Abstract: A sulfuric acid generating system can include: a primary burn chamber; an exhaust pipe extending from the burn chamber at a first end to an opposite second end; a secondary burn chamber located between the first end and second end; and a primary venturi pump having a gas inlet coupled to an outlet at the second end of the exhaust pipe and having an aqueous media in let and having a fluid outlet. A method of producing sulfurous acid can include: providing sulfur to the primary burn chamber; burning a first portion of the sulfur in the primary burn chamber to form a first portion of sulfur dioxide; burning a second portion of the sulfur in the secondary burn chamber to form a second portion of sulfur dioxide; and mixing the first portion and second portion of sulfur dioxide with an aqueous composition so as to produce aqueous sulfurous acid.

Abstract: A method of controlling aquatic pests: introducing sulfurous acid into water having the aquatic pests to treat the water until the aquatic pests are controlled, wherein the water is selected from open water, flowing water, or water open to the atmosphere. The aquatic pests are controlled within a control distance, which is within a distance of less than a mile from the site of introducing the sulfurous acid. The water can be open water or contained water, and the method comprises producing the sulfurous acid at a site of sulfurous acid introduction into the water. The aquatic pest is a zebra mussel, an Asiatic clam, a bryozoan or others. The method can include introducing the sulfurous acid so that the treated water has a pH of between about 6 and 6.5. The method can include introducing the sulfurous acid so that the treated water includes sulfites, bisulfites, and/or sulfur dioxide.

Abstract: A method of controlling aquatic pests: introducing sulfurous acid into water having the aquatic pests to treat the water until the aquatic pests are controlled, wherein the water is selected from open water, flowing water, or water open to the atmosphere. The aquatic pests are controlled within a control distance, which is within a distance of less than a mile from the site of introducing the sulfurous acid. The water can be open water or contained water, and the method comprises producing the sulfurous acid at a site of sulfurous acid introduction into the water. The aquatic pest is a zebra mussel, an Asiatic clam, a bryozoan or others. The method can include introducing the sulfurous acid so that the treated water has a pH of between about 6 and 6.5. The method can include introducing the sulfurous acid so that the treated water includes sulfites, bisulfites, and/or sulfur dioxide.

Abstract: A radial portion of a rotor is rotatably mounted to a stator and a cylindrical portion axially extends over radial teeth formed on the stator. A first surface of the first soft ferromagnetic material element is mounted to an inner surface of the cylindrical portion and a second surface of the first soft ferromagnetic material element has mounted on it a first magnet such that a surface of a pole of the first magnet is oriented substantially non perpendicular to a line from the centre of the rotor to the first magnet. A first surface of a second soft ferromagnetic material element is mounted to the first magnet such that the first magnet is sandwiched between the first and second soft ferromagnetic material elements. A second surface of the second soft ferromagnetic material element is substantially perpendicular to the line from the centre of the rotor to the first magnet.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention include a hydroponic grow facility. The hydroponic grow facility, for example, may include a first shipping container comprising a first wall and a first corner post adjacent to the first wall, wherein the first wall has at least a portion of the first wall removed; a first fodder production apparatus disposed within the first shipping container; a second shipping container comprising a second wall and a second corner post adjacent to the first wall, wherein the second wall has at least a portion of the second wall removed, wherein the second corner post and the first corner post are coupled together; and a second fodder production apparatus disposed within the second shipping container.

Abstract: A method of producing sulfuric acid can include: obtaining a microbial culture that produces sulfuric acid; placing the microbial culture in a bioreactor in an aqueous environment; introducing an aqueous, liquid or gaseous sulfur supply into the bioreactor; and culturing the microbial culture with the sulfur supply sufficiently so that sulfuric acid is produced. The sulfur supply can be from aqueous or gaseous sulfur dioxide and/or dihydrogen sulfide, or sulfurous acid. The microbes are any microbes that processes sulfur, such as natural microbes that processes sulfur, genetically modified microbes that processes sulfur, cultivated microbes en.) that processes sulfur, purchased microbes that processes sulfur. The microbes may also include other type of microbes that facilitate culturing of the sulfuric acid producing microbes. The sulfuric acid can be produced at ambient conditions. In one aspect, the process is a batch process or a continuous process.

