plant tissue types.