Abstract: A chiller water sampling device includes a pair of flow meters and a proportional valve to provide a constant flow rate of sample water containing peroxyacetic acid from a chiller to a mixing tank. Acid can be added to reduce the pH of sample water in the mixing tank to bring the pH within the operating range of a peroxyacetic acid sensor. The sensed level of peroxyacetic acid can be used to control further addition of peroxyacetic acid to the chiller.

Abstract: An agricultural medium to control plant disease and nematodes by first applying to the agricultural medium an effective amount of an aqueous peroxyacetic acid composition; and then inoculating the soil with beneficial organisms.

Abstract: A chiller water sampling device includes a pair of flow meters and a proportional valve to provide a constant flow rate of sample water containing peroxyacetic acid from a chiller to a mixing tank. Acid can be added to reduce the pH of sample water in the mixing tank to bring the pH within the operating range of a peroxyacetic acid sensor. The sensed level of peroxyacetic acid can be used to control further addition of peroxyacetic acid to the chiller.

Abstract: A chiller water sampling device includes a pair of flow meters and a proportional valve to provide a constant flow rate of sample water containing peroxyacetic acid from a chiller to a mixing tank. Acid can be added to reduce the pH of sample water in the mixing tank to bring the pH within the operating range of a peroxyacetic acid sensor. The sensed level of peroxyacetic acid can be used to control further addition of peroxyacetic acid to the chiller.

Abstract: A chiller water sampling device includes a pair of flow meters and a proportional valve to provide a constant flow rate of sample water containing peroxyacetic acid from a chiller to a mixing tank. Acid can be added to reduce the pH of sample water in the mixing tank to bring the pH within the operating range of a peroxyacetic acid sensor. The sensed level of peroxyacetic acid can be used to control further addition of peroxyacetic acid to the chiller.

Abstract: An agricultural medium to control plant disease and nematodes by first applying to the agricultural medium an effective amount of an aqueous peroxyacetic acid composition; and then inoculating the soil with beneficial organisms.

Abstract: A dilution apparatus includes a container having an adjustable float-operated make-up valve wherein the make-up valve has an inlet end connected to a water supply tube and an outlet end connected to a fill tube inside the container. The make-up valve is connected to a float disposed inside the container. The water supply tube is connected to a reservoir that contains a concentrate. The water flow through the water supply tube siphons the concentrate, into the water stream and through the make-up valve to form a first dilution. A proportioner is connected to a water supply and to the bottom of the container. The water flow through the proportioner siphons the first dilution into the proportioner, thereby mixing the first dilution with water to form a final product having a predetermined dilution ratio.

Abstract: Compositions comprising an effective amount of (1) hydrogen peroxide, an organic peroxide or a combination thereof; and (2) phosphorous acid, mono- and/or di-salts of phosphorous acid or a combination thereof are effective in preventing or controlling diseases in plants caused by pathogens. The disclosed compositions can be used by contacting a plant with an effective amount of such compositions.

Abstract: A dilution apparatus includes a container having an adjustable float-operated make-up valve on the top of the container wherein the make-up valve has an inlet end connected to a water supply tube and an outlet end connected to a fill tube disposed inside the container. The make-up valve is connected to a float disposed in a liquid inside the container. The water supply tube is operatively connected by tubing to a reservoir that contains a concentrate. The water flow through the water supply tube siphons the concentrate through the tube, into the water stream and through the make-up valve to form a first dilution inside the container. A proportioner having a first inlet opening connected to a water supply and a second inlet opening connected to a tube on one end and the other end is connected to the bottom of the container.

Abstract: A process for sanitizing objects is comprised of the steps of: (1) contacting the object with a dry fog in an enclosed sanitization zone wherein the dry fog is comprised of droplets having a diameter of 4-5 microns and wherein the droplets comprise an aqueous solution of a sanitizing agent for a time sufficient to produce a substantially dry sanitized object and a residual amount of dry fog; (2) removing the substantially dry, sanitized product from the enclosed zone while simultaneously removing the residual dry fog and passing the residual dry fog through a treatment zone whereby unreacted sanitizing agent is removed from the dry fog. The disclosed process yields substantially dry sanitized objects that do not require rinsing with water.

Abstract: A tunable pulsed laser source comprising a seed source adapted to generate a seed signal and an optical circulator. The optical circulator includes a first port coupled to the seed source, a second port, and a third port. The laser source also includes an amplitude modulator characterized by a first side and a second side. The first side is coupled to the second port of the optical circulator. The laser source further includes a first optical amplifier characterized by an input end and a reflective end including a spectral-domain reflectance filter. The input end is coupled to the second side of the amplitude modulator. Moreover, the laser source includes a second optical amplifier coupled to the third port of the optical circulator.

