Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for responding to a business disruption using hierarchically ordered response plans. In one implementation, a method for responding to a business disruption using hierarchically ordered response plans is provided. The method comprises storing the response plans which include at least two of a crisis management plan, a management summary plan, a department resilience plan, and a system resilience plan. The response plans also include escalation points. Further, the method comprises allowing a user to access, through an interface, information on the response plans and the escalation points during normal business operation. The method may also comprise maintaining the response plans using a business impact analysis.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for providing business continuity. In one implementation, a business impact analysis method is provided for determining time-critical business units in an organization. The method includes estimating a set of time values for a business unit, the set of time values indicating points of time when a business impact of the business unit will increase, and calculating a resilience impact rating of the business unit based on the estimated time values, wherein the resilience impact rating provides a metric for quantifying a time-criticality of the business unit. The method further includes setting an impact threshold at a specific resilience impact rating value, and identifying the business unit as time-critical business unit if the resilience impact rating is greater than or equal to the impact threshold.

Abstract: This invention provides baskets for growing plants and methods for growing plants using those baskets. The baskets for supporting a plant or a seed that will germinate into a plant, and optionally a growing medium for contacting the seed or plant include at least two basket sections and a means for reversibly connecting at least two of the basket sections wherein the sections can be separated and the plant can be removed from the basket while causing no substantial damage to the plant. Seed cartridges with such baskets, growing media, and seeds or plants are also provided. The methods for growing a plant include separating the basket sections and removing the plant from the separated basket sections while causing no substantial damage to the plant.

Abstract: This invention provides a system and methods for providing liquid to a plant or a seed that can germinate into a plant, said system including: a liquid delivery device; an actuator; a vessel; and a vessel support; wherein said actuator is operable to cause said liquid delivery device to deliver said liquid to said plant or seed only when said vessel is brought into proximity with said vessel support.

Abstract: This invention provides method and devices for receiving and/or delivering liquid to an object, devices for delivering liquid to a plant/seed/growing medium comprising: a conduit comprising: at least two about parallel plates one or more walls substantially sealing the plates and forming a substantially enclosed space, such that the devices are useful in hydroponic gardens. This invention also provides hydroponic gardens with such devices. The parallel plates and the walls can be rigid and hydrophobic.

Abstract: A weapon retention mechanism for releasably holding a weapon in a holster pocket including a frame member forming at least a portion of the holster pocket, the frame member including a pair of substantially linear slots, a retention member having opposed side portions and an intermediate portion extending therebetween, each opposed side portion including a projection positioned and located so as to be cooperatively engageable with the corresponding slots associated with the frame member, the retention member being slidably moveable in a substantially linear direction between a first position wherein the retention member restricts movement of the weapon out of the holster pocket and a second position wherein the retention member does not restrict movement of the weapon out of the holster pocket, and a release member for releasably holding the retention member in its first position, the release member being moveable between a first position wherein it holds the retention member in its first position and a secon

Abstract: Wax compositions that have a high triacylglycerol content are provided. The wax compositions can be used to produce candle and are particularly useful in the production of container candles. The wax compositions commonly have a melting point of about 50° C. to 57° C. and include a triacylglycerol component, which has a fatty acid composition including about 14 to 25 wt. % 16:0 fatty acid.

Abstract: This invention provides smart garden devices for hydroponics growing systems, wherein the devices include a means for delivering electricity to the smart garden device; at least one timer; and means for determining, receiving, sending, or processing data regarding the status of a component or characteristic of the hydroponics device. This invention also provides smart garden kits and methods for using smart garden devices for growing plants.

Abstract: This invention provides time-release plant nutrient compositions, oxygen-generating nutrient compositions, and effervescing nutrient compositions, in the forms of powders, capsules, tablets, pellets, and granules. The oxygen-generating agents include peroxides, percarboxylics, percarbonates, and mixtures thereof. This invention provides methods for making the compositions of this invention and methods for fertilizing a plant or a seed and/or providing oxygen to a plant or seed growing in a hydroponics system.

Abstract: This invention provides Adaptive Growth Technology, smart garden devices for gardening systems, including hydroponics systems, and methods for modifying plant growth regimes based on the liquid usage rate and/or the nutrient usage rate of the plant. Characteristics of the plant growth regimes that are modified include: liquid delivery rate and/or quality, nutrient delivery rate and/or quality, add nutrient rate and/or quality, display or display rate of add nutrient quality and/or quantity, and/or photoradiation delivery rate and/or quality. This invention provides methods for making the devices of this invention and provides methods for using the devices of this invention. In an embodiment, the hydroponics system includes the smart garden device or the smart garden device fits in a chamber of the hydroponics device. In an embodiment, the steps are performed automatically without human intervention.