Abstract: A rotor for an electric motor or generator, the rotor comprising a radial portion, a cylindrical portion, a first soft ferromagnetic material element, and a second soft ferromagnetic material element, wherein the radial portion is arranged to be rotatably mounted to a stator and the cylindrical portion is arranged to axially extend over radial teeth formed on the stator when the rotor is rotatably mounted to the stator, wherein a first surface of the first soft ferromagnetic material element is mounted to an inner surface of the cylindrical portion and a second surface of the first soft ferromagnetic material element is arranged to have mounted on it a first magnet such that a surface of a pole of the first magnet is oriented substantially non perpendicular to a line from the centre of the rotor to the first magnet, wherein a first surface of the second soft ferromagnetic material element is arranged to be mounted to the first magnet such that the first magnet is sandwiched between the first soft ferromagneti

Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods are capable of selecting authorized vendors for categories of a multi-vendor gift card.

Abstract: A milk-producing animal is provided with decontaminated air, decontaminated water, and decontaminated feed inside a hermetically sealed decontaminated facility. Uncontaminated milk is then obtained from the animal within the facility. The animal is decontaminated and vaccinated before being placed in the facility. Human personnel decontamination, a mandatory airlock, and/or automated livestock equipment are also utilized to limit contamination of the hermetically sealed facility.

Abstract: A decontaminable livestock facility has a hermetically sealed shell defining an exterior and an interior, with livestock equipment for milking, feeding, watering, manure removal, bedding, and/or exercise. A decontamination system removes contaminants from air and water. A contaminant monitoring system tests contaminant levels within the facility. An airlock for access to the interior limits contamination, as does a positive air pressure system. Uncontaminated beef, milk and other livestock products are obtained from livestock housed within the facility.

Abstract: A trough-type watertight drag conveyor for particulate material to be processed commences initial stages of the processing while the material is still within the trough. More specifically, in one significant application of the invention, treating liquid is utilized during the processing, this liquid serving further to assist in the conveyance and thereby minimize potential damage to certain materials. Paddles dragged along the trough essentially dam the material in relatively discrete batches. Despite being isolated in batches, the product flow is continuous, the batches being separated only by the thickness of the paddles. Conveyor speed is controlled to allow sufficient residence time of the material within the treating liquid in those instances where required. The paddles are restrained against lifting from the trough bottom to maintain a fairly intimate seal between the trough and paddles.

Abstract: A system for facilitating selection, installation, and configuration of device drivers in a managed environment. The system includes a first mechanism for automatically accessing information about a device for which a driver is to be installed on a computer connected thereto and providing a signal in response thereto. The information includes device type and operational capabilities. A second mechanism selects a driver for the device and installs and automatically configures the driver on the computer based on the signal. In a specific embodiment, the first mechanism includes a database that maintains the information, which is organized according to an asset identification number. The information includes first and second portions. The first portion of information is obtained and entered in the database upon installation of the device. The second portion of the information includes operating system and language information pertaining to the computer.

Abstract: A filter assembly (24) includes a first filter portion (80) with a first attachment (100) adapted to attach to a tubesheet (44) to support at least a portion of the first filter portion in a second plenum (40) and to permit fluid communication between the first filter portion and a first plenum (42). A tubular member (104) is fixed to and extends from the first attachment (100). A pleated filter element (120) is disposed adjacent to the tubular member (104) for support. A second attachment (140) is fixed to the tubular member (104) at a second end of the first filter portion (80) and defines an opening through which fluid may flow. The tubular member (104) is fixed to the first and second attachments (100, 140) with sufficient strength to support the weight of at least one other filter portion. A second filter portion (82) includes a third attachment (180) at a first end and defines an opening through which fluid may flow. A tubular member (186) is fixed to and extends from the third attachment (180).