Abstract: A tunable pulsed laser source comprising a seed source adapted to generate a seed signal and an optical circulator. The optical circulator includes a first port coupled to the seed source, a second port, and a third port. The laser source also includes an amplitude modulator characterized by a first side and a second side. The first side is coupled to the second port of the optical circulator. The laser source further includes a first optical amplifier characterized by an input end and a reflective end including a spectral-domain reflectance filter. The input end is coupled to the second side of the amplitude modulator. Moreover, the laser source includes a second optical amplifier coupled to the third port of the optical circulator.

Abstract: A tunable pulsed laser source comprising a seed source adapted to generate a seed signal and an optical circulator. The optical circulator includes a first port coupled to the seed source, a second port, and a third port. The laser source also includes an amplitude modulator characterized by a first side and a second side. The first side is coupled to the second port of the optical circulator. The laser source further includes a first optical amplifier characterized by an input end and a reflective end including a spectral-domain reflectance filter. The input end is coupled to the second side of the amplitude modulator. Moreover, the laser source includes a second optical amplifier coupled to the third port of the optical circulator.

Abstract: A tunable pulsed laser source comprising a seed source adapted to generate a seed signal and an optical circulator. The optical circulator includes a first port coupled to the seed source, a second port, and a third port. The laser source also includes an amplitude modulator characterized by a first side and a second side. The first side is coupled to the second port of the optical circulator. The laser source further includes a first optical amplifier characterized by an input end and a reflective end including a spectral-domain reflectance filter. The input end is coupled to the second side of the amplitude modulator. Moreover, the laser source includes a second optical amplifier coupled to the third port of the optical circulator.

Abstract: A tunable pulsed laser source comprising a seed source adapted to generate a seed signal and an optical circulator. The optical circulator includes a first port coupled to the seed source, a second port, and a third port. The laser source also includes an amplitude modulator characterized by a first side and a second side. The first side is coupled to the second port of the optical circulator. The laser source further includes a first optical amplifier characterized by an input end and a reflective end including a spectral-domain reflectance filter. The input end is coupled to the second side of the amplitude modulator. Moreover, the laser source includes a second optical amplifier coupled to the third port of the optical circulator.

Abstract: A pulsed laser light source for producing amplified light pulses is provided. It includes a three-port optical circulator connected to a first, second, and third waveguide branch, a seed module for generating a pulsed light and propagating the light along the first waveguide branch to the first port of the optical circulator and out the second port to the second waveguide branch, a reflector in the second waveguide branch for reflecting the light back through the second port of the optical circulator for circulation out the third port to the third waveguide branch, and a light output provided in the third waveguide branch for outputting the amplified light pulses. An amplifier is disposed in the second waveguide branch between the optical circulator and the reflector for amplifying the light and an optical modulator operable for modulating the pulsed light is disposed in the third waveguide branch.

Abstract: A process for eradicating moss and liverwort which includes applying sodium percarbonate; and irrigating the moss. In some cases the process includes applying lime to control the pH of the moss and thereby constrain development of additional moss and said sodium percarbonate is a solid material.

Abstract: A tunable pulsed laser source comprising a seed source adapted to generate a seed signal and an optical circulator. The optical circulator includes a first port coupled to the seed source, a second port, and a third port. The laser source also includes an amplitude modulator characterized by a first side and a second side. The first side is coupled to the second port of the optical circulator. The laser source further includes a first optical amplifier characterized by an input end and a reflective end including a spectral-domain reflectance filter. The input end is coupled to the second side of the amplitude modulator. Moreover, the laser source includes a second optical amplifier coupled to the third port of the optical circulator.

Abstract: A method for nonselective killing of weeds which includes providing a quantity of sodium carbonate peroxyhydrate; providing a quantity of a surfactant; mixing the surfactant and the sodium carbonate peroxyhydrate with water; providing foaming apparatus for generating a foam; generating a foam from the mixture of surfactant and sodium carbonate peroxyhydrate; and applying the foam to plants to be killed. In some forms of the present invention the ratio of sodium carbonate peroxyhydrate to water is at least one half of 1 pound per gallon of water. In still other forms of the invention the ratio of sodium carbonate peroxyhydrate to water will be less than 3 pounds per gallon of water. In still other forms of the invention the ratio of sodium carbonate peroxyhydrate to water will be about 1 pound per gallon of water.

Abstract: In some embodiments of the apparatus detects the concentration of a substance selected from the group consisting of hydrogen peroxide, peroxyacetic acid, chlorinated compounds and other aqueous oxidizer compounds. The light source may be a laser, or light emitting diode. The source may be part of a transmitter and the detector may be part all of a receiver. The apparatus may further include a data logger cooperating with the light detector. The enzyme coated strip may be a strip coated with catalase and the the strip may be an inert paper. In some cases the enzyme coated strip changes color as a function of the concentration of the substance. The apparatus may further including fiber-optic cable cooperating with said light detector to detect transmitted light from the enzyme coated strip and a fiber-optic cable and/or a fiber optic cable cooperating with said source to direct light on the enzyme coated strip.