Abstract: This invention provides methods, devices, and kits for growing a plant or germinating a seed into a plant; methods and devices for delivering oxygen to a plant or a seed which will germinate into a plant; methods and devices for delivering liquid to a plant; methods and devices for increasing the dissolved oxygen concentration in a liquid to be delivered to a plant; methods and devices for increasing the dissolved oxygen concentration in a liquid within a hydroponics device; terraced oxygenators; aspirators, downdraft venturis, net baskets; germination caps, sets of germination caps; methods for increasing the likelihood of germination of a seed; seed-bearing support media; methods for germinating a seed; and smart garden devices for hydroponics growing systems.

Abstract: This invention provides methods, devices, and kits for growing a plant or germinating a seed into a plant; methods and devices for delivering oxygen to a plant or a seed which will germinate into a plant; methods and devices for delivering liquid to a plant; methods and devices for increasing the dissolved oxygen concentration in a liquid to be delivered to a plant; methods and devices for increasing the dissolved oxygen concentration in a liquid within a hydroponics device; terraced oxygenators; aspirators, downdraft venturis, net baskets; germination caps, sets of germination caps; methods for increasing the likelihood of germination of a seed; seed-bearing support media; methods for germinating a seed; and smart garden devices for hydroponics growing systems.

Abstract: This invention provides methods, devices, and kits for growing a plant or germinating a seed into a plant; methods and devices for delivering oxygen to a plant or a seed which will germinate into a plant; methods and devices for delivering liquid to a plant; methods and devices for increasing the dissolved oxygen concentration in a liquid to be delivered to a plant; methods and devices for increasing the dissolved oxygen concentration in a liquid within a hydroponics device; terraced oxygenators; aspirators, downdraft venturis, net baskets; germination caps, sets of germination caps; methods for increasing the likelihood of germination of a seed; seed-bearing support media; methods for germinating a seed; and smart garden devices for hydroponics growing systems.

Abstract: This invention provides methods, devices, and kits for growing a plant or germinating a seed into a plant; methods and devices for delivering oxygen to a plant or a seed which will germinate into a plant; methods and devices for delivering liquid to a plant; methods and devices for increasing the dissolved oxygen concentration in a liquid to be delivered to a plant; methods and devices for increasing the dissolved oxygen concentration in a liquid within a hydroponics device; terraced oxygenators; aspirators, downdraft venturis, net baskets; germination caps, sets of germination caps; methods for increasing the likelihood of germination of a seed; seed-bearing support media; methods for germinating a seed; and smart garden devices for hydroponics growing systems.

Abstract: This invention provides methods, devices, and kits that are useful for growing plants and germinating seeds and that improve the delivery of oxygen by promoting growth of air roots. The devices of this invention include a vessel for containing a liquid, a suspending means for suspending a plant or seed in a gas above the liquid; a liquid delivering wicking filter supported by a filter supporting means. The filter has one or more holes. At least a portion of the filter is at about or above the surface of said liquid and the filter contacts the liquid and delivers the liquid to the seed or plant. The filter decreases the likelihood that a first root of the plant grows through the filter and into the liquid or increases the mass of a root that grows in the gas, each relative to an equivalent context without a filter. The filter is designed to allow none or some of the roots to grow into the liquid, water roots, while directing some roots to grow in the air, air roots, above the filter.

Abstract: The invention relates to the reduction and prevention of biofouling in facilities utilizing water, e.g. sea water, carrying biological organisms, without causing corrosion, chemical reaction or other detrimental action from the additive or environmental discharge problems. Such operations include, for example, desalination plants, power plants, oilfield water injection facilities and shipboard or ocean platform fire water systems. For example, in the desalination plant of FIG. 1, the biofouling reduction method and apparatus for this invention have a source of oxidizing agent such as chlorine ions or ozone, a source of copper ions and a dosing chamber for delivery of relatively low dosage levels of oxidizing agents and at appropriate times copper ions to form a treatment additive. Flow connectors connect the dosing chamber to various points along the piping in the desalination plant.