Abstract: A fertilizer coating that provides nutrients and/or biostimulants, as well as added dust control and caking control. The fertilizer coating may comprise a carrier, one or more micronutrient dispersants, and/or one or more micronutrients. The carrier may be aqueous-based or oil based. The coating may further comprise one or more biostimulants in an aqueous media.

Abstract: Structured composite wood pellets comprising wood pellets with a coating at least partially covering the wood pellets, where the coating reduces the generation of dust/fines of the wood pellet upon impact and/or abrasion. The coating may comprise crude tall oil, distilled tall oil, tall oil pitch, tall oil fatty acids, tall oil heads, non-food use sustainable wax, or a combination thereof. The coating may be located at the surface and/or subsurface of the wood pellets rather than throughout, and may be applied at a rate of less than 1 wt. % of the wood pellets.

Abstract: A non-attenuating meter determines optical energy of laser light in an absence of optical attenuation of the laser light and includes: a recipient mirror that: receives laser light that propagates in a primary propagation direction; produces profile light; transmits the profile light through the recipient mirror along the primary propagation direction; produces first reflected light from the laser light; and reflects the first reflected light along a secondary propagation direction; a profilometer in optical communication with the recipient mirror and that: receives the profile light from the recipient mirror along the primary propagation direction; and produces a profile signal from the profile light; a sensor mirror in optical communication with the recipient mirror and a passer mirror and that: receives the first reflected light from the recipient mirror along the secondary propagation direction; produces, in a tertiary direction, a sensor force from the first reflected light; communicates the sensor force

Abstract: An additive used in the production of wood pellets to increase throughput. The additive may be applied as a booster to wood prior to forming the wood into pellets. The booster may comprise 30% to 100% tall oil pitch and 70% to 0% tall oil head and may be applied at a rate of 0.01 to 2 wt. % of the wood.

Abstract: A non-attenuating meter determines optical energy of laser light in an absence of optical attenuation of the laser light and includes: a recipient mirror that: receives laser light that propagates in a primary propagation direction; produces profile light; transmits the profile light through the recipient mirror along the primary propagation direction; produces first reflected light from the laser light; and reflects the first reflected light along a secondary propagation direction; a profilometer in optical communication with the recipient mirror and that: receives the profile light from the recipient mirror along the primary propagation direction; and produces a profile signal from the profile light; a sensor mirror in optical communication with the recipient mirror and a passer mirror and that: receives the first reflected light from the recipient mirror along the secondary propagation direction; produces, in a tertiary direction, a sensor force from the first reflected light; communicates the sensor force

Abstract: An additive used in the production of wood pellets to increase throughput. The additive may be applied as a booster to wood prior to forming the wood into pellets. The booster may comprise 30% to 100% tall oil pitch and 70% to 0% tall oil head and may be applied at a rate of 0.01 to 2 wt. % of the wood.

Abstract: Structured composite wood pellets comprising wood pellets with a coating at least partially covering the wood pellets, where the coating reduces the generation of dust/fines of the wood pellet upon impact and/or abrasion. The coating may comprise crude tall oil, distilled tall oil, tall oil pitch, tall oil fatty acids, tall oil heads, non-food use sustainable wax, or a combination thereof. The coating may be located at the surface and/or subsurface of the wood pellets rather than throughout, and may be applied at a rate of less than 1 wt. % of the wood pellets.

Abstract: Rosin esters are provided. The rosin esters can exhibit improved color (e.g., the rosin ester can have a neat Gardner color of 4 or less), improved oxidative stability (e.g., when 1000 ppm or less of an antioxidant is present in combination with the rosin ester, the rosin ester can exhibit an oxidative-induction time at 130° C. of at least 30 minutes), improved color stability (e.g., the rosin ester can retain a neat Gardner color of 5 or less when heated to a temperature of 160° C. for a period of three hours), or combinations thereof. Also provided polymeric compositions comprising the rosin esters, as well as methods of making the rosin esters.

Abstract: Rosin esters are provided. The rosin esters can exhibit improved color (e.g., the rosin ester can have a neat Gardner color of 8.5 or less), improved oxidative stability (e.g., when 1000 ppm or less of an antioxidant is present in combination with the rosin ester, the rosin ester can exhibit an oxidative-induction time at 130° C. of at least 75 minutes), improved color stability (e.g., the rosin ester can exhibit less than a 10% change in neat Gardner color when heated to a temperature of 160° C. for a period of three hours), or combinations thereof. Also provided polymeric compositions comprising the rosin esters, as well as methods of making the rosin esters.

Abstract: Rosin esters are provided. The rosin esters can exhibit improved color (e.g., the rosin ester can have a neat Gardner color of 4 or less), improved oxidative stability (e.g., when 1000 ppm or less of an antioxidant is present in combination with the rosin ester, the rosin ester can exhibit an oxidative-induction time at 130° C. of at least 30 minutes), improved color stability (e.g., the rosin ester can retain a neat Gardner color of 5 or less when heated to a temperature of 160° C. for a period of three hours), or combinations thereof. Also provided polymeric compositions comprising the rosin esters, as well as methods of making the rosin esters.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of making rosin esters. The methods can involve contacting a rosin ester with a microporous adsorbent. Treatment with a microporous adsorbent, such as an activated carbon, can improve the color of the rosin ester (e.g., reduce the neat Gardner color of the rosin ester by at least 1 Gardner color unit), reduce the concentration of sulfur in the rosin ester (e.g., reduce the concentration of sulfur in the rosin ester by at least 50 ppm), or combinations thereof. Rosin esters prepared by the methods described herein, as well as methods of using thereof, are also described.

