Abstract: Disclosed is a fruit harvesting apparatus (FHA) and method of use. The FHA provides for extended reach harvesting of fruit while eliminating the need for a ladder in order to reach the fruit and for facilitating the fruit's damage-free movement from a tree to a basket or like fruit storage bin. The FHA comprises a fruit harvesting head, a handle, and a chute. In practice, a user, holding the handle, positions the harvest head around a piece of fruit such as an apple that is hanging on a tree, so that the apple is located within the head. The user then moves the head such that the stem of the apple is caught in a notch of the head, and pulls the apparatus such that the apple stem is severed and such that the apple falls into the chute and descends into a fruit receptacle without bruising or damage.

Abstract: A patient assistance and rehabilitation device or more specifically a patient mechanical lift device that can be utilized as patient walker, a seat, a seated transporter, a toilet, a table and a rehabilitation device. The patient assistance and rehabilitation device including a power band or tension motor to help a patient move from a sitting to a standing position and to supplement an exercise or rehabilitation program.

Abstract: A patient assistance and rehabilitation device or more specifically a patient mechanical lift device that can be utilized as patient walker, a seat, a seated transporter, a toilet, a table and a rehabilitation device. The patient assistance and rehabilitation device including a power band or tension motor to help a patient move from a sitting to a standing position and to supplement an exercise or rehabilitation program.

Abstract: A gas collection receptacle includes a segmented top portion and one or more side portions creating a volume for collecting gases. The gas collection receptacle, configured to float on a pond, lagoon, or other area, also includes interlocking side and end portions enabling multiple receptacles to connect, thus forming a substantially continuous covering.

Abstract: A gas collection receptacle includes a segmented top portion and one or more side portions creating a volume for collecting gases. The gas collection receptacle, configured to float on a pond, lagoon, or other area, also includes interlocking side and end portions enabling multiple receptacles to connect, thus forming a substantially continuous covering.

Abstract: A gas collection receptacle includes a segmented top portion and one or more side portions creating a volume for collecting gases. The gas collection receptacle, configured to float on a pond, lagoon, or other area, also includes interlocking side and end portions enabling multiple receptacles to connect, thus forming a substantially continuous covering.

Abstract: A gas collection receptacle includes a segmented top portion and one or more side portions creating a volume for collecting gases. The gas collection receptacle, configured to float on a pond, lagoon, or other area, also includes interlocking side and end portions enabling multiple receptacles to connect, thus forming a substantially continuous covering.

Abstract: A lytic virus specific for a target strain of a microorganism and substantially free of undesirable genes may be utilized in processes including control of populations of microorganisms. The virus may include a host-range mutant, or “h-mutant.” A method for generating virus includes growing virus-resistant variants of a target strain of a microorganism in the presence of viruses that are specific for the target strain. Only h-mutant viruses will proliferate. Wild-type virus-resistant and virus-resistant variants of a microorganism are also disclosed, as are methods generating such variants. Methods for controlling target strain microorganisms include introducing virus into a treatment site where control of a population of a target strain microorganism is desired or introducing virus-resistant variants of a microorganism into treatment sites where the presence of the microorganism is desired.

Abstract: A lytic virus specific for a target strain of a microorganism and substantially free of undesirable genes may be utilized in processes including control of populations of microorganisms. The virus may include a host-range mutant, or “h-mutant.” A method for generating virus includes growing virus-resistant variants of a target strain of a microorganism in the presence of viruses that are specific for the target strain. Only h-mutant viruses will proliferate. Wild-type virus-resistant and virus-resistant variants of a microorganism are also disclosed, as are methods generating such variants. Methods for controlling target strain microorganisms include introducing virus into a treatment site where control of a population of a target strain microorganism is desired or introducing virus-resistant variants of a microorganism into treatment sites where the presence of the microorganism is desired.

Abstract: The use of fluorescent dye in printing buffer used to print spots of a protein microarray permits the presence, location and morphology of individual spots to be detected based on the fluorescent response of the spots. This information can be used to perform quality control of protein microarrays. In addition, the fluorescent response of the spots can prevent poor spots from being used in a protein assay or prevents faulty data from being accepted. The size of the spots can also be used to normalize the results obtained in a protein assay. The position of the spots can be used to establish anchors in detecting the chemiluminescent response of spots to which biological samples have been applied.

Abstract: Biosurfactants produced by microbes are used to control pests. The biosurfactants can be produced by cultivating a biosurfactant-producing microbe, producing a fermentation broth, and obtaining the biosurfactant from the fermentation broth. Alternately, the biosurfactants can be produced in situ in the environment of the pests by applying a carbon substrate to the pests' environment, which permits naturally-occurring biosurfactant-producing microbes to grow and to generate the biosurfactants. The biosurfactants have pesticidal qualities, and can be used to control a variety of pests, while being biodegradable and otherwise avoiding adverse environmental effects that have often been associated with conventional synthetic pesticides.