Abstract: Rosin esters are provided. The rosin esters can exhibit improved color (e.g., the rosin ester can have a neat Gardner color of 8.5 or less), improved oxidative stability (e.g., when 1000 ppm or less of an antioxidant is present in combination with the rosin ester, the rosin ester can exhibit an oxidative-induction time at 130° C. of at least 75 minutes), improved color stability (e.g., the rosin ester can exhibit less than a 10% change in neat Gardner color when heated to a temperature of 160° C. for a period of three hours), or combinations thereof. Also provided polymeric compositions comprising the rosin esters, as well as methods of making the rosin esters.

Abstract: A spittoon system is provided for an inkjet printing mechanism to handle waste inkjet ink spit from an inkjet printhead during a nozzle clearing, purging or “spitting” routine. The spittoon system includes a frame defining a spittoon chamber having an entrance mouth, and a chimney passageway extending between the mouth and the chamber. A hard porous plastic liner lines this passageway from the mouth and into the chamber, with the liner material having no troublesome fibers projecting from a spit target platform so the platform can be located closer to the printhead than the earlier fiberous liners. This close spit target to printhead spacing, along with a larger spit target area traps inkjet aerosol and misdirected ink droplets ejected during a spitting routine. A method of purging ink residue from an inkjet printhead, along with an inkjet printing mechanism having such a spittoon system, are also provided.

Abstract: A cover for a rain gutter having a front side and cross-pieces. The cover is made from a plurality of single rectangular sheets of material and has a front area integrally connected to a back planar area. The front area has an elongated leg portion integral with and perpendicular to a lower horizontal strip of a curved front portion and extending vertically below the sheet at about a right angle to the lower horizontal portion. The elongated leg portion and the curved front portion extend the length of the sheet, except that the leg portion is partially cut to form feet for resting on the gutter cross-pieces. The feet are bent upward and forward from the leg portion so that when the cover is placed on the rain gutter, the feet hold the leg portion of the gutter cover back from the front side of the gutter so that a covered opening is formed over the gutter.

Abstract: A device for measuring body fluid pressure, such as blood pressure, muscle compartment pressure, and spinal column pressure, is herein described. An invasive implement is inserted into a body area, and a fluid path extends from the body area into a fluid channel in the device. A valve is used to control the flow of fluid through the device and a pressure sensor is placed adjacent to the fluid channel, with the pressure sensor and/or a sealant gel forming a portion of the fluid channel. With the valve closed, pressure builds in the fluid channel and the pressure sensor detects the resulting pressure, and a pressure transducer and supporting electronics converts and communicates the pressure measurement. With this device the pressure sensor can detect pressure without contacting the fluid, so therefore a pressure can be taken with a minimum of fluid extraction. If fluid extraction is desired, the valve is opened and fluid flows from the body area to a fluid port where the fluid may be collected.

Abstract: A runway for conveying glass tubing, as the tubing is drawn from a source of molten glass, embodies support assemblies having rotating sleeves mounted on guide shafts to contact the tubing. A circulating humid atmosphere is maintained in an enclosure during an initial portion of the tube draw to reduce frictive damage to the tubing.

Abstract: A runway for conveying glass tubing, as the tubing is drawn from a source of molten glass, embodies support assemblies having rotating sleeves mounted on guide shafts to contact the tubing. A circulating humid atmosphere is maintained in an enclosure during an initial potion of the tube draw to reduce frictive damage to the tubing.

Abstract: A process for making a component by depositing a first layer of a powder material in a confined region and then depositing a binder material to selected regions of the layer of powder material to produce a layer of bonded powder material at the selected regions. Such steps are repeated a selected number of times to produce successive layers of selected regions of bonded powder material so as to form the desired component. The unbonded powder material is then removed. In some cases the component may be further processed as, for example, by heating it to further strengthen the bonding thereof.

Abstract: A process for making a component by depositing a first layer of a fluent porous material, such as a powder, in a confined region and then depositing a binder material to selected regions of the layer of powder material to produce a layer of bonded powder material at the selected regions. Such steps are repeated a selected number of times to produce successive layers of selected regions of bonded powder material so as to form the desired component. The unbonded powder material is then removed. In some cases the component may be further processed as, for example, by heating it to further strengthen the bonding thereof.

Abstract: Interactive game apparatus is disclosed which includes one or more photosensitive weapon devices which can interact with a coded video display and with each other to provide two-way interaction, where each weapon may score against an opponent and may be hit by an opponent. Accessory devices in the form of a photosensitive light source and a rotating mirror act to increase the excitement of the game play.